Risou no Himo Seikatsu - Volume 10 - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 — Complicated Negotiations

Over the next few days, Zenjirou had—much to his surprise—a significantly lighter schedule. He had one of Isabella’s maids or guards to send to Capua via teleportation each day. However, that only took a moment. He could send just one person each day, so he had no choice but to remain in the Twin Kingdoms for as many days as there were travelers. However, the time he had to commit to it was only a tiny portion of his day. The time outside of that was Zenjirou’s to do with as he wished.

Naturally, there was the party to greet Freya, which he had to attend as her partner. But other than that, he had no commitments. At least, that was true for the past few days. Now, however, he was heading to negotiate for magic tools with Freya, which was his secondary purpose for visiting the Twin Kingdoms.

The two of them sat side by side, their appointed mediators on the outside—Lucretia sat next to Zenjirou and Margarita next to Freya.

Josep was seated on the other sofa across a table from them. Zenjirou was somewhat surprised by his presence after the clear reticence he had shown the man. Was this personal touch (rather than leaving negotiations to Largo, who Zenjirou was relatively well-disposed to, or Philibert, who Zenjirou had no preconceptions about) an indication that the crown prince was willing to mend the relationship?

Zenjirou made a mental note of this complicating factor in the negotiations. At the same time, he opened up the conversation as if nothing was wrong.

“Crown Prince Josep, I must thank you for attending in person when you must be busier than almost anyone else.”

“I offer my thanks as well,” Freya added, giving a slight bow from her seated position.

“Well, this involves both you and an important woman to you, Your Majesty. It is something I would, of course, significantly prioritize.”

“I am grateful to hear it,” Zenjirou replied as both of them nodded in thanks.

“Then let us begin. I have been told that you each wish to purchase magic tools. Would you be willing to tell me directly exactly what it is you are seeking to avoid any miscommunication?”

“We would. I shall explain first,” Zenjirou said before slowly enumerating what he wanted as the prince smiled.

Once Josep had heard the details of what both of them wanted, he put his hand to his chin and summarized the specifications.

“I see. Your Majesty wishes for magic tools to remove the bite of the blazing season. While you, Your Highness, wish for magic tools for intercontinental sea voyages.”

“Indeed. The ideal would be to be able to cool a room of Capua’s inner palace to the same extent as the Purple Egg Palace.”

“Yes, Prince Josep. Even the Glasir’s Leaf—while being the pride of Uppasala—cannot trivially cross between the continents. I was hoping that the support of magic tools would be able to ease that burden in at least some small way.”

The prince hummed in thought and fell silent for a period. Then, he spoke in consideration. “Your Majesty, your request is without issue. We have a reserve of such magic tools and can hand a portion of them over to you. I do, however, need to make a single disclaimer with regard to the difference in climate between our two countries. The tools are primarily a mixture of wind and water magic. That leads to a dramatic effect in the Twin Kingdoms with our arid climate. However, Capua’s air is as damp as it is hot. You cannot expect a similar level of efficacy under those circumstances.”

“I understand. My thanks for the detailed explanation,” Zenjirou replied.

It was slightly disappointing that Capua’s humidity would lower its efficacy, but the tools should still be a great help.

“Furthermore, our preference would be for payment to be in the form of one of those jewels.” That would make it possible to restock the reserve in a much shorter time span.

“I will consider it,” Zenjirou said, leaving himself some room for adjustment.

“Please do,” the prince replied with a smile, apparently satisfied.

Having accomplished his own goals, Zenjirou directed his gaze to the princess at his side. Taking his cue from him, Josep did likewise.

“On the other hand, your requests pose a challenge, Your Majesty,” he told Freya. “Each of the four types of magic tools you desire—water creation, purification, and manipulation, and wind manipulation—are much more difficult to part with. Frankly, water creation is out of the question. We do not currently have sufficient numbers for our own use.”

The majority of the country was desert, with few water sources. For those such as the Animeeum family with non-potable water like salt lakes, water purification was suitable and efficient. However, the demand for water creation where there was no water to begin with was the highest across the country as a whole.

Manufacturing magic tools took a considerable amount of time, and the only people capable of it were the Sharou family. On top of that, such tools were not everlasting. As they were used, they inevitably degraded. As a result, their water-creation tools had reached something of a plateau in terms of quantity, and that had been the case for several years. Allowing even one of them to be purchased by a foreigner would be domestically lampooned.

Once that was explained, Freya could only accept it. She moved the conversation along. “I understand. What of the purification option?” The purification tools would be the most valuable for a long sea voyage. It was, in many ways, her main goal with these negotiations, so there was more force behind her words.

The prince’s polite smile deepened as the eager princess leaned forward. He gave what was, in the end, a simply logical decision. “Indeed. Those are the most feasible—or in fact only feasible options. They are likewise in constant production but are not subject to the same level of demand as water-creating magic tools in the country at large. However, the Animeeum family is an exception. They have a salt lake and therefore buy up all such tools that are made.”

“Then would I be better served by bringing my negotiations to Duke Animeeum?”

Freya’s suggestion was to buy from the Animeeum family, since they had a monopoly on the tools, rather than buying from the manufacturer directly. However, the crown prince’s face was not exactly broadcasting agreement.

“I am unsure of that. Honestly, I cannot see the family parting with any even for significant allowances.”

The Animeeum family’s coffers were supported by the water and salt they could make from the salt lake within their territory. The lake was big enough to be called an inland sea, so the more magic tools they had, the more they benefited. Josep could not imagine them surrendering that capability once they had gained it.

“If you see the purifying tools as the only possibility, does that mean my other requests...”

Josep nodded expressionlessly at Freya’s question. The princess’s face darkened as the conversation progressed.

“Indeed. Neither wind nor water-manipulating magic tools are feasible. We have no such examples currently. Of the tools you requested, we only have water creation and purification in existence.”

And both of those were already spoken for. Reneging on those agreements would lead to far too strong a reaction from the country as a whole.

Even so, Freya didn’t give up and continued negotiating, keeping Josep right in the middle of her vision. “I can understand your situation. However...”

Zenjirou’s esteem for the woman rose as she didn’t even glance towards him for help. He couldn’t be sure of how well-informed she was of the circumstances surrounding them, but the earlier conversation would have revealed at least some of it to her. Zenjirou had some form of jewel that the Twin Kingdoms were all too keen to obtain. He couldn’t help but think positively of her for not trying to rely on that and instead negotiating her own way through the situation.

