Chapter 3 – Saltpan Prototype

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In the morning Tilia woke up and breathed a sigh of relief. She’d seen a dream. A dream where she was tied up and fully disgraced by Chrono. Inside the dream, Chrono had relentlessly assaulted her, using the opportunity of her being unable to resist. But, that was a dream. And she saw no reason to fear a dream.

Believing that she’d seen a weird dream, she raised her body and widened her eyes lightly. Red marks were visible on her wrists.

In a hurry, she flipped over the blanket, just for her eyes to fly wide open in the next moment. She could see red traces on her ankles as well. She had considered this to have been a dream, but now she started to wonder――

“Gyaaaaaaa!”

Being flooded by her memories of last night like an avalanche, Tilia rolled around on the bed while holding her head.

A complete defeat. I’ve been violated through and through. Certainly, I’ve treated Chrono badly. So, I allowed him to tie me as small repayment. That’s no lie. It’s not because I was asked by the other girls. Yet, this went too far.

“Aaahhh!” Tilia raised her voice. She felt like disappearing.

At that moment, a knocking could be heard. Someone was knocking on the door. Not too loud, but also not too quiet. It was a knocking kept at a perfect balance.

Tilia guessed it to be Alyssa. Usually, she would tell her to enter, but this was Chrono’s room. Hence, she was uncertain whether she was in any position to permit Alyssa to come in. As she worried, the door was quietly opened.

“Please excuse me.”

“…U-Uh huh.”

Alyssa bowed respectfully and entered the room.

“Good morning, Your Highness. Please allow me to comb your hair first.”

“C-Certainly.”

Tilia got out of the bed and moved over to a chair. She had expected that Alyssa would get to work right away, but the maid opened the window instead. The instant that Tilia thought about this being caused by the smell from last night still lingering, her body became hot from embarrassment. She reflexively ended up sniffling.

“Is something the matter?”

“N-No, it’s nothing.”

“I see,” answered Tilia with a shrill voice.

She felt like holding her head. Her action just now suggested that there was some smell in the room.

Unclear whether she understood Tilia’s feelings or not, Alyssa started to thoroughly comb Tilia’s hair with her attitude being no different from usual.

Come to think of it, even after I greeted my first night with Chrono, I had Alyssa always comb my hair like this. I wonder why. Back then I felt proud, but today I feel strangely shy about it.

“Once I finish fixing your hair, we will move to the bathroom. The bath has already been prepared.”

“――gh! O-Okay, I got it,” Tilia gasped and then answered while making sure to not sound shrill and nervous.

Does this mean I smell? Should I ask? No, this will only become embarrassing, if there was no ill will behind her words. In the first place, Alyssa is a maid. Even if I stink, she should mention anything about it. She is taking my feelings into consideration. Yet, just thinking about that makes me feel ashamed. I wonder, just how was I able to feel so proud after experiencing my first night with him? It’s so embarrassing. Even the existence of my past pride feels embarrassing now.

This is a defeat――the loser will have their pride and everything else taken from them, huh? No,’Tilia shook her head. Probably surprised by that, Alyssa’s hands stopped.

“Is something the matter, Your Highness?”

“No, nothing. Go on.”

“Yes,” Alyssa resumed combing.

Tilia pondered once again.

Sure, I lost after totally falling for Chrono’s scheme. But, my will hasn’t been broken. As long as I have the willpower to struggle, it’s no loss. And I’ll be able to regain my pride once I win.

I’ll fight once more. I’ll fight and win. But, what should I do to win against Chrono? I can’t allow him to take the initiative from me. That’s crucial. But, isn’t it also important how I’m going to deal with things after I have the initiative taken from me?

“Oohh!”

“――!”

Once Tilia yelled out, Alyssa gasped and stopped combing. After a short while, she resumed her work.

Silly me. That was no good. I surprised her. But, I must admit, that’s a very good idea. The problem would be how to put it into practice. What should I do to take back the initiative? I can’t think of a specific method. I’m not eager to choose that method, but I guess I have no other choice but to ask Chrono’s mistresses. Which reminds me――

“What about Chrono?”

“Master has left towards the Cad Earldom.”

“Another inspection? There’s no point in doing so many inspections, is there?”

“No, this time――”

“Hmm? Is he going to start the construction of the port then?”

“No, Your Highness.”

She had her words interrupted, yet Alyssa’s voice remained calm.

“Okay, why did he go there then?”

“Master spoke about building a house over there.”

“Ah, so that’s how it is.”

She finally understood what was happening. It was definitely unrealistic to travel back and forth between the Erakis March and the Cad Earldom every day in order to build the port. Building a residence in the area scheduled for the port construction was obviously a lot more efficient. It was so logical that it had become a blind spot for her. Apart from that, Chrono’s absence would be convenient for Tilia. Gathering information had become easier all of a sudden.

But, I wonder whether it’ll be enough to just ask Chrono’s mistresses? I feel like I’ll have problems making a conclusion if I don’t ask on a broader scale. Having said that, I don’t know any people whom I could consult on this without any worry. Or rather, this whole matter is something I can’t talk about easily.

As she wondered what to do, she noticed the existence of one person she could consult. Alyssa. She was a maid assigned to Tilia. At some occasions Alyssa would need to consider Chrono’s feelings, but Tilia was sure that Alyssa would make it public, even if she asked the maid for her opinion.

“…Alyssa.”

“What might be the matter, Your Highness?”

“Is it normal to have your hands and feet bound when you sleep with a man?”

Alyssa abruptly stopped moving upon Tilia’s question.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean it literally,” she lowered her eyes and stroked the red traces on her wrist. “How about it? Is it normal?”

“I don’t want to be considered an indecent woman…”

“Don’t mind it. You have my permission.”

“Then please allow me to tell you with all due respect: there are some men who like such acts.”

