Chapter 53

The hotel was built entwined around three giant trees.

Each room was attached to the thick trunk of a large tree, and from below, several pieces of wood supported the bottom of the rooms like a slanted fan. The rooms were connected by floating corridors with roofs, all of which were thatched with tree bark.

To reach the lowest room, one had to climb a delicate staircase that circled halfway around the large tree.

As I looked up in amazement, I heard someone call, "Belle!" It was Evans. Ekkart and Franz were also there beside him.

"Evans! You didn't say it had progressed this much!"

"Well, the men of the village all found it interesting and helped out. The construction advanced in no time."

"Advanced in no time?"

As I smiled wryly, Ekkart approached.

"Indeed, I was quite surprised. The men of this village can climb up to the third floor without scaffolding. They say they don't need safety ropes, which made my life feel shorter just watching them."

"No scaffolding? How do they...?"

Evans explained with a laugh.

"We are used to climbing trees to gather coconuts and fruits. When the tree is too large to wrap our arms around, we use ropes to climb."

"Wow."

Franz, also surprised, joined in the explanation.

"They climb up and drop one end of the rope down, saying, 'Tie the next piece of wood.' Down below, they tie the rope to the wood, and several people pull it up and assemble it. It's so quick, it's like magic."

Ekkart, who found this astonishing,

"If the people of this country were to do carpentry work in the Empire, the construction would be completed in no time," he said excitedly.

The villagers nearby, hearing this, laughed.

"At this height, we don't need scaffolding."

"Belle, can we see the inside?"

"Of course, please do. The construction is such that even a high-ranking noble would be satisfied."

Guided by Franz and the others, we climbed the stairs and entered. The first floor had an entrance, a spacious living room, and water facilities. The second floor, just above, had bedrooms and a terrace.

It was undoubtedly the result of Ekkart's calculations, but even with the supports radiating from beneath each room and the thick ropes, Bérénice marveled at how they could be so stable and attached to the trunk.

A thin pipe was inconspicuously laid from a slightly higher position in the forest to the first floor, guiding the spring water through a wooden channel to the rooms. Indeed, carrying water in buckets to that height would be difficult.

"The third floor is a spacious sunroom."

Climbing to the third floor, we saw several potted plants native to the country. Vines, which seemed to have been guided, were entwined everywhere, and when the flowers bloomed, the sunroom would be enveloped in their fragrance. Sitting on the long chair with my legs stretched out, I could see the deep forest stretching far into the distance. With walls only up to waist height, the view was unobstructed in all directions.

"Great! It's wonderful, Evans!"

"Hehe."

The large man was blushing. Franz and Ekkart were also satisfied, saying, "Evans is a genius."

"Once we add the furniture, wallpaper, bathtub, toilet, and a small charcoal stove for boiling water, we can welcome guests. Ekkart has carefully calculated to ensure the bathtub can withstand the weight of water and people."

"Franz, what about recruiting staff?"

"The villagers have agreed to participate. I've become good friends with everyone."

"So, we're almost ready to open?"

"No, we still need about a year. Training the staff is ongoing. We need to hire a chef and decide on the menu. Food is important. We'll find a chef who can create delicious dishes using local ingredients."

"In that case, I'll leave that to you, Franz. I'll go choose and buy the furniture."

After being moved by the hotel, we headed to the village. In the Birlba region, which we hadn't visited in a while, a small school had been built. It seemed to teach basic studies in the official language, realizing one of Cecil's ideals.

"Mr. Bruno, by the way, we came by boat. We've built a high-quality ship that even nobles can ride. Would you like to see it?"

Bruno became restless upon hearing this.

"Belle, can we just go and see it?"

His face was saying, "I want to ride it!" so I couldn't help but smile.

"We can take everyone who wants to. Shall we go now?"

"Really? That's great!"

Bruno's wife, Cassandra, explained,

"People around here rarely ride boats. Everyone will be happy."

Bruno rang the bell three times and then three more times, and people gathered from all around.

"Chief, is there something you need?"

"Belle has built a boat for hotel guests. She says she can take those who want to ride. Is anyone interested?"

This caused a commotion.

People of all ages said, "I want to ride!" and a considerable number headed for the river. It was a one-hour walk, and almost everyone went on foot, making Bérénice and the others feel apologetic.

"We're trained differently from you, so don't worry about it," said an old woman, who looked to be over sixty, with a smile.

When the carriage arrived at the dock where the ship was moored, the crew, who had been resting, were surprised to see Bérénice and the others return so quickly.

"Birlba's people will be coming to see the ship soon," she said, and they began preparing to welcome them.

Soon, the group arrived,

"Oh, a white ship!"

"It's two stories!"

"What a beautiful ship!"

The villagers boarded noisily. Some brought fruits, dried meat, and local wine as gifts, turning the ship into a small festival. The crew also brought out their stock of wine and light snacks to welcome them, and everyone had a great time.

That night,

Cecil and Ignacio, who had finished their inspection, joined the luxurious dinner at Evans' home. Ignacio was drunk and excited, saying, "The rabbit meat is delicious! The emu is delicious!" Cecil sat next to Bruno, chatting with a relaxed expression.

They drank and ate their fill until the party ended, then got into the carriage and headed for the ship.

"I saw the hotel Evans designed. It was amazing."

"I didn't know it was so close to completion. I was surprised."

"Despite its shape, it blended into the surrounding forest."

"Apparently, all the materials used were local, which might be why."

In the carriage, it was just Bérénice and Cecil. Ignacio, Dorothe, and Diego were using the carriage Cecil and the others had arrived in.

"Bérénice, it's been a year and a half since Prince Claudius' coming-of-age day."

"Yes."

"The name of the Kingdom of Sanluan will disappear."

I thought about how I would feel if the country became a vassal state of the Empire.

"Sanluan was a country where everyone thought about how to make money from the Empire. Even if the name changes, that won't change. The idea of the king three generations ago, who wanted the people to live safely and healthily, has somewhat faded."

The Kingdom of Sanluan, with its happy and sad memories, will still be in that place, even if the name changes.

The royal family may change, but the faces of the people will remain the same. Only the object of their loyalty will change.

The unloved royal family will disappear.

"Sir, what is a royal family?"

"A royal family, in my opinion, is people who live for the country and its people."

"If that's the case, the Kingdom of Sanluan hasn't had a royal family for a long time."

Cecil, seeing the sad expression on Bérénice's face, couldn't help but place his right hand on her cheek, asking,

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, but can I stay like this a little longer?"

"Sure. Stay as long as you like."

"It's strange, isn't it? Just a name change."

"It will surely become a better country."

"I believe it will."

(I hope women will never again be offered in place of money.) I thought.

Such an experience is enough for me alone.