Chapter 3: The Duke’s Daughter Runs the Show

Chapter 3:
The Duke’s Daughter Runs the Show

 

THREE DAYS PASSED in the blink of an eye, and as promised, Moneda came knocking on our gate. Thus began our first official meeting. First on the agenda: ensuring my inner circle understood my ideas.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming today. Let’s begin the meeting.”

The people in this room were those I trusted most—in other words, those who had accompanied me on my trip, plus Moneda, Sebastian, and Sei.

“First, allow me to lay out my thoughts. This past month I’ve toured the duchy and had Sebastian fact-check observations for me, and it’s come to my attention that, compared to other territories, ours is quite wealthy.”

Our harvests were bountiful, thanks to the everlasting spring that came with our southerly position, and facing the sea meant we also did well in trade. It was no mistake to call us the second royal capital.

“But the reality of what I saw is this: Our duchy is like a ripe fruit. It’s currently in an edible state, but soon it will rot.”

Everyone around me blinked as if in surprise—Sebastian and Sei, especially.

“Wealth gathers with the wealthy, giving the poor no chance to ascend. The shops lack brand-new wares, leading to stagnation.”

As someone who had lived in the capitalist country of Japan, I was a believer in economic competition. I could admit, however, that a certain amount of wealth tended to pool at the top, which couldn’t be helped. But this land was different. There was zero competition. Those on top of the socioeconomic order, save for in extraordinary situations, could never be unseated, and there was zero chance for social mobility among those at the bottom.

“If a country’s citizens are poor, you cannot call the country rich.”

That was the gist of it. A limited market would inevitably decline. In other words, if we didn’t increase the citizens’ wealth and revitalize the economy, I believed the duchy would eventually slide into decay. I looked about the room to see many of my coterie with questions in their eyes.

“The simplest way to explain what I’m saying is…I want to create a land where children never have to suffer as you all did.”

This, they understood. They smiled grimly and nodded.

“That’s the major goal, anyway. In order to secure not just our present but our future, we must increase the overall quality of our people’s lives. For that to happen, there are a number of reforms I’d like to institute. First, there must be a clear distinction between the ducal family’s fortunes and the government’s funds. Then a bank must be established, the government centralized, the tax system revised, the highways maintained, education made compulsory—”

“Um, what’s a bank?” Sei hesitantly interrupted.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I got so excited that I skipped some things. Regarding the bank, I’d like to have Sebastian and Moneda oversee that, and I’ll explain the concept in more detail later. But before it can become reality, we must create a system where my family can sustain itself without relying on taxes from its people.”

“In other words, you’re suggesting taxes be used to fund the government while the money to maintain the duke’s household is garnered from another source?”

“Exactly, Moneda.”

“What exactly did you have in mind?”

“First, we’ll start a business.”

At that word, the air in the room froze.

“A business, you say?” said Sebastian.

He and Sei were against this, I could tell. Their expressions were a bit clouded.

Moneda was also against this. “It is often the case that a noble house will attempt to change course only to hasten its decline. In my opinion, you should avoid such actions.”

But if we didn’t find a way to generate more income, my ideas would be nothing but hot air. The mansion’s upkeep, my needlessly fancy clothes, the indulgent food… We could cut some of these out of the future budget; I would, after all, much rather use the funds allocated for these things on maintaining public roads. The thing was, if I wanted to maintain the power of the Almeria family name, it would be impossible to tighten the purse strings too much. Thus, I needed to start a business. I had, fortunately, found the perfect product with which to do so on my travels.

“Now, now, Moneda. Are you going to stop me before even hearing what I have to say? There might be significant profit in it for you.”

Moneda looked at me suspiciously.

“But what do I know? I’m just a noble’s daughter. I’ve never stood on that battlefield of merchants, the marketplace, so of course you’d be opposed if I suddenly suggested such a thing.”

“No… That was presumptuous of me.”

“No matter.” I smiled. “So, for the time being, this is what I’d like to sell. Rehme, would you?”

“Yes, my lady.” Rehme produced a brown bean from a bag.

“What is this?”

Sebastian and Sei studied the mysterious object, having apparently never seen one before. Those who had been with me on my journey, however, mumbled, “Ah, those.”

“This comes from a fruit called cacao,” I said. “It grows in hot, southern climates. The locals will sometimes grind it into a paste and drink it.”

Yes, cacao. The duchy stretched from the north to the south, so while the capital city enjoyed a perpetual spring, the southernmost tip had a subtropical climate. These conditions allowed cacao to grow near the southernmost village.

“I’ve heard of it,” said Moneda. “But isn’t it too bitter to enjoy?”

I figured Moneda would have some knowledge of it from his time with the guild. That said, I had been surprised Rehme recognized it during our trip. She really did know everything—even the process the locals used to turn the beans into a drink. Talk about shocking.

“So as I suspected, no one’s turned it into a marketable product. Thank you for easing my mind, Moneda.”

“R-right…” he said, with an expression that seemed to say, You want to sell this? How can you say that with such confidence?

But I was confident. No matter what anyone said, desserts were important to nobles. What else was teatime for?

“Tanya, open the door.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Tanya opened the door to reveal our family’s chef, Merida. She was another orphan I’d taken in. Tanya, Lyle, Dida, Moneda, Rehme, Sei, and Merida—these were my seven precious friends. Long ago, Merida had expressed an interest in cooking, which had led to her becoming our family chef. She cooked all my meals at the estate, and even though I had lately made a lot of requests due to my diet, she executed them with amazing skill. She was a truly gifted cook.

“This is a dessert made from cacao that I had Merida devise.”

What she revealed was, of course, chocolate. Quite an everyday thing from my point of view, but everyone else stared in bewilderment.

“Try some.”

They fearfully placed the unknown brown tablets into their mouths.

“It’s…delicious!”

But with every bite, they unanimously sang its praises. I tried one as well. It was obviously lacking in comparison to the mass-produced products of my memories, but nothing like it existed in this world, so it was fine as-is. I only had a vague understanding of how chocolate was made from cacao beans, so it had taken a lot of trial and error on Merida’s part to get it right. It required a lot more sugar than I’d realized, and I vividly remembered taste testing her experiments with excitement despite my diet.

“And this is made from cacao? Yes, this just might… How do you imagine pricing it?”

“It’s difficult to make and uses sugar, so I plan to set the price point a bit high. My target demographic is the nobility, and I intend to use high-quality ingredients to help it sell. Eventually, I’ll produce lower-quality versions to sell at a more amenable price so that more people can enjoy it. Merida, show them the others.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The first thing I’d showed them were plain milk chocolate bars. Next, I showed them dark chocolate bars, ganache, and truffles.

“These are also made from cacao beans, but the taste is completely different. Try them.”

This time, everyone dug in without much hesitation.

“Wow, it’s so good! I love these round ones!”

“I prefer the bitter kind. Much easier to eat.”

Everyone’s favorites varied. Overall, however, the products seemed to rate highly, which was a relief.

“As you can see, the cacao can be cooked in many forms. So, Moneda? What’s your opinion, as our insider with the merchant guild?”

“It’s a totally new product…” he murmured. “But if the marketing is good, it should take off immediately. I believe it has incredible appeal. And you already have a clear initial demographic in mind.”

“Thank you.” I glanced sideways. “So, Sei, you will be my hands and feet. It’s up to you to build up a market for my products.”

Sei’s eyes went wide for a moment. “…Me? My apologies, but wouldn’t Moneda be more suited to this role?”

“Moneda is going to be busy setting up the bank, as I said before. It will involve negotiating with the merchant guild soon enough, so it’s a better position for him. Plus, with the nobility as our key demographic for this product, you’ll be the perfect man for the job. You’ve served our family so well for years.”

Perhaps this was a bit of a detour on Sei’s path to becoming a butler. But if it was experience he needed, then putting him in charge of a business where he would have to give orders and secure sales would be good for him, right?

Sei gathered himself. “Understood. I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”

“Good. This product will be our main starting point for the launch of our greater corporation. First, Sebastian: Draw up a contract with the village that cultivates the cacao. Lyle and Dida, I want you two to sort out how many people you’ll need to secure the road between that village and this estate and keep it maintained, then report back to me. You remember the state it was in during our trip, yes?”

“Yes, my lady. We’ll get right on it.”

Sebastian, Lyle, and Dida rose from their seats.

“Merida, cook up some more of these test products. I’ll come see you later to share more recipes I’ve thought of. And Tanya, I need to write a letter to Mother.”

“Your mother?”

“Yes. There’s no one better at advertising than her. If I ask, she’ll surely add these desserts to her tea parties and spread the word about them to her friends.”

“Understood.”

“Moneda, prepare the documents to register this corporation with the guild. And bring Sei with you. If you can, secure a larger kitchen for us to make these desserts. For the next three months, I want to prioritize getting this business off the ground. I realize I’m asking a lot of you two, but could you help with that as well?”

“Of course,” said Moneda. “I could never pass up such an intriguing opportunity.”

“Thank you. Rehme, I have a few questions I need answered, so could you stay behind? I’d like to review the average price of similar and related products at the market.”

“Of course. Ask me anything—I have it all memorized, especially from the last fifteen years.”

“Perfect. Well, everyone, you have your tasks. If any problems arise, please be sure to come to me so we can discuss them.”

 

***

 

And that was how my company, the Azuta Corporation, began.

Supported by talented people working wonders in their fields, our products were ready for sale in the blink of an eye. My mother was also surprisingly supportive of the test batch I sent her and immediately brought samples to her tea parties or gave them away as gifts. In no time at all, the nobility could talk of nothing but chocolate. We were drowning in requests and orders; business was booming.

Hooray for knowledge from my previous life!

Moneda suggested we escalate to mass production, but I rejected the proposal. Because our demographic was ultimately the nobility, I believed it was better to keep the product rare to add value, rather than to recklessly try and expand. Also, in an effort to solidify our brand image, I implemented a new policy: We printed every chocolate and box with a lily insignia. We had to be prepared for competition. For now, though, none had yet surfaced.