“What should I do when I’m bound? I’d like to regain the initiative, but…”

“You mustn’t do that,” Alyssa said outrightly.

“Is it wrong?”

“Yes. That is an act hurting the man’s pleasure. Master, no, men consider themselves to be your lord, so I think you will very likely lose their affection.”

“Uh,” groaned Tilia. She had realized something.

Maybe this is the reason why Chrono ran away or didn’t allow me to open the door.

“What should I do then?”

“How about surrendering yourself to Master?”

“What would you do if you were told by Chrono that he’d like to tie up your hands and feet.”

“Yes, please go ahead by all means.”

“Eh!?” Tilia looked back.

Probably having realized what she blurted out just now, Alyssa averted her bright red face. Moreover――

“A-A woman like me receiving his affection is… My wish is to repay the favor I received from MAster with loyalty. But, if Master were to desire me…”

Alyssa covered her mouth with a hand and rubbed her thighs against each other, fidgeting. Suddenly a question crossed Tilia’s mind.

Men consider themselves as lords. In that case――

“Wouldn’t it hurt his feelings, all the more so, if you desired to be bound?”

“N-No, it’s not like I desire… I merely said how I would react if Master asked for it.”

“…I see.”

In the end I still don’t know what I should do, Tilia cocked her head to the side.

※

After finishing her bath, Tilia dressed up and headed to the dining room. Over there Viscountess Saldomerick was sitting on her seat while fidgeting around. Tilia wondered whether she was looking forward to the food so much.

While casting a sidelong glance at the viscountess, Tilia took her usual seat――the one diagonally opposite of her. After a short time, the door connecting the kitchen with the dining room opened and Shaela appeared with a silver try in her hand. Food was placed down in front of Tilia and the viscountess. Today’s menu was bread, soup, salad, and eggs with bacon.

Viscountess Saldomerick bobbed her body to the left and right. Tilia asked herself why she didn’t start eating right away. Considering that strange, she ripped a piece off her own bread and stuffed it into her mouth. Shaela took place on the chair next to Tilia. Then――

“…Enjoy the food,” Viscountess Saldomerick muttered.

“Eat up,” Shaela said with a smile.

The viscountess stuffed bread into her mouth, just to reveal an expression which made clear that she liked the food. Shaela watched her eating the bread while showing a gentle smile.

“What’s so funny?”

“I told you before, didn’t I? Being able to see people enjoy my food makes me happy.”

“Oh, right. There was that.”

Tilia cut up the eggs with bacon and ate a mouthful. She felt a stare on herself. Looking next to herself, she spotted Shaela looking at her. With an indifferent face.

“How does it taste?”

“…The oil feels heavy, I guess,” Tilia answered while wiping her mouth with a cloth napkin.

Shaela grimaced, “Ah, yeah, yeah, I forgot you’re that kind of person.”

“Wouldn’t it be fine to simply not ask me, if you know the answer anyway?”

Tilia pouted her lips and cut up another portion of bacon and eggs. When she cast a fleeting glance at Shaela, the older woman was smiling while watching Viscountess Saldomerick wolf down her food. Right now seemed to be a good moment to gather some information about sleeping with men, or rather, Chrono.

“Landlady, has the sex with Chrono been going well for you?”

“――gh! J-Just what a-are you a-asking so early in the m-morning!?” Shaela yelled out, her face bright red and her breath taken away.

“We’re among women here, so it’s no real problem, is it?”

“Y-You should have t-this kind of conversation in a p-place with no children,” Shaela rebutted while casting a glance at the viscountess.

In response, the viscountess stopped moving――

“……If I’m in the way, I will leave my seat,” she squeezed out while staring at her food.

Her face was distorted by mortification. Wondering whether she was that hungry, Shaela knitted her eyebrows with complex emotions showing on her face――

“Just continue eating, Sweetie.”

“…You have my gratitude. But, I don’t want to be a bother. So I will hurry up with my breakfast.”

With those words, Viscountess Saldomerick resumed eating. After five minutes she had devoured everything and thus she left her seat.

“…It tasted wonderful. I’d like to savor some more of it during lunch.”

“Sorry for making you be considerate of us.”

“…No need to worry.”

Viscountess Saldomerick left the dining room, but then peeked her face into the room from behind the door.

“Did you forget something?”

“…I forgot to mention one thing. I’m no child,” the viscountess mumbled in response to Shaela’s question and then pulled her face back.

“Now we’re alone, right?” Tilia turned towards Shaela and asked.

“So, what do you want to know?” Shaela sighed lightly.

“I already asked you earlier, didn’t I? Is the sex with Chrono going well?”

Shaela sighed, “Yeah, yeah, in its own way. Within limitations.”

Shaela stressed the part about limitations.

“You wouldn’t call it within limitation, if you’re going so hard at it that it interferes with your work on the next day, would you?”

“Why do you know about that!?”

“Pfft, it was simple enough to guess.”

Tilia brushed up her hair as Shaela widened her eyes in surprise. In reality, she knew about it because she had gone to the neighboring room to eavesdrop, but some things are better left unsaid in this world.

“W-Well, it certainly did. But that was a one-time thing. Ah, well, unlike Miss Layla or Elena, I have only done it twice with him so far…”

“Only twice?”

“That’s right! Got a problem with that!?”

“No, not really, but…,” Tilia faltered in face of Shaela’s defiant tone.

It wasn’t bad or anything, but it was still unexpected. Tilia thought that Chrono had slept with Shaela a lot more often――

“How did you two have sex?”

“Why must I tell YOU about that?”

“It’s for future reference.”

“I see. Well, I guess it felt like we had sex while he let me spoil him. Lord Chrono is burdened by many things. Hence I soothed him so he wouldn’t be crushed by the weight of those burdens. Well, since it’d be bad for his character if I only spoiled him, I also spanked his butt, though,” Shaela said with a triumphant expression and then laughed loudly.

