Vol. 3 - Ch. 122 - Katariona Has an Audience with the Sovereign of Hinoshima
The Falsely Executed Marquis’ Daughter Wants to Live Peacefully with Fluffy GodThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Author-san: Volume 4 will be released around June 14th (TL: so this coming summer~ yay!)
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When we arrived at the lord's palace, we were ushered into a large tatami room.
We were about to meet and greet the lord of the nation.
"Chris, how was the ride in the palanquin?"
"It was okay. I liked the shouting."
The palanquin bearers were shouting, "E-ho! E-ho! I learned from Kikuno-sama.
We sat in a seiza position, as Kikuno-sama had taught us, and waited for the arrival of the sovereign.
After waiting for a while, I heard someone who looked like a steward say, "Our Lord and Her Ladyship have arrived."
I straightened my back and made myself presentable.
A mature man came in from the throne and seemed to be the Lord of Hinoshima, with his wife following behind him.
So these are Tojurou-san's father and mother.
The nation's lord had black hair with a hint of gray, and he looked a lot like Tojurou-san. He was stoutly built and carried the bearing of a warrior.
Her Ladyship is a young and elegant lady. Her glossy black hair was tied up atop her head held by a delicate hairpin.
"You have come a long way to visit us. I am the Lord of Hinoshima, Toujuuin Shiou."
His baritone voice echoed in the room.
"My name is Toujuuin Senju, the Lord of Hinoshima's wife. I apologize for the trouble that my son has brought you."
Her Ladyship greeted us in a gentle, resonant voice.
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity to study abroad. My name is Christina Elaine Vinn Findalia."
"My, your pronunciation is exquisite. So then you are Christina, Princess of the Kingdom of Findalia."
They exchanged a couple of words of greeting.
After the conversation died down, I bowed to greet them.
"My name is Katariona Yurie Grandeur, and I'm also here as an exchange student."
"Ohh--! Relative Yuri-chan. Welcome!"
The one who answered was his Lordship. And, relative Yuri-chan again? Sure, I'm related to the Toujuuin family, but.......
Her ladyship cleared her throat and lifted her eyebrows, which had been drooping.
"I have been told that you are to learn about our culture. Tonight I have arranged a small banquet for you. I shall see you later."
"You must be tired after your long journey. Let me show you to your room. Kikuno, you be so kind?"
"Yes, of course."
Kikuno-sama, who had been escorting us, bowed deeply to the Lord and Lady.
We walked down the long corridor and opened the sliding doors of the room that had been prepared for us, where Leon was already relaxing.
"You guys are late. Kikuno, I'm starving. Do you have any refreshments?"
"Don't you ever show a little restraint?"
Kikuno-sama was taken aback but arranged for tea and sweets.
"This room is separate from the main house, so I hope it will be quiet and comfortable for you. You may not be used to tatami rooms, but there is an outdoor bath in the back that you can use anytime."
I had been shown a tatami room at the embassy of the Kingdom of Findalia, and the igusa* used for making the tatami mats smelled wonderful."
"By the way, Kikuno-sama. When will we start school?"
We came here as exchange students. So we'll be attending school here.
Kikuno-sama chuckled.
"There is no such thing as a school in this country. The two of you will be studying here."
"E-h! Then how did Momoka and Fujino do their studies?"
I wondered the same thing as Chris.
"Momoka-sama and Fujino are already adults, so they usually work. In Findalia, I have entrusted them with the Embassy's work while they continue their studies."
Come to think of it, the age of adulthood in Hinoshima is twelve. Momoka and Fujino-san are thirteen. That means they came of age last year.
"But you study until you come of age, ... right? How did they learn?"
"In the upper-class families, they are taught by tutors. In the city, some people study at a school called Terakoya, Temple Schools, which are run by volunteers. Those who wish to pursue the path of the sword attend a sword school."
"The culture here really is different from that of Findalia, huh."
"Yes. In Hinoshima, childhood is brief, so the mainstream way of life is to study moderately, play moderately, and then work for the rest of one's life. Prodigals like Hikoshiro are rare."
The sliding door was opened roughly, and Tojurou-san strode in unceremoniously.
"Oi! Kikuno, don't make it sound like I'm a deadbeat! I'm working as a teacher at the Magic Academy now."
"Right・now・that is. If you hadn't met Yurie and the others, you would have been wandering aimlessly around the continent. I was about to waste my life being pushed around by you."
Tojurou-san was at a loss for words. She must've gotten right on the money. Leon chuckled.
"Brother Shiro. It's great that you and sister Kiku are as close as ever... But surely you didn't forget about me?"
A boy around our age was leaning against the sliding door, looking at Tojurou-san with a blank expression.
He had a beautiful face, resembling her Ladyship.
"Ah. Rokujou Mutsuki my bad."
The young boy ...... entered the room, closed the sliding door, and bowed, sitting upright in front of us.
It's nice to meet you. I am Toujuuin Rokujou, the fifth son of the Lord of this Nation. I've heard that you young ladies are capable of magic. And direct disciples of Brother Shiro. I'd like to ask you a favor on account of your skills.
"Don't just cut to the chase, Rokujou. That's rude. These guys are guests of honor."
Tojurou-san, who is saying as such, is much more disrespectful than him.
"My name is Christina Elaine Vin Findalia. What can I do for you?
"You are Christina, the first princess of the Kingdom of Findalia? So that means you're relative, Yuri-chan?"
Rokujou-sama tilted his head with a blank expression. It seems that I am relative Yuri-chan in the Toujuuin family. I'll just go with Yuri-chan then.
"...... Yes. I'm Katariona Yurie Grandeur."
"So, now that we've introduced ourselves, let's get down to business."
Rokujou-sama is a straightforward person.
"I need you to go to the Shinano region and look for the dog spirit Komataro."
""Huh--?""
I thought he was going to make a serious announcement, but then he asked me to find the dog. My brain couldn't keep up with what was going on. Chris and my dumb voice overlapped.
"Um, Rokujou-sama. Could you please start from the beginning? Why do we need to find the dog ...... dog spirit?"
"Just Rokujo is fine. We're about the same age, right?"
"I'm thirteen."
"Hm. I'm fifteen, so I'm two years older than you. People from the continent............grow up fast, don't they?"
What's with the pause in the middle?
But the people of Hinoshima country certainly look younger. Tojurou-san and Kikuno-sama look as young as they have always looked from the time we first met.
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T/N: In case you were curious, “Igusa is a perennial plant of the family of igusa. Igusa smells good. It has a fresh, grassy smell. In English, they are called rushes.” https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatami
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TL: Guys~ finally got the Chris tier chapters up and out~ Hope you enjoyed and happy reading! (≧◠ᴥ◠≦) + ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ❣💕