Itefeil stared wide-eyed at the scene before her. The two cats were writhing around like they’d lost their minds, rubbing their noses nonstop against the strange black flakes on the table.
“What are those flakes?”
Itefeil was a little puzzled. How had these two cats ended up like this while she’d been crouching off to the side, watching the grass for a while?
“Oh, so that’s why little Black suddenly took the catnip away. He had a friend coming over.”
Just then, a gentle woman’s voice suddenly spoke from beside Itefeil.
“Countess!”
As soon as Itefeil recognized who had arrived, she hurried to bow. The countess was a true grand noble. Itefeil herself had only just become chief of police. At most, she held a fairly high office; she was still a commoner, and had to show respect to a grand noble like the countess.
“There’s no need to be so formal with me, dear. You’re Feilin’s friend, and I’m only Feilin’s mother here. You don’t have to be so reserved.”
“Yes, Countess.”
Itefeil nodded to acknowledge the countess’s words, but still went through the proper formalities. The countess didn’t comment.
“Did you come to see Feilin about something? She’s talking with her father about her future right now, so she can’t come see you for the moment.”
“Her future?”
Itefeil immediately caught the implication in the countess’s words. It was terribly rude to pry into someone else’s family affairs, but the countess had clearly planted that opening on purpose, hoping Itefeil would take the bait and ask.
Well, she’d made it so obvious. Itefeil might as well take the bait…
“That’s right. Itefeil, you know that you and Feilin are about the same age. Among you close friends, Franny is already married. Nivina doesn’t seem to have any plans yet, but lately we’ve heard rumors that she may have found someone, while you’re so absorbed in your career that you don’t seem to be looking for a match.”
“………………”
What do you mean, I’m so absorbed in my career that I don’t want to get married!!!!
At least, that was how the whole city saw her. Itefeil worked tirelessly, and her position kept climbing. She was one of the people in Sville City with the best chance of joining the ranks of the new nobility. That was why the countess was willing to build a good relationship with her. Miller, who was a commoner like the rest of their sisterly circle, hadn’t even been mentioned once.
So the countess couldn’t really be blamed for thinking that way. The whole city thought the same thing…
The countess saw Itefeil’s calm expression, then continued.
“To be honest, once a woman is past a certain age, it’s hard to find a suitable match. Feilin is our only child. Because of an accident, my husband and I will never have a second child, so we’ve poured far too much love into Feilin. We both want her to find someone she loves—but he has to be her equal in status…”
By now, Itefeil understood why the countess had come to see her.
Was she trying to talk her into marriage?
“Countess, do you want me to convince Feilin to give up the person she loves?”
Itefeil immediately felt like she’d seen this old plot before.
Like one of those roadside storytellers spinning a tale about a noble young lady who falls in love with a commoner and elopes with him—only for Itefeil to be cast as the villain who tears them apart…
Just thinking about a job like that gave her a headache!
“That’s right. You guessed it.”
Just as she thought! The countess’s answer confirmed Itefeil’s guess.
“Then at least tell me who Feilin likes…”
Itefeil decided to get the full picture before doing anything. But the countess suddenly looked hesitant. That reaction surprised Itefeil. Was the countess not actually so set on Feilin finding someone of equal status, and willing to let her pursue her own love instead?
Then the countess leaned close to Itefeil’s ear and quietly told her the person’s name and identity.
“Prinsken, the Empire’s Little Prince…”
Huh?
The countess’s soft whisper smashed the whole scenario playing in Itefeil’s head—the one where a noble young lady married down to a commoner—to pieces.
“Wait, Countess. Feilin likes the Empire’s Little Prince? When did they even meet?”
Itefeil’s mind was reeling. The only people she’d encountered in these far western lands who might have been imperial nobility were that company of Woodpecker cavalry she’d seen last time. But that had only been a few days ago, and they hadn’t even stopped here. They’d dealt with the bandits and left at once. How had Feilin fallen in love with an Imperial Little Prince in such a short time?
“Sigh, this is what happened. His Highness the Little Prince was born unruly, and the palace couldn’t keep him in line. He was always causing trouble in the Imperial Capital, and nearly every minister there had gone to complain to the emperor about him at least once. But the trouble he caused wasn’t all that serious, even if the emperor thought it brought shame on the royal family. So he simply sent His Highness the Little Prince outside the Imperial Capital to do as he pleased… A few months ago, Feilin met him when he was wandering through the westernmost city…”
The more Itefeil listened to the countess, the more ridiculous it sounded. She’d thought the storytellers’ tales were far-fetched enough, but reality somehow managed to be even more absurd…
“If my girl had fallen for a commoner, that would’ve been fine. We could’ve simply had him marry into our family. But she just had to fall for His Highness the Little Prince… Sigh. What are we supposed to do?”
After hearing the countess out, Itefeil’s mind first turned to mush. Then she broke into a sweat, and her mind turned to mush all over again…
“Well…”
“So I’d like you to talk to Feilin. Tell her not to stubbornly cling to His Highness the Little Prince. The power struggles within the royal family are far too complicated for nobles from a remote western city like ours to get involved in. Please tell her that we’d approve if she found a commoner, but she should try not to get mixed up with the royal family…”
“Oh… sure…”
At that moment, Itefeil felt just like La Luna sprawled across the table, panting heavily—eyes empty, gaze vacant…