How to put it? Her appearance right now makes me pity her somehow. Why is she lying even though she was fucked in such a great way by Chrono? Is she showing off? No, maybe she cannot keep her head high, if she doesn’t act like a respectable, mature lady?

“He never bound your limbs or put a blindfold on you?”

“As if he’d do that,” Shaela objected with a serious look and then added as if having recalled it just now, “Ah, but he did ×× to my butt’s ×× and at one time I was told he’d do ●● to △△.”

For some reason she sounded like she was recalling something nostalgic. Of course, it was because she believed such things wouldn’t be done to her.

Tilia, however, was different. She felt like all blood was drained from her. After all, she had now understood that many things that caused her to writhe on her bed in the early morning were just the beginning. She was convinced that she had to gather information as quickly as possible. It’d allow her to lower the damage to her mind and heart, if she knew of a future that would be difficult to avoid. At least, it was supposed to help.

※

A rhythmic clacking could be heard. It was the sound of hammers hitting nails. Chrono looked around him, just to find several minotaurs and lizardmen building houses. Houses that would be needed for the workers while they’d be constructing the port. Then again, the minotaurs were using houses to live there together with their family while lizardmen built lodging facilities to be inhabited in a group.

Chrono stared at the sea, thinking that a port would soon be visible here. Currently he and his men were at the base of the peninsula――close to the primeval forest――which Silver had designated as the construction site for the port. Or to be more precise, it was a flat plain situated slightly off the shore. The coast itself was three meters below the plain. It was a typical stone shore made up of many rounded rocks. According to Silver, the water depth would drastically increase, if you left the shore just a bit, so it was perfect for building a port.

A rhythmic clacking could be heard. Now blended by many groans. Chrono looked at his feet. Silver and several dwarves were sitting on the ground, surrounding several parchments.

“Silver, is there anything worrying you? Don’t tell me――”

“Please don’t worry. I’m not worried about the port construction,” said Silver, interrupting Chrono.

“Is it really okay?”

“Please trust me. There won’t be any problems with the port construction.”

“Okay, so why were you groaning then?”

“It’s related to the saltpan.”

Silver grasped a parchment and faced Chrono.

“We designed a saltpan during your absence, Lord Chrono.”

“You sure work fast.”

Once Chrono crouched down, Silver placed the parchment back on the ground. A two-layered tetragon and small numbers were drawn onto the parchment. It appeared to be the blueprint for the saltpan.

“Can you produce salt with that?”

“Of course. It needed a few tweaks here and there, but we understand the principle. It’s not a big deal, really.”

“In that case, what’s the problem?”

“The efficiency is bad. After sprinkling ocean water on the sandy soil, it takes time for the water to evaporate.”

“Well, it’s still cold.”

Chrono looked up to the sky. Not a single cloud could be seen, but it was chillier than last time he came here.

“That’s not all. I think the sea breeze has an impact on it as well.”

“And here I thought if only we could come up with a new business…”

“I don’t believe a business where the production output is dependent on the season is overly good.”

“Having said that, we’re going to offset it with numbers, right?”

“Chrono sighed and stared at the forest. Even if it couldn’t be helped that they’d need to clear the forest for the sake of the port construction and field reclamation, he’d like to avoid destroying it just for the sake of making salt.

“I guess we’ve got no other choice but to give up on it.”

“It’s still too early to give up.”

“Do you have some ingenious ideas?”

“Not right now. But, I do know that a change in viewpoint is necessary right now. Don’t you have any good ideas?”

“You’re putting me on the spot by asking something like that all of a sudden.”

“Any idea will do,” Silver pressed on.

“Even if you tell me all that…,” Chrono looked down on the parchment.

“How is it? Did you come up with something?”

“Not at all. But, if we’re talking about a change in viewpoint, wouldn’t it also be possible to boldly use a three-dimensional object?”

“…Three-dimensional, eh?”

Silver folded his arms and nodded with a serious expression.

※

I must gather information as quickly as possible, Tilia advanced through the corridors while feeling somewhat fretful, before coming to a halt in front of a certain room ―― Elena’s office.

As she entered after opening the door, Elena was sitting at her desk, working. Looking at Tilia, she widened her eyes in surprise. But, she immediately resumed her paperwork.

Isn’t there anything that would serve as a good conversation starter? Tilia asked herself, letting her eyes wander. And that’s when she noticed a vase sitting on the window frame.

She wasn’t very knowledgeable about art and craftsmanship, but she knew the identity of this vase. She walked up to the window and picked the vase up.

“This is Sadal――”

“It’s some cheap stuff I bought at a stall,” Elena cut off Tilia.

The princess reflexively sent her gaze at her. Elena was covering her mouth with both hands, clearly aware that she had messed up. Guessing that she’d found a conversation starter, Tilia put the vase back on its previous spot and walked up to the desk. In response, Elena corrected her seating posture.

“You don’t have to be so formal with me. Let’s have an open and honest talk, okay?” Tilia said while leaning against the desk.

“…That would be a big help,” answered Elena after a short pause.

“But, what sort of business do you have at a place like this, Your Highness?”

“I wanted to ask you about your relationship with Chrono? How is it? Are you getting along.”

“I think we do to some extent.”

“Do you like Chrono?”

“I don’t hate him. He has saved my life and he also treats me well.”

Elena answered right away as Tilia questioned her while feeling embarrassed.

“Earlier Chrono apparently told the Landlady that he’d do ×× to her butt’s ×× and ●● to △△…”

“Ah yeah, I have heard about that too. He’s really the w-worst, isn’t he?”

For some reason Elena faltered towards the end. Her cheeks were red too. Or rather, she was red up to her ears.

Come to think of it, when I gathered information last time, he said that he’d use her ass.

