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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 2 Chapter 2 Part 10

But even so, Belfast was able to tell that this was exactly what Warspite was feeling.

「Please don’t say things like that with such a lack of confidence……」

「It’s not that I don’t have confidence in this. In the first place, feelings can’t be measured by what you can see or hear, such as words and attitudes! I-It’s just data, so don’t let it fool you!」

Warspite brought her face closer to Belfast and desperately explained.

Belfast, staring blankly at the Old Lady, stopped her hands and looked at her face intently.

「–––––– Fufu…… Yes, yes, it is exactly as you say, Warspite-sama. 」

「Buh, kukuku…… Well, yeah, that’s exactly it! As long as you understand that, you should be all good! …… Fufu.」

While turning their faces away, both of them chuckled at each other.

It was a new thing for both of them, but I was not exactly a bad thing. And so, they both continued to work on the Christmas decorations while laughing for a while.

* * *

When the tree was safely completed, it was already completely dark outside.

「Now the only thing that we need to take care of is to how exactly carry all those decorations.」

It was already 11 p.m, and it was time to go to the harbor pier to pick up the presents and supplies that were supposed to be there. This meant that Belfast had to go out of the kitchen, go at least part of the way with everyone else and then come up with a decent excuse that would allow her to go back into the kitchen in order to set everything up properly.

「Anyways, I shall get back to preparing dinner for the time being.」

「Oh, okay. Well then, see you later, I guess.」

As soon as Belfast left Warspite’s room, she rejoined the maids who were working in the kitchen, making dinner preparations.

After that, she was quite busy cleaning up and preparing for tomorrow’s dinner, and the time passed quickly, before she even managed to notice.

「Bel~! Her Majesty and the others have already gathered in the dining room~!」

「Understood. I’ll be right there.」

When Belfast left the kitchen after listening to Edinburgh’s words, Elizabeth and other members of the Christmas presents conference were already gathered in full force. Of course there was also Warspite among them.

From now on, everyone, including the members of the Maid Squad, would be leaving the Royal Navy’s Dormitory and going to the pier to receive the presents for everyone.

Currently, they were asked to sort out the supplies and gifts that were in the middle of loading and unloading the goods that the Manjuus had brought, so there was almost no actual work to be done, but they had to check whether there were any mistakes in ordering.

Once they would be done with that, they would return to the dining hall, where Elizabeth and other members of the conference would change into Santa Claus outfits and hand out the presents.

This was a series of events that was about to happen.

「Well then! Let’s go to the pier immediately!」

Belfast then raised her hand when Elizabeth cheerfully said so.

「I’m sorry everyone, I’m actually not feeling well after eating the ‘Jelly De Eel’ that’s been way past its expiration date……」

「Jelly De Eel?」

Elizabeth blurted out those words.

The Jelly De Eel was one of the products that has long been popular in the Royal Navy faction

As it was called jelly, it was a tongue that was boiled with vinegar, lemon juice and water and then melted. It is a jelly-like food that has been chilled while still retaining some of its chewy texture.

And the eel part was…… Well, an eel.

In short, Belfast was talking about eel jelly.

「Why did you even eat something like that now of all times!?」

Elizabeth asked a pretty obvious question.

「Yes, please forgive me for making such a blunder. I happened to find it when I was checking the inventory in the refrigerator. And it looked as if it’s been there for quite a while now, so I thought it would be best to just eat it.」

Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed in that very moment when Belfast finished her explanation. She then asked the Head Maid in a matter-of-fact tone:

「……Bel, are you hiding something from us?」

While she was staring right at Elizabeth’s face, a certain thought occurred in Belfast’s head:

–––––– How did she manage to catch onto her so quickly?

Belfast thought that the lie she managed to come up with was a pretty good one, but then she just stubbornly shook her head.

「No, Your Majesty. I’m not hiding anything. I just feel so sick that I feel like I’m going to pass out at any moment now.」

「I mean yeah, I can clearly see that you look rather exhausted, but……」

Elizabeth groaned as she stared at the Head Maid, but then, as if she had given up on investigating further, she just said:

「…… Ahh, alright, I get it. Fine! Go on and take a short break. When you say something strange, Bel, I know that you usually are planning something else behind the stage, but I guess that I am going to ignore it for now.」

「Thank you, Your Majesty」

When Belfast lowered her head in a bow, Warspite also raised her hand.

「Y-Your Majesty! A-Actually, I also…… I forgot some really important piece of equipment that I used for the consignment the other day, and I really need it by the end of the day, so I want to go get it right now!」

「You too, Warspite!? Okay, but you’ll come back before we are going to be ready for the distributing the gifts, right!?」

Leaving Belfast and Warspite behind, the members of the Santa Claus party, including some of the Maid Corps, headed for the pier.

In the large dining hall where the two of them were left all alone, Warspite stared at Belfast as if she was ready to chew her on the spot.

「Belfast…… you really should have come up with some better lie. That was honestly such a stretch. No wonder Her Majesty did not buy it.」

「I’m really sorry. It was the best lie I was able to come up with at the spur of the moment.」

At any rate, they managed to secure some time for bringing the decorations in.

The two then rushed to Warspite’s room, carried the tree out to the kitchen, and attached the origami loops and lights to the walls.

「–––––– Belfast, about what I said earlier.」

Warspite spoke while holding a plug attached to the end of the lights she was holding in her hand.

「Don’t worry about that “maybe” part. I’m sure everyone will be happy with this gift you made for them.」

With that said, she turned to Belfast and smiled smirkingly, illuminated by the flashing light bulbs.

Thinking about what a wonderful smile that was just now, Belfast bowed her head deeply.

「Once again, thank you very much for all of your help, Warspite-sama.」

「Hey, that should be my line here. Thank you very much for all of your help, Belfast.」

* * *

And just like that, the date changed.

「Merry Christmas!!」

Elizabeth, who has already changed into the Santa Claus outfit that she had prepared in advance for this very moment, shouted that greeting out loud that it even managed to reverberate all over the dining room and possibly carry well beyond the room itself.

「Shhhh! Your Majesty, I know that you are excited to do this, but please be quiet! Please remember that everyone else in the dormitory is sleeping at the current moment……」

「Ah. That’s right」

Elizabeth then whispered after she recovered from Hood’s stern reprimand.

「Warspite, are you ready on your end?」

「Yes, everything is perfect here.」

Warspite also changed into a Santa Claus outfit and was ready to go and hand out the presents right now.

Looking at her like that, Elizabeth hangs the white bag that was her fill of the gifts on her shoulder.

「And heave-ho…… This is my first time handing out presents, so be sure to escort me properly, Warspite.」

「Of course! As you wish, Your Majesty!」

Elizabeth looked at Warspite seriously, but then her expression softened at once.

「Well, as long as you keep your voice down. So let’s go hand out some presents.」

After rephrasing that in a low voice, Elizabeth raised her fist slightly and left the dining room.

With her in the lead, Warspite quickly carried her sack and made her way to the corridor as well.

When Belfast was watching their backs, Edinburgh approached her with a worried look on her face.

「Hey Bel, are you okay? I heard that your stomach was hurting?」

「I’m sorry, Nee-san. I caused you to worry over nothing.」