The Empror's Trap

Ch 59 - Conversations at the Dining Table

Kenji had a feeling this Prince was already planning to discuss some potentially head-rolling topics with him (though it wouldn't actually get that far between them).

Real fish or fake fish? Why are you asking me this? You should go confront Pluvia directly with this question. I'm sure Your Highness's nine generations of family would be delighted... oh wait, you're royal family, you won't face the nine familial exterminations.

"Your Highness makes an excellent point," Kenji agreed. But just as the Fifth Prince was about to continue, he suddenly added, "However, while both real and fake fish are quite good, fake fish is still fake. As you said, it takes far too much effort to imitate real fish so perfectly."

At this point, he turned to look at Lina: "Lina, let me ask you - if I wanted to eat fish, and all that mattered was that it tasted good regardless of being real or fake, would you rather just prepare a real fish for me, or go through all these complicated steps to make a fake vegetarian fish?"

Lina was staring at the fish with intense curiosity at this moment. Though she was allowed to sit at the table, she hadn't actually picked up her chopsticks, since she was a guard and couldn't breach etiquette in front of others.

It would be absolutely absurd for a guard to fight over fish with their master and their master's guest - even if she sometimes missed social cues, she understood this much.

Faced with Kenji's question, she answered without hesitation: "Of course I'd make real fish for you, Young Master. Fake fish takes way too much time."

Ah, though she actually wasn't very good at cooking fish. She was better at simple boiling and stewing - even if she had to cook fish, she'd just throw it in a pot with some seasonings and let it simmer away.

"You see, Your Highness, I think most people prefer simpler procedures. After all, why go to such lengths to imitate fish when I could just make real fish?"

As he said this, Kenji noticed Lina's empty bowl, paused for a moment, then reached over to place a large piece of fish in her bowl.

Come on, I asked you to help maintain appearances but you're taking it too literally - just sitting there with an empty bowl makes it look like I'm mistreating my subordinates. At least eat something.

"Thank you, Young Master."

Lina looked up at Kenji and said softly.

"Eat whatever you'd like, today Prince Yunis and I are having a private gathering, no need to stand on ceremony," Kenji said, then added, "Isn't that right, Your Highness?"

"But of course."

"This dish is quite remarkable, achieving such authenticity is truly rare," Kenji took another bite and continued, "However, Your Highness, if it were up to me, I wouldn't make fake fish - it's too much trouble, and besides, it's very complex. If your technique is even slightly lacking, all that effort could go to waste."

"Ah no no, I can't drink alcohol." He hastily declined.

"I know you can't drink much, this is tea, it's very fragrant," Yunis said, standing up to pour Kenji a cup, "Since you've come to the Royal Family Court, I must remind you of something - though the royal family may sound like one household, in reality these aren't matters that can be resolved through ordinary family dealings."

"I'm aware of this."

Yunis continued: "Throughout the court, everyone now shows absolute loyalty to her Majesty, but no matter how prosperous Camelot becomes, it must eventually reach its limit."

"Your Highness speaks truly," Kenji feigned great interest, "May I ask what insights Your Highness has on this matter?"

"As Grand Marshal of the empire, you must know as well? I once did some work in education," Yunis took a sip of tea to wash away the taste of the sweet and sour vegetarian fish, then picked up a piece of meat, "You should also know that I failed."

Three layers of meat, a very classic braised pork.

Mushrooms for the lean meat, winter melon for the fatty parts, seasoned and cooked until tender and fragrant.

"Why did Your Highness undertake such endeavors? Though Camelot now has many official schools, privately establishing educational institutions isn't something that can be accomplished overnight. While most commoners in Camelot now don't worry about food and clothing, this is also built on the foundation of children helping their families from a young age. Changing Camelot's current situation cannot be achieved in one fell swoop."

"Then, in your opinion, is my desire to promote education good or bad?"

"In the long run, it's good."

"So, what was wrong with what I did?"

Yunis was now discussing his past measures with him, as if desperately seeking validation.

"There was a problem."

"What was the problem?"

"The problem lies in what I just said - in the long run, it's good. Precisely because it's long-term, it can't be rushed," as Kenji said this, he gazed thoughtfully at Yunis.