“Have you…ever had it stuck in your butt?”

“――gh!”

Elena gasped and turned her face away. She was rubbing her thighs together.

“………No.”

“Really?”

“Yes, of course. I swear on the God ruling over Pure-White Order,” Elena said while placing a hand on her chest.

Tilia was appalled in her mind.

How dare she lie while swearing on god. I’m sure she isn’t religious at all.

“But, why are you asking something like that?”

“I might be told by Chrono to let him use my butt. So I’d like to get my resolve ready for it.”

“I doubt you need to worry about that.”

“Why would you know that?”

“――rg!”

Elena looked as if she’d said too much when Tilia questioned her. The princess guessed that this was meant by letting the cat out of the bag. She quickly leaned herself forward.

“Why would you know that?”

“……I studied it.”

Elena mumbled while facing away. Tilia wanted to reprimand Elena for lying, but she thought that it’d be better to pretend belief here. That way it’d be easier to talk with Elena.

“I see. You’ve got an extensive knowledge then, huh? So, why will it be okay to not worry?”

“……Preparations are necessary.”

In the end, Elena mumbled her answer while still facing away. Tilia, on the other hand, felt relieved since it didn’t seem like she’d be suddenly told to let him use her butt.

“How do you prepare for that?”

“……They will teach you, if you go to Ochre Temple,” Elena said with a sullen tone.

Tilia wanted to ask her about more details, but she guessed that going any further would leave the area of “studied.” As it couldn’t be helped, she decided to end the questioning in regards to anal sex.

“Which reminds me, you pledged on the God ruling over Pure-White Order, but why would you sneak into the bed of a man at night then? The scriptures are telling you to keep your purity until you’re married, aren’t they?”

“I’m servicing him with my mouth and hands. Also――”

“You don’t do it with your chest?”

“It’s not like I could do that with my chest, right?”

Elena responded to Tilia with a low, subdued voice.

“Also…”

“Wait. I couldn’t hear the last part.”

“As I told you, cr…, got it?”

“I didn’t hear it. Repeat it once more.”

“I told you, my crotch. CROTCH! Lord Chrono puts his cock into my crotch! Are you happy with that?!?”

Elena suddenly snapped, shouting with her face bright red. Tilia was slightly scared by her.

“In the first place, what’s the idea here? You suddenly show up and ask me about my nights with Lord Chrono. Even if you might be an imperial princess, that’s way too rude. Such things are kept private.”

“Sorry for that. But, I have a reason for it, okay?”

“You don’t need to apologize, but…”

Elena reacted with a sulky tone to Tilia’s frank apology.

“Can I ask you one more thing?”

“What?”

“How do you have sex with Chrono?”

“I wonder if you can call it sex. I’m servicing him.”

“Why are you people so eager to put on airs?”

“Put on airs about what? I’m servicing Lord Chrono.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it. Let’s leave it at that,” Tilia sighed and left the room.

※

“I guess only the half elf and the elf twins are left now,” Tilia muttered while feeling satisfied with her own investigation results as she left the grounds of the marquis’s estate.

Proceeding along the road, she was heading straight for the business district with its clean and pretty streets and houses. Once she went to a square located beyond, she found many stalls lined up in the open space.

She was supposed to work hard on gathering information, but her curiosity won out in the end. She entered the square and toured the stalls. Suddenly――

“”We kinda spotted a princess!””

The elf twins――Arided and Deneb――approached Tilia. Thankfully this made it unnecessary to search for them.

“You guys are here at the right time. I wanted to talk about something with you.”

“Oh, that’s kinda unusual.”

“Let’s kinda eat something at a stall to deepen our friendship.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” answered Tilia.

“As expected of you, Your Highness. You’re quick on the uptake.”

Arided and Deneb grabbed Tilia’s hands and started to walk. The princess let her eyes wander while being pulled along. Maybe it was a seasonal thing, but many processed foods like sausages, dried goods, and pickled cabbage were sold. But the stalls didn’t only sell foodstuff, but also decorations, handicraft, and even transparent stones.

The two elves soon came to a halt in front of a stall. A man, who seemed to be the stall owner, was grilling sausages with a horizontally long cooking tool. Apparently it was a stall selling grilled sausages.

“Mister, please give us three grilled sausages, kinda.”

“One copper.”

“Princess, please take care of the bill,” the stall owner answered at once.

“It will kinda be a treat.”

Arided and Deneb went around to Tilia’s sides and nudged her with their elbows. They wanted her to pay, but――

“I can’t.”

“”Eh!?””

Both elves cried out in surprise.

“I can’t because I don’t have any money on me.”

“”Alright, we’re off then.””

“Wait.”

Arided and Deneb tried to run away, but Tilia grabbed both by the neck and pulled them towards herself.

“O-Our business here is kinda done already.”

“It’d have been better if I had kinda stayed in my room.”

“You were going to deepen your friendship with me, weren’t you?”

“We’d love to do that, but we’re kinda broke.”

“Ehehe, we’re kinda poor.”

“I see.”

Tilia let go of them, causing both to feel relieved.

“Jump.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“That’s kinda too abrupt to react.”

“I told you to jump.”

“”…Okay.””

Both jumped on the spot. A clinking could be heard from both. The sound of coins hitting each other.

“Let’s deepen our friendship.”

“…Deneb, we split the costs.”

“So you say, but I kinda don’t feel like it.”

Both retrieved five brass coins each from their purse and handed them to the stall owner. Tilia aah’ed at that. She had finally understood the meaning behind splitting the costs.

“Thanks for your patronage.”

“Okay, here you go.”

Arided received the grilled sausages from the stall owner and held them out to Tilia.

“Mmh, then allow me to dig in.”

“I kinda would like you to taste them.”

“Today’s grilled sausages are quite salty.”

