第６７４堀：ね？ 簡単でしょう？ (Part1)
Chapter 674: See? It’s Easy, Right?
See? It’s Easy, Right?
Side: Cleena, Yuki’s wife. I will crush anyone who gets in our way.
“Man, the view from the sky is always something else.”
“...Mm.”
We are currently riding in a basket carried by Wai-chan, piloted by Amanda, heading toward August. We’re enjoying the sight of the sunrise together along the way.
No matter how many times I see it, it’s an incredible spectacle—the breathtaking beauty of nature where morning and night intermingle.
It’s a wonder of the world beyond the books Yuki once showed me.
Even someone like me, who lacks an artistic eye, finds this scene deeply moving.
And I think to myself, over and over, that meeting Yuki was the best thing that ever happened to me.
...Life has its ups and its downs.
Watching the sky, I’m reminded of a book that wrote exactly that.
For me, the best part of life is, of course, meeting Yuki.
Since meeting him, the world that once existed only in books has crumbled away, and I can see a much larger world now.
And above all, I have the best husband in the world.
I’ve made many friends, too. Samantha, my classmate whom I used to think was annoying, actually has a very nice pair of breasts. As someone who is quite flat-chested, I was a little jealous, but looking at them calmly, they seem more like a hindrance than anything—especially when they bounce around with every movement. That must be incredibly bothersome in battle.
Well, I’m still a member of the Flat-Chest Alliance led by Riel, though.
That’s just one small part of it. We’ve had children, and we’ve overcome various hardships together with Yuki.
However, as expected, life isn’t just about fun.
Right now is a perfect example. My homeland is trying to resolve its problems by dragging Yuki and my friends into the mix.
Using me as bait. And this is after they promised me they would never use me as a pawn again.
I want to tell them to go to hell.
I didn’t marry Yuki to hold him back. I married him to live by his side, to travel to the ends of the earth with my friends, and to see things I’ve never seen before!!
Yet... a sense of discomfort fills my chest... and I recall the events of last night.
“Understood. Please, I leave it to you.”
“Yeah. I’ll send my scouts over there. Just tell them the locations of VIPs like old man Feigel, and their safety should be secured.”
I wish the discussion with Princess Inis had ended simply...
“Thank you for everything, truly. That we can be saved like this is all thanks to Cleena. She found herself a wonderful husband.”
When Princess Inis said that, something inside me snapped. I pushed Yuki aside and shouted at the crystal ball.
“Don’t mess with us!! Dragging me and Yuki into this... I will make you pay for this!! I am not a pawn of August!! You were the one who promised me that wouldn’t happen!! You liar!! I’ll absolutely crush—”
Before I could finish saying I’d crush her, Samantha covered my mouth and pulled me away.
“Cleena-san, please calm down. You mustn’t go any further. Princess Inis is our ally. Nothing good will come from insulting her. Think of old man Feigel as well. Please, be rational.”
Guh...
“...Is Cleena there as well?”
“Yeah. It would be strange for the diplomat of that country not to be present when heading to August, wouldn’t it?”
“That is true. ...Cleena. I believe your anger is justified. It is the fault of our royal family. I am sorry.”
Princess Inis apologized honestly.
“However, just as Cleena has things she treasures and wants to protect, I, too, have things I treasure and want to protect. This country.”
“...So, you’re saying you chose the country over your promise to me? Breaking the rules like this will only lose you trust. Or rather, for me, I can no longer respect August as my homeland. You’re only thinking about using me as bait and manipulating Yuki and everyone else for your own convenience.”
“...I am prepared for that. We have already lost trust, in any case. And if we stand idly by now, the situation will only worsen. Even if you curse me as a coward, I will use my connection with Cleena to ask for Lord Yuki’s help.”
Princess Inis answered my accusations with resolve.
That’s right, she has no other choice.
My head understood that. But I couldn’t help but feel frustrated...
“Well, I understand your situation, but my wife is furious. You’d better think of a proper apology.”
“...Understood. Then, I look forward to your arrival.”
That was how the meeting at the academy ended.
My own incompetence is painful.
*Sigh.* I’m not some idiot who knows nothing about politics anymore. And yet, I couldn’t hold back.
What happened this time couldn’t be helped, and I’m certain Yuki wouldn’t cast me aside over something like this.
Well, that’s exactly why I can’t forgive them—the problem lies with the Duke faction members who don’t know how the world works; it’s not just Princess Inis’s fault.
“Hey, Cleena. You’ll lose your stamina if you stay in the wind too long.”
“Mm. Going back.”
Noticed by Yuki’s voice, I realized the sun had fully risen, and the time when morning and night blended was over.
My body was chilled to the bone, so I clung to Yuki for warmth as I returned to the basket.
“Oh, you’re back. Come on, get into the kotatsu quickly.”
Amanda beckoned me toward the kotatsu.
There was no reason to refuse, so I slipped into the spot Yuki had opened up for me.
It was the “Yuki-chair,” a seat the wives drool over, often occupied by little ones like Labyris.
“Phew...”
And then, the paradise of the kotatsu, warming me from my toes up.
I think I’m experiencing the height of luxury right now.
For this moment, I don’t have to think about August.
As I slumped down like a certain panda, Yuki opened his mouth.
“Well then, we’ve passed the village we stopped at before, and we’re moving at a much faster pace than planned. We should reach the royal capital of August by noon today.”
That’s right. We left while it was still dark, and we’re traveling at quite a speed—not quite Wai-chan’s full throttle, but fast nonetheless.
Amidst this, the one looking anxious is Amanda, Wai-chan’s companion—no, her master.
“Um, Headmaster. Is it really okay to head to August at this speed? Did you let them know we’d be arriving early? They’ll be in a panic!”
As she said, if you want to be considerate of the other party, arriving on schedule is important.
However, there’s no need to be considerate of them this time.
“Ah, Amanda. That’s the goal this time.”
“That... you mean arriving early?”
“That’s not all. We’re going to do things that will generally make them angry.”
“Eh!? Why!?”
“Are you asking that now? We decided at yesterday’s meeting with Princess Inis to support the current royal faction. To uphold that contract, we absolutely must have our negotiations with the Duke faction fall through. Well, they’ve been looking down on us from the start, so there’s no need to worry. It’s just a case of being extra careful.”