Chapter 150 : Chapter 150
Chapter 150. I Have Something to Tell You (1)
After confirming that the Young Lady had finished bathing and gone to bed, I returned to my room.
I drew back the curtains and looked outside.
In the space where carriages could be parked, the carriage from the Royal Palace was still standing exactly where it had been. The coachman was inspecting the horses, and the Royal Guard knights were guarding the area around it.
“Has the Banquet still not ended?”
That could not be right.
I checked the time. It was already past eleven at night. No matter how much of a Banquet it was, it was rare for one to continue until this hour.
That meant it was evidence that things were going well.
If they had failed to find common ground or had nothing to gain, they would have exchanged farewells long ago.
“It seems the operation is going well.”
I was about to conclude that Young Master Hamel’s lobbying had properly taken effect, but I needed solid evidence, so I briefly went outside and called a Gatekeeper.
“Is there something you need?”
“Go down and check what the Banquet situation is like. Do not go inside. Ask the people around it.”
“Yes, Sir Dilen.”
The soldier moved quickly. A short while later, he came running back in a hurry and delivered unexpected news.
“The Banquet has ended, but I hear that Her Highness is currently having a private audience with Young Master Hamel.”
“A private audience? Where?”
“They say it is in Young Master Hamel’s bedchamber.”
“…….”
Why the bedchamber, not the Drawing Room? Usually, when receiving a guest, one would use the Drawing Room…….
In that instant, various possibilities came to mind.
After confirming several meaningful Traits from the Princess’s Status Window earlier, I felt like I knew what the two of them were doing. I also understood why they had chosen the bedchamber.
“Understood. You worked hard.”
“If there is anything else you need me to do, please tell me at any time!”
“Very well.”
I returned to my room.
“I did not think the Young Master would go that far and devote all his strength.”
The Young Master might literally be offering both body and soul. I walked around the room for a while, lost in thought, then stood before the mirror, checked the state of my clothes, and left the room.
The place I headed to was Young Master Hamel’s residence.
However, knights had been forming a line from the entrance of the corridor. I could see Adeline Knights as well, but most of them were knights of the Royal Guard.
As expected, Sir Cassiopeia stood at their head.
When I approached, she stepped forward.
“Sir Dilen. You came at just the right time. How is Young Lady Sapiela?”
“She seems to have been very exhausted. She is not ill, but I believe her fatigue has accumulated. She has gone to bed for now.”
“That is a relief.”
The look in Sir Cassiopeia’s eyes changed a little. It seemed the quilting supplies Eluna had prepared had worked properly. She spoke with a slightly excited expression.
“It was a pity it ended with only a Sword Dance today, but next time, let us have a proper Sparring match. If you come with Arthas, I will also show you around the Royal Guard Headquarters.”
“Thank you for the invitation. If the opportunity arises next time, I will visit you together with Arthas.”
I had not answered that I would accept the Sparring match, so I should be able to make some excuse later.
Of course, it was not because I was afraid of her that I was avoiding the Sparring match. There was simply no need to do it. I did not want to show off my force in pointless places.
“Good. I will wait for that day. Also, thank you for the gift you gave me. I received it gratefully. I wonder where you obtained such fine things. There was not a single item I disliked.”
Hearing this from someone whose Favorability was an astonishing -37 felt refreshing.
Eluna’s eye for quality was unmatched. After all, she was a descendant of elves. On top of that, quilting was one of Eluna’s main specialties. Human handiness could not compare to that of an elf.
I bowed my head politely.
“I am glad you were satisfied with the gift. Let us discuss it in more detail next time.”
“Of course.”
“I was able to gain a small enlightenment through the Sword Dance. Thank you.”
I offered her a handshake with my gloved hand. There was something I needed to confirm. Fortunately, Cassiopeia removed her gauntlet and accepted the handshake.
Her Favorability had risen slightly to -25. In addition, a few lines had been added to her Areas of Interest. It seemed she wanted to try using the quilting materials I had given her right away.
There was little benefit to raising her Favorability deliberately. Unless one had made up one’s mind to capture that person’s heart.
I want to say this clearly now: even if Sir Cassiopeia was a fine female knight, I had not the slightest romantic interest in her.
She was merely a test subject.
Creating data on how Favorability rose when Traits and Areas of Interest were used was very important. One might call it an experiment for the sake of a great undertaking. Human resources were the key to what I intended to do. I absolutely was not trying to seduce her.
In any case, thank you for becoming a valuable test subject, Sir Cassiopeia. I will not forget your efforts.
“By the way, why is everyone gathered here?”
I asked her while pretending not to know. As expected, she also seemed unable to understand this unexpected situation and wore an ambiguous expression.
“Her Highness said she had something to discuss briefly with Young Master Hamel, so they are in a private audience. She ordered that no one approach.”
“Oh dear. I have something to report to the Young Master. This is troubling.”
“Their business seems like it will end soon, so please wait for a moment.”
I did not particularly like her high-handed tone, but since I had come here for another purpose anyway, I took one step back.
Naturally, the knights’ attention moved away from me. In the end, even Cassiopeia no longer paid any attention to me.
At that very moment, I raised my Mana slightly and focused it on my hearing. Then I directed it toward the door of Young Master Hamel’s bedchamber.
