kscans

Chapter 157 - Episode 23: The Two Carriages

"I hear he threw a terrible tantrum."

I gazed down from the Royal Capital's walls at the street stretching below. A single carriage was making its way toward the West Gate. The road was littered with the brown, withered remains of flowers tossed by citizens celebrating Craig's appointment as Crown Prince.

A path of flowers, yet unlike his younger brother's, this one is withered. The younger brother is the Crown Prince, the older an ambassador. A world of difference. Still, for no one to see him off... the nobility is certainly thorough when they turn their backs on someone. Even Dorefano had people who didn't abandon him. Then again, I suppose his son was innocent in that case.

"...My brother will never set foot in the kingdom again. That is for the best, is it not?" Craig said, his eyes still fixed on the street.

"Yes," I replied curtly.

After peace was made with the Empire, the Grand Duchy of Kurtheite was dissolved during the postwar distribution of honors and rewards. Its lands were divided among those who had distinguished themselves in the war, and Kurtheite itself came under the direct control of the royal family.

Not only had the Grand Duke been late to join the war effort, he had failed to protect his own lands, which the King himself had to recapture. It seems even Zangrich could offer no resistance.

Incidentally, among those newly ennobled was Fabius, the commander of the catapult unit. I think that's the worst possible choice of person. Fulsy had been giving him advice on the proper conduct for one who suddenly becomes a noble.

Most of the reparations will apparently be used for the restoration of the Grynisias Ducal Territory. I sincerely hope they increase their adzuki bean production.

While the kingdom's nobles unanimously celebrated the great victory, the Second Prince's appointment as an honorary ambassador was announced. Immediately after, it was revealed that Craig would be invested as Crown Prince in place of the First Prince. The Second Prince reportedly resisted hysterically, but not a single person in the entire assembly sided with him.

Well, most of his allies had already been crushed. In fact, I heard that the things he blurted out then dealt the final blow to the former Grand Duke of Kurtheite and his cronies. Abandoned by unanimous consent, the Second Prince was apparently escorted out with a dazed expression on his face.

On another note, the lab, by royal charter, has been rebranded as the Royal Magic Research Institute. It is now an independent organization, granted a portion of the former Grand Duchy of Kurtheite as a source of revenue. Having our own funding will be extremely important going forward.

Fulsy, as its director, is now considered equivalent to a count. He is apparently bewildering everyone by starting his career climb after he had already retired. A rank equivalent to a count is supposedly appropriate given the scale of the institute's finances, but who is going to manage it? It has also been decided that Noel will be ennobled as a court magician upon her graduation. Poor girl. She's about to gain a lot more relatives, I bet.

Furthermore, Central Garden was granted a ten year tax exemption for its business ventures in the new city. Naturally, Vinaldira's family company is included. Her parents, who knew almost nothing of their daughter's activities, were stunned, as was her noble family on her mother's side.

"...It's pointless to ask, I suppose."

"You and my brother had a fight, and you won. That's all."

"...That too, but I was talking about becoming Crown Prince."

I still had not figured out which way Craig's ambitions were pointed.

"I can hardly complain, since I chose to ride the wave you created. Let's see... setting aside the dragon subjugation, I suppose this future was one of the possibilities ever since the carriage race. What was completely unexpected was the timing. I thought it would take at least another ten years."

"...What a coincidence. I feel like I was forced to move everything up by at least ten years myself."

It's all because of the major incidents of the Imperial invasion and Mia's kidnapping.

"Normally, Ricardo, you would have to take responsibility and formally enter my service, but..."

Craig lifted his gaze and looked to the north.

"You managed a clever escape."

"I have neither the ability nor the desire to involve myself in politics. And I've especially had more than enough of military matters."

"The war finally ends, and now it's new city construction and an investigation of the Blood Mountains. You're a busy man, Ricardo. I find it very hard to believe you'll be able to remain uninvolved with military affairs," Craig said with an ominous smile.

"I am, I'm just returning to my main line of work. War was completely outside my area of expertise."

"Well, fine. For the record, I will also be directly involved in the development of the new territory across the river. Even as Crown Prince, my father's authority is now rock solid thanks to you bolstering it. I should still have a certain degree of freedom."

"But if anything were to happen to Your Highness, all of my plans would be ruined."

