“Haa…”
Marius let out a sigh as he stepped out of the bath. Aside from the lack of a shower and sauna, it was almost identical to the large public baths in a hotel. Hot water poured from four spouts shaped like lions, and neat white soap and towels of various sizes were provided.
(I’m impressed that they call this for guests.)
He didn’t think it was a waste of taxes. If they were to show other countries they were struggling financially, they would only be taken advantage of. He was told to take his time and was entering the bath leisurely, assuming they must be busy with preparations for his room and meals. It was a wonder he hadn’t gotten dizzy.
In the changing area, dry underclothes were neatly folded. They were what used to be called undershirts and black boxer shorts in his previous world. It was strange how some things were the same, but he had no complaints as the comfort was also the same.
He put on his robe, and placed the Dragon God’s Staff into the accompanying tool bag. A magician’s staff was equivalent to a swordsman’s sword, and it was considerate not to carry it around unnecessarily within the royal palace. However, to be prepared for emergencies, he equipped himself with the Ring of Divine Words and the Archangel’s Necklace. Carrying a tool bag around didn’t seem ideal either, but he decided not to worry about it since he could hide it with his robe.
Standing in front of the dressing table, he checked if everything was in order and then rang the mounted bell. As a pleasant ringing sound echoed, a servant appeared without delay. It was a different man from the one who had guided him to the bath. He was likely waiting outside.
“I believe he’s saying, ‘Please wait a moment, I will guide you’,” Marius imagined. Here, again, he felt the sadness of not being able to communicate. If they could understand each other, he could have made conversation, asked for a tour of the palace within their view, and passed the time.
Following the servant, he stepped outside to find Lovisa, dressed in a calming blue Evening Dress, and Emma waiting for him.
“How was the bath?”
“It was wonderful. I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
Lightly bowing his head to Lovisa, who spoke to him with a smile, she deepened her smile and replied. Then, she subtly signaled the servant. The servant bowed to Marius and Lovisa and left.
“The pleasure was all mine. Thank you for your consideration. Thanks to you, I had the luxury of preparing myself.”
Marius knew she could perfectly tell that he had deliberately taken his time. Or perhaps it was simply a social courtesy regarding taking a long bath. In any case, Marius decided that he was inferior to her when it came to gauging each other’s intentions. It seemed she wasn’t a Princess from birth for nothing.
“The blue dress suits you, and you look very beautiful.”
Since the lady had brought up his appearance, he thought it would be best to compliment her. However, Lovisa, while maintaining her smile, tilted her head slightly.
“I had assumed you were someone who earnestly sought the true essence of magic, Marius-sama, but you are surprisingly skilled.”
It seemed his words had not only failed to impress her but were also inappropriate for her impression of him. Given Lovisa’s beauty and her status as a princess, she likely heard compliments as a form of greeting. Therefore, Marius wasn’t disappointed that he hadn’t impressed her, and was even satisfied to know her impression of him.
(Earnestly sought the true essence of magic, huh.)
Marius thought that she seemed to have misinterpreted him favorably. The expression “seeking the true essence of magic” was also used in games when referring to honing one’s skills as a magician. Marius, unfamiliar with the common knowledge of this continent, seemed to have led her to believe he had pursued the true essence of magic to such an extent. This was the best possible outcome Marius could have anticipated. However, Marius was not a simple person to take things at face value, and he decided he should make an effort to solidify this impression.
“I merely stated what I felt. I am rather inept when it comes to the subtleties of human emotion.”
The part about stating what he felt was not a lie. Upon hearing Marius’s words, Lovisa simply returned a smile and said nothing. Instead, Emma whispered something to Lovisa. After hearing it, Lovisa nodded and spoke to Marius.
“It seems everything is ready. Please, this way.”
Led by the two beautiful women, he walked on what appeared to be a luxurious red carpet. Lamps placed every few steps provided illumination. He had fleeting, nonsensical thoughts about how much the lighting costs.
The dining hall they were led to was vast. The table, covered with an exquisite tablecloth, was large enough to seat at least twenty people, with a vase in the center holding a large rose. Dozens of lights, like miniature light bulbs, were arranged overhead in a flashy chandelier. The King, Queen, and Prince were already seated. Behind them stood servants and maids, their presence creating a truly magnificent sight. Marius swallowed unconsciously. He was undeniably nervous about dining with a King and his family. However, at the same time, he felt a sense of resignation, knowing he could only do what he could do.
