Chapter 18

After that, I discussed the founding festival arrangements with my father.

It seems he wants me to take charge of the festival preparations.

Hosting a social event is a highly important task. Not only must the invitations be prepared, but we also need to plan travel routes and sequences to ensure the nobles can arrive without issue, and consider accommodations as well. On top of that, we’ll need to arrange food, hire musicians and jesters, and handle countless other details.

And most importantly, since the attendees will be nobles, we must carefully consider seating order and the relationships between houses.

Conversely, if I can pull this off, it’ll be a strong display of my competence as a ruler to both our people and outsiders.

…That said, it mostly follows precedent, and my subordinates will handle the finer points anyway.

Even if I’m a total airhead, it’s unlikely anything will go wrong. An heir isn’t judged in isolation, but as part of the team that supports them. So there’s no need—and it would be unwise—to get carried away trying to “lead everything myself!”

“Make sure you’re at Budoudarl Castle by the New Year. The serious preparations can start after that.”

“Oh? And what about you, Father?”

“I’ll remain here in Torinia Castle.”

“...I don’t think the chances of Duke Larknoll attacking are all that high, though.”

At the recent hunting tournament, the people associated with Duke Larknoll, including Thor-kun, were fairly amicable toward us. I’m not saying we should let our guard down, but I don’t feel the situation warrants serious alarm either.

“The Emperor’s been acting suspicious. He’s started developing the ports and roads. …I doubt he’ll make a move before the founding festival, but better safe than sorry.”

So basically, we’re sending a message to the Emperor: we see what you’re up to.

“...And if Roselia takes the lead in the founding festival, then it’ll be clear to everyone that I intend to name her as my co-ruler. We’ll need that kind of weight to keep the branch families, who are feeling cornered, from doing anything reckless.”

The Principality of Budoudarl is made up of three ducal territories.

To the far north is the Yotgrul Dukedom, currently outside our de facto control and in an ongoing dispute with Duke Larknoll. To the far south is the Budoudarl Dukedom, our home territory—commonly called the “Inlands.” And in the center lies the Torinia Dukedom, where we are now.

It’s a bit like calling Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba all just “Tokyo.”

Torinia Castle, at the heart of the Torinia Dukedom (and the Countship of the same name), is under our control. However, several other castles and countships here are governed by branch families of the Budoudarl House.

In short, this territory is heavily influenced by our cadet branches.

Our ancestors unified the Budoudarl Dukedom and then expanded northward, pushing into the Torinia Dukedom. To shield the Budoudarl Dukedom, they strategically placed branch families in Torinia as a buffer.

As a result, the Budoudarl Dukedom thrived as the “Inlands,” but the Torinia Dukedom was left with smoldering tensions.

Well, that kind of unrest is inevitable when managing such a vast domain.

“So, I’m counting on you to handle preparations for the New Year and the founding festival.”

“Understood. …We still have just under two months. I’ll head up after doing a tour of the northern region.”

“Hm… That sounds awfully busy. You don’t need to rush—you could take it slower.”

“If you’re taking a break, then I’ll rest too.”

“…Fair enough. Let’s not push ourselves.”

“I understand.”

After that, we put the work talk aside and chatted like a normal father and daughter before I left the office.

---

A progress tour refers to a noble personally inspecting various parts of their territory.

There are many reasons behind such tours, but the simplest and most obvious is to keep an eye on one’s vassals.

In this world, communication technology is not well-developed, so it’s difficult to grasp what’s happening in every corner of one’s domain. What’s more, nobles and knights here tend to be highly independent and local-minded by nature.

Knights, as a rule, each possess their own land and castle—they’re essentially lords of their own strongholds. Since all of them are self-employed, it’s nothing like the clear-cut hierarchy of boss and subordinate in a company.

Of course, auditors may be dispatched to help manage the realm’s feudal lords, but their authority doesn’t hold up against that of the landowners. And there's no guarantee those auditors haven’t been bribed.

Thus, the most reliable method is to “see the land for oneself.” Naturally, as soon as nobles and knights hear that their lord is coming, they’ll hurry to hide anything suspicious—so a tour almost never uncovers direct wrongdoing…

But just the possibility that the lord might come increases the risk for misconduct.

At the very least, you can’t go building a secret fortress in preparation for rebellion. You can’t exactly hide a castle.

Tours also serve to reaffirm the feudal bonds between lord and vassal.

There’s a foundational principle in the feudal system of the Western Continent: “The lord of your lord is not your lord.”

In other words, a knight’s loyalty is sworn directly—not inherited through chains of command.

That’s why it’s so important to meet them in person and receive their oaths face to face. And the fastest way to do that is to go to them.