Letting Mana flow into one’s hearing required application. If I did not filter it, there would be no point in strengthening my hearing. Everything would sound loud at once.
In any case, I was able to eavesdrop on what was happening inside the room.
I had expected to hear sticky moans, but unexpectedly, the two of them were conversing in calm tones.
― Are you saying you will lend me your strength?
― What Your Highness desires is the throne of Alphrost. I would gladly devote myself to helping you ascend to the throne.
― You are trying to make a dangerous deal.
― Will it not bear fruit just as great?
An incredible conversation was being exchanged, but I struggled to maintain a calm expression.
“As expected of Young Master Hamel. His skill must be acknowledged.”
I returned to my room. Now it was time to establish the next plan.
“In the current situation, returning to the Adeline Territory would be best.”
If trade with the surrounding territories had been cut off, we could focus on strengthening the company’s internal foundation while devoting ourselves to developing new products.
“But staying in the Royal Capital for now is not a bad option either. There are some variables, but if everything flows according to plan, the situation will become better than if we returned now.”
Even if we returned to the territory, the schedule had been set for after the Princess’s birthday party.
There were several reasons, but the greatest reason was still to assist Young Master Hamel. He had set aside everything about himself and was striving to win the Princess’s favor. I did not want to ruin that.
That was how desperately he needed the Succession Order. His desperation felt as though it had pierced through my skin and reached my bones, making chills run through me.
However, that was his life. It was not a matter I should interfere with too deeply.
“In any case, I have to seize this opportunity well. I should meet His Majesty the King once. What would be the point of entering the Royal Palace if I could not even do that?”
After muttering that, I rose from the bed.
When I thought of meeting His Majesty the King, I remembered the Standard Fountain Pen that Eluna had brought not long ago.
“I had forgotten that I needed to test whether it writes well.”
Since the process for making Fountain Pens was not precise, there was a possibility that defective products could appear.
That was why I had already given instructions to write with them sufficiently before selling them.
Since I had thought of it, I took out the wooden case containing the Fountain Pen from the drawer.
When I opened the case, the Fountain Pen, wrapped in luxurious cloth, revealed itself. I sat at the desk, formed a Hand Sign, and lit the candle with Flint Magic.
The room became a little brighter, and I took the pen out of the case and examined it closely.
“It seems they adjusted the body slightly.”
I felt a sense of difference.
It was not an unpleasant sense of difference, but rather a good one. The body had been refined more delicately, and the Pen Nib also had a slightly different shape from the existing one.
I held the pen in my hand.
“The grip feels a little better.”
Although it had been produced around the same time, it seemed to be a version with slight changes applied.
Spinel was improving the product even without me telling him to.
Of course, if the specifications of a product being sold on the market were changed arbitrarily, that would become a problem. However, since the Standard Fountain Pen was being sold through unofficial routes, it was difficult to say it had been released for market sale.
Besides, in the first place, there was no such thing as a standard in this era. It was not an era where products were stamped out in factories.
Because this was an era centered on handicraft production, even if people had the same design drawings, there would be many errors, and it was common for products with a slightly different feel to come out.
No one would file a complaint simply because a little variation had been added.
“Let us try writing with it.”
Paper was always prepared on the desk. Compared to the place where I had lived, its quality was worse than recycled paper, but there was still no major problem with writing on it.
I placed the Pen Nib against the paper and began writing.
SCRITCH, SCRITCH.
The feeling of the Pen Nib running across the paper was good. However, some regret remained. The quality of the paper was somewhat poor, so the feeling of the Fountain Pen I remembered from my previous life was not being displayed one hundred percent.
“When I return to the territory, I should hurry the development of paper a little more.”
I continued testing the product for quite some time, consuming ink as I wrote. Fortunately, no particular problems were found. Rather, its performance was good.
Just as I closed the pen cap and was about to put it back, a knock sounded from outside.
“Sir Dilen. Young Master Hamel has arrived.”
“Show him in.”
I quickly put the Fountain Pen into the drawer. At the same time, Young Master Hamel appeared. His face looked haggard, as though all his energy had been drained.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“I had a private audience with the Princess for a while. She is a tiring person in many ways.”
“Please sit here.”
I led him to the sofa. After letting out a sigh, he pressed a hand to his forehead and sank into the sofa.
“Shall I have some tea brought?”
“Forget that and sit down.”
I quietly followed his instruction. He crossed his legs and spoke arrogantly.
“The Princess has decided to help us. It seems we may find a way to quiet those Astria bastards sooner than expected.”
“That is fortunate. This should end before the First Young Master has a chance to render distinguished service on the battlefield.”
“We will have to do our utmost.”
“Please be careful. In my view, Her Highness is not an easy person. She has ambition. When dealing with an ambitious person, one must be careful not to be devoured.”
The Young Master nodded with a bitter expression.
“Putting that aside, I want to hear your next plan. If this disturbance settles down, what do you think we should do?”
“The Young Lady is considering suspending her studies and returning to the Adeline Territory after attending the Princess’s birthday party.”
“Ella noticed it too, did she?”
“I advised her to be careful.”
“Well done. Keep talking.”
“There is something we must do immediately after returning. It concerns the Second Young Master.”
Life returned to Young Master Hamel’s eyes, and his intelligence gleamed once more. It was as though he had remembered something he had forgotten.