Kays Translations

Chapter 119: The Smile Bomb

"I am free!"

　How should I react when my husband comes back from the castle and throws his fists into the sky and screams as soon as he opens the door? Claudia, who didn't have an answer to that question, froze in silence.

"Well, it's a wonderful, truly wonderful day. I was able to clear my father's regrets and the Marquis has taken a liking to my katana. It was the third best day of my life."

　Claudia was astonished but still watching over the floating Lutz with a smile.

"Phew, I'm glad to hear you're in a good mood. So what's the second happiest thing in your life?"

"It was the first time I made a katana. Looking back on it now, it was just a helpless scrap of iron, but I was still really happy."

"What's the number one thing?"

　When asked, Lutz touched Claudia's thin white chin and lifted it.

"I'll teach you carefully tonight."

"Gosh, you're charming, even when you're aggressive."

　Claudia lightly patted Lutz on the cheek and took a step back reluctantly.

"Let's just eat for now. You haven't eaten anything since this morning, right?"

"... Come to think of it, I didn't. I wonder if I was nervous for some reason."

　Lutz scratched his head. Claudia gave him a strange look.

"Nervous? You were absolutely confident of your performance, weren't you?"

“It's one thing for me to feel that way, and quite another for others to judge me that way. It's not uncommon for me to submit something with a puffed up nostril and full of confidence, only to have it met with a salty response. ......Oh, I'm starting to feel sad saying that to myself."

"Craftsmanship is a difficult thing..."

　I went up to the second floor while talking.

　The usual bread and the usual soup that were lined up on the dining table felt awfully delicious. Lutz felt relieved that he had finally returned home.

"So, what happened at the castle?"

　Prompted by Claudia, Lutz talked about the details of the unveiling party.

　While this was a chat between the couple, it was also for Claudia to know about the movements of the nobles. Lutz didn't do anything about it, and didn't think it mattered.

　It doesn't matter if it doesn't help. Information is collected in pieces and put together to make sense.

　Lutz has only recently come to understand such things.

　Claudia listened to the conversation with great interest. She was especially interested in the fact that Lutz was favoured by the Marquis Beowulf Eldenberger. 

"So the Marquis told you that he owes you a debt?"

"I can't say I'm word-for-word certain, but the nuance is certainly there."

　However, Lutz paused, pondered, and then continued.

“I think it's one thing for the Marquis to say so, and quite another for you to believe the word of an aristocrat."

　It would be crazy to think that a promise would be honoured between two nobles, let alone between a marquis, a great nobleman, and a craftsman. If you press them to keep their promises, you will be punished for your rudeness.

" Don't worry, I'm in my right mind. I have no interest in fantasizing about trusting a nobleman."

　Claudia said with a smile that made people look like fools. Her position has changed a lot compared to the past, but her stance toward the nobility has always been the same.

“The image of the Marquis of Eldenberger is that of an irrational old man who glared at us with resentment despite the success of the magical grant of the katana during the peace talks. But from his point of view, he would have wanted to say something bitter, and in fact, it caused a terrible incident."

　The ridiculous thing is the story of the assassination of the king of a neighbouring country. I say it as if it were someone else's problem, but without exaggeration, it was a major event that really changed the course of history.

"......we didn’t ask for him to be assassinated. It would just be an outpouring of emotions that have been building up between father and son for a long time."

"Of course. You wouldn’t want me to tell you to make a blade that will bring your family closer together, do you?"

"Gerhard-san, he can't wait to finish it."

　He let out a dry laugh while saying that.

"Oops, we've digressed. When Eldenberger came to us with a request for a katana, he seemed to be serious or at least sincere in his words."

　Lutz nodded in agreement.

“So I think it's true that this incident has lifted some loose strings, and I think he really means it when he says he's grateful to Lutz-kun and that he owes you a debt of gratitude. At least, I don't think we’d go to see him and be turned away at the door."

"Is there anything you want to talk to the Marquis about?"

"That's it though. ......"

　Claudia tapped the table with her fingertips while her gaze floated in the air.

“Lutz-kun, you don’t have any big jobs for a while, do you?”

“Hmm? Oh, for now. As expected, they won't ask me to make another one after yesterday's delivery. If they do, I'm going to just scoff at them and say something like, "Artists need time to look at themselves.”"

"Would you like to come with me to see how the princess is doing?"

　The Third Princess Listille, with whom she has been in contact in some way, has been developing a village for soldiers who have nowhere else to go after the war is over. She seems to be having a hard time because of all the things she is not used to. Claudia, who has become good friends with her, is always concerned about her.

"I see, so with Marquis Eldenberger..."

“I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do about it, though."

　Listille had established a village near the border, and the Marquis of Eldenberger wanted to trade with the Allies at the border. There was no cooperation between the two despite their close proximity.

　She would like to mediate the relationship between the two, but it was difficult to persuade him with both profit and reason. Because Listille is politically in a delicate position or a worthless existence, and Marquis Eldenberger has an attitude of avoiding trouble.

　What if there is an emotional attachment to Lutz involved here? I don't know, the rest will have to be figured out locally.

"Okay, let's get permission from the Count tomorrow."

　Lutz willingly agreed. It would be in the form of asking Gerhard to pass a message to his employer, Count Maximilian Zander, rather than meeting him in person, but the thing to do would be the same.

"It's decided."

　Claudia stood up with a smile and went behind Lutz. She put her lips to his ear and whispered a caressing whisper in her voice.

"Well then, let's hear what the best thing in your life is.”

　Claudia's hand groped Lutz's chest while whispering.

"... you know without asking, right?"

"I know, but I want to hear it. For some reason, men tend to be sloppy, like, 'I said I love you three days ago, so it's okay for a while.'"

"No, that kind of thing is... It might be."

"I don't mean to accuse men of a lack of affection, but I think it's necessary to reach a compromise with each other. That's what words are for. Come on, say it."

"Meeting you is the happiest thing for me."

　It's true, but it's embarrassing to put it into words. In the ear of Lutz, who answers with embarrassment,

"Mmm-hmm."

　He heard a chuckle.

"I know."

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