Chapter 46 - 046_The Imperial Princess's Marriage
■■■■■■■■■■
046_The Imperial Princess's Marriage
■■■■■■■■■■
A lighthouse was built at the end of the pier, and the port was completed.
He immediately contacted Hacklehoff and waited for the ship.
"Hey, Rodney."
"Yes, Master."
"You'll be exporting Galim Syrup and beer from the port, right?"
"That's right."
"Then why not use automobiles to transport the Galim Syrup and beer to the port?"
"What!?"
Scales fell from his eyes.
"Master, are you a genius!?"
"You only just realized that now?"
Rodney decided to lay a railway line from in front of the Galim Syrup workshop and the beer workshop to the port.
Unfortunately, the current prototype lacked power, so he decided to develop a new automobile. Since he had originally planned to build a new car anyway, he moved the schedule up.
To carry heavy loads, the torque must be increased. The rotation speed must be raised further, and the gear ratio adjusted. Not only to carry cargo, but power is needed to push through snow. As weight increases, stopping becomes harder, so the brakes must also be strengthened. There are many improvements to be made.
While developing the new automobile, he received a report that a ship had arrived at the port. When he headed to the port, Hacklehoff was there.
"Gramps came personally?"
"I wanted to see the port."
"So, what do you think?"
"A good port. Plenty of ships can moor here. I'll open a store here."
"Can you decide that so easily?"
"What are you saying? If we ship Galim Syrup and beer from this port, transport to the capital will go smoothly, right?"
Galim Syrup is a product with a sales network throughout the kingdom. Furthermore, beer has also become popular in the capital, and that popularity is spreading rapidly.
Ships are suitable for transporting large quantities of Galim Syrup and beer. Hacklehoff intends to secure a prime spot before other merchants snap it up.
"Manas. I leave the new store to you."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
Hacklehoff whispered to Manas. Rodney is sure to develop new products besides Galim Syrup and beer. Don't let any other merchant get them, he said.
It's not that he's soft on Rodney because he's the grandfather. He is simply sensitive to business opportunities as a merchant. Hacklehoff believes that new products will definitely emerge.
Hacklehoff immediately began considering land for opening the store and secured a vast site of about 1,000 tsubo.
"I'll bring craftsmen from Bassam and start construction immediately."
"You're quick to act, Gramps."
"Quick decisions and quick actions. An important talent for a merchant."
Only retainers have their own land, but since all land within the territory belongs to the lord, it is normal for merchants to borrow land and pay an annual land fee.
Not only will an annual land fee come in from Hacklehoff's store, but also tax revenue. Furthermore, the activation of logistics will likely develop the territory.
Of course, as the territory develops, crime may also increase, so it's not all good.
・
・
・
The day of the marriage ceremony between the Crown Prince and Erimerda, the Third Imperial Princess of the Sarjan Empire, drew near, and Rodney headed to the capital by ship.
This ship was originally owned by Hacklehoff, but he was given one. Also, he hired twenty sailors introduced by Hacklehoff.
The coat of arms of the Forvas family, an eagle spreading its wings, fluttered.
Rodney's emerald-green hair and Yulin's golden hair, who stood close beside him, were both blown violently by the sea breeze.
Wondering how many times they had been rocked on a ship together like this, he put his arm around Yulin's shoulder.
"The wind feels nice."
The sound of the wind was fierce, but Yulin's bell-like voice rang clearly in his ears.
"As long as I'm with you, Yulin, even a storm feels like a pleasant breeze."
"My, Rodney."
Watching over the two in their good mood were Sage Daguldor and his wife Melissa. They were on this ship heading to the capital, returning to the capital. The two had stayed in the Dedel Territory for eight months. Sage Daguldor, who was reluctant, was forcibly brought onto this ship by Melissa to return to the capital.
Bajis, who had become Sage Daguldor's disciple, was also on board, but since it was his first sea voyage, he was down with seasickness and had no leisure to enjoy the view.
The journey to the capital, which takes twelve days by carriage, can be completed in four days by ship if the wind blows favorably. This time it took five days, one day slower, but still faster than traveling by carriage.
Upon arriving at the capital, they parted ways with Sage Daguldor, his wife, and Bajis.
"Rodney. Don't let your guard down around those in the center."
Sage Daguldor's advice came from his experience.
"Yes, Master. I'll keep that in mind."
Sage Daguldor and his wife returned to their own mansion, and Rodney entered Hacklehoff's mansion.
His uncle Santas was working together with Manas in the Dedel Territory to open a new store.
The store in the capital was managed by his cousin Borden. Borden, who had also attended the wedding, had a rather plain face. Even when working at the shop, he is often mistaken for a regular clerk.
"You came, Rodney."
"Thanks for having me, Borden."
"Thank you for having us, Lord Borden."
"Yulin, you're as beautiful as ever. Too good for Rodney."
"I'm not giving Yulin to anyone."
"Hmph, I have Cala too. I'm not jealous."
