Chapter 2: The Duke’s Daughter Sets Out on a Trip
Chapter 2:
The Duke’s Daughter Sets Out on a Trip
OVER TWO DAYS, I somehow managed to get through reading the documents. With that out of the way, I decided to tackle exploring the duchy as planned, from the capital to the border forests. Unfortunately, it would be impossible to see literally everything, so this time, my plan was to visit the south, where revenue was precipitously dropping, as well as the east, where revenue was skyrocketing.
The ladies of the group (Tanya, Rehme, and I) rode in the carriage, while Lyle and Dida accompanied us on horseback. Including the driver, there were six of us. From the carriage window, I watched as the scenery moved past. We’d been traveling for a few minutes, but our pace was relaxed, so we weren’t outside the capital yet. What a beautiful city, full of history. The flow of people was heavy and somewhat restless… At least, that was the impression I got.
“It’s lively, isn’t it?” I said.
“Of course!” said Rehme. “This city is touted as the second royal capital due to its growth.”
“Right…”
Just then, a certain district caught my eye. Most of it was hidden from view, but it gave off a grimy vibe. Even from afar, the flow of people there was obviously reduced.
“Say, Rehme, what’s that?”
An awkward expression filled Rehme’s face as she realized what I was pointing at. “Oh, that’s…”
“Please, Rehme. Don’t hide anything. Just tell me.”
She sighed in resignation. “That’s a slum. It popped up recently.”
“A slum? How did it come to be?”
“There are many reasons. They’re populated by drifters from other territories, people with debts, people who came to the big city with dreams but ended up starving, and even people who have lived in slums with their families for generations. But the biggest reason would be that they couldn’t pay their taxes. The second and third sons of farmers tend to end up in places like this.”
Rehme’s words made my heart constrict. Was it pity for these poor people, or anger at the cruelty of their situation?
“Taxes, huh? How long has it been since our tax system was updated?”
“I believe the last time was five generations ago, my lady.”
Her quick reply made me sigh. “It hasn’t changed in that long?”
“Still, this slum is better than most. Unlike other territories, there are still jobs to be found in the duchy, even if the pay’s low. Also, our civil ordinances circumvent persecution.”
“I see. But this place…” I swallowed the words I was about to say.
“What’s the matter, Lady Iris?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll probably be pestering you with many more questions, but I hope you’ll still answer them.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Our conversation finished, I returned to looking out the carriage window. At some point, the slum had disappeared from view.
But this place… The words I’d swallowed earlier echoed in my mind, unabated. But this place is full of children just like you all were.
I still remembered my meeting with each of them like it was yesterday: wild eyes, thin bodies, and covered in filth. Neither “me” had seen a child like that before, so the first time had come as quite a shock. At the time, all I had been able to do was take the individual children before my eyes from that environment. Now, however, I might be able to help them in a different way—and more. This was the nature of the power I had obtained.
My thoughts distracting me, we eventually exited through the gates and left the city. Outside the city walls, the countryside was dotted with what appeared to be houses amidst abundant nature. Its beauty calmed my heart. Unlike the city’s roads, the one we were now on wasn’t maintained, and the ride became quite bumpy. Every now and again, the carriage swayed violently.
I lazily watched the unchanging scenery until eventually we could see the next town. We would spend the night there, and then it would be a week and a few days’ ride south to our first objective: the southern village.
***
“It’s hot…”
I couldn’t help but comment, and Rehme, seated in front of me, nodded. It was really hot. Tanya had made sure to prepare my coolest dress, but what’s hot is hot.
“What can you do? The duchy stretches from north to south, and obviously the farther south you go, the muggier it gets.”
She said that, but… When I looked over at Tanya sitting next to me, even in this melting heat, she alone maintained a frosty expression.
“My lady, we can rest in a bit. Please bear it for a little longer,” she said anxiously when she noticed my stare.
“Thanks.” I grinned tightly, then returned my eyes to the scenery.
It had changed quite a bit on our journey. It was still rich with nature, but the varieties of trees and flowers popping up between them were clearly of different species from those in the northern clime. After what seemed like an eternity of being rocked by the carriage, we stopped for a break by a small stream.
“Lyle, Dida, aren’t you hot?”
Since they were our guards, they wore heavy-looking armor. Surprisingly, though, it was much lighter than their official armor.
“This is what training is for,” Lyle responded with a refreshing smile, a few beads of sweat dripping from his cheeks.
“No training can change the temperature. With your permission, Princess, I’d jump in that water this instant.” Dida cackled to himself.
“Even if she permits you, I wouldn’t,” Tanya said flatly, shooting him down.
“Aw, don’t be like that, Tanya.”
I found myself smiling for some reason. When our break was over, we got back in the rocking carriage and headed for the village. Before long, we reached where it was located at the duchy’s southernmost point. Crude wooden fencing surrounded the village. It was nothing like the capital, and its wooden buildings were all run-down. Upon entering, I saw there was hardly any foot traffic. The few people we saw were all starved and thin.
