Chapter 119 The Queen and the Prime Minister
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hmm? Muse, what did you just say?”
Cecile Canaria, the Queen of the Canaria Kingdom¹, had just been told something by her maid, Muse. Unable to comprehend it, she asked her to repeat herself. Muse, on the other hand, maintained her usual sharp expression as she repeated the words.
”As I said, I was informing you that ‘Lady Tina returned home in the morning,’” Muse said.
”…Huh?” Cecile replied.
Cecile still couldn’t understand her attendant’s words, her voice sounding flat. No, she understood the meaning of the words. However, she could not understand how that Tina—the only daughter of the Duke Badcage² family whom she had known as a relative since childhood—could act like such a profligate girl.
”What… who is the partner…?” Cecile asked.
After racking her brain, that was the first question she managed to ask. Her face, which had recently regained a healthy glow, returned to its familiar expression with her eyebrows furrowed.
Muse, whose facial muscles remained weary because she—unlike her mistress—had not yet acquired a high-grade “Slime-kun³,” dispassionately stated the facts caught in her information network.
”It is Kento, the owner of the magic item shop ‘Harvest⁴,’” Muse said.
”…Huh?” Cecile said again.
Once again, her understanding failed to keep up, and Cecile let out another dumbfounded sound. Rubbing the wrinkles between her brows that had reappeared in an instant, she struggled to accept the words she had just heard. Various emotions swirled in her chest.
It wasn’t that she felt he had embraced another woman instead of her. Tina didn’t have to follow her lead. But why, of all people, was the partner Kento? It’s not that she was… envious… but why would a daughter of a Duke involve herself with such a suspicious shopkeeper? At least pick someone better… No, she had to admit the man had a strange charm. No, first of all, did she really…? No, before that, how did it even happen?
”Has that girl visited that shop before?” Cecile asked.
”Yes. It seems they were already acquainted, but the catalyst was something else. For details, it would be best to ask Marquis Dan Samoro, the Prime Minister,” Muse replied.
”…The social gathering the other day,” Cecile said.
Muse nodded to her mistress, who had arrived at the answer. The social gathering, the first one Tina had organized herself, was an important meeting for Cecile as well.
It had been ten years since the skirmishes over the succession rights with the Coalmine Kingdom⁵ to the north began. During that time, the Badcage family had worked hard as the defense of the north. However, the situation in the north, which had recently become increasingly volatile, was bringing imbalance and discord to the country.
The northern nobles were being forced to bear the burden of defense. Naturally, taxes were being collected from other regions to maintain a balance, but the gap in national strength continued to widen between them and the north, which was full of territories that could hardly be called wealthy to begin with.
If there were signs of war breaking out there, the north might collapse before the fighting even started. In an emergency, there was the option of emergency tax collection, but resentment would be inevitable. If possible, she wanted to leave it to the self-help efforts of the parties involved.
Without the knowledge of Tina or the Duke of Badcage, high expectations had been placed on that social gathering. For that reason, she had gone so far as to dispatch the Prime Minister. As a result, she had heard that the talk had been settled brilliantly, but…
”I see. Call the Prime Minister. It seems I need to confirm what happened there that day,” Cecile said.
”Understood,” Muse replied.
Muse bowed and left the room to call the Prime Minister. Once her figure disappeared behind the door, Cecile looked up at the ceiling, covered her eyes, and let out a deep sigh.
* * *
”For Your Majesty to call me so suddenly, this is a rare occurrence indeed. I was under the impression that you didn’t want to see my face,” the Marquis said.
”Hah, if it weren’t for that foul mouth of yours, I might see you more often… Besides, even without a summons, we see each other almost every day anyway,” the Queen replied.
Marquis Samoro, who had responded to the summons, spoke sarcastically to the Queen as soon as he arrived. Both were equally blunt with each other, which was natural; to Cecile, he was not only a vassal but also a political mentor, someone she felt comfortable with.