Empathy, however, meant that his pleasant disposition made him want to offer a hand. He cleared his throat purposefully before interjecting.

“In other words, you need some form of reason. Something that those who have prepurchased the magic tools would have to accept?”

Josep seemed slightly taken aback, his eyes widening slightly. “Indeed. But water-creation tools would be difficult to permit parting with even for such a reason. Those who desire them are rather fervent in their wishes, so gaining their understanding is extremely difficult.”

For those who lived in the desert, the presence of water-creating tools or people who could cast the spell versions of them affected the number of growing children by restricting how many births were permitted. It went without saying that soothing people living on the knife’s edge like that with words alone would be extremely tricky.

“Which means that—as you have said several times—the most realistic option is purification.”

“I believe so, yes,” Josep agreed. “They are valuable magic tools in their own right, but the strongest call from them thankfully is from the Animeeum family alone. Rational discussions with the duke are more feasible. If I had a suitable reason, I would carry out the negotiations personally. You would not have to concern yourself with them, Your Highness.”

Josep’s smile deepened further as he spoke. His tone and affable expression suggested utter sincerity in his dealings.

That was exactly why Zenjirou couldn’t tell how truthful the man was being. From his perspective, Josep was shady at best. He was attempting to filter his words after having tried to expose Zenkichi to danger. It meant that even the friendly smile and consideration he was showing all felt like traps meant to ensnare Zenjirou.

Whether she knew that or not, Freya had an easy smile on her face as she replied, “I thank you for your consideration. We need to have some reason that the Animeeum family will accept, then? Unfortunately, I am rather unfamiliar with the duke, the family, and even the territory in general.”

“Well, that is only natural considering your position.”

Freya’s polite conversation was mostly to fill the air as she searched for a new path to move the negotiation along. A lifeline came from a surprising direction, though.

“In which case, perhaps I could be of assistance?” Margarita suggested. “If that would be acceptable, Prince Josep?” She was seated next to Freya in her role as an attendant, so she simply raised her hand slightly to ask for formal permission to speak.

“Oh, Margarita?” Josep asked, showing surprise for the briefest of moments. “What brought this on?”

The princess shrugged slightly as everyone’s gazes converged on her. “I am here to assist Princess Freya, so I would like to fulfill that role. The period of our agreement with the Animeeum family is half a year. I will make another in that time span so we can sell one of our current stock to Princess Freya here. That would balance things out.”

Josep’s shock grew stronger at that. “What brought this on indeed? I seem to remember you seeing it as dull and tedious.”

Mass-produced magic tools such as those for water creation, water purification, static flame, and dual burn parchment were generally the domain of relatively unskilled youths or those with little interest in enchanting. Those who focused more on politics.

Members of the family like Francesco and Margarita, who had made a name for themselves with their skill, were exempted from such quotas in favor of more bespoke and expensive items. As a matter of fact, Margarita was focused solely on her own sphere of enchanting—weapons and armor—and avoided the mass-produced items entirely.

Josep was aware of that, so his shock was inevitable. Those doubts were washed away by her next sentence, however.

“In exchange, I would ask for the object at Lady Skaji’s waist.” As she spoke, Margarita followed her habits from the forge, closing her left eye and looking at the tall warrior with only her milky right eye. More precisely, at the sword at said warrior’s waist.

“Her sword?” Freya asked, she and the warrior in question clearly confused.

The whittled tusk spear was one thing, but the sword she carried was not particularly exceptional. Of course, it was the sword of a warrior who directly served royalty, so it was by no means cheap. It was not, however, ornately engraved or anything of that sort. The weapon was a mass-produced blade, made under the assumption that it would be used for destruction. In fact, there were dozens of similar blades in the armory on board the Glasir’s Leaf.

Yet, while it was a simple commodity in Uppasala, the blade took on new value on the Southern Continent.

“Unfortunately, ironwork on the Southern Continent is a level below that of the Northern Continent. From what I have heard, your own country is exalted even there. I would truly, truly relish the chance to own such a blade myself.” Her Margarita’s milky eye narrowed slightly as she spoke.

That was sufficient explanation for Freya to understand what the other princess was implying. “Your Majesty?” she prompted, seeking Zenjirou’s permission due to her understanding of her position.

One of the things she had going for her as a concubine of Zenjirou was Uppasala’s advanced metallurgy. Providing another country on the same continent with an example of it would also lessen its value. Frankly, it was not something she should be considering.

That said, her position was somewhat complicated. She was also a princess of Uppasala, not merely a concubine of the prince consort of Capua. Restricting all such interactions for Capua’s sake would also be out of place.

Freya’s entreating look meant that everyone’s gazes shifted to Zenjirou. “Let me see...” he said before starting to think. He was uncomfortable with the royals all staring at him.

The issue was the risk-to-reward ratio. Zenjirou’s wife was planning on using blacksmithing and shipbuilding from Freya’s homeland to spur Capua on. Giving an example of that blacksmithing to the Twin Kingdoms would stymie Capua’s relative growth. Were it sold to a soldier with the expectation that it would be used for destruction, things would be different.

This was being given to a proficient smith and proficient enchanter, though. But while she was a skilled smith, it was unlikely Margarita would be able to replicate the skill involved with only a single example. If Freya’s claims of bringing blacksmiths to Capua held true, Capua’s superiority would still be assured.

On another note, the magic tool she was trying to buy would make the return trip of the Glasir’s Leaf safer. Her knowledge of that was why she was so eager to attain it. He couldn’t completely equate intercontinental travel to the Age of Discovery in his own world, but he vaguely remembered that one ship in a few dozen on long voyages would end up resting beneath the waves during that age. If you took “a few dozen” to mean fifty, then that corresponded to a two percent chance.

Taking into account that Freya’s trip from the far north of the Northern Continent to Capua was the first of its kind, the danger level was even higher. The chance of sinking might even be as high as five percent—one in every twenty.

If he had been uninvolved, or if the risk had not been life-threatening, it might not have been overly concerning. However, Zenjirou had some form of feelings for the princess, so he couldn’t disregard it, particularly if his decisions could help to mitigate those risks.

Perhaps he could hand over marbles and see Freya with all of the tools she wanted? The marbles drastically reduced the necessary time to create the tools, so it wasn’t impossible.

He swallowed and spoke. “Your agreement with Her Majesty will remain unchanged. As long as you bear that in mind, I see no issue with you acting however you wish.”

