Published at 30th of January 2021 03:34:10 PM
Chapter 15
From that day, I began to live in a confined temporary lodging where I couldn’t do anything other than sleep .
Kurou-san is giving the thumb up and said that he would come up with the house’s blueprint tomorrow .
I hold the small refrigerator in my hands .
I did this for the pudding…
Well, at least I don’t need to repair the house, even I make a profit with house renovation…
……But I still don’t get it .
I still don’t get why something that I made is so valuable…
「What’s wrong, Franc? 」
「What are you doing? 」
「Fufufu, I was making yeast . Maybe this is enough! It’s something that can help you make delicious and fluffy bread! Don’t worry! ……in a book! Right, I read it in a book! 」
「Um? 」
Wow, the duke household must have many rare books .
I nodded in understanding .
Rather than that…… it’s here .
It was later than I thought .
「…… . Umm, I’m going to tell you . ano, Franc? I have something to say to you… okay? 」
「Etto, sorry . Can we do it later? I haven’t fed Lucy yet . 」
「Oh! O-okay . I’m sorry I forgot about Lucy . See you later . 」
Somehow, Lana’s expression was very delicate… what kind of things did she want to talk about?
It worried me, but I took the lamp and went out .
After that, I went to put some hay and freshwater for Lucy before lightly brushing her .
Then I went to the wooden gate .
Sure enough, there was a black carriage .
The coachman stepped down to open the door and invited me in .
I can hear the night bird’s voices .
With a sigh, I stepped into the carriage with no lamp on .
There sits a man in a black robe .
「Hey, long time no see, Dardis . It’s been what… a month or so? 」
「……… 」
The man takes off the hood of the black robe .
The identity of the man behind the hood is Dardis Quarl Dest, he comes from Count household and also the crown prince’s 『friend』 .
I saw the bitter expression on his face, I’m pretty sure he’s in my position being troubled by those people .
「Oh, really… you’ve managed to get away successfully . 」
「Yeah . 」
The irony can’t help but make me laugh .
But I agree with that .
As for me, this is literally a godsend .
I never expected to be Miss Elana’s husband .
Is my father, with His Majesty and the Prime Minister on his side, doing his job somewhat comfortably?
I could have replied it with such sarcasm, but the look on Dardis’ face didn’t seem to do it justice .
「And? Make it quick, please . Or Miss Elana would be suspicious . 」
「Tsk . …Starlet embezzled public funds money at the behest of His Highness and his father . 」
「Are you nuts? 」
「I wouldn’t have done it either! …but I’m buying a dress for Miss Rifana as a present! 」
「…Right . You were an idiot . But, of all things, you’ve got your hands on money for the public funds?? 」
I knew it, you’ve turned into a hopeless fool .
When I look at Dardis’ pale and troubled face, my sincere condolence to him .
Yep, he’s trying to find someone else to blame .
「I don’t know what should I do . 」
「Will you manage somehow? Where are you going to get the money? What’s the total amount? 」
「It’s none of your business! 」
「You’re unreasonable . I mean, you’re relying on the wrong person . Why do you need me? 」
「It’s His Highness! 」
Alfred…?
…Yeah, I have a bad feeling about this .
「His Highness has asked you to come back… 」
「Eh, but why? 」
「I know you’re going to say that . His Highness is not that stupid . 」
I’m not sure about that .
I don’t know when he’s going to ask me to come back .
What position are we talking about?
I mean, even if I came back, my standing won’t get any better, right?
「But, I was told to tell you . 」
「Hmm… 」
「…Eufranc…please… 」
「I won’t do it . 」
The exchange conditions are bad .
Alfred… you’ve become this kind of guy .
Rather, this is more of intimidation .
I was so flabbergasted that I burst out laughing .
He slowly re-crosses his legs and traces his lips with his injured fingertips .
A 『Friend』 with his foot on the gallows .
This guy with his head in his hands, frightened and even in tears… I want to help him, but…
「…F-fran… 」
「…We were going to start maintenance soon on the waterway, right? 」
「ah! 」
「You only gave her a dress, right? His Highness wouldn’t allow you to give so many dresses to his 『Fiancée』 . 」
Err, the Crown Prince, seems to have a big heart?
If a『friend』 gave a dress to my 『Fiancée』, I would probably just snicker .
He will have to show them some leeway since he just switched fiancée, he didn’t want the guardian dragon to question his love .
She loves only herself, so she doesn’t think anything when she accepts a gift from another man .
It is nothing more than a tribute to those who have 『Holy Light』 .
All the peoples in the country love her, so it is rather natural that she should be given a dress or two…
He will show that much leeway to the guardian dragon .
Well, something like that .
In fact, it is said that the guardian dragon sees the one with 『Holy Light』 is being cherished .
I don’t know what’s really going on .
It would be a kind reminder that those who possess 『Holy Light』 must be cherished .
So, the only thing His Highness can do is put a limit on how many ones can gift, which is 「One dress」 .
