CH 219

I left Carruzan 10 days ago with plenty of time to spare, but this time I arrived at the royal capital in 6 days. In fact, if I had rushed, I think we could have arrived in 5 days, 1 day less. But Lord and Lady Royce said that if we moved too fast, they get sick, so we slowed down a little and 6 days of travel it was.

Why the horse’s speed has improved so much is because of the new carriage. The carriage I rode from the royal capital was different from the carriage I rode back to the royal capital, from Carruthers territory. The new carriage that I had been developing in Caanburg was completed, so I took it for a test drive. Of course, Caanburg also conducts various tests, so safety is ensured.

This latest and improved carriage is equipped with suspension. Structurally, it’s similar to the suspension that’s installed on a car… a spring is attached to the part that attaches to the tires and comes into contact with the vehicle body. It’s still far from my ideal suspension, but thanks to this, I was able to get it to run smoothly without shaking.

Also, I think rubber tires would make the ride much more comfortable, but there’s no choice if you don’t have them. I have no choice but to look for it when we go out to the ocean someday.

That’s why the performance of this new carriage equipped with suspension has increased dramatically. Thanks to that, even if we ran wild and flew across the roads, we don’t shake or fall over. Horses change trains at the station houses we are building, so there is no need to worry about their legs, and I think there is a gradual innovation in moving long distances.

“Ha~!” Mother sighed. “We’ve finally arrived, huh…? Mother is going to rest at the mansion for a while.”

“Right,” Father said.

My parents entered the Carruthers Residence in the royal capital. Viscount Royce and Lady Royce are also with us. The two were talking about something with Christa and Helmut before they entered the Carruthers Residence. Perhaps they will contact Marquis Reingen to arrange an engagement discussion.

Ordinarily, it would be impossible for an aristocrat to visit someone on the same day just because he has business with them. The custom is to contact them in advance to set a date and time for the visit. It is impossible for Viscount Royce to visit House Reingen without contacting them first, just because they’ve arrived at the royal capital today.

“Miss Flora, I will take Christa home,” Helmut said.

“Okay,” I said. “Don’t let your guard down until the end.”

An excursion is an excursion until you get home. Don’t let your guard down just because it’s the royal capital, let’s protect her until the end. Especially in the royal capital, there is a possibility that other nobles are aiming for us and Christa. There are too many reasons to be targeted from here and there as long as you pick fights with Nassam’s or Bayen’s factions.

Well, originally I picked a fight because they were already picking fights with me, but those kinds of people can’t be reasoned with. They’re the kind of people who would hold a grudge even if they threw the first punch and then got hit back. It’s best to be careful.

“Yes. I will definitely deliver Christa safely,” Helmut said, bowing his head and trying to leave.

Then, I suddenly remember something and say one last thing:

“Ah… Helmut… I don’t care if you come home late tonight or tomorrow morning, but Christa is still a student. If possible, please be careful not to get her pregnant.”

“Buh!” Helmut sputters. “M-Miss Flora?!”

Helmut is in a panic, but I wave my hand and urge him to go quickly. Christa, who was a little further away, must have heard it. Her face was dyed bright red.

Helmut went to Christa while scratching his head. I don’t know what kind of expression he’s making because he’s facing away from me, but Christa turned bright red and nodded while looking down. At this rate, I don’t think there’ll be any knocking on the doors deep in the night or only returning come morning light.

It’s good that Helmut is honest, but he’s too inactive. He’s a herbivorous man 1, so it might be a while before he gets his hands on Christa. If you keep her waiting too long, he won’t know if someone else steals her from him. Christa is such a good girl.

I will also go out after seeing off those 2 people in another carriage with Helmut as the coachman. I’ve finally arrived at the Carruthers Residence in the royal capital, but if you’re wondering where I’m going… I don’t really want to meet them, but there are people I have to see. This is to make that appointment.

“I’m going to the royal castle for a while. Everyone, please rest,” I said.

“Miss Flora, I will accompany you,” Katharina said. “Everyone else, yes, please rest at the mansion.”

