Chapter 68: Afternoon of Inspection

Pop it into my mouth—pakuri—and the fragrant aroma passes through my nose, spreading a moderate spiciness and umami in my mouth. This is it, this! It’s not an authentic curry, but without a doubt, this is curry! My hand eating the curry rice doesn’t stop. Both potatoes and carrots are fluffy and incredibly delicious. Fukujinzuke is the best partner. The crunchy texture is irresistible. Since it became noon, having returned from the inspection of the territorial capital, we were eating lunch at the ramen chain ‘Horakuen’ which we had left summoned. I am fully satisfied eating the long-awaited curry rice I decided to eat since morning. Estelle and Bianca, who ordered curry rice just like me, are also eating intently. How is it, delicious right? Elliott was eating miso ramen, and Jean was eating chashu-men again. Beside me, Kohaku-san is eating a mountain of gyoza.

“Was the market interesting?” “Yes. There were various things and it was fun.”

Stopping my hand eating curry, I answer Father sitting diagonally opposite. Father was eating a fried rice set. It’s a set with fried rice, Chinese soup, and gyoza. After inspecting the market, we toured historic sites in the territorial capital, enjoyed the scenic views, and returned.

“Was there anything that seemed like it could become a specialty of the territorial capital?” “There were a few things I thought might work.”

When I answered so, Father made a surprised face and opened his eyes a little wide.

“As Father says, I think tourism is indeed the foundation of the economy for this territory. Being the former Imperial Capital, there are historic buildings and beautiful scenery. I think the best way is to have tourists visiting for those purposes spend money on accommodation, meals, souvenirs, entertainment facilities, and such.”

Father looks dumbfounded. Oops, did a six-year-old talk too fluently?

“Umm, first of all, if delicious meals can be eaten at hotels in this capital, I think more people would want to stay. For example, ramen might be difficult, but gyoza can be made with ingredients available here.” “Fumu. If this can be eaten, maybe we can attract customers from outside the territory…”

Father stabbed a gyoza at hand with a fork and put it into his mouth. If there was soy sauce, making soy sauce ramen might have been possible too. I thought I could take out the soy sauce and pepper at the seats inside the store and use them, but it was no good. Why is that? Even though they are supposed to be freely usable. No, thinking normally, it’s out. If you enter a ramen shop, finish eating, and try to take all the soy sauce there, it would be like, ‘Hey, customer!?’. I couldn’t take out the gasoline from the kitchen car either; I guess things that aren’t merchandise really can’t be taken outside the store. No, even if it’s merchandise, basically things eaten inside the store seemingly can’t be taken out. I tried to take the ramen itself home as is after buying it, but it was no good. I thought maybe the bowl was the problem, but transferring it to another container was also out. If take-out is allowed like ‘La Vie en Rose’, it seems there’s no problem. But I could put the Tabasco from the kitchen car into a water gun. Was that because it wasn’t inside the store… inside the car? I don’t understand that part well. Come to think of it, I feel like this place had take-out for frozen gyoza and noodles, but maybe it didn’t exist when I first came to this store, or it wasn’t on the menu. Disappointing.

“Also, Father, could you introduce me to a skilled seamstress?” “Seamstress…? There is a tailor exclusive to the Ducal House, but what do you intend to make?” “Well, that’s a surprise for when it’s done.”

Since I don’t know if it can be done, making him expect strangely would be bad. Father looked a little troubled, but promised to introduce one later. Now, after finishing lunch, it’s study time. Just because we came to the territory doesn’t mean we can neglect studies or ladylike education. This is the same for Elliott and Jean. They are being thoroughly grilled by the tutor who came along. I finished the assigned tasks generally before coming, so it’s just a bit of review, so I’m relaxed. Jean seems to be bad at studying (well, I suspected as much), and was treated particularly strictly. Being an apprentice guard knight to the Crown Prince, just being strong with a sword isn’t enough. Conduct and knowledge befitting that position are also required. Well, Jean in the game achieved decent grades, so he’s probably a kid who can do it if he tries. Once the general study is over, it’s free time until dinner. As if to vent the frustration of crammed studies, Jean caught Bianca and started a mock sword battle. We are having snack time summoning a kitchen car. While watching Jean and Bianca‘s match, I stuff my cheeks with stick apple pie. Yummy.

“Bianca has become strong too. I think there was more difference with Jean before.” “Of course, she’s working hard every day. Eventually, she’ll become stronger than Jean.”

