#1172 The Mermaid Queen’s Help

It’s me, the angel Songokufon!

Ughhhh, so lazy!!!

I gotta help with the tea party?! Why do I gotta do that lazy stuff? What a pain in the butt!

A tea party means that, right?
The kind where a buncha fancy ladies with fans n' big hair rolls sit around a table going "Ohohohoho" n' "Zamasu-zamasu"?!
N’ there's always a mountain of sweets packed into little trays on the table!

Ughh! Seriously, how lame! Gross!
Tea parties are so NOT my thing! I’m a total gyaru n' those stuffy "ladies" are the complete opposite of me!
Why the heck do I have to make their boring little tea party dreams come true?! That’s ridiculous!

"Stop with the weird fit."

Ah! Sis Puffer!
Sis  Puffer, Queen of the Mermaid Kingdom n' mother of two kids!

"Just because it's a tea party doesn't mean everyone's gotta be a lady. Like I told you, it’s my tea party, as the Queen, and the age range is a little higher."

Ahh, so is it one of those high-society ladies’ gatherings?

"You’re acting like it’s weird for a gyaru to host a tea party for ladies, but gyaru and ladies are both high-energy, they’re in the same category. It's like Light-Law n' Light-Chaos! From the outside, they both look the same, so stop treating them like different species!"

Hey, you’re the one throwing a weird fit, Sis Puffer!
You're not even an introvert, so stop talking like you are!

"...Witches are basically masters in potion brewing and magic. Researchers like us tend to stay absorbed in our work, isolated from the outside world. So, you could say witches are all introverts."

Huh?! That voice...!
Redhead with a ponytail... Lampeye?!

She's one of Sis Puffer’s friends!

" As expected, it looks like you’re having a bit of trouble handling Songokufon, Puffer…Anyway, I’ve gone ahead and compiled the list of people who signed up to attend the tea party on my end.”
“Thank you, Lampeye! I never thought you'd be so reliable when you first married...!"

Sis Puffer takes the paper from Lampeye n' flips through them casually, but her face twists up with a grimace.

"...Ugh, there are so many people. I expected it, but this tea party reall is a big deal, huh?"
"At this scale, it’s gonna be more like a luncheon than a tea party. There’s gotta be so many people who wanna see you after your long break.”
“What am I, a panda at the zoo? And aren’t you also making your grand return today? It feels like we’re doubling the hype here.”
“Well, it is a big deal. Both halves of the Ice-Flame Witches back from maternity leave on the same day is practically headline material.”
“Honestly, maybe you should just do your own solo event or something. Spread out the chaos a little, you know?”
“Oh? So does that mean I’m off the hook for helping you out today?”
“Wait—no, no, no! I need you, please! Be the backbone that keeps this whole thing standing!!!”

Wow, looks like they're really chatting it up, huh?
Wait, didn’t those two hated each other before? Am I wrong?

"They’re allies, trying to conquer the social world together. It’s not the same vibe as when they were single.”

Huh?!
Who’s that now?!

That voice is... the former Mermaid Queen, Lady Mahi?!

"You must be dear Puffer’s angel friend. You're helping with the tea party, too? Please take good care of things, dear."

Likewise! I'll do my best! Cough cough!

...Yikes.
Lady Mahi is crazy strong, I know that. I’ve seen her fight with Sis Puffer before, n' it's enough to make even an angel like me shudder inside.

When it comes to strength, Alexander tops everyone, but he’s super chill n' accepting no matter whacha do.
But the person in front of me is the type to lay down the law for mischief, making sure everything is in order. That is who Lady Mahi is!!!

I’ve heard more stories than I can count of people who got taken down so hard by her they basically saw the other side of the final period!
No way in hell I’m joining that club! Absolutely not!!!

“Ufufufu, I wasn’t expecting Puffer to have connections with an angel. My, her reputation as current Mermaid Queen is sure to soar even higher.”

Lady Mahi says this while casually juggling two babies in her arms, with two more toddlers wobbling along at her sides.

Those must be the kids that Sis Puffer and Lampeye gave birth to.
Lady Mahi apparently takes care of them whenever the two mothers are tied up with royal duties.

“Being the queen is such a headache, you know. If I had my way, I’d never leave these precious little ones’ side even for a moment, but I can’t exactly do that, now can I?”
“…”
“You agree with me, don’t you, dear?”

Y-Yes, of courseeee!
Just nod n’ agree, Songokufon!
Ya don’t wanna stir the pot n' wind up as fish food!!!