After the previous King and Queen passed away, it was he who encouraged her to ascend the throne and he who supported the administration thereafter. He was sometimes strict, sometimes strict—in other words, always strict—and he had raised Cecile into a proper Queen.
He was, so to speak, a benefactor, a capable politician, and useful as a civil official. His flaws were his aforementioned foul mouth and his stubbornness, often referencing the previous generation or old times to chide her.
”Hmm, well, very well. But what on earth has happened? For Your Majesty to summon me, either something grave has occurred or…”
”No, well, it is a grave matter in a sense, and a triviality in another. At the very least, rest assured it is not something that will shake the future of the nation,” Cecile said.
”That is most fortunate. Then, pray let me hear this ‘triviality’ for which you have summoned me,” the Marquis said.
Cecile sighed in front of her loyal subject, who always had to have the last word, but she tightened her resolve and glared at him. Although they were close, an idle question would lead to a persistent lecture. Therefore, she asked as if laying a trap.
”Fine, let’s get straight to the point. You, are you hiding anything from me?” Cecile asked.
”Hiding things, you say…? Why, I have as many secrets as there are stars. When one stays in the royal palace for a long time, there are many things that cannot be spoken of,” Samoro replied.
”I don’t need that. Specifically, it’s about the social gathering Tina held the other day. I was told by you that everything was settled smoothly, wasn’t I?” the Queen asked.
”Are you saying that report was a lie?” the Marquis asked.
”No, I don’t think so, but…” Cecile said.
If he said the matter was settled, there was no room to doubt the result. She had received documents regarding the movement of funds and supplies decided that day, and he was not a man to make such deceptions. However, that might not apply to the process. Did the social gathering truly proceed “smoothly”?
”The owner of the magic item shop ‘Harvest’ was there that day, wasn’t he?” Cecile asked.
”…Yes, he was certainly there,” the Marquis replied.
”I suspect that man might have done something, what do you think?” the Queen asked.
Marquis Samoro made a face as if he had chewed on a bitter insect upon hearing his lord’s words. Challenged so directly, he had no choice but to answer as one who served her. He spoke heavily.
”…It cannot be said that he was the one who ‘did something.’ The ones who moved were the ‘Wives Association⁶,’” the Marquis said.
”Pfft!? The ‘Wives Association’? That ‘Wives Association’!? The one my mother used to join sometimes, holding tea parties and gathering at social events to chatter away…?” Cecile asked.
”Yes, there is no mistake, it is that ‘Wives Association,’” the Marquis replied.
Cecile looked up at the sky again and placed her hand on her forehead. Because she herself did not belong to the “Wives Association,” she had been half-doubting the rumors that it “even moves national politics.” Its members were mainly upper-class wives, and if the magic item shop “Harvest” was involved…
”Are there really that many enthusiasts of that shop…?” Cecile asked.
”…Yes. Or rather, it might be rarer to find someone who has never used its products at all,” the Marquis replied.
”What is happening to the sense of chastity among the women of our country…?” the Queen asked.
”I do not believe that is something Your Majesty should be saying,” the Marquis said.
Cecile glared at the Marquis, who as usual had to have the last word, but he remained unfazed. He wasn’t bothered to begin with, and with the dark circles under her eyes fading, Cecile’s glaring was even less intimidating than before. Losing her patience with her mentor’s unwavering poker face, she asked again.
”Tell me the details,” the Queen said.
”As you command,” the Marquis replied.
And so the Marquis spoke. How Lady Tina had been struggling with the negotiations, how the “Wives Association” heard about Harvest having trouble procuring materials, how they interrupted the negotiations and settled everything, and how he himself had lent a hand.
”In other words, are the ‘wives’ of our country saying they want the northern problem settled quickly because they’re afraid they won’t be able to get Harvest’s products…?” Cecile asked.
”To put it plainly, that is how it is…” the Marquis replied.
”This is a major problem… You could have told me sooner…” the Queen said.