In addition to the product line for nobles, we had also begun work on the less high-end version. However, because it would still be a quality product, I was searching for cafés that could serve it as a chocolate cream in crepes or on dipped fruits. I’d already secured one location as well as the supply chain, so it would be open for business soon.

Sei was constantly running around, always busy. He still came off a bit stiff but not nearly as much as before. The workload had blown away all his previous nervous energy, or so I liked to believe. That said, I wasn’t sitting back and relaxing either. Now that the corporation was off the ground, I was preparing to revolutionize the government while still managing the Azuta Corporation’s operations.

My schedule was crazy, but it was a bit nostalgic. It had been like this in my previous life, too. Enough reminiscing—it was time to move on to my first bit of business: a meeting with Sei.

“The documents in your hands speak for themselves,” he said.

“The noble line is as popular as ever, isn’t it? How are we on hiring employees?”

“Rest assured on that front as well. Many chefs are coming to us, thanks to the novelty. Now that chocolate’s so popular, they want to learn how to make it.”

“I see… In that case, please introduce the mandatory vacation system we discussed previously. I’ve also spoken to Merida, and the person who passes her test will be entrusted with the first shop selling our second line of chocolates. Could you arrange a meeting so she can inform me of her choice?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Furthermore, I’d like to move away from dealing exclusively with the royal capital and transport our products to other cities. For that, we’ll need trade routes and personnel… Why not start up our own shipping department, then? Tanya, get me Rehme and Moneda.”

Tanya quickly summoned them.

“Moneda, how does a merchant normally go about securing trade routes?” I asked.

“Well, smaller and mid-sized merchant companies often transport their own goods. For larger ones, they either hire guards and transport it themselves, or get underlings to take care of it.”

“In that case, a shipping department could prove valuable. Rehme, get me a map and point out the flattest, most weather-stable roads, please. Then calculate the time it will take to reach each territory. Speak to Lyle to see how many guards we would need and incorporate that into the projected costs.”

“Yes, ma’am! What are you thinking now?”

“Ways to advance the current transportation industry, you could say. I’ll write my plan on paper later, and then we can look at the costs and see if it’s feasible. Now, Sei, get to writing a draft of that employment system we discussed earlier and arrange things with Merida. Rehme, I need that map. Tanya, call Sebastian for me, would you? And Moneda, stay here. Let’s iron out the details on this bank.”

Amazingly, they all instantly picked up my rapid-fire orders and got to work. I probably needed to think about hiring more assistants. The corporation was expanding slowly, but there was a clear lack of staff. Sei would likely collapse at this rate. It just wasn’t going well for him. But I had other things to worry about.

“Okay, Moneda. How far did we get regarding banks last time?”

“The adjustment of the cost of goods, the centralization of funds, and the creation of trust, my lady.”

Now that I was starting to focus on reforming the duchy’s government, I’d also started educating Moneda on the theory of banks. Currently, money flowed through the marketplace, but there was no mechanism to control it. Also—and this was something I found most surprising—the commoners either stored their money in dressers or left it with the merchant guild. I was told the guild had a convenient system in which the money one left with one branch could be withdrawn from any other. However, because these transactions weren’t the guild’s main focus, they got no more complicated.

“So, any questions so far?”

“No. I find myself quite surprised you thought up something like this, though.”

Well, technically I hadn’t. I refrained from saying so, however, and passed the comment off with a smile. “For the moment, I’ll need you to purchase a building to be used as our bank. Then, in the next few days, use my name at the merchant guild to get the guildmaster and your old mentor to agree to a meeting with their most important members.”

“Understood.”

My next few weeks were filled with the business of establishing a bank. Acquiring a building, furnishings… There was so much to do.

Then the day of the meeting arrived. The location: the Armelia branch of the merchant guild. I was reminded of how grave I’d thought the building back when I met Moneda there.

“Everyone, thank you all for making time in your busy schedules to see me.” I started with a greeting. Everyone here had their schedules planned down to the second, so I truly was grateful they’d gathered to meet me.

“No, no. We’re excited to meet the president of the corporation that’s been the talk of the town lately.” The guildmaster’s eyes glinted sharply.

I-I should have expected this… The pressure’s jacked up to the max. I smiled blithely, hiding my anxiety. “I’m here today not as the president of the Azuta Corporation but as the acting governor of Armelia.”

“Oh ho… Acting governor, you say?”

“Yes. If it weren’t for my position, I doubt I would have been able to entice you all here. My company is yet a fledgling.”

“Oh, you’re too humble. I’ve heard many tales of your exploits,” said Moneda’s mentor.

“My… I’ll take that as a compliment, then. Now, to the topic at hand…” The air froze. Ugh, I was scared to open my mouth. If I messed up a single word, I was done for. “First, I’ve established a regional bank, and I’d be delighted if you all would use it.”

“A bank?” The guildmaster frowned.

“Yes.”

“Forgive me, but what is that?”

“Put simply, it’s an evolution of the finance division the merchant guild currently operates. It fulfills three main jobs: depositing, drafting, and granting loans.”

“Depositing…? And did you say loans? I’ve never heard of such things… What do you mean?”

Now the ball was in my court again. I smiled. “Let me explain what I mean by deposits first. In the past, the merchant guild’s finance division has accepted money from businesses and individuals alike to keep safe. The bank would handle this for you. This would free up the budget you’d previously allocated to hire security. A boon for you, no? Furthermore, the bank would be able to handle transactions between separate accounts. This is what I mean by a draft. For example, if two parties have money deposited in the bank, and one wishes to pay the other, the bank may transfer the appropriate sum, and no one need walk around with their money vulnerable.”

Depositing would work just like it did in Japan. You created an account and then used it. There was no standard ID system here, though, which would make withdrawing difficult at a branch other than the one that held the documents used in setting up the account. With that in mind, business-focused checking accounts would help circumvent the ID issues. It was also common for people to move to the countryside, in which case we could also offer bank checks or bills as proxy funds in case there was no nearby institution. Or, since I was considering starting a census, I could use that as an opportunity to create IDs for everyone. On the back of every ID would be a personal stamp to be used as proof of authenticity. There would be no need to copy everything from Japan, after all… That said, these were just my rambling thoughts at the moment. I could refine the system later.

A census would take a great deal of time to organize, though. It could always be initiated after the bank was established—or much later. Regarding the stamp, since this world had no kanji, maybe it would need to be crests like the nobility used. I’d have to ask Moneda for more details, like how things had identity checks and so forth had been conducted until now.

Drafting, meanwhile, would work the same as in Japan, with transfers only possible at the branch where the account was set up at. There was no system for that, either. Perhaps, separate from the client’s deposits, the bank could also hold on to their ledgers and use those to resolve any snarls? It would have to be expensive as it would involve handling fees, so likely only certain types of people would start such an account.

Incidentally, I intended to hire all the people who currently called themselves security guards for the merchant guild. A bank needs security, and if I was going to start a shipping department, well, I’d have plenty of work to provide. Of course, they’d have to be trained hard by my family’s excellent guard company first, otherwise their skill levels would be all over the place. That would be a solid initial investment.

“I see,” said the guildmaster thoughtfully. “But is this really safe? The funds you’d be handling are precious. There can be no hint of risk.”

“Of course. They will be placed under the protection of House Armelia. I can guarantee the quality of the guards we employ. If by the slimmest chance someone does attempt funny business, they will be swiftly dealt with.”

“Hm. And this loans business?” said Moneda’s mentor.

“Loans will be provided from the bank’s gathered capital. Basically, it’s a gift of money that must be paid back in turn. Naturally, this will come with strict conditions. But if you ever find yourself in need of money for a new business, the bank can provide those funds.”

“That sounds interesting.”

“You can deposit money with the bank whenever, and you only need withdraw the amount you require. Transactions will be made easier across the entire populace. Also, you will be able to borrow money whenever you need it. Because the bank’s funds will be guaranteed by my house, as long as we don’t go under, our vast wealth will cover all financial risks. What do you say? Of course, as governor, I’ll make sure to pass on the profits to you. After all, I am infringing on your domain.”

That said, the most I could do was insure their faith in the bank. I couldn’t make any direct investments in the businesses of the people in front of me, not with the money paid to my house through taxes. In fact, if my corporation hadn’t succeeded, I would have been forced to use almost all the tax money on maintaining the duke’s estate, as per usual. Fortunately, I could now invest it in this new public service. All in all, it was not necessarily a mistake to say my corporation was paying the dividends.

“What do you want from us in return?”

“In regard to establishing the bank, nothing. All I want is for the flow of money within the duchy to improve. Oh, but would it be all right to take all your financial officers with me to the bank? There will be a lot for them to memorize, and this way I can be assured of their skills. Also, I’m in the process of preparing the bank’s main office, but I haven’t gotten to branch offices yet, so I’d be ever so grateful if you could lend me a section from each of your guild’s branch offices in which to do business.”

“Sounds simple enough. Not only are you providing the initial investment, you’re also offering to take over a debt-ridden division of our guild. We’ll gladly help you out.”

Yes! Things were looking good for the bank.

“On to the next subject, then. Perhaps the main subject, for you businessmen.”

The air that had relaxed once again tensed up. Of course this wasn’t the end. I’d gone to the trouble of getting all these busy people together. It would be an incredible waste to not say more.

“Related to the bank we discussed earlier, I’ve decided that the taxes paid by the duchy’s people are to be used to maintain the duchy’s roads, as well as the establishment of another academy.”

“An…academy? Like the one in the royal capital?”

I frowned. “I would never waste taxpayer money on a social hub under the guise of an ‘academy.’ What I want to create is a place of learning, with entry-level classes that teach reading and writing, all the way up to higher education on specialized subjects. Citizens will be required to take the entry-level classes, which will be founded using taxpayer money. What I want you all to engage with, however, is the higher education.”