Who has it better, them or the people in the city slums? I caught myself wondering.
Rehme noticed my wrinkled brow and attempted to explain. “The region has lately been too hot for traditional crops to grow. Perhaps that’s why taxes have lately been such a heavy burden for them.”
“So that’s why our income here is down, then?” The terrible sight numbed my tongue for a moment. But it was only for a moment, as I soon forced myself to move on. “In other words, we must find another way to make money than via agriculture.”
But how? It wouldn’t be easy by any means. No one had the faintest clue. Even with my previous life’s memories, I didn’t possess any superpowers.
“My lady…” Rehme looked at me with concern.
“I’m fine. Now, let’s go meet the mayor.”
I told the driver to wait at the entrance to the village, and the five of us proceeded on foot. The mayor’s house didn’t immediately stand out to me. It was nearly identical to all the other houses. When we arrived, I couldn’t help but think, Wait, this is it?
It was, at least, slightly bigger than the average.
“Welcome! You honor us by traveling to our remote village.”
The moment we arrived, we were welcomed and invited inside. That said, there was no reception room, so we entered the living room like members of the household. The mayor had been born and raised in this village, just like all the other residents. The only thing unique about him would be his ability to move around despite his advanced age and crooked back. He showed me to a chair, and I sat. The rest of my group stood behind me save for Dida, who was outside standing guard.
“Now, my lady, what brings you here?”
He politely got right to the chase. Did he ask because the duke’s own daughter was visiting him? Or was I the first government official to ever visit his village? In the former case, I wasn’t worried; in the latter, I feared that would mean this land had been abandoned for a long time. And, as governors of this duchy, the responsibility for this error would be on my family.
“I’m conducting an inspection of the duchy. Naturally, I had to make my way out here as well.”
“I see… Still, to be visited by such a key figure… How many years has it been since we last saw one of your status?”
So, it was as I feared… I suppressed my urge to sigh. “Good mayor, I noticed there aren’t many young people, specifically men, in your village. Why is that?”
“Ah, you see, the young men have all moved away in order to find work. Many second and third sons follow this path. They have no education, so most of them enlist with the army.”
“I see.”
“There’s little farmland here, so there’s really no other option.” The mayor smiled sadly.
“And have you experienced animal attacks from the forest?”
“Every now and again, but they’re never very large, so we manage.”
“Hm.”
The army was supposed to be in charge of keeping the peace, but perhaps because they had to cover the entire duchy, they couldn’t spare the men to protect such a small village. Protecting our borders was a very important job and inevitably outweighed the plight of these villagers.
“Thank you for sharing. Would it be all right for me to tour the village?”
“Oh, let me guide you—”
“That’s quite all right. You just go about your day, sir.”
And so, I left the mayor’s house.
***
According to the mayor, this place lacked many things: money, workers, doctors, and education. As I toured the village, my inspection only reinforced his report.
Second, we explored outside the village. The fields, as Rehme described, were hardly flourishing due to the rough climate. The villagers seemed to have given up and looked at me with exhausted expressions.
Third, we investigated the nearby forest. According to Rehme, there were several fruits unique to this location. Dida took the lead, followed by me and Tanya, and tailed by Rehme and Lyle. The trees were a deep green, and the fruits were of a subtropical variety. I suggested selling them, but Rehme warned that their exotic nature could make them unpopular at open market.
“This place sure has a lot of stuff I’ve never seen before.” Dida picked the fruits one by one and examined them. “Oh! What’s this, Rehme?”
He stuck a bumpy, yellow mass in her face. It was slightly bigger than Dida’s own large hand, and somewhat familiar…
“It’s called cacao,” said Rehme, “and—”
I froze, then cut off Rehme mid-explanation and grabbed Dida by the hand, drawing close to study the object in his hand. “Brilliant work, Dida!”
I was so excited that I nearly tackled him, but Dida caught me without trouble. Unfortunately, the cacao fruit flew out of his hand in the process.
“Whoa! Pr-Princess?”
“Very, very good! That’s it! If we have that… Oh, Rehme!”
I asked her if she’d ever heard of a certain product. She looked back at me blankly and sheepishly admitted that she hadn’t.
“Wonderful! I know what we must do now. First, let’s buy this cacao.”
It took some work to convince the villagers to take my money, but eventually, I managed to buy the cacao fruit. We left the village with as much as we could possibly carry.
“My lady, are you sure about this?”
“Hm? About what?”
“Um, this cacao… It’s the least popular of all the unpopular southern products, you know.”
“That’s fine. They’re exactly what I need,” I said confidently.
Though she acquiesced, her expression said clearly that she didn’t understand. It would be difficult to convince everyone of what I wanted to do, so upon seeing her doubt, I resolved to make it first—that would be proof enough.
***
After departing the southern village, we began heading east. To the east was a town that faced the sea—a town that made most of its money from trading at the port, providing solid income for us. The road there was as bumpy as ever, and the endless swaying was exhausting. The one saving grace was that this area was peaceful, so we experienced no bandit attacks.
