Chapter 65: Arrival at the Ancient Capital

“I see it! That’s Harmonia!”

At Father’s voice, who was gripping the steering wheel in the driver’s seat, I, who was lying down in the rear kitchen, sprang up—gabari. Sticking my head between the driver’s and passenger’s seats, I capture the Ancient Capital Harmonia visible in front with my own eyes. By a large lake… or rather, the capital was in the lake. I am lost for words at the sight, reminiscent of Mont Saint-Michel floating in the bay of Saint-Malo, France. That’s our Ducal capital? Isn’t it amazing! This will definitely become a tourist attraction. There don’t seem to be any special local products, but this scenery is something one would want to burn into their memory. I’ve never seen the real thing, but I think it’s considerably larger than the real Mont Saint-Michel. Well, that’s natural. That one is an abbey, and if I recall, the population living on the island itself should be around thirty. Well, that’s just residents; including commuters, the number would be decent, but this is a territorial capital, and furthermore, a former Imperial Capital. It’s incomparable from the start. Harmonia is built on an island floating in the lake, slightly away from the land. A large bridge spans from the land, and entry and exit are only possible from there. A town also spreads on the land side of the bridge, feeling like a commoner’s district. When it was the Imperial Capital, commoners probably lived here, and nobles lived on the island. Harmonia is the former Imperial Capital, but the First Emperor mostly lived in the current Imperial Capital, Symphonic. The reason being, at the time, our country was at war with a country near Symphonic, a situation that didn’t allow for carelessness. Well, that country was defeated and absorbed by the Empire, but even after that, the Emperor apparently conducted most government affairs in Symphonic. It seems a situation where nobles lived in Harmonia and the Emperor and fighting knights lived in Symphonic continued for years. Then, just as an heir was born and the timing was good, they took the opportunity to move the capital from Harmonia to Symphonic. Since then, Harmonia has been cherished by people as the Empire’s second capital. Toward the bridge leading to the island, the kitchen cars proceeded in a line. The bridge is quite wide, and many carriages and travelers were lined up to enter the island. Overtaking them as they stared at us dumbfounded, we head not to the regular gate where people line up, but to the castle gate exclusively for nobles. Since we sent advance notice, there shouldn’t be any problem. As our kitchen cars approached, the noble gate opened with a creak, and dozens of knights rushed out from inside. Then, they lined up neatly on the left and right of the kitchen cars, holding something like large banners.

“Welcome back, Your Highness the Imperial Brother.”

“Hey, Patrick. Long time no see.”

Father calls out familiarly from the kitchen car window to one of the knights saluting us. The eyes of that knight, sporting a mustache and appearing over thirty, turn to me peering from behind the seat.

“Could that young lady be…”

“Ah. That’s Sakuraile. Sakuraile, he is Patrick Fagot. The Corps Commander of the le Philharmonie Territorial Army.”

Ooh! The Captain of our Ducal House’s private Knight Order!

“It is the first time I lay eyes on you. My name is Patrick Fagot. To be able to meet the young lady renowned as the ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’ is an honor more than I deserve.”

Guh…! Has that name echoed even as far as Harmonia…! I could only direct a twitching smile at Patrick-san who bowed deeply. Looking closely, the surrounding knights are also looking at me with somewhat sparkling eyes. Thinking about it, this is our Ducal House’s home base. If the daughter of that house is active enough to defeat a Dark Dragon, it can’t be helped that they get excited…

“Oops, can’t keep Mother and the others behind waiting. Patrick, let’s meet again at the castle.”

“Yes. Take care.”

Father glanced at the kitchen car of the Empress and others lined up behind, and our car left the spot.

“Wow…”

Entering within the walls of Harmonia, the cityscape lining up filled the windshield. Certainly, it looks older than the Royal Capital. However, it was a nostalgic capital with indescribable charm. People were full of vitality, and children were running around energetically. The kitchen cars running on the main street were bathing in the attention of such citizens. No one recklessly approached. Basically, such strange vehicles are decided to be noble belongings. They probably wouldn’t think of doing anything to them. Besides, the kitchen cars are heading straight for the lord’s mansion on the high ground… mansion or rather, it looks like a castle no matter how you look at it. It’s obvious at a glance that it’s related to the lord. The kitchen cars climbed the gentle slope and eventually arrived at the castle of the le Philharmonie territory, built on the high ground overlooking Harmonia. It’s bigger than the le Philharmonie residence in the Royal Capital, but generally old. The garden is wide and well-maintained; though old, I feel a tasteful beauty. Originally it was the First Emperor’s castle, so that’s natural. Though apparently he hardly lived here. Already in front of the entrance, numerous servants were assembled, ready to welcome us.

“Welcome back!”

“I’m home, everyone.”

Father, having gotten off the kitchen car, calls out to the servants bowing deeply. Following that, when I got off the kitchen car, some of the servants looked at me and started shedding tears with sobs. What’s happening!? To me who was startled—gyo—Mother whispered secretly.

