Chapter 369: Two-Country Talks, and People of Similar Interests.
Since I've managed to secure an appointment with the queen of Strain, I decided to have a talk with Crown Prince Rupheus.
If the salesman doesn't know what he is selling, he wouldn't be able to sell anything no matter how excellent his products are, after all.
For now, I'll do up a simple resume for him with a photo and some write-up done by the palace scribes.
"Something like this, I guess."
"Fumu fumu. Well, it looks pretty good. Except for one point."
"Please don't mention it…"
Crown Prince Rupheus had a gloomy aura around him as we talked.
The point I talked about, was the fact that the crown prince had a past engagement annulled. While it was entirely due to problems with the other side so he doesn't have anything to be ashamed of, and that was written properly on the paper as well, there's still the possibility that he could be seen as someone who couldn't judge the character of others.
Well, in this case, that was a false accusation since he was being forced by the senate to accept the engagement.
Princess Lystis, who had been looking at the sheets of paper I held in my hands from the side, opened her mouth suddenly.
"Nn? Elder brother, the hobby/specialty section isn't filled in here."
"No, that is—"
"If you're getting married, it would be found out anyway. It's better if you just write it down here, you know?"
With a forced expression, Crown Prince Rupheus wrote down "Magic engineering / Maintaining golem equipment" in the hobby/specialty section.
"Heeh. You're interested in magic engineering?"
"He's far beyond merely interested. Elder brother had been tinkering with the 'smartphone' Your Majesty the Sovereign King gave us for several days before this, and usually, if he's free he would go and do things like tuning the golem carriages or something like that. I sometimes wonder if he can actually make golems as long as he has the materials."
"As expected, stuff like the G-cubes and Q-crystals are beyond me. The only people who can do that are a select few geniuses like Dr. Elka."
The crown prince replied to his sister with a bitter smile. It gives me a bit of a complicated feeling to hear that Dr. Elka being called a genius, though. I mean, leaving aside her personality for the moment, it's true that she's talented. She's having difficult-to-understand talks with Professor Babylon all the time, after all.
Judging by what his younger sister said, it seems that the crown prince is quite a tech-savvy individual.
"I don't think it's the kind of hobby that needs to be hidden, though-desu."
"Indeed. That's what I think, too."
Linze and Hilda looked at each other and tilted their heads. To that, Crown Prince Rupheus once again let out a gloomy aura as he averted his eyes.
"In the past, I was once hit with the words 'It's pathetic for one who would become the next emperor to be playing around with the jobs of servants. Since the dirtiness and smell of oil from playing with machines would get onto me as well, stop doing that at once'…"
Ah… From the oba-san fiancée, eh? Yeah, that could become a trauma. I wonder if this person's negative personality also came from there…
Since there's also someone like the Magicraft King of Eisengard in this world, I don't think that's something that would warrant a scolding. Well, that old man was a harmful pest though.
The crown prince started to look dejected again; he's probably remembering his past. The pair of glasses on his nose was also slanted and falling, as if reflecting his emotions.
Ah.
"Right. There's actually something I'd like Your Highness the Crown Prince to take a look at. It's something right up your alley, I believe."
"Eh?"
I brought everyone to the courtyard of the Trihalan castle, and took out an ether vehicle from [Storage] there.
It's an improved model from the Fiat 3.5 HP imitations that I sold to the monarchs over in the Surface World before. (Note: Fiat 3.5 HP is an early car model. Y'all will have to google this yourselves, since I can't right now.)
"This is called an ether vehicle. It's a type of vehicle that can move by itself without a golem."
Transportation in the Surface World mainly consists of horse carriages, while in the Reverse World, there are golem carriages beside normal horse ones.
Golem carriages are carriages that are pulled by multi-legged or tread-type golems, and they can carry around a sizeable amount. Of course, there's also the presence of small models for a few people to use.
