Actually, this isn’t the first time I’ve had tea time with the two of them…
‘But I feel a bit nervous.’
Even the Empress casually pushed a basket of scones towards me.
‘Would you like some clotted cream to go with that? What about jam? Do you want apricot or orange marmalade?”
“Oh, thank you. I don’t mind, either one is good.”
At the same time, a hand out of nowhere poured tea into my cup.
It was the Empress dowager.
“You must be thirsty, have some tea while you eat.”
“Um, thank you.”
….gee, this is a bit much.
With pleased looks coming from two directions at me, I didn’t know what to do.
They sure do like watching me eat, don’t they?
They’re like a mother happily watching their child eat.
The Empress took it a step further.
“Are you short on snacks? Shall I ask for more cake?”
“No, this is enough!”
I shook my head hastily.
Of course, I’m happy that they like me but….
‘When I’m together with the two of them, they end up taking care of me.’
Really, I don’t know if it’s okay to do this.
Feeling embarrassed, I spread jam and cream onto my scones.
As I did so, her Majesty, the Empress dowager spoke in a playful tone.
“Our Charlize gets prettier and prettier as she grows up.”
“No, you’re exaggerating, your Majesty.”
“Perhaps. Even when she was a kid, I thought she was remarkably cute, but she becomes more and more so with each passing day. Beautiful would be the more apt word now.”
The Empress dowager who commented that stealthily leaned her head closer to me.
“I hear you’re very popular with servants and knights, aren’t you?
Ahaha….
I let out an awkward laugh.
How should I respond in such a situation?
Fortunately, the Empress answered on my behalf.
“Well, I’m not going to give Charlize to anyone I don’t like.”
In the eyes of the Empress who said so, she saw someone too young for that.
Her Majesty, the Empress dowager shrugged her shoulders.
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Of course, she’s my maid.”
The Empress nodded with a determined face.
“What if a wolf-like man drags away a lone Charlize?”
….I don’t think that’s what the person who took me in when I was five would say.