That was his eventual decision. It would not be in the national interest to completely abandon her. However, he also couldn’t completely support her and spend the valuable marbles. It was a half measure that left an undispellable taste of guilt but also seemed to be all Freya could have asked for.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said to him before turning to Margarita. “I would like to accept that offer, Princess Margarita. However, Skaji is an important part of my protection. Simply handing over her weapon would be difficult, so I would like to wait until we can purchase a replacement.”

Her voice was energetic, and the other princess smiled widely before assenting. “Understood, Your Highness. I would be willing to exchange a sword personally. I can guarantee it would be a suitable blade.”

“Margarita?” Josep spoke softly.

She simply shrugged lightly. “Naturally, it will not be a magic tool as well, just a metal blade.”

Josep relaxed at that. Francesco and Margarita were similar people, but the latter was not as thoughtless as the prince.

With the conversation reaching a safe break point, Josep considered the situation anew. Freya had been officially gifted a dress in the royal colors of Capua by the country’s queen. The woman had sought Zenjirou’s permission before making an important decision and had been granted that permission. Coupled with that was the consideration of the danger level inherent in long-distance sea travel and the emotional look Zenjirou had favored the woman with.

With all of that combined, his conclusion was to make her even more appreciative. “Hmm. These are the limits of what the Sharou family can do to directly support you, but perhaps we can indirectly be of some further help. Each noble family and house have individual magic tools. We could allow an exemption for international sale on those. I would be willing to offer an introduction, if you would like?”

“I would appreciate that,” Freya said, instantly jumping on the suggestion.

Ordinarily, only the Sharou family was allowed to sell magic tools internationally. Other noble families such as the four dukes might be able to buy them, but they could not sell them to other nations’ royalty or nobility.

It was a system of checks and balances to prevent domestic nobility from marking them up to expand their own coffers. However, it also resulted in unusable magic tools simply being stored away. This would allow her to purchase such magic tools.

Josep took a sheet of drake parchment his attendant handed to him and ran a pen over it with practiced movements. Once he was done, he added his signature and pressed the royal seal into it. With the document complete, he continued acting as if nothing were out of the ordinary as he called out to Lucretia.

“Lucretia, could you hand this to Her Highness?” he asked the girl at Zenjirou’s side.

“Wh— Ah, right!” She looked blank for a second before cottoning on to his aim and snapping to her feet to take the document from him.

She was here in her position as Zenjirou’s attendant. That made her unsuitable for the role, but there was a reason for him to call her for it. She spoke nervously to Freya as she handed the document over.

“Your Highness. I understand your situation from the earlier conversation. I believe I may be able to be of some small help. I can talk to Marquis Broglie, so would you be willing to negotiate with our family first?”

The suggestion was a welcome offer to Freya. The Broglie family was a noble family that went right back to the country’s founding. Whether they would sell to her or not, it was easy to imagine them having many magic tools.

“Very well, I will prevail upon you then, Lady Lucretia.”

The conversation was all going well. Zenjirou’s distrust ratcheted another level higher as Josep watched the proceedings with a friendly smile.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Several days later, Freya found herself in the Broglie estate within the capital.

Her trip via carriage from the Purple Egg Palace had led to her experiencing the country’s dry heat for the first time. She’d spent much of the trip slumped over, panting like a dog, but the estate was of a noble family as old as the country itself.

Fortunately, the rooms were furnished with magic tools on a similar level to the palace, so Freya’s disgrace remained unseen.

Incidentally, her presence was as a princess of Uppasala, and she already had permission to carry out negotiations, so Zenjirou was not accompanying her. Therefore, she was not wearing the red dress from Aura, but a more familiar faint blue one.

With her trusted warrior at her back, Freya seated herself politely on the sofa across from a man who was between his middle ages and later years. His ashen hair was swept back and his gray eyes were slightly closed. It all gave him the air of a distinguished gentleman.

There was a blonde girl at his side, her hair tied at the side of her head. This was Lucretia Broglie. She was temporarily absent from her role at Zenjirou’s side to act as an intermediary between Freya and her adoptive father. Therefore, it was she who first broke the silence.

“Allow me to make the introductions, Your Highness. This is the current head of the Broglie family, Marquis Luchino. Father, this is the first princess of Uppasala, Princess Freya Uppasala.”

Both Freya and Luchino greeted each other with smiles.

“My name is Freya, Marquis Broglie. It is an honor to meet you.”

“Likewise. I am glad for the opportunity to meet you, Princess Freya. My name is Luchino, and I lead this family.”

Their ages, sexes, and birthplaces were all different. However, both were used to social etiquette, so the conversation went extremely smoothly between the two of them as they exchanged some small talk.

“I see,” the marquis said after the conversation had progressed somewhat. “The Northern Continent is truly advanced. The concept of a university is awfully intriguing.”

“While it is not excessively so, it is true that our differing histories have led to our cultures developing differently. Our magic has lagged behind in that way, after all.”

“Is magic not an area of study at those universities? In which case...”

The discussion continued, both of them learning their conversation partner’s rhythm before the marquis brought up the main topic.

“Is that the reason behind your desire for magic tools?”

The talk’s progress had made it clear the topic was on its way, so there was no shock on the princess’s part as she agreed.

“Indeed. Our Glasir’s Leaf is the cutting-edge of ship technology in both Uppasala and on the continent as a whole. On a technical level, I could not ask for a better ship. However, there are still risks to intercontinental crossings. If we are to improve things, we believe our only current recourse is magic.”

Luchino nodded at her smooth statements, his face serious. “I see. Your claims certainly do not lack persuasiveness. After all, you have made the crossing yourself. I can understand your desires.”

“Then do you possess anything suitable?” Freya asked.

The marquis didn’t react hastily to Freya trying to bring the negotiations to a close. “I am considering things favorable. After all, I know little of the Northern Continent. This document gives us Prince Josep’s permission to sell magic tools. However, I may refuse to do so if it seems liable to harm my country, if you will pardon me for saying so. I have several questions I would like to ask about the continent, if you would indulge me?”

He straightened and Freya seemed slightly overwhelmed by his presence, adjusting her own position.

“I would indeed,” she replied.

“Then the first thing I wish to discuss is that Uppasala’s first ship to arrive on the Southern Continent is yours, but that is not the case for the Northern Continent as a whole. How do those ships increase their own chances?”

