Sudden Twist

Well, Yuuri's family is now aware that she's a functioning King, with a fiancee no less, much to Shouri's freak-out that the girls had to reassure the older man that Yuuri's fiancee is a good kid...and Hikaru revealed she found their world and they can go there any time but for now, not now as Yuuri has something big to work on and cannot afford to leave her office for the time being.

The girls had no ability to tell the family that their daughter is dealing with WAR and is trying to find a non-bloody way out.

Yuuri really doesn't need her family bearing down on her at a time like this and Yuuri knows how to handle war like they do. She'll get through this. So as a failsafe as Yuuri felt Morgif is a sign of weakness should the enemy find out Shin Makoku's actual strength...Hikaru let Yuuri have access to Selece.

Much more reassuring that way and Yuuri was super-thankful for importing her partner over for her. But to make it possible, Hikaru had to move Selece's shrine to the oceans of the other world after explaining to the Rune God why he has to be relocated until Yuuri's term as King ends. And his shrine is now in the oceans near Voltaire Territory.

Yuuri felt much better and she'll keep Selece secret, until the big bomb.

xxx

Shin Makoku...

Yuuri was at the kitchens doing something.

That something, being studying cookbooks.

She ate food here for her time here, and found them lacking. She wondered how Conrad dealt with such blandness after having Earth Food!

'Actually, I'm like you, just in reverse.' said Conrad sheepishly. 'Earth flavors overwhelmed me so, if you find our food bland. Maybe if you find a way to make it three notches better but not Earth Level...'

'That means your tongues are sensitive.' Yuuri sweatdropped. 'But I can go away with everything else?'

'Yes, just no Japan or America-level please, its way too much.' Conrad pleaded PLEADINGLY because he can't stand Earth Food that is way too flavored for him, having centuries of this bland food he got flavor shock, and unable to bear it that his time in Earth was torture, until his hosts figured he would love 'hospital food'...and he did!

He swore to her that he lost weight while looking for a rightful King candidate.

'Got it. I'll tweak this! No office work for me for now so I'll spend time here.'

So Conrad watched his goddaughter experiment in the kitchens and finding a way to make food palatable without overwhelming the natives. It's SHE who has to adjust, not them, but she has to please everybody. She wants flavor, and they can't stand her level of flavor. Upon knowing how 'hospital food' tasted like, she knows how to tweak seasoning and condiment additions and subtractions, while teaching how to make ideal meats, instead of that crappy rubber thing that's hard to chew and swallow?!

Now that she has free time, she can FINALLY attack the damn kitchens!

Gwendal and Gunther were fulfilling her requests regarding military logistics BEFORE they could make plans and Yozak is on a watch-and-see basis in other countries. Wolfram to his chagrin, was out with soldiers his age planning evacuation sites and planning how much food and water to store in times of war. Because if shit happens, its their job to protect families, and the next generation. And if shit really DID happen, who knows who the next Maou will be after her!

So yes, while Yuuri can afford office downtime, she would stuff her soldiers next as she can't call their food 'fine dining'. It's absolute crap!

Upon figuring out the right formula for Mazoku-kind's national dishes, Yuuri ordered every home gets it for everyone to eat well and be able to stuff their stomachs while still ensuring everyone gets enough nutrition. Moreover she found something WRONG with cooking methods which she remedied.

She also handled bread cooking well, and introduced Filled bread buns in place of Anpan, Pancakes, Shokupan(and the knife needed to slice it) and savory sandwiches, her version of black bread that's more palatable, and Pizza. She also introduced the art of making jams for sweet sandwiches.

However, she made 'Maou's version just for herself, and she had to explain to the maids why she didn't have hers printed and had them taste it...they all dove for the nearest drink they could get because it was too much for them. She finds their food under-seasoned and the natives think she likes it overly done when its normal where she was from and finds THEIRS weird...so to make both sides happy, this has to be done.

'Hey! Food tasted wonderful now!'

'What soft meat! Meat's usually so hard!'

'Heika, this is wonderful!' Gunther was delighted as the food was delicious and meat so unbelievably soft and easy on the teeth now.

'One thing I wanted to work on since I got here, but I got swamped with work on day one alone.' Yuuri sighed. 'Eat lots since meat is like rubber you never got much of the good stuff and to compensate for potential malnutrition due to old methods, everyone should eat a lot from now on till stomachs are full.'

'With food this good everyone really would!' Conrad chuckled. This was just perfect! Not too much flavor, delicious and meat is finally a consumable! Earth meat was what he could eat, not the meat here...

It was inevitable seconds would be asked for, that the maids were troubled with running back and forth...at least the King's satisfied with her portions!

xxx

A week later...