The scientific developments of this world are generally based off of golems, so there are many things in this world that require those golems to function. Transportation is also a part of that. Even the ships in this world have golem technology in their parts.
In the case of the ether vehicle, however, besides the ether liquid which it uses as fuel, most of its other parts are at a level where the level of magic engineering in this world is sufficient to handle; plus, it also doesn't need golems.
I got onto the ether vehicle and drove it around the courtyard a few times for everyone to see; and once I returned to where everyone else was, as expected, the first one who jumped at it was Crown Prince Rupheus.
"This is amazing! The power comes from a magic engine… No, it's not a normal magic engine. To think it can produce that much speed with this small size…! If the body is enlarged a bit, it may be able to use a Barreken-made magic engine… But then, would the performance drop due to the increase in weight? In order to transfer the power from the engine without any waste, the shaft at the center…" (Note: since there's no reference, I assume "Barreken" is the name of a magic engineering brand.)
The crown prince muttered to himself as he moved around the ether vehicle while looking here and there. Looking at that figure, I felt that he may be a good match with the dwarfs who're addicted to tinkering with machines.
"I can present this to you if you want."
"Really!?"
"In my world, various countries are already trying to develop improved models based on this one. Aren't new designs floating up inside your mind as well, Your Highness?"
"Yes. I really do want to try improving this. This is interesting. It's been a while since I was this excited about something."
I can understand his feelings a bit. When I was a kid, there was a period when I was engrossed in the first toy car I got, doing things like buying new parts and exchanging them, and opening small holes on the body to reduce weight.
For the moment, I passed a manual with the design blueprint for the vehicle as well as points on its usage and maintenance to the crown prince. The authors are the professor and Rosetta. It'd be troubling for both sides if he couldn't put it back together after taking it apart, after all.
I also gave him several bottles of ether liquid as a service.
While saying his thanks all the while, the crown prince got onto the ether vehicle with glee and went towards the golem workshop located near the stables.
"From experience, he's not going to come back out for several days. Umu… Was it a failure after all to ask him to write the resume properly?"
His younger sister, Princess Lystis, folded her arms and sighed.
Well, while I think that his current look is much better than the dejected look before, my opinion isn't what matters here. I suppose we can only pray the other side is a generous person who wouldn't mind this hobby of his.
Conflicts between married couples due to their interests aren't something uncommon, after all… I think it's better than hiding it, though.
"Anyways, I'll go bring the talk about the marriage to Strain Kingdom now. I'll try my best to not betray your expectations. Even if it's rejected, I'll properly tell you the reason from the other side."
"Please take care of… No, we leave it to you." (Note: not sure what this part means. From what I could tell in the raw, I think she was speaking in a masculine way but switched to a more polite tone and repeated herself.)
As Princess Lystis saw us off, we transferred ourselves to Strain Kingdom via [Gate], bringing along the resume and photograph of the crown prince.
The capital of Strain, Citronia, was a city that looked somewhat similar to the capital of Belfast.
This place has a liveliness that doesn't lose to the Holy Capital Alen of the neighboring Holy Kingdom Alent. Various people and golems moved around on the streets, creating a healthy bustle.
"It's a nice city, isn't it."
While looking around at the city, Hilda spoke her thoughts. Linze, who was next to her, was also looking at the golems around her with a curious look.
We headed towards the pure white castle directly in front of us. It's a beautiful castle; its red roofs form a nice contrast with the blue sky behind them.
When I gave my name to the guards stationed on the bridge before the castle gates, we were escorted in courteously. Seems like Her Majesty the Queen had already made the preparations.
After waiting for a while in the large guestroom we were led to, Queen Margarita of Strain Kingdom came into the room with several maids and knights following her.
"Welcome, Your Majesty the Sovereign King. We meet again."
"Indeed. Please pardon our sudden visit this time."
I honestly didn't think I'd be meeting the queen again so soon; our first meeting at a restaurant was only a few days ago. I had assumed the next time would've been the two-world conference.