The question was an obvious one to ask, and Freya shrugged slightly. “Those ships belong to countries under the church’s influence. My own country is not particularly associated with them, so I cannot say with real certainty, but I do not believe they make any special allowances. I believe they send out a number of ships, assuming that at least some will capsize during the crossing.” She paused briefly before continuing. “However, Uppasala is one of the most northerly countries on the continent. It is possible the more southerly countries have more favorable conditions.”

While Uppasala was one of the most technologically advanced countries, they were only just relevant on the continental scale. There was a vast difference in population between it and the most powerful countries. Countries that were blessed with both the resources and manpower to make use of them could take the occasional loss of ships on the chin, but Uppasala could find itself at a standstill if they tried the same method.

If you could bet a million yen at a time with a seventy percent chance of a win, someone rich with a hundred million yen could just keep betting with an eye on long-term reward, whereas someone with a mere five million yen could find themselves easily bankrupt if the odds were not on their side.

Uppasala was not in a position where it could gamble on intercontinental trade. They needed more certainty.

“I see. So could your country not simply leave the intercontinental trade to those others and reap the rewards indirectly?”

“Unfortunately, the more intermediaries there are, the lower the margins get and the more annoyances come forth. After all, as they say, if you’re going to do it, you should do it ra— Pardon me,” she said, cutting herself off. Skaji had gone an ashen gray, but fortunately, the Broglie family head seemed to have not caught the gist of her statement. She centered herself before continuing. “W-Well, we would like nothing more than to establish intercontinental trade of our own.”

“I see...”

Silence reigned for a while. The marquis was considering his response while the princess was simply waiting for it. The ball was in his court. She waited nervously for a long time before Luchino spoke.

“I understand the overall situation. I believe we have something perfect.”

“Thank you, Marquis,” Freya replied with a wide smile.

Luchino cleared his throat and dampened the mood slightly. “However, there is a problem. This magic tool would certainly be a great help to you. The issue is that it is also a valuable heirloom that has been passed down in our family for generations. It is not something I can surrender for a paltry sum.”

Freya was not the kind of negotiator to promise any amount in payment. “Well, I would be beyond grateful to receive such an item. I would like to see it and have a full explanation before we continue. Would that be possible?”

Any payment would have to be after she knew what she was paying for. The marquis took no offense at the implication, simply nodding.

“Of course. Bring the item from the neighboring room.”

The second sentence was directed towards the five male attendants present. They vanished next door for a while before reappearing carrying a massive item between the five of them.

“That is...” Freya was lost for words, her eyes wide at the massive size of the magic tool.

“Good work,” Luchino told them. “Place it next to the table. Carefully.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Pardon us.”

The item went down between the two negotiators with a thud. It looked very similar to a globe. There was a round pedestal at its base, with a white sphere atop it, held at points on its top and bottom. The sphere was constantly spinning, likely through some form of magic.

Of course, it only looked like a globe. It was not a navigation aid, the white sphere being no map. The sphere alone looked to be around two meters in diameter and hewed from some form of white rock. With that in mind, it was hardly a surprise it had taken five men to carry it in.

“What kind of magic tool is this?” Freya asked, icy-blue eyes focused on the item with interest.

“It is called the Lulled Sea. It would perhaps be easier to demonstrate than explain. Men, open the window and bring some water.”

The attendants immediately set about carrying out the orders with words of acknowledgment. The window was thrown open and a large metal bowl of water was placed alongside the magic tool. The hot wind carried the desert sand with it, and Freya narrowed her eyes slightly against the stinging dust.

The wind ruffled her short hair, and the marquis nodded in satisfaction at the sight before standing up. Then, he moved in front of the tool before speaking.

“Fix the current situation in your mind. I will demonstrate it now. You place your hand upon it like this and say ‘lull.’”

The final word was in the language of magic. The tool immediately glowed a dull white. The light faded and the sphere’s rotation stopped completely. At the same moment, its effect became clear.

The unpleasant breeze blowing into the room had stopped entirely.

“What?” Freya said in shock.

Skaji simply grew warier as the marquis smiled proudly and rolled his sleeve up.

“This will be even clearer. Watch closely.”

With that, he slapped the palm of his hand onto the surface of the water in the bowl.

There was—obviously—a loud splash, but then the water went back to its prior state as if nothing had happened. Both Freya’s and Skaji’s eyes were wide at this point. It was a truly unnatural sight.

He had slapped the water with a significant amount of force. The splash had only lasted an instant, though, and the water had returned to its flat state immediately afterward, not even rippling. Frankly, they doubted their eyes.

Luchino began explaining to his shocked guests. “The Lulled Sea acts exactly as its name implied. Within its area of influence, the movement of wind and water is greatly restricted. The wind will calm and the water’s surface will not sway. Not even rain will fall in the area. However, it does not inhibit breathing or drinking, so you need not concern yourself with that.”

“May I test it for myself?” Freya asked after a long pause, still unable to fully believe what she was seeing.

“By all means,” the Marquis answered easily.

“Princess, allow me.”

“Ah, yes. Carry on, Skaji.”

“Excuse me,” Skaji said after gaining permission. She followed up the statement by using the butt of her short spear to strike the water’s surface.

The results were much the same as before. The impact led to the water sloshing into a splash, but it flattened out unnaturally quickly, instantly returning to a static pool. She followed that up with several other attempts, stuck the base of her spear into the water and swirled it around, then scooped up a palmful of water and dropped it back into the pool.

While Skaji worked, Freya took her teacups and did some experimenting of her own. “I can drink the tea as normal,” she remarked. “Yet if I tilt or shake the cup, the surface settles just the same. Blowing on it only causes ripples for an instant before it lulls again.”

Additionally, she had blown as hard as she could, with the cup—and therefore her hand—right next to her mouth. Despite that, the breath didn’t actually reach her hand. It would appear that the artifact did indeed restrict the wind as well.

The pair’s trials solidified the idea in their minds that the item truly worked as the marquis had described. Once the princess’s eyes were gleaming, Luchino offered up the clincher.

“The effect propagates over a significant area. It encompasses the entire estate, in fact. I do not know precisely how big the Glasir’s Leaf is, but I would imagine that it would entirely fall within its area of effect. The effect will persist long enough to complete basic tasks. Once it has been used, it cannot be used again for a period of time—that is something to remain aware of. The only way to determine exactly how long the effect persists and how long it remains inoperable is through practice.”

A hint of wariness entered the princess’s eyes. The magic tool had a wide area of effect where wind and water could be brought entirely under her control. It was clear just how valuable such an item would be for a long sea voyage. If they were caught up in a dangerous storm or on the verge of being struck by a towering wave, the tool could call a temporary halt to the situation.

