Magic Gems Gourmet

Chapter 267

TN: Please read my translations only on my website since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi and Patreon to read several chapters ahead!

Sponsored chapter by our Patreon. Enjoy~

ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 267 – Little by Little

On the morning the gate opened, Chris was in a terrible mood.

This had nothing to do with Arche, but rather an unexpected and unpleasant visitor.

“Please leave. Ain-sama is resting.”

This exchange took place just outside the gate of the mansion. A member of the royal knights had called Chris because they were having trouble dealing with someone.

The royal knights began to tense up. This was because Chris’s mood was gradually entering dangerous territory.

“My master is a nobleman. As such, he has the right to petition the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, I am aware of that. After all, Ain-sama is the crown prince, but he is also the lord of Strohm.”

“Then!”

“However, that doesn’t mean it’s possible at any time. Let me repeat: although the Crown Prince is the lord of this area, he is still the Crown Prince. Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult to even speak to him.”

The attitudes of both sides remained unchanged, and they continued to argue.

“C… Christina-sama seems to be in a bad mood.”

“Well, of course she is. It’s about His Highness, after all. The one Christina-sama has feelings for.”

Away from them, the royal knights were talking among themselves.

The reason for this situation was the Ist Trading Company that the guild master had mentioned.

First, a man from a certain baron’s household arrived and requested a petition for Ain.

No, he said it wasn’t a petition; he wanted a chance to speak directly.

This baron’s household was a noble family with close ties to the Ist Trading Company.

Ultimately, they asked to participate in the aforementioned festival.

“My lord has something to say to His Highness that will benefit Isthalika. For the future development of Strohm, we would greatly appreciate it if he could spare some time.”

“That is wonderful. Please send a letter to the Crown Prince’s assistant. We will review it and get back to you.”

“We must not miss this opportunity. What do you say? Even if it’s just a little time…”

Irritation.

The only word that crossed Chris’s mind was “irritation.”

She knew she shouldn’t think such things, but she couldn’t help it.

What is this mere baron’s messenger talking about?

“Nothing can be decided immediately. Especially when it concerns the future of Ishitalika.”

“Let me put it another way. A knight cannot interrupt a baron arbitrarily.”

He must have been irritated as well because he said it with a frown. However, Chris replied without hesitation.

“Hmph… Tell that rude baron to come himself instead of sending a messenger. Tell him to come back another time.”

It was normally considered improper for a noble to visit someone without warning.

In this case, however, some would say that he should send a messenger.

However, since Ain was of such a high rank, a more careful approach was necessary.

First, he should have sent a letter to arrange a time and prepare the groundwork.

Even though Ain was easy to get along with and was the crown prince who could go out alone, it was a different story when it came to business.

Chris thought this to herself, but this was simply common sense.

From her perspective, it was understandable that she would think Ain was being taken lightly.

Even though he was a new lord before his coronation, there were certain things they had to be careful about. She wanted to tell them as much.

“First of all, I am Ain-sama’s personal bodyguard and captain of the Royal Knights. I don’t have a title, but my authority is equivalent to that of a count.”

“…Are you saying that you are higher in rank than my lord?”

“No, I’m just trying to tell you that I have my own authority.”

Even if Ain and Olivia called her clumsy, that didn’t change the fact that she was a talented woman.

In fact, it would be more honorable for her to admit that she lets her guard down around those close to her.

She replied in a strong tone, and the messenger was taken aback by her forcefulness.

“Even so, just one word to the Crown Prince…”

But the messenger was persistent.

Chris thought about this, but something about him bothered her.

Why was he so impatient? Why was he so aggressive?

She had never seen a noble messenger act this way before.

After all, he was dealing with the hero who had defeated the sea dragon and brought down Heim.

It was strange that he could be so persistent with someone with so many nicknames.

Chris thought for a moment. The next moment, the man took a step forward, approaching Chris and entering the grounds of the mansion.

The guards immediately drew their swords.

This was not allowed under any circumstances, so the royal knights drew their swords.

“No further advance!”

“This is a warning. If you take another step forward, we will consider you to be acting with treasonous intent.”

Although the location and scale were different, this place was, in a sense, the second castle of Ishtalika.

If he entered without permission, the consequences would be obvious.

