Chapter 148: Theme Park Concept

Two months passed in the blink of an eye since we welcomed the New Year.

Between tea parties, designing for the Sakura Brand, lady’s education, and doing various other things, spring was approaching before I knew it.

It seems the Philharmonie Ducal House was the sole topic of conversation in high society this winter.

About a month ago, the talk was dominated by the news that the uniform I designed was officially adopted as the “Academy” uniform.

Apparently, the Gospel Kingdom couldn’t decide on a final draft either, and in the end, it was decided by a vote among the Academy’s students. Ehhh…? Why did it turn into such a huge deal…?

The chosen uniform ended up being the one from the game after all. To be honest, I was a bit relieved.

If they had adopted the faux-fantasy uniform I designed by ripping off various sources, I would have felt terrible toward the designer who actually designed the uniform for the game.

Although I truly have no way to apologize for the fact that I am credited with designing it in this world.

It wasn’t in time for this year’s entrance ceremony, but they say the new uniform will be adopted starting next spring.

I just realized, but the “Academy’s” new school term also starts in the spring, huh.

In places like America, the UK, and France, the new school year starts in September, and I’ve heard that there are fewer countries that start in April. I heard it’s only a few countries, including Japan.

The Nine Goddesses said they created this world using Earth as a reference too, so it’s a little nice to see elements of Japan included like that.

Starlight Symphony is a Japanese game, so maybe the Goddesses are biased toward Japan. It’s something I’m grateful for.

“Is it the Spring Sun Party again once spring comes…”

“Since it’s your second time, you won’t be that nervous, right?”

While relaxing and drinking tea in the living room with just Father, Mother, and myself, the topic of the Spring Sun Party came up, and a complaint unintentionally slipped out.

I feel like we just had the Autumn Cooling Party… Having this come around once every half year is rather depressing.

“If I wasn’t the representative of the underage group, I wouldn’t be complaining either. Someone who actually wants to do it should do it.”

Wouldn’t someone like the young lady of the Arabesque Marquis House, the head of the Traditionalist Faction, gladly do it? She seems to like status and power. Ah, wait, she already made her high society debut and moved to the adult group…

“You’ll get used to it eventually, Sakura-chan. The faces will remain the same for a few years, so as long as you keep tabs on the people you need to be careful of, it’ll be nothing.”

Well, what Mother says is true.

The new faces coming in will undoubtedly be young ladies younger than me, and the older young ladies who might cause problems will make their debut and leave in a few years.

Thinking about it that way makes me feel a bit better…

“I heard the royalty from Prelude, Minuet, and Allegretto will be coming to the Spring Sun Party again.”

“I am happy about that, but.”

I’m happy I’ll get to see Luca, Tifania, and Risha. I should show them my new stores. Wait, would they enjoy the instrument store and the izakaya…?

“They said they’d arrive a week early, so we might be able to invite them to your birthday party, Sakura-chan.”

“My birthday party?”

When I looked puzzled, Mother and Father froze. Hm?

“Eh, ah!? That’s right! Her memories…!”

“I-I’m so sorry! Right, you don’t remember…!”

“Um… Judging from the conversation, is my birthday coming up soon or something?”

They both nodded vigorously. Ah… Since I don’t have any memories from before I was three… And to begin with, there was no such thing as celebrating birthdays in the slums.

Even my age was just a guess like, “I’m probably about three?” and since three years have passed, “I guess I’m six now?” It was all entirely my own estimation. Even if I was right.

That’s right, I have a birthday just like any normal person, don’t I?

However, the fact that this topic hasn’t come up even though I’ve been here at the Ducal House for nearly a year means that I arrived right after my sixth birthday passed. What awful timing…

“T-That’s right! Let’s throw a grand, spectacular birthday party for Sakuraile this year! To make up for the three years we couldn’t celebrate!”

“Yes! Let’s gather all the nobles currently in the Royal Capital and have them celebrate you! Something that won’t lose out to the Spring Sun Party…!”

“Wait, wait! Both of you, please calm down!”

I’m happy they want to celebrate my birthday, but I’d like to pass on anything too flashy! Having people I barely know celebrate me and spending a precious day forcing fake smiles is a waste, and it’s exhausting from the bottom of my heart!

“Having my close acquaintances celebrate with me is enough for me. I think inviting just relatives, friends, my tutors, and the people who have taken care of me is perfectly fine.”

“I-Is that so? Then I suppose that would be better…”

“Y-Yes, you’re right. I suppose that would be more relaxing, wouldn’t it.”

Phew. That was close… If I had let them be, it could have turned into something on the scale of Elliott’s birthday party.

Basically, it seems they stop holding those kinds of birthday parties once you make your high society debut. It’s true that there wasn’t anything like a birthday party for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

Even on Earth, people might not celebrate them much once they become adults. Just celebrating with family and friends. But for some reason, I have the image that celebrities and famous people still throw birthday parties.

I might be a celebrity in a sense too, but I’ll pass on anything flashy.

“So, is there anything you want for your birthday, Sakuraile?”

“It can be anything, you know? Since you’re getting three years’ worth all at once.”