Storms and waves damaged ships. Sudden storms made it impossible to furl the sails in time. If a storm lasted for too long, the sailors would reach the limits of both their mental and physical stamina. Possessing this “Lulled Sea” would be an immeasurable boon. When a ship was damaged by a storm, it was usually a storm of considerable size. Carrying out repairs was the only choice, and deaths were practically inevitable. If the Lulled Sea effect was active, the storm would be forced to temporarily abate and repairs would be feasible. Even during rapid-onset storms that precluded stowing the sails, the process would be a much calmer affair.

The biggest impact would be during prolonged periods of bad weather. They would be able to give themselves a temporary reprieve. Even veteran sailors could find their spirits breaking during an extended encounter with bad weather. So telling them to keep at it for just a little longer when a guaranteed rest was on hand could stretch that stamina out for a shockingly long period.

Storms traveled over the sea as well, so there was also the possibility that the bad weather might pass over them while the magic tool was active. The combination of their latest shipbuilding techniques, the “Lulled Sea,” and a magic tool for water purification could dramatically minimize the dangers of an intercontinental crossing.

It was something Freya would practically kill for. And it was for precisely that reason that her wariness was inescapable.

“Why do you have such a magic tool, if I may ask?”

It was practically tailor-made for sailors on long voyages. Freya was not dense enough to think of it as merely a fortunate coincidence.

The marquis must have predicted her response. He remained gentlemanly as he replied with a very measured tone, “Truly, it is mere happenstance. It is a magic tool we traditionally hold. However, I felt that it would serve its purpose with you better than being locked away in our storerooms. Therefore, I prepared it once I heard from Prince Josep.”

“A traditional magic tool, you say? Frankly, it seems to have been specifically created for us.”

With Freya’s unfamiliarity with enchanting, it was hardly surprising that she would make such an assumption. The tool was so perfectly suited for her purposes that happenstance was not a sufficient explanation. It was even called the Lulled Sea. Why would a country such as the Twin Kingdoms—which had no sea—produce such an item?

“I suppose you could simply take it as being born under a fortunate star. Or perhaps you could call it fate.”

“That would be a welcome fate indeed. If that fortune continued, perhaps it would be possible to purchase more than one of these?”

As Freya requested further negotiations with a smile, the marquis’s own smile took on a rueful tinge.

“That would, unfortunately, be impossible,” he replied with a shake of his head. “This is a legacy. There are none within the Sharou family capable of replicating it.”

“A ‘legacy?’”

Luchino nodded upon seeing her confusion. “Indeed. Tell me, Your Highness, are you aware of how our country came to be? Our ancestors migrated here from the Northern Continent.”

“Oh?”

The marquis knew that she had inferred what he was implying and nodded in satisfaction before continuing. “The path you sailed was likewise sailed by our forebears, centuries ago. We refer to magic tools created before that crossing as ‘legacies.’ The crossing and nomadic lifestyle that followed saw the loss of much of the construction methods for those legacies, along with the items themselves. This is one of the few remaining examples of them.”

Why did a magic tool so perfectly suited to Freya’s current situation exist? Well, for no other reason than the ancestors of the Twin Kingdoms had overcome practically identical challenges.

“And you are truly willing to bequeath such a treasure to us?”

Anecdotally, this magic tool would be on par with a royal treasure—far beyond a simple heirloom for a marquis’s family. If the tale was true, the strangest thing was that it was in the Broglie family’s possession. Surely it should have been sealed away in some vault in the Purple Egg Palace.

However, the man’s polite smile remained in place as he responded. “There are no issues on that front. As I intimated earlier, Prince Josep offered this option.”

“Still, even disregarding historical significance, its value as a magic tool is equally significant. I may not know much about magic tools, but even I can tell that. What were your thoughts on cost?”

Unsaid but not unheard was the expectation it would be a huge sum. However, the marquis simply let his smile widen.

“Payment would not be required. This is a symbol of friendship between the Twin Kingdoms of Sharou-Gilbelle and the Kingdom of Uppsala. However, as a symbol of friendship, we would ask that you refrain from selling, transferring, or disposing of it,” the gentleman said brazenly. He had apparently let his earlier statement about it requiring a suitable payment slip his mind.

Freya’s wariness ratcheted up another level.

“I see. A symbol of friendship...” Her lips curved into a smile as well, but her thoughts were racing behind her pleasant expression.

Marquis Broglie had called it “a symbol of friendship between the Twin Kingdoms of Sharou-Gilbelle and the Kingdom of Uppsala.”

Ah, I see, she thought, able to understand why he had picked now to suddenly try and push things along.

When Zenjirou had been there, Freya had presented herself as concubine presumptive of the Kingdom of Capua. Her outfit of a red dress—the royal family’s emblematic color, gifted to her by Queen Aura herself no less—had shown that all the more. However, Zenjirou was not at her side now. Her dress was not red either, but a light blue fabric. If they missed the opportunity to negotiate with Freya as a representative of Uppasala, who knew when their next chance would be? With that in mind, the marquis’s rush and largesse became understandable.

His statements that this is due to Prince Josep’s permission means I can likely assume the Sharou family are also in agreement. Actually, even if his family has been around since the country was founded, such a magic tool is more than they would ordinarily be allowed to part with. Perhaps I should assume that the Sharous are pulling the strings after all.

The Twin Kingdoms wanted “friendship” between the two nations that much. They possessed twin lineal magics as well—enchanting and healing—so such a relationship was certainly no detriment to her as the country’s first princess. The question was: what about as a concubine of the Prince Consort of Capua?

“I am sure my father and brother would be overjoyed to hear of this friendship. However, I foresee a great deal of difficulty in transporting a magic tool of such stature to Capua. I am...unsure of how I would explain it to His Majesty.”

“Ah, indeed. As you are aware, the Twin Kingdoms is a landlocked nation. With the oceans separating us, we would need the cooperation of a country on the Southern Continent that possessed ports of its own. We would be much obliged if you were to discuss such arrangements with Capua.”

Freya’s confusion grew even more as the marquis acted as if mentioning Zenjirou’s name—something that was a subtle warning—was a cause for cheer.

“However,” he continued, “this is too large for His Majesty to carry via teleportation. It will need to be sent over land. Fortunately, the blazing season will be over in the near future and the relief force will be heading for Capua. The men can take this with them.”

“Are you certain?” Freya asked after a long pause.

