The translation isn't 100% accurate, so expect mistakes! The story does not belong to me, it belongs to Cybird. I'm just translating so others can also enjoy the stories if they cannot wait for english translation:)
At first, I wasn't planning to translate this at all but considering the lack of Leon content I saw when there's his birthday party going on, I thought I should! So, this is for all Leon fans, especially for @ikeprinces-stuff :3
[Flashback — Leon's bedroom]
4th prince: "What's the matter? You look even more down than usual today."
Leon: "I've been practicing eating manners, you see."
Leon: "There's so much etiquette I have to learn, and I can't even speak freely. It's all so stuffy that it has completely drained me."
4th prince: "You sure do seem to be bad at those."
Leon: "Do you like this?"
4th prince: "I never thought about whether I like or dislike it. Being a prince is all about being formal, after all."
4th prince: "But if you're the sort of person who hates formalities that much—"
After a meeting with aristocrats from foreign affairs faction, a dinner was organised as a social gathering, and it was then that I took my seat alongside Emma.
Leon: "Cheers. Today, let's put aside the differences between the domestic and foreign affairs factions and make this an opportunity to get to know each other more."
Emma: "Everyone, thank you for your cooperation."
Even after the toast, Emma was the only one who started eating with a smile.
Everyone else just quietly moved their forks and knives, behaving as formally as possible.
(As expected, unlike the domestic affairs faction, the conversation with them doesn't flow at all.)
(I always find myself thinking at times like this—)
Leon: "This place is really buzzing again, isn't it?"
Shopkeeper: "Thanks to you, this place is really thriving."
Shopkeeper: "Right then, here's your ale, salad, pork rillettes and roasted chicken."
Leon: "Oh, they all look so delicious."
Leon: "This chicken in particular—it's cooked to perfection, and the aroma really stirs the appetite."
Shopkeeper: "Ah, this is our signature meat dish. There's plenty more, so do eat it in your heart's content!"
Leon: "Haha! Well then, I won't mind my etiquette. Thanks to that spirited attitude, both the sake and the food will go down better than usual."
Leon: "....Hm, just like you said, the roasted chicken is delicious, but every dish here tastes lovely."
Costumer 1: "That looks delicious! Right, I'll have that one too!"
Costumer 2: "Bring the same dish to this table too! I was a bit torn about which one to choose but I'm sure this one will be delicious!"
[Back to palace dining hall]
(At the tavern, everyone was genuinely enjoying their meals and sharing that feeling with one another.)
(That sort of atmosphere also brings out best in the food....)
(In a place like this, even the most delicious food tastes bland.)
It seemed as though she'd stopped eating and Emma, sitting next to me, tilted her head slightly.
Leon: "Ah, I thought this beef stew tasted absolutely delicious."
When I tried to brush it off on the spot, it seemed rather forced, but her expression relaxed and she smiled regardless.
Emma: "That's right. It's delicious."
Emma eagerly stuffed her mouth with food, narrowing her eyes happily as her smile grew wide.
(Honestly, you really eat so delightfully. It makes me want to watch you eat for ages.)
Emma noticed that she was being stared at, and she opened her mouth, as if to hide her embarrassment.
Emma: "If you stare at me like that, I won't be able to eat."
Leon: "But it's such a pleasure to watch you eat so heartily—it really lifts my spirits."
Emma: "Oh...I was just thinking that I've never tried this dish before, and before I knew it, I'd already eaten quite lot of it."
Emma's words, that spilled out of her to hide her embarrassment, made me pause.
(That's true. It's bit different from the beef stew you'd usually eat.)
Leon: "Hey, this isn't quite like a normal beef stew. Is it cooked differently?"
When I called out to the waiter nearby, he looked surprised for a moment before nodding in acknowledgement.
Waiter: "The chef apparently learnt about a cooking method that's praised to be delicious in the town near the border."
Leon: "I see. A town near the border...that must be your territory, right?"
I turned my attention to the nobleman, sitting diagonally in front of me and smiled at him.
Nobleman 1: "......Yes, that's right."
Leon: "If they can make a beef stew this delicious, that must mean they're putting real effort into their food, right?"
Nobleman 1: "You are quite right. We have been passing down cooking methods devised in old times from generation to generation—"
Nobleman 1: "The good within my territory possesses distinctive qualities."
Leon: "So, it's got a history, then."
Nobleman spoke with courtesy and grace but also gave free rein to his sense of pride.
Another nobleman, whilst taking a moment to consider, brought the beef stew to his lips and savoured it.
Leon: "You look like you're enjoying the food too."
Nobleman 2: "I'm afraid I've shown you an embarrassing sight....To be honest, there had been rumors about it for some time."
Nobleman 2: "People talked about the legendary beef stew in Earl's territory."
Nobleman 1: "I had no idea such rumors were going around."
For a moment, it looked like the nobles might finally have striked up a lovely conversation, but—
I glanced around the room and found myself clamping my mouth shut.
(Just because it's a dinner party, does that mean even the casual conversation is frowned upon?)
(......I'd rather not witness such a thing.)
I paused my eating once more and turned my gaze towards nobles.
Leon: "I might as well say this while we're at it—"
Leon: "You don't need to mind your manners around me. Etiquette's bit of a drag, isn't it?"
Leon: "Today's gathering is a social occasion. I'd like to have a good chat with you all."
Leon: "Not as a prince or member of faction, but as a person."
Leon: "It's because I want to focus on things that are more important than getting an appearance right."
At those words, the nobles exchanged glances, and it felt as though the tension in the air finally eased ever so slightly.
Emma, too, smiled gently and leaned towards me.
Emma: "I hope your feelings reach the nobles of foreign affairs faction, who had gathered here today."
Leon: "Yeah, that's right."
(It's all thanks to the great hint you gave me.)
As I smiled back at her, Emma's smile grew even wider.
(I kept in touch with domestic affairs nobles as well, and was able to build a close relationship with them.)
(The foreign affairs nobles might not change their ways overnight, but...)
[Flashback to Leon's room]
4th prince: "But if you're the sort of person who hates formalities that much—"
4th prince: "Why not just change everything?"
(.....Yeah. I'll change it.)
(I mean, I am Leon but I am not THAT Leon.)
I love how they started bonding over beef stew haha! Good food can really make people friends. I also like Leon's viewpoint on etiquette. While it may be considered inappropriate for an aristocrat, I'm sure constantly being on edge about your manners is exhausting as heck, especially when you're in front of a Royal family member. It was sooo nice of him to reassure them!
