第７５７堀：お茶を飲みながらのお話し (Part1)
Side: Seraria
"Mommy! Welcome home!"
"Yes. I'm home."
Saying that, I picked up Sakura.
It seems she was waiting for me to come home, even though it was quite late already.
"Welcome home, Seraria-sama."
"Yes. I'm back, Kirue. And... Sumire is already asleep, isn't she?"
Sumire, cradled by Kirue, was already breathing softly in her sleep.
"What about the other children?"
"They are already asleep. It's already 11 PM."
"That's right. It's already this late."
I glanced at the clock in the entrance, and it was already past 11:10 PM. The luncheon had ended, and the grand conference had begun, which became extremely heated. Well, it was to be expected, but after briefly discussing future plans, questions about when to discuss trade goods and who had priority became incredibly troublesome. If Ex and White Forest, who are connected behind the scenes, hadn't provided support, I think we'd still be arguing now.
As I was thinking such thoughts, I noticed there was no reaction from Sakura, who should have been in my arms, and looked down.
"Zzz..."
She had fallen asleep.
"It seems she pushed herself."
"Yes, she did. Normally, she sleeps with the other children. Today, she stayed awake, saying she would try her best to greet Seraria-sama."
"I see. Thank you, Sakura. Come, let's put Sumire to bed in the children's room too."
"Yes."
Saying that, I moved to the children's room.
"By the way, what about my husband and Jessica-sama?"
"My husband and Jessica are busy with the aftermath. I handle the official events, but the follow-up, though not entirely unofficial, is their job. Besides, Yuki has more influence in various countries than I do."
"Indeed."
While putting the children to bed, I talked with Kirue about the members who hadn't returned yet. So far, only my husband has traveled across the Logali Continent, If Continent, and the New Continent. I wanted to go with him too, but it's quite difficult in my position as queen. Afterwards, the other country often gets turned upside down, and in the case of the New Continent, it started with the kidnapping of my husband, Milly, and the children, so it could easily have become a casus belli. Because it was my husband, the response to Haiden was handled peacefully, but if it had been us kidnapped instead of him, it wouldn't have been so amicable.
"My husband and I are busy, but we can focus on our work because Kirue and Sasari protect this home. Thank you."
"Those are undeserved words. Moreover, it's not just Sasari's and my strength. The wives also cook and do laundry themselves, and everyone helps out, so it's not much trouble."
"Even so. Our family has grown since Kirue and Shera arrived, and we've had more guests in this house. You've been supporting all of that."
Since Kirue and Shera arrived, the number of wives alone has increased by four: Ria, Jessica, Samantha, and Cleena, and there are 11 children. As for guests, there are Taiki, Taizo, Souta, Enor, and many other gods.
"Yes, it has become lively."
"It was already quite lively from the start, though."
"Yes. This dungeon was an interesting place from the very beginning."
"It was a mass of wonders. And now, it's become the linchpin of intercontinental exchange."
"Yes. It's truly surprising. Did my husband plan all of this?"
"Well, my husband makes plans, but he also adapts flexibly. He might have had a similar vision, but I don't think he perfectly predicted all of this. He still seems reluctant to increase the number of wives."
"Well, if Weed is going to be this prominent, my husband must understand that there will be some political marriages."
"He's trying his best, personally, though."
The current formidable enemy, I suppose, is either my husband's fastidiousness or his excessive care for us. That's the issue.
"Especially for Haiden and Findar, inviting someone in would make future developments easier."
"You'd think so, wouldn't you? They must be hoping we'll accept them. In fact, Carrie is practically begging for Kagura."
"She's quite pitiful to watch..."
There probably isn't anyone as easy to read as her. Being driven into a corner by my husband with logic, strength, and strategy to the point of being speechless honestly feels a lot like my own experience.
"Even so, my husband's feelings..."
"My husband isn't the type to see women as tools. Or rather, it's probably true that he was originally just an ordinary person with no connection to such things."
"That's right. Before, I couldn't quite believe it, but after hearing Taiki and Taizo's stories, I have no choice but to believe it. But it's strange, isn't it? Such a good man just drifting along until he was a good age."
"Let's be glad that the women around him had no discerning eye. Thanks to that, we were able to meet him."
While talking like that, I realized we had returned to the banquet hall.
"Yes, let's be grateful for that. And, Kirue, what about dinner?"
"I've already finished it with the children."
"Then, perhaps you'll rest now?"
"No. I will wait for my husband and the others to return. Sasari is resting early today, so there will be no problem with tomorrow morning."
"I see. Then, would you join me for tea?"
"Yes, gladly. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to hear more about the grand conference."
"And I'd like to hear about the rumors within Weed, so that helps me too."
Kirue is not only our household maid but also entrusted with intelligence activities within Weed. Kirika and her group exist as my husband's intelligence unit, but they've been extremely busy with intelligence on the Logali and If Continents recently, so Kirue has been entrusted with intelligence within Weed. Well, as a maid, gathering information from such rumors brings in intelligence from a completely different direction than Kirika. My husband said, if you want to gather specific information, Kirika. If you want to gather general public information, Kirue.
While I was thinking such thoughts, Kirue finished preparing the tea and came over.
"Thank you for waiting. Today, I've decided on hot green tea."
Steam rose from the teacup she placed, and the pleasant aroma of green tea filled the air.
"Thank you. I'll have some."
I brought the teacup to my lips and drank the tea, drawing in air.
*Slurp...*
It's bad manners to slurp when drinking black tea, but with Japanese tea, making a sound like this is good. And with soba noodles, slurping them like *zuzozozoh* is also good. Some people might say it's bad manners, but that's precisely what feels like Japanese culture. Enjoying with the eyes, enjoying with the taste, and then enjoying with the sound. Japanese food culture is truly profound.
"Now, first, I'll explain about the grand conference. Oh, before that, no country dared to disrespect me just because I'm a woman."
"Is that so? I heard that Haiden and Findar have strong patriarchal tendencies, but there was nothing?"
"Yes. There were some who looked displeased in the back, but they kept quiet when glared at by the others. If they had enough guts to speak up there, they'd be building their own country."
"Indeed. So, you don't think there will be any obstacles in future meetings?"