“Indeed. Leave its transport to us.”

His statement firmly cemented her certainty that this initiative came straight from the Sharou family. They were the ones sending the relief to Capua. Additionally, they would be leaving as soon as the seasons changed—a mere dozen or so days from now. Adding the transport of something the size of the Lulled Sea would be beyond the power of a mere noble like the marquis. Yet, he had made the declaration. If he hadn’t already made such arrangements with the Sharou family, the timeline would have been exceedingly tight. It seemed there was no other explanation.

When also taking into account they were not trying to hide this involvement from Capua, it seemed to imply that the Twin Kingdoms was not attempting to go over their heads to negotiate with Uppasala directly.

In that case, she had no reason to refuse, either in her position as a princess of Uppasala or as a concubine to the prince consort of Capua.

“I understand. In that case, I would be delighted to accept your favor. However, I must ask if you are certain about the lack of compensation.”

With Freya seeking confirmation, the man put his hand to his chin and made a show of thinking things over. Then he played the part of having a sudden burst of inspiration.

“I know. If it would make you more comfortable, then perhaps you would be willing to offer a few words of advice in place of payment?”

“Advice?” she asked.

Luchino indicated the blonde girl at his side, slapping her on the back with a grin.

“Indeed. My daughter Lucretia here has actually been given the honor of working as His Majesty Zenjirou’s attendant while he is present.”

“I am aware of that, yes,” Freya answered. Her gaze shifted to Lucretia, and the smaller girl offered a slight bow of her head.

The marquis’s hand remained on his daughter’s back as he continued. “His Majesty is an exceedingly open-minded person, but I would prefer to keep this between you and me. Lucretia’s feelings have taken a ‘special’ turn in her service of him.”

The girl cast her eyes down and flushed. She was the very picture of an awkward girl who had seen her love divulged. Even Freya found herself admiring the performance. She had seen many such plays in her homeland, but this was the first she’d seen carried out so flawlessly. The girl’s understandable behavior would usually be seen as almost cloying, but in Lucretia’s case, it managed to give off a more “adorable” impression.

At least somewhat impressed by the effort, Freya took the matter of the magic tool into account as she offered some simple advice. “This is all purely hypothetical. If Lady Lucretia’s ‘special’ feelings are what I am envisioning, the only advice I can give would be to forget them as quickly as possible. His Majesty only returns those special feelings to Queen Aura.”

Her blunt statement caused Lucretia’s head to snap up in protest.

“That cannot be true. After all, you are here as well, are you not?” Her face had reddened in embarrassment for a moment, but that flush was nowhere to be seen now. Instead, her big, blue eyes were shining in a fiery challenge.

Freya didn’t miss a beat, acting almost as if that was exactly the reaction she had expected. “I speak no falsehood. His Majesty’s feelings belong to Queen Aura alone. They differ from what he offers me, at the very least, and I cannot see them reaching a confluence. However, and this is truly hypothetical, if what you seek is not special feelings but a special position, then I believe I can offer some words of advice. As someone who has already reached that position.”

“If you wou— Urk!” Lucretia had been about to rocket forward and leap into the conversation, but her words were abruptly cut off. The hand the marquis had placed on her back had likely closed to pinch or scratch her.

The faint sheen of tears in the girl’s blue eyes left Freya fairly sure of her hypothesis. She could certainly understand why the man would stop her from speaking. He had only just used the pretense of Lucretia falling in love with Zenjirou as an explanation for why she wanted to become his concubine. Despite that, she had been all for taking Freya up on her offer for advice that had nothing to do with such feelings being returned but rather would allow the girl into a similar position as the princess.

It was all too easy to understand why her adoptive father would physically stop her from breaking the masquerade. Pretending not to notice would be kinder, and was more convenient for Freya herself as well, she decided. She followed through, feigning ignorance as she spoke.

“That may have been somewhat rude, as you wish for a more emotional connection. My apologies for the lack of tact.”

Lucretia’s face twisted at the closing of the conversation. Sighing at his adoptive daughter’s negotiations already having broken down, the marquis tossed her a lifeline.

“Actually, I would like to hear what you have to say. While it is not what Lucretia wants, a special position would allow her to remain at His Majesty’s side. Such an opportunity would be indispensable for any possibility of reciprocation, and while I am her father, I am also the head of the Broglie family. I can hardly allow a chance to have my daughter at His Majesty’s side pass.”

In this way, Lucretia’s interest in Zenjirou could be taken as emotional, with the political interest being on the family’s head. Despite that stance, the girl’s earlier reaction and attempts to entice Zenjirou throughout his stay made it obvious that Lucretia didn’t want him as a man, but as the prince consort.

In that respect, Freya and Lucretia had started from the same position. She could hardly censure the other for that, but she was still far from a latecomer bringing chaos to the royal palace. Therefore, while she could sympathize with Lucretia, she was concerned and made sure to offer her warnings too.

“Very well. Put bluntly, those wishing to become one of His Majesty’s concubines should seek not to convince him but Her Majesty instead. With that taken into account, there are two major factors if you wish to pursue this path. The first is to not make him ill-disposed towards you. The second is earning Queen Aura’s favor.”

“Please continue,” Lucretia asked after a moment, clearly swallowing a multitude of questions.

“When all is said and done, Queen Aura is the country’s monarch. She is a wise, dependable politician. If she believes it will serve Capua as a whole to a significant degree, she would not only allow a marriage but actively work for it.”

Essentially, any blitzkrieg attacks on Zenjirou—the figurative stronghold—were doomed to failure. Instead, one should focus on bridging the figurative moat—Aura—and showing their concubinage to be irrefutably to the country’s benefit.

It was a blunt method, but entirely true in Zenjirou’s case. He didn’t want any concubines. However, that was an emotional reaction. Rationally, he knew that as a royal in this world, it was the norm for him to have several, especially when one took into account that he and Aura were the only practical members of the royal family.

Zenjirou taking a concubine was more than “preferable,” it was an obligation. With that truth and his rational understanding of it, anyone he could stand who would serve the country well would have a chance.

All Freya was doing with her advice was providing a vague summary of what she herself had done. Still, it was entirely convincing. Lucretia had been utterly taken in by the princess’s words.

“I see. Thank you for your guidance,” the marquis replied, lightly smacking his daughter’s back to bring her to her senses before he bowed and directed a fond glance her way. “As representatives of the Twin Kingdoms, we of the Broglie family are honored to present the Lulled Sea as a symbol of friendship between our nations. Its size means that it can only be transported by land, but its value as a family heirloom means we must appoint someone from the Broglie family to oversee its carriage. Lucretia, are you prepared to take on such a role?”