From Marius’s perspective, the Queen was seated to the King’s right, and the Prince next to her. Lovisa offered Marius the seat next to the Prince and walked towards the seat on the King’s side. As Marius approached his designated seat, Emma, who had walked ahead, silently pulled out the chair for him. As he stood before the chair, the King stood up, followed by the Queen and the Prince.
“Allow me to introduce my wife, Margarita, and my son, Ernest.”
Margarita had blonde hair and green eyes, a plump and gentle-looking woman. Ernest was clearly a handsome young man, bearing a strong resemblance to his mother. After bowing to each other, and once the royal family had taken their seats, Marius also sat down. The chair was plush and comfortable. Emma then moved behind Lovisa.
“Marius-sama, what would you like to drink? We have wine, rose water, cocoa tea, and lemon tea.”
He could vaguely imagine wine and lemon tea, but rose water and cocoa tea were beyond his comprehension. He was surprised and pleased that cocoa existed and wanted to try it.
“Cocoa tea and rose water… May I have both?”
“Yes.”
He wondered if ordering multiple drinks was considered uncivilized. Or were they being indulgent because he was a guest? The answer to Marius’s question came quickly. The others were also ordering multiple drinks from the maids. Even without understanding the language, he could infer such things, and indeed, everyone received multiple glasses. The glasses were the same size and shape as wine glasses, but they were silver and opaque, clearly not made of glass. Marius knew the theory that silver reacts to poisons and decided to ask about it.
“Are these containers made of silver?”
“No. They are made of Rebra steel. Some poisons do not react with silver.”
It seemed Rebra steel reacted to everything. Marius didn’t know what Rebra steel was, but he assumed it was a superior version of silver. Next, the maids brought out other containers made of Rebra steel, containing a pale yellow liquid.
“This is an aperitif, Sword Shark fin wine. You don’t have to drink it if you’re not fond of alcohol.”
Seeing the five of them simultaneously pick up their glasses, Marius assumed they were about to toast and picked up his as well.
“Cheers.”
The King said, and three others echoed him, raising their glasses high. Marius followed suit and took a sip. Just that alone gave him a fiery sensation throughout his body, as if he had drunk strong alcohol, and he could feel his stomach becoming more active. As Marius marveled at its effects, Lovisa explained.
“The alcohol content is low, but it’s excellent for stimulating the appetite.”
Nodding, Marius took another sip. He found it hard to believe the alcohol content was low. The next dish served was toasted bread topped with what appeared to be tomatoes and bell peppers.
“This is bruschetta for an appetizer.”
He picked up a piece of bread, cut into bite-sized pieces, and ate it. The taste was the same as bread, tomatoes, and bell peppers from his previous world, well-seasoned and delicious. Being hungry, he finished it in no time. Afterward, a maid brought him a wet towel. Assuming it was for wiping his hands, he did so. Marius then took a sip of the cocoa tea. It was an tea with a color and flavor reminiscent of chocolate. He felt a faint sense of nostalgia from the familiar taste. He wondered if chocolate also existed in this world, and then the next dish arrived.
“This is onion and corn soup.”
He scooped some into his mouth with a spoon and chewed the onion and corn. It was the same as in his previous world, but the taste was much better. It was only natural, he supposed, for food served at the royal table. After finishing the soup, he tried the rose water. Beautiful rose petals floated in the water in the glass. As the name suggested, it was water flavored with roses. The water was well-chilled, and the rose flavor made it taste sweet and extremely delicious. Naturally, Lovisa didn’t provide explanations for the dishes, only their names. If he wanted to know more, he would have to master the Taliant Language and ask himself.
“This is pan-seared Star Soba.”
Slices of steamed fish were served with a white sauce and garnished with what looked like red bell peppers and peas. He wondered if it was similar to “poêlé” in his previous world. Using a knife and fork, he cut a piece and placed it on his tongue. Its deliciousness was reaching a level that his vocabulary could no longer express.
“This is a palate cleanser, frozen strawberries.”
For a moment, Marius thought it was ice cream or sherbet, but it seemed to be simply frozen. He picked one up with his hand and put it in his mouth, experiencing the peculiar headache that comes with eating something cold. The others, however, were calmly picking them up.
