Risou no Himo Seikatsu - Volume 9 - Chapter 3

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Chapter 3 — Coming Home and Going Home

It had been ten days since Zenjirou’s meeting with the representatives of the four dukes.

“Sir Zenjirou, it is almost time. Please get changed,” Ines requested, nearby in her position as his maid.

“Oh, already? Got it.”

He had been relaxing in his loungewear since getting up, but now he followed the request and started to pull on the third uniform.

This was a royal palace, so any time he set foot outside of his private rooms, Zenjirou wore the third uniform. He’d found it rather stifling at first but he was relatively used to it now.

As he changed with the younger maid’s assistance, he checked the plans for the day. “No meetings today, right?”

There was a note of joy in his voice after practically ten full days of dealing with people wishing to meet him. It was quite possible he was tired of having the same conversations with a different person each day and night.

“Indeed. Today is when you will be sending General Pujol back to Capua, so the day is taken up with the changeover and travel.”

The plan was unchanged from the original: General Pujol would be handing over command of Zenjirou’s guard force to a young commander and returning to Capua today. Naturally, his return would take the form of Zenjirou’s teleportation spell.

He gave a short word of thanks to the maids who had helped him change before sighing. “We’ve generally finished dealing with the people who wanted audiences as of yesterday, right?”

The middle-aged maid nodded. “I believe so, yes. There are, of course, ten times more people who wish to meet with you, but the urgent obligatory meetings have mostly been dealt with. We will, however, need to reschedule the meeting with Prince Largo after his sudden cancellation the day before yesterday.”

“Oh, right.” Zenjirou frowned as her statement brought it back to mind. “I’m not sure how I feel about putting it this way, but what could be so important he’d cancel a meeting with another royal like me?”

“From the rumors I have heard, he received a direct order from King Bruno.”

“Man, that’s even more blatant than I expected.” His face twisted at what he inferred from that.

Publicly, at least, the only person who knew the time and date of a meeting would be the one who had sent the invitation. Therefore, an order from the king clashing with the scheduled meeting was “a mere coincidence.”

There was no way that it was indeed a coincidence, though. The king had clearly determined the date and given the prince busywork of some variety to interfere with it. That was precisely why Zenjirou was so bewildered.

“Why would he be so obvious about it? Unless he thinks that Prince Largo would be able to convince me?” Zenjirou pondered, thinking it through logically and coming to that conclusion. “So the prince can offer some benefit that would make me jump ship?”

“Perhaps?” Ines replied calmly as Zenjirou pitched slightly forward. “Considering both of their positions, I believe King Bruno could offer any benefit that Prince Largo could. Personally, I fear it is the converse.”

“The converse?”

“Yes. Prince Largo will not tell you of benefits, but of disadvantages. Disadvantages that your dealings with the king have not made clear. If he revealed them, would it not pull you away from the opposing faction?”

“That...seems plausible.”

It was an unpleasant prospect, but a logical one. It was not something he could ignore.

“Our current course remains to support King Bruno and Prince Josep, but I would like to hear what Prince Largo has to say as soon as possible. Prioritize his next request as much as you can when it arrives.”

“I understand,” she replied with a deferential nod.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Several hours later, Zenjirou was in another room of the annex, witnessing the handover from a ceremonially dressed General Pujol to the young commander at his side.

“I wish you well, Sir Zenjirou. I will henceforth be entrusting my duties here to this man,” he said before turning to the soldier in question. “Introduce yourself.”

The young commander took a step forward. “Sir! I am Eladio, commander of the third battalion of the Drake Marksmen Knights. I will undertake General Pujol’s role after today!”

“I see. I foresee no issues with your abilities if General Pujol vouches for you. I look forward to working with you, Eladio.”

As he spoke, Zenjirou surveyed the man. He looked a few years past twenty, similar in height to the general, being perhaps a finger or two’s width shorter. He was nowhere near as broad, however, so he looked somewhat lanky. That was only due to being alongside the general, though, and he had more than enough muscle for his position.

“Yes, sir!”

The young commander—Eladio—wore a confident expression. With both that and his behavior, the man seemed very sure of himself.

Being a battalion commander in the Drake Marksmen Knights despite his youth certainly supported the confidence. Then again, there was an element of danger inherent in a young up-and-coming influential person, which was more apparent to an influential person who was currently in their prime.

“Eladio, I recognize skill both on the battlefield and in command. However, the duty you have been entrusted with now is different from that which you have been granted thus far. You are responsible for the protection of an honored part of our country. Know that failure is not an option.”

His direct superior’s warning was heavy for him, so the man’s expression tightened slightly.

“I understand, sir. The knights aside, I would prefer to strengthen our soldiers to make doubly certain. I will fill any such deficits, however.”

Pujol’s eyes narrowed as the man voiced clear dissatisfaction with the men they had brought. His lips bent into a vicious grin.

“This is a good learning opportunity for you, Eladio. You seem to be laboring under a misapprehension, so I shall correct it. There is no such thing as an incapable soldier in this world. Remember this well.”

“Truly, sir?” the commander replied.

His face was clearly in disagreement.

The general took no notice of that disagreement, though. “Indeed. There are the rare soldiers who are detrimental to the cause, but none incapable. After all, their position is permitted based on their capabilities. Those you think of as incapable are average. A commander capable of leading such men as a group is considered an average commander. The skill to do so is required to even attain the position. Valuations of capability fall upon that person.”

The commander was silent. He likely understood the thrust of the general’s statement, as his confident expression vanished to be replaced with his lips falling into a hard line.

“If a force cannot carry out its duties, it is not made up of many incapable soldiers and a single average commander. Instead, it has many average soldiers and a single incapable commander. Now, Battalion Commander Eladio, can your men carry out their duties as they should?”

“Of course!”

