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IBP 109
Chapter 18. Romantic Ship Party
“How shameless! XX, XX, XXXXX!”
“Calm down, Mouse!”
“How do you expect me to be calm right noooow—!”
Rumors had spread throughout the Empire that Gillen had visited a jewelry store and intended to propose to my sister.
The one who brought this news was none other than Jjek-jjeki.
As soon as he heard the words, the Emperor of Mouse began to squeak and fume with rage.
Thanks to the mouse, I was a beat late to the anger, but I started stomping my feet frantically as well.
“Absolutely not! I won’t allow this marriage even if dirt fills my eyes!”
At that moment, Jjek-jjeki spread his wings wide and hurriedly wiped away the dirt that had flicked onto my face.
“My apologies. I’ve been rolling around in the dirt, so some almost got into your eyes, Coco!”
“Hmph! No way, absolutely not!”
Startled, I brushed off my face with my small hands and huffed once more.
Then, Jjek-jjeki whispered cautiously and secretly.
“By the way. It seems your sister is preparing something too?”
“Even so...”
My sister probably wouldn't just sit back and let things happen helplessly.
I remembered how Duke Ardos had been beating his chest during breakfast with the family today, as if he were suffering from a fit of rage.
‘I thought he was just imitating a gorilla back then.’
I guess that wasn't it.
Come to think of it, the conversation between Ruth and my sister came back to me.
“Hey, Chloe. You okay?”
“About what?”
“That. That guy... I mean, that thing.”
“Ah, I have a way to solve it. It’s a bit unconventional, though.”
“...Why? Are you planning something weird again? I don’t think anything can surprise me anymore.”
...Actually, I hadn't heard properly because I had my nose buried in the cake my sister gave me.
‘But, maybe I can help her?’
I sank into thought, wearing a sinister smile that mirrored my sister's.
So that I wouldn't interfere too much with the plan my sister was making, but so I could deal with the wicked and evil Gillen.
It was time to utilize the knowledge I had from the future.
“Jjek-jjeki, can you buy something called the <cloak of saint mars> from the auction house?”
“Huh? You mean that tattered rag of a cloak?”
“Yup!”
“Why that?”
“I have my reasons.”
Perhaps his pride as an information broker was wounded because he couldn't grasp my intention.
Jjek-jjeki put on a noble expression and flicked his wings open.
“Fine. Just wait. I’ll bring it in a bird’s blink.”
Jjek-jjeki added primly as he flew away.
“It’s a joke, so laugh! Muhahaha!”
...What on earth was the joke?
* * *
<The cloak of saint mars, sold to a mysterious figure, becomes a hot topic>
The holy relic, the cloak of saint mars, is known to possess no power whatsoever.
It is an object whose only value lies in being a holy relic that Saint Mars once wore.
A mysterious figure, X, who secretly contacted an auction dealer and bought the cloak for a vast sum of money.
Grand Duke Rivera chuckled as he placed the document describing the event on the table.
‘Interesting. Are they trying to create a narrative on purpose to sell it at a higher value?’
Such things happen often in art auctions.
However, Grand Duke Rivera had a schedule more important than the rumors about the cloak of saint mars.
He glanced at the jeweler entering the drawing room of the Rivera capital residence.
“I heard I was summoned! The Paliori jeweler of the capital greets His Grace the Grand Duke!”
“Is there some trouble at home?”
“Eh? N-no, there is not!”
Sweat poured like rain from the forehead of the jeweler, who sat on the sofa in a rigid posture.
‘I just made a joke because he looked like he was in a bad mood.’
He shrugged and looked at the jeweler.
“I want to buy a ring.”
“Yes, well... Your Grace. I apologize, but our jewelry store does not carry ring-type magic tools.”
“You don’t even have proposal rings?”
“Pardon?”
“I intend to get engaged soon.”
The jeweler's mouth hung wide open.
“So, I want you to craft the most luxurious and beautiful ring in the Empire. And do it as quickly as possible.”
“T-t-that... as quickly as possible would be...”
“By tomorrow?”
“Y-yes! Understood!”
In truth, the exchange of a ring was nothing more than a trivial contract, almost laughable.
But since something interesting seemed to be happening for the first time in a while, he figured he should at least keep up appearances.
Grand Duke Rivera leaned back on the sofa with a smirk.
“I will pay you whatever it takes, so I look forward to the proposal ring you create.”
* * *
Today is the day of the ship party!
Whoosh!
The carriage carrying my sister and me raced through the wind.
My sister and I arrived in an instant at Marius Beach, where the ship party was being held.