The trip was too long to make in a single day, so we stopped at inns as we made our way there. The closer we got to the eastern town, the livelier the scenery got. The heat subsided as well, and we started to smell the sea on the air. Finally, we made it to the duchy’s easternmost town.
“Wow… I’ve never actually seen the sea before!”
Rehme, seated across from me, gazed at the water with sparkles in her eyes. I’d seen the sea plenty of times in my previous life, but I was still excited internally. And as expected of a port town, the streets were filled with boisterous people coming and going.
“You there, girl! Don’t just stand there! Out of the way!”
As I stood in the middle of the street, glancing about, a man shouted at me. I looked his direction to see a massive pile of goods barreling toward me.
“My lady, look out!”
In my panic, I froze, but Lyle pulled me out of the way with such force that the world became a blur. In the next moment, I was embraced, and Lyle’s chest was right in my face. It was firm and burly, a testament to all his training. My nose pressed up against his breastbone, causing me a bit of pain.
“Thanks, Lyle.” I raised my head and thanked him, pulling away. It wouldn’t do to remain in this position forever.
“No, I’m just glad you’re safe. My lady, please don’t go off on your own. Have Tanya or someone accompany you.”
“Right, I will. I’ve had enough frights for one day.”
Just like at the southern village, I went to speak to the mayor. Their home, as expected of such an affluent town, stood out from the rest. Their reception was perfect as well, as if they were used to dealing with people from the government coming for inspection. They did, however, seem surprised by the fact that I, the duke’s daughter, had come herself. After this brief stop, our group of five set out to explore.
“This place really is lively.”
What seemed to be the main street was crowded with people and a large number of booming businesses. Stalls were squeezed tightly together as literal tons of goods passed through, people weaving in between.
“Indeed. This area’s income is quite steady due to its trading and salt exports.”
With the inspection as a pretext, I took the opportunity to browse the various stalls. Unsurprisingly for a port town, a number of rare goods were for sale—for example, various trinkets clearly of foreign make and fish that could only be found near the sea. I wanted many of them for myself, but my mind was constantly thinking about the possible markets, if only distribution could be managed. Honestly, it was incredibly fun—a grand puzzle.
However, just as I’d examined every inch of the main street, I noticed an alley off to the side. Upon closer inspection, it appeared abandoned. The alley was dark, and the buildings seemed lonely. Trash dotted the ground. It was such a stark difference from the bustling main street. From a distance, it seemed like an entirely different town encroaching upon this one. I stepped toward the alley, but Dida grabbed my hand and stopped me.
“Princess, not that way.”
His manner of speaking was the same as always, but there was an odd gravity to his tone.
“But such places are exactly what I came to inspect.”
“As your guards, we’re not here just to protect you when you’re already in danger. It’s also our job to keep you from ever getting into it.”
Was he implying the alley was really that dangerous? Still…
“I have you, Lyle, and Tanya with me. Is that not safe enough?”
“It’s not. I’m getting a bad vibe from this place. If things get out of hand, I’m honestly not confident we have the numbers to make it out safely.”
My eyes widened with shock. Lyle and Dida were the strongest members of our mansion’s private guards. They had even been scouted for the royal knights, the bona fide cream of the crop. And yet he was uncertain?
Dida noted my suspicion and pressed his argument. “Places like that run on different rules from the rest of the world, and the people who deal in dark corners have no mercy for those who break those rules. A few of them would be one thing, but if we ran afoul of an organization, we’d stand no chance, not with just us. Go in unprepared and you’ll get more than burned. Besides, I doubt anyone will take kindly to you intruding, Princess.”
There wasn’t much I could say to counter that. His emphasis on me made me think it wasn’t just a matter of physical strength either. Not only did I have no achievements to my name, I also didn’t really know anything about my domain yet. In other words, he was saying my title in itself wouldn’t impress them.
“All right… I’ll give up, for now.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“Let’s take a break and get lunch, shall we?” I suggested in an effort to change the mood.
Instantly, the darkness cleared from my friends’ eyes.
“Oh! In that case, I have a place in mind.”
The change was most dramatic in Dida. His normal, bright attitude returned, and we entered a restaurant at his recommendation. Lyle and Tanya protested at first, saying I shouldn’t visit such a common business, but I silenced them. We’d come so far that of course I wanted to try the local specialties. And so, as expected of a port town, a fish dish appeared before me. Raw.
“Oh, my… It looks delicious.”
I nearly drooled. My heart screamed with nostalgia. Fish had proven to be a terribly rare occurrence at my dinner table, let alone anything raw. For someone like me, whose heart was half born and raised in Japan, a country surrounded by the sea, there was no greater delicacy.
“Raw food…”
“My lady, let’s not.”
Lyle and Tanya showed hesitation over the raw factor, while right next to them, Dida chowed down.