“Engage how?” asked one merchant.

“Speaking frankly, I want you to invest,” I said. “Money is fine, but I will also gratefully accept donations of furniture and materials.”

“Why don’t you just ask for a ‘loan’ from this ‘bank’?” another merchant asked.

“Trust in the bank is held up by my family’s money and the duchy’s taxes. An excessive loan would destroy the balance of deposits to expenditures, and it would be a quick way to demolish the bank’s finances.”

“I suppose that makes sense,” said the guildmaster. “So, all you want is for us to support the creation of this new academy?”

“I want to open it as soon as possible,” I confirmed. “The people of this duchy are a vital, precious resource to my family. It would be such a waste to not polish them until they shine.”

“Hm. Care to share any more specific details on this academy?”

“Please examine the documents you’re about to be handed.”

My companion, Sebastian, distributed the papers to everyone. I’d been preparing them for the past several weeks. Thanks to that, I’d hardly had time to even sleep.

“First, the greatest offering will be the medical classes. I’m also considering classes on governing and finance.”

“Medical…classes?”

The businessmen all looked at me in surprise. I’d expected as much. In this world, doctors were retainers to royalty and the nobility, and they treated patients in their homes. Their knowledge wasn’t widely shared. But every businessman realized the value of that knowledge.

Normally, no one would ever sacrifice a hefty paycheck to reveal trade secrets. Key word: normally. Even I was shocked I’d managed to hire the people I had. I’d thought I’d have a cozy group of two or three of my family’s doctors to start with, but somehow, my mother heard about my plans and pulled some strings. She was startlingly connected. Suddenly, I had doctors showing up who wanted to take it easy in the countryside, or who were thinking about training a successor, and they had quickly accepted the jobs. One day, I hoped to get my mother to use her powers of negotiation in the business world as well.

I’d also brought on researchers and farmers to teach agriculture. Study and practicum, you know? My parents used their connections to the fullest in order to entice the many scholars I now employed. I also hoped that Rehme would consider being a teacher.

“But doctors are so valuable because of their rarity. If their population increased, wouldn’t their value decrease?”

“What are you saying? There aren’t even enough to go around now.”

Commoners could visit a town doctor if they lived in a town. These doctors weren’t properly educated, however, and their work could hardly be counted on. The surrounding areas, however, didn’t even have access to such quacks. It wasn’t uncommon for the countryside to be totally reliant on shady mystics for their cures.

The southern village I’d visited on my trip had exactly this problem. Some of the church’s missionaries provided checkups for free to the poor, but their skills were no better than those of snake oil salesmen. The doctors worth their salt tended to stay in towns. Worryingly, charity missions also seemed to be in decline.

But back to the topic at hand.

“I’m not talking about mass production. But if we can create an environment where common folk are able to visit a doctor, then surely companies that handle doctor’s tools and develop medicine stand to make a profit. Also, if researchers can develop new treatments, then medical companies can expect even bigger profits.”

The businessmen in these fields began to fidget before my eyes. Good. I’d caught their attention.

“Meanwhile, classes on governing and finance—especially the financial ones—would train people in order to better Armelia’s future. You all have some investment in this, don’t you?”

“I can understand the governing classes, but how do the finance classes impact us?”

“Please turn to page three of your booklets.”

Gasps popped up around the room.

“My word…”

“This is an excerpt from the Azuta Corporation’s ledgers.”

“This is a ledger?!”

Everyone stuck their noses in the pages.

Would you believe there was no such thing as double-entry bookkeeping in this world? It was so convenient! How had this even been possible? Some say it was one of humanity’s greatest creations.

What was even more unbelievable was that there was no unified system, either. One company might use single-entry bookkeeping, while another used transfer memos and separate merchandise accounts. It was chaos. If I wanted to push a capitalist society, this couldn’t last.

“This way, you can easily see what goes in and what goes out. And over here is what is called a balance sheet, where you can easily determine your assets, debt, and net income, as well as an income statement, which displays earnings and costs. With these, you have a quantitative review of a company.”

There was nothing wrong with steering the ship based on a merchant’s instincts and experience, but considering what was to come, it was best to standardize things now. Although, I would be lying if I said I didn’t yearn for greater clarity in part because of my previous life’s job in finance.

“When you accept a loan from the bank, you’ll be required to submit this document. But most of all, once the tax system is reformed and the poll tax is gone, you’ll use your ledger to accurately report how your profits have gone up in order to pay your taxes accordingly. If you employ a clever tax expert, you’ll be able to condense your assets and reduce your taxes. I think this should be a great help to all of you.”

“You have the authority to reform the tax system…?”

“I do. I’m not just the acting governor. As is written in this document, my authority shall be equal to the feudal lord’s in regard to governance of the duchy until the day I step down.”

“And if one enters this academy you want to start, one can learn this form of bookkeeping you use?”

My feeling had been that if these merchants were smart, they’d realize the value in doing things my way. And it seemed I was right. “Yes, of course.”

The merchants sighed greatly upon hearing this.

“Good heavens… The carrot is great, but so is the whip…”

“Indeed,” I smiled. “But there are other treats to consider as well. For example, in the agriculture classes, I’m planning to have research done on our vegetables and grains in order to improve our local produce. Once that’s done, I’m willing to give exclusive rights to any developments to the companies who invest today. Well? Sounds tasty, doesn’t it?”

“Oh, yes. Tasty indeed.”

“The rest of this conversation is reserved only for those companies that wish to invest. I wouldn’t want to waste anyone’s time if they don’t intend to be involved.”

Only two people stood up at my suggestion. Oh, my. I had been sure about half the room would leave.

“A lot of you are still here,” I said after the dissenters left. “I hate to ask, but are you sure?”

“Lady Iris, the people you see before you are proud to be the cream of the crop,” said the guildmaster. “The potential for great profit naturally comes with perilous risk. It’s our job to use our brains to determine the risk-return ratio and make appropriate decisions. But most of all, when presented with the possibility of such enormous profits, only a fool would let the opportunity slip by.”

“Ah… You have a point.”

“If you were just some idle noble’s daughter, I’d cast this aside as a pipe dream. But you’ve already started a successful corporation and brought it to our level in such a short span of time… No, you’ve outpaced us. Thus, we’re betting on your skills.”

“And I couldn’t be more proud of you all,” I said. “Not only are you the cream of the crop, you’re also helping to elevate our land.”

I smiled, the joy rising in me unfettered.

 

***

 

“Lady Iris…you have guts, that’s for sure,” Moneda said on the carriage ride home. It was just me, him, and Sebastian in the carriage. Outside, Dida sat with the driver.

“Hey, now. I was quite nervous, you know.”

“It didn’t look that way at all. In fact, I had no idea you were going in there to hold a business negotiation with those men.”

“Then why did you think I requested for you to summon them?” I asked.

“Well, to announce the bank’s establishment.”

“And I did that.”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying…”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. I really had been nervous the whole time, like I was walking atop a tightrope. I’d taken a full three weeks to prepare those booklets, packing them to the gills with information. This was an entirely new enterprise, after all. My mind had raced, wondering what questions they might have or interjections they might make.

“But honestly, why don’t you use a bank loan to start the academy? You could delay the road maintenance.”

“Distribution is an integral part of commerce. If the flow of goods is great, then the flow of money will naturally follow. In that case, solving the road problem first and using the business to spread wealth to the people means it will become easier for children to attend the academy.”

Of course, the entry levels would be completely free. However, I didn’t expect that alone to get workers to happily attend. The problem was amplified in more rural environments—some would find it too difficult to physically attend the academy. In that case, using a public works project like road construction to get money into the countryside and stimulate the rural economy would be a worthwhile compensation.

“Those businessmen were smart. They realized that road maintenance was one of the carrots. With that, trade will improve, and during construction, necessary tools and food for the road workers will need to be supplied. Depending on their industries, their pockets should swell immensely. And with those swollen pockets, they’ll invest, earn favor with the ducal family, and secure rights to new products in development. That’s how I baited them. I just had to be strong enough to hold my ground and not be eaten alive.”

“My lady, you thought that far ahead?” Moneda murmured.

“What, did you think I’d put no thought into this?”

“No, I’d never suggest that.”

“Really? Then, Moneda, as soon as we get back, I want you to begin operations at the bank headquarters. The paperwork will be just as we planned. Also, secure the funding for road maintenance. I hate to break it to you, but don’t expect any breaks any time soon. It’s going to be quite busy.”

“I could hope for nothing more.”

“Same to you, Sebastian. Discuss with Rehme and decide on the order of construction, then plan out a more efficient road system. Also, estimate the costs of construction and prepare an application to the appropriate authorities.”

“As you wish. I have already spoken to Ms. Rehme and finished estimating the costs. All that’s left to do is submit the application.”

“I should have known, Sebastian. Submit it to me, and I’ll look over it immediately. If everything is in order, I’ll pass it on to Moneda and we can get started right away.”

 

***

 

Sebastian watched Iris, her fists clenched and body tense.

His family had served House Armelia for generations, and he’d been entrusted with taking care of his master’s estate as well as governing the duchy in his stead. Because Armelia’s lands were so vast and bountiful, it wasn’t that difficult a task.

But once Iris became acting governor, that peaceful life had been turned on its head. In a word, life was busy. Busy, busy, busy. He’d always managed all his duties in tandem, to the point that his fellow servants often asked him if he ever slept. In the face of Iris’s workload, however, he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed.

When she’d first returned home, he’d assumed she’d push all her duties off onto him. Yet the first thing she did was request him to submit financial and government reports. She had subsequently read through them at amazing speed and then went on a trip to see the land for herself. After that, she started a corporation that instantly took off, and she was still firing on all cylinders trying to reform the country’s systems.

