The
Square of Two-Faced 1
Changes: Ashren's older brother is a
diplomat and is often away!
「Ashren-sama, I am going to change clothes,
so please wait a moment.」
Returning
to the separate estate after finishing work, I hurriedly opened the front door.
Ashren-sama casually said, "You can
stay in those clothes," but since we are having dinner with Marquis
Naturi's family at the main residence today, I can't just do that.
I
mostly wear simple clothes for work, and the clothes I am wearing now don't
have cute things like frills or lace. Since they get dirty often, I choose dark
colors for the skirts, so to be honest, it's quite plain. If you bring your
nose close, even though they are washed clean, the ingrained smell of medicinal
herbs hasn't faded.
I
will make a powerful deodorizer, I thought, clenching my fist, when Ashren-sama
approached. Before I could even wonder what he was doing, I sensed him sniffing
around my shoulder with a sniff.
「I like it, though. Both your sweet
scent, Layla, and the fragrance of the medicinal herbs.」
「~~!! I am going to change!」
Pushing
his shoulder away with a bright red face, I ran up the stairs with that
momentum.
To
Ashren-sama, it's a meal with his older brother, but to me, it is a
dinner with my fiancé's older brother and his wife. We have had tea together
before, but since both of them are busy, this is our first time having a meal
together. Even I know that this outfit is inappropriate for the occasion.
This
time they are staying for a long time, which is rare, and it's nice that they
invited us saying they have time, but what should I wear? A dress meant for an
evening banquet would be disproportionate for a family meal, but the day
dresses I own might be too casual.
At
times like this... I headed to the third floor, opened the closet Ashren-sama
prepared for me, and chose a pale blue one-piece dress from inside. The white
collar and cuffs had pink flower embroidery, and the gently spreading skirt was
adorable.
Removing
my necklace, I placed the ring that was hanging on the chain back onto my left
hand. Just as I was about to lightly dab on some face powder, an energetic
voice came from downstairs.
「Ashren-samaaa, Layla, I came to
pick you up!」
Just
as I thought the energetic footsteps running up the stairs were getting closer,
there was a knock on the door. Answering with a "Yes," I saw Karin-chan,
with sweat beading on her forehead, looking up at me while panting.
「Hurry, hurry!」
「I understand. You went out of your
way to come pick us up, didn't you.」
「Because I just couldn't wait!」
Led
by the hand down the stairs, Ashren-sama, who had been leaning his back
against the front door in the same clothes as before, narrowed his eyes
slightly when he saw me and straightened up.
「Sorry to keep you waiting.」
「I don't mind. I returned the
carriage to the stables, so let's walk. The food will taste better if we empty
our stomachs a bit.」
「Yes. That being said, I am so
nervous I wonder if I will be able to eat.」
「It is my brother and his wife, whom
you have already met a few times. They are going to become your family, Layla,
so there's no need to feel pressured... Whoa, Karin, you will trip if
you run.」
Ashren-sama chased after Karin-chan,
who had started running with a tatta. Then, as if enjoying it, Karin-chan
started running even faster. Perhaps she is more excited than usual because her
father and mother are staying at the mansion for a long time.
In
the twilight, I headed toward the main residence as if chasing after the backs
of the two running ahead.
The
only people in the dining room we were guided to were the Marquis Naturi
couple.
It
seems the Director has a dinner meeting with a merchant company she
knows. I'm sure it's about the aroma candles.
「Now, please sit down. Layla-san
over there, and Ashren over there.」
Managing
the situation with a glamorous smile was my future sister-in-law, Catherine-san.
Tying her brown hair into a round bun at the back of her neck, she briskly gave
instructions to the maids. As expected of the assistant to the diplomat older
brother, her efficiency is excellent.
My
future brother-in-law, Claude-sama, had Karin-chan on his lap and
was talking happily. His blonde hair, the same as Karin-chan's, was
trimmed short, and his slightly drooping light-blue eyes narrowed even more
gently... in short, he is completely doting on his beloved daughter. When the
food was lined up on the table, prompted by Catherine-san, Karin-chan
also sat in her own seat.
Claude-sama picked up his glass, thought
for a moment with an "Uun," and then raised his glass saying,
"Well, anyway, cheers."
Catherine-san offered me alcohol, but before
I could, Ashren-sama declined for me, and I was handed orange juice.
Since drinking at the villa, for some reason, I have been forbidden from
drinking alcohol. Even though it was delicious.
Claude-sama is six years older than Ashren-sama;
he had been dating Catherine-san since their academy days, and they
apparently got engaged upon graduation. Usually they would marry immediately,
but due to Catherine-san's strong desire, I heard she worked as Claude-sama's
secretary for several years before they married. Unlike the Jilgista Kingdom,
where parents decide on a fiancé while in their teens, in the Kanista
Kingdom, it is common to get engaged to someone you met during your academy
days or after entering society. Aside from the long engagement period, theirs
is a typical encounter and marriage for the Kanista Kingdom.
I
was nervous at first, but the stories the two told about foreign countries were
very interesting, the food was delicious, and halfway through, I was laughing
out loud.
Although
Claude-sama's eye color is the same as Ashren-sama's, his facial
features and personality are completely different. In contrast to Ashren-sama's
handsome, prince-like face, Claude-sama has a sturdy build. The
communication skills to laugh heartily and immediately open up to anyone are truly
befitting a diplomat.