As soon as Tilia sank her teeth into her sausage, Arided and Deneb followed suit. The skin was torn crisply and meat sauce pushed out from within the sausage. It was somewhat crude for a dish, but it wasn’t bad, if you considered that it could be eaten outdoors.

All three finished their sausage around the same time. The two elves tossed the skewers into the trash can and tried to swiftly leave the place.

“We will kinda excuse ourselves at this point. We’re off-duty, but we have a lot of things to do nonetheless.”

“Your Highness, the skewer goes into the trash can.”

“Wait, don’t excuse yourself yet.”

As soon as Tilia called them to a halt, both stopped moving while startled. She walked up to them and put her hands around their shoulders.

“You wanted to deepen your friendship with me, no? Should we do that to our heart’s content then?”

“We wouldn’t have called out to you, if we had known that something like this would await us.”

“It’d have kinda been better to have stayed back home.”

When Tilia called out to the two, Arided and Deneb let their heads hang in dejection.

※

At noon, a fragrant scent was filling the vicinity. The air was heralding lunch time. Making lunch for 250 people at once was hard work, but the women were cheerfully taking care of that task. At least, they didn’t look like they regretted immigrating to a new place.

“…That’s great,” muttered Chrono while sitting on a log.

He was resting his chin in his hands for which he used his legs as a prop. As he watched the minotaurs, Aria approached him, holding something looking similar to a bowl. She stopped in front of him and held out to bowl. The bowl also came with chopsticks.

“Lord Chrono, please enjoy.”

“Thanks, Aria.”

He accepted the bowl from her and looked down. The bowl contained a soup with chopped veggies and fish. Once he looked back up, she nodded at him. He picked up the chopsticks, cut up the fish and ate it. He suspected that it’d been seasoned with salt and pepper, going by the tingling, salty taste.

“How do you like it?”

“It’s great.”

“That’s wonderful to hear.”

Aria was relieved when he gave her his honest impression.

“It has a fairly fragrant scent.”

“We fried the fish with salt and pepper first. That’s probably why.”

“I see. that’s your trick.”

“No, I wouldn’t go as far as calling it a trick…”

Aria scratched her ear while looking embarrassed. Chrono put the bowl at his lips and started to slurp the soup.

Still, it’s quite salty. Probably it’s cooking suited for hard labor where you tend to lose a lot of salt.

“So you like cooking?”

“Yes. I was thinking about starting my own restaurant in the future.”

“Oh, that’s a nice dream to have.”

“No way. I wouldn’t go as far as calling it a dream…,” she said while shrugging her shoulders. “Come to think of it, I heard you would be constructing a port, but for what reason?”

“Of course it’s for the sake of enriching my own territory. If I build a port, trade will become possible. And if trade becomes possible, people and goods will gather here. If people and goods gather, more people will be drawn to this place, the number of jobs will increase, and new business opportunities will crop up.”

Chrono picked up a veggie with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth.

“Mmh, the taste has permeated it. Tastes good.”

“I added cuts to the vegetables to make it easier for the flavor to penetrate.”

“Oh,” Chrono said.

Ah shit, I digressed.

“Sorry, The soup was so delicious that I…”

“…No, it’s fine,” Aria giggled.

“I think it will take some time, but once that happens, the tax revenue will grow in proportion. And if the tax revenue goes up, I’ll use the money for public works to increase the size of the hospital…and to build a school.”

“A school?”

Aria tilted her head cutely at Chrono’s comment.

“Yeah, well, nothing has been prepared yet, but…”

“Why do you wish to build a school?”

“I think knowledge is power. So I’d like everyone to possess the power to cut open a future for themselves.”

Ultimately it’s just a rough estimate by feeling, but Chrono assumed that less than ten percent of the imperial citizens were capable of reading and writing. Being able to read and write under such circumstances was a huge advantage.

“Besides…”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing,” Chrono shook his head.

If he was aiming for a world where everyone possessed the same value, he also had to include the idea of having them participate in politics. But, if his residents didn’t have the ability to participate in politics at such a time, it’d be meaningless.

“Well, because the number of people able to devote time for studying during the day is limited, I must bypass that issue by using Sunday schools, evening courses, and the slack season.”

“Umm, can us demihumans also commute to school?”

“Of course.”

“That sounds just like a dream.”

“Yeah, it’s dream-like. But, I’ll work hard to not let it end up being just a dream,” Chrono said with a smile.

※

“It was so-so.”

“What a blasphemy to say after kinda having made us splurge on you so much!”

“I never thought that it’d be so painful to be forced into treating someone extravagantly!”

“Now that our bellies are full――”

“”Are you going to kinda set us free!?””

Hope gleamed in the eyes of Arided and Deneb.

“Let’s go somewhere where we can talk calmly.”

“What an overbearing woman she kinda is!”

“But, I don’t feel like we’ll be able to resist!”

Arided and Deneb covered their faces with both hands.

“Come on, lead the way.”

“”……Okay.””

Arided and Deneb started to walk as if dragging their bodies, followed by Tilia. The two steered towards the main gate, just to soon stop in front of a slightly filthy building.

“A deserted house, huh?” Tilia asked while looking up at the building.

“You sure say some kinda rude things! This is a haven where we can rest our tired bodies!”

“It’s the former inn of Landlady which is now a store for our retired comrades!”

Arided and Deneb raised their voices.

“Sorry about that.”

“Uh, not a sliver of guiltiness could be felt from those words.”

“But, we cannot disobey her, kinda. This is the power of the imperial family.”

The two dropped their shoulders in disappointment and entered the building. Of course, Tilia followed them. As she entered the facility, she let her eyes wander. The interior was a lot cleaner and prettier than she’d expected.

“Wel――what, it’s you two?”

An elven man said with a frown on his face from behind the counter.