When did she sleep? Did she even sleep? The amount of work she did and the precise instructions she gave out weren’t just shocking; they were downright impressive. Thus, if it was for her sake, Sebastian didn’t mind in the least putting his old bones to work. It will be exciting to serve this woman and see what sort of future she brings about, he thought.

His only worry was that lately, she seemed nigh emaciated. Even now, as he observed her as closely as he could without overstepping his bounds, he saw that her body had undergone a transformation. He’d heard her dresses had stopped fitting, requiring her to summon a tailor. She claimed she was on a diet, but this was something more. He feared it was exhaustion.

Armelia’s future was, without a doubt, resting on Iris’s shoulders. Day by day, her presence grew in his eyes. Sebastian had to support her so that she never stumbled. And so, quietly, he willed his fire to flare as strong as hers.

 

***

 

It had been about six months since the bank was established. During those six months, I had started my first public works project servicing the duchy’s roads. I liked to think it was going well. At the bank, merchants had created accounts under their businesses’ names and deposited money. Then their employees made personal accounts, and more and more people followed suit. The bank had, in other words, become quite a vital part of the city. As a result, Moneda was incredibly busy. His current problem was figuring out how to expand beyond our capital.

We had also secured funding for the academy, which was currently under construction. I planned to open it as soon as it was done. That said, we had prioritized the construction of the academy of higher education, so the day commoner children could all attend elementary school was still a ways off.

My workload hadn’t lessened in the slightest. In fact, it was exploding. It was possible I was overworking myself, so I rushed to find officials I could trust to take on the burden of reforming the government. I’d already had to reassign all of my family’s servants involved in this endeavor to help out in other areas.

Our current branches were the Borsa, Agio, Abitante, Architetto, and Codice. I sat above them all as the acting governor.

Borsa was responsible for taxation, crunching the numbers on proposed budgets for the other departments and weighing the reality of their ideas, as well as distributing funds once approval was given. I was also discussing reforming our tax revenue with them.

Agio worked like the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology in Japan. They determined what was taught at the academy, calculated the costs of running it, and managed its employees.

Abitante was the branch in charge of managing the citizens. They were currently running around the duchy trying to organize a census. I was considering putting them in charge of social welfare as well.

Architetto was in charge of constructing roads and public facilities. In other words, with the great road project underway, it wasn’t an overstatement to say they were the busiest branch.

Codice was, as the name implied, in charge of devising our legal code. They were currently systemizing our customs and building them into full-fledged laws.

 

***

 

It was time to admit I was exhausted. It was time for a bath, if nothing else.

“What is it, my lady?” Tanya asked.

“I find myself with some free time for once, so I’d like to take a bath and soak for a bit. Could you prepare one for me?”

Tanya got right down to work. She’d been so overprotective lately. Did I look that tired?

“You seem happy today,” she said. “Did something happen?”

“Oh, can you tell? Hee hee, I finally got my hands on something special.”

Six months of ceaseless work and research had finally borne fruit. And today, I got to test it out right away by having a warm bath to heal my tired soul. Ahhh, the beautiful scent of roses… I left the bath in high spirits and went to where Tanya was waiting to dress me.

“Excuse me, my lady. I need to do your hair… Oh!”

Tanya took a look at my hair and froze. Amazing, no? That girl never changed her expression, so the effect had to be quite potent.

“Your hair is so pretty… It’s like it’s shining,” she murmured. “Pardon me for asking, but how is this possible?”

“Hee hee. I used this.” I produced a small bottle. Inside, it was filled with a light-yellow liquid.

“What is this?”

“It’s called conditioner. It makes your hair softer, shinier, and more luxurious.”

Conditioner didn’t exist in this world, either. Everyone washed with soap, and that was it. Do you realize how much this had pained me? For the first three months, I had been so busy I hadn’t had time to think about it. But once I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Soap alone damages hair. I knew this, and it hurt to have to bear with it. My hair was a beautiful platinum, inherited from my mother, and thus the thought of damaging it stressed me out even more.

Luckily, in my old life, I had been obsessed with making my own soap, shampoo, conditioner, toner, and other such things. Less luckily, in this world, making them took too much time for me to do it regularly. If I was going to dedicate that time, I wanted to produce the ultimate product. Thus, this one was scented with the roses cultivated on my own estate.

“This is amazing, my lady…” Tanya whispered under her breath as she gazed at my hair, transfixed. As I thought, beauty products could capture people’s hearts in any world.

“Would you like some too, Tanya?”

“What? I couldn’t… Really?”

“Once the process is completed, it will be easy enough to make more.”

It had taken a long time to make the first bottle, but now that I had the recipe, it would be a breeze.

“Then perhaps a little…”

Tanya happily accepted the bottle. That made me glad. She’d helped me so much. But it didn’t end there. The female servants who saw my hair endlessly interrogated Tanya. Is she using something special? If she is, where does she get it?

Tanya firmly kept my secret, but when I saw this, I happily told the truth. One after another, the female servants begged me to share. Once they realized the conditioner’s effects, my merchants assured me it would sell tremendously well. Thus, the Azuta Corporation quickly started producing more. It went without saying that my workload increased.

 

***

 

I sent some conditioner to my mother, who apparently loved it and told everyone she knew about it. This solidified its place in the market for nobles as well as commoners, although it was a bit expensive. My mother really was an amazing PR machine. I started to secretly call her my Head of PR.

Of course, the larger my corporation grew, the more work I had to do. My number of employees also steadily increased, and they had as much authority as I could give them, but it had only been a year since we started. There was a lot I still wanted to be directly involved with, so it couldn’t be helped. I had to be careful with my health.

“Lady Iris?” Oddly enough, Sebastian called out to me in a slightly panicked tone.

“Oh, Sebastian. What is it? Wasn’t our meeting this afternoon?”

“About that. I’ve just learned that Her Grace is due to arrive this afternoon.”

“What? Mother? She didn’t mention anything in her most recent letter.”

“It is what it is. Your orders, please.”

“R-right. For now, have the servants clean the entrance hall, the dining room, and my mother’s room. I know you do that already, but go over them again. Then, change the flowers decorating the entrance hall. Roses, like the scented product I sent to her. And…for dessert, let’s have our newest creation, fondant chocolate. Make sure the rest of the meal goes with it. Fondant chocolate is quite rich, so I’m thinking something refreshing.”

“Understood.”

“Also, let’s have an herbal tea for teatime. The Azuta Corporation’s tea department should be able to fill you in.”

The “tea department” was a new moniker. Previously we’d had the noble department and the commoner department, but that hadn’t sat right with me, especially as we were in the process of opening a tea shop for the nobility as well. To wit, our chocolates were now separated into the tea and confectionery departments.

Oh, but the noble department still existed in some capacity. The nobility loved to be treated specially, so I had introduced a membership system. I was subsequently bowled over with frenzied requests from nobles wanting to join. Only members were allowed to visit special shops set up in the royal capital and our city. There, they could view all of our corporation’s products. In other words, not just sweets, but also the beauty products we’d started to create. The original beauty lotions that incorporated a client’s favorite smell were an especially good seller.

Anyway, if my mother was coming, I needed to reschedule some appointments. Lately, Tanya had been acting as my secretary, and she was a tremendous help, but I was on my own at the moment. I rearranged my schedule. I looked at the hack job I’d made of it and thought, I’m sorry, everyone.

I really was sorry that their workloads had become so much heavier. Therefore, I continued working until the last minute when I was notified of her arrival, checking numbers and all that.

“Her Grace has arrived.”

“Thank you, Sebastian.”

I quickly headed for the entrance hall, which was even shinier than usual. I joined the servants, who surrounded me as I greeted her.

“Welcome home, ma’am,” they chorused.

“Welcome home, Mother,” I said.

In the doorway stood a stunning beauty with luminous platinum hair. She really was gorgeous. Called the “Flower of High Society,” she still enjoyed a great deal of admiration from other nobles and held quite some sway. For this reason, I couldn’t wish for a better Head of PR for the Azuta Corporation.

“It’s good to be home. Sorry for the sudden intrusion, Iris dear.” She was, at heart, a kind woman. And though she acted warmly with her family, she held herself quite differently in the outside world. She was the Flower of High Society, after all—the perfect noble.

“No, I’m glad to see you after so long, Mother.”

“Oh, what a darling thing to say. We haven’t had a chance to sit and talk since you came back, so I really am delighted we have this chance.”

“Are you certain we’re not keeping you out of turn? The season’s not over yet.”

“It’s fine. I’ve seen to all my official duties, and I’ve notified my close friends of my absence… Oh, I suppose I was invited to House Kataberia’s tea party, but I had no intention of going.”

That’s my mother for you, I thought to myself. House Kataberia was the house of the knight captain; my mother was clearly still angry at his son, Dorssen. He had held me down on the floor during the second prince’s dining hall “trial.” I liked to think their family’s faces were all white as sheets now. After all, my mother’s attendance greatly elevated a party’s status. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if that was entirely true, but it was what people said.

Official duties aside, when a family hosted a gathering, it was judged based on who attended. Thus, it made quite a difference if the Flower of High Society showed up…or didn’t. And even if she did attend, the hosts were left worrying about when she’d leave. If she continually left their events early, people would say they had no class. Evening balls and tea parties were a gauge of a peerage wife’s influence. Even royal events outside of official gatherings tested the queen’s pull.

In other words, my mother was a key factor even for the queen’s events. As long as she attended, no one would be rude. Seriously, her very existence was like a cheat code.

That aside, screw you, Dorssen. Maybe that made me nasty. But I wasn’t sorry.

 

***

 

“Oh, Iris, dear. Are you already working?” In the morning, my mother poked her head into the study where I was, indeed, working.

“I’m sorry, Mother. It’s time for breakfast, isn’t it?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m more concerned about your health.”

“I’m fine. I haven’t taken ill, not in the least. Besides, I’m having a lot of fun.”

