Chapter 31
The Arakrene family’s carriage entered the capital in less than a day.
It was only possible because they used a teleportation gate.
Normally, using a teleportation gate required at least half a day of waiting for approval, but for the Arakrene family, their name alone granted a free pass for everything.
“Wooow.”
Rielsha gasped in awe as they arrived in the capital.
“It’s really pretty.”
“Rielsha, it’s better if you sit back a little.”
“…Okay.”
Rielsha, who had been leaning half her body out the window, obediently sat back down.
As the famously luxurious carriage of the Arakrene family appeared, passersby stopped in their tracks and turned to look.
Among the citizens of the empire, the influence of “Arakrene” was something that could not be ignored.
Reverence.
There was even a saying that without the Arakrene family, there would be nothing left of Declaire Empire’s history—so their reaction was understandable.
“Rishideon, are you going straight to the Imperial Palace?”
“Hm?”
Rielsha, who had been staring outside absentmindedly, whipped her head around.
Going straight to the Imperial Palace?
Rishideon shook his head.
“No. I already notified them that I would enter the palace in the morning of the same day.”
“I see.”
Feeling Rielsha’s intense gaze from the side, Rishideon turned, a bit embarrassed.
When their eyes met, he changed the subject.
“Is the capital really that fascinating, Rielsha?”
“Uh-huh. There are sooo many people. And the buildings are super pretty.”
“The closer we get to the Imperial Palace, the more splendid it’ll be. That area is where nobles mainly live, so take a look if you get the chance.”
The security level was also high since it was the district nobles frequented.
“Then I can buy the brothers’ presents there.”
“That works too. …But did you bring money?” Rishideon asked.
Rielsha was instantly struck with shock.
Money?
If money meant…
“You don’t have any.”
Fernor answered for her.
In truth, it was stranger for a four-year-old to be carrying money around.
Her household provided everything she needed anyway.
“You don’t have money, huh.”
Rishideon muttered awkwardly.
“D-Dad…”
Rielsha pouted miserably.
“I guess the gifts are out the window then.”
Fernor snickered playfully. Rielsha looked up at the two men desperately.
“Including the flower bracelet… one more.”
“…What?”
“If you make something even better than the gift you made for the duke, I’ll give you as much allowance as you need.”
Fernor spoke as if he’d been waiting.
He wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.
“Welcome, welcome to Esha’s Toy Shop.”
“Helloow~”
The shop owner, Esha, flinched when she greeted the adorable little customer.
It was because the two men following behind the child looked anything but ordinary.
They’re from the Arakrene family, aren’t they?
It was a distinct trait no imperial citizen could fail to recognize—
Silver hair and red eyes.
The ducal house that ruled over the western region of the empire.
If her guess was right, then the man accompanying the children was…
It would be Fernor Arakrene, the young duke.
Oh my goodness… The Arakrene young duke is in the capital!
A person of such stature had chosen her shop.
No—more accurately, this lucky little lady had!
“Rielsha, choose anything you want.”
“…These look expensive.”
“You’re worrying about useless things.”
The items on display looked pricey, so the child worried, and Fernor chuckled.
Her instincts—sharpened from running the shop for over ten years—shouted:
Jackpot.
No—
Super jackpot.
Esha’s eyes sparkled as she beamed at the adorable customer.
“What does our cute young lady like?”
“I came to buy pwesents for my brudders.”
She seemed to think deeply, then looked at Esha as if seeking help.
“Hmm. How old are your brothers?”
“Seven and ten. But I dunno what they like.”
So that’s why she was struggling so much.
Having dealt only with snobby young nobles lately, Esha felt her soul being purified.
“It’s okay. If you choose while thinking of them, they’ll definitely be happy.”
“Even if it’s not something they wike?”
“Of course.”
Esha answered warmly.
The child’s worried face brightened.
“If my family gave me something like that, I’d be so happy I’d fly away.”
Esha momentarily held her breath.
The Arakrene young lady, cheeks flushed as she spoke, looked unbelievably lovable.
Meanwhile, the two men who came with her were openly inspecting the surroundings.
Jackpot. Absolute jackpot.
As the child carefully began choosing gifts, the young duke approached.
“We’ll place an order for everything in the store under the Arakrene name.”
“Of course, sir.”
Esha rubbed her hands together excitedly.
After they left, she immediately hung a CLOSED sign.
“Huh? Esha, why are you closing already?”
“Because I just had a super jackpot customer.”
Soon afterward, rumors spread everywhere that the Arakrene young duke had ordered every item in the toy shop.
Rielsha proudly looked down at the neatly wrapped gifts.
Fernor laughed at the sight.
What she chose was a magical device that played theater performances—
Each with different stories.
She’d been told it was extremely popular among noble boys in the capital.
“A story about a hero who defeats a dragon, saves a princess, and returns to the kingdom.”
Before long, the carriage entered the wealthy district of the capital.
“Aren’t we going to the Arakrene villa?” Rishideon asked, confused.
This wasn’t the direction of the villa they typically stayed in.
“We were invited.”
“Invited…?”
Rishideon looked puzzled.
Fernor frowned in irritation.
He recalled the letter he’d received recently:
“I heard you’re attending the Crown Prince’s birthday this time?
How dare you ignore all my messages and make me hear about it through rumors?
If you refuse my invitation, I’ll go to your villa and shout your name until you open the door.
And that favor you asked me? I’ll pretend it never happened.”
It was absurdly coercive, but knowing the sender, it was completely believable—so he couldn’t refuse.
“So we’re going to your father’s friend’s mansion?”
“That’s not it.”
Fernor’s expression twisted in distaste.
The man they were visiting was someone who had no sense of responsibility befitting a noble.
“Dad’s fwiend?” Rielsha asked curiously.
“I heard the two of them competed for first and second place at the academy.”
“Academy?”
“During the former emperor’s reign, the relations with the imperial family weren’t bad.”
Rielsha listened with interest—it was surprising that Fernor had attended the academy at all.
So the royal family and the Arakrene family were on good terms once.
The previous emperor understood how vital the Arakrene family was to the empire.
Even without war, just the name “Arakrene” kept neighboring nations at bay.
But then why does the current emperor oppose them so much?
Did something happen?
The fact that the current heir of Arakrene wasn’t even sent to the academy showed how bad relations had become.
Noble children normally built connections at the academy—
Failing to do so often led to social isolation.
The imperial family exploited that to prevent the Arakrene family from gaining influence in central politics.
Rielsha glanced at Rishideon.
Rishideon must’ve had such a hard time… He knows no one in the Imperial Palace.
Since he hadn’t attended the academy, he had no connections at all.
Rielsha’s heart grew heavy.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage stopped before a grand mansion.
A beautifully carved gate towered high into the sky.
Beyond it, the garden visible at a glance was breathtaking—
The fragrance of flowers seemed to drift toward them.
The owner of this house clearly had a very refined sense of beauty.
“We’ve arrived, young duke.”
The coachman announced and carefully opened the carriage door.
Rielsha’s eyes sparkled.
This place had a different kind of beauty from the imposing Arakrene castle.
“Oh, long time no see, Fernor.”
Someone greeted Fernor with ease.
It was a smooth, pleasant, beautifully toned voice.