I replied jokingly to Elliott, but I think there’s a high possibility it will really happen. Bianca, in addition to guidance from Julia-san, said to be the best swordswoman in the frontier, occasionally receives instruction from Grandfather, called the ‘Lion of the Empire’. Perhaps recognizing Bianca‘s talent, Grandfather’s instruction was quite enthusiastic, saying she’s worth teaching. It doesn’t matter, but appearing so often, is Grandfather’s territory okay…? Bianca has already become a different person from the Bianca I knew in the game. She obtained a Magic Sword and is pushing forward on the path as a knight of the le Philharmonie Ducal House. I think the Jean route is completely crushed. The problem at hand is…

“Your Highness. A letter addressed to Your Highness.” “Ah, thank you.”

A guard knight attached to Elliott brought a letter in an envelope. Receiving it, Elliott opens the envelope with a paper knife and skims through it. From whom? His Majesty the Emperor?

“Sakuraile, Leon says he’s coming here in three days.” “………………Huh?”

Involuntarily, a voice unbefitting a Duke’s daughter came out. What did you say just now? Leon is coming here…? Why!? I’m already full with just you capture targets!?

“I asked if he wanted to come here if he liked, and it seems permission was granted by Viscount Traumerei. You didn’t get to talk much either, right, Sakuraile?”

It’s. Your. Fault! This is why I hate acting together with you capture targets! Because connections chain together! In the Leon route of ‘Starlight Symphony 2: Re-enactment’, a mysterious disease spreads in the Symphonia Imperial Kingdom, and Leon and Estelle run around to stop it. They discover the recipe for the lost cure, gather materials with the help of friends, and splendidly eradicate the disease. Where Sakuraile—me—gets involved in this route is, as you guessed, appearing as an infected person. Sakuraile, who was supposed to be exiled in ‘1’, returns to the Empire tirelessly trying to get revenge on Estelle, and causes a disturbance. Well, that gets suppressed easily, but the cornered Sakuraile suddenly collapses with a batari and develops the disease. Estelle cured Sakuraile with her ‘Gift’, [Holy Miracle]. Of course, Sakuraile was arrested as is and sent to prison. The problem isn’t there, but that the disease had already been scattered throughout the Empire by the infected Sakuraile. This highly infectious disease causes silver spots to appear all over the body along with high fever, leading to death in about half a year. Even with Estelle‘s ‘Gift’, only a few people could be saved a day. It was a drop in the bucket against the daily increasing infected. Leon identifies from his family’s library that this disease is the ‘Silver Demon Disease’ (Ginma-byo) that existed in ancient times. From there, Leon and Estelle run around to collect the recipe and materials for the cure, but… Sakuraile in the game has no direct relation to Leon. So no event should occur… probably. That said, capture targets are people I don’t want to get involved with if possible. Even with Jean, the Black Knight who shouldn’t have appeared did appear… I’m not infected with the disease, right? Well, even if I were, I can be cured by Estelle‘s ‘Gift’, [Holy Miracle]. Since she cured me even in the game where we were on bad terms, surely it’s okay… I want to believe. Glancing at Estelle—chira—she was glaring at Elliott with an incredibly disgusted face. Eh? Noticing my gaze, Estelle immediately puts on a smile like a blooming flower.

“We shouldn’t disturb the boys’ fun gathering, right? We will enjoy ourselves, so please don’t worry about us.” “Eh? We can be all together…” “No, no, barging into a place for gentlemen friends to be together is the height of boorishness. As a lady, I simply cannot do it. Right, Lady Sakuraile?” “Eh? Ah… well, I guess so…”

What is it? Estelle‘s words sound like ‘Men should just do whatever among men!’ pushing them away. …Is it my imagination? Well, actually I don’t want to get involved much either, so let’s treat him as a guest and leave the hosting role to Elliott and the others. That would cause the least friction. Though the Crown Prince being the host feels weird. Well, let’s leave Leon to Elliott and the others, and we will enjoy ourselves.

“Young Lady, do you have a moment?” “Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Steward Bastian-san came and spoke to me. Behind him, the territory mansion’s Head Chef is waiting with serious eyes.

“The Head Chef here says he definitely wants to eat a hamburger… no, he wants to research it. If there is a possibility he can make it himself, by all means.”

Ah… Maybe someone said that while ramen and fried rice might certainly be impossible, hamburgers seem possible? Put into words, it’s just a dish with meat sandwiched in bread. Maybe he thought, ‘Then I can do it too!’… Well, faster to have him eat than explain with words. I ordered orthodox hamburgers for the Head Chef and Bastian-san at the kitchen car. Needless to say, after that, the Head Chef’s face was dyed with surprise at the deliciousness and despair of ‘Do I have to make this…?’.