Saving 80,000 Gold in an Another World for Retirement Chapter 218

218. Transportation Corps 4

“No!” (Mitsuha)

As expected, I have to reject that.

“But why! Colette freely uses it, and Sabine-chan has one in her room, you said…” (Beatrice-chan)

Yeah, I told her about that honestly. If I unnecessarily lie about that, it’ll just strangle myself later, and I don’t want to needlessly lie to Beatrice-chan either.

But…

“I installed it in my territory mansion and the royal palace because it’s necessary for emergency contact. And it needs to be put in the hands of someone who can be absolutely trusted to inform me in case of an emergency. So it’s just Sabine-chan at the royal palace and Colette-chan and the butler Anton-san at my territory mansion.

And the county of Bozes isn’t facing the border, nor is it in a position where other countries will attack first. Besides, it is a neighbor of our territory, so it’s hard to imagine for a sudden crisis to hit only the county without us even realizing it. Even if anything happens, I can reach there in just a few hours by a fast horse…

And in the first place, the county of Bozes isn’t a territory that needs the help of the novice viscounty that used to be a mere barony…

So I can’t see the need to install the super-confidential radio device there and rouse the risk of information leakage.

And it’s absolutely unacceptable to build a system that assumes the existence of the radio device. A defense plan that relies on things that cannot be made or repaired by ourselves is more fragile than a castle made of sand!” (Mitsuha)

“……” (Beatrice-chan)

Beatrice-chan, who can’t get over my explanation, puffed her cheeks.

Even though she’s just 14 years old child, Beatrice-chan is a noble daughter. She should’ve been taught to prioritize the safety of her own family, the well-being of the territory folks, and the stability of the country over her own wishes. …of course, there are many nobles who do not adhere to such morals, but Beatrice-chan isn’t that kind of child.

That’s why the clever Beatrice-chan can’t argue against my words because she understood what I said…

However, she’s not mature enough to accept the fact that she’s not allowed to do what Colette-chan and Sabine-chan allowed to. So it can’t be helped if she’s sulking over it.

I guess I have to think about how to fix her mood later.

And for now, let’s just leave Beatrice-chan, who turned her back on me, alone…

Although one of the wagons had a broken axle due to overload, and there were other minor problems, we arrived at the royal capital as scheduled.

The attempt to shorten the schedule by one day was successful, but of course, this increased the travel time per day and the burden on horses and humans. After that, whether to use the same schedule as this time or return to use the old one, it will be decided based on everyone’s opinions.

However, since the escorts are paid per day, they’re losing income on top of the increased burden, so this schedule is definitely unpopular among them…

The transport corps was temporarily dissolved in the central square. Since it’s a consortium of multiple merchants, each one of them will conduct separate commercial activities from this point on.

And when it’s time for them to return, they will gather here to form the convoy again. Of course, they will not return empty-handed; they will return carrying goods purchased in the royal capital.

Ah, some of the products we brought will be delivered to Pez-san’s store. I don’t want to neglect the interest of our territory’s purveyor.

It is only natural for the [early contributor] who helped us from the time before it was known that the territory is related to the [Himemiko of Thunder] to have some kind of convenience.

There is no way I can give those who came to me after they knew that the new lord was the [Himemiko of Thunder] the same treatment. Same for those who came after they confirmed that the development of my territory is steadily progressing with various industrial reforms.

…that might be the reason that the merchants in the transport corps seemed to be avoiding me, even though they were trying hard to court Beatrice-chan’s favor.

Yeah, I tend to treat that kind of merchants coldly… Because there’s no way they would bring a good offer to us. That’s why I’ve never brought a good offer to anyone except Pez-san.

On the other hand, Count Bozes, of course, will do anything to nurture the merchants in his own territory. The same way as we give preferential treatment to our territory’s purveyor Pez-san. Well, it’s obvious, though…

Even so, if I were the only one who accompanied them, they would have tried their best to approach me, but this time there was Beatrice-chan with us, so everyone turned their attentions towards her instead.

But well, she was with me on the special carriage the whole journey, and during the meal, she only talked with the coachmen and the escorts to gather information, and of course, during the night, she slept in a small tent with me, so the merchants didn’t have much chance to talk to her.

Anyway, after disbanding the transport corps, our carriage went to the mansion of Count Bozes together with some of the escorts. It’s obvious because the young lady of Bozes family has arrived in the royal capital. The servants, which have been informed in advance, must be ready and waiting for her arrival.

Beatrice-chan is coming to the capital mansion alone without count-sama, Iris-sama, Alexis-sama, or Theodore-sama. In other words, Beatrice-chan is on the highest chain of command over the capital mansion of Bozes family.

This is unheard of, and I don’t think this will ever happen again.

Yes, kneel upon the beautiful, noble girl!!

There’s no doubt that all the servants will serve her with their best, even if it kills them…

And we arrived safely at the mansion and the escorts who were following us until the end finally disbanded… not, they followed us into the mansion…

Aaah, they’re Beatrice-chan’s escorts that Count-sama had assigned…

Come to think of it, I guess it’s natural. There’s no way Count-sama and Iris-sama would allow Beatrice-chan to be protected only by the escorts that were hired by the merchants whose primary purpose is to guard their employer and the cargos. Even if I was there with her…

Perhaps those escorts must’ve been tasked to protect Beatrice-chan from the merchants and the other escorts. No matter how low the possibility is, it’s only natural to be prepared for it as long as it’s not completely zero. Especially if there is something that cannot be recovered…

” ” ” ” ” “Welcome home, my lady!!” ” ” ” ” “

Uwhoohh.

Almost all servants were lined up to welcome her.

Well, I guess it’s natural…

Of course, the lead is Rufus-san, the butler.

Beatrice-chan raised her hand and lightly said [Please take care of me for a few days] with a smile.

Although she was in a bad mood because of the radio, she returned to the usual Beatrice-chan after a while. Maybe she thought that she would not be able to enjoy the rest of her precious journey with me if she keeps sulking.

…but it’s apparent that she hasn’t been able to get over it in the depths of her heart.

Well, the fact that she, more or less, able to put up with that is well worth the evaluation. If it were the daughter of another noble, it wouldn’t be strange if she threw a tantrum instead.

That’s Beatrice-chan for you. It’s no wonder that she was chosen as the [school friend] of princess Sabine. Un-un, I’m proud of you.

Beatrice was brought up by me! (Not raised)

Alright, now that Beatrice-chan has safely handed over to the servants, so I shall go to my capital residence, the [general store Mitsuha]…

Gashi!! (SFX)

Eh?

No, why are you holding my right shoulder, Beatrice-chan…

…and, setting Beatrice-chan aside, I wonder why you’re holding my left shoulder, Rufus san…

I’m a girl, and more or less, a [Honorable Viscount], you know?

Is it okay for the butler of the other house to suddenly grabs my shoulder? …position wise…