The royal knights’ swords were pressed against the man’s neck and chest.

“We do not wish to defile Ain-sama’s mansion. There is no point in continuing this. Please leave.”

Chris said.

The man trembled with tension and fear, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

As a servant, he could not disobey his master’s orders, but the same was true for the royal knights.

Their job was to protect the people living in the mansion.

The royal knights finally sheathed their swords as he slowly backed away with trembling legs.

“First, send a letter. That is all I have to say.”

“…I will take my leave for today.”

Realizing there was nothing more to say, the man got into a nearby waiting carriage.

He urged the driver to hurry and soon disappeared from the area.

Rustle, rustle.

“C-could it be an intruder?”

Suddenly, a noise came from the nearby bushes.

Thinking the man from earlier may have done something, the royal knight hurried over.

“No-nya! It’s me-nya!”

It was none other than their first princess, Katima, who hurriedly emerged from behind the bushes.

What were you doing there? Chris sighed deeply.

“May I ask what you were doing there?”

“Nya? Of course! I was just listening because it sounded like an interesting conversation-nya.”

She said this as if it were obvious, standing proudly with her hands on her hips.

“Well, anyway, is that the Alberro Baron’s family-nya?”

“Eh, Princess Katima? Did you know whose messenger that man was?”

“Of course I know-nya. He was wearing the family crest proudly-nya.”

She’s surprisingly observant. Or rather, she was listening closely and seeing things differently.

Maybe she was not an ordinary Cait Sith after all.

“By the way, what did you mean by that?”

“It’s a family that makes stupid requests to the guild-nya, so I remember it well-nya.”

“A stupid request to the guild?”

“Huh? You don’t know-nya? You’ve been to the guild with Ain a few times, haven’t you-nya?”

Hmm, was there such a request? Chris put her hand to her lips and thought hard.

She tilted her head and repeated the name, “Baron Alberro,” to herself. Finally, she understood what it meant.

“There was, wasn’t there? I think it was about a dog named Max who ran away…”

“That’s right-nya!”

She remembered finding the story when she first visited the guild with Ain.

Satisfied with her answer, she continued.

“So, how did you know about that, Katima-sama?”

“I went there, too. I took Dill with me to see what it was like.”

“…Why did you bother doing that?”

Chris was amazed, confirming once again how free-spirited Katima was.

Dill must have tried to stop her many times, but he finally gave in to her enthusiasm.

“But it’s strange-nya. Before we got any information from Lili, they mentioned the Ist Trading Company-nya. Isn’t that strange-nya?”

Katima said it was strange, but she spoke with a certain degree of conviction.

She wasn’t making any definitive statements, and Chris understood that.

“You’re right.”

“I can sense the flow of money-nya. If they’ve been close for a long time, then it’s already been investigated-nya.”

She implied that they had only recently become involved and that there was no public relationship.

“You mean it smells fishy? Then we should tell Ain-sama right away…”

“No, there’s no need for that-nya.”

Chris was about to ask Katima why when the answer appeared nearby.

There was a rustling sound from the bushes, and a smug-looking man appeared.

“Actually, I heard it, too.”

Ain said with a dignified expression, but his words lacked conviction.

Chris was simply stunned when he appeared, with several plant leaves in his lustrous brown hair.

In fact, the tension she had been feeling just a moment ago melted away.

“Hmm, but I feel like it’s all connecting: The dragon worship, the fake egg festival, the Ist Trading Company that appeared there, and the strange baron’s family.”

“Maybe they’re some kind of backing-nya?”

“If there is a connection, that’s a possibility. I was thinking we should have a strategy meeting. Let’s call Lili, too. Hey, Chris? What’s wrong?”

Chris sighed for the umpteenth time.

“Nothing! Hah… They say love is a losing game, and it’s so true…”

She muttered, smiling faintly.

After that, she went over to Ain and took the leaf out of his hair.

“Thanks, Chris.”

“…Come on. You’re the crown prince, so don’t hide in strange places next time, okay?”

“Sorry, sorry,” Ain replied casually. But he had one thought on his mind.

(I wonder if she’s nervous because she knows they’re up against me… That’s a little concerning.)

If you like my translations, please support me on Ko-Fi and subscribe my Patreon to read several chapters ahead!