“Ugh… I’ve read about this in books. The locals here have a practice of eating raw fish. And it comes with a dipping sauce that’s made from beans, I think… Is that what this brown stuff is?” Rehme fearfully brought the food to her mouth and then put it down, over and over.
“It’s good, you know.” I dug in without hesitation. And indeed, it was beautifully tasty. Had to be the freshness.
“Oh! Got a taste for it, eh, Princess?” Dida was on the job, so I was sure he wasn’t drunk, yet he still spoke like an inebriated old man.
It made me chuckle. “There’s no need to force yourselves, but why don’t you try it?” I beseeched the rest. “You might like it.”
At this, my friends grimaced, and each popped a piece into their mouths, looking like they were prepared for death. Lyle and Tanya quickly grew accustomed to the raw texture and began to enjoy themselves. Rehme, however, couldn’t get over the fishy smell and gave up halfway through.
“I guess there are some experiences you just can’t get from a book…”
Beautiful words, perhaps, but unfortunately the trauma of raw fish brought her to tears. It was quite the pathetic picture.
***
With lunch over, we returned to the port. This time, we perched atop a hill and viewed the entire port below us.
“One day…” I murmured as I looked out at the scenery. “One day, I want to expand this port. Expand our trading. And that way, connect to the whole world via this port. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Everyone smiled.
“It would indeed, Princess. Bring me some foreign wine while you’re at it.”
“Watch your tone, Dida! Yes, my lady, that sounds wonderful.”
“All right, Dida. You better be excited when that day comes. And Lyle, what would you want?”
“I suppose if I really had to pick something, I’d like to see other countries’ armor and weapons.”
“I should have expected as much. What about you, Rehme?”
“Books from other countries, of course.”
I should have expected that, as well. I couldn’t help but laugh. “And you, Tanya?”
“Well…if there are any rare tea leaves out there, I’d love for you to try them, my lady.”
“I’d be happy to enjoy them with you, Tanya.” I turned my back to them and looked at the port again. I burned the sight into my memory. “It was the right decision to take this trip. I was able to see so many things I’d never even heard of before, and I learned a great deal.”
The documents Sebastian had prepared for me were great, and an excellent textbook for someone like me who knew nothing about the duchy. I learned many things from them, of course. But observing reality teaches you something else. I also felt that, thanks to this trip, I’d found true motivation to inform my governance.
“Everyone, I have to ask you again. Will you follow me? Not on a journey like this one, of course. I mean, will you give me your everything?”
Tanya was the first to respond. “You already had my everything, my lady.”
“Of course, my lady.”
“Sure will, Princess. It’s always fun by your side.”
Lyle and Dida agreed, smiling.
“Quite. I’m sure exciting things will happen if I stick with you.” Rehme answered last, with a smile on her face.
“Thank you, everyone.”
That night, we took rooms in an inn along the main street and rested up. Tanya was always in charge of our bookings, and she’d never steered us wrong. That aside, I should have been exhausted, yet for some odd reason the gears in my brain kept turning and I couldn’t sleep. We had plans early in the morning, so I needed to rest…but it was no use.
I sighed and got out of bed. Perhaps I’d ask Tanya to get me a drink. No, it would be awful of me to wake her this late at night. But there was no way I could lie back down. Unable to think of anything, I stood up and exited the room.
I realized it was quite bold of me to walk alone at night, even if it was inside an inn. The feeling like I was doing something indecorous got me excited. It was like I was a child again. I sat down on a bench and peered out at the night sky through a large window.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind me. “Princess, you shouldn’t be leaving your room at this hour.”
“Dida…”
“This is an inn, not the mansion. You’re not exactly safe here, you know.”
“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t sleep.”
“Rehme said the same thing. Something about being too excited by the sea.”
“Well, that’s not my problem.” I frowned. “I’m surprised. Were you behind me this whole time?”
I hadn’t sensed anything while making my way here. I had genuinely thought I was walking alone down that dark, quiet corridor.
“Of course. Even in an inn, Lyle and I take turns keeping watch. It just happened to be my turn. If Lyle or Tanya found out I’d let you wander off alone, they’d kill me. Although, I’m guessing Tanya would have sensed me slacking off, so you wouldn’t have been alone either way.”
“I see… Well, I apologize again for the trouble.”
“I don’t mind. You could call it a perk of the job, getting to see you before I go to sleep.” He chuckled.
“Say, Dida…”
“Hm?”
“Remember that alley you stopped us from going down?”
Dida looked away awkwardly. “Oh, that.”
“You seemed quite informed… Why is that?”
Dida studied me. His usual aloofness was gone. His eyes seemed to reflect nothing, and it started to unnerve me.
“I’m not suggesting you have any connection to the people there. I don’t suspect you. I just thought you seemed wise to the subject. And because I know nothing about it, I wanted to hear more.” I continued, but Dida made no real response. What was up with him? The silence that had been so comforting a few seconds ago was now strangling—painful.
Abruptly, he spoke. “Me and everyone else, we lived in the slums before you took us in. Remember?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“There, no matter what happens, no one will come to save you. You have to fend for yourself. Not even children are spared.”