Hmmm… well, alright. I need someone to be my coachman. I can ride a horse myself. I can also be a coachman. But there’s no way a young noble lady can drive her own carriage around the royal capital. I know that much. Because there is such a thing as appearances.

For Helmut and the others, just in case, the “Shadow” is also on guard, so there’s no need to worry. They should follow me to the front of the royal castle as well. Even if you tell them not to come, they will come with me.

When I say “Shadow,” it’s simply an intelligence unit or a group of covert operatives… it’s the unit that does all the behind-the-scenes work. There aren’t that many combat-oriented people, but there are quite a few who are engaged in intelligence activities. That’s because espionage is espionage, even if it’s just a maid gathering rumors in the city.

So just because you’re called a “Shadow” doesn’t mean you can do amazing things like a ninja in a cartoon or a spy in a movie. It is a group that operates secretly, collects information, and conversely spreads false information. I named this covert unit the “Shadow.”

“Shall I leave it to you, then, Katharina?” I asked.

“Yes,” Katharina said.

We changed to the carriage left behind in the Carruthers Residence and headed for the royal castle.

It’s been a hassle… I had only intended to come to make an appointment for a visit, but for some reason, I was passed through to the inner palace as soon as I went to the reception area. Not even during royal audience hours. As usual, I was sent to the inner palace. I don’t think it’s a good thing to hurry a mere knight along into the most exclusive area of the castle…

“Flora! Welcome back! It’s so good to see you again!”

Geh! I bumped into Ludwig in the corridor. And he comes closer with his arms outstretched. This is that thing: he’s going to hug me. I dodged Ludwig’s hug just at the last second.

“… Haha, harsh as usual, I see, Flora,” Ludwig chuckled.

“Your Highness Ludwig, being able to properly understand the time, the situation, and the other party is a necessary quality for a wise ruler,” I said, a wry smile on my face.

That’s why I want you to respect the TPO. 2

Let me just say that this in no way means that he can hug me in, say, Ludwig’s private room. What I’m trying to say is the relationship between me and Ludwig isn’t that close to each other, and if an unmarried man and woman hugged in the middle of a hallway like this at midday, it could create unnecessary rumors.

“Ms. Puddin’~~~!”

“Huh? Princess Eleonore?” I said.

“Ms. Pud~dihnn!!”

“-!?”

Eleonore suddenly appeared from the other side of the hallway and ran towards me with a big smile on her face, and then dived at me. I panic and catch her in the air. This princess is too much of a tomboy! What would you do if you fell and hurt yourself?

“Princess Eleonore, it’s dangerous to run. And don’t jump on people.”

“Noh!” she yelled.

What do you mean, “Noh!”…? And she’s burying her face in my chest while putting her hands on it grabbing it, but it’s not pudding. Not soft as pudding… maybe?

“Princess Eleonore! Princess Eleonore~!”

“Lady Margarete, over here,” I said.

“Lady Flora! You have returned,” Margarete said as she rushed over to where Eleonore and I were.

Margarete is here, so get off, Eleonore…

“Noh!”

Get of…

“Noh!”

“… Princess Eleonore,” I said.

“Noh!”

Eleonore grabbed my dress and wouldn’t let go. If you try to pull her off by force, the dress will come with her. I don’t know what to do. If Ludwig isn’t there, even if I forcefully pull her off me and leave, I can fix it right away, but I really don’t want Ludwig to see that. If it’s Margarete, I’d rather show it to her and just go, “Haha, oops…”

Well, anyway, Eleonore won’t let me go no matter what, so I can’t put her down. I’m in trouble.

“What are you doing?” someone else asked.

“To find you here, Your Majesty Wilhelm…” I started.

“We’re on good terms with each other,” Wilhelm said. “You may skip the pleasantries. When I heard you came to visit because you had business with me… Eleonore, Ms. Pudding has something important to talk about. Please be a little more behaved and let go of her.”

“Mmn…” Eleonore whined.

""

Oh? As expected of Wilhelm, will she listen to what he says? Her expression was obviously reluctant, but she let go, so I put her down.

“Ms. Puddin’, can you play with later?” Eleonore asked.