“Really? All right, then…” she trailed off.

“If you’d like, please eat breakfast without me,” I said. “I’m going to be here a while longer. I’ve ordered chocolate croissants today.”

“Chocolate croissants? I haven’t heard of those.”

“They’re a new Azuta creation. Flaky bread rolls with ribbons of chocolate inside.”

“Oh, that does sound delicious. But it’s not often I get this chance, so I’ll wait for you.”

“All right. I’ll do my best to finish quickly.”

Tanya deftly poured my mother some tea. The perfect secretary, that was my Tanya. I looked over each of the reports my departments had given me that morning.

Ah… Still so much to do. The road project was going well; work on the academy of higher education and the city’s elementary schools was progressing, too.

“Sebastian, this calculation is off. Get it fixed. Also, this budget application is rejected. Their estimation of funds is too optimistic. Tell them to cut it where they can. If they want to go with this number, then they’ll have to present it with evidence that will convince Architetto. Oh, speaking of Architetto, how are the town halls coming along?”

“Their mission to construct town halls across the duchy is proceeding well. Materials for both the roads and the halls can be consolidated and transported simultaneously, which will lead to overall reduction in cost and increased efficiency.”

“I want to know more. Have them submit a report to me. Also, tell Abitante to prioritize that census. I want the city done before the road project finishes. In the future, this will be our most important asset. If we want to move ahead on other jobs, then we must have this census.”

“Understood.”

Was that the end of the documents I was looking at? There were more I needed to take my time investigating and going over… Oh, no, there were two piles left. As I split up the rest of my work, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

“Pardon me.” In came Sei, the man to whom I’d entrusted my corporation.

“Your Grace, Lady Iris, good morning. I’ve brought the Azuta Corporation morning report.”

“Give it here. I’ll look at it.”

He placed a mound of papers on my desk. It was difficult to decide if there were a ton or a few—there were a lot of papers, but never as many as I wanted. I quickly flipped through them. Anything that looked important, I stuck a temporary label on and kept moving. Once I was all the way through, I doubled back to the labeled sections. Thank goodness I was a fast reader.

“All departments seem to be doing well, for the most part. This new product in the beauty department, though—bring me a sample later. The container, too. Also, there are several raw materials I’d like to test out. Tell the development team I’ll be by later.”

“If you tell me what they are, I can prepare the materials in advance.”

“Really? Then here, gather the things I’ve written on this memo by this afternoon. And while I’m at it, I’d like to check on each store’s books, so bring them to me. I’ll look them over later.”

“Understood.”

That was enough for my morning responsibilities, I supposed.

I stood. “Mother, thank you for waiting.”

“It’s fine. This herbal tea really is delicious.” She smiled at me brightly. I’d made her wait so long, too. She was such a kind soul.

“I’m glad you like it. It’s one of my tea department’s most popular items.”

“Of course. I’d love to drink this at home.”

“Is that so? Unfortunately, we only serve it at our tea shops at the moment.”

Black tea was the main variety in this country, so when I added herbal tea to the menu as an experiment, it turned out to be a huge hit. People wanted to buy the leaves, but our production department wasn’t able to keep up with demand. I’d have to think of something. Maybe I needed to visit the tea department in the afternoon.

“I see. Well, please let me know once it’s available for purchase. I’ll serve it at my next tea party.”

“You’re too kind.”

That was my Head of PR for you.

And so, I had breakfast with my mother and enjoyed a leisurely teatime. It had probably been a long time since I’d experienced such peace.

“By the way, how are things at home?” I asked.

“Hm? Same as usual. Nothing’s changed. My dumb son refuses to come home even for school break. He’s probably busy trailing behind the second prince and that woman.” Mother’s tone grew cold toward the latter half of her report. Her beauty made the impact of her ire perfect.

“M-Mother…”

“I just want you to know, Iris, that I shall be on your side with this. I believe I also have a bone to pick with Lord Berne.”

H-her tone was ice cold! She was totally in high society mode. That chilling smile sent a shiver up my spine.

“Honestly, if he weren’t my own son, I’d have crushed him already.” On her lips was a smile, but her eyes were nigh murderous.

You’re scaring me, Mother! I hastily changed the subject. “Th-that reminds me, how are things in the capital and the palace?”

My mother sighed, and the air about her once again became gentle. Relieved, I let out the breath I’d been holding. I-I hadn’t changed the subject because I was scared, okay? I was genuinely curious.

Of course, I knew what was going on with both parties to a certain extent. But the amount my mother knew was consistently mind-boggling. I knew, for example, that the first and second prince were in a deadlock in terms of vying for succession. Such was to be expected. The current king was healthy, so there was no advantage in making a big move as yet.

As for the princes… The first prince was supposedly studying abroad, but the veracity of that statement was highly suspect. It had never been officially stated where he went to study, after all. But he hadn’t surfaced at all since he left, so I had no idea of his whereabouts. The second prince seemed to still be at the academy, but I hadn’t bothered to look into him at all, so I couldn’t have told you more.

 

***

 

After submitting his report and exiting the room, Sei went to relay Iris’s instructions. He looked at the papers he held and smiled wryly for a second. His situation had changed quite a lot over the years. By some miracle, he had been rescued from the slums and now served the duke’s family. Yet even all that—being brought into the household, being apprenticed to Sebastian—now seemed like distant memories.

Everything had changed once Iris became acting governor. The business, her decision to appoint him at its head… Ever since, his work as a butler had simply vanished. He’d become her eyes and mouth, holding meetings with various managers, greeting clients, and more. He was buried under the work.

Once he delivered Iris’s instructions, Sei made to return to the hall he’d just left.

“Oh, Sei. Good morning.”

“Good morning, Tanya.”

He passed by Tanya, one of his fellow orphans. She worked as Iris’s hands and feet as her handmaid, and now her secretary.

“How is it going?” she asked.

“The same as always. What about you, Tanya?”

“Same here, I suppose. By the way, do you have plans later?”

“I was going to take a small break before going to pick up our lady.”

“In that case, how about some tea?”

It wasn’t every day one got an invitation to tea from Tanya, so Sei agreed and they moved to the servant break room.

“Here you are.”

Sei plopped down, and Tanya poured him a cup. It was a light yellow-green herbal tea that the corporation had been pushing lately.

“This is a lemongrass tea. It’s very good for exhaustion.”

“Thank you. Let’s see if it works.” Sei took a sip and let out a relaxed sigh. “It’s good. Do I really look that tired?”

“No. But you are, aren’t you?”

“Ha ha ha… Yeah, you’re right. But how I feel isn’t important. Compared to our lady…”

“I’m concerned about her, too. I haven’t seen her rest at all lately.” Tanya sighed, troubled. To her, Iris was a savior. Her loyalty to Iris exceeded that of any of their fellows; if Iris asked Tanya to give her life, she gladly would. Being so extraordinarily loyal to Iris, she was especially sensitive to her lady’s health and given to endless worries.

“I agree. When I see her, I realize I have to work much, much harder.”

Sei’s workload had indeed blown up since Iris returned. He didn’t resent her for it, however. In fact, he was excited to be invited along for the challenge of seeing just how big the corporation could grow. Most of all, seeing how hard Iris worked, he felt a natural urge to do better himself.

“You shouldn’t model yourself after her. She’s an addict.”

“Ha ha ha, you’re too right. Oh, I should get going.”

“Our lady is speaking with Her Grace at the moment. I doubt she’s been able to finish her work.”

Right, Sei silently agreed. Now the odd tea invitation made sense. Tanya was trying to be kind and give Iris more time with her mother. “I see. Then I should wait a bit longer,” he said. “Do you think it’s possible Her Grace came to visit because she was worried about her daughter?”

“I suspect that’s the case. Sebastian periodically sends her updates on the estate, after all,” said Tanya.

Sebastian alone was entrusted with managing both Armelian estates. Even after being charged with assisting Iris in reforming the duchy, he still sent detailed reports to the duke.

“I understand that he does it for Lady Iris’s sake,” said Tanya. “But to me, she’s more important than the duchy. I just hope she uses this chance to take a good break.”

“Indeed. Oh, Tanya. Could I ask for a refill?”

“I’d be happy to.”

Sei settled back into his seat. He’d go once he relaxed a bit more. It wouldn’t do to interrupt Iris’s rare break.

Just then, Dida popped his head into the room. “Whoa, if the two of you together ain’t a sight. Haven’t seen this in years.”

“Long time no see, Dida.”

As one of Iris’s guards, Dida had been busy running all over the duchy on her orders, and as such, they hadn’t been able to cross paths lightly.

“Care for some tea, Dida?”

“Is that the new tea everyone’s talking about? Sure, sure.” Dida studied the tea curiously, then took a sip and grinned. “Ah, that’s the good stuff. I like it a lot better than plain black tea. The princess just keeps churning these new blends out, too. Amazing.”

“Ha ha ha, true. By the way, Dida, what have you been up to lately?”

“Me? Patrolling the roads with the new guys Lyle’s been training.”

Iris had ordered the bolstering and expansion of her Safety Patrol. Lyle and Dida were in charge of training the new recruits. The duke’s guards were famously skilled, so there were no better people to whom the job could be entrusted. Lyle and Dida were particularly famous for rejecting invitations to join the royal knights in favor of staying with House Armelia.

“How are the patrols going?” Sei asked.

“Pretty good, I’d say. The views are nice, too. The recruits always complain about how tough the big guy is on them, though.”

“Ha ha ha, that’s a good thing. And what brings you here today?”

“The big guy called me in. No clue as to why. Been a while since I’ve been home, though. Might be all right to go a little wild. Tanya, you should come help me train.”

“No, thank you.” Tanya was actually a skilled martial artist. Apparently, she had been trained quite rigorously by Iris’s mother’s family as a child, all in the name of protecting Iris. “The techniques I trained in are for instant kills. For murder. We differ at our cores, so it wouldn’t work.”

