Two Days Before the Royal Capital Exhibition
Princess Rinaluna, brother’s classmates, Young Lady Diana, Duke Clondale, Uncle Davit, Hardt’s friends, Isaac, and Hubert had all come to observe the preparations for the exhibition—quite a large group.
They were all dressed like merchants, though anyone could tell they were nobles just by seeing who they were with. All around, people were busily working, and delicious smells drifted through the air from every direction.
The group kept a little distance from the tents as they walked around.
“They’re already cooking, aren’t they?”
“Yes. We’ve lent out Time-Stopped Magic Bags to every stall, so they started cooking yesterday. Even so, it seems the food won’t last the full three days.”
“It’s that popular?”
“It is. You’ll be able to tour the site before the opening, but once it starts, it’ll be far too crowded to see up close.”
“Why are there partitions between each tent?”
“They’re making new dishes, so it’s to keep others from seeing their recipes.”
“And those big numbers hanging on the tents—what are those?”
“Stall numbers. People write either the number or the stall’s name on their ballots when voting for the popularity contest.”
Duke Clondale and Uncle Davit were inspecting every detail carefully.
They were probably considering whether the event could be held in the royal capital—or, failing that, in their own territories.
After touring the square and the market area, everyone returned to the estate for lunch.
From that meal onward, the dishes served were all ones featured in the exhibition.
“I wonder, do we get to vote as well?”
“If you sample everything, then yes—you can vote.”
“Understood. Then we shall try every dish.”
Her Royal Highness maintained her usual dignified tone, but her excitement was impossible to hide.
Duke Clondale chuckled quietly behind her.
“We really underestimated this,” Bridget muttered as she sorted through the ballots.
“Truly. They were told to write the number or shop name, yet so many wrote the dish name instead.”
“Even Reinhardt probably doesn’t know what’s inside the box.”
“And since they wrote food stalls and crafts on the same paper, tallying has become even messier.”
“At first, Hardt wanted voting in all four divisions. Thank goodness it was reduced to two.”
After lunch, they were gathered in a meeting room, busily tallying results.
Because people wrote inconsistently—tent number, shop name, dish name, craft name—the plan was to first finish the market division’s count, then move on to crafts.
“We’d better finish soon, or we won’t have time to see tomorrow’s craft exhibits.”
“Reinhardt plans to view everything on the second day, so you’ll have chances tomorrow and the day after.”
“Raphael, we can’t take it so lightly. We also want to at least glimpse the exhibition grounds from afar, and don’t forget the next tallying for the capital’s popularity vote!”
“Hey, Chrisford—why were Bianca’s and Ripka’s families there? I couldn’t stop wondering.”
“Apparently, when they saw the familiars wearing scarves, they decided they wanted some too.”
“”“Huh?!”””
“””Eh?”””
“”“Seriously?”””
“Hardt suggested other emblems instead of using our family crest, but they liked our crest’s design best.”
“Well, that filigree pattern is pretty cool.”
“Even the butlers and maids were wearing them, weren’t they?”
“Mind if I ask how those tie rings came about?”
Chrisford explained:
It began with Rosetta’s uniform design. Then came tie rings for staff, followed by familiars wanting their own. They chose their own fabrics and now change scarf patterns daily.
“So they left the forest just to pick fabrics?”
“Apparently. And they’re planning to eat every dish at the exhibition before going back.”
Someone added that one of the familiars had probably bragged about it.
“By the way, where’s Bianca? She’s always near you, Chrisford.”
“She and Ripka went to pick out cloth. Seems they didn’t like being the only ones without new scarves.”
“Chrisford, are those the same people who made the female civil officers’ uniforms?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Might I speak with them later?”
“Of course. I’ll let them know.”
He nodded to the butler by the door, who quietly stepped out.
“Those uniforms were remarkable. At first glance you’d think they’re skirts, but they’re actually trousers. The jackets are elegant yet perfectly suited to government service. I wonder if the academy uniforms could adopt a similar style.”
“Bridget, that’s quite a leap—but yes, they were lovely.”
“I’d like to see them introduced for palace officials as well. I hadn’t thought about school uniforms, though.”
“We may not experience it ourselves, but by the time Miss Bridget and Miss Dianne enroll, perhaps the academy will have changed.”
What do you think about this chapter?
