Chapter 162
Chapter 162. Princess Ophelia’s Birthday Party (4)
The King’s eyes flashed once as he looked down at the Fountain Pen. Ophelia, who was beside him, was the same.
On the other hand, the Royal Guard Knights standing in attendance around the King showed no change in expression at all. If it had been a finely honed weapon, perhaps they would have cared, but a mere pen used by scholars would not even enter their eyes.
However, they, too, would come to know someday. That sometimes, the pen could be stronger than the sword.
After admiring the Fountain Pen for a moment, the King opened his mouth.
“This is…… an item I have never seen before. Yet it feels familiar somehow. It seems quite similar to that item called a Ballpoint Pen that Ophelia received some time ago.”
“It is a Fountain Pen, which allows for a more refined writing feel than a Ballpoint Pen. This product was independently developed by a company called Metis.”
“Now that I think of it, I heard Duke Mydas recently obtained a strange pen. Is this similar to that?”
“That is correct. To be precise, it is a more improved item. The Master of Metis could not attend the party, so he instructed me to present it to Your Majesty as a Tribute Item through me.”
It was rather because we were in a private chamber that I could say this. Nothing good would come of the Duke hearing that there was an improved version. I wanted to applaud Ophelia’s sense in moving us to another room.
“What commendable sincerity.”
The King nodded in satisfaction and stroked his beard once. Then he flicked his thick hand.
“Sir, rise at ease and come a little closer.”
“By your command.”
I rose from my place and approached right up near the King. However, I could not approach any closer. A middle-aged man who seemed to be the Royal Guard Captain blocked me.
It was one thing if I had been someone else, but there was no way they could allow someone they had never met before to approach the King.
It was simply thorough professionalism, so I did not feel offended or anything of the sort.
The Royal Guard Captain extended his hand.
“This is a Tribute Item for His Majesty. Please be careful not to drop it.”
After receiving the Fountain Pen, the Royal Guard Captain delivered it to the King.
Now it was time to observe his reaction.
Henry III took the Fountain Pen out of the Wooden Case.
Seeing his fingertips tremble, it seemed he had indeed aged quite a lot. He gazed down at the Fountain Pen in his hand, then shifted his gaze toward me.
“From what I have heard, one can write without dipping it in ink. Is that true?”
“There is a Cartridge built into the Fountain Pen, so it can store ink and be used immediately whenever necessary. You can write conveniently without having to carry around an ink bottle. There will no longer be any accidental ink spills.”
“Bring paper.”
The attendant beside him immediately carried out the order. This was the Royal Palace. Every item used here was of high quality, and the paper prepared this time was also of considerable quality.
The King held the Fountain Pen and began writing.
A pleasant scratching sound from the pen reached my ears. As expected, once the quality of the paper improved, the sound of the pen also seemed to upgrade by one level.
After trying out various letters, a smile appeared on the King’s lips.
Was this a success?
“I like it very much. I do not have many occasions to write, but this is certainly a splendid item. It may not be large or ornate, but it seems to contain human wisdom.”
It contains human wisdom. Those were correct words. That was what technology was.
“Receive it.”
The King handed the Fountain Pen to Princess Ophelia. I was slightly surprised by the unexpected action, but I remembered that today was Princess Ophelia’s birthday.
Then the King spoke.
“Ophelia. This seems like a fitting item for your birthday gift.”
“But this is a Tribute Item offered to Father, is it not?”
“How much writing would I do? So you should use it well. I hear you have been diligently attending the Academy lately. It will help you with your studies.”
“Hooray! Thank you!”
Princess Ophelia accepted the Fountain Pen without refusing. The King, who smiled in satisfaction, turned his gaze back to me.
“You said the company that made this Fountain Pen, as well as the Ballpoint Pen Ophelia received, was named Metis?”
“That is correct. I am honored that you remember it, Your Majesty.”
The three syllables of the name Metis seemed to be deeply engraved in the King’s mind.
It was a good sign. On top of that, since we had concluded a contract with the Bahamut Ducal House, if the King lent us even a little influence, matters would proceed even more smoothly.
“I heard that you are a Retainer of House Adeline. Are you connected to Metis? Otherwise, you would not have delivered a Tribute Item on its behalf.”
“I hold a Consultant position at Metis. I also work as a Butler in House Adeline.”
“I see. You must certainly tell the Master of Metis that I received it well.”
“I will obey your command.”
The King spread both arms. Then he spoke as if giving a lecture.
“Also tell him to continue diligently creating various inventions for our Kingdom. The revival of commerce is the shortcut to enriching a country, so he must strive without rest.”
I bowed my head and showed absolute obedience.
Of course, only on the outside.
I did not have much interest in the Kingdom’s development. My priority was growing my company. If they charged excessively high taxes, picked a fight with me, or interfered with my business, I was even prepared to move the Headquarters to another Kingdom.
Such things had happened often enough in the world where I had lived in my past life, too.
“I cannot help but admire Your Majesty’s insight. I will convey your words exactly to every executive and employee of Metis.”
“Good. I like it. You may withdraw now and enjoy the party.”
“I am overwhelmed by your royal grace, Your Majesty.”
After the presentation of the Fountain Pen ended, I once again observed courtesy and left the private chamber. However, Ophelia did not follow me out, and the door closed.
Instinctively sensing that some conversation would be exchanged, I lingered nearby and heightened my hearing.
― How was he? I was right, was I not?
― Yes. He seems to be an extremely clever man. His eyes were alive. It was as though I were looking at myself in my younger days. He is someone who will become great in the future.
A rather unexpected conversation was unfolding. It seemed to be about me.