That’s quite a treatment, considering he’s a retired comrade. No wait, it’s exactly because they’re comrades.

“Tonio, treat us like proper customers, will you?”

“Yeah! What’s the idea of slighting your guests when you can hear the crickets chirping in this place!?”

“Our place is popular enough to make a profit every month.”

“”Yeah, right.””

Tonio responded while looking sullen, but neither of the two elven girls seemed to believe him. With a sigh, Tilia sat down at a table next to the window. Tonio approached with a clacking. Looking at his feet, she noticed that a metallic device was attached to his right leg.

“So, what’s your order?”

“”Water.””

“Go home,” Tonio blurted out, looking pissed again.

“Okay, then give us the cheapest aroma tea you have.”

“But no recycled leaves.”

“Yea, yeah, I got it.”

Tonio said with a fed-up voice and headed towards the counter.

“Which reminds me, aren’t you girls getting allowances from Chrono?”

“”Allowances?””

Arided and Deneb cocked their heads, looking mystified.

“I’m obviously talking about allowances as his mistresses.”

“Princess, we’ll be troubled if you kinda look down on us that much.”

“His reward towards us is his love.”

“In short, you don’t get any pay.”

“Calling it pay makes it sound like it’s kinda some sort of work.”

“It’s no work but love. L-O-V-E.”

The twins talked to her as if she wasn’t understanding anything.

I feel like it’d be okay to also call it pay, but whatever.

Tonio put down some cups in front of the group of three.

“Enjoy.”

“Thanks.”

As soon as Tonio went back to the counter, Tilia picked up a cup. The tea had an aroma that felt refreshing. Since she liked the aroma, she drank the aroma tea. Arided and Deneb sipped on theirs――

“”So, what business do you kinda have with us?””

“How’s your nightly activities with him working out?”

“You sure don’t mince your words, kinda.”

“If possible, I’d like to not comment on that.”

One of them drew back while the other faced away. Tilia looked at their hair and rummaged through her memory.

If my memory serves me right, the one who drew back is Arided and the one who faced away is Deneb.

“Or rather, I kinda feel it’s unfair that you’re one-sidedly asking us one question after the other.”

“I don’t really think it’s an issue of fairness, though…”

Arided voiced her complaint, but Deneb tilted her head without backing her sister.

“Okay, how about we ask each other then? If you don’t want to answer, you’re also free to stay silent.”

“I have kinda no problem with that.”

“Well, if it’s like that…”

Arided didn’t seem to think anything of it while Deneb agreed rather reluctantly.

“Okay, I have a question!”

“Uh, well, no choice then,” Tilia gave her consent unwillingly after Arided spoke up while raising her hand.

If possible, she wanted to be the one asking the questions, but she guessed that it was necessary to make a compromise here.

“Lord Chrono has been reeling after doing it with you, Princess. What did you do to him?”

“I slept with him. Obviously.”

“Well, usually he doesn’t reel from that.”

“Is that so?”

“Yep,” Arided nodded at Tilia’s question.

Tilia looked at Deneb, who then nodded as well. She felt like those two had attended to Chrono at night for a longer time, but――

She searched her memories, trying to remember Chrono’s state, but probably because she’d been sleep-derived back then, she couldn’t remember.

“How hard did you go at it in one night?”

“You promised that we would ask each other, right?”

“I haven’t mentioned anything about taking turns, though.”

“That’s true…,” Tilia faltered.

How weird. I feel like I’ve had the initiative snatched from me.

“So, how was it?”

“I don’t recall the number of times, but it was morning when I allowed him to finish.”

“”Allowed him to finish?””

Arided and Deneb furrowed their eyebrows, looking puzzled.

“I couldn’t help it because Chrono had reached the limit of his stamina. I wanted to do it a lot more, though…”

“No wonder he was reeling. Moreover, I have to take my hat off to your sexual drive and stamina, Princess.”

“Don’t call it sexual drive,” Tilia objected at once.

Arided pulled a sour expression.

“What’s with that face?”

“If it’s not sexual drive, what is it kinda then?”

“I just ended up going at him because Chrono was so cute.”

“Haah, it’s not what you say, but how you say it,” Arided said with an appalled voice.

This caused Tilia to feel somewhat irritated.

“In the first place, you’re way too self-centered, Your Highness.”

“Is that bad?”

“Of course it is. Sleeping with a man is like communication. We enjoy it and at the same time we make Lord Chrono enjoy it too. A relationship where one side is an egoist kinda won’t last long. Humph,” Arided snorted. “So, what sort of consultation are you as an egoist looking for from us?”

“No consultation. I just have a question.”

“That’s the same.”

“Ugh,” Tilia groaned.

Arided was right on that, but it caused her spasms to acknowledge that fact.

“If it’s a problem for your feelings, I’ll rephrase it kinda: What do you want to ask?”

“…Have you girls been tied down?”

“By Lord Chrono?”

“Don’t ask the obvious,” Tilia blared back in anger.

“Were you kinda tied down, Princess?”

Tilia groaned and then nodded after a while. The two elves looked flabbergasted. Going by their faces, it seemed clear that they hadn’t been tied up.

“I’m sure Lord Chrono must have adopted drastic measures because you were kinda too egoistic,” Arided said with a tone, making it obvious that she was fed-up.

“Ugh, that’s…”

Tilia wanted to deny the claim, but recalling all the events leading up to her being tied down, she couldn’t think of anything but this being true.

“Your Highness, you kinda failed right from the start.”

“Though I feel it’d be a stretch to call it a success for us either…”

“It’s kinda a relative success,” Arided answered indifferently.

“Lord Chrono is always kind to us.”

“That’s true, but…”

Deneb hesitated to continue while casting an anxious look at Arided.

“Kind as in?”

“We get him to caress our ears,” Arided stated proudly.

“…We also have him let us use his arms as a pillow,” said Deneb apologetically.

