Capitulo 106

Episode 106

What about building a railroad?

Aster had a slightly puzzled look on his face.

Railroad?

Yes.

The railroad built by the emperor connected the capital from Veneto, the largest port city in the empire.

It began operating at the expectation of the people as a means of transportation to replace the carriage, but now it was neglected as an abomination.

The reason was an absurd rumor.

Rumors circulated that ghosts appeared in front of those who rode the magic-powered train.

The imperial family was quick to issue a statement saying it was a rumor, but people had turned their backs on the newspapers for a long time.

You don’t have to worry about rumors about ghosts, since you’re just transporting stuff anyway.

In those days, traveling on horseback was cheap and safe.

But now it was different.

As the logistical cost of transporting goods in wagons increases, the cost of moving goods by train becomes cheaper.

I think it would be good to try it in Veneto and see the situation.

It’s not a bad idea. It’s also a way to put pressure on them in various ways when they are stuck.

The Cassel family, who built their wealth through alchemy for over a hundred years, penetrated deeply into the lives of ordinary people.

The royalties they demanded from the other alchemists were outrageous. If they protested, they would be immediately expelled from the industry and trampled upon, for which everyone would have no choice but to pay.

Strange that he had always refused titles having so much power.

Aster shrugged.

Being aristocrats also meant you had a lot of responsibilities.

He wanted to enjoy everything he had and live a life like a noble, but he didn’t want to become a noble, fulfill his duties and become a family that bows its head to the emperor.

It’s really boring to act like a big family.

Without realizing it, contempt was oozing out.

Aster smiled softly and leaned a little closer to me.

Then, by the way, I want to give you a very nice compliment on what you’re doing.

His mischievous smile seemed somehow frightening.

As we were talking, the sun went down.

I shook my head towards Aster, who offered me dinner.

It’s like having dinner with my family these days.

I heard rumors that the relationship between the master and the duke is not serious, but it seems to be true.

I smiled slightly at his words.

Maybe there will be good news soon.

That’s fine. If he postpones the engagement with that excuse, I will understand.

I felt sorry for Aster’s words and just wiggled my fingers.

I didn’t know my parents would be so opposed.

Aster smiled strangely and seemed to be thinking about something.

They… I went to the academy with His Majesty the Emperor.

Ah. I heard it from Niveia.

Yes, then I can understand.

Having said that, he shrugged his shoulders as if nothing had happened.

What do you mean?

They must have thought that being an empress and becoming the emperor’s wife was a dangerous thing to marry by arrangement.

Aster rested one hand on the table and stroked my cheek with the other.

There are so many talented people in the Empire. Talents like archmages and sword masters, which are hard to produce once in a hundred years in other countries, appear every time.

At first, I thought it was because of the male protagonists in this world.

But if I think about it, my mother was also an archmage, and if her memory is correct, the former Marquis Liberty was the sword master.

To protect the imperial power of such people, the people of the imperial family must also have special powers.

Something unfamiliar shone in the depths of his eyes.

The strange feeling of incongruity I felt at the hunting festival enveloped my body.

His fingers slowly descended from my cheeks and touched my red lips.

And that power needs a price.

With Aster I often couldn’t understand what I was thinking.

Like now.

It was as if he wanted me to be scared and run away.

I looked him straight in the eyes and asked.

How much does it cost?

At my words, he smiled and softened his expression.

I know we are all different. In my father’s case, he was too obsessed with my mother.

Aster looked like he was about to collapse.

My mother couldn’t stand him. In fact, it was my father who killed my mother.

* * *

Ethan was speechless at the daily influx of protests and inquiries.

The people who always looked at them quickly changed their posture, as if they knew to whom to bow their heads.

Now they had to bow their heads to ask them to wait a moment.

What about the princess?

Still no contact.

Crap.

Ethan slammed his fist down hard on the desk.

In response to the owner’s rare anger, the assistant shrugged and added:

He, and… As far as we know, with the exception of those affiliated with our family, all of them are said to be in the final stages of royalty negotiations.

Are you saying that he is deliberately avoiding contact with us now?

It would seem so.

His gaze rested on the messy document.

Karina was also a problem, but Raymond’s raids have become more frequent in recent years.

He formally requested the protection of the imperial family, but showed a lukewarm attitude as he felt threatened by the power of the Cassel family.

Perhaps Raymond took the princess’s hand.

He recently received reports that Raymond was in and out of Duke Pioneer.

He was wrong.

He didn’t know anything about the world, and thought he was just trying to get revenge, but he did something very nice.

If we can’t reunite, we have to force them to reunite.

How…

Ethan had no intention of going on like this.

Unlike Karina, he had a lot to lose if he fell here.

He gave orders to his assistant.

Obviously, there will be times when the protection will be loose. Aim for that time and bring it in front of me.

Before his father returned, he had to get things done quickly.

His family was strictly a winner-take-all structure.

If Ethan stumbled here, thousands of children seeking the heir seat would rush to trample him.

Ethan had no intention of losing his heir position.

* * *

I ended up negotiating royalties in Niveia’s boutique office.

Thank you for being so generous, princess.

You’re welcome.

The Patent Office completely ignored the Cassel family’s protest.

No matter how much they lobbied, there was nothing they could do as long as the emperor was watching.

The Cassels took so many royalties that there was little left. If I had known this would happen, I would not have surrendered the patent that way.

Most of them were small companies doing research under the auspices of the Cassel family.

Because of the sponsorship, the patent was issued jointly with the Cassel family.

However, the friendly relationship did not last long.

The Cassel family, revealing their true colors, forcibly took away their patents.

All is well.

It felt strange to see everyone come out with shiny faces.

This is everything I promised to find today.

Said Lily with a happy face, rubbing her cheek against Fio’s fluffy fur.

Fio groaned as if he didn’t like it, but he didn’t run away.

Of all the people I hang out with, Lily must have liked him the most.

I feel selfish.

I looked at Fio with narrowed eyes.

For some reason, he seemed to be looking away without making eye contact.

I decided to ask a question properly someday, so I gathered up the paperwork and got up.

We’re going back.

Yes, miss. Fio, let’s go!

Fio ran and hugged Lily’s arms.

Lily took the puppy and started walking, used to him.

«She didn’t want to walk these days, so why… Lily was hugging her like that.»

When I asked where the bad habit came from, it was all Lily’s fault.

I looked at Fio, who was ecstatic and doing tender things, without saying a word.

Fio, who looked me in the eyes, quickly turned his head.

Miss, the carriage… Fio?

Fio, who suddenly jumped out of Lily’s arms, sniffed around and looked at me.

[There are strange people around.]

I looked at Lily’s expression and shouted in an exaggerated voice.

Wow, Lily, I think I left my gloves in the office?

Did you really? Get in the carriage first. I’ll be there soon.

Yes, let’s go.

After returning Lily, I took Fio and boarded the carriage.

And not long after, the carriage door opened.

The two masked men pointed their swords at me as if threatening me and said:

Is this Princess Pioneer?

I looked behind them and shouted.

Fio now!

As soon as I finished speaking, Fio returned to his original form and slapped the men with all his might.