Mood at the City improved as Wolfram and his men noted when they got home.

'The city's unusually happy?'

Not only that, people are holding food. A lot. All kinds!

And it smells good no matter where they go.

'What happened in one week?' Wolfram asked a nearby man. 'Did something happen?'

'Oh young sir, her majesty released cookbooks from the castle and food's gotten incredible!' said an auntie. 'We've never had food this good before!'

And so...

'Oh, welcome back.' Yuuri greeted as Wolfram reported to her. 'How'd it go?'

'I split up my division for all provinces of Shin Makoku.' said Wolfram. 'My division tasked to Shin Makoku's the first to return and we mapped out ideal evacuation areas here, who knows about other provinces.' said Wolfram, handing her a few documents.

'Well, it's a start I guess.' said Yuuri, taking the documents from him. It was clearly a final draft. 'This all secure?'

'Yeah. Well hidden, lots of space, access to water and nothing Adalbert knows. All requirements fulfilled.' Wolfram reassured her.

Yuuri sighed in relief. At least the Capital Province is secure.

'Phew...all that's left is the harvests...I had a clan tasked to preserving national livestock to feed the country, and saving up as much as livestock feed as possible. So incase some asshole set fire to farms, we still have meat and seafood to fall back on until the next harvest.' said Yuuri. 'Very few people know we're preparing for war, I don't want a national panic until we get accurate information from Yozak. I had him decide his actions that as long as it benefits national security, he can have fun as long as I get a detailed report. He can even take in some action to buy us more time.'

By that, she meant assassination.

She was willing to go this far when she really didn't want to, knowing how strong Shin Makoku is currently.

In war, they are disadvantaged in numbers.

Humans grow up quicker thus can train armies faster. Mazoku age 5 times slower than humans and that's if they have no maryoku. They age slower the stronger in magic they are when they hit their prime. Fortunately, one's maryoku strength was determined at birth, one needed only to master and refine what they have. So really, anything goes for mazoku.

Yuuri had them handle Military Matters while she handles all else.

Things were tense in the palace, until Yozak returned.

'Well?!'

'Well,' Yozak was looking sheepish. 'Remember the pirate incident?'

'Yeeees?' everyone blinked owlishly.

'See here, one of the major fundraisers was Cavalcade.' said Yozak. 'The former prince was there. And heika saving that ship from Pirates with that stunt made him convince his father otherwise, and he was grateful for his daughter's life who nearly got sold to slavery and she's FIVE!' he shuddered. 'Without Cavalcade and my ensuring accidents of others...it's safe to say without money and supporters, you can't wage war.' he chimed to their relief. 'I triple-checked by traveling back and forth.'

'That's good to hear...we are so not ready.' Yuuri was relieved. 'However, while we dodged an arrow, our preparations remains! We nearly got caught with our pants down I don't want a repeat! We lack numbers, but we'll make up for it in tactics, supplies and quality, I'll leave that to you guys.' she said. 'I'll focus on wealth and prosperity on my end...so who's gonna take me to the farms tomorrow, nationwide? I learned Food Preservation so the excess food will go there...more food means more people incoming.'

'Oh, my job's done, I'll go with you.' Wolfram piped up.

'Hummm, about that Heika...' Yozak piped up. 'Cavalcade intends to visit two weeks from now and from the time I got news, it's like, three days left to prepare.'

'Ah...then we'll provide a good hospitality then!' Yuuri beamed. 'Gunther, the castle will undergo a little...renovation, OK? I'll change it back when my term as King is over and I'll plan the menu for their stay. Oh, and I left everyone's bedrooms alone so it stays as is.'

'Eh...?' Gunther blinked as Yuuri stomped hard on the floor with a smile, and the castle changed when she did...into Cephirian-style architecture.

One word: gorgeous.

'WHOA!'

'So where are the royal guestrooms...? And anything no-no about the gardens? I'll do a little landscaping.'

'Well, there's one place.' Conrad smiled. 'Anything but that spot, Yuuri.'

'OK, a little guidance?'

xxx

Three days later...

Blood Pledge Castle...was beautiful, as it amazed their human guests, the Royal Family of Cavalcade with some bodyguard. The gardens were full of flowering trees, and berry shrubs. She had imported such plants from Cephiro and Earth, made the lawn exactly 3 cm tall and trimmed that it's a beautiful green in color. The walls were swarming with flower vines you can barely see the wall itself. Heck, that sloping path uphill leading to the castle? Full of bougainvillea archways! The uphill itself isn't a bare rock, but rather, green all over with beautiful wild flowers.