Tilia felt slightly dejected. She still didn’t understand what it meant to attend a man at night, but it was quite evident that it wasn’t a code phrase for charging straight ahead. Thinking that experience is the best teacher or tearing up her negligee because the match had to be equal had been nothing but silly. She felt like digging a hole and hiding within.

“Speaking kind――”

“For you to steal a march on me while I was sleeping――”

“I mean――”

The two started one of their funny little quarrels, causing Tilia to sigh deeply.

※

In the evening Chrono was gazing at Silver while sitting on a log. He was pacing around the blueprint while muttering something about efficiency and three-dimensionality.

“We’ve still got plenty of time, so he might as well take it a bit easier.”

“I think so as well, but if I actually was in Silver’s position, I’d probably become like that as well.”

A dwarven woman whispered in response to Chrono’s murmur. She had her brown hair carelessly tied up into a bundle. Currently she was leaning against the log while sitting on the ground.

“You are?”

“I’m Paula. A dwarf, as you can see.”

“I feel like it’s a bit late for that, but anyway, nice to meet you.”

Chrono shook Paula’s hand. Once he let go, Paula smiled complacently. It was a smile suggesting that she was happy about things having gone just as she expected.

“It’s great that I was able to become acquainted with you.”

“Why?”

“I’m a potter, so I’m considering starting my own workshop some day. As such, I wanted someone, who could become my patron, to remember my name and face. This is also the reason why I’ve been helping Silver, you see,” Paula smiled.

At that moment, Silver stopped and then his eyes flew wide open.

“T-That’s it!”

He tried to revise the blueprint, but――

“Wrong! That’s not right! Aaaaahh!”

He started to roll around on the ground while scratching his head.

“He doesn’t need to corner himself to such an extent…”

“I think so too.”

Paula agreed with Chrono’s whisper. All the while Silver was rolling around on the ground. The minotaurs and lizardmen were watching from a distance. Suddenly Silver stopped moving――

“I-I got it!”

He approached a lizardman on all four as quickly as a gale. Probably out of fear, the lizardman threw the bundle of straw in his hands at him and backed off.

“Oohh,” Silver extended a hand――

“This is what I needed! I’ll be able to make an efficient saltpan with this!”

Silver stood up, hoisting the bundle of straw into the air like an idol.

※

Tilia, Arided, and Deneb left the bar around the time when customers started to flow in.

“”Princess, see you kinda soon!””

“…Yeah, let’s meet again.”

Tilia walked off towards the marquis’s estate while the twins headed towards the main gate. A freezing wind swept across the streets, making Tilia’s body quiver. Almost as if heaven was laughing at her current mental state.

“…Chrono probably hasn’t come back. I’ll take a bath and go to sleep.”

Whenever something bad happened, her feelings would calm down after getting a night of sleep. She had learned this after experiencing it several times. With a sigh, she kept walking slowly. At that point――

“Your Highness!?”

“――――gh!”

All of a sudden, she came across the half elf Layla and stopped. Tilia assumed her to be off duty. The half elf was wearing plain clothes while carrying a big bag and taking a half elf girl along. The girl restlessly looked back and forth between Tilia and Layla. She likely didn’t understand the current situation.

“Your Highness, you say? A princess? Whoa! It’s my first time to see one! Nice to meet you. My name is Snow.”

“Snow!”

The girl innocently introduced herself, causing Layla to shout at her.

“You can’t recklessly approach nobility and royalty like that. You will be punished for your impolite conduct.”

“Ehh? But, Lord Chrono hasn’t done anything like that, even if I get close to him.”

Snow puckered her lips, looking unhappy due to Layla’s admonishment.

“That’s because Lord Chrono is a very benevolent man. Usually, you wouldn’t be able to complain even if you were to be whipped for this rudeness. I’m also telling you this so that you can protect yourself. Did you understand?”

“Yeeees, I understand,” answered Snow in clear dissatisfaction.

Layla raised the corners of her eyes at that, “…Snow.”

“Yes, I know.”

As soon as Layla raised her voice, Snow became meek.

“Why are you in this place, Your Highness?”

“Ah, I was out to do a little inspection.”

“Is that so? Good work then.”

Layla bowed her head lightly. Apparently she didn’t doubt Tilia’s words. The princess thought that she might leave right away, but Layla remained standing, seemingly about to say something.

“What is it?”

“Walking the streets by yourself at night is dangerous, so I would like to be allowed to escort you all the way to the marquis’s mansion.”

“Mother, you’re not coming home?” Snow asked, looking disgruntled.

Wait, what did she say just now? She didn’t call her mother, did she? That’s what children call their mothers. In other words, it likely means that Layla is Snow’s mother. The existence of a mother prerequisites a father――

“Ghaa!”

“Your Highness!”

Tilia collapsed on the spot, leading to Layla rushing over to her. Snow was with her as well. Tilia tried to get up, but her legs were trembling so hard that she couldn’t stand up.

“Are you alright?”

“Y-Yes, I am. I just got slightly plunged into darkness,” Tilia answered Snow’s worried question. “B-B-B-By t-t-the w-way, a-a-are you t-t-the c-c-c-child of L-Layla a-a-and C-C-C-Chrono?”

“Sorry, I’m just calling her mother, but she isn’t my real mother.”

“In short, you’re Chrono’s child?”

“No! Nooo! I have no blood relationship with Lord Chrono!” Snow vehemently denied it by waving both hands.

“Forgive us for having caused a misunderstanding. Can you stand up?”

“R-Right. Less than a year has passed since Chrono was assigned to the Erakis March, so there’s no way for him to have such a big daughter. Hahaha,” Tilia laughed while taking Layla’s hand and getting back up.

“Your Highness, allow me to take you to the marquis’s estate.”

“…Please do.”