“I expect no less.” The general grinned in challenge as the younger man glared at him, protesting the implied slight to his capability.

Now that the handover was finished, his return was all that remained. Therefore the two of them were walking alongside each other to the one room where teleportation was permitted.

Only Ines and Natalio followed them. Zenjirou was still inexperienced, so the minimal escort was to remove much of the attention on him and increase the probability that he could cast the spell. While there was a slight antagonism between them as Aura’s husband and a prior candidate for her hand, the past twenty days as protector and protectee allowed Zenjirou and Pujol to speak more familiarly.

“Your statement from earlier was rather harsh. Did he provoke you that much?”

The general lifted his broad shoulders in a slight shrug. “It was nothing so deep. I was simply repeating what my own commanding officer once told me.”

A man with confidence bordering on arrogance, blessed with the qualities to justify it. Perhaps the general could see his younger self in Eladio.

“I see. Your previous commander had a rather severe way of speaking, then.”

“I would perhaps call him strangely perfectionist rather than harsh. He said that to us commanders while going and telling the soldiers, ‘You have no right to choose your commanders. Therefore, you must have sufficient skill that you can at least survive under an incapable commander.’”

A rueful smile made its way onto his face at the memories. Zenjirou laughed.

“If he made even the great General Pujol look like that, he must have been quite the taskmaster. I would not have lasted a day.”

“Pardon me, sir, but you would likely not have been able to join to begin with. You would probably have been rejected during the initial screening.”

“I suppose you are right.”

With the world requiring military prowess of its male nobility, the statement was rather rude. However, Zenjirou wasn’t going to let people pointing out the truth bother him after this long.

They arrived at the room during a surprisingly pleasant conversation. This was the room Zenjirou had initially been sent to. It was the one room where teleportation was permitted in the Twin Kingdoms of Sharou-Gilbelle.

With Ines locking the door behind them and Natalio standing guard just in case, Zenjirou turned back to the general.

“I will be sending you to the capital via teleportation. Are you ready?”

“I am. You can commence at your leisure.”

The man was currently clad in leather armor with a big bag hanging from his shoulder. The journey would be via magic and so required no real preparations for travel.

The only other thing that drew the eye was the bundle of drake parchment in his hand. Zenjirou pulled out more of it to add to the bundle.

“This is a letter to Queen Aura from me. Ensure that it reaches her.”

Zenjirou’s writing was still somewhat limited, so it was nothing extravagant. It was also nothing that would cause issues if it were intercepted.

“I shall see it delivered,” Pujol answered as he politely took the sheet and placed it atop the rest.

The bundle of parchment comprised letters from the knights and soldiers here. They had entrusted letters for their families to the general as he returned. It implied that he perhaps supported his subordinates more than his appearance might suggest.

Either way, there was no more reason to delay.

“I shall send you on now, then. I may not succeed on my first attempt, so be prepared for this to take some time,” Zenjirou said as he placed his right hand on the general’s abdomen and let his gaze drop to the sheet of paper in his left.

The paper held a printout of the stone room in Capua’s royal palace.

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

As he chanted the spell, Zenjirou closed his eyes to make the visualization as clear as possible. He envisaged General Pujol standing alone in the center of the stone room.

The spell activated.

Zenjirou opened his eyes at the sudden lack of contact with his hand. The massive form of the general was no longer in front of him.

“So I managed to send someone else on my first try. Maybe I’m getting used to it?”

He flexed his right hand several times as if to savor the accomplishment of his increased skill. Ines spoke softly to him.

“Good work, Sir Zenjirou. Do you not wish to take a photo?”

“Oh, right. I almost forgot again. Thanks, Ines.”

He hurriedly pulled the camera from his pocket and took photos of his surroundings.

“All good,” he said after checking them, turning the camera off immediately.

He could only charge electrical appliances in the inner palace, so he couldn’t waste any of the charge he had.

“We’ve done everything we need to now. Let’s head back,” Zenjirou said, prompting responses from both Ines and Natalio.

“Understood, sir.”

“Yes, sir.”

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

It was the afternoon of the day General Pujol had been sent back to the capital as had been planned. Zenjirou, however, had just received news he had not expected in the slightest.

“What? Who has arrived?” he asked.

The side-tailed girl bearing the report—Lucretia—could not hide her bewildered expression either as she repeated herself.

“Prince Francesco has requested an audience with you. Would you be willing to see him?”

Prince Francesco, the grandson of King Bruno III of the Twin Kingdoms of Sharou-Gilbelle, son of the Crown Prince Josep.

That information alone made it seem perfectly natural that he would be in the Purple Egg Palace. Reality was rarely so simple, though. Prince Francesco, along with his supervision in the form of Princess Bona, should currently have been in Capua. For Prince Francesco to be within the Twin Kingdoms, Aura had undoubtedly used teleportation to send him there.

It was still inconceivable, though. There were usually official procedures that were an indispensable part of a royal leaving a country and returning to their own nation. Naturally, those procedures would take place within the Purple Egg Palace and so Zenjirou would have heard about it due to currently residing there.

For the prince’s arrival to come as such a bolt from the blue meant that his return was not yet official. And to immediately request an audience with a foreign royal like Zenjirou while not officially in the country was, to put it mildly, unconventional.

With that said, Zenjirou was not in a position to bluntly refuse.

“Very well. Inquire as to a convenient time. I shall prioritize him as much as I am able,” he told her, barely holding in a sigh.

Lucretia then shook her head, hair bobbing with the motion, and answered with a harried expression.

“That was not quite what I meant... Prince Francesco is waiting outside of the door.”

Finally, Zenjirou could no longer hold in his sigh and let it blow gustily from his lips. It would normally be considered a breach of etiquette, but no one would blame him for it on this occasion. The norms had already been well and truly discarded by Francesco, so an ordinarily unacceptable sigh would naturally be overlooked. In fact, being somewhat affiliated with the Sharou family, Lucretia had hunched in on herself in apology. It made her already small frame appear even smaller.