"And those young ladies there are?"
"My fiancées, Linze and Hilda. Linze is a magician who's capable of wielding ancient magic, and Hilda is the princess of the knight kingdom."
"Ara ara, so it wasn't just the three from the other day?"
Her Majesty the Queen had a half-surprised, half-dumbfounded expression on her face. During the dinner meeting last time, Yumina, Sakura and Suu were present. She seems shocked that there's another two people but… There's actually nine in total. I'm very sorry.
Come to think of it, I don't really know much about the general view on marriage in the Reverse World. I wonder if even royalties here don't usually have several spouses.
When I asked that, it seems that that's not the case. Just like the Surface World, if you're a noble or royalty, it's not rare for you to have several wives or concubines.
The previous king of Strain Kingdom had two wives; both of those wives had one daughter each, and the elder daughter is the current Queen Margarita.
Her Majesty the Queen had married the son of a duke, and had given birth to a daughter and then a son. Her husband had apparently passed away a few years ago. The elder daughter would be Princess Berlietta.
Since we were coincidentally on a related topic, I decided to bring out the matter entrusted to me by Trihalan God-Empire.
"So the Trihalan emperor said that… While it's a proposal I'm thankful for…"
Her Majesty the Queen spoke in an apologetic tone while furrowing her brows.
The people around us also had delicate expressions. Araa, doesn't seem like it's well-received. And I even had Crown Prince Rupheus write up a resume too.
"Umm, does Princess Berlietta already have someone she's interested in? Or are you uneasy about sending your daughter to Trihalan?"
"No, nothing of the sort. I actually feel apologetic to Crown Prince Rupheus of Trihalan."
The queen answered with a bitter smile.
"Well, Bell… Berlietta is, how should I say it, a bit weird… She had been interested in golem technology since young, and studied in magic engineering techniques extensively."
Ororo? Isn't that… Exactly what we wish for?
"I wonder if she took after me; when she gets engrossed in something, she becomes… She would look at nothing but the thing she's working on, and ignore everything else. There were several talks of engagement brought up to her before this, but she ignored them all, saying 'If I had the time to make children, I'd rather make a magic engine'."
Muu. So before bringing up the talk of marriage, I have to somehow get her to show interest, is it?
Well, I do have several baits I can use on this kind of person. I think the same hand I used against the crown prince of Trihalan would work here, wouldn't it?
"For now, is it possible to meet with Princess Berlietta? I'd like to talk to her, and also give her a present."
"I don't mind. That child should be in her personal workshop in the castle, so I'll call her over."
While one of the maids went away to call Princess Berlietta, we talked about the transferrers who accidentally drifted through the gap between dimensions into this world.
There are eight transferrers who Strain have sheltered. Of them, three does not wish to return to their home country. The other five said they wanted to return, so I'll be bringing them back together later.
Queen Margarita was apparently interested in magic, as she was asking Linze various questions.
"So even someone from this world is capable of using magic as long as they possess the required aptitude?"
"Yes. Since this world has fewer magic particles in its atmosphere, it would require substantial talent on the individual's part in order to use strong magics, but… It's not impossible-desu. It should be at a practical level, I think."
"Well, then how would one get about with knowing their aptitudes…"
Cutting off the rest of Her Majesty's words, the door of the guestroom opened, and a single woman rushed in.
She had the same light brown hair as Queen Margarita brushed upwards, but perhaps because she was running, her hair was messy and loose in places.
I had heard that she was 20, but with her bland-looking black-rimmed glasses and childish face, she looked more like someone my age. So this person is Princess Berlietta.
She was wearing work clothing similar to the overalls Rosetta of Babylon always wears, without any sex appeal. The leather gloves stained with oil adds to her image of a technical staff even more. Looking at her figure, I'm sure most people would never imagine that she's actually the princess of a country.
