Let's Start With the Basics

Could it be that Her Majesty the Queen was under the impression that everything would work out as long as she left it to me?

Just asking cutely wasn't going to cut it.

At first, the work assigned to me had at least been within my area of expertise, but lately she'd started tossing completely unrelated tasks my way without a second thought.

Calling it trust sounded nice, but I was basically a handyman she could dump anything on when in trouble.

Well, being the queen's handyman wasn't the worst feeling in the world.

So, my new assignment: a city expansion development plan.

I didn't even know where to begin…

This wasn't like adding onto a shop.

I'd never built a structure from the ground up.

I had a work room set up for me in the castle, so I decided to head there first.

It was a smaller room, but it was clean and easy to use.

Apparently the maids kept it tidy even when I wasn't using it.

"So, Princess Yupe, why did you follow me all the way here?"

"Because if I'd stayed in that girl's room, she'd have said 'Onee-san, you're free, right?' and dumped work on me. Just like a certain someone."

"Was that a jab? This job would really be better suited for royalty like yourself."

"Oh, how awful. I'm just a woman whose only skill is smiling prettily at social events. Well, that and being a great singer, and beautiful, and having a great figure, and being beloved by the people…"

It had looked like modesty at first before swerving into refreshingly shameless boasting.

All of it was true, but didn't she feel any embarrassment saying it?

The fact that she didn't was probably why she carried herself the way she did.

"You've given up all pretense of modesty, I see."

"What's the point of putting yourself down? I hate being modest. Bragging is so much more refreshing, don't you think? It goes over well with older men, too. Oh, this room has a sofa. A bit firm, but not bad. Alexia, hand me that blanket. I've been sleepy for a while, so I'm going to take a quick nap."

"If it'll shut that motor mouth of yours, I'll get you a blanket."

By the time Alexia went to hand over the blanket, Princess Yupe was already fast asleep.

After a deep sigh, Alexia draped the blanket over her.

This woman who normally went to bed early for the sake of her skin had been up late for once after all.

"Is this personality the result of being thoroughly loved growing up? It's a little annoying how well it suits her."

"I think it's just who she is. Which is exactly why she couldn't keep it together when she got burned all over."

"Well, even just burns on the face is rough for a woman. Compared to that, a scar on the neck is still manageable. A choker covers it up nicely."

Alexia poked the sleeping Princess Yupe's cheek.

Then she gently brushed the area near her choker.

Only soft, quiet breathing could be heard.

… For some reason, she was completely at ease.

"Princess Yupe aside. Her tagging along won't be a bother, and I can actually make use of her popularity. Right now, the capital's development is what matters. Her Majesty Tianis really asked for something unreasonable here."

"Getting unreasonable demands thrown at you has actually earned you more sympathy than jealousy these days. I've heard the rumors. Word is that working under Her Majesty Tianis means a rough time."

"I think anyone would have it rough being monarch right now. What was it like in your territory, Alexia?"

"The scale is so different from the capital, I'm not sure how much help it'll be."

"I'll take any ideas I can get. Please."

"Well, if you say so."

Alexia moved a chair from against the wall and sat across from me.

Then she crossed her legs.

The dress she was wearing today had a deep slit, so naturally, her garter belt and the knee-high stockings attached to it were clearly visible.

"You've seen them more times than I can count, and you still never get tired of looking."

"No man dislikes a beautiful woman's shapely legs. That's why I have you wear dresses."

"At first I thought you were trying to humiliate me… Well, being complimented doesn't feel bad. So, city development. My territory didn't really need it, but the first step is a ground survey and soil improvement. If you're expanding the city, you need ground that can support it."

"Ah, that's a good point. It wouldn't be funny if buildings we'd gone through all the trouble of constructing started tilting right away. If they sank or collapsed, the responsibility would fall on… me, wouldn't it."

"The person in charge takes responsibility. That's the job."

So cutting corners would only come back to bite me in the end.

"I get the ground survey, but what does improvement involve?"

"Well, first you'd clear out any large rocks and pull up the vegetation, then…"

"Then?"

"You just keep digging. It's hard work, but it's where you start if you want to do it right."

Digging holes, then.

"What's the digging for?"

"Since this area was chosen as the capital, I doubt the ground is soft, but the surroundings might not be perfect, so you have to create ideal land yourself. Once you've dug down to a certain depth, you alternate layers of soil and sand so it drains well and can bear the load. You'll be laying cobblestones on top, after all. Magic would speed things up, but it's better not to use it this time, right?"

I remembered when we'd plowed the fields before.

Alexia alone had done the work of several dozen people.

The sight of farmhands standing around with nothing to do had been memorable.

Mages were incredibly valuable in infrastructure work.

If Evalin and Alexia handled it together, it would probably be done in a day.

"Right. This project also has the aspect of creating jobs, so blazing through it with magic would actually cause problems. But all the ground for the capital's expansion, huh… Hiring lots of people to work long-term on that would make for a solid public works project."

"Once you get that far, you can hand it off to specialists. Deciding what goes where involves competing interests and the capital's customs, so it's beyond what a layperson can handle. They surely won't make an amateur do the urban planning."

I had a feeling they might just tell me to wing it.

The new land would probably be mainly residential areas and the shops to support them.

It would be good if some portion could be designated for something that would sustain employment long-term.

In any case, having a clear direction on what could be done now was a good thing.

If it was just clearing rocks, pulling up vegetation, and digging holes, people could be gathered for that as early as tomorrow.

It was physical labor, but fair wages should satisfy those looking for work.

As for recruiting people, I could use signboards again, or perhaps borrow the help of someone good at that sort of thing.

"Yohane, that's not a pumpkin, it's a watermelon. Mrmm…"

"What is she even dreaming about…?"

"Who knows? Something carefree, that's for sure."

Orleans, who'd been quiet until now, hesitantly spoke up.

"Well then, sir, let's call in the castle's surveyors today. If we get some preliminary work done, we'll be ready to go once people are gathered. We should also place an order for stone slabs for the cobblestones right away. If the development plans haven't leaked yet since the decision was made so quickly, the stone merchants probably don't have much in stock."

"We'll need surveying too, huh… Can't exactly do it by eyeballing. Thank you, that's a real help."

"Not at all. I just want to support you however I can, sir."

Orleans's kindness really hit home.