“We can hardly make the king’s grandson wait out in a corridor. Ines.”

“Yes?” the maid replied.

“You know the situation. I would like to see the prince immediately. Is there a room ready?”

“There is. This way,” she answered with a placid expression.

When Prince Francesco entered the room after their arrival, his immediate greeting was a carefree laugh.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty. A month of no meetings counts as a while, right? Either way, it certainly feels strange to be meeting you in the Purple Egg Palace!”

He had long hair for a man, with clear blue eyes. His smile managed to capture the elegance of his position and features along with the frivolity of his character.

“You appear to be the same as always, Prince Francesco. Please, sit.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. Ah, this is a souvenir.”

As he spoke, Francesco placed a sealed letter and a bundle that fit roughly in the palm of his hand on the table.

“And this is?” Zenjirou asked. He recognized the seal on the letter. It was the royal family of Capua’s sealing wax, and the seal itself was one permitted only to the reigning monarch.

“From Queen Aura?”

“Indeed, it is her reply.”

Since it was specifically a reply, that meant that it would be a response to the letter he had sent this morning. It was a hearteningly quick reply. It was likely no coincidence that Prince Francesco had returned on the same day that General Pujol had made the trip in the other direction. Aura must have planned it to be able to hold a conversation like this.

Still, it would be inappropriate for him to open it here.

“My thanks for personally bringing this.”

Zenjirou signaled Ines as he spoke, and she stepped forward and deftly took both the letter and bundle before falling back. He was curious to know what his beloved wife had to say but temporarily put it out of his mind.

“Was this rushed meeting to deliver the missive, then?” Zenjirou asked.

There was a clear note of criticism in his words. Still, Francesco’s smile didn’t dim in the slightest.

“I wouldn’t travel so far just to hand over a letter. The reason I so rapidly sought an audience with you was due to the shocking information I received. While I was astonished to hear about grandfather abdicating and officially handing the throne to my father, I was even more shocked to hear that your aid had been requested with the selection of gifts for the four dukes. When I heard that, I thought, ‘I have to see him as soon as possible!’ So here I am!” he said with a laugh.

Zenjirou couldn’t help slumping at that. He remembered now: the man was a real artifice nut, and a magic tool nut specifically. No longer feeling any need to conceal it, he let out another sigh.

Francesco placed his right hand on the table and leaned forward. “Please, tell me what the current candidates are. Do you have ideas of your own? The final decision hasn’t been made yet, has it?!”

“In other words, you want to be involved in the selection of the magic tools, don’t you?”

The question was half-rhetorical, but the answer was far from what Zenjirou was almost certain it would be. Francesco looked almost flustered as he shook his head.

“Not at all. I do think of myself as one of the foremost enchanters. If I come on too strong and have the open-ended assignment, though, I know that I will run away with it. I will therefore offer no opinion on this.”

“Oh? I see.”

There was a swelling sense of unease in Zenjirou’s chest at the prince’s uncharacteristic words. He could certainly see Francesco offering a ridiculous magic tool if asked for his opinion.

Was this really Francesco, though? He had assessed himself so frankly and actively chosen to not inconvenience others. Purposefully pulling back and stressing that he would offer no opinion at all meant there must be more to it than it seemed.

Zenjirou’s expression sharpened so that he would miss nothing while the prince’s face and voice remained unchanged. Despite the way he spoke not changing in the slightest, what he was saying could not be more different from the norm.

“In fact, I would say that my Uncle Largo would be the person to ask in this instance. He is a conservative person, so I believe he would be particularly aligned with you.”

There was a silent pause.

“Oh?”

There was certainly more to the matter than Zenjirou yet knew. Francesco’s advice all but cemented it. Zenjirou purposefully lowered his voice to a murmur.

“More so than His Majesty or Crown Prince Josep?”

“In this case, yes,” the prince answered immediately. There was no hesitation to his answer despite Zenjirou probing rather deeply.

Zenjirou considered things. He couldn’t forget that this was merely Francesco’s personal opinion. Yet that opinion was that Zenjirou and Prince Largo had more aligned interests than the former did with either of the other two royals. Coming from Francesco made it feel rather unreliable, but that did not mean he could ignore it.

Zenjirou remained with his eyes closed as he thought things over for a period. Eventually, he made a decision and opened his eyes.

“I understand. Since the endorsement comes from you, I shall make an effort to see Prince Largo as soon as possible and hear what he has to say.”

The blond’s face broke out into a wider smile.

“That would be for the best, I believe. It should be an enlightening discussion. I would like to attend if that would be acceptable. Though the next two days won’t work.”

“The next two days?”

“Indeed. My official welcome home will be tomorrow, and the day after will be an informal welcome meal with my family. The latter, though, will also be an opportunity for the lecture of a lifetime. I’d love to get out of it, but both father and grandfather are the type to have their lectures go on for longer the more you make them wait. Facing the anger head-on makes the cuts shallower,” he said with a chuckle, scratching his head.

Zenjirou’s eyes narrowed at the blatant sharing of information. “You said that the informal meeting would involve your family? Would that also include Prince Largo?”

“No, it is direct relations only. Me, my parents, my grandparents, and my siblings are all who would be present.”

His uncle, half-siblings, and any concubines of the participants would naturally not fall into that category, so it would be very direct relations only. In other words, Prince Largo would not be called away the day after tomorrow. The king and crown prince, despite obstructing the meeting, would not be present to do so as they would be busy lecturing Francesco.

“I see. My thanks for the valuable information. I shall use it to make my plans for the coming days,” Zenjirou said while clearing his throat. He was, however, somewhat taken aback by how well the prince expressed himself without words.