There’s also dispute mediation—essentially holding court—and issuing official edicts to reconfirm privileges. A lord on tour has plenty to do.

Unless they have something to hide, vassals usually welcome these visits. It’s an opportunity to show their loyalty and to publicly demonstrate the closeness of their relationship with their lord.

For lords dealing with local conflicts, the presence of their liege is a powerful deterrent. No one will attack a castle their lord is staying in. Even once the lord leaves, it raises the psychological bar for aggression.

…As I mentioned earlier, every landowner is self-employed, and fellow lords are by no means friends. Just because your neighbor serves the same liege doesn’t mean they won’t attack you.

Also, it’s not just nobles and knights—people in this world are, on the whole, pretty combative.

You might imagine farmers as humble and peaceful folk, but that’s far from the truth. They’ll attack neighboring villages over water rights, or send every able-bodied man to take revenge if one of their villagers was assaulted. That kind of thing happens from time to time.

If anything, their lack of education makes them more violent and brutal than knights. The state of public order is abysmal.

Which is why these tours really do matter. Just knowing that the lord has their eyes on things helps improve security.

Ah, and this next part is more personal—but there’s another principle in this world: “The child of a lord is not a lord.”

Knights don’t swear loyalty to a house—they swear loyalty to a person.

So if I’m to become my father’s successor, being officially named by him isn’t enough. I must also be recognized as a proper liege by the knights who’ve entered feudal contracts with him, and receive their loyalty anew.

To put it in real estate terms, just because you inherit the building doesn’t mean the tenants will stay or keep paying rent. That’s up to them.

So a progress tour is absolutely essential.

However, lately I’ve spent too much time abroad and haven’t toured the domain properly. Once the new year begins, I’ll be tied down with founding festival preparations. That means I need to visit as many places as I can now.

So, after quickly finishing my minimal correspondence, I departed from Torinia Castle.

I first headed west from the castle, drifting from one knight’s territory to another as I made my way north, eventually arriving in the Yotgrul Dukedom—specifically, in the County of Lazabel.

This land is under the protection of Count Lazabel, the marshal of House Budoudarl.

It’s also our front line against House Larknoll.

When I reached the city of Lazabel, Count Lazabel himself was waiting at the gates that encircle the city to welcome me.

“It’s been a while. Since the hunting tournament, I believe—Count Lazabel.”

“Haha, indeed it has. Princess Roselia—or should I say, Lord Roselia, perhaps?”

He said it with a slightly mischievous smile.

It seems word of my pending appointment as co-ruler has already reached him.

“No… that title’s still a bit heavy for me. I’d appreciate it if you could wait just a little longer.”

“Then I shall look forward to the day.”

After exchanging pleasantries, I entered Lazabel Castle.

Count Lazabel held a banquet in my honor to welcome me.

“How have things been up north lately?”

“The pressure has eased considerably. …It’s all thanks to you, Princess.”

It seemed my diplomatic efforts were finally bearing fruit, with the military pressure from Duke Larknoll decreasing. Trade activity had apparently picked up as well.

Once the meal was over, Count Lazabel’s expression turned solemn.

“Princess. The knights of my domain would like to greet you personally, if you’d permit it…”

Just as I’d been told beforehand, Count Lazabel had gathered the knights at the castle in advance. It certainly made things easier for me, but… it offered no real benefit to him.

What’s his angle? I wondered, even as the knights knelt and kissed my feet one by one.

“Thank you for your efforts, Princess.”

“Not at all. I appreciate your arranging this.”

“Haha… If possible, I had hoped to present my son to you as well, but I couldn’t bear to let you see him in such a pitiful state…”

Ah, I see. So the Count’s request was to have his heir’s arms and legs restored.

Well… careless as he may have been, he ended up that way fighting for the sake of House Budoudarl.

I suppose I could heal him. More than anything, it’s just… a little too sad.

That said, using magic now would affect my ability to travel tomorrow, and I couldn’t afford to extend my stay just for his treatment either.

“I plan to remain at Budoudarl Castle from the New Year through the end of the founding festival. If you could bring him there…”

In other words: I’ll heal him during a break in the preparations—bring him to me then.

When I said that, Count Lazabel bowed deeply before me.

---

“Phew... what a nice bath.”

It had been two weeks since I left Count Lazabel’s domain.
Early December.

I was soaking in a hot spring located in the northwestern part of the Principality of Budoudarl, within the County of Authen.

It was a carbonated spring.

The fizzy, tingling sensation against my skin was pleasantly stimulating.

And the view was just as good.

From here, I could see the grand mountains beginning to turn white, and if I leaned forward just a little, I could glimpse the old capital—Authen City—along with the Authen Palace and the Authen Temple.