“I…see.”
“Which is why my nose is leagues better than the average person’s at sniffing out danger. If you know there’s danger, you can protect yourself better, right?” He was speaking like himself, but his tone was entirely serious. “But…I was an idiot back then. I knew there was danger, but I was a fool… So I got close to a certain kind of folk and acted like their errand boy. Ah, your father and Sebastian know about this, so don’t feel like I’m sharing anything you’d have to keep secret.”
He might as well have read my mind. They knew, huh? Perhaps it wouldn’t have been right for me to say, seeing as I was the one who insisted we take Dida in, but given this, I’m surprised they allowed me to.
“Anyway. That’s probably why I seem…savvy.”
“This may sound like a very foolish question, but…why did you run errands for those people?”
Dida chuckled, a lonely smile on his lips. “For the most common reason of all: money. I regretted it real quick, though. Powerless kids are nothing more than disposable pawns to the likes of them. Dozens of kids just like me up and vanished. By the time I realized the danger, it was too late. Trying to cut ties that early would have been suicide.”
“Thus, ‘Princess’…?”
“Huh?”
I’d always wondered why he called me that. If it was a joke, he was certainly determined to stick with it. I’d also given him permission to call me what he liked, and I had no desire for him to revere me. Perhaps it was his way of saying I grew up comfortably, swaddled in silk. A way to make fun of me for being someone who saw nothing, heard nothing, and knew nothing.
“It’s nothing. Forgive the strange question.”
“The reason I call you ‘Princess’…is because you’re a princess.” He muttered, then grinned.
“Huh?”
“Oh? Did I make you curious?” His grin became gleeful as he cocked his head and approached me. It was quite obvious he was teasing me.
“Step away from her.”
Tanya’s voice cut the air like a knife. Dida doubled over, holding his head. She had hit him, and it made the most remarkable sound.
“Honestly. I thought you were going to bring her back to her room, but you took so long I had to come check on things myself. My lady, it is late. You must leave early tomorrow morning, so it’s important you sleep.”
“Right… I, ah, think I’m getting a bit sleepy now. Tanya, I’m sorry for making you come fetch me.”
“It’s perfectly fine. Give me any order you wish. Shall I prepare some warm milk to help you sleep?”
“Yes, please. And Dida, thanks.”
And so, my mini-adventure—ahem, my walk through the inn—came to an end. I drank the hot milk Tanya brought me and felt the sandman tug at my eyelids. The rest of that night, I slept like a baby.
***
“Would you like a drink, too?” Tanya quietly offered a cup to the man in front of the door—Dida.
“I always knew you were the caring type. Poured some for me too, did you?” Dida took the cup happily and sipped.
“In your dreams. Why would I give you hot milk to drink, when it’s your job to stay awake and protect our lady? It’s just boiled water.”
“Oh… Well, I had a feeling.” Dida grinned wryly.
“It’s not like you to look so sullen.”
“Yeah?”
Dida drank the water, still smiling. Tanya studied him in silence.
“The princess asked me why I call her that,” he admitted.
“Oh, I see,” Tanya said dispassionately.
“That was cold, Tanya. You started this conversation, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but your response was so dull. Besides, I doubt you’re that hung up about it.”
“You got me. The princess thinks I’m making fun of her for being naive, and that’s true. But that’s not all…”
“Indeed. I believe it was the first time you saw her? You said she was ‘like a princess in a story, so kind, soft, and beautiful.’”
To Tanya and Dida, someone like a duke’s daughter was a being from a different dimension. Under normal circumstances, their paths should never have crossed. But by some twist of fate, she had taken in these forsaken children, and now they lived together. It had been such a shock to realize such a world existed, that such people existed.
Dida, with his hard, scarred heart, had been no exception. There had been shock…and at the same time, jealousy. How could they be so different? Why was she showing him her world? He thought these things soon after being taken in by the duke’s family. He even started to resent Iris for being showered with the world’s fortunes, for knowing nothing of debasement.
Yet he also envied her purity. She was like a character from a storybook. That someone like her could smile at him, value him, need him, when he was no more than a pawn and worth less than pennies, was mind-blowing. It was nice. As time passed, he realized his place was at her side. He imprinted on her; she was his mistress.
“Just tell her. ‘It’s because you’re as cute and kind as a storybook princess.’ It’s not like you have an ulterior motive. Or are you embarrassed to voice the thoughts of a naive child now that you’re an adult?”
“Sure, I could say it. You, Lyle, Rehme, and the others are always going on and on about how much you love her straight to her face.”
Dida was right. All Iris’s little brood had sworn unending loyalty to her. Only Dida, hardest to read, acted aloof, hiding his true feelings in smoke. Was he truly loyal?
“Can’t you say it another way?” Tanya sighed.
“I’m not wrong, though.”
“Well, I suppose.”
“I don’t call her ‘Princess’ for any deep abiding reason. But she seems to get caught up in it, mull it over. It makes her examine her own shortcomings, which makes her even greater.”