“I am honored it was of use,” Francesco replied with his usual carefree smile.

That night, Zenjirou changed into his favorite pajamas and cast his eyes over the letter from his beloved wife under the light of the magic tool.

“Huh, I’d decided to ask Ines to read it tomorrow if I couldn’t. Looks like I can, though,” he remarked to himself.

His wife knew how well he could read and had written the letter simply enough that he could understand it. Since it was from her, Zenjirou had wanted to read it on his own, if possible, so he craned his neck over it and puzzled out the sentences.

“I’m pretty sure this word means temperature, so it’s about how it’s hot over there. I don’t know this one. How d’you read it? F...Free-ya? No, Freya? Oh, Freya! Princess Freya’s struggling in the capital, so she wants to send ice? Hmm, I guess as long as she thinks it’s fine? She’s going to be in the inner palace eventually either way. Oh, I guess she’s going back to Uppasala afterwards, though. Maybe we shouldn’t let her find out too much before that? The country’s like Scandinavia. The heat of the blazing season has to be hell for a princess from there. I’d like to help her, but...”

There didn’t seem to be anything particularly important in it, but Zenjirou enjoyed himself piecing together the letter from his wife.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Two days later, Prince Largo arrived according to their scheme.

“Your Majesty, I offer you my thanks for accommodating my selfishness today.”

The middle-aged man clad in purple finery bowed his head deeply to Zenjirou where the latter relaxed on the sofa.

“Not at all. In fact, I wanted to take the time to speak with you as well,” Zenjirou said, bidding the man to sit.

“Excuse me, then,” he replied, seating himself before turning his gaze to Zenjirou.

Largo Sharou, the fifth prince of the current king, Bruno III. He was thirty years old and looked his age. His eyes and hair were both dark brown and his mustache of the same color was well-maintained. The deep purple clothes fit him perfectly, and he was the very image of refined royalty.

However, there was a slight sense of unease in both his bearing and expression, so it was hard to say that the flower of royalty was in full bloom here.

“Your Majesty, I have brought this as a symbol of my regard. Please, take a look.”

Once he had finished the statement, the prince turned to the attendant behind him and gave further instructions.

“Excuse me,” the attendant said, opening up a carpet.

Dozens of red and brown threads were embroidered in a pattern across it, making it lavish enough that though it was a carpet, it was suitable for royalty. But its true value was in the mana rising from it.

“You use it thusly,” the prince said before switching to the language of magic. “Float.”

The short chant had the effect one might expect, and the carpet began to float in place.

“And this is?” Zenjirou asked, leaning forward in interest.

It likely used wind magic. There was a loud whooshing sound as the carpet floated about thirty centimeters off the ground.

A magic carpet.

The country as a whole reminded him of the Middle East, and his expectations had been blown away.

“Is it possible to ride on it and travel?”

Unfortunately the answer was a rueful smile and a shake of the prince’s head.

“It does not work like that, no. As you can see, it simply floats in the air; it cannot move from there.”

“I see...”

The prince gestured, every bit the salesman as he added to the explanation now that Zenjirou’s excitement had abated.

“This floating carpet is a magic tool given when children are first able to walk. As you can see, it floats in the air, so the surface is soft and fluffy to stand on. Therefore, a child cannot hurt themselves should they fall. While it may be too soon for Prince Carlos yet, children grow shockingly quickly. He will be able to play atop it sooner than you think.”

“I see.” Zenjirou nodded in admiration.

In other words, this was essentially a big toy for children. Shopping malls had areas for children with air-filled play equipment. This was essentially a magic version of that.

“It is greatly appreciated, Prince Largo.”

His expression must have shown the sincerity of his words, and the prince let out a slight breath of relief. Making a good impression with your gift made negotiations afterwards more likely to go favorably. It was a cheap tactic, but the fact it was still used showed just how effective it could be.

“Incidentally, Your Majesty, I have heard that you have been asked to consult on gifts for the four dukes. Have you already made a decision?”

There was an unmistakable air of tension in his face as he spoke. Zenjirou hadn’t expected him to start out with that, but he also felt that they needed to discuss it.

“No. I have seen past documents and heard several people’s opinions and am considering them, but I have yet to form an opinion of my own. I have several possible candidates, though.”

The nerves on the prince’s face clearly faded at his question. His face had “I made it” all but written across it.

The prince then turned around to the people guarding and attending to him and spoke. “Fall back,” he instructed them.

“Yes, sir,” they replied, moving back from where the prince sat.

“More.”

They moved farther away.

“A little more.”

And again.

“Once more.”

They moved no farther. Apparently, his voice didn’t carry that far.

Zenjirou cast his eyes to the still active magic carpet. It was using wind magic and still making that slightly noisy whooshing. The sound must have been interfering with their voices carrying.

Finished with his checks, the prince looked seriously at Zenjirou and spoke.

“Your Majesty. Could I trouble you to also have your subordinates fall back?”

It was a blatant invitation to a private discussion.

Zenjirou hesitated for a moment, but there was no way he could refuse after things had progressed this far.

“Very well. Eladio, you and your men fall back.”

“Sir.”

Soon, the two royals facing each other on the sofas were all who were left. While all parties were in the same room, the magic tool with its wind magic meant that moving away from the pair also made their conversation inaudible.

As another likely precaution, the prince put his elbows on his lap and folded his hands in front of his mouth before beginning to speak.

“My thanks, Your Majesty. Subterfuge is meaningless at this point, so I shall simply ask bluntly: how familiar are you with our country? Particularly in regard to the relationship between the Sharou family and the four dukes.”

Zenjirou partially closed his eyes to call up the relevant memories and then answered. “I do believe that I am only really aware of the basics,” he admitted before summarizing what he knew.