”Currently, the interests of Your Majesty and the ‘Wives Association’ are not in conflict. It would be a problem to rely on them unnecessarily. Above all, did you expect me to report this story to you with a straight face?” the Marquis replied.
”Well, that might be true, but…” Cecile said.
Cecile racked her brain. Lady Tina Badcage, the magic item shop “Harvest,” and the “Wives Association.” Points she had never dreamed would connect were forming a line. She had no choice but to tell him everything and consult him. Or rather, she didn’t want to keep it to herself.
”Actually, it seems Tina stayed overnight at ‘Harvest’ and returned home in the morning…” Cecile said.
”…Huh!?” the Marquis said.
This time, it was the Marquis who let out a dumbfounded sound. Like Cecile, his understanding failed to keep up, and he stood with his mouth agape, doubting his own ears and his lord’s mouth. However, Cecile’s following words did not change.
”As I said, it seems Tina stayed at ‘Harvest’ and returned home in the morning. It’s likely—highly likely—that she ‘slept’ with the shopkeeper…” the Queen said.
”Wh-what…!? She is the daughter of the highest-ranking noble in our country!? Th-that girl, with the owner of that ridiculous shop…!!??” the Marquis shouted.
Marquis Samoro, who valued tradition and authority and was somewhat stubborn, was even more shocked than Cecile. He desperately tried to process it, but his confusion overflowed and he couldn’t pull his thoughts together.
”Hey, Marquis Samoro, Prime Minister, my mentor. Doesn’t this mean the Badcage family has effectively won the ‘Wives Association’ over to their side…? I don’t think Tina harbors any ill intent, but she might end up with every woman in the country on her side…” Cecile asked.
Even when asked, Marquis Samoro was unable to give an answer…”
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Summary:
Queen Cecile learns from her maid Muse that Lady Tina Badcage stayed the night at Kento’s shop, Harvest. Surprised and concerned, the Queen summons Prime Minister Samoro to discuss the recent social gathering. Samoro reveals that the ‘Wives Association’ intervened in political negotiations to protect the supply of Harvest’s adult goods. The chapter ends with both the Queen and the Prime Minister reeling from the realization that Tina may have slept with Kento, potentially shifting the nation’s political balance.
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Character Insight:
This chapter highlights the contrast between Queen Cecile’s regal responsibilities and her personal proximity to the ‘Harvest’ shop’s influence. While she is regaining her health (implied to be through Kento’s items), she is still bound by noble decorum and political stability. Marquis Samoro’s reaction demonstrates the sheer weight of noble tradition; to him, a Duke’s daughter staying with a common shopkeeper is a scandal that threatens the very social hierarchy he has spent his life defending. The realization that political problems are being solved by a group of wives motivated by ‘adult goods’ adds a layer of absurd realism to the power dynamics of the kingdom.
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Behind the Scene:
The ‘Wives Association’ (Fujinkai) is a common trope in Japanese media representing the hidden but formidable power of gossip and social networking among upper-class women. The author uses this to show how Kento’s seemingly ‘ridiculous’ shop is actually infiltrating the highest levels of the state’s power structure.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Muse – Cecile’s trusted attendant and chief maid, Muse handles sensitive, discreet tasks like espionage and product acquisition. Have sharp, black eyes, wearing maid uniform, and have expressionless face.
• Cecile – A high-ranking, powerful woman in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Samoro – A middle-aged Marquis and Prime Minister with a lot of white hair, a magnificent mustache, and luxurious attire. He is a key figure in the court who has supported the Queen since her enthronement.
• Tina Badcage – Silver-haired, red-eyed woman with a very formal, old-fashioned way of speaking, often ending sentences with ‘no ja’. She is the only daughter of the Duke Badcage, tasked with guarding the North for the Canaria Royal Family. She is described as a beauty. Her inexperience suggests a slender build, and her dress is likely formal and aristocratic, though not explicitly stated.
• Soi – An old professor from Ajire seminary, the first to raise a question. Looks like wizardly.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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