“Even so, I can’t shirk my responsibilities. All because the man I fell for just so happened to be royalty… But I’ve never thought of that as a burden. I’ve been in Puffer’s shoes myself, so I understand exactly how she feels.”

The previous Mermaid Queen shows genuine concern for her successor.
Weren’t they butting heads before Sis Puffer’s wedding, like any classic mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair?
What, do they actually get along now?

"Being the Queen means you take on the whole kingdom. You must support the king from the closest place. It’s not all about feelings; it’s a huge responsibility.”

Right...
Um, may I have one of these snacks?

"You see, I always wanted to accept Puffer as my son’s wife, but as Queen, I had to hold back a bit. But she has really stepped up, more than I could have imagined."

Well, of course!
She's my amazing Big Sis!!!

"At first, I was a little worried. She seemed so tough and prickly, and hearing she was Zossy’s disciple, I thought maybe she'd be all rebellious like her. I wondered if I’d have to force her into shape like I did with Zossy.”

...Oh, yeah.
Sis Puffer was totally shaped up by force. No doubt about that.

"But all that worry was for nothing. Puffer really embraced being the perfect queen. She’s equipped with the skills and the experience. She’s way more suited for it than some random village girl."

Well, being a queen isn’t so simple that you can just do it with nothing to brag about.
In that respect, Sis Puffer’s got that Witch of the Bitter Cold thing going on, so if anyone tries to get in her way, she can shatter their bones with a flick of her finger!
It’s not like she has nothing going for her!!!

"No one realizes how popular witches are, especially with the younger crowd. Did you know there’s actually a fan club for Queen Puffer? Mostly it’s young ladies, I hear. I didn’t even have anything like that when I was younger.”

I can totally see why...
Sis Puffer’s the type who’s tough but super caring, so all those sheltered rich girls probably look up to her.

"By the way, Lampeye has a fan club too."

Waa...

"Strong, beautiful, with a bit of a dangerous vibe, and yet totally perfect at her queen duties... no wonder people love her. And did you know? Puffer has perfect manners, even with all her tough exterior."

Yup. I know that.
We traveled together for a while back then, sharing food and lodging.

Sis Puffer's table manners are seriously elegant. Every time we met someone, she’d fuss over the exact angle of my bow until it was perfect—and I’m speaking from firsthand experience as the one who kept getting scolded!

“During her apprenticeship, she was apparently drilled thoroughly by Zossy. Those two together are just full of surprises, no? You look at them and assume they’ve come this far on sheer rebellious spirit alone, yet they turn out to value courtesy more than anyone.”

Yeah, they said etiquette’s important even if you're a rebel.
It’s all about respect.

"Thanks to that, Puffer was ready to be queen when she married my son. Zossy’s also a prime minister-level genius. Truly, that master-and-apprentice pair are treasures of our nation. I, on the other hand, had to learn proper etiquette in a mad rush after marrying my darling. I’m terribly envious.”

Says the rebel...

“And even then, for all her merits, dear Puffer's road to becoming queen was far from smooth. There will always be people in this world who simply refuse to acknowledge you—especially those in lofty positions who find themselves, at once, admired and envied.”

‘It was the same for me…' Lady Mahi adds before continuing.

“Some have what sound like legitimate motives: ‘I want the queen’s seat for myself,’ or ‘My position will be in jeopardy,’ and so forth. But the real nuisance is the bunch who interfere with others for no good reason at all.”

What?!
Sis Puffer also had to deal with creeps like that?!

“They call it the cost of fame, perhaps? But that’s just a flimsy justification for their own awful behavior. In Puffer’s case, they’ll pick on her because she’s from a common background, or because her path as a witch was unheard of, or simply because she’s too beautiful and blessed—and for that, they claim she’s unforgivable. My goodness, there’s no end to how many people try to drag her down over such foolish reasons.”

They can’t forgive her for being pretty?!
It's not like it’s Sis Puffer’s fault they were born ugly, ya know!

“This upcoming tea party, for instance, got sprung on her at the last minute because people criticized her for taking too much time off after giving birth. In truth, I’m sure she’d much rather spend that time with her little ones. But do those critics even consider how sad it is for children to be pulled away from their own mother…?”

Say whaaaat…?!
Getting in the way of Sis Puffer’s peaceful motherhood... those jerks are so done for!

I, the angel Songokufon, will wipe ’em out!
Just you wait till the day of the tea party!!!

“Hmhmhm, you certainly seem fired up now, little miss angel. I suppose that’ll be quite the boost for Puffer, hm?”

…Huh?
Did I just get completely played by the former Mermaid Queen without even noticing?