The four dukes were indigenous people, and their families were tribes that lived nomadically in the desert. Two of them had settled while the other two had continued the nomadic lifestyle across the sand.

The two families that had settled were loyal to the Sharou family, while the two that still roamed had a strong desire for independence.

The prince nodded along seriously, and when Zenjirou indicated he was done, he let out a deep sigh.

“I see. From my own viewpoint, your knowledge has no clear mistakes. I would say, though, that it is more focused on the history of our country and is less relevant to the current state. I would like to add to that information. Naturally, I would welcome you confirming its veracity at a later date.”

“Very well. I would be glad to hear it,” Zenjirou answered with a slight nod.

“As you indicated, the four dukes are currently split into two factions. The Elehalieucco and Reierfon families still call themselves ‘tribes.’ Conversely, the Elementaccato and Animeeum families placed themselves closer as vassals and decided to settle. Tradition or reformation. Independence or vassalage. Those were the two factors that were originally most different between the families. Another thing now divides them, however. Economic disparity.”

“Ah, I see how it is.” While Zenjirou was not particularly wise, he could get an approximation of the circumstances from that comment. Regardless, he still asked to confirm that he wasn’t mistaken. “Are the gold and salt that profitable, then?”

Fortunately, it appeared his conjecture was accurate.

“They are,” the prince confirmed. “The Elementaccato family, with their gold mine in the desert, along with the Animeeum family’s vast quantities of salt, have amassed both of them a sizable fortune. I would also add that the water the Animeeum family can obtain from their salt lake is even more valuable than the salt.”

It was obvious in hindsight. Between a nomadic and fixed lifestyle, the latter would be easier for obtaining stability. Stability meant extra energy, and extra energy could be converted into profit.

If the same situation continued for generations at a time, the economic disparity between the nomadic and the fixed families was all but inevitable. However, that gave rise to another question.

“That would be rather generous of the Sharou family, then. After all, you have the drakes that lay the golden eggs under the control of vassals.”

The gold mine and salt lakes were unmistakably large sources of income for the country. A normal country would likely take both territories under the direct control of the royal family.

The fifth son of the king grinned broadly at the somewhat rude statement. “It suits the Sharou family just fine as well. Mining gold from the earth along with separating water and salt are both by no means easy. The Elementaccato family has their capital around the mine. The Animeeum family has theirs by the salt lake. Neither location is hospitable without magic tools, being in the middle of a barren desert.”

“That certainly is an efficient distribution,” Zenjirou said after a sigh of realization.

In other words, once both families had decided to settle, the Sharou family had them over a barrel. They offered a lifeline via magic tools to defend against sandstorms, create drinking water, and maintain the land to support a minimal amount of crops. A lifeline in quite the literal sense.

Instead of mining and extracting gold and salt in the harsh desert, they could sell magic tools to those who did and reap the benefits at the same time.

“Economic disparity then leads to a population disparity. There are already more than twice as many people belonging to the settled families as compared to the nomadic families.”

“Then...you cannot call the families equally ranked at this point?” Zenjirou asked, shocked by the higher disparity than he’d expected. If the families were several times more powerful economically, and at least doubly so in terms of population, it became impossible to treat them equally.

Prince Largo gave a half smile and refuted his comment. “Things have not progressed so far as yet. While that is the case, the Elehalieucco and Reierfon families have passed down their strength and soul throughout the years. The men are a given, but even the women and children will take up arms and fight should it come to it. They are proud warriors, and disregarding them would be foolish.”

“That...” Zenjrou was lost for words. Two of the families were economically much more powerful. While the other two were far less so, they were stronger militarily. The only way he could see it was akin to a tinderbox, at best.

“The Sharou family is split into two major camps regarding how to resolve the situation. The first is to promote the current differences and demote the two wandering families to remove the confrontation. The other is to go against the flow and offer aid to the two wandering families and at least somewhat bridge the financial gap to avoid the confrontation. My father and brother are proponents of the former. To be frank, I am a proponent of the latter.”

Zenjirou could feel the control of his expression slipping away under the deluge of vital information causing his head to ache. With things progressing as far as they had, though, he had to abandon the attempt.

“Why do you wish to elevate the two wandering families? Surely between independent tribes and vassal families, the latter is far more aligned with the royal family’s benefits?”

The middle-aged man shrugged slightly at the question before answering matter-of-factly. “I simply believe that to be the best course. The Elehalieucco and Reierfon families are the foremost and second foremost of the families. They control huge amounts of land and maintain our borders with other countries. Nomads are the most suited to maintaining such broad borders across the desert. With a view to the country as a whole, it would be a loss if they were to settle. However, if they were demoted to being marquis-headed families, would they protect our borders to the same degree and with the same zeal as they have done thus far? Personally, I believe that to be far too selfish a request.”

“I see.”

Zenjirou could accept the explanation. Those families would be on the front lines if the worst should come to pass. He could certainly see how being treated as inferior to those families farther inland throwing money around would lower their motivation. In a certain respect, it was practically a given for the royal family to offer aid in order to maintain that strength and loyalty.

There was, however, a risk that going too far with it would cause problems considering their sense of independence. Raising them up too far could make them hard to control.

“So this difference in policy is the point of contention between the crown prince and yourself? If you could make an agreement on that front, would you still oppose his ascension?” Zenjirou asked, pushing down his nerves to press the figurative detonator.

The prince shook his head sharply. “No, it is not that big of a problem. While I personally feel that raising up the two nomadic families is more beneficial in the long term, I do not think that it is a mistake to allow the two settled families to grow as they have been.”

“Then, what...” Zenjirou was about to ask in confusion why he opposed it, but the prince forestalled him.

“I do not oppose my brother’s ascension in the first place. Have I ever publicly said words to that effect?”

“What?” Zenjirou asked flatly, losing all sense of decorum.