'Welcome.' Yuuri greeted with a sweet smile. Behind her were the Advisor and Royal Brothers. She was dressed in a cephirian-style gown. A halter black gown with flower petal-cut skirt with gold trim and straps, and underneath is a white skirt. Her black hair, was super long, pitch-black and glossy.

They would show them Shin Makoku-Style Hospitality.

The castle has comforting cool air blowing throughout the halls despite how hot it was outside as it was summer. Everywhere has a red carpet with gold trim. Rooms are gorgeous as well as baths. Yuuri handled the Royal Family herself, much to the astonishment of her retinue, and continued to wow them throughout her stay. And because there's one little girl present, she built an adventure playground to busy the kid with. Food was also a key factor in impression. Gorgeous Cuisine and Desserts!

Gwendal had taught her what to and what NOT to share as a precaution, and she performed splendidly.

The visit ended on a good note.

'Hey, I did well, right?' Yuuri asked as the carriage was long gone, her gown poofing back into her usual casual wear, and her floor-length hair is actually, just an illusion. Her actual hair length reached her waist.

Well, if even Gwendal smiled, she really did well!

'Welp, we got Cavalcade on our side now.' said Yozak who wore a formal uniform during the long stay. 'They have nothing bad to say about us now, since you gave them incredible hospitality and pleased them all the way without losing face.' he said. 'But we were forced to reveal you're a halfling...'

'Its a necessary giveaway to lower their guards down.' said Yuuri. 'A fifteen year old double-black yet to choose her alignment and a newbie King. A sign I'm not a threat and won't start any shit with anybody.' she snorted. 'I even played the demure lady card and that will be what humans will see me as worldwide.' she chuckled. 'When you know I'm anything but.' the guys snorted. Yuuri was justifiably hysterical, but grew up and grew to adapt to her position, aware she is needed by many. 'Well, diplomacy is mentally taxing, we should relax for at least two days of doing absolutely nothing, before business as usual. I still want to see the farms after that.'

'That sounds wonderful.' said Gwendal with a sigh. 'I don't want to see any paper and pen for now. I don't even want to see my office.'

xxx

'A two days' break...not so bad.' said Wolfram as they hung out outside the city, on the hillside full of wild flowers, and a giant tree on top of the hill to provide shade. And they were there for alone time, complete with a blanket and picnic basket. They were in casual clothing you'd expect nobles to wear. But by standards, japanese classic and goth loli is perfectly acceptable as noble lady's wear, as long as the skirt is of reasonable length for a lady.

'We deserve a holiday too you know.' Yuuri sighed. 'I never dreamed diplomacy is so taxing~and mentally and psychologically stressful too because one wrong thing to say, and a house of cards will fall down.'

'Too true,' Wolfram agreed. They enjoyed their date at the hilltop alone.

Wolfram also found that Conrad described Yuuri to a tee that simple things really in fact, matter. Are Japanese Women that different to a typical noblewoman of this world?

"Simply spend time with her and make it clear that you're a good man she would marry and have family with." and the kind of man a Japanese Woman would like, at least, according to Yuuri's mother as Conrad knew the parents. And given what Cephirian Men are like further influences that Yuuri only wants pure love from her other half.

Rather than display his gift on her chest, she hid it in fear of it being stolen and getting him mad at her, so she hid it in her room in her house.

Expensive gifts, are out of the question. She would be scared off!

At least his wallet will be intact, to say the least. Had he been engaged to a noblewoman, he would be expected to lavish her with expensive gifts. Yuuri wasn't like that...THANKFULLY.

Rather, he finds it very easy to fall hard, because she never made standards nor expectations beyond being a good person she would want to be with.

And maybe a man her overprotective brother won't strangle.

When Yuuri sent word to her friends that danger was averted?

That was when it happened.

Hikaru gleefully dropped her family on them after breakfast, appearing in the dining room and apparently, ready to stay for a few days by how they looked...

'Ah!'

'Mom! Dad! Shouri!' Yuuri sweatdropped as her family was over.

'Wolfram, meet your in-laws.' Conrad chuckled as Wolfram looked horrified and freaking out. 'I think you'll get another type of talk today.'

'Looks like the next few days will be interesting, to say the least.' said Gwendal wryly.

'So you're the fiancee?' Shouri who was as tall and muscular as Conrad glowered at Wolfram who wondered if he'll get another shovel talk today.

'Now now Shouri, don't scare him too much before I get to say my piece as her father...' said Shouma with a dark smile.

'Y-Yuuri...' Wolfram was sweating buckets, but the men took him out already because the mother was smothering her daughter with her hugs. 'Waaaaaah!'