“Ha ha ha! What a scary handmaid. You think I’d lose?”

“No, I didn’t say that. I just mean that our styles are too different.”

“Well, I guess you’re right. Oh well. Guess I’ll have to put up with the big guy again.” Dida took one last swig and then stood up. “Thanks for the tea. Later.”

“Take care,” said Tanya.

“Take care,” echoed Sei. “I think I’ll go do some work and give Lady Iris a bit more time. Excuse me.”

Sei had so many things to think about that his brain felt a bit fuzzy. But after this break, his mind was cleared, at least for the moment. Breaks are important, he realized. Lady Iris needs a good break, too.

 

***

 

After breakfast, I enjoyed some herbal tea with Mother. When I asked about the royal capital, her expression fell a bit.

“Things haven’t changed much there. But it’s a bit odd inside the palace.”

“Odd how?”

“That woman has grown bolder. She’s pushing things. It’s mostly all to do with that baron’s daughter, but the king shares some of the blame for becoming so cowardly after losing dear Sharia. This is why Iria and I opposed his remarriage.”

“That woman” referred to the king’s new queen, Ellia. Mother had always seemed to dislike her. Conversely, she had been quite close with the late Queen Sharia. Iria, meanwhile, was the king’s mother—in other words, the queen dowager. She was the highest-ranking woman in the kingdom. Though currently retired from political life, she spent her days in the detached palace. Her influence, however, remained significant.

Incidentally, she’d always had a soft spot for my mother. Iria thought of her like her own daughter, apparently. Despite the queen dowager’s retirement from royal life, my mother still visited her.

“You said the baron’s daughter is stirring the pot… I thought Queen Ellia opposed the engagement of Ms. Yuri and Prince Edward.” Considering her desires for Prince Edward’s ascension to the throne, I would have thought Ellia would want him to marry someone of higher status.

“That baron’s daughter… What was her name again?” Mother asked.

“Yuri Neuer,” I supplied.

“Ah, of course. Ms. Yuri, you see… She’s quite skilled at stroking one’s pride. It’s no wonder that ball of vanity known as Ellia fell for her.”

“Mother, you’ve met Ms. Yuri?”

“Yes. She seems to be doing the rounds and greeting people, so we met by chance. The moment you were out of the picture, the second prince took her on tour.”

“I see…” I said. “And what did you think after meeting her?”

“What does it matter? I’m on your side, Iris. But even if I weren’t, I wouldn’t care to get too close to her. I simply can’t deal with people who don’t consider reality.”

“You mean she’s too optimistic?”

“No… It’s hard to describe. But you never have to be near her again, so don’t worry.”

Mother didn’t seem to want to tell me more, but now I was curious. The truth was, I’d never interacted much with Yuri, so I didn’t know much about her. Well, if you didn’t count what Prince Edward had told me.

“Th-then, Mother, do you know what the first prince is like?”

“Oh, have you never met him?”

“No…” I couldn’t remember him at all. If we had met, well, he was part of the royal family. I assumed I would recall.

“Prince Alfred did retreat from the public stage quite early, didn’t he?” Mother mused. “And right after that he went abroad.”

“Why so early?” This timeline seemed odd to me.

“When Sharia passed, I’m afraid a good deal happened. I’m not saying it’s his fault. He’s a wonderful person. He reminds me of your father, in fact.”

“Really?” I said, hiding my wince.

“Why, yes. Oh, but not in his looks. It’s his air—his presence. He’s still in the kingdom, you know. Maybe you’ll meet him one day.”

“I see, he’s in the kingdom…” I froze. “Wait, what?!”

Wasn’t he abroad?! How did she even know that?

“Oh, you didn’t know? Well, this will be our little secret, then.” Mother smiled.

Whoa, whoa, whoa… You can’t just lay that line on me so easily! I gathered myself. “Why in the world hasn’t he revealed himsel—”

“Oh, how I’ve missed you, Merry! Iris!” My grandfather flung open the door, interrupting me.

Wait, what?

“Grandfather! What are you doing here?” I gasped.

“I heard Merry had returned, so I figured it was a good time to show up.”

Gazell Daz Anderson was my mother’s father, the kingdom’s general, and my grandfather. The Andersons were a marquis house, but my grandfather thought the world of nobles was too stuck up, so he had joined the military instead. There, he proved to be an excellent military man and rapidly rose in the ranks. Thirty years ago, in the war with our neighboring country Tweil, he had landed a major victory with the squad he led. Thanks to that, he had been named general. Even now, the royal knights and military both respected him.

Let me explain the difference between the military and the knights. The knights essentially served as guards for the royal family and the palace. They employed only nobles, albeit lower-ranking ones, as well as men recommended by the nobility. Of those people, the ones who guarded the royal family personally were called the royal knights. They existed to be the king’s shield and spear in times of trouble, so only the strongest knights were appointed to this position.

Lyle and Dida had been invited to the royal knights in part because they had trained under my grandfather. However, in the end, they had rejected that offer.

The kingdom’s military deployed directly to the battlefield in times of war. As an officer, no one cared about where you came from. In times of peace, the military acted as enforcers of the peace in the capital and the kingdom in place of a police force.

Perhaps you might have guessed from my explanation, but typically, a marquis’s son like my grandfather would have joined the knights. Yet bizarrely, he had opted for the military. Then again, if you took in his long, gray hair, untrimmed beard, and buff body, he did come off as more of a warrior than a noble.

Also, “Merry” was his nickname for my mother.

“Iris, you poor thing. I’m sorry it took me so long to see you.” It was hard to see his expression under all that hair, but I could hear the regret and guilt in his voice.

“No! I know you’re very busy. I don’t mind,” I assured him.

“Ha ha ha! My son’s taken over as lord for me, and the kingdom’s not in any immediate danger of going to war. I’ve got plenty of free time!”

But wasn’t it true that people visited him every day, seeking his training?

“Oh, how you’ve taken after Merry…” His eyes crinkled as he looked at me.

“H-have I?”

I’m taking after Mother? Don’t be ridiculous. The only thing we shared was our platinum hair. My eyes were a deep blue and slightly sharp, while hers were a soft aquamarine that reminded me of a spring sky.

“You don’t have to force yourself to marry,” he insisted. “You can stay at home and do whatever makes you happy. And if you ever find yourself with nowhere to go, you can always come to me.”

Ah… That would be nice. If my brother ever came back and took over the family title, I’d have nowhere to go. In that case, it would be a good idea to take my grandfather up on his offer. I could manage Azuta from anywhere, after all.

“Oh, Father. Don’t think I didn’t hear that. How would Iris ever have nowhere to go? I’d rather you take that idiot son of mine,” Mother said primly.

“Now, now. I can’t just take Berne away. That would put Louis in a bind.”

“Hmph. He thinks it would be fine, too.”

“Oh? Well, if you say so…”

My head started to hurt, listening to them. Berne’s head had always been in the clouds. “Is he really doing that poorly in the capital?” I asked.

“Oh, he’s doing great work. For Prince Edward, that is.” Mother’s tone began cold and grew frostier. “No, perhaps for that baron’s daughter…”

I was too scared to ask what he’d screwed up this time. In fact, I was beginning to hope he would never return home.

“Anyway, Iris, would it be all right for me to stay here for a while?” my grandfather asked.

“Of course, Grandfather,” I assured him. Then something occurred to me. “Oh, in that case, could I ask something of you?”

“What is it?”

“It’s two things, actually. First, I’ve established a new Safety Patrol under our house. I’d like for you to train the new recruits. Of course, only while you’re here.”

“Sure, that’s fine. I was hoping to play with Lyle and Dida.”

“Huh? Then did they know you were coming?”

“I only told them I was coming ‘soon.’ But they know me, so I expect they’d sensed it.”

I sighed. Grandfather, do you ever make plans? It was no wonder those two couldn’t have informed me in advance. He’d never given them a solid plan.

“And what’s the other thing?” he asked.

“Um…well, you see…”

“Out with it, girl.”

“Could you take me into town?” I asked.

He was so surprised that his eyes almost popped out of his skull. “I don’t mind, but…why?”

“Um…I want to walk the streets. Not exactly to observe things, but…I want to see with my own eyes the state of things, how the people live, and be surrounded by them. Thus, I’d rather go without a huge entourage. And if you’re with me, no one will complain, right?”

I had seen so much on my last trip, even if it was only to a small part of the duchy. But I didn’t just want to see things as part of some trip. I wanted to walk the streets as just another person. No carriage, no guards. On my own feet, just like in my previous life. And for that, my grandfather would be incredibly convenient.

First of all, with someone as strong as him by my side, I would be totally safe. Lyle and Dida wouldn’t be able to object. Secondly, walking with him would add to my camouflage. I hated to say it, but he really didn’t look like a noble. And thirdly, I didn’t want to force my servants to follow along with my selfish whims too often. Lyle and Dida had their own jobs to do, and I preferred they prioritized them over me. If I took the other guards, I’d need a whole battalion of them, and I’d still feel uneasy. With all that in mind, my grandfather really was the perfect man for the job.

“I’ve got no problem with that,” he said. “How about tomorrow?”

“Truly?! Thank you so much!”

Yes! My thoughts were instantly overtaken by thoughts of what I could do on this trip—I knew it was for work, but maybe I could indulge in some snacking and window shopping?

At that moment, I heard a knock at the door.

“Pardon me. Lady Iris, it’s time for your afternoon meetings.” Sei entered the room guiltily.

“Oh, is it that time already?”

“Iris, dear, don’t worry about us,” Mother assured me. “We know how this family works.”

“In that case, you two, I’ll have to excuse myself. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

I left the study, and as we walked, I listened to Sei tell me about how things had progressed since the morning. Oh, I’d have to remember to set up a strategy for selling herbal tea leaves.

