Returning home, get-together, and castle visit

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 “Welcome back, Letty.”
 
 I got off the carriage at the royal capital’s mansion.
 
 And as expected, the first to come greet me before anyone else was Otou-sama.
 
 “Papa!”
 
 I rushed over to Otou-sama, and jumped into his arms.
 
 “Was there no danger?”
 
 My father asked me, worriedly.
 
 “Yes. My butt hurt because of just how long the journey was, but it was a very enjoyable trip.”
 
 Hearing my words, my father leaked a sigh of relief.
 
 “Right. You were well when I sent you off, but I still worried for you. I tried chasing after you so many times… But every time I did that, everyone pulled me back.”
 
 “Eh…”
 
 My face twitched unconciously.
 
 
 
 Actually, I also had a hard time when leaving to Marmaldia as well.
 
 When it came time to leave,
 
 “As I thought, can’t you not go?”
 
 or,
 
 “Let’s add another 20 guards.”
 
 or, after all that was done,
 
 “Alright, I’ll also go with you!”
 
 Whenever he said these kinds of things, not only me, but even the servants all had to dissuade him.
 
 ——— however.
 
 I guess this guy did it again.
 That^[1].
 
 “Otou-sama. You shouldn’t bother everyone too much, you know?”
 
 When I pointed my finger, tutting as I admonished him,
 
 “A-, ah. Of course I know that.”,
 
 and he quickly averted his eyes.
 
 Yep.
 He’s doing it again. This^[2].
 
 I let out a small sigh, and my father turned around to face me.
 
 “You seem tired. I’ll get in touch with His Majesty myself, so you just rest well today.”
 
 “——— Thank you very much, Otou-sama.”
 
 I held back the 『It’s Otou-sama’s fault, you know?』 that nearly left my mouth, and my father led me by the hand back to my room that I hadn’t been to in a while.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 Well then.
 And so, I had returned home, but as expected, or rather, as usual, contact from the royal castle was fast this time as well.
 
 My two brothers came rushing when they learnt of my return.
 After we had dinner as a family of four, we were having a pleasant chat in the lounge when a messenger from the royal castle came with a letter.
 
 “As expected, it seems they’ll clear a whole day for us.”
 
 Quickly scanning over the letter, my father then handed it over to me.
 
 Writen there was thanks for treating Theo, and that if the day after next wasn’t a problem, or else in the near future, they’d like for us to go to the castle.
 
 “So, what’ll you do, Letty?”
 
 My father called for the chamberlain to bring writing paper and a pen, asking me this.
 
 “Of course, I’ll go report the day after tomorrow.”
 
 “Your health’s doing fine?”
 
 “Yes. I’ve taken half a day resting since coming back, and there’s also the matter of the magic stone used by the 『spider』 that I mentioned earlier.”
 
 Saying so, I looked at the two sheets of paper spread upon the table.
 
 
 
 Drawn there were the full-sized diagrams of the magic stones.
 
 One was the one used in the magic communications device.
 The other one was the one used in the aforementioned spider.
 
 As neither of them could be taken and managed at home, I drew them to match the correctly measured specs.
 
 The second eldest brother, Hubert, picked up the two diagrams.
 
 “It’s best to compare the original items, but just laying them on top of one another like this is enough to see the resemblance.”
 
 Saying so, he overlaped the two sheets, and using the magic lamp nearby, he showed it while shining the light through it.
 
 The shapes and sizes of the magic stone diagrams drawn on the two papers lined up precisely.
 
 “The one was used in the plan to attack royalty, while the other was also used in threatening nobles…”
 
 My eldest brother, Graham, muttered as he pondered.
 
 As I couldn’t reveal at this point to my father and brothers Theo’s background, I only told them that he’s 『probably the son of some other country’s nobles』.
 
 I turned back to my father.
 
 “Honestly speaking, I don’t understand what this match means either. I’ve considered the possiblity that the maker of the communications device and the spider are the same, but when I compared the magic circuits, the spider’s was far more sophisticated, and as for the circuit boards on which the circuits were drawn, the communications device’s one was made of wood whereas the one in the spider was made of a marble-like slab. I think it’s difficult to draw any conclusions from this. However, that’s precisely why I think it’d be better to inform His Majesty soon.”
 
 “… I see.”
 
 My father nodded, and looked into my face.
 
 “What matters is that you’ve said as much yourself. It’s inevitable. Then, I’ll reply to His Majesty that we’ll visit the castle the day after tomorrow.”
 