“Those people are servants who were at Father’s mansion when Sakura-chan was kidnapped.”

Ah, I see. People who know I was kidnapped. Did they worry about me all this time for three years?

“Finally arrived.”

“It’s been a while since I came here too.”

Following that, Grandmother, the Empress, and Elliott got off the stopped kitchen cars, and the teary-eyed people bowed deeply again. Kitchen cars stopped one after another, and Jean, Estelle, Bianca, and others also jumped out. The servants immediately started carrying the luggage loaded in the kitchen cars into the castle. Watching that from the side, we passed through the entrance hall and headed to the castle’s living room.

“Phew, good grief. There was a little trouble, but managed to arrive safely somehow.”

Father, sitting on the sofa, sighed deeply and loosened his collar. We departed around 9 AM and arrived at 1 PM, just past noon. It’s almost too fast. Just to be sure, one kitchen car will return immediately to the Royal Capital to inform the Emperor that we arrived safely.

“Master. All luggage has been carried to the rooms.”

“Ah, thank you.”

One of the servants who was teary-eyed earlier came to the living room. Age around fifty. Butler uniform, white hair and mustache—a person who looks exactly like he manages this territory. …Have I seen him somewhere?

“Sakuraile, he is Bastian. He acts as the deputy lord of this Ducal territory. He is Sebastian‘s older brother.”

Father secretly told me. Ah, I see! He resembles the steward Sebastian at the Royal Capital residence! Brothers. No wonder.

“Long time no see, Lady Sakuraile.”

“Y-Yes. Long time no see. I’ll be in your care again.”

“…Seeing the Young Lady looking well, everyone is happy.”

Bastian-san knows all my circumstances. To me who lost memories, it’s the first meeting, but from his perspective, he must have met me up to three years old, so it’s not the first meeting. However, I have to pretend ‘I have known you since long ago, you know?’ in front of everyone. This is quite exhausting. I think I’ll get used to it eventually though.

“Today, the Head Chef has put his skills to the test preparing dinner. Please wait a while.”

“…Crap.”

“Is something wrong? Master?”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing, yeah.”

Father smiles wryly as if glossing over it. With those words, I guessed what Father failed at. …I guessed it. The food I ate when I first came to the Ducal House. Hard bread, meat with only salt and pepper, salad with oily dressing… Those were eaten at a Ducal House, ostensibly high-ranking nobles. To be frank, the food in this world isn’t very delicious. Strictly for me, that is. Not everything is bad. There are certainly dishes that are delicious even with simple cooking methods. But how should I put it… I feel there isn’t much obsession with food. Traditional cooking. This is how it is. Shouldn’t do unnecessary tweaks… from my perspective, it seems they are satisfied with that taste. Like being stuck in fixed ideas… well, if you don’t know other tastes, that’s how it becomes. Actually, at the Ducal House in the Royal Capital, the Head Chef, impressed by the hot dogs and hamburgers I served from the kitchen car, independently developed soft bread. Even though I only talked a bit about yeast. Besides that, he has become able to make hamburgers from hamburger steaks, french fries, and even chicken nuggets. So, hard bread is no longer served at the Ducal House in the Royal Capital. We eat soft bread every day. Other dishes also became incomparably more delicious than before. However, here in the territorial capital, probably… no, undoubtedly, it’s still that hard bread. And other dishes too… It must be a feast, but probably, Father who got used to the meals at the Royal Capital residence will feel it’s lacking. Father saying ‘Crap’ probably means he forgot to give the recipes from the Royal Capital residence to the Head Chef here. But we can’t just not eat what he made with all his skill. The Imperial Family members are here too. There’s no mistake a feast prepared with enthusiasm as a welcome party will come out. The Empress, Grandmother, and Elliott, who are used to meals from my kitchen car and sweets from ‘La Vie en Rose’ regularly, might feel it’s lacking too. Well, being Imperial Family, they probably won’t show it on their faces though… If they do that, our territory’s Head Chef will lose face… Dinner that day was, as expected, rather hard bread, steak with only salt and pepper, and salad with oily dressing. Is it a staple… Well, not just that, there was vegetable soup and something like pasta too. It was reasonably delicious, but perhaps everyone felt it was lacking, as they ate silently. Meat, fish, and soup were all salty as can be. Isn’t it excessive salt intake? For me, the grilled fish with salt was the most delicious. In the Royal Capital, the sea is far so we can’t eat fish easily. Kohaku-san was also devouring it. Do tigers like fish because they are felines? If allowed to be selfish, actually I wanted to eat sashimi. But there’s the parasite issue so eating raw is probably impossible. I wonder if I can summon a sushi shop with [Store Summoning] soon… Huh? Come to think of it… I met Ritsu and Leon, two of the capture targets and Villainesses of ‘2’, right? Did I perhaps clear an event…? With this, [Store Summoning] level might go up again. Yay! Kufufu, I’m looking forward to tomorrow.