Tilia decided to accept Layla’s offer. Her legs were still trembling and even if she refused, she felt like Layla would follow her anyway.

“Snow, please take the bag with you and go back home ahead of me.”

“Okay, sure.”

Snow accepted the bag from Layla with a smile. It was a childish, innocent smile. She passed Tilia and headed towards the gate.

“Alright, let us go then.”

“…Right.”

Urged by Layla, Tilia started to walk towards the marquis’s estate. Probably because the evening sun hadn’t fully set yet, the streets were thriving with people.

“By the way, what was in that bag from before?”

“That was recycled paper.”

“Pardon?”

“The paper used at the marquis’s mansion will have its ink removed and processed, before being treated so that it can be used as new again.”

“Why would you go out of your way to do that?”

“I hear it serves the prevention of exploiting nature too much. However, because the quality drops quite a bit, the recycled paper won’t be used for documents. Officials use it for taking notes and it’s also used for learning how to write…”

They passed a square while Tilia took a sidelong glance at the stalls which were preparing to close up shop.

“You’re practicing how to write?”

“No, I was thinking about teaching Snow how to read, write, and do math…,” Layla admitted bashfully.

Tilia had expected that Layla, or rather, Chrono would monopolize the knowledge and capabilities, but it appeared to be different. While thinking about such issues, they walked through the neat business district. Tilia cast a fleeting glance at Layla next to her. She wasn’t sure whether she should ask about her nights with Chrono.

“…Is Chrono gentle?”

She mumbled under her breath. She thought herself to be cowardly, but she decided to give up if Layla didn’t hear it.

Layla looked at Tilia with a baffled expression. It looked as though she hadn’t heard it.

“Is Chrono gentle?”

“Yes, Lord Chrono has always been treating me kindly,” Layla answered with a smile when Tilia asked once more.

“I see, he’s gentle, huh?”

“Yes, ever since the first time I was allowed to receive his affection. But…”

“But?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Layla shook her head lightly. Going by her reaction, Tilia guessed there were also times when Chrono wasn’t gentle. It made her feel slightly better. She decided that she should broach that matter more offensively here.

“H-…Have you been tied up or anything like that?”

“No, I was never tied up,” Layla answered immediately.

“Ugh,” Tilia groaned lightly.

In other words, I’m the only one getting tied up by Chrono. It sure makes me happy if I consider myself to be special, but――

“What should I do to be treated gently by Chrono?”

“…I received all kinds of things from Lord Chrono.”

Tilia had spoken with the intention of speaking to herself, but Layla answered after a short while anyway. Tilia felt like asking back whether she was trying to brag here, but held back because seriousness was written all over the half-elf’s face.

“Lord Chrono used his precious time to teach me, yet I felt unhappy why he didn’t love me a lot more, unable to notice his true intent until Lady Nicola of the Picks Company taught me. I…,” Layla cut off her words at that point. “I was a beast. Unable to understand just how much love I was given by Lord Chrono and without even trying to imagine it, I was a beast desiring nothing more than a fleshly connection with him while prattling wretched things with my mouth. Right now, I’m serving Lord Chrono. Not because he’s an imperial noble or my superior officer, but because I wish to devote my everything to him.”

“…I see,” Tilia muttered quietly.

At first she had wondered what Layla was talking about, but Layla likely wanted to tell Tilia that there was no way for her to expect to be treated gently, if she too acted like a beast, only desiring satisfaction for herself while not even trying to give anything. Oddly, Tilia didn’t get offended or angry by that.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” she muttered once more.

Even though it was only now, she finally understood the reason why she had been betrayed by the imperial knights. Thinking that she could become empress without doing anything, she didn’t even try to recompense. Who would pledge their loyalty to such a woman? Who would try to save her at the cost of their lives? Plagued by those questions, Tilia hung her head in dejection.

※

Tilia went through the front gate of the marquis’s estate and turned around. Layla was standing behind her.

“I will take my leave here.”

“Yeah, sorry for troubling you.”

“No, please do not mind it.”

Tilia thanked her, but Layla shook her head lightly. Once Tilia was about to turn back to the mansion, Layla timidly called out to her.

“……Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

“Please treat me well from now on.”

“Hmm, yeah…”

When Tilia nodded while not really sure what the other party was talking about, Layla saluted with a satisfied look on her face and returned to go about her business.

“…What was that?”

While cocking her head in confusion, Tilia passed through the estate’s garden and opened the entrance door. There she found Shaela standing with her arms folded.

Oh shit. I’ve been wandering around at such a late hour without telling anyone.

“…S-Sorry.”

“I would have preferred if you had at least told me beforehand,” Shaela said while looking irritated. “But, that’s it for this matter. Actually, there’s something I must tell you, Your Highness. It’d have been fine to do so during breakfast, but I totally forgot about it in the heat of the moment,” said Shaela as if making excuses while brushing up her hair.

Tilia wondered what she was talking about.

“How should I put it…it’s been decided that we’ll adjust the schedule.”

“Adjust what schedule?”

“The schedule for spending the night with Lord Chrono. The current one worked somehow up until now, but with the number of people having increased, it’s become impossible to keep it up like that. Because of that, we decided that we have to discuss a new schedule. Hence, we’d like you to join our discussion today by all means,” Shaela rattled down the explanation.

“Today!?”

“Today. Yes, today.”

“Why must I――”

“Lord Chrono reeling became the decisive factor for this schedule change,” Shaela interrupted Tila.

“Uh…”

Tilia couldn’t do much more than groan. Suddenly she recalled Layla’s words at their parting. Those were said in light of this.

“What’s it going to be? I don’t mind either way.”

“I understand. I’ll join the discussion.”

Tilia dropped her shoulders in despair. She had planned to take a bath and go to sleep, but at this rate, it looked like she’d only be able to go to sleep late at night.

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