Chapter 158: The Royal Funeral and Kitchen Commotion (1)

"Haa. Yanica, enough already..."

When I tried to tell Yanica to cut it out, Yanica muttered bosori first.

"...The wasteland."

Wasteland, meaning...

...

The next day a kingdom search party was formed and headed to Reija Valley.

Reija Valley is the place Tiria and I returned from the Demon World.

In the Tres Kingdom if you say wasteland there is only here.

A magician who is Hein’s subordinate accompanied the search party and they were searching by magic.

Bodies abandoned fifteen years ago would normally be indistinguishable as whose.

They were trying to identify them by magic.

Even so Reija Valley is vast.

They are already splitting few personnel so they cannot use human-wave tactics.

Therefore I thought it would not be found overnight, but...

...

"...These are Lord Rudolf, Lady Teresia, and Lord Theophilus’s remains."

Two large stone coffins and one small stone coffin were placed in a row.

The lids of all three were open and the bodies inside could be seen.

Rudolf and Teresia were the same appearance as when I met them.

I have never met him, but Theophilus who was Tiria’s younger brother and the prince is probably the same.

Together with me Tiria and Cathy also peered into the stone coffins.

Of course I, and Tiria and Cathy too, wore black dresses only for this time.

No, originally they would have to wear their respective outfits, but I asked Helene and had her permit it.

That said, Helene apparently intended that as well.

When I asked she readily agreed and immediately brought out mourning clothes that fit Tiria and Cathy perfectly.

She had already had them prepared.

"Father... Mother... Theo... uu..."

Tiria peering into each stone coffin.

When she looked at Theo last, perhaps she could not endure it, tears spilled from Tiria’s eyes.

But the spilled tears passed through Theo’s body.

What we are looking at now is an illusion made by magic, and the actual bleached bones were placed under that illusion.

The bodies were found immediately, apparently.

At the summit of the highest mountain in Reija Valley three stakes had been driven in.

Bones were scattered at their bases, they said.

According to Helene they were given the bird punishment.

Bird punishment is a cruel thing where you are nailed alive to a stake and become bird prey.

But they were exposed after being executed in the city, so I thought it was fortunate they did not suffer while alive.

However even if they exposed them as an example, people rarely approach Reija Valley so almost no one would see.

I think it is almost meaningless, but they destroyed a country for play so they probably did it half for fun.

I was quietly angry alone.

"...Then, the last prayer."

Meanwhile the funeral proceeded.

Rosina, the highest ranking priestess of Anirofe in Torrestia, the currently strongest order in Torrestia, was conducting the state funeral of Rudolf, Teresia, and Theophilus.

Julius and Helene prayed to their respective gods, then the nobles, and last I, Cathy, and Tiria offered words of prayer.

Originally Tiria who was a blood relative and also a throne successor should be in a position above Julius and Helene, but as things stand Tiria became a To-Dule so she came after Cathy.

Though it is already unthinkable that Dules can attend a state funeral.

"Uu..."

Cathy supported Tiria who looked about to collapse.

"Rest a little."

Though it was mid-funeral I told her to leave her seat thinking of Tiria.

"No... gusu... I am fine. Thank you."

But Tiria did not try to move from the spot.

It is her blood relatives’ funeral.

She wants to attend to the end.

Then I will let Tiria do as she wants.

When I thought that and faced forward, Rosina was advancing the funeral.

"Here, in the Hall of Reincarnation, we enshrine the three bodies of Rudolf, Teresia, and Theophilus, and at the time of reincarnation to the coming heavenly world we shall return each. We pray that the journey in the underworld until then be peace and tranquility, sending prayers to our god Anirofe and Raichel, master god of the underworld."

Seeing Rosina spinning words solemnly on the altar not in her usual light tone, I looked at her again.

As expected of someone who is a priestess.

After Rosina’s prayer a silent prayer was offered, then Julius’s speech began.

The content was things like "demons must not be forgiven" and "devote yourselves to kingdom reconstruction."

The lengthy speech frankly did not interest me, and more than that I was worried about Tiria sniffling beside me.

But if I left the room even mid-speech of the king, even I might be charged with lese majesty, so I hugged Tiria as is and calmed her.

"Then with this the funeral ends. May Anirofe’s protection be upon the three, and upon all of you present here."

Then at last Julius’s speech ended and Rosina announced the end of the funeral.

I spoke lightly with acquaintances, exchanged greetings with Helene and Julius as well, and returned home early taking Tiria and Cathy.

Rosina apparently still had things to do and remained at the castle.

The road home was already dyed in sunset.

...

"""""""Welcome home.""""""" "Welcome home." "Welcome hoome."

When I returned home the Dules and Rine welcomed me.

"Oh, did she fall asleep?"

Looking at Tiria I was carrying on my back, Muriel asked.

While I was making greeting rounds after the funeral she sat on the bench placed against the wall, leaned on Cathy, and fell asleep.

"She seems cried-out. Let her sleep like this."

I entrusted sleeping Tiria to Sara.

With Cathy and Muriel helping I took off the stiff ceremonial clothes, put on my usual tunic, and sat on the sofa.

When I began to relax everyone except Rine and Sara went into the kitchen.

After Sara also returned she headed to the kitchen as is.

They are probably preparing dinner.

Even so it is rare for everyone to go into the kitchen.

Are they making luxurious dishes.

"Good work."

When I was thinking that, Sophia who came out from there unusually brought me tea.

"I used Cathy’s without asking, but that is fine, right."

Sophia turned and spoke.

Beyond that Cathy who had somehow changed into her usual chest-open ass-open maid clothes was standing.

"It is fine, but please clean up properly afterward."

Cathy sighed and went into the kitchen.

"Sophia will not clean up?"

"Eh, ee, well. Ahahaha..."

When I asked Sophia nodded vaguely and raised a dry laugh.

I thought Sophia was a girl who does that properly.

I tilted my head and drank the tea placed in front.