 Thus, Otou-sama and I were to give a report ot His Majesty two days later.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The day after the next.
 
 My father and I were once more sent to His Majesty’s office.
 
 “Lady Ainsworth, I’d like to thank you again. You’ve magnificently accomplished that difficult treatment. Thanks to you, my 『friend』 can feel at ease having not lost his son. The other day, I recieved a letter with his thanks.”
 
 Seated on the opposite sofa, His Mjaesty said so and looked at me with gentle eyes.
 
 Most likely, this 『friend』 he mentions is Theo’s father, the king of Elarion.
 
 I pondered for a second, then replied like this.
 
 “Above all, I’m glad that Theo’s Father is happy. But the treatment wouldn’t have gone so well with my efforts alone. More than anything, it was huge that Theo-sama himself controlled his own magic power while enduring the intense pain.”
 
 “His magic power?”
 
 “Yes. In order to restrain the convulsions and movements due to seizures during the treatment, he himself gathered his magic power in his feet and reduced the magic power waves. Thanks to that, I could continue the treatment without making any mistakes. ——— If Your Majesty has the opportunity to communicate with your friend, they may be happy if you could touch upon Theo-sama’s efforts as well.”
 
 “Is that so. Then I’ll make sure to mention that in my reply.”
 
 His Majesty nodded deeply.
 
 
 
 (It’d be great if this could close the distance between Theo and his parents even a little…)
 
 While I was thinking things like that, His Majesty spoke to me.
 
 “Hm. From the looks of it, you’ve established a good relationship of mutual trust with that boy. At first I was worried since my friend had written in a letter that 『he’s become somewhat distrustful of others due to the curse』, but…”
 
 “——— indeed, in the very beginning he started off refusing to meet with me.”
 
 “Hmm. It must’ve been difficult after all.”
 
 “Well, I just 『talked』 to the escort and forced my way in.”
 
 ^[1]Pfft!
 
 My father and His Majesty burst out laughing.
 
 “… Y o u r M a j e s t y . O t o u – s a m a .^[3] Don’t you think that’s just a bit of a rude way to react to a lady? Even though I went through various troubles.”
 
 When I pouted, the two of them began making excuses in a fluster.
 
 “N-, no, I was just surprised that 『Lady Ainsworth also had troubles』 just now. ——— right, Sir Owleyes?”
 
 “Huh? Ah, r-, right. ——— that’s right. I hadn’t meant to laugh in the least, Letty.”
 
 His Majesty quickly passed it on to Otou-sama, and he matched his words in a hurry.
 
 “Muu…”
 
 When I scowled, His Majesty began speaking impatiently.
 
 “A-, anyway, you’ve done well this time. My gratitude is deeper than the sea for the Lady’s efforts. ——— and to symbolise that gratitude, other than the remuneration, there are some other rewards as well.”
 
 “Rewards, is it?”
 
 “Yeah, that’s right. Let me introduce the first reward.”
 
 Saying so, His Majesty rung the bell next to him.
 
 
 
 The room door opened shortly after, and a chamberlain showed up.
 
 “You called, Your Majesty?”
 
 “Yeah, I did. Send through the Third Secretary of the Urban Development Department.”
 
 “Understood.”
 
 The chamberlain left the room after bowing.
 
 I tilted my head.
 
 “The secretary?”
 
 When I asked this, His Majesty nodded.
 
 “Yeah. I’ve selected a person working in the castle’s administration that may be of use at the Lady’s place.”
 
 “Huh?”
 
 When I questioned in return, His Majesty smirked.
 
 “Before, regarding the matter of inheriting the territory, you mentioned that you were having some struggles with it, no?”
 
 “Uh, ah, I certainly did say that, but…”
 
 “It isn’t my original intention for you to have your hands full with such things. ——— And so, as a reward this time, I thought I’d send an excellent administrative official.”
 
 “Huhhh? That’s the first time I’m hearing of it though.”
 
 “Well, yeah. Because it’s the first time I’ve said it.”
 
 His Majesty grinned.
 
 No, it certainly would be helpful if I had someone ot help with the paperwork, but… to be honest, other than family and servants, it’s tiresome to face men on a daily basis.
 
 “Umm, Your Majesty———”
 
 “Ah, look. Seems they’ve come.”
 
 Immedaitely afterwards, a knock came from the door.
 
 “Enter.”
 
 Followed by His Majesty’s words, the door opened…
 
 “Sophia Brixton, the Third Secretary of the Urban Development Department.”
 
 A female in her mid-twenties, wearing prim attire, appeared.