“Regarding Gordon and Patty’s relationship, I think it’s time to end the trial period,” Margaret said.
“Huh?” Gordon and Patty exclaimed.
Following the incident during the company retreat, the two had started dating on a trial basis.
“Actually, I’ve received a marriage proposal from a neighboring country. I’ve been holding off on it for now because of your situation, but I can’t keep delaying it for much longer. I wanted you both to take your time to think about it, but we don’t have much time left. I’m sorry for the suddenness, but by the day after tomorrow, I need you both to decide whether to continue your relationship or call it off. If you both decide to continue, then the following day, we will officially announce your relationship at a celebration event in front of the public. So, please discuss this thoroughly between yourselves before then.”
Margaret felt apologetic. She wanted to prioritize the couple’s feelings and asked them to think rather than forcing them.
“Since that’s the case, please stay together as much as possible until this party ends. Patty, if you have no intention of proceeding with the relationship, I won’t force you. After this party, you can end your trial relationship and return to your previous lives.”
“Understood. Mother.”
“I understand. Your Majesty.”
Gordon and Patty accepted Margaret’s proposal.
“It wouldn’t be fair to Gordon, who looks cold standing alone, to stay too long, so shall we head back?”
Having finished their business, Margaret said this, and everyone returned inside the building.
“Patty, let’s go.”
“Yes. Lord Gordon.”
Following Margaret’s instructions, Gordon and Patty decided to stick together and disappeared into the crowd. Elnet, Josette, Catherine, and Margaret watched them go with warm gazes.
“Sigh, well, I wonder how it will turn out. Gordon seems fine, but Patty doesn’t seem to have made up her mind yet,” Margaret sighed as the two figures disappeared.
“She’s going from being a commoner to a princess all of a sudden. Patty must have a lot to consider,” Elnet said.
“That’s right. The incident that started it all was Patty climbing into the Prince’s bed. If that hadn’t happened, she probably wouldn’t be agonizing like this now. It’s no use saying it now, but we can only watch and see what conclusion they reach,” Josette added.
“Speaking of that…” Catherine said, looking serious, facing the concerned Elnet and Josette.
“Is something wrong? Catherine?” Elnet asked.
“What’s wrong? Catherine?” Josette inquired.
“No, it’s… it’s nothing. I, I have work as a Saintess, so I should be going now.”
Catherine opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it. She then quickly left, as if fleeing the situation.
“Well, I should get back to my duties as Queen. The party is long, so I’m sure we’ll meet again, but I’ll excuse myself for now.”
Margaret said this and returned to fulfill her role.
“It seems we only came here to deliver this message,” Elnet murmured, watching Margaret’s busy figure move away.
“That appears to be the case,” Josette replied.
Watching Margaret’s retreating back, Elnet and Josette exchanged glances and spoke.
“Now, let’s get back to work,” Elnet said.
“It’s promotion time. We’ll sell our shop’s merchandise to as many people as possible,” Josette replied.
Then, while introducing the merchandise sold at Marie’s Bakery No. 2, the two began speaking with various nobles in attendance.
“Elnet, Josette. You’re here too.”
“Oh? Patty. Where is Lord Gordon?”
As their promotional activities took a brief pause, Patty approached Elnet and Josette.
“Ah, it’s this late already,” Elnet said, checking the time and understanding why Patty had come.
“It seems the date is about to change.”
“Oh, is it that time already?”
“Lord Gordon needs to go up to the dais, so he asked me to come and see you two.”
Gordon had royal duties to attend to, and as a way to protect her during that time, he had sent her to Elnet and Josette. On the dais set up in the venue, besides royalty including Gordon, Catherine and other high-ranking nobles were present.
“Ladies, please.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you very much.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Servants of the castle were distributing glasses filled with red drinks to the attendees. Glasses were brought to the three of them, and they each accepted one.
“Um, what should I do with this glass?” Patty asked.
“Ah, this is…” Elnet began.
“At the moment we welcome the New Year, everyone present in the venue will drink it all together to celebrate,” Josette interrupted and explained.
