Chapter 18

“Phew…” Kaito let out a gentle sigh. It had been a little while since he had last ridden in the elegant black carriage to the palace. Eleonora had been sending him orders every two or three days, but now it had been nearly five days with no word from her. He was starting to wonder if she had gotten tired of pizza, but then this morning, the messenger had suddenly appeared with that same striking black carriage as always. “Are you here to order pizza?” “No. To bring you to the palace.” “What?” Kaito had been entirely focused on the question of pizza, and this caught him off guard. What could be the matter? The messenger was not the type to answer any questions no matter how persistently he was asked, so Kaito was left with no choice but to ride anxiously along in the shaking carriage. They went over the drawbridge and through the castle’s back gate, Kaito entering via the secret door. Then he was once again spirited through the usual back room. Eleonora was there. Her beautiful, slightly wavy platinum-blond hair reached below her waist, and she wore a small, elaborately worked golden crown. Her pale-blue dress followed the flowing lines of her willowy body; the cloth was embroidered but otherwise rather sheer. Her beauty and noble bearing, in Kaito’s mind, approached the divine. He nearly found himself falling in love right then and there. “It’s been a while, Queen Eleonora.” Despite this entreaty, Eleonora only pouted, her brow furrowed in annoyance as she glared at him with eyes like ice. I wonder what’s wrong. She looks really, really mad. The uncomfortable silence continued until Eleonora finally opened her mouth. “…Kaito, don’t you have something to say to me?” “Huh?” he replied, taken aback. “And that something is…?” Eleonora gritted her teeth at his response. “Playing dumb? You look so honest—I never took you for such a scoundrel.” “Huh??” Kaito didn’t have the slightest idea what was going on. “I’m sorry, but I think maybe there’s been some mistake…” Eleonora gritted her teeth even harder. “There’s been no mistake!” “……” He was at an utter loss as to what she was talking about. She doesn’t order any pizza. Instead, she calls me to the castle. Why? Hesitantly, he asked, “Um, have I… Have I done something wrong…?” This elicited a serious nod from Eleonora. “Indeed. That’s why I’ve called you here. You still don’t understand?” “No, Your Majesty. Not in the slightest.” This seemed to be more than Eleonora could take. She stamped her foot. “Why, you—! Just how much further do you mean to humiliate me?!” “Huh???” Eleonora’s pale complexion was turning redder and redder, the flush going right up to the tips of her pointy ears. She had crossed her arms and wouldn’t look at him. “The problem is…you know!” “I do?” What do I know? What’s the problem? This is getting more confusing by the minute. Eleonora was drumming her fingers nervously on one crossed arm. She looks a little bit like that goddess… “……” “……” The silence persisted until the queen couldn’t stand it anymore, and she let out a scream. “Just how dense are you, for goodness’ sake?!” “H-huh…?” Eleonora shook her fist at him angrily, her platinum-blond hair quavering. Kaito could only stare in complete befuddlement. Wh-what the heck? She’s lost it! There’s no way I can deal with a hysterical ruler on my own. I wish someone would help! “Sh-shall I go call someone…?” “You stupid, stupid idiot! Don’t you dare call anyone! I chased everyone else out of here for a reason!” The queen’s anger was burning so hot now that Kaito wouldn’t have been surprised if she actually burst into flames. “Just how badly do you wish to disgrace me?!” “D-disgrace you…?” When did we start using such fancy words like that? Wait, am I gonna be arrested for lèse-majesté and thrown in jail? Eleonora’s face had grown as red as the apples Kaito used in his pies. He had to admit, the queen looked pretty cute when she was embarrassed—but he still didn’t have any idea what was going on. “…Argh! I see you’re going to force me to say it myself!” She took a deep breath, steeled herself, and then finally blurted out, “I’m talking about—about this apple pie of yours or whatever it is!” “My…apple pie?” He stared at her, still a touch perplexed, when a vase came flying at his head. “AAAAAHHH!!” He just managed to dodge the projectile, which smashed noisily against the wall. “How can you make me spell out every detail?! Never have I been so humiliated!” “Huh??” Since when did apple pie become so embarrassing? What in the world is going on here?! “P-please just stop throwing things at me!” Eleonora, having run out of handy missiles, had begun tearing the curtain off the window. “How is apple pie connected to any of this?!” And why are you so unhappy about it?! “How much more of a mockery do you intend to make of me?!” Eleonora erupted with rage. “Why was I not informed…?!”