― Would everyone step outside for a moment? I have something to discuss with Father!
― Do as Ophelia says.
Soon, the door opened, and the Royal Guard Knights began coming outside one by one. The Knight Commander came out last. Every Knight had come outside.
That made it even more fascinating.
What kind of secret conversation were this father and daughter trying to have? I pricked up my ears even more.
― I think that if we make good use of Metis, the Subjects of our Kingdom will be able to live more prosperous lives.
Well, well. Her voice had changed. Just like that time at the Banquet, when she had suddenly revealed her true self.
― You saw the Ballpoint Pen, did you not? Until now, no Merchant Company has ever created such an item. Everyone has only been obsessed with using money to make more money. Yet convenient items that existed only in the distant Magical Age are appearing one by one. And from a small company called Metis, at that.
Then the Princess began listing the advantages of the items Metis was trying to develop. Not only paper, but all kinds of Office Supplies and Household Goods.
She understood the value of our items so well that I even wondered whether I should recruit the Princess as a salesperson. I would have to give her ten out of ten.
― That is why we must make good use of Metis. We must make them absolutely loyal to the Royal Family. Only then can our Kingdom expand. It is time to show our superiority to the entire Continent.
Superiority? Could she possibly be…… a female Hitler?
― It is not as easy as you say. Merchants are sharp with calculations. If there is a give, there must be a take.
― There is one way to make them indebted to us.
― What is it?
― Metis is currently in trouble. Because the Astria Family provoked them, there is a problem with the Trade Route. Since their Headquarters is located in Adeline, morale is not good either.
If the Border remains deadlocked like this, they will lose their growth momentum.
Silence lingered for a moment. Just then, a Maid holding a wine tray passed in front of me, so I called her over. The Maid respectfully handed me a glass of wine.
Smelling the luxurious aroma of grapes, I continued focusing on the conversation inside.
― The pus in the festering wound has finally burst.
― What do you mean by that?
― Such matters exist. You need not keep it in mind.
It seemed the King knew as well. About that incident from five hundred years ago.
But something was strange.
The Princess had cast aside her youthful appearance and was calmly and coldly analyzing the situation like a strategist. Yet the King did not point that out.
Just earlier, the King had told the Princess that she was no longer young and should show a dignified appearance. That was why the King’s current attitude seemed somewhat suspicious.
Surely the Princess was not included in the category of heirs as well, was she? To speak so comfortably about the political situation meant she occupied an unrivaled position.
I thought I should properly investigate the relationship between the two of them later.
― In any case, Father, please use some influence. If the rear regions become chaotic like this, it will not be good for the Royal Capital at all. If internal strife breaks out, national power will weaken, and it will be the same as permitting an invasion by Foreign Powers.
― However, it is not an easy matter. Just as an old illness cannot be cured overnight. Since the representatives of both Houses have come at the right time, I will try to speak with them properly.
― Do you think it will work out?
The Princess’s voice was skeptical. I thought the same.
― To be honest, I do not think it will. Even if the Heads of House came and spoke, it would be uncertain whether things would work out…… Since their sons have come as proxies, there will be limits.
― They will whine that they have to ask their Main Houses every time something comes up.
The King laughed. Pat, pat. There was the sound of something being gently patted, and the King spoke generously.
― Now, go on out. The protagonist of today’s party should not be away from her place for this long. Everyone will be looking for you. Do not miss your opportunity.
― All right. Then please rest.
What opportunity?
Click. The door opened, and the Princess came outside. Seeing me leaning against the wall and tilting my wineglass, she let out a soft laugh.
“Sir Dilen! Did you not say you were going to dance with Ella? Our brother was obviously left hanging earlier. Why are you doing this here? Go and dance~”
She had returned to her youthful voice.
Suddenly, I remembered when I had revealed my identity to Young Master Hamel not long ago, and he had lost his temper, telling me to stick to one thing. For some reason, I felt as though I understood how he had felt back then.
“I wanted to express my thanks again. If it had not been for Your Highness, I would not have been able to offer the Tribute Item to His Majesty the King.”
The Princess waved the Fountain Pen in front of my eyes.
“It ended up in my hands in the end, though! Shall I give it back if you need it?”
“Do you not need it?”
“To be honest, the Ballpoint Pen is more convenient for me.”
That was true. Even if one looked at the motive behind its invention, the Ballpoint Pen had emerged to improve on the Fountain Pen’s shortcomings. Perhaps because she was young, she was ahead of the times.
“It was a Tribute Item offered to His Majesty, so it has already left my hands. Please keep it as a Commemorative Item.”
“Then shall we dance once?”
“That is rather sudden.”
“You do not want to?”
“It would be an honor, but…… I already have a partner, so it is difficult.”
“That is a pity. Somehow, I feel like if we danced once, I might come up with a good idea to stop the fight between Adeline and Astria~”
After saying that, the Princess grinned broadly.
Is she threatening me right now?
It seemed the Princess wanted to train me. For the purpose of using me as an obedient hunting dog. However, my vessel was not small enough to become such a thing.
“You may think me impertinent, but I also have one card I have not yet played.”
“I am curious what it is.”
It was not a bluff.
The moment I confirmed that the Princess truly wanted to become friends with Young Lady Sapiela, a good idea had come to mind.
“You will find out in due time. I will take my leave now, Your Highness. Once again, congratulations on your birthday.”
Leaving the Princess’s piercing gaze behind me, I went to Sapiela, who was waiting for me. She was still surrounded by men.
“I have kept you waiting. Shall we slowly go up?”
I pointed to the stage, and Sapiela smiled as she chose my hand from among the countless hands extended toward her.