“Yes,” I said. “Let’s play again as soon as I finish talking with King Wilhelm.”

If she wants to play, I’d tell her that she shouldn’t get in the way so I can finish my business as soon as possible, but a child this young wouldn’t understand…

“Come, now, Princess Eleonore, you can play with me here,” Margarete said.

“Play with Margarete~!” Eleonore squealed.

As soon as Margarete offers her what she wants, she immediately runs over to her. I feel a little lonely because she leaves me so quickly, is that selfish of me?

“Then let us go,” Wilhelm said. “Dietrich is also waiting for us.”

“Father, may I accompany you?” Ludwig said.

And on that note, Ludwig is also superfluous… Wilhelm doesn’t know what I’m going to talk about, he can’t answer the question, so he looks at me. Well, it can’t be helped if the Crown Prince asks. Whichever way you hide it, with his royal authority he’ll find out sooner or later.

That’s why I nodded and Wilhelm nodded as well.

“You may,” he said.

""

Thus, the 3 of us headed to the king’s private room together. Dietrich was already waiting there. He seems a little surprised that Ludwig is with us, but he accepts without saying anything.

“Your Grace Dietrich, how are you?” I asked.

“Hello, it has been a while,” Dietrich said. “The capital was quite boring while you all were gone.”

Pardon my language: you mean it was peaceful without a troublemaker around?

And, there’s no point in saying such a cruel remark, so I think I’ll get to the point right away.

“First… I want to build a canal, but I don’t know what to do because the laws surrounding it are underdeveloped in this country,” I said. “Will Ploiss only build canals as a national project? Or may local lords build it at their discretion?”

“To come out with this all of a sudden…” Dietrich said. “That’s such an incredible feat…”

The three who were dumbfounded looked at each other before Dietrich said that. It’s like there’s no solid answer from them.

“Unfortunately, a Lord has never tried to build a canal on his own… we never thought that one could have appeared, so we never planned for it,” Dietrich said.

Well, that’s what I thought. If it had been assumed, it should have been documented. That’s why there’s no legislation or precedent for it.

“Then, we annihilated the Royal Hollant Navy, which was blockading the Hulk Sea coast,” I said. “We have either sunk or captured all the ships that entered the area, but we don’t know how many more ships they have in their possession. There is a possibility of war with the Kingdom of Hollant someday.”

If I ask Hollant about the matter of pirates, they will pass it off by saying they know nothing about it. But if you say that the other party never thought anything of the resulting damages, that’s another matter. Even though they came here to commit piracy, if 8 of their ships were sunk, they might come back to retaliate.

“That’s also…” Wilhelm started.

“Then…” I continued, “I intend to take back the territories of the Kingdom of Ploiss that were ceded to the Kingdom of Frasia which lie west of Carruthers. And if that land returns to our borders and we are adjacent to them once more, the Kingdom of Hollant will also be punished for this piracy.”

“”………””

Everyone shuts up and listens. Well then, let’s just get it all out now.

“Also……” I said.

“There’s yet more?!” Wilhelm shouted, his eyes going wide.

But I can’t keep quiet about this either.

“Yes… the fact is, the Free Cities alone could not deal with this kind of situation after pirates enacted their sea blockade, so the Caanza Alliance was formed. Here are the details,” I said.

I present the prepared documents to Wilhelm and Dietrich. Unfortunately, I didn’t expect Ludwig to attend, so I didn’t have a set for Ludwig. To begin with, I didn’t expect to meet King and Prime Minister today, but I’m glad I brought them just in case.

“As for the Caanza Alliance… Danzij and Koenigsvelg are included and considering that it will expand further east in the future, there is a possibility that the Alliance will eventually collide with the eastern nations, such as the Kingdom of Polsky and the Principality of Moscove.”

I’m still going to explain the details, but for now, I’ll tell them what I want to say… ah! There was one more.

“After all this, I will apply for the construction and possession of ships,” I said. “This time, it will be for about 50 vessels…”

""

“”50 of those giant ships?!”

Maybe Wilhelm and Dietrich are imagining carracks, but I’m going to build galleons. I continued the conversation while wondering how to explain it.