A Happy Life in the Empire - The Princess Once Called a “Failure” Becomes the “Most Important Person” as a Hostage in the Empire - Chapter 14
A few days had passed.
The ritual was proceeding smoothly, and the work would be completed by the end of the day.
It seemed that we would be leaving Grandfell tomorrow.
Alto had been in discussions with Duke Edward since morning.
As they reviewed difficult documents, it looked like they were focused on matters concerning the empire.
There was no place for me in such a discussion.
So, I decided to go out into the city alone.
◇
It had been about a week since we arrived in Grandfell.
Even so, there were still many places in the city I hadn’t been to.
Today, I had come to one of those “unknown streets.”
Since this area was directly under the duke’s control, the security was good, and I felt safe walking alone.
“What an amazing place…!”
It was a street lined with foreign restaurants.
Colorful tents and vibrant signs could be seen everywhere.
It was a mysterious space where different cultures mixed together.
“Just looking around is fun.”
Each shop had a small storefront with various foreign dishes displayed under the eaves.
The air was filled with different aromas, making it enjoyable not just for the eyes but also for the nose.
“Hey, young lady! You over there!”
As I wandered around looking at the shops, someone called out to me.
The person speaking to me was the owner of a store with the sign “Sushi Shop.”
He was a middle-aged man wearing a twisted headband, exuding a cheerful atmosphere.
“Hey, young lady, have you ever tried sushi?”
“Sushi…?”
I didn’t know what sushi was.
Seeing me tilt my head in confusion, the man grinned.
“I’m from Japanné, and sushi is a specialty there. It’s rice seasoned with vinegar, topped with raw fish.”
“Raw fish!?”
I opened my eyes wide in surprise.
As far as I knew, there was no custom of eating raw fish on this continent.
I had always thought that cooking food to kill toxins and germs was common sense.
“Surprised, huh? You’ll be even more shocked when you try it! Japanné sushi is the best.”
Japanné was an island nation far beyond the vast sea.
It was known as a peaceful country that upheld a policy of self-defense and did not invade other nations.
It was also one of the few countries without a noble system, famous for its unique culture and advanced technology.
Their ability to eat raw fish was likely another result of their distinct traditions.
“Eating raw fish makes me a little nervous, but I am interested in Japanné cuisine!”
“Don’t worry. I’m a professional sushi chef. I only serve what’s safe to eat. So, how about trying one piece?”
Apparently, “one piece” was the unit used for sushi.
I learned that sushi was small enough to eat in one bite, and people usually ate several pieces at a sushi restaurant.
“Okay, I’ll have one piece, please!”
“Alright! What topping do you want?”
The shopkeeper washed his hands and cutting board before sharpening his knife.
“Topping?”
“It means what kind of fish you want.”
With a big smile, he started listing different fish.
However, more than half of them were fish I had never seen or heard of before.
It seemed that all sorts of seafood, from red-fleshed fish to white-fleshed fish and shellfish, could be used as sushi toppings.
“Since this is a rare chance, I’d like to try a fish I don’t know. Do you have a recommendation?”
“A recommendation? Then I’d go with Nodoguro. It’s a white-fleshed fish, but it’s rich and has a delicate sweetness.”
“Then I’ll have Nodoguro, please!”
“You got it!”
The shopkeeper took out a small fish with red scales.
Apparently, this was Nodoguro. He expertly prepared it with practiced hands.
With incredible speed, he removed the bones and cut the fish into thin slices.
Next, he started shaping the vinegared rice that would hold the topping.
According to the shopkeeper, this rice was called “shari.”
In no time, he had formed the shari into a small, oval-shaped portion.
“Now, I just place the topping on the shari and lightly press it—”
The shopkeeper explained as he worked.
“—then brush it with soy sauce, and it’s done!”
And just like that, Nodoguro nigiri sushi was complete.
“Here you go. Eat it all in one bite.”
The shopkeeper handed me the sushi.
“All in one bite!?”
It was small enough to eat in one bite.
