Chapter 88: Return to the Royal Capital

The next morning, we decided to depart from the territorial capital. The castle servants all came out to see us off. I thought they didn’t have to go that far… but since the Empress, the Empress Dowager Grandmother, and the Crown Prince Elliott were also present, maybe it was unavoidable.

“Please come again anytime.”

Steward Bastian, who is the Castellan and also the Territory Deputy, bows deeply, and everyone follows suit. As the kitchen car started running, I waved my hand slightly from the window.

“Take care everyone! I’ll come to play again!”

It’s only about four hours by kitchen car. Coming for a weekend, staying one night, and returning is perfectly doable. I’ll come often from now on. We parted ways with the Traumerei parent and child on the way. We will probably continue to associate with the Traumerei Viscount House through skin lotion and such. Well, skin lotion is completely thrown to Mother though… Leon will probably return to the Royal Capital eventually too, so there might be chances to meet. Like Elliott and Jean, I don’t really want to get involved with capture targets though… Even this time, if Elliott and the others weren’t there, Leon wouldn’t have come to our place. Capture targets summon capture targets… Well, if Leon wasn’t there, we would have been in a difficult situation in various ways.

“Did you enjoy the territorial capital?” “Very much! Though there were various difficult things…”

I answer Father who is driving the kitchen car. It was fun, but the latter half was tough. To think I ended up crushing the Leon route. If I hadn’t met Ritsu, I wouldn’t have suspected the Leon route, and the curse disease would have spread ten years early without me knowing. As expected, if it started spreading in the Royal Capital, I would have noticed. But if I moved after that, I think many deaths would have occurred. It was tough, but we eradicated the curse disease, established friendly relations with elves, and purified the cursed land where the Headless Knight Dullahan appeared. Looking only at results, it was full of good things. Well, there was the irregular event of Ritsu and the Nanane Clan serving the le Philharmonie Ducal House though. This has already been conveyed to His Majesty the Emperor, and he seems rather pleased. It’s like obtaining a widely known skilled intelligence unit intact. Strictly speaking, they are under the Ducal House’s custody, but he doesn’t seem to mind that much. Accurately speaking, the Nanane Clan serves me, and since I’m a minor, they are just under Father’s custody. Well, Father won’t misuse them. Information is power. Sometimes it becomes a more reliable weapon than anything else. For me to avoid ruin routes too, this is a grateful story. I’ll rely on them when push comes to shove. Thinking about such things, we returned to the Royal Capital in the blink of an eye. Why does the trip going feel slow, but the return feel fast? Proceeding through the familiar townscape, entering the noble district, finally arriving at my home. Seeing the mansion, feeling ‘I’m back’, I keenly felt that I’ve gotten used to this life too. Life in the slums was tough, but there are still feelings of nostalgia too. Passing through the main gate, toward the mansion… wait, my? There’s a splendid carriage parked there that I feel like I’ve seen somewhere…

“Ooh! You’ve returned!” “Brother…”

Why is His Majesty the Emperor welcoming us at our home…? No, his wife and child are returning after a month, so I understand the feeling, but wait at the castle…

“Father!” “Ooh, Elliott! Have you been well?” “Yes!”

Elliott jumps out from the second car and runs to His Majesty the Emperor. If I recall, the attendant knights were supposed to deliver Elliott’s updates daily. Well, maybe it’s that ‘If men don’t meet for three days…’ thing.

“Sakuraile looks energetic too.” “Yes. Went to the territorial capital and deepened my knowledge. For the country, for the territory, I wish to utilize it in various ways.” “Splendid attitude. As expected of my niece. By the way…”

Getting off the kitchen car, to me who was greeting Mother with a curtsy, His Majesty the Emperor deliberately coughed once—ahem. Together with the Prime Minister behind him, they seem somewhat fidgety, what is it?

“Won’t you show me what the new shop is like?” “Ah… Of course I don’t mind.”

At His Majesty the Emperor’s words, my expression involuntarily became flat—Sun… This is that, probably written in Elliott‘s update report, showing great interest in my shop’s new food. Because only one person… no, including the Prime Minister? Only two people were left out… It’s just lunch time, and not exactly a reward for Uncle (Oitan) working without air conditioning, but shall I summon one. Since I summoned the kitchen car today, remaining magic power isn’t much. Still, I can summon about one shop. As expected, not the greengrocer. Onigiri shop is a bit bland too. Then Ramen shop or Conveyor Belt Sushi shop…

“I think Conveyor Belt Sushi would be good. Brother likes such unusual things. Also, fresh seafood is hard to eat even in the Royal Capital.” “That is true.”

Following Father’s words, I decide to summon the Conveyor Belt Sushi shop ‘Kuma Sushi’. Entering the shop, His Majesty the Emperor and the Prime Minister immediately ordered sushi after receiving menu explanation from Father.

