The play had ended and Mitsuha gave Beatrice an enthusiastic high five. Beatrice had just changed into a normal ball gown (made by the degenerate dressmaker).
“Perfectamundo!” Mitsuha rejoiced.
“Hehe!” Beatrice was positively glowing. She’d just finished her high-stakes mission and absolutely nailed it. Her confidence was fully restored. There was no more reason to worry about her.
That said, while her part in the play might’ve finished, her night was far from over. She was the belle of the ball and had much more to do.
“Beatrice!”
Mitsuha turned around and saw Sabine approaching.
“You’re going to be my court lady? I’m so happy!”
“That wasn’t real!” Mitsuha and Beatrice exclaimed together.
It seemed like Sabine was confusing the play with a real announcement of some kind.
I made Beatrice the third princess’s court lady in the play based on her experience as Sabine’s tutor in real life, but she’s not actually going to join her court. Come on, Sabine… You should’ve seen enough Japanese media by now to be able to tell fact from fiction…
The three girls were currently in a nook beneath the stage. Beatrice needed to return to the party to mingle with the guests as soon as she was done changing. That meant she didn’t have any time to dawdle.
“Beatrice, ignore Sabine and go back to the party!”
“Got it!”
“Hey! You guys are mean!”
Today’s top priority is Beatrice. Sabine couldn’t matter less in comparison…and she understands that. She’s just nagging us because she knows Beatrice is going to have my full attention today and is looking for a way to involve herself somehow.
Mitsuha knew that if they engaged with Sabine, they’d be stuck with her for a while.
Beatrice ventured into the fray. The plan was for her to walk around to greet the adults at each table and socialize with the children.
The food and drinks had been prepared without issue. Mitsuha hired Marcel and his team, and a few of Viscount Ryner’s servants to help with the cooking and ensure no one was overwhelmed with tasks. She provided them with plenty of ingredients, so they’d be able to deal with any unforeseen circumstances. There was nothing to be concerned about on that front.
One of Mitsuha’s goals this time was to give Marcel the experience of working without her, as she’d gotten involved with the cooking at Adelaide’s party. The Bozeses’ chefs took the lead, but Marcel had slightly more experience with Yamano Cuisine. It was a great opportunity for Marcel and the Bozeses’ head chef─who was much older than him─to learn from each other.
Perfectamundo!
All Mitsuha had to do was walk around and survey the party to make sure there were no problems until it was time for the next item on the schedule.
All right, I should get moving too!
“You’re free to stay here, Sabine, but I’m going back out to the party.”
“O-Oh, wait for me!”
The tables were set with food and drinks all over the courtyard. Servers were weaving through them with trays full of drinks.
The sky had grown completely dark, yet the courtyard was well lit. Several of the guests were surprised by the brightness, but those who were familiar with the LED flashlights sold at Mitsuha’s General Store were unfazed. Military associates and people from the royal palace were explaining how the lights worked to the newcomers.
Mitsuha sold LED flashlights for an expensive enough price that the military wouldn’t be able to buy them in bulk. Making them a luxury item was the best way to ensure they wouldn’t all end up in the government’s hands. Only nobles and other wealthy people were able to afford a small quantity. If a real war ever broke out, the military may end up purchasing a couple for the sentries or to use as night signals.
Anyway, food and refreshments were on the tables─but not too much. There was a good reason for that. The promise Mitsuha made to Beatrice after Adelaide’s ball was “an electrical parade, a fireworks show, and food stalls for Beatrice’s debut.”
Mitsuha hired Kunz, who called on his apprentices and fellow carpenters to build the stalls. The stage was also their creation. The food stalls were simple wooden structures instead of authentic yatai stalls, so they didn’t cost much to make. The booths were going to be taken apart after the party so the wood could be reused.
Each stall was being operated by a servant who’d been trained to make one food item. The actual cooks were busy making the regular party dishes and had no time to help with the stalls.
What about the orphans’ popcorn stall, you ask? I couldn’t exactly bring the orphans to a debutante ball and work them like dogs. We do have popcorn, though. One of the servants is running that stall.
The menu included pizza, hot dogs, skewered meat, candy apples, cotton candy, sponge cakes, sushi, tempura, takoyaki, ikayaki, yakitori, yakisoba, etc. Some of the items like tempura, takoyaki, and cotton candy required equipment from Earth to make. Mitsuha rented or bought them, along with propane gas tanks and power generators. She taught the servants to make everything else with ingredients from this world. The locals need to make some money too.
The food at the stalls were free, of course. It was part of the planned menu, just presented differently.
Mitsuha knew that the attendees either wouldn’t understand how to eat the street food or might be afraid to try new things. She decided to combat this by planting actors. The Ryners, the Bozeses, and other acquaintances were asked to sample the food beforehand and then react positively at the party as if it was their first time. That would encourage the other guests to try a bite.
Mitsuha stepped back and observed. Adelaide was walking around the stalls with a crowd of followers. Theodore was eating skewered meat. Unassuming guests slowly began to gather around the food stalls. Good. Good, good, all good!
Where’s Beatrice─there she is!
Beatrice is intact. She’s before me, port side. …Stop it, Mitsuha. She’s not the Exelion!
Wait a minute─
To Mitsuha’s horror, Beatrice was surrounded by a massive crowd of guys. A good number of them were in the “geezer” age bracket. She couldn’t tell if they were introducing themselves with the goal of simply forming a connection with the Bozes family or if they were more romantically inclined.
Well, many noble marriages are set up for political reasons, so it’s not uncommon for partners to be two or three decades apart in age. That said, I’d raze this kingdom to the ground before I let that happen to Beatrice! I’m sure Count Bozes, Lady Iris, Alexis, and Theodore feel the same way.
Besides, Beatrice would never accept that kind of marriage. She’s seen how much dumb fun Sabine, Colette, and I have together, and she’s just acquired her shiny new toy that is Beatrice Company.