“I am, father!” she replied instantly. “I will carry out this duty!” Thus, Lucretia Broglie’s journey to the Kingdom of Capua was decided.

With the conversation over, Luchino was left alone in the room. It went without saying that Freya and Skaji had already left, but Lucretia had her duties as Zenjirou’s attendant, so she too had hurried back to the Purple Egg Palace.

“It would seem I have managed to carry out my own duty as well,” the marquis mused to himself as he looked at the huge magic tool enshrined on the carpet.

The sound of the door to the room unlatching reached his ears. He was not surprised, though, simply moving to greet the man who entered from another room.

“Ah, Prince Josep. My thanks for coming all this way,” he said, preparing to kneel.

The man in question waved a hand to stop him and rather casually made his way over to the sofa opposite the marquis. “Do not bother yourself. You know my presence here is secret. Regardless, the Lulled Sea has been passed from being the Broglie family’s heirloom to being a symbol of friendship between us and Uppasala. Well done.”

“Thank you. It is a weight off of my shoulders. I know that it was for the Twin Kingdoms, but it has been nerve-wracking holding on to a treasure from the country’s founding.”

The prince chuckled. “You have always been such an aid.”

As the conversation implied, the Lulled Sea was not an heirloom belonging to the Broglie family. As Freya had intuited, it was actually a national treasure that had been locked away by the Sharou family.

Playing it in this way and handing the item over through the Broglie family had been done for no other reason than to provide support for Lucretia. The direct chain of ownership was to Uppasala, but Capua was in the midst of trying to form a trade agreement with that country as well. Giving the tool to Freya would indirectly benefit Capua greatly—that much was not in question. It was a trick to raise the apparent value Lucretia represented.

“For both her and the country as a whole, I would greatly welcome Lucretia marrying His Majesty. Bona would work too, but there appear to be no developments on that front,” the prince said.

The Sharou family didn’t care who was chosen, but they wanted someone with blood ties to their line to marry him. Still, the Lulled Sea was not connected with that plan. The important thing was that it had been officially gifted to Uppasala as a symbol of friendship between their nations.

“Uppasala accepted the legacy of the White Empire as a symbol of friendship. We can be almost certain they are removed from the church’s influence,” the crown prince said, his lips curling into a grin.

The marquis didn’t seem so sure. “I am aware of the ties between our ancestors and the church as left in their writings. However, that was hundreds of years ago. They have had no influence on us in the time since we built this country in the sandy wastes of the continent. Are you certain the tumult you foresee will actually arrive?”

“It will. I am sure of it,” the prince said firmly. “Princess Freya’s land is advanced, but it is not a powerful country in its own right. There are nations that rival them in technological prowess and others that are far more powerful still. I believe it is only a matter of time before those countries cross the ocean on ships akin to the Glasir’s Leaf.”

The marquis gulped as the prince continued.

“I do not know what stance the church takes on the Southern Continent and the countries that call it home today. However, that is not the main concern. Invasion and trade are possible responses. If the former is more beneficial, then people and countries alike will select it. Therefore, we need to be strong enough to ensure that trade is seen as more beneficial, with invasion not being worth it.”

Josep felt that the Twin Kingdoms alone would never be able to amass enough strength to make that the case. King Bruno felt the same way. Above all else, the Twin Kingdoms was a landlocked country. The western countries with ports would be first in the firing line. Once they fell and provided a beachhead, further developments would become much more difficult to handle.

“A friendly nation on the Northern Continent in the form of Uppasala will keep them in check, while Capua will take the brunt of any invasion. We would then support both of them from behind. Or rather, that would be the ideal, but it is likely too one-sided,” the king-to-be mused with a grin.

Josep saw huge ships from the north coming to pressure them as all but an inevitability. However, it was nothing that would happen in the next year or two. It would be in ten to twenty years, when Carlos Zen and Vittore were grown men.

During that time, the Southern Continent needed to grow in strength so that it could stand against such a harvest from the Northern Continent. Their nations needed to grow in financial, military, and cultural power until they could match their potential enemies.

“That is precisely why I wish to secure a steady supply of the jewels that would make the mass production of magic tools a reality,” the prince said, his eyes gleaming with thoughts of the future.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Some time prior—while Freya was absent and negotiating over magic tools—Zenjirou was in a now-familiar room of the Purple Egg Palace, sending the day’s candidate to Capua via teleportation.

The woman standing before him had chestnut-colored hair with silver powder shining through it—Princess Bona. They had often met in Capua, but outside of evening events at the palace during Zenjirou’s stay in the Twin Kingdoms, they had not really had a chance to talk.

Of course, it was the first time she had been home in quite a while, and she had been freed of her obligation to supervise the problem prince, spending her time being spoiled by her parents instead, so Zenjirou had avoided inconveniencing her. Regardless, he spoke pleasantly to her now that he had the chance to do so properly.

“I shall be sending you back to Capua presently. Are you ready?”

Teleportation was instantaneous. But the cost of it meant that if you forgot something, you could not go back to fetch it.

In response, Bona spread the big bag she had been holding and checked its contents. “Please wait a moment. Vise, hacksaw, chisels... One, two, three... They’re all there. The charm from mother, father’s...”

Once she was done, the princess methodically closed the bag and stood.

“Thank you for waiting. I have everything I need.”

Her earnestness and honesty caused Zenjirou to relax into a smile as he spoke.

“That is good to hear. Was the time spent back here useful?”

“It was! It had been a while since I was able to see my family, and Princess Margarita offered me some guidance. It was fruitful indeed.” Bona smiled as she spoke. Her grin was honest, and there was no need to read into it.

“Hm? Princess Margarita guided you?”

“She did. She was the one who taught me enchanting. Ordinarily, someone’s mother and father will teach them, but my position complicated that somewhat.”

“Ah, I see.”

Bona—despite being born a low-ranking noble—had awoken the lineal magic of enchanting. She had no family who could teach her, so someone else had needed to do so. Apparently, Margarita had taken on that role.

“I must say, you seem to have focused on a very different specialty,” Zenjirou commented. “I believe I heard you were most skilled with jewelry.”

Margarita, in contrast, was a specialist in metalwork like swords and shields. For student and teacher, their focuses could not be more different.