“Delicious! To think raw fish is this delicious!” “This thing called Rice (Okome) is also delicious.”

Right, it’s the first time for the two to eat rice too. We ate fried rice and rice at ‘Horakuen’ first. Well, that is vinegared rice, not normal rice though. Still rice without mistake.

“Lady Sakuraile, can this not be made in our country?” “Umm, I haven’t seen rice itself… First from there. Eating fish raw is dangerous outside this shop too…” “Umm.”

While the Prime Minister and I were talking, Ritsu timidly raises her hand.

“Something similar to this exists in Gagaku Country.” “Eh!? There is rice!?”

Involuntarily raised my voice at Ritsu‘s statement. Come to think of it, Gagaku Country in the game was a country made with Japan’s image! Not strange for rice to exist!

“However, well… In Gagaku Country, it is called Touka (Rice Plant), but it is grown only in some regions, and well, mostly grown as livestock feed, so…”

Huh? Livestock feed? The inside of the shop froze with a pishiri. Of course it would. His Majesty the Emperor of our country was eating livestock feed saying delicious, delicious. Ritsu also seemed to realize her slip of the tongue. Blood drained from her face—saaaa. Mumu, here for once…

“Livestock in Gagaku Country must be cherished very much. Being fed such delicious things. Or do they not know this deliciousness? If so, what a waste. If this can be mass-produced, it would be a grain comparable to bread.”

I deliberately stated loudly. Sensing my intention, the Prime Minister plays along.

“Hoho. Then if our country monopolizes production of that grain, we can enrich the dining table further?” “Yes. Please look at this.”

I took out ‘Musubimaru’s onigiri from the four-dimensional pochette and placed them on His Majesty the Emperor and the Prime Minister’s table. Salmon and Tuna Mayo onigiri.

“This is also food made from rice. Please remove the transparent bag wrapping it and eat.”

His Majesty the Emperor and the Prime Minister remove the wrap and bite into it directly.

“Ooh! This is delicious too!” “Unlike sushi, simple taste but… this is also delicious.” “Like this, rice is a grain with various possibilities. If other countries haven’t realized its deliciousness yet…”

I smile broadly implying meaning. In response, His Majesty the Emperor and the Prime Minister also wore wicked smiles.

“This is… usable. Might be a big gold mine.” “Yes. If we can reproduce Lady Sakuraile’s cooking, it will become a unique weapon for our country. Can become a diplomatic trump card. Should get our hands on it as soon as possible.”

Kukkukku… While the three of us wore wicked smiles, Father and others looked at us with exasperated eyes. It’s fine, we can get rice!? Since we’re at it, let’s mass-produce! Let’s make this country a Rice Superpower! First come, first served! Sorry to ask immediately after returning, but later I’ll ask Nanane people to ride Oboro and go find seed rice (tanemomi) in Gagaku Country. Right, let’s make rice paddies in le Philharmonie territory too. Start small first, and expand to secure at least enough for our family to eat…

“By the way, this ‘Onigiri’ is nice as it can be eaten easily. Seems eatable even during work.” “Originally portable food apparently. Convenient as a bento too.” “I see.”

Personally wanting to root rice in this country no matter what, I continue appealing to His Majesty the Emperor. Next time, have him eat ‘Horakuen’s Curry and Fried Rice too. Let’s do that. After that, His Majesty the Emperor and the Prime Minister ate as much sushi as they could, and returned to the castle by carriage with Elliott and others. Hope they don’t get sick in the swaying carriage… Leaving the summoned ‘Kuma Sushi’ as is, decided to have the mansion servants eat too. Father’s treat. Eat as much as you want. I returned to my room with Kohaku-san, and dove onto the bed vigorously.

“Haa… Finally feel like I’m back…” “That much?” “Of course. Too many things happened, so tired…! Things to do… too many things to do!”

Basically, to break ruin flags, only I can move. Because there are parts I can’t leave to others. What is happening overall, and how to deal with it. Comparing with game content, have to move ahead. Even then, there are things I know and things I don’t, so I have to judge on the spot. That IS tiring…

“I’ll do it because I don’t want to be ruined though…” “The Goddesses are also watching the little master. Since I will help too, let us do our best.”

No well, I’ll do my best but. Otherwise I’ll be ruined. For now, crushed three routes, and if it goes like this, maybe I can crush all routes before entering the academy? Wait, that’s impossible as expected. Actually, maybe easier to crush after entering the academy because predictions are easier. Like this curse disease, things proceeding on their own where I don’t know are the scariest. Maybe have the Nanane Clan investigate various things. If I can know some signs, I might be able to make the first move. Then… While thinking this and that about the future, I fell into a deep sleep.