“Th-that’s what I was about to say,” Elnet quipped.
“It’s a reprisal because my older sister always takes what I want first,” Josette said.
“A reprisal? That’s a cute reprisal,” Elnet replied.
“O-Older Sister. My hairstyle will get messed up if you pat my head,” Josette protested.
Elnet placed her hand on Josette’s head and gently stroked it, to which Josette seemed quite displeased.
“In the past, people apparently used to drop the glasses they drank from on the floor, but since many were injured by broken shards, it was deemed dangerous. Now, the servants collect the empty glasses. Even if you don’t hand them directly, you can return them to the designated spot there.”
“O-Okay, I understand.”
“Patty, you don’t need to be so nervous. It’s alright,” Josette said kindly to Patty, who was nervous about this being her first time.
“Y-Yes!”
Then, a fanfare rang out in the venue, and everyone’s attention turned to the dais.
“My people, we will soon welcome the New Year. Let us celebrate this moment together!”
As the King on the dais raised his glass, the royals also on the dais, along with Catherine and those holding important positions in the country, raised their glasses in unison. In response, everyone in the venue raised their glasses. As the King took a sip from his glass, everyone else followed suit and drained the red liquid.
*Clink!*
Then, the sound of breaking glasses was heard from several places in the venue.
“There are always a few people every year who haven’t let go of the old customs,” Elnet muttered.
“Indeed. It’s troublesome when that happens nearby, as shards can fly over,” Josette added.
Elnet and Josette said this with exasperated expressions. Looking towards where the sound came from, servants were busy cleaning up the broken glass with brooms and dustpans. As this happened every year, the cleanup crew seemed quite skilled.
“…And that concludes my address. Everyone, I look forward to your continued support in the New Year.”
After the King’s New Year’s greeting, the people on the dais began to descend one by one. As Elnet and the others handed their empty glasses to the servants, Gordon and Catherine walked towards them.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“No, you don’t need to worry about it.”
“I see.”
Gordon and Patty held hands and gazed at each other.
“This is ‘chinchin kamo kamo’,” Josette remarked, watching their exchange.
“Yes, ‘chinchin kamo kamo’,” Elnet agreed.
“When you say ‘chinchin’ in public like this, it’s not a word that should be said so frankly, is it? Elnet, Josette,” Catherine said, her face turning bright red upon hearing this.
“‘Chin chin kamo kamo’ doesn’t mean that at all,” Patty said.
“Oh, is that so? You all see it as ‘chin chin kamo kamo’?” Gordon asked.
Patty and Gordon seemed delighted.
“Please don’t say the word ‘chin chin’ in front of everyone like that, Prince!” Catherine’s face turned even redder as Patty and Gordon pressed on.
“Oh my, is our Saintess embarrassed having heard the words ‘chin chin kamo kamo’?” Elnet mischievously said, bending down to meet Catherine’s gaze.
“I-It’s because everyone keeps saying ‘chin chin, chin chin’…”
“Hahaha. Catherine is so cute.”
“Uwah, my hair, my hair is getting messy!”
Elnet, amused, ruffled Catherine’s hair. She had done the same to Josette a little earlier, but this time she seemed to put more force into it.
“‘Chin chin kamo kamo’ means that men and women are on intimate terms… in other words, it means they are getting along well. It’s such a famous phrase that it’s even checked with a red circle in the dictionary at the academy library.”
“S-So that’s what ‘chin chin kamo kamo’ means!” Elnet explained. Catherine appeared convinced.
“Elnet, I think the red circle is just a doodle.”
“What?”
Elnet passionately explained that it was a very important phrase, but Patty revealed the truth.
“Isn’t it an important phrase?”
“Isn’t it an important phrase?” Gordon and Josette, having heard this, seemed to share Elnet’s understanding. All three had surprised expressions.
“That’s just them boys finding lewd or suggestive words and marking them. So it’s not a particularly important phrase, you see?”
“S-So that’s how it is.”
Gordon, Elnet, and Josette, their common sense overturned, fell to their knees and hung their heads.