(It’s food eaten by royalty, but is it meant to be eaten with hands?)
The question popped into Marius’s mind, but he quickly reminded himself that he shouldn’t apply his previous world’s customs. After savoring the refreshing taste of the strawberries, he enjoyed the sweet flavor of the rose water. After a short break, another dish was brought out.
“This is roasted Cockatrice with herbs.”
It was exactly like roast chicken.
“Cockatrice…?”
The image of a bird-like boss monster that breathed petrifying breath flashed in his mind.
“Yes. It can be eaten if you remove the petrification sac, and the taste is exquisite.”
Lovisa explained. He took a bite, thinking it was like fugu. It had the texture of chicken and a mix of flavors like pepper and herbs. It was certainly a dish worthy of being the main course.
“Finally, the dessert: apple pie.”
The sweet, hot apple flavor melted within the apple. He nearly burned himself and quickly washed it down with cocoa tea. The portions were generous overall, and even Marius, who was by no means a light eater, was completely full. At this point, maids brought out containers resembling coffee cups.
“This is lemon tea after the meal.”
The refreshing scent of lemon spread through his nostrils. While sipping the lemon tea, he looked for an opportunity to express his desire to learn the country’s language and culture. No one spoke a word during the meal, except for Lovisa, who translated for Marius. Perhaps it was a dining etiquette to remain silent. Marius, ignorant of everything, felt that if he violated this rule, it wouldn’t be a major issue, but he also wanted to avoid compounding his embarrassment.
How much time had passed? When the lemon tea for the five of them ran out, Bernhard III suddenly spoke.
“Marius-dono, what are your intentions for the future?”
Upon hearing the King’s question translated by Lovisa, Marius seized the opportunity.
“If possible, I would like to remain in this country and study the Taliant Language and culture.”
After hearing Lovisa’s translation, the King pondered for a moment and replied.
“Then, would you perhaps consider remaining in the royal palace as a Royal Court Magician?”
He was puzzled by the unfamiliar term.
“Royal Court Magician? I am familiar with Court Magician…”
A Court Magician, in simple terms, should be a magician serving the state. It didn’t exist in the game world, but he had seen the title relatively often in fiction.
(Isn’t a State Guest someone of importance from a foreign country who is entertained at the country’s expense?)
Marius recalled the meaning of the word “State Guest” as he knew it. The aspect of being a foreigner and being entertained at the country’s expense were likely the same, but he felt there was something different.
“A Royal Court Magician is a position even higher than that of the Chief Court Magician.”
According to Lovisa’s explanation of the King’s words, a Royal Court Magician was indeed a guest of the country. They received a high salary, ample research funds, and a dedicated research facility. However, as it was also an honorary position, they did not have the authority to command armies or the like, as Court Magicians did. For someone like Marius, it seemed like a fitting role. Working for the nation in exchange for a large sum of money was not a bad proposition for the aimless Marius. It was easier to feel useful than to be considered a mere freeloader.
Thinking this, Marius replied immediately.
“If you deem me worthy, I accept. I would be grateful if you could assign someone to teach me the language.”
After all, he couldn’t rely on Lovisa for translations forever. Especially since they were a young man and woman.
“Regarding that matter, we have a suitable person. I will introduce them later. However, to accept so readily. You could have taken at least a night to consider. With your abilities, Marius-dono, you could secure employment in any country.”
Bernhard III’s gaze sharpened slightly. He seemed determined not to miss a single move Marius made. Pretending not to notice his demeanor, Marius replied.
“In my homeland, there is a saying that cherishes the irreplaceable encounters. The fact that we have met like this and that you have taken care of me must be destiny. I wish to cherish it.”
It was true, but not entirely. The biggest reason was undoubtedly Princess Lovisa. He didn’t expect to meet someone as beautiful as her so easily. He also found her to be intelligent and aware of her status as a princess, which appealed to him. However, he couldn’t honestly reveal this to his father, the King.
“That is a very noble principle indeed. We look forward to working with you.”
Bernhard III stepped forward and offered his hand for a handshake. Marius accepted, and they shook hands firmly. Thus, Marius Tubaan was born as the Royal Court Magician of the Kingdom of Filat. In later generations, many would claim that this event was “the turning point of history.”
