Walth-Say, I'm here.
"Raise your head, Walth.

　A slightly unreliable voice echoed in the audience hall.
　The Kingdom of Euresia was located about four countries over from the Kingdom of Carlitz.
　It was so small that it made me want to crane my neck and wonder why it existed, as if it was being crushed by the surrounding countries. In fact, it was about the size of the royal capital of the Kingdom of Karrits.
　It's possible that I didn't know about it.

　When I raised my forehead on the floor of the audience hall, I saw the king, the owner of the voice, standing on his throne, looking uncomfortable and dazed, and beside him stood a person who looked like a princess.
　The princess has beautiful golden hair and a face that seems too good to be true for such a small country.

Father, I don't need a guard slave," the princess said firmly, looking at me.

　The king became even more impatient at the princess's attitude and said, "Until yesterday, you were convinced. The princess and I looked at each other alternately, and she looked as if she was about to burst into tears.

　There was no one else in the audience room, as if she had known this would happen.
　I never thought that a king would show such a pathetic appearance in front of his slaves.
　At this rate, if I don't let this princess achieve a certain level of military prowess in the crown system, the country will fall and my life will be in danger. The blood curse was made generations ago, and it's obvious that I should prioritize getting her to increase her military prowess rather than trying to break the curse.

　However, against my will, the princess continued to say, as if she had no intention of doing so, "Slaves probably don't even know table manners, and it's too much trouble to teach them.

I'm sure you can handle that. Tell him, Walth," the king said, as if he were pleading with me.

　The crown system is a dangerous one, requiring a willingness to mingle with adventurers, to sip water, and to be constantly targeted by assassins from other countries. When you talk about manners, you don't understand it and you underestimate it.
　As a former prince who gained fame through the crown system, I would like to give him a lecture, but since it is easy to solve the immediate problem, I decided to go along with him.

I have perfect table manners. But since you've made me an escort slave, I'm assuming this is about the Crown System, how good is Your Highness? I say in a provocative manner.

　The princess paused for a moment with a puzzled look on her face, then said, "You're a slave and you know table manners?　Then let's see it. I'll show you my skills when I pass the test," she said, and stepped back.

　The king seemed relieved that the princess had agreed to his terms and said, "Well, let's get you ready to eat. Walth, do not disappoint me. Seretia has a tendency to insist on going alone. I must have you with me at all costs. If Celestia is in danger, your life is in danger," he said, revealing that my contractor was a princess.

　I was too dumbfounded to say anything.
　I knew who the contractor was when I heard that she was an escort slave because I knew everything about her, but normally, I would not reveal the contractor to a slave. The blood relatives of the contractor of the Blood Qi Curse have the power to bind that slave by themselves. Therefore, they would not dare to take risks such as revealing the contractor. This is because there is a possibility that the slave will use a third party to directly find out how to break the spell.
　If you know the contractor, you will be aware that you cannot let him die, but it would be safer to do so after you know me as an individual.

　---- So, the king is a fool who lacks crisis management skills.

"All right, sir. I promise not to disappoint you," I said, trying to keep my composure. I wasn't sure I did it right, but the king seemed relieved to hear my words.


　Then, as the sun was setting through the window, I was brought into the dining room where the dishes were laid out.
　The quality of the dishes was less than half of what I knew, and they were on the edge of what could be called simple and modest.
　From the life of a slave until now, it is a heavenly luxury.

I'm surprised you didn't run away.

"I had no reason to run.

　The princess put her hands on her hips and gave me a confident look.
　The maid of honor pulls out a chair and I take a seat, and a nostalgic air begins to fill the air.
　It was mealtime, a time I hadn't had in seventeen years.
　Meals in slavery were only eaten to survive, not to enjoy.
　Just looking at the ornate silver knives and forks made my heart dance and brought back the feeling of being a prince.
　While I was in such a mood, a plate was brought in front of me.

　The princess looked at her with narrowed eyes and said, "You can eat it anytime you want," with a strong attitude.

　I picked up the spoon as naturally as if I were breathing and decided to enjoy my first meal in seventeen years.
　My hands moved fluidly, without hesitation, and with a refined, lean movement, I drank the soup without making a sound, and with knife and fork in hand, I cut the food on the plate and brought it to my mouth.
　The taste of the food was first-rate, and I almost cried with nostalgia.

　I turned to the princess, confident that I had completely won with my perfect movements. But the princess gave me a stern look in return.

You failed," she said coldly.

　I couldn't believe my ears.
　I couldn't understand what she meant.
　My manners are perfect.
　It's impossible for table manners to have changed in seventeen years.
　I quickly and quietly said to the princess, "Then, I would like to see a good example.

　As if to say, "Watch me," the princess picked up a spoon and dipped it into the soup brought by the maid.
　I saw it and noticed it.
　After that, I saw how the princess used her knife and fork, and I was convinced.

　---- The table manners of this Eurasian kingdom were not the Carlitz style, but the Theorining style of the Theorining Kingdom, a large country to the west.
　For a moment, I thought to myself, "Why is this kingdom using the Theorining style when all the surrounding countries use the Carlitz style? Immediately I said, "That's the Oringian way. I'm sorry, I thought the Carlitz method was the mainstream around here," I said, showing that I could handle the Oringian manner.

I'm sorry.　What do you mean? The princess replied with a serious face.

'I'm talking about manners. Your table manners, Your Royal Highness, are those of the Kingdom of Theorning.

I don't know anything about that.

　I almost choked up, wondering if she had even dined with someone from another country, but I decided to keep my mouth shut and show her by my actions. I ate the leftover food in the perfect theorizing style and showed the princess that I had mastered the theorizing style. ---- But the princess was not looking at me.

I'm sorry, but I'm also a master of theorining manners,......," I said, suppressing my anger.

　I'm sorry, but I'm also a master of theorining manners. She continued, "I thought you were a slave who only knew how to fight, and that you had no class, but I see that's not the case. And I'm glad to see that you can control your emotions and control yourself," he said, as if he was evaluating me.



You were testing me, weren't you?

I just don't like people I can't trust, whether they're noblemen or slaves.

So I can consider myself approved by Her Highness, can't I?

Not quite.

　Not only did you test me, but you gave me a grade?
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

So, it's your turn now, isn't it, Your Highness?