Chapter 214: Being Allowed into the Bath

Once the maid withdrew and Lily and I were alone at last, we could finally talk about Maxim’s coup from earlier.

"Lily, about Maxim... that’s amazing."

"Do you mean that it was suppressed surprisingly quickly? Or that the Mainz Kingdom already knew about it?"

"Ah, sorry. The latter. As for the suppression, I thought that with Lord Richelieu there he would somehow manage it."

Even so, there had been a time in the past when I wondered whether I should return to the capital once.

"Yes. In addition, Her Majesty the Queen is also present."

At Lily’s words I thought "eh?" and said,

"Nn? Her Majesty the Queen? Is Her Majesty that amazing a person?"

"Yes, most certainly! The face Her Majesty shows Robby-sama is almost always a gentle smile like a mother looking at her child, yet from my sense it is the two of them — Richelieu and Her Majesty the Queen — who move the Marie Kingdom."

"Is that so!?"

"Yes!"

She asserted it. Yes.

Uuun... from my perspective Her Majesty looks only like a woman rather than a mother? The Her Majesty who took me in her mouth inside the carriage... if there had been more time I would have liked her to ride me as well... having her drink from both the upper and lower mouths — what a pity. No, no, no, I ended up thinking something improper. And Stevie, I’m sorry.

"Leaving Her Majesty aside, the fact that information reaches here from the capital in two days is a threat."

At my words Lily also nodded.

"Truly. I was also surprised."

"Even if I ran, I could not cover the distance from the capital to here in two days."

"Indeed. Even in the Mainz Kingdom, thinking common-sensically, I do not believe they are having a single person run all the way from the capital to here."

"Right. That means there is some relay point somewhere."

Even if there is a relay point, when people see someone hurrying so much along the highway they would all be surprised. Just how did they transport the information? Triplets at capital → relay point → checkpoint connected by telepathy? No, then the relay point would be unnecessary.

Ignoring my deep contemplation Lily said,

"I believe that is the case. As expected the Mainz Kingdom is impressive. They place far more importance on information than the Marie Kingdom."

She spoke as if she understood, but that goes for both of us.

"Still, even if there is a Mainz Kingdom information-network relay point in some town, the fact that information from the Marie Kingdom enters the Mainz Kingdom quickly is a welcome thing for me as well."

Lily laughed lightly and said in a small voice "You’re forcing the ’I’ again," but I ignored that and continued,

"Anyway, the Marie Kingdom’s contact network is as good as nonexistent, so it is better to rely on the Mainz Kingdom’s information. I have to become friendly with the important people higher up in the Mainz Kingdom so that I can receive information quickly."

Lily still looked amused and said,

"Yes, yes, exactly as you say."

Somehow it was a perfunctory way of agreeing.

"By the way, Robby-sama."

Lily’s face became formal as she spoke.

"What is it?"

"Last night I was carried away and ended up being held, but from today I will properly observe mourning."

Eh? Observe mourning — what is that? Isn’t it only the prayers? I didn’t want that topic brought up. I had planned to leave it vague and somehow continue tonight as well!

"Hah!? What? Is offering prayers at mealtimes not enough?"

I asked with a deliberately surprised tone. Lily, while wearing a tightly drawn face, said,

"I think that may be fine for Robby-sama, but I will observe mourning and must decline Robby-sama’s invitations."

"Eh, something like that!?"

What a murderous thing to say! In that case, procure from elsewhere — that is only a cry inside my heart.

"Let us endure it!"

Lily said with a composed face.

"My dick might explode?"

I seriously think so.

"Does it explode if you don’t?"

Lily said with a face looking down on me.

"Yeah, when it seems about to explode I have erotic dreams, and when I wake up it has exploded inside my underpants."

Lily looked dumbfounded at what I said.

"If it’s only that much, isn’t it fine? After all, I will be the one washing Robby-sama’s underpants."

Even if that is so!?

"Eeeeh, if it continues too long it might really explode!!"

At my scream-like cry Lily snorted with laughter and said coldly,

"I have never heard of a story in which a dick exploded and someone died, so it will be fine."

"...Lily, is this business of refraining while observing mourning a general practice? Do all the nobles do it?"

"No, I do not know. Refraining while observing mourning is my personal feeling."

She said it easily.

"Hah!? Is that so? Then isn’t it fine either way?"

"Robby-sama, you must not. Robby-sama also has feelings of mourning for Stevie, do you not?"

She struck a painful point. It is not as if I do not. I have them in abundance.

"Of course I do..."

"Then while we are observing mourning, let us refrain from things that would make us enjoy ourselves."

"...Yeah."

In the end I was talked around. Certainly there is a part of me that thinks that is right, so I have no choice but to obey. Anyway, I will endure as I am told.

And yet in the evening a maid came and said with an innocent smile,

"The preparations for the bath are complete. I will guide you to the bathroom."

"Understood. Then Robby-sama, let us head to the bathroom. (Toward the maid) Would you guide us?"

When Lily responded the maid answered energetically,

"Yes!"

turned around with a kuru, and went out of the room.

I was empty-handed; Lily was carrying the bathing set. Soap and towels and such — are they placed in the bathhouse? If the soldiers here also enter, would it be a large bath? A room like a spa resort? Expectations rise!

Yet the place we were guided to was something like a family bath. According to the maid it was a bath for distinguished guests staying here on their way to the Marie Kingdom. Uuun, when those distinguished guests see such a cute maid, don’t they feel like laying hands on her? Completely unnecessary worry.