“Rice aside, we don’t have enough of anything else. We will need to make a few more dishes. I think we ought to serve everything on big plates instead of portioning them out for each person. What do you think?”
It seemed the two of them had been preparing lunch. I was curious whether the prince had any skill at cooking, but judging by his comments just now, it seemed that wouldn’t be an issue. Not only was he awfully wise, he was quick on his feet, too.
As the yard grew livelier, Type Twelve made an announcement.
“The youngest daughter feels deeply moved by how the family has all chosen to come to the house of their own volition.”
Her expression was, as always, blank. But her hands were balled into fists at her sides, providing a glimpse of the feelings that filled her heart.
“It seems I’ve played right into the youngest daughter’s hands,” remarked Ms. Futarishizuka. “How vexing.”
“Grandmother, please do not disturb me when I am being deeply moved.”
“Did you even notice the shed?”
“I can simply turn off the electricity running to it, if you’d like.”
“Oh, so sorry! I thought you might threaten me with that, so I’m distributing the electricity from the service wire to the house. If you cut off the power to my shed, you’ll send the whole place into an instant blackout! I wonder how long the warmth of the kotatsu will hold out then.”
“Urgh. How irritatingly bold…”
And so we all spent the day together at the house. Considering how accustomed I was to living alone, being around so many other people for so long was rather exhausting. But at the same time, it brought me comfort, and before I knew it, it was time for dinner.
Unfortunately, I’d made zero progress in the view-count contest. My first video hadn’t garnered any more attention, either. The day had passed me by, and I remained without any ideas for new videos.
After eating dinner, we sat around the TV in the living room and watched a rerun of a foreign movie. Once that was over, Peeps, Lady Elsa, and I departed the UFO and headed to Allestos. It had a been a few days since we’d paid the otherworld a visit.
Peeps’s magic took us to my room in the royal castle, assigned to me in my role as court minister. From there, we headed straight to the chancellor’s office and greeted Count Müller. After delivering Lady Elsa, we gave him a report on Prince Lewis’s condition.
“I see. Then His Highness is still perfectly hale?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” I replied. “There are no lingering signs of the curse whatsoever.”
“I believe it is safe to assume he has escaped the crisis.”
“Minister Sasaki, thank you from the bottom of my heart. How can I ever repay you?”
As usual, we were seated on a pair of sofas set across a low table. The count and his daughter sat side by side across from me, while Peeps perched on the tree atop the table. There was no one else present to overhear us.
“There’s no need for repayment, sir. I only acted as an intermediary. Lady Elsa is to thank—she’s been taking care of him for us, allowing him to settle into a foreign land with minimal stress.”
“Sasaki is exaggerating, Father. I haven’t done much at all.”
“Without you, Lady Elsa, I believe my bird here would have been forced to attend to the prince. In that light, your help has been invaluable.”
I saw the count’s expression shift when I mentioned the Starsage; perhaps he’d found worth in his daughter’s work.
“That’s incredible, Elsa. As your father, I’m very proud of you.”
“Why, Father!”
This earnest praise put a broad smile on Lady Elsa’s face. Still a daddy’s girl, I see.
In my role as court minister, I intended to use this opportunity to demonstrate how close Lady Elsa was to Prince Lewis. I hoped the count would yield his daughter’s hand in marriage to him. Peeps kept glancing at me from his perching tree. He must have seen right through me.
After father and daughter shared a brief conversation, Count Müller turned back to me.
“Thank you for your detailed report on the prince’s condition,” he said. “On that subject, I have a special favor to ask of you. Regarding the individuals in your world who carried out this feat, I would like to, in my capacity as chancellor, offer them a reward commensurate to their service to the kingdom.”
“Thank you for your consideration, sir.”
“His Majesty Adonis is ignorant of the prince’s recovery, but I cannot let such a debt go unpaid. Though I must not risk anything that might raise the king’s suspicions, I would like to do whatever I can.”
“To be perfectly honest, sir, Prince Lewis said much the same.”
“That is reassuring indeed. So, Minister Sasaki, here is my question: What would make those people happy? I apologize for troubling you further, but would you mind offering your advice?”
“I daresay they’d be happy no matter what you sent them.”
Ms. Futarishizuka had scored points with Peeps and me and had discovered a way to reverse the curse. Abaddon and my neighbor had repaid Ms. Futarishizuka for her help. Everyone had already achieved their goals. I doubted anyone was all that concerned about receiving thanks from the otherworld.
“I will say this, however—if you’ll excuse me for prioritizing my own convenience. The ones who helped out with this matter can be broadly split into two groups, and both contributed to the prince’s revival. I humbly ask that you keep that in mind.”
“I see…”