The prince explained patiently. “Ah, it is not only you,” he assured him. “Most of the nobles in the country have the same misunderstanding. Well, more accurately, have been given the same misunderstanding by my father and brother’s information manipulation. I have never once wished to sit upon the throne, though. I am conservative by nature, and my brother is suitable in terms of lineage, achievements, and ability, so pushing him away from the throne to take it for myself gives me ulcers even imagining it.” He shook his shoulders in an uncomfortable shudder as he spoke.

“Wait a moment. Did you not ask His Majesty to reconsider during the earlier event?”

“The part I wish him to reconsider is the immediacy. The throne passing from my father to my brother itself is something I have no objections to.”

Unable to parse the chaos, Zenjirou followed his instincts in an attempt to understand any more that he could and asked a series of questions.

“Then why are His Majesty and His Highness controlling information like that? Why do so when you support his ascension?”

“Because I will absolutely not accept how things will go after my brother inherits the throne.”

“What will you not accept?” Zenjirou asked in puzzlement.

The prince heaved a deep sigh and then spoke quietly, as if to only let out the slightest remnants of air from his lungs. “The appointment of Prince Francesco as the crown prince.”

“Ah?!”

The prince didn’t miss the flash of understanding in Zenjirou’s eyes. “So you know the real reason the fool cannot be king despite being the king’s grandson.”

Francesco was currently twenty-five and would ordinarily succeed his father to the post of crown prince. However, he had been judged as unsuitable and not granted a place in the line of succession.

Zenjirou knew the true reason, though. Francesco held not only the Sharou family’s lineal magic of enchanting but also the Gilbelle family’s healing magic. To put it bluntly, the royal families had a vested interest in keeping the lineal magics to themselves.

There would ordinarily be only one royal family in a country, so most royals simply needed to make sure their blood didn’t spread past their borders. However, the Twin Kingdoms had, as their name implied, two royal families.

Despite each family doing its best to avoid their lines mingling, the passing of years and number of generations made it unavoidable. As a result, while rare, members of the Sharou family awakened to healing magic, and the converse was also true. Therefore, there was a secret contract between the two families.

“Should a member of the opposing royal family awaken to lineal magic of the other line, they will remain celibate for the rest of their life and their direct line will end there.”

Since that agreement had come into being, it had applied to those who could not use their own family’s lineal magic but could use the other family’s. However, it also applied to those who could use both.

With that said, Francesco’s abilities with healing magic were top secret and only known to the uppermost layer of the Twin Kingdoms’s society.

I seem to remember him saying that the only people who knew were the king and pope, his parents, and the person who taught him healing magic. Prince Largo shouldn’t fall under any of those categories.

“I apologize, but with Prince Francesco’s personality, I can well understand why King Bruno would not offer him a place in the line of succession,” Zenjirou obfuscated despite knowing it was already likely too late.

It seemed it was indeed too late, as the prince hid a smile behind his brown beard. “Publicly, indeed. I am still royalty, though, and I have heard of the secret contract between the Sharou and Gilbelle families. I also investigated things related to magic. Above all, I am aware that those with at least double the magic of an average royal would be able to theoretically use more than one lineal magic.”

“That is an intriguing theory.”

Apparently, Prince Largo was offering a conjecture at the truth but with a high degree of certainty. While he had to reply in a rather roundabout fashion so that it could not be taken as a commitment, Zenjirou had to admit the validity of the statement.

“So the king and crown prince wish to appoint Prince Francesco as the next crown prince and you are against that. Is that the point of contention, then?”

The other man nodded quietly in answer to his question. “Indeed it is. My brother is an accomplished statesman. I do not agree with all of his opinions, of course. However, when he ascends to the throne, I will follow my brother and naturally act as the vassal I should. However, the matter with Francesco is different. I cannot allow him to become the crown prince and therefore the next king.”

Zenjirou could well understand the curt statement from the prince. He then continued to make sure his presumptions were correct. “I see. I mostly understand the situation. King Bruno and Prince Josep’s collusion in the surprise attack was not itself to get Prince Josep on the throne, but to install Prince Francesco as the next crown prince?”

Francesco was currently twenty-five and had no place in the line of succession. Even collusion between the king and crown prince had its limits.

For example, if another ten years passed and Francesco still had no place in the line of succession at thirty-five, even the current king and crown prince would find it all but impossible to name him next in line. Thirty years of life with no place in succession permitted to him would cement the nobility’s impression of him as someone well out of the running.

“I can understand why they would spread rumors that you wish to take the throne yourself. If they paint you as someone unfairly after the throne, then it leads to your words lacking weight.”

“Your insight is correct,” the prince answered with a refreshed expression.

Spreading those rumors was equivalent to tying his hands in the royal court. Crown Prince Josep had the lineage, ability, character, support, and everything else he would need to be the next king. Who would lend the words of a younger prince after what was rightfully the crown prince’s any weight at all?

Even if Largo said that he didn’t want to be king and that his brother was the only one for the throne, they’d just assume it was something he was saying for the public’s benefit. He only wanted to delay things to prevent Francesco from being the next crown prince, and that was completely unbelievable to others. From his perspective, he was all but backed into a corner.

Royals of the big countries like this sure are something, Zenjirou thought to himself, forgetting his own position. They indirectly—but still mercilessly—pursued their own relatives while not publicly giving any impression but that of loyalty.

In fact, there might even be familial affection there, but they still had their political positions to scorn without mercy. Being able to do that was the sign of a talented royal.

“Still, if the two of them are statesmen of such foresight, I cannot see why they are so particular about Prince Francesco.”

With the secret contract between the two royal families, Francesco approaching the throne was nothing but an invitation for chaos. Things didn’t quite fit as to why they would be so stubborn about it.