"Bell… Berlietta. What is that way you're dressed? I'm sure I told you to get changed before coming here?"
"Okaa-sama, please leave the small matters to afterwards! More importantly, is that person there the sovereign from which you received that 'smartphone' from!?"
Ignoring her mother, who scolded her with a frown, the princess looked towards me with glittering eyes.
"Nice to meet you, Princess Berlietta. I am the sovereign of Brunhild Dukedom, Mochizuki Touya—"
"Please give me a 'smartphone' too! That thing is amazing! It's revolutionary! The fact that it's mass-produced means it's not something from the ancient civilizations like the Legacy golems, right!? Just what kind of technology was needed to make it that small!? As expected, is it using ancient magic engineering techni—"
"Wait up wait up wait up! Too close, too close!"
I hastily put my hands up towards the steadily approaching Princess Berlietta, and blocked her advance.
When Hilda got between the two of us and glared at her, she finally stopped moving towards me.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not the one who made that. It's the technicians at our place. That's why I cannot answer your questions, unfortunately."
"… I see. And I thought I could hear some useful things too."
Her tension having disappeared, Princess Berlietta dropped down onto one of the sofas nearby and heaved a sigh. That's quite the gap compared to before…
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty the Sovereign King. My daughter has been disrespectful…"
"No, I don't mind. I was just a bit surprised. Princess Berlietta's interest in magic engineering seems to be substantial. In that case, I have a present here that you should like…"
"Present!? Could, could it be a 'smartphone'!?"
"… It's not."
While bringing along the once-again dejected Princess Berlietta, as well as the queen and her escorts, we moved ourselves to the inner courtyard. As expected, it's not something I can take out of [Storage] inside a room, after all.
"Amazing! Is it really alright for us to receive this!?"
"Yes, go ahead."
Princess Berlietta, who was already tinkering here and there on the ether vehicle, showed an expression of joy upon hearing my words.
"Is it really fine?"
"It's fine. I've also given one to His Highness the Crown Prince of Trihalan too. Actually, His Highness the Crown Prince is also someone who likes to tinker with such things. I think he and Princess Berlietta would go well together."
"Ara, that is convenient!"
Princess Berlietta looked at us with a blank face due to hearing her own name coming up in the talk between me and the queen.
"What's this talk about?"
Since the person involved still has no idea about the situation, we filled her in. We talked about how the crown prince of Trihalan would like to seek a relationship, and that he is also someone interested in magic engineering; I also passed her the resume and photograph.
"Fun… Well, his looks aren't that bad…"
Princess Berlietta muttered while looking at the crown prince's photo. Seems like the talk won't break down for the moment. As expected, she might be a bit interested in the other side due to him being someone with the same interests as her.
"For the moment, wouldn't you meet and talk with him? His Highness the Crown Prince was also engrossed in improving the ether vehicle, so you should be able to have an interesting talk with him."
"I suppose, so. Well, if it's just meeting him…"
When Princess Berlietta answered in a small voice while going slightly red, everyone else from Strain around her, from the queen to the knights and maids, started clamoring.
"That Berlietta-sama is…!"
"That Berlietta-sama who used to hole up inside the workshop all the time…!"
"That Berlietta-sama who never showed any interest in fashion or men…!"
"Shut it, you all!"
As she shouted back with a bright red face, the shut-in princess Berlietta got onto the ether vehicle and drove away. Her handling's pretty good.
"For that child to show that kind of face… It seems that I can hold some expectations for this. Your Majesty the Sovereign King, the matter of the engagement talk with Trihalan, I leave it to you. It might be that child's last chance, after all."
"I don't think that is the case, though… For now, I'll set up a place where the two can meet. I'll contact you again at a later date."
She seems rather receptive. Thank god, it seems that it might work out.
Since they both share the same hobby, they should have lots of conversation topics between them.
—When two people of similar interests meet each other, a certain thing will always occur; however, I had completely forgotten about it back then.