ㅤChapter 28
ㅤOne week later, Theodore and Ruby departed, seen off by Arnold and other retainers.
ㅤThe fact that Ruby was an imposter was known among some, but the general consensus seemed to be 『Although Her Majesty the Empress is an imposter, they somehow got along well』, so everyone seemed to be reading the room.
ㅤThis trip was officially announced as “the Emperor and Empress’s domestic inspection tour,” and Ruby’s ability was also kept secret.
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ㅤ”Tell me immediately if you feel sick. This basket contains snacks, so eat whenever you like. Ah, there’s also a cushion for your back――”
ㅤ”Thank you for your concern. But I’m fine. Talking with you like this, it feels like we’ll arrive in no time.”
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ㅤWhen Ruby smiled like a flower, Theodore’s eyes widened in surprise, and then he suddenly looked away.
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ㅤ”…… I’m not good at conversation. I don’t know what kind of stories women like.”
ㅤ”That’s not true. I really enjoy talking with Your Majesty.”
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ㅤEven when he turned his face away, Theodore’s bright red ears couldn’t be hidden. His heartbeat overlapped with the vibrations of the carriage, and it felt like it would jump out of his chest.
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ㅤ（Alone with Princess Ruby………… I wonder if I’ll be alright.）
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ㅤHe was gripped by a kind of anxiety he had never felt before.
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ㅤ”This is my second trip since my marriage! Your Majesty, please take care of me for the next six months.”
ㅤ”…… I have a bad feeling about this.”
ㅤ”Huh, what did you say?”
ㅤ”It’s nothing.”
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ㅤSince they were a married couple, Theodore and Ruby were in the same carriage. Behind them was a carriage carrying Emma and the other attendants, followed by wagons loaded with supplies and luggage. At the very back, a small, specially-made car carrying Michael and the others was being pulled.
ㅤThe journey to visit five cities within the country over a period of about six months had begun――but by the time they reached the first town, Theodore was already exhausted from mental fatigue.
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ㅤ◇
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ㅤThe first place they visited was a town called Cyril, located southwest of the Imperial Capital.
ㅤSince they arrived in the evening, they immediately checked into an inn and started their activities the next morning.
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ㅤ”Your Majesty the Emperor, Princess Ruby. Welcome to Cyril. My name is Molly, the mayor. It’s a humble place, but please make yourselves comfortable.”
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ㅤMolly was a short and stout old man with white hair, and he seemed to be a cheerful and kind person.
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ㅤ”It’s been a while, Mayor Molly. This is Princess Ruby.”
ㅤ”Congratulations on your marriage. ――However, um, ‘Princess’?”
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ㅤTheodore frowned under the lukewarm gaze of the mayor and residents.
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ㅤ”…… Empress.”
ㅤ”I’m Ruby. Pleased to meet you.”
ㅤ”It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty the Empress. Now then, shall we go? I have a carriage prepared.”
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ㅤAfter being shaken in the carriage for about half an hour, they arrived at a vast field.
ㅤHowever, only short plants and potato vines were sparsely growing on the ground, and the area where the soil was exposed was wider than the green parts.
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ㅤ”Cyril here is the leading agricultural region in our country. Most of the vegetables used in our daily meals, other than imported goods, are produced in Cyril.”
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ㅤAfter hearing Theodore’s explanation, Ruby voiced a simple question.
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ㅤ”Even though it’s not that far from the Imperial Capital, which is close to the Underworld, crops can grow here?”
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ㅤMolly happily answered the question, saying, “Her Majesty the Empress is very intelligent.”
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ㅤ”There is a high mountain range in the direction of the Underworld, so the influence of miasma is slightly reduced. In addition, there are abundant springs, making it suitable for farmland.”
ㅤ”I see, those mountains over there.”
ㅤ”Yes. There is also a river flowing from the mountains, but it’s mainly used for sewage due to the influence of miasma.”
ㅤ”In towns downstream where springs don’t emerge, they filter the river water and use it. Filtration devices are expensive, so it’s not cheap.”
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ㅤRuby asked back about the unfamiliar word.
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ㅤ”Filtration device, is it?”
ㅤ”It’s a device that adsorbs harmful components contained in river water and makes it usable as domestic water.”
ㅤ”I see, it’s something made using magic. It sounds very expensive……”
ㅤ”I hear that in such towns, water is a luxury, and some people are forced to collect rainwater.”
ㅤ”Oh my……!”
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ㅤRuby felt a pang in her heart, thinking that the people of Langley were living a more inconvenient life than she had imagined.
ㅤIn her home country, the Belheim Kingdom, crops grew normally, and they could drink river water. She believed that this was the case not only for the royal family but for all the citizens.
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ㅤ”――May I look around the fields?”
ㅤ”Of course. There are people working, but please feel free to observe.”
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ㅤAfter getting permission from Molly, Ruby entered the farm road without minding the dust on her shoes.
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ㅤ（Those should be broad beans………… but they’re being harvested while the pods are still hard. They won’t grow any larger due to the influence of miasma.）
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ㅤWhen she was at the detached palace, she wondered why the broad beans served at the table were so hard. They were stewed, but they were still hard and tasted inferior to ripe ones.
ㅤShe had assumed it was a matter of variety, but judging from the shape of the leaves, they were the same as the ones commonly eaten in Belheim.
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ㅤ（It seems like they’re picking blueberries over there, but they’re still young. Unripe fruits are low in nutrients.）
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ㅤIn the end, the only things that were growing properly and could be harvested in the field were Hoffen potatoes and Byfen potatoes. If this was the situation in the leading agricultural region of the Empire, one could only imagine the situation in the rest of the country.
ㅤWhen Ruby, who had finished looking around, returned near the carriage, Theodore and Molly were talking.
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ㅤ”I’m always grateful for your hard work. Cyril supports the dining tables of our country.”
ㅤ”I appreciate your kind words. It’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s understanding. Thanks to the new cultivator you purchased for us, the work has become much easier this season.”
ㅤ”Langley is destined to be a poor country, but at the very least, I want to make sure that no one starves.”
ㅤ”You’re absolutely right. If your stomach is full, you can overcome most things.”
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ㅤHearing their exchange, Ruby felt a sense of responsibility. She wanted to be of help to this land and to Theodore in any way she could.
ㅤTheodore, noticing someone’s presence, turned around.
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ㅤ”You’re back. What are you doing standing there?”
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ㅤTheodore asked, wondering about Ruby’s unusual demeanor.
ㅤRuby clenched her small hands into fists and declared with a dignified expression of determination.
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ㅤ”I will detoxify this field!”
ㅤ””――Huh?””
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ㅤTheodore and Molly’s eyes widened in surprise.