Largo then gave a sigh as if remembering something he had long since given up on. “It is unavoidable. My father and brother are for unification, and complete unification at that.”

“Complete unification?” Zenjirou asked, repeating the unfamiliar phrase. It sounded somewhat ominous.

“The Unity Faction are as the name implies, a faction that dislikes our country being run by two royal families abreast and wishes to change it to one with a single head of state. The Total Unity Faction is a subset that wishes for the families to completely intermarry and for both enchantment and healing to be part of a single family.”

The existence of that faction made Zenjirou’s doubts, which the prince had personally denied, return to the fore.

“Prince Largo, forgive the base nature of the question, but is there no doubt that Prince Francesco is truly Prince Josep’s child?”

“Indeed, that is most definitely the case,” he answered meaningfully.

Zenjirou was almost certain his guess had hit the mark but questioned further to make sure of it. “And is this Total Unity Faction made up of people from the Gilbelle Papacy as well?”

“Indeed. There are few of them, but I have heard that they have ties to the cores of both families.”

“I believe there was a member of the Gilbelle family whom Prince Francesco referred to as a teacher,” Zenjirou stated.

The teacher in question was, of course, his teacher for healing magic. Someone who secretly taught him how to use it. He had thought nothing of it when Francesco had first mentioned it, but who from the Gilbelle family would teach what was effectively their trump card to a member of a family they were political opponents of?

“That would be Prince Charles of the Gilbelle family. As you have discerned, he is indeed a member of the Total Unity Faction. He was also close to my brother and his wife, Tosca, during their childhood. Ah, Crown Prince Tosca is from a branch family, but she is certainly a member of the royal family and a skilled enchanter in her own right. Naturally, she too is a member of the same faction.”

Ignoring the heavy lump in his stomach urging him not to continue any further, Zenjirou voiced the decisive question. “Is this Prince Charles perhaps unusually fond of Prince Francesco?”

For better or worse, the meaning behind the question made it to Prince Largo. “Indeed. Prince Charles sometimes seems even more fond of him than Josep on occasion.”

Zenjirou gave a laugh. “How nice. Prince Francesco is a lucky man. Why, it is almost as if he has two fathers.”

“Truly. To say nothing of both fathers having fond ties to his mother. Unusual though it may be, you could well call it a happy family.”

Zenjirou was doing his best to laugh but honestly wasn’t sure whether his expression was really what he wanted. He couldn’t help the goosebumps across his skin at the lengths people would go for their ideologies.

The impression he’d got from their discussion—for all that it had been negotiations requiring him to be on guard—was of a genial gentleman.

Well then...royals of the bigger countries really are something.

He couldn’t help feeling a sense of fear as the man had completely hidden his intentions and taken measures to see his goals realized. However, Zenjirou wasn’t totally focused on the crown prince’s secrets and the truth of Francesco’s birth. He took a measured breath before continuing.

“I see. I can certainly sympathize with what you are saying on a personal level. However, I am unsure what I can truly do from my position.”

Assuming everything he had just discovered was true, Zenjirou would rather support the prince opposite him than Josep. Considering things calmly, though, it was an entirely sentimental reaction. Everything the prince had told him was nothing more than a family matter. If he could obtain a healer for his beloved wife, then he honestly didn’t want to stick his nose into that kind of problem.

His feelings were likely clear enough from his tone and bearing. The prince seemed to consider this the do-or-die moment and leaned so far forward from the sofa that he looked about to fall. He had wide, bloodshot eyes as he spoke.

“Your Majesty, what I am about to say is my own hypothesis without any proof. However, I am confident it would be eighty or ninety percent accurate. I certainly have less political capital than my father or brother. However, I see my brother more than anyone else, so I am also confident I have greater insight into his thoughts and next moves than anyone else.”

Zenjirou waited silently. The prince was getting ready to say something completely earth-shattering. Zenjirou kept his expression as flat as possible as he listened.

“My father and brother are both eminently patient people in the pursuit of their goals. To be blunt, I believe they never intended to put Francesco on the throne.”

The two were part of a minority faction even within the country. However, there was no small number of nobles who saw two royal families as an issue in the power structure of the country. They held similar thoughts to the Unity Faction, and could even be called latent unificationists themselves. This latent faction had a large say within the society of the Twin Kingdoms. Revealing the truth of Prince Francesco to the more circumspect of them could also build support for the Total Unity Faction.

Despite using their time so carefully and prudently, they had recently started to hasten things.

“More accurately, the increase in haste has come since Francesco and Bona have been staying in Capua.”

Zenjirou had already been dragged into things. He didn’t know the details yet, but he was sure of that much.

Prince Largo continued his explanation in a low voice. “Breaking the long-adhered-to contract and raising Prince Francesco to crown prince, and then the throne, is nothing but a foolish act that will invite internal strife. However, what if the majority of that attention could be directed to a foreign country? Say, for example, that this foreign country rivaled the Twin Kingdoms and had also just seen the birth of a prince who could control two sets of lineal magic. If one of the lineal magics this prince controlled was one that originally ought to have only belonged to our country, I wonder how much of a shock it would be to the nobles of the Twin Kingdoms. Why, it doesn’t even bear thinking of.”

Zenjirou couldn’t help but clench his teeth hard enough that it was audible.

There was another person he loved just as much as his wife: Carlos Zenkichi. Zenjirou didn’t have the self-control to remain impassive upon hearing his son’s secret uttered by a member of another country’s royalty.

Largo knew that he had him and kept his brown eyes focused on Zenjirou’s own dark eyes. “This is a clear threat. Measures need to be taken. If things go poorly, the Twin Kingdoms may use that country as a diversion. Then they can easily make things clear. ‘It was classified until now, but we actually have a person who can measure up against this prince,’ will be all they need to say. Naturally, they will still draw criticism from those not of their faction from both families that adhere to the contract, and there will still be chaos. However, with the imminent threat of a prince who has stolen our lineal magic, my father’s and brother’s political prowess will be more than sufficient to contain that chaos. That is, at least, what I believe their plan to be.”