Dida grinned brightly, the brightest one so far. Tanya sighed internally, realizing he meant well.
“Everyone expresses their love for her without reservation and does their best to make her desires come true,” he said. “That’s why I figure a guy like me is important. Someone unreadable, whom she can’t quite figure out. Someone to make the princess stop in her tracks and think.”
“What a troublesome personality you have.”
“I’m cynical.”
“Same difference.”
Dida shrugged. “Maybe I’ll tell her the real reason once I retire.”
Tanya sniffed. “Well, then she’ll need to live a long life in order to hear your true feelings.”
“What? Really?”
“We both know you’re never going to retire on your own. And it’s even less likely our lady will ask you to leave her service.”
“Perhaps.” However, Dida laughed both out loud and in his heart.
Tanya once again raised her fist above his head. “Quiet. What if you wake her?”
“Ow! Tanya, you hit too hard.”
“Not true at all. Now, I must be going.”
“Yeah, yeah… Oh, Tanya.”
“What?”
“When did I ever tell you the real reason I think she’s a princess?”
“Long ago, when you were completely in your cups. Until then, I was convinced you were insulting her. I’d even fancied eliminating you on occasion.”
“Whoa…”
“Keep your smoke and mirrors to a minimum, lest you forget your true feelings.”
“Don’t worry, that’s not happening. There’s one thing I’ll never let go of.”
Dida smiled. Tanya also smiled for once, for she knew of what he spoke. The one thing Dida would never let go of—in other words, that which was most important to him. For all of them, that was their mistress, Iris. It was the most convincing argument anyone could put before Tanya. After she closed the door, Dida went back to his post as if nothing had happened, aloof as ever.
***
And so, with the month I’d asked for over, my final task was to meet Moneda. Although, to be honest, this meeting would be my first real obstacle.
A receptionist led us into the merchant guild’s receiving room. The merchant guild with which Moneda was affiliated was, quite literally, an organization made up of a collection of people who made their livelihoods off mercantile work. You could think of it as similar to a union. Branches of the merchant guild were found all over the country, unbound by local laws, and existed as a single entity. However, each of these branches had its own flavor, so to speak, so it was difficult to say if unconditionally categorizing them all as the same entity was truly correct. Essentially, a central headquarters sent out messages to the branches and dictated shared rules, but it was up to the discretion of each branch on how to implement them. It was quite similar to the relationship between the king and his governors.
The building of the merchant guild’s branch office struck me as both calm and oddly profound, the diametric opposite of the grandiose, flashy designs favored by the nobility. You could say that only a certain sort of person would recognize its true value.
“It’s good to see you again, Lady Iris.” A refined young man with glasses entered the room after us. Unfortunately, his smile seemed like nothing more than a lie to me.
“And you, Moneda. Oh, don’t trouble yourself with formalities. I’m here incognito.”
“I’m sorry, but custom dictates.”
“Of course… You always were a stickler for these things.”
“So, what is it you want?” He got right to the point.
He wasn’t even going to bother reminiscing pleasantly about the past, eh? Nothing had changed, then.
“Oh, Moneda, don’t be like that. It really has been a long time. How are things lately?” I asked.
“How are things? Quite fine.”
“Good. I should have expected as much of the guild’s vice-treasurer. I assume you also know of the most recent developments in my life, as well?”
“You got me.” Moneda gave me a wry smile. Merchants were, in my experience, uniquely able to acquire all the latest rumors and up-to-date information. Naturally, they kept close track of the nobility, their biggest spenders.
“As you know, then, due to recent events, I’ve returned to the duchy. Incidentally, Moneda, how is the guild doing lately?”
“Fine, as well.”
“Oh, really? I heard your trade with the royal capital has slipped quite precipitously.”
His calm expression froze over. I could hardly hide my smile at the sudden change.
“Now, now. If you let your emotions show, you’ll have people fishing in your pockets before long.” I gave a stately chuckle to try and ease the tension in the room, but Moneda’s expression remained stiff. “Moneda, I’m sorry. It was just a hunch. But it seems trade has indeed slowed between our duchy and the royal capital, then.”
When the state of the capital was uncertain, of course trade declined. When selling to nobles, it wasn’t rare for a merchant to visit their estate and bargain directly. In fact, this was the most typical method. But these visitations brought risks. If a merchant grew too friendly with a client, that noble’s enemies would begin to suspect and avoid their business, which no merchant would desire.
Yet, the recent trade decline was still only just barely visible. Only those who stared at ledgers every day could have seen it.
Oh, but I really didn’t have any proof as yet. This was a bluff, and nothing more. But with the world in such a moment of change and being so difficult to predict, it was smarter to be careful. If I were a merchant, that’s how I would conduct my affairs.
***
“You got me again,” said Moneda slowly. “Just for my reference, what gave you reason to suspect?”
“It’s a natural supposition, if you only consider present conditions. That said, Moneda, I didn’t come here to tease you.”
