I Was Deemed a Worthless Saint Without a Level-Up Blessing and Was Sent Off to Marry a Neighboring Country, but It Turns Out My Blessing Was Actually Level Cap Removal - Episode 31

After breakfast, Ferulina changed into a tea party dress chosen by the maids—one that was not flashy but of good quality enough to maintain decorum—and had her hair neatly styled. She was escorted by Alvent, who had changed into his knightly uniform, towards the courtyard where the queen was waiting.

“……There are surprisingly a lot of people around.”

In response to Alvent’s low murmur, Ferulina, who had been nervously staring straight ahead, hurriedly glanced around.

On both sides of this courtyard, where well-tended autumn flowers bloom, there are wide corridors running.

Due to the walls and windows, the conversation probably won’t be heard, but the sight of us having tea will surely catch the eye.

The fact that the queen designated this place means she must have some kind of plan.

However, before I could come to that conclusion, I ended up sitting at the table where the queen was.

Ferulina let out a small sigh, suppressing her anxiety, and, trying her best to appear as elegant as possible, she pinched her skirt and bowed respectfully.

“Your Majesty, thank you very much for inviting me to the tea party this time. I am deeply grateful.”

Not knowing where or who is watching means you can never afford to fail.

Thinking that I might cause trouble for Alvent makes my stomach ache with anxiety.

However, as I continued to suppress those feelings and bow my head, the gentle voice of the queen descended upon me.

“Miss Ferulina, please lift your head. Don’t be so nervous. It was I who invited you so suddenly.”

“It is an unparalleled honor to be invited by Her Majesty the Queen.”

The first thing that caught Ferulina’s eyes as she slowly sat up was the figure of the queen, exuding grace and dignity with a gentle smile.

“Mother, you look splendid. Although only Ferulina was invited, she has only just arrived in the Gobules Kingdom. I would like to join as well.”

Alvent, who greeted with a stern voice, puffed out his chest as if to say, “No refusals will be accepted.”

Suddenly, the queen’s lighthearted laughter burst forth at the table.

“Alvent, you…! Shouldn’t you change your name from ‘Gray Bear’ to ‘Mother Bear’ instead?”

While laughing uncontrollably as if she couldn’t help it, the queen says something outrageous.

Without thinking, Ferulina looked up at Alvent, and what she saw was a dissatisfied expression with tightly pursed lips.

“If I can sit with you, it doesn’t matter whether it’s ‘Gray Bear’ or ‘Mother Bear.'”

Even when faced with her extremely sulky son, the queen not only doesn’t flinch at all but instead bursts into even more cheerful laughter.

“Honestly, what a troublesome child. What on earth do you think I am?”

The queen, who has finally managed to stop laughing, gestures for them to take their seats at the table.

As Ferulina and Alvent sat side by side at the round table, the queen sent a mischievous glance at her son.

“Did you think I would be mean to Miss Ferulina? How rude. There’s no way I would do such a thing to a young lady who has come all the way from another country to be my son’s bride.”

At the queen’s unexpected words, Alvent furrowed his brows sternly.

“At the point where you are calling such a big son ‘cute,’ the credibility of your words is non-existent. What exactly are you trying to instill in Ferulina?”

As if trying to discern the queen’s true intentions, Alvent sends a sharp gaze towards his mother.

The queen, who received the gaze head-on, shrugged her shoulders.

“Whether you whisper or not, it’s just as I told you. If we deepen our friendship before the formal audience ceremony, Miss Ferulina’s tension will ease up a bit, won’t it?”

“Your Majesty, thank you very much for your kind consideration.”

As Ferulina expressed her gratitude, the maids served cups of tea.

The queen nodded with satisfaction.

“Miss Ferulina is so honest and cute. She’s completely different from my son, who has no charm at all.”

“Just a moment ago, you called him ‘your beloved son,’ but your true feelings are the complete opposite, aren’t they? That’s why I oppose letting Ferulina meet Mother alone.”

“Oh my. Did you think, even for a moment, that you could compete with Lady Ferulina in cuteness?”

“There’s no way I could think that! Where do you think I have any elements that could compete with such an incredibly cute Ferulina!?”

Alvent, who had leaned forward and shouted, gasped as if coming to his senses. At the same time, Ferulina felt her own face suddenly heat up.

Even if it’s just a tit-for-tat, I’m so happy that Alvent called me “cute.”

“Well, well, how innocent.”

The queen, who laughed cheerfully, encouraged with a smile to freely enjoy the tea and sweets.

To calm her mind even just a little, Ferulina reached for the cup. The gentle, drifting aroma of the tea, mingling with the steam, slightly eased her tension.

The refreshing taste of the tea made it clear with just one sip that it was something expensive that Ferulina had never tasted before.

Alvent seems to be on guard for some reason, but there’s no doubt that the queen is genuinely concerned for Ferulina’s sake.

“I can believe that this is a face-to-face meeting before the audience, but why this place?”

Alvent, who drank about half of the tea in the cup without hesitation, questioned the queen as if trying to see through any deception.

The queen, who was tilting her cup with such graceful movements that one couldn’t help but admire, turned a provocative gaze towards her son and said, “Oh.”