“Her Highness is somewhat of a bad example in that respect. Seeing her beating at the metal like a demon does not dispose one to follow her path,” the princess answered, averting her eyes.

Apparently, Margarita’s passion for her craft was such that even Bona couldn’t countenance it.

Thus far, Zenjirou was rather well-disposed towards the more engineering-focused individuals of the Sharou family—like Francesco, Bona, and Margarita—and more poorly disposed towards the politicians like Bruno and Josep. It seemed now that perhaps he should have pitied the latter group.

While he let those thoughts swirl through his mind, he couldn’t spend too long talking with the princess. “I asked Prince Francesco this yesterday, but I wish to also ask you. There has been a slight change of plans, and I will be returning personally tomorrow. If you get the opportunity, please inform Her Majesty of this.”

“I understand. I will do so.”

Her acceptance prompted a relieved smile from Zenjirou. He had been somewhat nervous about entrusting the message to Francesco and no one else. The prince was so airheaded that Zenjirou could see him just chuckling and saying something along the lines of, “Oh, right, you did tell me that. I forgot.”

“Then I will send you on now. Are you ready?”

“I am,” Bona said, tightening her grip on the bag to avoid dropping it.

Zenjirou put his hand on her shoulder and closed his eyes before uttering the incantation. His almost daily use of the spell meant that—for the room in Capua’s palace at least—he didn’t need to rely on the printout.

“Send all things in the space that I envision to the place that I desire. As compensation, I offer—”

This time, he succeeded on his first attempt, even without the crutch of the photo.

Once Bona had vanished, he let out a sigh of relief and rolled his neck to loosen his shoulders. “Phew... Okay then.”

With his quota fulfilled for the day, he returned to his room. Fortunately, perhaps, both his attendant and guest were at the Broglie estate. He couldn’t go wandering around without Lucretia as a mediator, but within the annex itself, he was much freer to act as he wished.

He started by immediately listening to the information that Ines had gathered.

“To cut to the chase, Lady Lucretia was adopted into the Broglie family. Her actual parents are the second prince, Prince Philibert and his wife, Lady Yolanda. By blood, she is a princess of the Sharou family and Princess Margarita’s sister.”

“So why was she adop— Yeah, I don’t need to ask, do I?” Zenjirou flashed between surprise, questioning, and then came to a conclusion on his own. Ines nodded in agreement.

“You are likely correct. Lady Lucretia showed no talent in enchanting. She therefore lost her qualification as royalty and became a mere noble.”

It appeared that this wasn’t even an open secret but something that was public fact. However, it wasn’t particularly proper to publicize it around the person in question, so it hadn’t reached Zenjirou before now.

“Ah, I see. And she knows she would have been royalty but now is just a high-ranking noble who serves other royals. Yeah, I’m pretty sure I know why she’s so keen to get close to me.”

“Indeed. The rest of this is rumor, but apparently, she would be able to rejoin the Sharou family if she managed to become your concubine.”

“Hm? The Sharou family? Not the Capua family?” Zenjirou asked.

“Indeed,” Ines replied clearly. “The Sharou family. In the past, there have been people who ought to have been able to use the lineal magic of the Twin Kingdoms but could not, for whatever reason. Those people—despite being incapable themselves—are just as capable of passing the ability on as those from other bloodlines who gained it.”

Fulfilling both of those archetypes would be Lucretia and Bona. Lucretia had been born to the right bloodline but could not use enchanting. Bona had been born as a low-ranking noble but inherited the genetic throwback. While it had elevated Bona herself greatly, her mother’s potential was considered on the same level. It was equally likely that any children of either Bona or Lucretia could become enchanters.

“Therefore, those like Lady Lucretia are highly sought after in marriage, in their own way. Additionally, if adoptees like her are able to marry into royalty, then they return to the rolls of their own royal family and marry as a daughter of that family, a princess.”

It could be considered something of a leg up for marriage and perhaps also served to protect against the risk of the adopting family attempting to seize power.

Whatever the case, the only method for a once-royal of the Twin Kingdoms who had thus lost their status to regain it was to marry a royal. In Zenjirou’s case, things would be complicated by said royal not being from the Sharou family, but from the Capua family. Still, it would likely be treated in the same way.

“I can understand that. I don’t know whether she’s motivated by pride, ambition, or maybe even affection for her blood family, but I can at least see why she’s so frantic about it.”

He had found dealing with her to be a touch difficult, but understanding some of the subtleties of her situation made a lot of those negative feelings fade away. Naturally, that didn’t mean he wanted to offer himself up as a sacrifice for the girl. He might have accepted Freya without being able to escape it, but that was already enough for him to deal with.

“Indeed. I therefore believe she is unlikely to give up. Take care.”

“I’m not going to be here much longer,” Zenjirou said doubtfully.

The maid remained calm as she warned him, “I believe she will find some reason to come to Capua.”

“So I’d be sending her as well?”

Ines tilted her head slightly at his resignation. “I am not sure of that. I think she will definitely find some reason to head for Capua. The finer details of the events so far—along with her actions—appear to show the Sharou family supporting her in her endeavors.”

After all, it had been King Bruno who had assigned her to Zenjirou, so they were definitely connected behind the scenes.

“Sir Zenjirou, do you remember your negotiations for magic tools? Prince Josep specifically asked Lady Lucretia to pass the permission to Princess Freya.”

“Hmm? I think I remember that.” Zenjirou didn’t have a particularly good memory, so he couldn’t say for sure. However, Ines was certain of it.

“He did. Additionally, he gave Lucretia a signal with his eyes when he did so. She then asked Princess Freya to negotiate with the Broglie family first.”

Zenjirou had no choice but to capitulate. “So Princess Freya negotiating at the Broglie estate is actually guidance from the Sharou family.”

It went without saying that the goal was either to give Lucretia a win or improve her impression—to sell Lucretia to Freya, as the latter was already marrying into the royal family.

Ines had more to add. “Coincidentally, I spotted a group of unknown individuals moving a large object through an area of the palace. From my investigations this morning, they were heading for the Broglie estate.”

There was a long pause.

“So there’s a chance they’re not just offering guidance, but also magic tools from the palace’s vaults. Then letting the Broglie family pass it over in name at least.”

Zenjirou sighed in exasperation, realizing the Sharou family was putting more effort into getting a concubine attached to him than he’d expected. Becoming royalty meant there was no escape from political expectations. Zenjirou had thought he understood that, but he had at least hoped for some peace before his wife gave birth.