“Then what is it you want?”
We were back on topic, except this time there was something different in the air. When we first started speaking, we had been on equal ground, or perhaps you could have said he had the initiative. Now, however, he recognized that I had the upper hand. Perhaps it was a sign he would listen to my request.
“Moneda, would you like to move even greater sums of money?”
“Are you trying to hire me?”
“Yes. But not as an employee of the duke’s family. I want you to serve the duchy.”
“What does that mean?” he asked cautiously.
“I’m planning to reform the way this territory is run. Separating the government from my family will be part of that. In other words, I want you to manage the territorial budget and commerce.”
“Why would you want me for that? It’s not like your family is lacking in human resources.”
“Because you know the lay of the land. And because in the mid-to-long term, an incredible social revolution is bound to take place. Thus, I have no need to cleave to common conventions. Of course, I do require my men to be of some quality—which you, as a young vice-treasurer, have proved you possess in spades. Most of all, I trust you. And is there anything that requires greater trust than moving money?”
“Ha ha ha! A majestic plan you have there. If you mean it, the duchy should become quite an exciting place in the future. Pardon my asking, but do you have the authority to appoint me to such a position?”
Ah, he didn’t trust me. Perhaps he thought this was my father’s idea, and I was just the messenger. Or that I was trying to poach his talents as a means of making a name for myself. It was time to play my final card.
“Of course. I was appointed acting governor, you see.” I passed Moneda the letter of appointment I had been given by my father upon my departure. There had been no public announcement regarding my new service. I didn’t plan to make one, either. It seemed more effective to deploy the news in important situations like this.
Moneda stared at the letter in shock, as if unable to believe its contents. Not only had my father bequeathed all his duties to me, but my rank was also now equivalent to that of a feudal lord’s, believe it or not. Basically, no matter what my father and brother now said, I was in a position to simply push through their arguments as I saw fit. These essential points were explicitly written in the letter, so it was no wonder Moneda was shocked. I still couldn’t say what my father had been thinking. However, it was proving quite useful, so I was at least grateful.
“Thank you very much.” Moneda carefully resealed the letter.
“So, what do you say?” I asked.
“I happily accept.”
“That was quick. I thought you’d consider it a bit longer.”
“The ability to make quick decisions is an important part of being a merchant.”
“Well, I’m grateful.” I smiled. “So, I’d like to discuss the future in more detail. When can you come to the estate?”
“Please give me three days. I’ll need to hand over all of my current responsibilities.”
“Excellent. Then we shall expect to see you on the morning of the fourth.”
“As you wish.”
Ah, that was a weight off my shoulders. I had secured Moneda by my side, and I had three days to confirm details with Sebastian. With that out of the way, my group left and at last returned home.
***
Moneda watched Iris from the window as she exited the merchant guild. On his face was a smile.
The merchant guild brought merchants together, hired personnel, mediated between members, and so forth. All merchants were required to join the guild, and the guild ate up as much of their money as it could in the form of taxes in exchange for protection and the like.
As vice-treasurer, Moneda’s job was to manage the taxes the merchants paid to the guild, as well as the funds for the guild’s management. It was a busy job, but he enjoyed the challenge. Life was fulfilling, until the return of Iris Lana Armelia. The daughter to the lord of Armelia had taken him in as an orphan off the streets, just as she had a handful of others.
Honestly, at first, he’d considered her return an annoyance. He was grateful to Iris, of course, but work was a different matter; he never mixed business with private affairs. He knew, thanks to his contacts, that Iris had returned because of a broken engagement, and he couldn’t imagine she would call on him for anything but some supremely bothersome request.
How wrong he had been.
“Oh, really? I heard your trade with the royal capital has slipped quite precipitously.”
He never could have imagined her saying such a thing—let alone figuring it out herself. A handful of people could tell, of course, but only if they studied the ledgers every day. The Iris that Moneda knew did no such thing. She spent her days in the royal capital surrounded by noble sons and daughters. There was no way such words could come from her coddled mouth.
Now, he knew better. If he underestimated Iris, he’d be eaten alive. A nervous energy had come over Moneda, like he was facing a frontline veteran of many battles. He had been too slow. She had already taken the advantage. Even when he accepted his first loss and tried to retake the field, she revealed her request like a perfectly timed strike. He could only lament his loss in that regard.
But the shock of his defeat was nothing compared to the shock of her request. Reform the government? In the mid-to-long term? He could hardly believe his own ears.
Interesting, he’d thought. If Iris had suggested the same thing in the years past, he would have called it a pipe dream. But today, she made it all too clear it was something she could pursue because, against all odds, she had the power to do so.
This was not just an outlandish idea. Iris was acting governor, and this was no dream. She had the ability to appoint people to office. There was nothing else to discuss. From here, things would move quickly. He had accepted the job.
As Iris left, Moneda went to prepare his underlings to take over his responsibilities. What sort of scheme would Iris suggest when they next met? He couldn’t wait to hear it.