Cala is Borden's wife. They married five years ago and have one child.
"Is Astonage doing well?"
"He's full of energy! Man, Astonage is just adorable!"
Borden, who adores his wife and dotes on his child, loves his family above all else.
"Mother is at the mansion, so go on ahead."
Rodney and Yulin entered the mansion, greeted the Hacklehoff family members, and stayed there.
The next day, while sightseeing in the capital with Yulin, the columns of the Kingdom Army marching off to war blocked the main street.
Waging war has the purpose of exhausting the nobles. However, since the royal family is also dispatching the Kingdom Army, their expenses must be considerable.
Even so, Rodney did not understand the meaning of continuing the war. He thought they should use that money for the development of the country rather than for such things.
To Rodney, the eyes of the people seeing off the Kingdom Army seemed quite cold. Since the war had been going on for fifty years, the populace was also fed up.
Could it be they don't know how to end it?
The war with the neighboring Jabaru Kingdom began in the days of the previous king. While there haven't been any major battles, tens of thousands of soldiers have still been sacrificed over the long span of fifty years.
The possibility cannot be denied that the royal family has forgotten their original purpose and lost the ability to end the war.
"This is ruining our rare date."
"The war is not someone else's business. My late father-in-law and my own father, many people have been sacrificed."
The Forvas house that Rodney inherited was in a state where it wouldn't have been strange for them to flee in the night at any time.
Considering how things were back then, the current Dedel Territory is paradise. The debts are gone, and industries have flourished. Not only has the finances been restored to health, they are quite flush. Rodney uses that money for the development of the territory, and actively uses the Primal Power to maintain the territory.
・
・
・
The marriage ceremony of the Crown Prince and Erimerda was held at the church. Many guests visited to witness the ceremony, and Rodney and Yulin were among those guests.
The High Priest blessed the two. Besides the clergy, only royalty, high nobles, and low-ranking nobles like Rodney and his party were present.
Rodney and the others watched the ceremony from the very farthest corner of the very back row.
"Lady Erimerda, she looks beautiful."
Erimerda, wearing a dress of pale pink fabric with gold embroidery, was indeed beautiful. But thinking Yulin was more beautiful, he put his arm around Yulin's shoulder.
After the High Priest's blessing, there was a parade. The two boarded an open-roofed carriage built especially for this day. A knight order in formal attire guarded its surroundings.
The carriage carrying the two slowly advanced through the cheers of the people, heading towards the royal castle.
Rodney and the other guests moved to the royal castle ahead of time. There was a party after the parade.
It was a long affair, starting before noon and ending late at night.
He had a desire to celebrate Erimerda, with whom he had a connection, but it was too long and Rodney grew weary.
The guests could return to the waiting rooms here and there to rest while appearing at the party, so it was somewhat bearable, but the Crown Prince and Erimerda, the main participants, only stepped down for costume changes and had no time to relax.
"Lord Rodney, Lady Yulin. Thank you for coming today."
As they were drinking maride (a wine-like alcohol) in a corner, the Crown Prince and Erimerda called out to them.
The two did not show their fatigue on their faces and did not drop their gentle smiles. Rodney was impressed; they truly were royalty.
"We offer our congratulations to His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess."
Rodney put his right arm behind his back and brought his left arm to his chest, while Yulin grasped her dress and lowered her waist slightly. Together, they bowed at a thirty-degree angle. Although the forms for the highest salute differed between men and women, bending at the waist thirty degrees was the same.
"Because Lord Forvas saved Erimerda, we were able to hold this wedding. I am grateful."
"Your words are most gracious, Your Highness."
The Crown Prince was interested in Rodney. No one had opened the labyrinth's treasure vault since Sage Daguldor. Rodney accomplished that. Listening to Rodney's story, his eyes sparkled.
"Oh my, Lady Yulin, did you also participate in the battle to open the treasure vault?"
"I could do nothing against the guardian of the treasure vault. If my husband had not been there, the vault would not have been opened."
"Were you not scared?"
"Because my husband was there."
"So Lady Yulin truly trusts Lord Rodney."
Behind the Crown Prince and Princess, other guests also gathered to listen to the story of the treasure vault.
Some were interested in the treasure in the vault, some thought about how to open a vault, and some looked at Rodney with envious eyes.
"Oh, I did drink some Domeas Beer. It had a very pleasant sensation going down."
"It is the highest honor to receive such praise from Your Highness."
"I wished I could have made my mother in my homeland taste it as well."
"In that case, I will inform the regular merchants to present it to the imperial household of the Sarjan Empire."
"Really? That makes me happy."
Beer would now be brought to the Sarjan Empire across the sea. Beer consumption in the Sarjan Empire shot up, and it was consumed even more than in the kingdom.
Hacklehoff, a trade merchant, beamed at the great profit that resulted.
If you found this interesting, please bookmark and rate it from the link below.
I would be happy if you could rate it with ★★★★★.