Chapter 54

Interlude 2

The Kingdom of Carpia reigns over the western coast of the Randlion continent, also known as the Southern Continent.

Due to its geographical location, the western part of the kingdom is largely served by the "sea route," while the eastern part is served by the "land route" for the circulation of people and goods.

Of course, this is a broad classification. The western region also has well-developed roads, and the eastern region has water transport using rivers.

However, when comparing overall trends, it is undeniable that the roads in the eastern part of the kingdom are more lavishly maintained and funded compared to those in the western part.

In the eastern border area of the Kingdom of Carpia, which is among the best-maintained roads in the Southern Continent, a grand procession centered around an enormous eight-horse-drawn dragon carriage was slowly making its way eastward.

---

The three hundred soldiers of the Shalwa-Gilbert Kingdom's army, guarding the young royal duo, Prince Francesco and Princess Bonne, had temporarily halted on the grassy side of the road.

It was clear that this area was intentionally designed as a rest stop, as a larger stream flowed nearby. Even if it meant taking a slightly longer route, it was necessary to secure water sources for the dragons to drink. Therefore, roads away from human settlements were intentionally designed to meander, ensuring that water sources were accessible along the way.

The dragons that had been pulling the dragon carriage were now released and lined up with the knights' riding dragons, drinking water from the riverbank with great enthusiasm.

During this time, the knights were on guard. There was a danger of freshwater dragons, crocodiles, and carnivorous fish lurking in the river, and it was also possible that wild carnivorous dragons used the area as a hunting ground.

However, the vast expanse of grassland in the area provided few hiding spots, and the clear water made it easy to spot any enemies. The knights on watch were relaxed enough to stroke the bodies and necks of their riding dragons, comforting them for the long journey.

A relaxed yet appropriately tense atmosphere prevailed.

At that moment, the door of the grand eight-horse-drawn dragon carriage opened, and a figure appeared.

"Phew... Everyone, you've worked hard. Ahaha, my shoulders are completely stiff."

The young man who stepped out of the dragon carriage spoke in a light tone that seemed somewhat out of place for his status, then proved his words by rotating his shoulders with a crack.

"Your Highness Francesco, I apologize for the inconvenience. We will be stopping here for a while to let the dragons drink water. Please take this opportunity to stretch your legs outside."

"Ah, I understand. I've entrusted the travel schedule to you. Please handle it as you see fit."

The young man with golden hair and blue eyes, the first prince and eldest son of the Shalwa royal family, Prince Francesco, responded with a bright smile.

His movements and words did not lack the dignity of a royal, but there was an unmistakable "lightness" to his demeanor. Indeed, the lack of abnormal tension among the surrounding knights, even in the presence of the next king, was undoubtedly due to Prince Francesco's character.

His finely chiseled face always wore a friendly smile, making him appear younger than his actual age.

However, the way he accepted the presence of the knights guarding him as a matter of course was a testament to his royal upbringing.

Under the watchful eyes of numerous knights, Prince Francesco walked around lightly, stretching his body, which had stiffened from the long dragon carriage ride.

"Prince Francesco."

Suddenly, a young woman's voice called out to him from behind.

Prince Francesco turned around and found the familiar figure of a young girl. He deepened his smile and spoke.

"Hey, Bonne. You've also come out of the dragon carriage, haven't you? Yes, that's good. The western part of the continent is more humid and stuffy compared to the central region, but it's cooler near the water. Look, a nice breeze is blowing."

"Ah, yes, thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

In response to Prince Francesco's words, Princess Bonne, the young woman, nodded slightly, as if caught off guard.

Princess Bonne, like Prince Francesco, was a member of the Shalwa royal family.

However, it was somewhat inaccurate to call her a "royal" in the same sense as Prince Francesco, who was the direct grandson of the current king. Princess Bonne, born into a lower noble family, had only been incorporated into the royal family due to her awakening to "bestowal magic" through a genetic skip.

Indeed, her manner of speaking to Prince Francesco was more akin to that of a noble addressing a royal, rather than that of a royal to a peer.

This difference in authority was evident in every aspect, including the fact that Prince Francesco's dragon carriage was pulled by eight horses, while Princess Bonne's was a smaller one pulled by six horses.

