Chapter 24 - 024_To the Royal Capital
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024_To the Royal Capital
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Upon arriving at Bassam, they entered Great Eagle Castle of the Count Banyusas House.
Because the visitor was a princess, Count Banyusas came out to greet them in front of the entrance.
“I am Adelaide Schneif Banyusas, ruler of the Zabalujeen Territory, and my rank is Count. Welcome, Your Highness Erimerda.”
“Count Banyusas. Thank you for your hospitality.”
Count Banyusas also briefly spoke to Rodney. Since priority was on welcoming Erimerda, Rodney had no complaints.
It was decided to stay at the Count Banyusas House that day, and that night a party was to be held to welcome Erimerda. Rodney, who hadn’t expected there to be a party, was troubled about what to do about clothes.
“That’s right! I made party clothes together with Shima!”
He immediately sent territorial soldiers to Hacklehoff’s mansion and had them bring the clothes. When he put the clothes on, they were a bit tight.
This was because his body had grown over time since they were made, and because his muscles had developed from his daily training.
“Well, it’s better than nothing…”
He forced himself into them and participated in the party.
It was quite a large-scale party with all the northern lords gathered together.
In this snow, did they come out to try to form a connection with Erimerda-sama? She could become the next queen, so they’d come even if they had to force it.
Northern nobles went to greet Erimerda. Some nobles were captivated by her beautiful appearance, but greetings proceeded from the higher-ranking nobles.
Rodney’s Forvas House was a knightly house, so they were near the end. However, because he had helped Erimerda, he was able to greet her earlier than other knightly houses.
“Thanks to you, Sir Forvas, I was safe. I am grateful.”
“You honor me with your words.”
Rodney, who somehow managed to finish the party safely, took off the clothes that looked like the buttons were about to pop and took a deep breath.
“The air feels fresh.”
Yulin chuckled. She was used to seeing Rodney naked since he was little, but she narrowed her eyes, thinking he had become quite sturdy recently.
“Tomorrow we’ll be staying at the old man’s place, so you can relax too, Yulin.”
“I am always in a mindset of constant battle readiness.”
Thinking she was the same as always, Rodney lay down on the bed.
As Yulin tidied up the discarded clothes, Rodney had fallen asleep before he knew it. Being near Yulin was reassuring, and he naturally relaxed.
When dawn broke, he held a meeting with Count Banyusas. They hadn’t been able to talk leisurely the day before, but Count Banyusas had specially made time for him.
Since many northern nobles were gathered, he was meeting with each noble, but he gave priority to Rodney.
“With this, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
When Rodney said that, Count Banyusas looked at him as if to say, ‘What is this guy saying?’
Rodney didn’t understand the meaning of that look, but he was left speechless by Count Banyusas’s next words.
“You, Rodney-dono, will come with me to the royal capital.”
Why!?
As Rodney was astounded, Count Banyusas continued.
“You were the one who protected Her Highness Erimerda, were you not? There is no way you cannot go.”
Is that so… I suppose so… I didn’t want to face it.
While thinking ‘I really don’t want to,’ Rodney gave in, accepting that what Count Banyusas said was true.
After that, Rodney moved to Hacklehoff’s mansion.
It was arranged that two days after Erimerda departed for the royal capital, he would head to Great Eagle Castle again.
“What kind of person was Erimerda-sama?”
Shima was curious about the princess from the country across the sea, and persistently asked Rodney what kind of person she was. She was so persistent that Rodney eventually dumped the whole thing on Yulin.
“You had a hard time of it too, Rodney.”
Rodney, having escaped from Shima, was now caught by his grandfather Hacklehoff.
“She’s a princess from a foreign land, so I had to be careful.”
It was inconvenient having to give up his house. Rodney hoped the new lord’s mansion would be completed soon.
“By the way, Galim Syrup and Beer seem to be going well.”
“Yeah, Galim Syrup is repeatedly increasing production, and Beer has improved compared to the early days.”
“When will the increase in beer production be?”
“It’s still in development, so it’s a ways off.”
Unlike Galim Syrup, Beer was far from the taste Rodney imagined. Still, something delicious was being made, but he thought he shouldn’t be satisfied with this.
These two days were busy.
Because he had to have clothes made, send a messenger to Dedel Territory to announce that he was going to the capital, be asked all sorts of things by Shima, be persistently told by Hacklehoff to increase production, receive explanations of the route to the capital, and nobles came to visit.
Dealing with nobles was especially tough; some even made snide remarks to Rodney for starting the industries of Galim Syrup and Beer.
In the early morning of the day Erimerda departed for the capital, Rodney came to the tailor’s shop.
“Sorry for asking the impossible.”
“I managed to have it ready in time, so it was good.”
He had ordered three sets of noble’s clothing; normally it couldn’t be done in such a short time. Thanking the tailor who had done it, he received the clothes.
When Rodney entered the Count Banyusas House, Count Banyusas was completing preparations for departure.
“I’m late.”
“No, you’re on time.”
After a short wait, Erimerda appeared, so he followed Count Banyusas in greeting her.
“If Sir Forvas is accompanying us, I feel reassured. I look forward to your assistance.”
“Yes.”
In Erimerda’s mind, her evaluation of Rodney was high. Because it was a small rural territory, the lodging facilities were not satisfactory.
However, he provided his own mansion and served delicious food like soft tecco that she couldn’t taste in her own country, thus treating her well.
In particular, the determination of the lord’s family to do everything possible for Erimerda, even moving out of the mansion, moved Erimerda’s heart.
The party of Erimerda, guarded by 300 retainers of Count Banyusas and 10 soldiers of the Forvas House, headed south smoothly. The amount of snow gradually decreased, and when it disappeared, they arrived at the royal capital.
By that time, the royal knights under direct command of the royal family had also joined, and the escort size had become 500.
“Yulin, this is your first time in the capital, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s a big town.”
This was Rodney’s second time coming to the capital; the first time was when he was ten. Back then, he was constantly amazed by the size of the capital. However, now because he had memories of his previous life, even the capital seemed like a small town.
“Since we’ll be staying in the capital for a while, you might as well do some sightseeing.”
“I cannot do that. I am Rodney-sama’s squire.”
“Then I’ll go sightseeing in the capital, so let’s do it together.”
“W-well, if that’s the case…”
Yulin, nodding with a red face, was very fresh and innocent.
“I can see the royal castle.”
This castle, larger than Great Eagle Castle, was Reidoruku Castle, where the king of the Kingdom of Kuodo resided.
The castle town was unified in white, giving a clean feeling. Moreover, street lamps are lit at night, and their light reflects off the white walls, so the capital is quite bright at night.
In fact, Life Light Stones are used to light the street lamps. The street lamps throughout the capital are what are called Light Stone Items. Things that use Life Light Stone energy to move items are called Light Stone Items.
In the capital, many Light Stone Item artisans have workshops, and Light Stone Items are developed and manufactured daily.
Rodney also hopes to develop and manufacture Light Stone Items in Dedel Territory someday, but possessing or employing Light Stone Item artisans is strictly restricted by law, so it is not easy.
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