“By the way, Sei, I saw Ms. Yuri’s name in your report,” I said.

“Oh, her? She applied for membership for the special shops, but I rejected her.”

“Really? Prince Edward didn’t complain?”

“I told her ‘Since you are not officially married to the prince, you currently cannot become a member. Many nobles have already applied for membership status with our corporation, many of whom outrank you and are waiting their turn.’ She seemed to accept this. The second prince complained, but in the end, she got him to step down.”

“I see… Well, as long as nothing terrible happened.”

“Honestly, I don’t understand them,” Sei sighed. “They know you run Azuta, yet they just waltz in and demand special treatment? Makes me doubt their intelligence.”

“I’m not so sure they know about me, actually. Or more like they care so little about me that the possibility never crossed their minds. I think that’s more accurate.”

Yeah, that was the feeling I got. I was a person in their past, perhaps not even significant enough to take up a corner of their memories. They were each other’s worlds, and they were blind to all else in orbit. Or perhaps the eye of a hurricane would be a more appropriate metaphor.

“Even if they were unaware, it’s unbecoming. The second prince was ranting and raving, brandishing his title, while she was saying ‘Oh, special treatment is wrong.’ So why did you apply in the first place?”

I couldn’t help but heave a heavy sigh. “Sei, if you’re concerned about me, then know that I wouldn’t mind if you had just approved her without fuss. It’s more annoying that Prince Edward showed up and kicked one up.”

“Well, at the moment, the waitlist part really is true. When it comes her turn, I’ll be sure to conduct a thorough investigation.”

“All right, then.”

I then went with Sei to each of my meetings, and by the time we were done, the sun was setting.

Now comes my meeting with Sebastian, I thought as I wandered alone. The duke owned large tracts of land, and there were multiple structures aside from the main mansion. For instance, one of those buildings served as the Azuta Corporation’s headquarters. I forbade anyone from taking test products outside of it, so if I wanted to check on them, I had to visit the place myself. It was good exercise, and it was on the estate anyway.

As soon as I entered the study, Tanya poured me some tea.

“Tanya, could you adjust my noon appointments tomorrow?”

“Do you have other plans?”

“Yes, I’m going into the city with my grandfather.”

“With Master Gazell? That’s a good idea. I’ll open your schedule immediately.”

“Thanks.”

Everything was set. I couldn’t help but be excited for tomorrow!

 

***

 

In the morning, I got through my meetings, blazed through breakfast, and began getting ready. Since I would be walking through the city, I needed to wear appropriate clothes. Thus, I picked a slightly plainer dress than normal. That said, I’d been choosing outfits based on practicality lately, so maybe it wouldn’t be that different after all.

I headed to the entrance hall to wait for my grandfather where I found Tanya, dressed in a similar outfit for some reason.

“Tanya… Perhaps this is a pointless question, but why are you wearing that?” I asked.

“I will be going with you.”

“But Tanya, the point of today is to walk around without a huge entourage.”

“Three people is no different from two.”

Well, perhaps, but even so…

“My lady, please show greater care for your safety. I will not deny that Master Gazell is strong. But on the off chance anything should happen, it would be difficult to fight and protect you at the same time. Thus, at least bring me along with you, that we might better share the responsibility.”

Her earnest gaze moved my heart, and yet… “But—”

“Oh, let the girl come, Iris,” said my grandfather.

“Grandfather…”

“Tanya’s worried, girl. It’s a master’s job to pick up on and respect those feelings.”

I supposed if something did happen to me, there would be a lot of trouble. I nodded. “I understand. Then, Grandfather, Tanya, let’s go. Also, while we’re outside, please call me Alice.”

I insisted on this, to which they agreed. Then we left through the back gate, strolling our way into the city. Ah, the weather was so pleasant. Spring never seemed to end in Armelia, so it was neither too hot nor too cold.

The farther we got into town, the denser the crowds became. Buildings made of brown bricks lined the streets, offering a different charm than what I’d grown accustomed to in Japan. As we walked down the lively main avenue, I glanced in the various stores.

The pots out in front of a florist caught my attention, and I stopped. The purple petals were lovely. “Oh, how darling! Ma’am! What kind of flower is this?”

“Those are known as bugles,” she said. “They only bloom this time of year. Surprisingly simple to grow, too.”

“Wow… How much are they?”

“The flowering ones are a thousand bells. The seeds are five hundred bells a bag.”

“I’ll take the seeds then, please.”

“You got it. Thanks for the business.”

I paid her and received a bag. Doing my own shopping was so refreshingly fun.

“What are you going to do with those?” Grandfather asked.

“I thought I’d raise them in my study. The air seems so stifling in there, you know?”

“Ha ha ha! Girls sure pay attention to the smallest things. Fantastic!”

After walking for a bit, I realized I was hungry, so we entered a restaurant a little off the beaten path. By chance, we seemed to have stumbled on a terribly popular place, as it was nearly full.

“Welcome. Please find yourselves an empty seat,” said a waiter.

I sat in a wooden chair and looked at the menu on the wall.

“I’ll have the grilled meat special,” my grandfather said.

“Um, I’ll have the stew and bread pairing,” I said.

“I’ll have the same,” Tanya added.

The waiter left us, and I looked about the restaurant again. People were constantly coming and leaving, but the chaotic atmosphere was bright and exciting.

A different person delivered our meal. “Order up! First, the lady with the stew. Say, I don’t recognize you girls.”

“We’re here from the capital,” I said. “It’s been a while since we moved, but things have been so busy that we haven’t had a chance to poke our heads into town.”

“I see. From the capital, eh?” said the waiter.

“What do you make of this city?” I asked.

“Mm? Well, let’s see. It’s situated in a great area, about equal to the capital. Especially lately, a lot’s been changing little by little to make our lives easier.”

“That’s good to hear.”

This made me happy. It made me feel like everything I did wasn’t a waste of time after all. Honestly, sometimes I got scared. I wondered if I was doing the right thing. Of course, there wasn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer, or… No, perhaps that’s exactly why I sought a clear “correct” path. My decisions moved the direction of peoples’ lives, and as a result, their destinies changed. Maybe I was overthinking it, but in those moments when I decided on this or that reformation, such thoughts always entered my mind.

Anyway, the dishes we ordered were delicious. I didn’t think I could ever abandon this type of food. Nobles were just too finicky about what they ate. I could see why my grandfather felt that way about our whole society.

Once we were done, we exited the restaurant and resumed walking. Maybe it’s time to head home, I thought, when two small children on the side of the road caught my eye. They were about five or six years old. One was sitting, while the other was scanning the street.

“What’s the matter?” I asked. “Are you sick?”

Their clothes were clean but seemed old. Their bodies were thin all over.

“We’re lost.” The girl who had been looking around said this to me with tears in her eyes.

“Oh, that’s terrible. Did you get separated from your parents?”

“No, we live with Teacher.”

If they knew where they’d come from, they wouldn’t be lost in the first place. Well, this was a pickle.

“My la—Miss Alice. These two might be from the orphanage.”

Tanya had just tried to say “my lady,” hadn’t she? But that wasn’t important right now.

“The orphanage?” I asked.

“It’s an establishment downtown that takes in children who have lost their parents.”

“Oh, what a lovely mission. Let’s take them there, for now.”

My grandfather picked up the girl who had been sitting, while the other held my hand. As we walked, Tanya followed behind. The orderly cityscape soon gave way to an area that had a run-down, grimy appearance. We seemed to be going in the right direction, as the girls’ eyes brightened. Once a church-like building came into view, they dashed toward it. In front of the building was a woman looking about for the children, her expression troubled. When she spotted them, her eyes went wide with surprise for a second and then tears threatened to spill from them.

“Honestly! I was so worried,” she cried. “Where in the world did you disappear to?”

“We’re sorry, Teacher Mina. We were exploring and got lost.”

“Oh… I’m just glad you’re safe.” The woman they called Teacher Mina hugged the children tightly. “And who are these people?” she asked upon noticing us.

How do I answer this? I wondered, but the children spoke up first.

“They brought us here!”

“Oh! I’m terribly sorry for the trouble.”

“No, it’s fine,” I insisted.

“I can’t give you anything much as thanks, but please, have some tea.”

At first I politely declined, but the children insisted on playing, so eventually I agreed. The inside of the orphanage was, just as with the outside, a bit aged. There were sections in need of repair, but every inch had been cleaned to perfection.

“Thank you so much for what you did,” said Mina.

“Oh, no… In fact, I feel like I should thank you for inviting us in,” I said. “Oh, forgive the late introduction. My name is Alice.”

“And mine is Mina. Ms. Alice, where did you find those children?”

“On the side of the main avenue. If I had to give a location, it would be close to the Azuta Corporation.”

“Ah, I knew it…” Mina sighed.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“It’s shameful to admit this, but apparently the children heard about Azuta’s chocolates from somewhere. They’ve been insistent on trying some.”

“Oh… No wonder they wandered so far away.”

“They’re just too energetic. I take my eyes off them for a second and they’re gone.”

“By the way, Mina, what brought you here to take care of these children?”

“The truth is, I was raised here as well by a sister of the Darryl Church,” said Mina. “She managed this chapel. And so, I’ve taken in orphans just as she did. After she passed, I took over the chapel duties as well.”

“I see. Pardon me for asking, but what do you do for money? I mean…when you have to feed so many people…”

“I used to use donations to the church. But I’m afraid that after the sister passed, donations slowed down.”

“Oh…”

Hmm. It seemed no one in this situation was directly related to the Darryl Church. Thus, anyone who continued to donate did so exclusively with the intent to help the orphans. That said, it was unlikely Mina could simply leave and find work. Actually, this was an issue I needed to get involved with, wasn’t it? I would talk to Sebastian when I got home.

“Forgive me for the troublesome topic. Please, make yourselves at home. I have to go prepare dinner.” Mina bowed.