***
My meeting with Moneda over, I finally returned home. No place like it! For a moment, perhaps.
As I went over the documents Sebastian had given me, Sei knocked on the study door and entered. “Pardon me.”
“Oh, Sei. Yes, what is it?”
Sei was my footman and one of the other orphans I’d taken in. His job involved making his master’s requests reality, as well as assisting the butlers.
“I’ve brought more documents for you from Sebastian. If you can find the time, please read over them.”
His reply made me chuckle. “Sei, there’s no need to be so formal.”
“My lady, I…” Sei tried to say something but then sighed, his face falling in disappointment. “It doesn’t suit me, does it?”
“No, you’re just a bit too tense. You have to relax, or you’ll make the other party nervous as well.”
Sei had always been an adorable boy. He was a bit introverted and scatterbrained, but his smile was wonderful. I hadn’t seen him in ages, since he had to stay behind while I went off to the academy. Perhaps that was why when we were reunited earlier, I was so shocked.
He really had changed. They say time does that to people, but I couldn’t help but feel like something was out of place. It was as if he’d grown cold, or oddly stiff. At first, I thought he was trying to distance himself from me, his disgraced mistress, but he treated Tanya and the others similarly, so that wasn’t it. Even Tanya was surprised.
Upon further investigation, I was told it was because he was training to take Sebastian’s role once the man retired—the impeccable butler, his skills perfect in every way. And that was no exaggeration. I could understand why Sei would set Sebastian as his ultimate role model. But he was so focused on his training that it made his persona a bit uncomfortable for everyone around him.
“Why don’t you try easing up? If you’re always so tense, you’ll make your coworkers nervous. And that’s just exhausting for everyone involved.”
Either way, everything in moderation, right? While I did believe it was important to have some sense of focus and urgency during work hours, if you overdid it, you could lose sight of what was around you and make basic mistakes. I had a tendency to forget my surroundings too, so perhaps it wasn’t my place to lecture him, but I repeated the words a friend had said to me in a previous life regardless.
“Thank you for the advice.” Sei smiled ruefully and bowed, then left the room.
***
Was I just being meddlesome?
I sighed and went to look over the documents Sei had brought when again there was a knock at the door. This time, Sebastian entered.
“Pardon me. I have more documents for you, on top of the ones I sent with Sei.”
Sebastian placed the papers on my desk. They were reports on the villages surrounding the southernmost village I had visited, as well as on the eastern port town and its neighbors.
“Ah, thank you.” I flipped through them, scanning as I went. “By the way, Sebastian…”
“Yes, my lady?”
“How has Sei been lately?”
“Unfortunately, I am not privy to his private life.”
“I wouldn’t ask you about that. I’m talking about at work.”
“Has he made a mistake?”
“Not at all. From where I stand, he’s doing his job just fine. But he seems so oddly wound up. I know he’s on the clock, and it’s important to have some focus. It just feels like he’s forcing himself.”
Perhaps I’m being selfish in wishing he could remain as I knew him, I added in my mind. I grinned in self-chastisement. I really was selfish. Nothing stayed the same forever. Maybe I had just hoped to come home and see everyone just as they were, to be reassured that some things wouldn’t change. How unbelievable, after what happened in the capital.
Was that my problem? Was I looking only to relish my memories, clinging to the past?
However, Sebastian nodded. “You aren’t mistaken. Sei is certainly pushing himself in some respects.”
“You think so, too?”
“Yes. There was a change in him a little before you came home. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say he endeavored to change?”
“Why would that be?”
“He’s worked at the estate for a good while, so it’s been decided that he should be promoted to butler.”
“I see…” I nodded thoughtfully.
“There is quite a difference between a footman and a butler. A footman’s job is to follow their master’s orders, while a butler ensures their master lives a carefree life, working to fulfill their master’s needs without ever receiving instructions. Furthermore, as part of their duties, a butler must manage the other servants’ activities and give them orders. In your family’s case, I am here, so Sei would not need to manage the estate or the mansion. However, he would be required to give orders to the other servants, to which he seems as yet unaccustomed. Thus, Sei seems to be under the impression that the first step is to be an exemplary servant.”
“Uh huh…”
“He says he wishes to be a butler like myself, which is flattering. But there’s no need for him to change so immediately. You might think I’m tooting my own horn, but it took me decades of experience to get where I am. Thus, it’s only natural that he can’t immediately replicate my demeanor.”
That was true enough. Sebastian managed the duchy of Armelia, the estate, and our servants. He was my father’s right-hand man and an irreplaceable resource. But as he said, it had taken him a long time to master it all.
“Sebastian, do you think Sei has the right stuff to be a butler in your mold?”
“That is for you, his future mistress, to decide. But I would never promote someone with no promise.”
“Hee hee… You’re right. So what Sei needs is experience, huh?”
Giving orders and managing daily schedules so work goes smoothly… Now that I think about it, a butler’s job really is tough. I smiled. “Thank you, Sebastian. You can go back to your work.”
He bowed and took his leave.