Chapter 61 – I Became an Aristocrat
“Oh dear, you’re finally here.”
“—I congratulate you today. Her Majesty, the new Queen.”
“I told you before, didn’t I? I told Suzuha’s older brother to call me Touko.”
“…This is an official setting, so to speak. It would be wise to refrain from being overly familiar. Additionally, there are many aristocrats around.”
“It doesn’t matter—Hey everyone! If anyone objects to the hero who saved my life calling me by my name, come forward here right now!”
In response to Touko-san’s sudden call, a few aristocrats were about to take action, but…
“Of course, then you’ll have to declare how much you’ve contributed to me becoming Queen!”
At these words, the aristocrats who tried to take action stopped without exception and remained silent.
“See? Nobody’s going to argue with you, right? So it’s fine.”
“…I feel like that was very forceful…?”
“If you worry about the details, your sushi will taste bad, you know?”
I can’t allow that.
Then I will have to follow Touko-san’s request.
And it’s the queen’s order to begin with.
“So, once again. Touko-san, I would like to congratulate you today.”
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to Suzuha’s older brother.”
“No, it was all Touko-san’s efforts.”
“I mean, if it wasn’t for Suzuha’s older brother, there’s no way I’d be queen right now… Well, I’d lose the day if I went into details about that, wouldn’t I?”
Touko-san is still saying things that make no sense.
Actually, even if she were to talk about politics and conspiracies among the aristocrats, I don’t think I would understand that either.
“Now then. Today I have a proposal for Suzuha’s older brother.”
“…Yes?”
“I actually wanted to make a grand announcement of my ascension at the enthronement ceremony, but Suzuha’s older brother didn’t attend. So, well, I thought it would be okay to announce it at the subsequent banquet instead.”
“I don’t quite understand, but I have a bad feeling about it, so I will do my best to refuse.”
When I refused, For some reason, Toko-san looked away and muttered.
“It’s autumn now, and winter is just around the corner…. It’s the season when fish is fatty and sushi is really delicious.”
“!”
“Indeed, fatty tuna is a classic, isn’t it? I’ve heard that tuna from other countries tends to get overcooked and even cats won’t eat it. However, the fishermen in our country have cutting-edge techniques for catching only tuna and advanced freezing preservation magic, so the tuna is truly delicious. I wonder if Suzuha’s older brother likes fatty tuna?”
“Other than the price, I love it!”
“I see. But I actually prefer kingfish in winter to sea urchin or fatty tuna. If you put the kingfish liver on top of the sushi and eat it, it melts in your mouth.”
“T-There is such wonderful food in this world…!?”
“White fish milt is also fantastic, you know? Do you know that truly good milt doesn’t have any fishy smell at all? And when you savor it, a complex sweetness spreads throughout your mouth. The burst of the plump texture of the milt is simply irresistible—”
“W-Wow…!”
“—By the way, Suzuha’s older brother? If you would be willing to listen to a small request of mine, I can offer you unlimited access to delicious fatty tuna, sea urchin, kingfish, and milt throughout this winter. How about it?”
“I’m at your service.”
I nodded my head in agreement.
I trust Touko-san. After all, she even says that I’m her lifesaver.
So she wouldn’t say anything that bad.
That’s why my answer is a resounding yes.
—I’m sure that the reason I thought that way was because I was seduced by the allure of high-quality sushi.
When I responded, Touko-san smiled graciously,
“It’s a promise. I won’t let you get away.”
“Eh? What does that mean…”
“Hey everyone! Listen!”
Touko-san then made a declaration to the aristocrats gathered from all over the country, with a bewildered me at her side.
—To reward me for my outstanding achievements…
It was decided that, here and now, I were to succeed the Margrave family of Lohengrin, where there are no longer any heirs due to the purge for treason—
So on that day, before I knew what was going on…
I became an aristocrat.