No, no, no! I couldn’t impose any further! I tried to decline, but Mina swiftly disappeared. Wasn’t that a bit careless, leaving a total stranger with the kids? As I looked around, thinking, I noticed my grandfather playing with the children in the yard. He did adore young people.

Wait, was he trying to train them?

Tanya was also teaching a few girls how to braid hair. She was surprisingly good at dealing with kids. Awkwardly enough, children started to congregate around me as well—both boys and girls. What would I do? Kids were cute, and I loved them, but I’d never interacted much with them.

In the end, I sat down to tell them fairy tales from Japan. The children’s eyes gradually began to sparkle as they listened, causing me to get carried away after a few stories and begin acting them out. Notably, I’d never acted in my life.

Before I knew it, the crowd of children had grown. At first it had just been three, but soon there were eight. My grandfather and Tanya were also watching two children each.

Grandfather, where did you get that wooden sword? For the moment, I pushed my doubts out of my mind and continued with the storytelling. The kids playing with wooden swords seemed to be having fun, too. Perhaps they’d find the skills my grandfather imparted useful in the future. For now, I would pretend I hadn’t seen anything.

This all reminded me, however—were there no picture books in this world? If there weren’t, then the Azuta Corporation would have to make some. They were useful in educating children, and I could donate the proceeds.

Suddenly, shouting from outside broke my train of thought.

“I know you’re in there! Get out here now!”

Wh-what?

It was a deep, masculine voice. I could hear his anger as he shouted over and over for someone to come out. The children were understandably scared, and they all shrank back. Finally, I heard a crash, and a rock came flying in through a window.

“Everyone! Are you okay?” Mina came running into the room.

“What is going on here?” Tanya asked. I sensed anger in her normally expressionless face.

“I-It’s shameful to admit, but we’re on the verge of being evicted,” Mina confessed.

“Why?”

“When my predecessor passed, no one was dispatched to replace her. The Darryl Church withdrew from this area. Those men you hear are employed by the person who bought this land afterward. But we have nowhere to go if we leave, so…”

And so the conflict had led to this. Hmm. While I didn’t like their methods, this other party did seem to be in the legal right. While we were in a run-down part of the city, the chapel was still technically close to the main street, so it was in a pretty desirable location.

The shouting grew louder. I’d had enough. I stalked outside.

I heard Tanya shout at my back to stop, but I couldn’t ignore this. If Tanya were to handle it, she’d beat the objectors to a pulp without a second thought, while my grandfather would likely send them running in fear with his presence alone.

Two rugged-looking men eyed me suspiciously as I approached.

“Who the hell are you?” one growled.

“I came here to worship, though it seems mass hasn’t been held here for a long time,” I said. “Regardless, this is still a Darryl Church. I cannot condone you throwing rocks.”

“Huh? Our boss bought this place.”

“Oh, my… Then it no longer belongs to the Church?”

“That’s right. But it’s infested with kids, so we’re here to chase them out.”

“I see,” I nodded, as if in understanding. “But as a woman of faith, I still cannot condone such barbarity as to throw rocks at a place of worship. If your boss can prove ownership, then they ought to go to the town hall and present their deed. The appropriate measures will be taken. It’s unthinkable that you would threaten powerless children with violence.”

“Shut up, wench!”

“If you continue to cause a ruckus, I shall have to call the guards.”

A new voice spoke then. “It’s the children’s fault for not leaving in the first place.”

From behind the two men, another man appeared as if from out of nowhere. The two men seem to defer to him, so he had to be their superior. His clothes were of slightly higher quality, considering the area, but if he hired such men, then his true character was clear.

“I will accept that they do not have legal claim to the building,” I said. “However, that doesn’t excuse violence, especially against children. If you wish to insist on your claim, please, again, I urge you to visit the town hall.”

“Hmph. I’m willing to ignore the rent they owe me since I bought the deed, as long as they leave. Your way ain’t worth the trouble.”

His reasoning wasn’t technically flawed. That said, there were too many children to just up and leave at a moment’s notice. And what was this about rent?

“Or are you their payment?” he leered.

“What?” What had he just said? Not “Are you here to pay for them?” but “Are you their payment?” He thought I was being sold?

“Respectfully, no,” I said coolly. “What sort of negotiation is that, anyway?”

“You’d fetch a high price, I bet. No, it’d be a waste to sell you right away…”

“I said you’re mistaken.”

“Ha! You wanna protect those kids, don’t you? Everybody wins this way. The kids pay their rent, and you get to wear pretty clothes and eat tasty food. I’m rich, you see. All right, boys, take her away.”

The moment one of the men reached toward me, Tanya stepped between us. She almost seemed to be moving in slow-motion. “Don’t take another step toward her.”

Suddenly, I noticed the small knife in her hand. It was placed at the man’s neck. He stopped just a hair short of death, and a crimson line of blood dripped from his throat.

“Wh-who the hell are you?”

Her sudden appearance had completely surprised them. Eventually, they seemed to recover, and the boss snorted.

“Oh? You say violence is wrong and yet employ it yourselves?”

“Because you won’t listen,” I said sharply. “It’s answering fire with fire. Nothing more.”

I didn’t quite believe myself even as I said it, but the words spilled out of my mouth. Tanya probably hadn’t been able to hold herself back. Regardless, I was grateful she had saved me.

But what now? If I revealed my identity, this matter could be put to bed easily. But if I were being honest, I wanted the guards, rather than my personal retainers, to catch these crooks. It would make a good show of the guards’ ability to keep the peace. My hope was that the prosecution of these individuals would deter people from trying anything similarly shady.

“Everything okay?”

With perfect timing, my grandfather appeared. The sight of this mountain of a man drained the fire from our accosters.

“Let’s go.” Finally, the boss made a wise decision and fled along with his men.

Once they had, Tanya rounded on me. “Lady Iris! Why would you put yourself in such danger?”

“Tanya, I told you not to call me that.”

“This is no time for jokes! You really scared me. If Master Gazell hadn’t stopped me, I would have jumped in immediately…” Tanya scolded me and then turned her rare anger on my grandfather. She glared at him.

“Tanya, you were angry before I even stepped out,” I said.

“Because those fools endangered you. It’s only natural.”

“But that anger would have ended the possibility of any clear-headed discussion. And Grandfather’s presence alone would have riled them up and made things more complicated. I was the most suitable representative.”

“But—”

“My goal remains the same as it ever has been. These children are citizens that I must protect. Thus, I will never hesitate to act on their behalf.”

Tanya didn’t seem to accept my reasoning, but she at least conceded to my conviction.

“When we get back, I will bring this event up for discussion,” I said. “It is something I must get involved with on an official level, not a personal one. Now, let’s head home.”

At this, we bid goodbye to an extremely grateful Mina and her no-longer-frightened brood, then set off.

“Alice…” Just before we arrived at the main street, my grandfather suddenly called out my alias.

“What is it, Grandfather?”

“Run. Tanya, you know what to do.”

“Of course.” Tanya, in total understanding of the situation, grabbed my hand and dashed off.

“Wait, Tanya!”

“Lady Alice, please close your mouth and run.” Tanya pulled me onto the main avenue, and we headed straight for a guard station. “Please help!” she cried.

I stared at Tanya in total confusion, as I still didn’t understand what was going on.

“What’s the matter?” a guard demanded.

“We were attacked by men over in that side street. A man passing by saved us, but he’s totally outnumbered. I don’t know if he’ll make it out alive.”

Tanya was normally an expressionless sort, but right then her face did a good job of conveying fear.

Wait, attacked by men? Is that what Grandfather…?

“That’s terrible! Let’s go, men!” the guard called.

Three guards exited the station and followed us. I hated to say it, but my grandfather seemed a lot stronger than those three combined. Still, I went along with it. Tanya stuck close to me. We needed her to show us the way, and I felt a wordless pressure coming from her hand on mine saying “Don’t let go.”

I think I would have been okay if she left me at the station.

We arrived back at our original location to find a dozen men collapsed on the ground. At first, I feared they were dead, but they seemed to have been simply knocked out. In the middle of them all stood my grandfather, looking bored. He had taken out all those men that quickly? Even for him, that was impressive.

“Y-you’re… Thank you for your great work!”

The guards delivered a full salute. Ah, right, Grandfather had been training the guards yesterday and this morning, so of course they knew his face.

“Mm. I happened to see these girls being assaulted. I had them run off and defended myself. Just a bit.”

Aha. We were keeping up the act of being strangers. While the guards knew my grandfather, only those from Azuta’s research and development department, as well as a few select ministers, knew I was the acting governor as well as the duke’s daughter.

“Thank you for your help. We’ll take things from here,” the guards said.

“I’ll leave you to it, then. Need to see these girls home,” said Grandfather.

“Understood, sir.”

The walk home was unremarkable. In case you were wondering, the ones who attacked us were employed by that same man from the orphanage. Apparently, he’d only retreated at first in order to call in his goons. He was also wanted for human trafficking and so was subsequently arrested. The sale of humans is forbidden in Armelia, you see, and has been for a long time, so there was no extended investigation. I didn’t even have to suggest such a rule.

When I got home, I got an earful from Lyle and Dida while Grandfather laughed behind my back. Despite everything, I still wanted to walk the streets every now and again in the future. It had been fun, and quite enriching. After all, I now knew we should begin selling picture books and fairy tales for children. Once we had printed some, I sent several copies to that small church.

Of course, it went without saying that my workload once again increased. However, my goal was clearer to me now than ever before, so it was very fulfilling. There was no definite right or wrong in any one of my actions. However, I had power, and I could use it to help and protect those children. No… I could help many more people than just them. In that case, I had to devote myself to my cause and move forward. This cleared the doubts from my mind, and I tackled my work with renewed vigor. It was time to get things done!

It wasn’t long after meeting those children that I used the profits from the books to establish a new, government-run orphanage. Future profits were donated there, as well.