The Duke's Emissary

"You've changed so much I almost didn't recognize you."

"Do you think so?"

"Yeah. I have questions, but come inside for now."

"Yes. Pardon the intrusion."

I invited Orleans into the house and closed the door.

I remembered bringing Orleans here after she had been assaulted by bandits and nursing her back to health.

Orleans seemed to remember as well, looking around the room with curiosity.

"This brings back memories. Everyone took such good care of me. Of course, you too, sir."

"I've heard enough thanks already. So, did you come alone?"

"Yes. This robe allowed me to travel safely. I was escorted partway, though."

She fluttered the hem of her robe as she said this.

It didn't appear to be an ordinary robe. It was likely enchanted or perhaps a magic item.

She had been so weakened after the bandit attack that she could barely stay conscious, yet she had grown so much stronger.

"Wait here a moment."

It would be rude to have a guest without offering at least a drink.

I quickly boiled water, poured it into a pot with tea leaves, and added sugar to the cups.

When the tea leaves had steeped enough to release their aroma, I poured the tea into the cups and used short pieces of leftover cinnamon sticks to stir the sugar.

Then I simply left them in the tea.

I also brought out some cookies that Azu had made since there were still some left.

"Here."

"Thank you, sir."

Orleans gently took the cup and drank with refined elegance.

"… Delicious. When you saved me, you also treated me to bread porridge with cinnamon."

"You remember that well."

"I could never forget."

She looked straight at me as she said this.

Her gaze conveyed a strong will.

The blue hair that had been cut short was now fully grown out, reaching her shoulders.

She had a mature air about her.

Then she reached for a cookie and ate one.

When I told her Azu had made them, she looked very surprised.

"Now then, sir. May I discuss business?"

"Your reason for coming? It's not easy to travel from the city of Ateil to here, so it can't be trivial."

"Correct… Actually, I've come on behalf of the Duke. Are you aware of the current situation in the Empire, sir?"

"I've heard there's a succession dispute brewing. I don't know the details, though."

"As expected of you, sir."

I felt Orleans's opinion of me was a bit too high.

She was probably looking at me through rose-tinted glasses.

Still, a direct request from an Imperial duke. Even given our connection, I'm hardly someone with enough standing to have a member of the Senate making requests of me.

"No need for flattery. So?"

"I meant it sincerely… The Crown Prince and his brothers have begun a power struggle. It hasn't escalated to military action yet, but one has already been assassinated. It's a dire situation."

I recalled Finn coming back injured a while ago.

She had said that skilled assassins were gathering in the Empire and fighting in secret.

I knew it had become dangerous even for someone of Finn's skill, but I hadn't realized it had escalated to royal assassination.

"That itself is a problem, but as a result, food prices in the Empire have risen sharply. Imports from the Church of the Sun God and neighboring countries have become sporadic, so to speak…"

Orleans spoke evasively.

Perhaps it was difficult to say.

Was even the Church of the Sun God, which would normally jump at the chance to intervene, unable to handle this?

"That is, some of the princes have begun hoarding food they purchase within their own factions. The Crown Prince has responded in kind…"

"Ah, I see."

If you don't ally with us, we won't sell you food.

Or perhaps a more direct demand to fall under their banner.

How unreasonable. Food is essential for survival.

Those in the power struggle might not starve even if prices rose, but ordinary people were different.

People would certainly go hungry.

The Empire was about to become terribly chaotic.

Did they really want to rule such a country? I couldn't understand the thinking of those at the top.

"But shouldn't Ateil be fine? Pardon me for saying this to you, but there's a vast estate that produces food. It shouldn't be affected."

"Yes. But precisely because of that, many people are relying on the Duke. Ateil now has far more people than before. And nearby cities are also becoming desperate for food."

"I see… So what do you need from me?"

"I'd like to purchase about thirty tons of wheat. I know this is an unreasonable request, sir."

"Why me?"

"The Duke supports the Crown Prince. And I've heard the Crown Prince is currently very sensitive to foreign intervention. However, they likely won't interfere if it's simply a merchant they've traded with before purchasing a large quantity of food."

"I see."

I paused.

I organized what I'd heard from Orleans in my head.

The situation had probably escalated to just before military action.

The fact that they were desperately gathering food regardless of appearances was proof of that.

If I accepted this request, I would likely be seen as part of the Crown Prince's faction.

That meant I couldn't avoid dealing with Princess Tianis.

I couldn't simply say "you didn't ask" when she inevitably questioned why I hadn't told her.

But thirty tons. Even though it would become nearly three times as much when turned into bread, that was still an enormous amount.

Coincidentally, it was close to the quota I had been assigned.

… Even without touching the quota, collecting and selling this much wheat to the Empire would definitely attract attention.

"We still have reserves, so food isn't an immediate crisis, but considering the time until the next harvest, they want it as soon as possible. However, they said you may refuse if it's impossible."

The Duke was kind enough not to demand it, but refusing would sever our valuable connection.

"I can do it, but I can't answer on my own. There's someone I need to consult."

"… You can do it?"

"A merchant doesn't tell a customer he can't sell."

Orleans looked surprised.

Of course, it would have been impossible for the old me. I hadn't had the capability to gather that much.

But now I could manage.

Provided Princess Tianis granted permission.

… As my capabilities grew, it seemed I could no longer act freely on my own.