“Umm…”

Father and Mother said that, but even if they tell me that.

Even if they ask what I want, I’m not the type with strong material desires, and almost everything I need is already here at the Ducal House.

Ah.

“Then… Could you provide aid to the slums of the town where I was raised?”

“Aid to the slums?”

One of Father’s eyebrows twitched. The only ones here are our family, Kohaku-san, and Sebastian. Everyone here knows my past, so it’s safe to talk about.

I was kidnapped when I was three, and after that, I moved from town to town with the old pharmacist lady. The town we finally washed up in was that town, the old lady’s hometown.

I lived in that town for about a year and a half. I don’t have anyone I could call a close acquaintance, but there were still people who helped me when I was in trouble.

It might be an audacious request, but life in the slums is harsh. If there is anything that can be done, I want to help them.

It might be hypocrisy, but as the saying goes, “Hypocrisy in action is better than goodness inactive,” and I think it also aligns with the noble spirit of noblesse oblige.

“That town was in Viscount Morendo’s territory, I believe… It’s difficult to arbitrarily provide aid to a town in another territory. It’s like saying the lord there doesn’t have the competence to govern.”

“Is that so…”

I understand what Father is trying to say. If we did that, the lord governing the area would lose face.

Since they were able to set up soup kitchens in the slums of the Royal Capital, I thought it might be possible, but…

“However, it’s not like there is no way. In short, we just have to make it look like the lord there is providing the aid directly.”

“Umm, what do you mean?”

“‘An acquaintance of mine was helped while they were in trouble by someone from the slums there. Therefore, as a token of gratitude, I would like you to provide generous support, such as soup kitchens. We will cover the costs.’ We just have to negotiate with the lord like that. Saying, of course, that we don’t mind if he keeps our involvement a secret. For the lord, his reputation will go up without his wallet hurting, so he almost certainly won’t refuse.”

I see. So as long as we go through the proper channels and save the other party’s face, there’s no problem.

“Viscount Morendo is in the Neutral Faction, so there aren’t any major factional issues either, and it’ll probably be fine. Well, there’s a possibility of embezzlement, so we’ll have to give the Viscount a proper reward too, though.”

Even if it’s from a Ducal House, and the Emperor’s brother no less, I don’t think someone would pocket the money or food entrusted to them, but bad people are everywhere…

If he receives a reward and the aid isn’t properly distributed, the Viscount’s credibility would plummet, so I think he’ll handle that part properly.

Viscount Morendo’s reputation apparently isn’t that bad, either.

The old lady’s grave is also in that town. I want to go visit her grave someday. Though I can’t go right now because there might still be people who recognize me.

If I were to run into that greedy son of the old lady, there’s a chance he’d make a huge fuss about things that aren’t even true. Well, nobody would believe a word that scumbag says anyway, though.

“Leave the matter of the slums to me. Be that as it may, having that as your birthday present is just too sad after all. Isn’t there anything else?”

“That’s right. It doesn’t have to be a physical object; it could be something you want us to do, or something you want to do yourself, you know?”

Something I want them to do, or something I want to do, huh. I do have something I want to do, but…

“Umm, I want a large plot of land that I can use freely in the provincial capital…”

“A large plot of land?”

As my parents tilted their heads in confusion, I took out a book I had retrieved from [Inventory Storage]. It’s a travel magazine sold at the convenience store.

I showed my parents the photos of a world-famous theme park introduced in it. I’ve been to this theme park several times myself. I believe I have a decent grasp of what kind of things are there.

“What is this?”

“It’s a theme park. It’s a tourist facility with various presentations, featuring entertainment, rides, commercial facilities, and even accommodations.”

“A tourist facility?”

“Yes. To draw in a massive number of tourists, have them enjoy themselves, and spend their money. Once completed, it will become the centerpiece of the Philharmonie territory. I want the location and permission to construct it.”

When I said that, Father forced a slightly strained smile.

“This is certainly… quite the massive present you’ve asked for.”

Because it’s not something that can be built overnight. If I’m going to do it, I want to start moving on it early. There will probably have to be a lot of trial and error too.

“Umm… so in other words, you want to try playing in this ‘Thema Park’, Sakura-chan?”

“No, it’s not that I want to play in it. I suppose it’s more that I want to manage it.”

“Manage…”

Mother wore an expression that was a mix of exasperation and incomprehension.

“I want to gather tourists in the provincial capital of Harmonia, and hopefully enrich the lives of the territory’s citizens through the resulting economic ripple effect. If we’re going to do it, it’s better to start early so we can test various things out.”

“Hmm… I don’t really understand just from these pictures, but do you know what kind of things are there?”

“Yes. First, this is…”

I went through and explained the facilities shown in the travel magazine one by one. I also threw in explanations of rides at other amusement parks, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums.

Since it’s called a theme park, it needs a theme, but wouldn’t “Another World” be fine for that? A theme park that makes you feel a world and attractions that don’t exist in this one.

Someday, I will complete this “Philharmonie Land” and turn the provincial capital into a massive tourist destination.

Keeping such ambitions hidden in my heart, I continued my presentation to my parents.