It was a view my ancestors had cherished—and one that I loved, too, both the scenery and the spring itself.

“Princess, please don’t lean out too far. It’s dangerous.”

While I was enjoying the view, Delawear offered her usual caution.
She was bathing with me. You’d think she could relax, at least while we’re in the hot spring.

“It’s fine. There’s a safety railing, you know…”

“That’s not what I meant. …There could be perverts watching. With magic, it’s entirely possible.”

“But I’m wearing a bathing robe. I’m decent, right?”

“That’s not the issue.”

“True. There’s a certain logic to the idea that wet fabric clinging to the skin can be more suggestive than being completely nude.”

“Princess!!”

“Don’t get so upset. I’m kidding. Come on, it’s just a little teasing. Can’t a noble lady make a lewd joke or two while she’s in the bath?”

Even noble girls get the urge to say something naughty once in a while.
I mean, I’ve never heard anyone actually do it, but still.

That said, I didn’t want a lecture from Delawear later, so I stopped leaning out over the edge.
Instead, I waded over toward Shiek, who was quietly splashing around in the corner.

“Shiek.”

“Y-Yes!!”

Shiek straightened her back in an instant when I called to her.
Can’t you relax at least while you’re in a hot spring?

If you all don’t relax, then I can’t either.

“If this water were to be sold, what price do you think it could fetch?”

“Eh? D-Do you mean… the leftover water after you’ve bathed in it, Princess?”

...How did your mind jump there?

“No. I meant if we drew the fizzy water directly from the source and sold it as drinking water.”

“I-I see. In that case… let’s see. There are old tales that say even the great emperor favored this spring, and now you yourself are using it, so…”

Shiek’s eyes took on the glint of a merchant.

After a moment of thought, she named a price. A pretty decent sum.

“I see… And what about the leftover water—after I’ve bathed in it?”

“W-Well… I’d say it could go for ten times that. …Though we couldn’t sell it openly, of course.”

“Then I suppose we’d have to leak it on the black market.”

“P-Please, forgive me for even thinking of such a thing…!”

“I’m joking.”

I smiled at Shiek, who looked like she might start groveling underwater.

After that, I made my way around to speak with the other ladies-in-waiting who were bathing with us.

…Strictly speaking, nobles aren’t supposed to bathe with their attendants.
But I insisted—against all social norms—to let them bathe with me.

The official reason is to “help me bathe,” of course.
But the real reason? I just wanted to see some girls naked.

Most of them are beautiful, as expected from those selected to serve me.

This was my dream harem.

Though, perhaps because I’ve lost my chichi, I couldn’t quite get as excited as I thought I would.

Officially, the reason they bathe with me is “to assist with bathing.”
So I’m still preserving my image as a noble.

“Shall we get out now?”

Feeling a bit dizzy from the heat, I stood up.

---

Having cleansed myself and changed into formal attire, I made my way to the temple in Authen City—the Authen Temple.

Waiting in front of the temple were an elderly man cloaked in baron-class magical power and a group of priests who had come to greet me.

“Thank you for taking the time to visit us, Princess. As the guardian of the mausoleum, I offer you my deepest gratitude.”

“As one who inherits the blood, the land, and the power, this is a duty I must fulfill. It is only because you continue to safeguard this mausoleum that I am able to devote myself to governance. As the Count of Authen, and as a descendant of the Great Emperor, you have my heartfelt thanks.”

After exchanging formal greetings with the elderly man—the High Priest—I entered the temple.

There, in the chamber at the very back, I knelt before the mausoleum and bowed my head.

The person enshrined in this mausoleum is the only one ever called “Great Emperor” in the Western Continent.

Emperor Kartema.

Over two hundred years ago, he was the one who unified the Western Continent.

He established his capital at this key crossroads of the land and brought an end to the dark age that followed the collapse of the Unified Empire.

Though his empire eventually fractured after his death, his name remains immortalized in history.

Even now, many pilgrims still come to pay their respects.

And I—am his sole matrilineal descendant. (Though illegitimate lines are said to still exist.)

His patrilineal line ended with my maternal grandmother, but through my mother, and now through me, the County of Authen has continued to be passed down and preserved.

This land—and the Duchy of Torinia—remain in dispute with the Empire.

The Empire… and its successive emperors all claim to be the rightful successors of Emperor Kartema.

Naturally, they want to seize control of this land where the Great Emperor lies entombed.

Of course, its strategic position as a hub of east-west transit, and its economic and military value, are also key motivations.

To be honest, Kartema is more a figure from history to me than someone I consider my ancestor.

But I do love the hot springs in this County of Authen.

I won’t give it up to the Emperor.

And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I never have to.

That was the vow I made in my heart as I offered my prayers.