Book 6: Chapter 16


    The atmosphere at tonights family dinner was extremely awkward.


    <em>Their rtionship has always been bad no, thats not quite right. Their rtionship isnt bad, it is at either you die or I die, were not going to be breathing the same air level Ah well, not that resolute either.</em>


    <em>Sorry, sorry. Please allow me to rephrase that. Heres a better description; the two, no The four, which were seated together at dinner, were friendly and close to each other until ites to a particr topic. At which point they will not hesitate to draw their des and cut each other.</em>


    I sat at the master-seat. On my left-hand side were Elizabeth and Nier. On my right-hand side were Vyvyan and Lucia.


    Food was currentlyid out in front of them. However, on one side were human dishes, while on the other, were elven.


    When I looked at the food, I felt that the elven dishes looked sumptuous and suited to my pte. Most of the human dishes were simple dishes.


    But the food in front of me right now, in other words, the dishes on two sides were dishes prepared by Lucia and Nier today


    Wait, no. Lucias wasnt even made by her! Im absolutely positive Mom made them. I can recognise her dishes with a single nce. Lucia doesnt know how to cook!


    Honestly, the two of them really caught me by surprise. I always thought the reverse.


    Nier should be the one who cant cook, yet she is surprisingly a good cook. On the other hand, Lucia cant cook at all. I could tell by the way Lucia held a kitchen knife.


    While Im at it let me remind you. Please do not hold a kitchen knife like a sabre. The two of them are very different things.


    The atmosphere on both sides was extremely awkward. While both of my moms were cutting their food up with smiles, they were just temporarily not violent.


    Lucia and Nier, on the other hand, were very hostile to each other.


    Nier gently ced her fork and knife down and then asked, Your Majesty, how do the dishes I prepared for you taste?


    I nodded and replied, Theyre very good.


    Its just that the elven dishes are so poor that it must have downgraded your experience tonight. I apologise for that. I wasnt able to stop that elf, who doesnt know how to cook at all. Nier shot a re at Lucia.


    Lucia angrily ced her fork and knife down. She looked at Nier and rebuffed, Humanitys dishes are just as poor. Youve only got those few dishes. Theyre so simple that theyre aughing matter. Elven dishes suit His Highness pte better. Eating such crude and bad food will harm his stomach.


    But these dishes werent even made by you. I really wonder how youre going to fulfil your duties as a wife when you cant even cook for your husband. Fortunately, Im His Majestys favourite wife. Otherwise, His Majesty would starve with you.


    What are you acting so stuck up for? Youre just a bodyguard. You cant always be by His Highness side. Fufu, I saw yourughable uniform today.


    I can cheerfully hug His Highnesss arm when Im with him, but youre just a mere bodyguard. You dont even have the right to get close to His Highness!


    Nier clenched her teeth angrily.


    Lucia was right about that.


    Nier still wasnt officially my wife, so her public identity was still my bodyguard. As such, Nier must maintain formality by my side, as she did in the past.


    Lucias public identity, on the other hand, was my soon-to-be elven wife, so she could wrap her arm around mine and cheerfully skip through the streets.


    I really want to know how Nier feels when she watches Lucia wrap her arm around mine and walk around all giddily. But it looks like I wont get a chance to know. Ill be sleeping with Lucia tonight because I havent seen her in a while. At the same time, Ill take it as a chance to take a break.


    God knows how Nier is going to relieve herself tonight. But it has nothing to do with me!


    Nier couldnt argue with Lucias remark. She gritted her teeth and then asked the empress next to her, Your Majesty, my wedding with His Majesty


    Mommy Elizabeth sliced a piece of meat and answered with a smile, Theres no need to rush, Nier. Soon. However, I dont know if my son wants to marry you. That will be all on him.


    What?! Nier was frightened to the point she almost stood up.


    I quickly waved my hand and said, Nier, rx. I never said I wouldnt marry you. Its just that I dont have time to get married right now because of the current circumstances you understand, dont you? It seems that the residents here still question the power of royalty. If we get married now, I wont have any energy to deal with the matters here. Dont worry, Nier. I will never abandon you or Lucia. Dont worry.


    Nier nodded. Though she was somewhat reluctant to ept it, Nier would now not question my decision.


    Vyvyan ced a pie into her mouth and then asked, Son, do you have any problems with this domain? Is it rted to the scene we saw when we arrived today?


    Uhm. I nodded and then exined the entire problem from beginning to end.


    After I had wrapped up my exnation, Mommy Elizabeth raised her cup of wine and pursed her lips into a smile.


    That Freya sure is interesting. I must say, shes no less than Castell in terms of intelligence, and shes younger, too. I think Freya will do well. As long as she is loyal, I wont have to worry about your policies. she said.


    Except, your business is dark as can be. Vyvyan smiled mischievously and then continued, I must say Elizabeth, it appears that your rule isnt anything good for your people. You established such arge empire, yet your ministers and people dont seem to care about the prosperity of your empire. Are you positive your officials are loyal?


    Have they got anything to do with me? Elizabeth waved her hand with annoyance and continued, Of course, your little nation, that has hardly any inhabitants, has simple folk. Your prestige as a demigod can rule over that teeny-weeny territory of yours, but my empire is far too vast. I dont have the spare energy to manage everything in my empire. I dont care how the money came to be. I just care if there is enough or not. I can have as many people as I please, isnt that right?


    I frankly dont really agree with that way of evaluating the worth of things. As the saying goes, the slums are an empires grave. Empires are always destroyed by the sea of people. But the Rosvenor Empire is at its peak right now. The people living on the frontier and suffering cant cause any trouble at the moment.


    Further, I believe that the empresss army can easily subdue a rebellion.


    However, even Vyvyan has declined toment. She smiled, raised up her cup of wine and said, Son, what are you going to do, then? You have only solved some of the problems. However, the fundamental problem still stands. So how do you intend to resolve it?


    I dont have any n either. I dont know what to say before I see thend If it really wont work then, I n to transform this city. If it cant sustain itself through agriculture, I n to sustain this city with industrial products and business. There is food from the south and the elvennds as well. I believe that we can import food through business.


    That will work. Elizabeth ced her cup of wine down and continued, If thats the only option, you can buy food from me, Son. I will get Castellspany to deliver the food to you. You can decide on the price. I dont want interest from you or anything. I can even send you food for free.


    The same goes for us elves. If you need food, just let Mommy know, and Mommy will organise a team to deliver the food to you. However, we elves dont produce food, so we will have to charge you a bit. Vyvyan looked at me with a smile. She then squinted and added, Of course, if you really need food, I can create a spell to deliver things to you. That way, supplies can be delivered without the expense of any food.


    Those elven tricks are so annoying.


    You humans dontck so-called tricks, either.


    My two moms exchanged nces and smiled. My two moms rtionship in the past was way better than my two wives rtionship