「Then, did the two of you travel all
the way to the western continent?」
「That's right. The culture is
completely different from ours, making it fascinating. From now on, rare items
such as jewelry, liquor, and medicine will be coming into the Kanista
Kingdom.」
「Medicine! I am looking forward to
that.」
At
my involuntary leaning forward, Ashren-sama and Claude-sama burst
out laughing at the same time.
「Layla, normally, that is where one would
show interest in the jewelry.」
「But it is rare medicine, you know.
Don't you want to see it?」
「Well, that's just like you, Layla.」
Resting
his elbow on the table and supporting his chin with his hand, Ashren-sama
spilled a wry smile. I wonder if the alcohol at hand is his third glass.
「That's right. We have some spoils
from that time; I'm sure you will be pleased, Layla-san.」
Saying
"Please excuse me for a moment," Catherine-san took Karin-chan,
who had sleepily started nodding off, and left the room. After a while, she
returned hugging a thick book to her chest.
「I left Karin with the maids.
It's this, what do you think?」
Placed
on the table was a black book. Bound with a cloth cover and tied with string on
the left side, it was made differently from the books I know.
「May I look inside?」
「Of course.」
Urged
by her gaze, I flipped the page, and the first page had a list of letters and
numbers. Because it's foreign text, I don't know what it says, but I wonder if
it's something like a table of contents. Turning a few more pages, this time there
were drawings of plants, mortars, pots, and such. Below that, closely packed
text that I again couldn't understand.
Could
this perhaps be...
「Are the instructions for making
medicine written here?」
「Yes, that's right. It seems they
also incorporate medicinal herbs into their meals in that country, so I suppose
the latter half is closer to a cookbook.」
Catherine-san turned the pages and showed me
the latter part. Judging from the pictures, I feel it certainly does look like
cooking.
「In this country, we also incorporate
medicinal herbs into our cooking like herbs. I ate it too, and well, it has a
unique flavor, but I felt like it was good for the body.」
Does
that mean the taste is a bit questionable? As I thought that, Claude-sama
spoke up from beside her, "Your stomach felt better, didn't it," and
was glared at by Catherine-san.
「Can you read these letters, Catherine-san?」
「Yes. I act as both a secretary and
an interpreter. The number of languages I can speak is more than Claude.」
Amazing.
Hearing her talk, she can apparently read ten languages, and has no trouble
conversing in seven of them.
Is
she calling him familiarly by the name Claude because they have been
friends since their academy days? Come to think of it, Flora-san calls
him Tick too. I felt a cultural difference even in a place like this.
「Sister-in-law, you mentioned
'spoils' earlier; what did you do?」
「Fufu, just a little something with a
foreign diplomat.」
At
Catherine-san, who smiled meaningfully, Claude-sama rubbed his
forehead and made a sour expression as if remembering it. Realizing that Catherine-san,
who was only smiling, wouldn't explain, Ashren-sama directed his gaze at
Claude-sama.
「Brother, what happened?」
「That diplomat—though he has royal
blood, so his position isn't much different from mine—but he kept praising Catherine
and flattering her.」
Clicking
his tongue with a "Tch," he continued his story: apparently, the
diplomat requested a dance at the party held that night.
「Dear, that was something like lip
service. He is the type of person who thinks he must praise women if they are
nearby. He's just taking on the role of a clown to liven up the surroundings.」
「I know. He is quite a malicious
clown. And yet he is terrifyingly sharp-minded, so I can't let my guard down.」
Even
though it was just a dance, it seems Claude-sama didn't like the man.
Whether knowing her husband's feelings or not, Catherine-san apparently
challenged him to a match.
「Sister-in-law, that match couldn't
possibly have been...」
「Yes, just as you guessed, a drinking
contest.」
At
Catherine-san's words, Ashren-sama dropped his head in dismay. Eh,
I thought, and looked; in front of Catherine-san were several empty wine
bottles. Did you drink all of that by yourself? Since when?
「So, how did the opponent do?」
「He tried reasonably hard. But right
around the time the date changed, he went plop.」
Catherine-san laughed, Hohoho. With
that beautiful face, could she really be a bottomless drinker?
「And so, I received this book.」
「Catherine, that's basically equivalent to
saying you snatched it.」
Glancing
sideways at the exasperated Claude-sama, Ashren-sama peered into
the book in my hands. He seemed able to read it somewhat, following the letters
with his eyes.
「I will translate it by your wedding
ceremony, Layla, so please wait for it.」
「Thank you very much. But please
don't push yourself. Ashren-sama seems to understand it too, so...」
「No, I only understand about thirty
percent. Sister-in-law, I also ask for your translation.」
Translating
this much volume should take quite a bit of time. Since she's finally back at
the mansion, I would prefer she make time for Karin-chan, I thought, but
she smiled at me as if she had seen right through that.
「Actually, I translated more than
half of it on the ship. I will finish it by the wedding, so please wait.」
It
seems it's a wedding gift for us. Hmm, giving a book snatched in a drinking
contest as a congratulatory gift to her brother-in-law—Catherine-san is
unexpectedly fierce despite her appearance.
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