But normally, I would split my food into two bites.
“Yeah, that’s how sushi is meant to be eaten—just pop it into your mouth with your hand.”
Eating with my hands was also shocking.
Not only were there no knives or forks, but not even chopsticks were used.
“A-Alright…!”
I gathered my courage and ate the sushi.
I picked up the whole piece and placed it into my mouth.
“Mmm—!”
The moment I took a bite, I was amazed.
The slightly sour rice and the rich fat of the raw fish spread throughout my mouth.
The fat had an elegant sweetness and depth of flavor, almost like high-quality butter.
And surprisingly, there was no fishy smell at all.
“…It’s delicious! Amazing, amazing! It’s so good!”
I couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Told ya! This is sushi!”
The shopkeeper nodded proudly.
“To think something this delicious exists in the world…!”
I wanted Alto to try it too.
If he didn’t know about sushi, he would surely be just as amazed as I was.
Just imagining his reaction made me smile.
“If you liked it, I’ll give you another piece on the house!”
“Really!? Are you sure!?”
“Seeing someone enjoy my sushi is the best payment I could ask for!”
“Thank you so much!”
My heart leaped with excitement.
(What should I try next?)
There were so many unknown fish that it was hard to choose.
Or maybe I should go for a fish I already knew?
For example, tuna was well-known, and I was familiar with its taste.
That way, I could compare it with the tuna dishes I had eaten before.
“Take your time deciding! A cute girl like you standing in front of my shop is good for business!”
“Haha, you’re flattering me too much!”
The shopkeeper and I laughed together.
But at that moment—
Boom!
Suddenly, a massive explosion sounded in the distance.
The ground shook, and the vibrations traveled up my legs.
“What the hell!?”
The cheerful sushi shop owner suddenly became alert.
Other shopkeepers and passersby were also surprised, saying, “What happened?”
However, it did not turn into chaos, and everyone quickly calmed down.
“It’s probably just some fool who failed a magic trick.”
“Yeah, probably. Even though magic performances are forbidden, some people just don’t learn.”
“Well, I get that they want to stand out with flashy tricks, but still…”
It seemed to be a common problem in this city.
Because of the fierce competition, some people break the rules just to get attention.
Maybe that’s what Alto and the duke were discussing—how to handle these kinds of issues.
(Oh! That’s right! I need to go back to the castle!)
I had a few restrictions placed on me.
For example, “Do not leave Grandfell until the ceremony is over.”
One of them was also, “Return to the castle if something unusual happens.”
(It seems like this happens often, so maybe it’s not really an emergency… But I shouldn’t decide that on my own.)
So, I decided to head back to the castle.
“Excuse me, I have to cancel the free sushi! I need to go somewhere right away!”
“Oh, I see. That’s too bad, but it can’t be helped!”
I paid for the Nodoguro sushi and quickly left.
Weaving through the crowd, I hurried toward the duke’s castle.
“Ah!”
On the way, I accidentally bumped into a man wearing a hood.
“I’m sorry! I’m in a hurry…”
The man ignored my words and held something out to me.
“You dropped this.”
“Huh?”
What he handed me was a letter sealed with wax.
It was clearly not mine.
“Sorry, but this isn’t mine…”
When I looked up, the man had disappeared.
“What should I do?”
I didn’t know what to do with a letter given to me by mistake.
“Hm? This is…”
When I looked at the wax seal, I noticed something.
It had a crest I knew very well.
It was a special crest used for secret letters in the Kingdom of Luminar.
In other words, this was a magical letter.
If someone other than the intended recipient tried to open it, the letter would vanish.
And only a select few, such as the royal family, could create such letters.
(This letter… is meant for me!?)
I decided to take the risk and open it.
If it wasn’t mine, the letter would crumble to dust.
“I knew it…”
I was able to open the seal without any problem.
As expected, this letter was addressed to me.
I checked the contents and found only a very short message.
“This is…!”
As I read the letter, I felt the bl00d drain from my face.
What was written there was truly shocking.