Surviving as a Prince of Britannia

Author’s Note : We now return to the main storyline. The previous side stories and interludes filled in events mostly took place between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. This chapter resumes the main timeline after Chapter 23.

A few days after returning from my sweet trip with Euphie—

The door to my office opened, and Lady Alba escorted Marybell inside.

“Your Highness, Her Imperial Highness Marybell mel Britannia, Viceroy of Area 14, has arrived.”

Along with the scent of black tea came the sweet aroma of Leche Asada, a milk custard dessert from Lady Alba’s homeland.

Marybell gave a light curtsy.

“It has been a while, meu irmão querido.”

Meu irmão querido

“My dear brother” in Portuguese.

Yes. Marybell’s maternal grandmother, Nova Mel, was also a Caudillo from the Southern Region and the Grand Master of the Knighthood of the Amazon, based around the Brasília region in my original world.

For that reason, both Marybell and her younger sister Julia spoke Portuguese fluently.

In the original, her younger sister Julia and even her mother would have been killed by V.V.

But I had saved all of them.

So Marybell had never been twisted by grief, and in the end, she had grown into a martial princess on roughly Cornelia’s level by the age of fifteen.

Thanks to that, she had played a fairly active role in the Atlantic War and eventually secured the post of Viceroy of Area 14 after coming of age.

Anyway, I gestured toward the sofa.

“It has indeed, Marybell. Take a seat.”

Marybell sat down carefully, took a small bite of the leche asada from the plate, and widened her eyes.

“Wow... I’ve never had a dessert like this before. É maravilhoso! Elder Brother!”

“Lady Alba made it herself, using a recipe from her homeland.”

I took a sip of black tea and continued.

“How is Julia?”

Marybell’s hand paused for a moment.

Then she set down her teacup and smiled faintly.

“...She is doing well. She is majoring in design at Pendragon Imperial University’s art department. These days, even I don’t know what she’s working on. She keeps it a secret.”

A bad feeling brushed past me.

But I could tell she did not want to talk about it, so I did not press further.

Instead, I tilted my cup slightly and changed the subject.

“You came because of Elder Brother Odysseus’s ball, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I received an invitation.”

“Good. Then may I ask you for a favor?”

Marybell looked up.

Her gaze immediately turned serious.

“The Knightmares used by the military and the civilian Frames currently operating in Area 14.”

“Yes?”

“I want you to summarize their strengths and weaknesses as honestly as possible, based on what you have seen on-site. Especially maintenance and Sakuradite efficiency.”

“Hehe. I have already drafted the report. Thanks to some capable... local aides, the data should be ready soon.”

She picked up another piece of leche asada and added,

“Domestic administration is going more smoothly than expected. Julian Asterope has been helpful, and after I brought in another local aide with talent in information and communications, the work began moving along quite nicely.”

Julian Asterope.

The man in charge of the Asterope Group’s South African diamond mines.

During the Atlantic War, he had surrendered to us quickly, dealing a heavy blow to the Asterope Group—one of the eight great conglomerates of the SPQR.

Anyway, since I had heard a few things during my stay in Area 15, now was my chance to ask Marybell about them.

“By the way, I heard Caroline was grumbling to you about wages in Area 14 again.”

Caroline’s logic was that the wage hikes sparked in Area 14 thanks to Marybell’s benevolence were so high that they might eventually affect prices in Area 15 as well.

Marybell gave a small laugh.

“She was careful with her words since I am an Imperial Princess, but... honestly, Area 14’s wages are not even at Area 10’s level. That region is simply paying people far too little.”

Her fingertips trembled slightly as she set her cup down.

The fatigue was obvious.

But I had to ask her.

As an Imperial Princess, she was the head of Afro-Britannia—that is, the senior viceroy among the viceroys of Areas 12 through 15, the Britannian colonies established in Sub-Saharan Africa after the Atlantic War.

“What if the Romans move again?”

Marybell answered immediately.

“While Area 13 acts as the anvil and holds the line, Area 12 and Area 14 will strike their flanks. Then the main mobile strike forces from Area 15 and Area 16 will hit Constantinople, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch at the same time, correct?”

As expected.

No matter how many times she returned from death, “Ravenna”—that is, Leila—could not be on three fronts at once.

“What about Lake Victoria?”

“Caroline is maintaining the water quality as it is, and she is trying not to give anyone a pretext for a clash.”

“She has also found and employed a capable local expert in public health and sanitation.”

I nodded.

“As expected. Reliable as always.”

A brief silence followed.

Marybell took another careful sip of tea.

“However... Caroline is taking a rather dangerous gamble.”

“Pardon?”

“I heard that she is even bringing Muslims into the matter in order to eradicate the inland tribes that sold Refrain during Roman rule.”

I set my cup down.

Sigh

“At a time when the Hashemites and Persia are still in conflict because of the grudges left from the Atlantic War?”

Marybell nodded.

“Well, she chose neither Sunni nor Shia.”

“She chose a third sect, Ibadi, as her partner.”

Oh.

What a relief.

Marybell continued with a smile.

“It is said that the Emir of Oman contacted Caroline directly.”

“He has offered to cooperate in eradicating Refrain from Area 15.”

I let out a sigh.

“Well... as they always say, ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’”

Marybell emptied her cup and smiled.

“That is the fate of empires.”

Glossary

Southern Region / Caudillo Belt : Areas 4 through 7, stretching from Panama to the Strait of Magellan. It is ruled by sixteen Caudillos—seven marquises and nine margraves—and their appointed vassals. Charles controls them through marriage ties with Caudillo families and through four imperial state universities—Alfred, William, Arthur, and Eleanor—whose chancellors are appointed and dismissed by the Emperor.

Area 10 : Eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Area 12 : West Africa.

Area 13 : Central Africa.

Area 14 : Southern Africa.

Area 15 : Eastern Africa.

Area 16 : the Arabian Peninsula and Zilkhstan.