As the carriage came to a screeching halt.
I hesitated, unable to readily step out of the carriage.
Because, you see.
The ocean was something I had only heard of through oral legends back when I was a wild dog.
According to my conversation with Thunder last night, it was huge, huge, and huge again... and he said if you fall in the wrong way, it's not easy to get back out.
Thinking about that made me a bit scared, and I hesitated to take a step.
“Sister, I heard the ocean is as big and blue as the sky... What kind of place is it? It's my first time, so I'm a bit scared...”
“Coco, close your eyes.”
At my sister's words, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Then, I felt my sister lift me out of the carriage and walk a few more steps.
“Here is a good spot. Coco, you can open your eyes now.”
I swallowed hard and opened my eyes.
‘It's okay because sister is with me!’
Then, what unfolded before my eyes was...
An endless stretch of deep blue, brilliant waves.
I saw sand grains sparkling in the light and goose friends crying at the edge of the sky.
And...
“Wow! What is that huge ship over there in the corner?”
“That's the ship where this party will be held.”
“Wooooow!”
While I was marveling at it for a while, my sister held my hand tightly and spoke.
“If you wait a little bit, Grand Duke Rivera and Caligo will arrive.”
“Hmph, are we doing that fun thing you mentioned back then?”
“Yes.”
I was very curious about what the fun thing was, but my sister had told me to wait, like a surprise party.
‘I have something prepared too!’
I gripped the bag in my hand tighter and smiled wickedly.
Just then, a very small squeak was heard from the inner pocket of my dress.
“I feel like I'm going to die because of this bird fellow's feathers!”
And a chirp was also heard.
“This mouse keeps calling himself an Emperor, it's so funny I could die! I can't stop laughing, that's why my wings are moving.”
...The two of them seemed to be slightly out of sync, but regardless, they were friends who would listen to the words of the day and the words of the night for me.
‘They probably didn't expect a mouse that hears the night words and a bird that hears the day words to come all the way to the beach, right?’
And me, with the mysterious cloak!
‘Just you wait, Gillen Amadeus!’
I'll grab you with both hands and shake you down!
Before that...
I opened my eyes wide, which kept trying to close, and looked at my sister.
“Is our Coco tired?”
“No, I'm not tired.”
“Let's go take a nap quickly.”
I grabbed my sister's collar and asked suspiciously.
“Sister, you're not planning to do something without me again, are you?”
The fact that she's trying to put me to sleep is suspicious!
Then, my sister stretched my cheek and said.
“Absolutely not.”
...That's even more suspicious!
* * *
...It's because sister rubbed my tummy.
If she hadn't rubbed it, I wouldn't have fallen asleep and snored.
When I closed and then opened my eyes, I was inside a first-class cabin on the ship, and evening had already arrived quickly.
My sister, who woke me up from my gloom, smiled brightly and said.
“Coco, let's go to the deck quickly. They're having a party right now!”
My sister's flushed cheeks were suspicious, but as I headed toward the deck with vigor, remembering the plan I made for today.
I saw a lavish spread of finger foods, desserts, and main courses laid out on the ship's tables.
At that moment, the Emperor of Mouse, who was in the inner pocket of my dress, began to go wild.
“Insane. To think there is this much cheese! This Emperor of Mouse's heart is already pounding!”
...Can I actually use this mouse as my information broker today?
While I was seriously contemplating this.
Other ladies participating in the ship party gathered around my sister and me in a crowd.
‘Lady Miru isn't here.’
Perhaps because of that, they seemed afraid to speak to my sister.
Instead, they all showered me with immense praise.
“Oh my. Lady Coco! Isn't your outfit today just too cute?”
Just as I tilted my head up with pride.
The name of a piece of trash reached my ears.
“By the way, did you know? This ship is said to have been constructed directly by the House of Marquess Amadeus.”
“After all, the Marquess of Amadeus has served the Imperial Family for generations.”
Was it because Duke Ardos didn't get too angry at the Marquess of Amadeus?
The people gathered here acted as if they had completely forgotten about the scandals that had occurred until now.
It was different from the Melomande family, who were newly risen nobles.
The reputation of the House of Marquess Amadeus seemed steadfast even against an adultery scandal.
But it was then.
Amidst the chatter of numerous people, the crowd split down the middle as if the sea were parting.
The mouse made a squeaking sound in my pocket.
“There! That guy is coming.”
If it's that guy...!
With a greasy face and wearing an expensive evening tailcoat, Marquess Gillen Amadeus.
He appeared before my sister.
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