Nevertheless, there was no denying that she was a royal.

In this situation, it was Princess Bonne's role to point out the issue.

"Prince Francesco, if I may, did you dress yourself?"

Prince Francesco, seemingly oblivious to the implications in Princess Bonne's words, responded cheerfully.

"Ah, you noticed. After all, we're not in the palace, and there are fewer maids here. I try to do what I can to avoid overburdening them."

"Isn't that considerate of me? Come on, you can praise me now," he said, puffing out his chest as if daring her to say it.

Looking at his expression, Princess Bonne felt a strong sense of guilt. However, she couldn't remain silent. She was the only person in this group who could speak frankly to Prince Francesco without causing problems.

Princess Bonne cleared her throat and said,

"Your Highness, your socks are different colors on each foot."

"Huh? Oh, really?"

Prince Francesco looked down at his feet and, indeed, found that his right foot was in a red sock and his left foot in a blue one.

"Ahaha, this is embarrassing. Thank you for telling me, Bonne. Thanks to you, I won't have to suffer the embarrassment."

Prince Francesco said this with a smile.

"I apologize. If I may, it would be better to return to the dragon carriage and change your socks."

As she said this, Princess Bonne felt a sense of relief.

(Yes, as I thought, this person does listen to what I have to say.)

Some people, even if their advice is well-intentioned, might take it as an embarrassment and become upset. The fact that Prince Francesco was not such a petty person was a relief to those around him. However, the problem with Prince Francesco lay elsewhere.

"Hmm? But if I'm wearing one red and one blue sock now, that means there's one of each left in the dragon carriage. If I go back and change, I'll end up with a blue sock on my right foot and a red one on my left, won't I?"

(Perhaps the problem is... that he lacks the ability to understand what I'm saying.)

Princess Bonne, who was about eight years younger than the prince, felt a dull pain in her temples at his words.

Princess Bonne recalled the words spoken by the current first prince, Prince Francesco's father, and the current king, her grandfather, in the palace.

When they said, "I entrust my son (grandson) to you," she hadn't thought it meant she would be a "nanny."

This was the first foreign visit by the Shalwa royal family in several hundred years. Moreover, the destination was the western power, the Kingdom of Carpia, which the Shalwa-Gilbert Kingdom preferred to avoid direct confrontation with.

To send her, a royal at the very bottom of the hierarchy, and a prince with questionable mental capacity, what was the Shalwa royal family thinking?

(His Majesty and the First Prince are both wise. There must be a solid reason for sending Prince Francesco... but I wish they had told me what it was.)

For a low-ranking royal like herself, it might have been too much to ask.

If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have volunteered for the mission...

(No, after much hesitation, I ended up volunteering, didn't I?)

Princess Bonne, who couldn't lie to herself, concluded.

The diamond ring that Princess Isabella of the Gilbert royal family brought back. When she saw it, Princess Bonne's fate was sealed.

Three perfectly matched diamonds, and a base intricately carved with lines so fine they made her eyes hurt.

It was an object that could captivate anyone who aspired to be a jeweler.

Originally, members of the Shalwa royal family with lower succession rights often became independent as magic tool makers, engaging in the creation of jewelry and weapons. Princess Bonne, despite her young age, was already recognized as a skilled jeweler.

(In the end, I couldn't be involved in the creation of the magic tool for that ring. But if I go to the Kingdom of Carpia and get close to Empress Aura and her husband... )

With this somewhat naive ambition, Princess Bonne had volunteered for the mission.

In any case, having been entrusted by both the current king and the future king, there was no choice for a low-ranking royal like herself but to do her best to meet their expectations.

"Your Highness, you don't need to change both socks. Changing just one will make the colors match."

"Ah, I see! It's a change in perspective. You're amazing, Bonne. Your mind is very flexible."

"...Thank you, Your Highness."

The young princess, fighting the phantom pain in her head, was already beginning to regret her decision.

---

A few days later.

In the palace's office, Aula was reviewing various documents when a message from a small flying dragon arrived from the eastern border fortress, just as the sun began to set.

"...I see. They've finally arrived."