"Do not worry about it," Craig laughed.

Well, it is land situated between our recent enemy across the river and the enemies of all humanity. The backing of the next king is necessary, I suppose. Besides, Craig will always follow his own will. That is precisely why I can trust him. Since we're both being stubborn, it's not as if only one of us can get his way.

As if trading places with the Second Prince's carriage, another approached the Royal Capital from the east, flying the Imperial flag. The Anti-Monster Knight Order surrounded it, forming a heavy guard.

"Well then, I must go and greet my secretary."

I took one last look at the carriage shrinking into the distance to the northwest. He'll probably go his whole life without ever realizing who he was truly exchanged for. And that is fine. To not demand an apology or penance means I will never grant forgiveness, no matter how much he might apologize or regret his actions.

Still, as long as he never enters my sight again, I suppose I can let go of the grudge I hold for all the trouble he put me through.

◇◇

A carriage with an undercarriage sturdier than those of the kingdom pulled to a stop at the academy's back gate, where many people were waiting. Everyone from Central Garden was there, along with Noel and Fulsy. Unfortunately, Alfina was at the cathedral. Apparently, the crystal had been emitting some strange signals.

The carriage stopped and the door opened. The one who emerged was not an Imperial Princess, but a petite girl with pigtails. The direction was reversed, but I was finally able to pick her up, the one I had failed to meet that time.

"Mia! Sniffle... w-welcome back!"
"We're so glad you're okay. We were so, so worried about you."

Rilka and Noel threw their arms around Mia. Vinaldira and Sherry, watching from behind, were also teary eyed.

Unlike me, who had already reunited with her in Kurtheite, it had been a truly long time for them.

By the way, a carriage from Grand Duchess Bertold's residence was waiting at the main gate. The number of guards at the lab has been doubled. We will be living at the Grand Duchess's residence for a while yet to prevent any desperate acts from the former Second Prince Faction. Even though the Grand Duke of Kurtheite has fallen from power and the Second Prince has been thrown out of the country, we cannot afford to make a mistake like last time. If anyone is going to get caught, it should at least be just me.

Besides, we are about to take on a different kind of bomb.

"Oh, so this is the Royal Academy."

The door on the other side of the carriage opened, and a foreigner with bright purple hair set foot in the Royal Capital. Tension ran through the crowd. Rilka and Noel shot her unfriendly glares. But Maytyl, who was supposed to be a captive, surveyed her surroundings with a defiant smile.

Her eyes fixed on Fulsy, Noel, and then me.

"Where is the lab?" she asked.
Just as I thought. She has zero awareness of being a hostage.

"It's that building over there," I said, pointing to a small building in the academy's backyard.

"It's that small?" Maytyl frowned. A complaint right off the bat.
Isn't that small, compact size, impossible for strangers to find, part of its charm? Well, I guess we are adding one more person.

"Well, I won't let you be disappointed with what's inside," I said.

Fulsy was intensely curious about meeting an Imperial Magus for the first time. Noel glanced my way, but when she noticed Maytyl's gaze, she quickly turned her back. She's your new colleague, in a sense. What happened to your dignity as her senior?

"Hmph. If you say so, I'll look forward to it. Well then, it's a pleasure to be working with you, Ricardo."

Maytyl grinned and clapped me on the shoulder. Even if it was necessary, we've just welcomed the ultimate problem child. I was about to sigh when I noticed the stares. The glares from the women seemed particularly harsh...

"Hey, Mia," Rilka began, her gaze especially cold.

"It can't be helped. This sort of thing is part and parcel of his schemes. For now, we should just be glad it is only one person," Mia explained to Rilka, adding something like, "I need to be more diligent."

Hmm, well, she was an enemy until just a moment ago.

"Um, you see, various necessities sort of piled up, and..." I started, trying to explain just how important it was to accept Maytyl.

"Oh my. To think you need me so much. How reassuring, especially since I have no one to rely on in this capital," Maytyl chimed in.

Her comment made the atmosphere even colder. Rilka stole the sigh I was about to let out, and Sherry and Vinaldira started whispering things like, "Does Lady Alfina know about this?"

Huh? Wait. What about the grade for my self-preservation plan? I thought I worked pretty hard on it.