Because it wouldn’t feel right to see your fiancée receiving a dress from another man .
Even if it wasn’t, Alfred could do it .
Unless he didn’t want to .
When it comes to Miss Rifana, he’s just amiable .
She also treats him like a king .
No, I think it’s the other way around .
When he became the King, he could not think a more suitable wife than her… or something like that .
So, he really wants to marry her, and can’t allow her to change her mind to another man inadvertently .
However, he doesn’t want people to assume he can’t afford to have the guardian dragon as his fiancée .
Maybe for that reason, he allows them to gift her .
The most expensive one probably cost one Gold coin .
「…Well, I don’t think I could give many dresses to His Highness’ fiancée . 」
「I suppose . 」
But one gold coin is normally a lot of money, though .
And as much as I don’t like to think about it… He’s embezzling public funds to gift Miss Rifana a dress… Starlet, you can’t be serious… you’re not really planning on getting Miss Rifana, are you?
While I’m not one to talk about other people’s affairs, having a love affair with the Crown Prince’s fiancée is extremely difficult .
It’s never going to happen .
Moreover, the other party is someone who has『Holy Light』 .
「Hmm, I’m going to teach you a simple trick to hide your embezzlement . 」
「Eh? 」
「What does it take to maintain the waterway? 」
「Uh, it’s stone and wood . And also… 」
「What are you going to do with it? 」
「I heard it’s to repair the bridge… so what? 」
「…Do you have any paper? 」
Sponsored Content
「Etto… I have no paper… 」
I took out a stone slab and a brush .
I guess this is the norm when you don’t have paper and ink .
Meanwhile, I drew up a blueprint for a bridge that maintained its strength while minimizing the amount of wood used .
Well, I wouldn’t be too confident in the strength unless I actually made it… Threading a few ropes will keep the balance and keep the cost down .
Then the foundation would be placed in the centre .
It’s kind of like a suspension bridge .
The way to build the bridge is to build the foundation in the middle of the river and then place thick pillars into it .
Using this, the framework was built and ropes were used to secure the bridge from both sides .
The stonework is much less costly than preparing the original stone bridge .
Besides, the original stone bridge can be modified into a foundation… . yep, you could make a wider bridge than the one before .
「… 」
「If that doesn’t work, then I don’t know what else to do . 」
「I-I don’t know, maybe this will… 」
「Yeah, right . 」
Now, let’s get out of here .
And Lana said there was something she wanted to talk to me .
She might get suspicious if it’s too late .
「Wait, hold on! 」
「Jeez . Do you need another favour? 」
「Come back, please . 」
「I told you I didn’t want to… 」
「We don’t want this anymore . 」
「… 」
『We』 .
We were friends with the 『Prince』 because we were his helper .
With me gone, I guess all of the reckless behaviour was directed at them .
I could easily imagine it .
「Is this a joke? 」
「I’m not kidding . We can’t do this without you, we can’t… Please… 」
「No, I—I’ve been putting up with this for three years . 」
「…! 」
Eight years, to be precise .
From the moment I was invited to a tea party when I was ten years old and introduced to Alfred and the others as 『Friend』 .
It only started to get worse when I was fourteen when I made my social debut .
Sponsored Content
——『…Fran, watch me . Let me show you the true value of your talents . 』
…Yeah .
I was given to her, it’s my reward .
My real worth .
She has shown and given it to me .
No more selling it cheap like before… I’m sure I shouldn’t .
「I’ve already been paid off . You ditched me to Miss Elana . Tell him I said that . 」
「Ugh?! She’s weak, why did you keep her?! 」
Is that how you see Lana in your mind?
Well, people do have a weakness .
「Yeah, sort of . 」
「What a despicable woman! Eufranc, you need to get away now! 」
「Oh, no . My life is so much better than before . You should think twice before you wreck something . 」
「…E-eufranc! 」
「Don’t scream too loud . You’re attracting the beasts . 」
「Uhh . 」
I get out of the carriage .
I was expecting the coachman to block my way, but that wasn’t the case .
Dardis closes the door quickly, perhaps because he’s afraid of the beast .
Aww, it’s so annoying .
「Welcome back . You’re late . 」
「Yeah, I got into brushing . Huh, it looks good tonight . …Er, bread? Huh? 」
「That’s for tomorrow! You do look a little sleepy, don’t you? 」
「…Yeah? 」
When I got back to our temporary lodging, Lana was waiting for me with a meal .
The leftovers from this morning and stewed dried meat soup .
Oh yes, it looks good .
But she caught me yawning .
Whatever it was, I was focused on thinking about the blueprints for the bridge .
「You’ve been up all night . Maybe you should go to bed after dinner today? 」
「But, Lana has something to tell me… 」
「Uh, we can do it tomorrow . It’s not that urgent . 」
「…Really? 」
Then I will be grateful and sleep in peace .
Tomorrow, I will start rebuilding our home .