The message from the eastern border fortress read: The Shalwa-Gilbert Kingdom's delegation has arrived. The representatives are Prince Francesco and Princess Bonne. They will rest at the fortress for a few days before departing. Additionally, a thousand cavalry will accompany them as guards from the fortress.

After reading the concise content, Aula sighed.

She had known this would happen for a long time and understood that it wasn't all negative, but the magnitude of the event and the potential complications made her sigh.

Still, as the leader of a nation, she couldn't just sigh all day.

"Fabio, how are the preparations for their reception?"

Sitting in her chair, Aula addressed her secretary, who was standing diagonally behind her, without looking up from the documents on her desk.

"Yes, everything is in order. We have cleared three buildings in the southern part of the palace and have assembled the necessary personnel as per your instructions."

The slender middle-aged man, Secretary Fabio, answered in his usual flat tone.

"Three buildings? Will that be enough? There are two royals from a major kingdom, after all."

Aula, raising an eyebrow and turning her head slightly, received a calm response from Secretary Fabio.

"Yes. It seems their entourage is smaller than initially planned, so it should be sufficient. The first and second buildings can only be accessed through the third building, so if we assign the first building to Prince Francesco, the second to Princess Bonne, and the third to the guards, it should not cause significant complaints from their side."

"Hmm..."

Feeling the need to verify the details, Aula motioned for him to come closer and asked,

"What about their weapons? As direct subordinates of the Shalwa royal family, they are likely to be equipped with combat 'magic tools.'"

"Most likely, yes. However, unrestricted possession of combat magic tools is not allowed within the palace. They will not be convinced if we ask them to hand over their magic tools, given their small numbers and the need to protect two royals."

"The three buildings we will provide to the Shalwa-Gilbert Kingdom will be considered 'extraterritorial,' allowing all weapons. However, when they leave these buildings, they will only be allowed to carry defensive magic tools that we have verified and approved."

Aula's suggestion prompted a confirming response from the secretary.

"Will general weapons, not magic tools, be allowed within the palace?"

"They cannot be completely unrestricted, but some level of armament must be permitted."

"We can expect opposition from the domestic nobility."

"There's no choice. We cannot ask them to guard the direct royal line without any weapons."

Aula sighed deeply again.

Welcoming armed foreigners into the palace, even on a limited basis, was far from ideal, but considering the future, it was difficult to refuse.

In the near future, Zenjiro would learn the "instant teleportation" magic and want to visit the Shalwa-Gilbert Kingdom's palace. If they were to demand that the guards accompanying Prince Francesco and Princess Bonne be unarmed, it could lead to the same demand for Zenjiro's guards when he visits.

However, it would also be a loss of national dignity to yield to every demand of the "uninvited guests" who come on their terms.

"Hmm..."

Crossing her legs under her red long dress with slits, Aula's expression suggested that her long-time secretary could read her thoughts.

"Then, should we charge an entry fee for weapons and magic tools? If it can be resolved with money, they are unlikely to refuse."

The secretary suggested this, but the queen frowned and shook her head.

"Frankly, it's tempting, but no. We cannot set a precedent where the entry of weapons into the palace can be resolved with money."

"In that case, perhaps we should provide some kind of 'magic tool' as a condition. This would be a payment that only the Shalwa-Gilbert royals could make, making it less likely to set a bad precedent."

"Indeed, that seems to be the way. The question is, what kind of magic tool should we demand?"

"I understand that time-space magic tools, while beneficial, also carry significant risks in the future."

Converting time-space magic, which only members of the Carpia royal family can use, into a magic tool means that it can be replicated by non-royals. While it would be a powerful tool for the Carpia Kingdom, which currently has only Empress Aula as a user of time-space magic, it also means that it could fall into the hands of other nations in the future.

"Instant teleportation is out of the question, and if we are to convert other time-space magic into a magic tool, it must be a 'disposable' type, an absolute condition..."

Realizing that her thoughts were drifting into impractical territory, Aula cleared her throat and brought the conversation back to the present.

"In any case, the details can be discussed once they arrive. For now, the accommodations and armament are settled. Is the personnel sufficient?"

Aula's abrupt change in topic was nothing new to the secretary, who responded without hesitation.

"Yes. As per your instructions, we have assembled young maids from lower noble and wealthy commoner backgrounds, all of whom have