A few days passed and at last the fruits of my labor had arrived infront of me was a yellow pill the size if a fire and on a red velvet cushion and a contract next to it on the temporary free employ of labourers.
The emperor looked at me expectantly I picked up the yellow pill and swallowed it instantly I felt as if my entire body just became lighter as if I was floating on clouds.
I closed my eyes breathed in and let out a breath so deep I felt as if I had another set of lungs and when I opened my eyes I saw everything clearer.
I spoke to the emperor.
"Thank you kindly from the bottom of my heart I thank you this is worth years of slow exercises and harsh diets but I do have another thing I would like to discuss"
The emperor looked at me dubiously and spoke.
"The empire has given both free labour and a rare item what else would you ask of us?"
I replied carefully.
"Both I and the nation of Serothor thank you for these gifts you have given us but the issue I wish to to discuss is that of the dust kingdom can you promise serothor will be safe from them?"
The emperor chuckled and spoke.
"Oh! is that all? I have already sent a small contingency force to dismantle what is left of that country as soon as you signed the alliance any enemy of yours outside the empire is a shared foe vice versa and enemies of the empire will be crushed consider it a favour"
I was slightly surprised and spoke.
"Oh! I didn't realise well I shall return when you call for me or Serothor's forces which should be much faster once the labourers start to work"
The emperor agreed and we spoke a while longer I signed the contract and got ready to leave the labourers and road construction was my father's business all I need to do now is to return to serothor.
It would be a long long road back thankfully a much shorter road when the construction ends though I don't know how long that will take probably 6 months to two years depending on what happens.
Having a main road is essential for a nation in a world without an easy method of teleportation or a train system.
Well technically speaking teleportation did exist in several forms in this world but the only way to teleport living beings is to kill an equal number of sentient humanoid beings which needless to say is not an option.
After packing my things including gifts for my new friends and family I got in the carriage with Elise and Aaron and Eren started driving.
It would be a long trip and I already feel exhausted just thinking about it back on earth I enjoyed planes but other than that and a short drive too and from work I despised vehicles especially after my accident.
After a few hours we decided to take a small break for lunch and I decided to talk to Aaron since despite traveling together I haven't really apoke to him.
"Hey Aaron what will you do once we get back to serothor?"
Aaron looked at me quite surprised and spoke.
"Your highness I plan to put in a request for long service leave from the army even though we are currently in peace my lover has recently given birth and I don't want to die on a battlefield before I see my child"
I nearly spat water even though I wasn't drinking anything and I spoke in astonishment.
"But you look like you're 19?! how are you already expecting a child?!"
Aaron looked scared for a moment and spoke.
"Well your highness I was betrothed and married at 16 it has taken four years of trying for my wife to get pregnant I am actually 20 years old"
Oz spoke in my head.
"I don't know how it works in your world but here common people get betrothed in arranged marriages as soon as they turn 16 the upper classes wait a while"
This was.. never explained in the book! I calmed myself down and spoke to Aaron.
"Congratulations on the pregnancy so does that mean Eren is also married?"
Silence sounded around and Eren spoke.
"I am.. a widow now my husband died in the attack it's still quite sore I would rather not talk about it your highness"
A few minutes of silence passed eventually we got back on the road again and I started thinking about Erens husband.
I almost forgot that serothor had casualties I guess because no one near me had said anything about losing anyone in the future I will have to keep in mind of the potential impact to serothor.
I decided to ask Elise a question.
"Elise are you married?"
Elise laughed like a manic and spoke.
"Good lord NO! hahahaha... it would take a literal miracle I've had lovers but all of those relationships ended before betrothal and my parents already have 4 grandchildren, why you interested your highness?"
I chuckled and spoke.
"No not really I'm a bit young for marriage and you're more like a friend"
Elise stopped laughing and looked out the window into nothingness with an emotionless face I think I might of hurt her feelings maybe I was too harsh?
I decided to give her a compliment.
"But our children would look great!"
She looked at me as if I was insane for a second then spoke.
"Thank you for the compliment your highness but I would like to stop talking now"
What did I do?