The topic of conversation at the tea party started with clothing trends and went into the balance of power among the noble families.
　The only one who speaks is Princess Beate, while Yagamihiki and the others listen to the conversation in silence.

''I can't help but notice how many idiots care about power.

　Eventually, Sydonier is stunned and expresses his opinion.

'Do you think so too, Sydonier?'

　Beate's eyes sparkled with joy at finding his mate.

'Of course I am,'

　Sydonier agrees without a second thought.

It's not a matter of which family has acquired which power, it's a matter of personal ability and the trends of the times, and their descendants should not be proud of it. And there is no medicine for them to think that it is their own power.

　There were not a few noblemen who were under the illusion that the abilities and achievements of individuals who had started and grown their families were their own, who were only following in their footsteps.

''I heard it's still better in the Empire.

　Beate sighs.
　'There are no few nobles in the empire who realize that they are where they are because of their great ancestors.

'It seems awful in the Western Kingdoms,'

　Sidonier agreed.
　The Empire's intelligence-gathering capabilities were not high, except when it came to the rival kingdoms on the same continent.
　Merchants and entertainers who couldn't keep up with the kingdoms would often drift into the Empire.

''The empire is a good country to have so many decent nobles.

　The majority of them are said to be unhappy with the way things have turned out.
　On the other hand, there are those who say, "An empire is just like any other," and there is no denying the existence of those who are disappointed.

There's no such thing as a perfect country.

　Val shrugged at that.

'I suppose the reasons why it's easy to live there and the circumstances that make it difficult to live there vary from person to person.

　Sydonier mumbles over his tea.

'Humans are a pain in the ass,'

　Meena only said one word that sounded like it.

'I'd like to hear what the elves have to say.

　Beate ate at her.

'You have no right to speak.'

　Meena cuts off and discards the princess' request with a single word.
　It's an attitude that could cause a fuss depending on who she's with and where she's at, but she doesn't care one bit.
　Beate also wants to get along with her because of her personality like that, so she persists without punishment.

'Don't say that. Even if it's just a simple story.''

"No.

　Meena rejected the princess's plea with shorter words than before.
　Sydonier just gives her a "bad person to ask" look and doesn't try to help her out.
　As for Val, he interrupts to say that he can't look at her.

'Meena. Just give us a little something simple to talk about.

...... Yes.

　Meena reluctantly replied to his request and asked Beate.

'What would you like to talk about?'

'Um, well, then I want to hear about the culture of the elves!　Something that actually surprised me when I heard about meat in general.

　It was a surprisingly decent answer, Bal, Sidonier and Meena felt, but no one dared to put it into words.　

'The culture of the elves, or ...... So let's talk about how it's actually different from the humans' image of them.

I want to hear it!

　Beate clapped her hands and shouted and reminded Zenda, "Your Highness, you've had a go.
　The princess tried to ignore her, but the maid came around to the front of her and warned her again.

'Wow, okay,'

　Even a free-spirited princess succumbs to the dignity of a fierce man of history as far away as her mother.

(I've seen the amazing part.)

　For the first time, Val almost applauded Zenda when he first saw Beate listening to someone else's attention in a way that broke from him.

'Okay?'

　Meena asks the princess to ignore the air.

'If there's one thing humans might find surprising, it's that they make paper and fiber from plants.

'What?　An elf would do that?

　Not only the princess, but also the Sidonier and the maidservants, who had been in the air for some time now, were awestruck.
　Val had reacted exactly the same way when Meena had first told him about it.

'Sometimes we have to thin out to maintain an ideal environment. Sometimes we eliminate plants that could be harmful if left untreated. In reality, they are not that different from humans. But we don't cut down the forest for material, and we use what we think we can use even if we exclude it.

That's right: ......

I suppose I should say I'm an elf in that regard.

　Beate, Sidonier was greatly impressed.