Having listened to all of Largo’s hypotheses, Zenjirou remained still. The expression on his face was a clearly aggressive look that he had never shown to another person. If Rafaello Márquez had been there, he would have doubtlessly recalled the fears he’d once held. He had once called Zenjirou a monster. It was a way of showing that his feelings and values were so different from that of this world.

His remark that the nobles speaking to Zenjirou were effectively poking a drake with a stick not knowing when they might hit a nerve was exceedingly apt here. King Bruno and Crown Prince Josep were exposing his beloved son to danger for political gain, so they were clear enemies as far as he was concerned.

“Your Majesty?” Prince Largo called carefully, unable to hide his surprise at how much of an effect his words had had.

If Zenjirou had been an ordinary royal, then the king and prince’s attempt would not be so serious. While exposing a foreign prince’s secrets was by no means a good thing, Carlos Zenkichi’s secret—enchanting—would have to become an open secret if it was to be used for the country’s benefit.

If tacit consent to Carlos’s existence and education in the basics of enchanting were on the table, then someone like Aura—while unhappy as a mother—would sit in the negotiation seat with a smile in her position as queen.

Such logic did not apply to Zenjirou, though.

“I understand. I would like to take some time to confirm this information for myself. However, should supporting information come to light, I would be willing to assist you. I understand we are short on time, so let us proceed under the assumption that you are correct for now. What is it that you wish of me?”

While rationally, he would wait to make a decision until he had more information, his impression of Bruno and Josep had dropped significantly.

It should have been a welcome reaction for Largo, but due to the reaction being stronger than expected, the prince looked taken aback for a while. Regardless, he pulled himself together and cleared his throat before looking seriously at Zenjirou and beginning to speak.

“Ahem. If you come to believe me, then I would like you to suggest greater consideration for the two nomadic ducal families—the Elehalieucco and Reierfon families—with regard to the magic tool they will receive.”

“That is all?” Zenjirou asked, surprised by the simplicity of the request.

Largo seemed to regain his composure at that and calmly explained. “Yes, that is all I wish of you. My father and brother are already aware that I have managed to speak with you like this. If you suggest favoring the two wandering families, they will also know you are standing on my side.”

The main point of contention between the three royals was whether or not to appoint Francesco as the next crown prince. However, that involved the secret contract they had with the Gilbelle family, so they could not just air it in public. Therefore the public reason for their disagreements would be how to deal with the four dukes.

Crown Prince Josep’s opinion would be for the four dukes to someday become two dukes and two marquises. On the other hand, Prince Largo’s would be to emphasize the importance of the two wandering families and maintaining the status quo with their ranks.

If Zenjirou voiced his opinion on that public problem, it would also inform King Bruno and Crown Prince Josep of his feelings on the ulterior issue. What Largo was asking would tell them he had changed his stance to align with Largo’s.

Zenjirou understood that but was still stumped and voiced his doubts. “Would the simple fact that I stand with you make Prince Josep give up on appointing Prince Francesco crown prince?”

Largo considered the question briefly before agreeing. “I cannot say for certain, but I believe it to be likely. To appoint Francesco to the position will require negotiation with you and Queen Aura. If you were to stand against it, there would be a clear impediment to those plans. Ideally, however, a specific magic tool that is so perfect, he has to go with it would be better than a vague suggestion of one that benefits the wanderers. Them adopting magic tools would externally be a concession to me. Therefore, it would become effectively impossible to appoint Prince Francesco crown prince due to my opposition. At least, it would be impossible to accomplish simultaneously.”

“Indeed...” Zenjirou nodded with a bitter look. He understood well that he couldn’t have things both ways.

Zenjirou only had a passing knowledge of magic, let alone the tools. Suggesting something so alluring that the specialists would be taken with it went far beyond just being difficult. He shook his head, switching his train of thought.

“Prince Francesco has no place in the line of succession. Therefore, he would ordinarily not be appointed crown prince when Prince Josep ascends to the throne. Who would normally be appointed?”

Prince Largo looked somewhat confused even as he answered Zenjirou’s question, which served to cement the latter’s thoughts.

“The next crown prince, I suppose, would be his second son, Vittore. However, it would be unlikely in the extreme to do so immediately upon his ascension. Vittore is still only seven years old. The norm would be for him to reach adulthood at fifteen before he was appointed.”

“I see. Therefore, to those who do not know of the secret contract, which would appear more believable? Prince Josep appointing Prince Vittore to the position, or Prince Francesco?”

When he put it so directly, Largo could understand what he was implying.

“If there was a declaration that Francesco's suitability was still in question, then even at his age, Vittore would be accepted. After all, Francesco has not had the place in succession for twenty-five years. There have been crown princes of that age in the past. However, Vittore is our prince, so there is no need for royalty of another country to be concerned over that.”

The prince’s look had a hint of aggression in it for the first time that day. It was a perfectly reasonable response for a member of the Twin Kingdoms’s royalty.

Zenjirou’s implied suggestion was to recommend Vittore for the position to make Francesco’s appointment harder. It was impossible to take it any other way than strong interference in the internal politics of the country.

Of course, Largo would be against Zenjirou’s unfair interferences. Wise or not, Zenjirou could easily predict that. Therefore, he was ready and kept a calm smile on his face as he replied with a prepared statement without a hint of hesitation.

“True. I suppose a king or crown prince of a nation like yours would never permit interference with the life of a child without even all of his teeth yet. My apologies.”

In terms of interference with internal policies, king and crown prince alike had already done so with attempts to involve Carlos Zenkichi.