Chapter 186 – Shy Estian

“Yes, you’ve got to be clear with this sort of thing.
Read all the provisions, from first to last.
There’s a back page too, so go through it twice before signing.”

Maggie was surprisingly thorough about these kinds of matters, and waited patiently for Estian and Cecile to read through and sign as directed.
After receiving the signed written vow, she nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Then, I’d like for you to begin working quickly,” Estian urged.

“Sounds to me like His Majesty is on pins and needles,” Maggie snorted.
“Well, I suppose that’s why he even sent his servants after hounding me with letters on a daily basis since his arrival.”

‘What did she mean?’ Cecile cast a confused look at Maggie.

“I asked the knights that came knocking, and they told me Her Majesty was so desperate to have our pies that she cried a river of tears? So I figure, His Majesty must be really anxious to secure my pies at any cost.
What devotion! Who’d have expected the great emperor to put so much effort into obtaining pies.”

Cecile was flabbergasted—admittedly she did cry a teensy bit out of sadness, but not a river! Glancing at Estian, he seemed expressionless as always, but she soon noticed the back of his neck was ever so slightly redder than usual.
Realization dawned on her as to why he had tried to sneak out alone, refused her company, and hadn’t let others know where he was heading—Estian was feeling embarrassed!

She gently took hold of her husband’s hand, and he strongly clasped hers in turn.
Feeling how it was warmer than usual, she wondered if the flush had spread as far as his hands.

Maggie left the kitchen while muttering about keeping the written vow safe, before returning moments later.
“Now then, bring me apples,” she ordered.

Cecile let go of Estian’s hand to rummage through her bag and took out a ripe apple.
“This one?” she asked.
It was one of the snacks she’d packed in her excitement at having a date-like excursion.

Maggie’s face twisted, as she cried, “Is this a joke to you! Didn’t you even properly hear what the problem is! An apple like that can’t be used for our shop’s pies!” In a flare of anger, she started in on a lengthy explanation.

* * *

“So… Maggie’s pies only use the apples from a specific local apple farm, but their products are all withered up.
The cause of the withering are phantom beasts that stick to the fruits and suck out the juices, and although those phantom beasts aren’t strong, they’re difficult to catch because of their numbers and they can fly.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Which is why you hired a private company to deal with the beasts, but they haven’t acted despite getting paid?”

“Apparently so.”

“Furthermore, it seems that there’s some kind of reason behind their inaction, which may somehow be related to the local governor that happens to be away right now, and not that they’re trying to scam you? And even if the phantom beasts are killed, other problems still remain such as getting a water supply…”

Cecile read aloud the reasons listed on a paper as she paced back and forth.
After going through a lengthy list of additional reasons why the apple pies couldn’t be made, she put on a determined look and said, “Your Majesty, let’s just kill them all.”

“Shall we? Starting with the private company to—”

“No, I mean the phantom beasts.”

Sure, the world could be a mess at times, but why overcomplicate matters? At times like these, facing the problems headfirst was the simplest way forward.
Ignore everything and deal with the phantom beasts first.
The water issue could somehow be resolved with the emperor’s power.
Worst case scenario, they could always task Girgantia from pulling water from the river.
With his enlarged size, he’d be able to carry more.