Chapter 55
The weather was mild and the crops flourished, making this region the breadbasket of the Empire—until it was ravaged and torn apart by war and swarms of demon beasts.
Consequently, a massive food shortage strikes the Empire in the latter half of the story.
Of course, the Castline family did everything in their power to help, releasing their own stockpiled rations as a humanitarian gesture and scrambling to gather resources from outside the Empire.
However, no matter how great the House of Castline was, it was impossible to take responsibility for everyone when two-thirds of the Empire’s farmland had been obliterated and the majority of the peasantry had become refugees. In the first place, most of the Castline estates were located in the North.
The South, being so prosperous and having almost no demon beast attacks compared to other regions, suffered even greater damage because of its lack of preparation.
So, no matter how peaceful and beautiful it looked now, I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy the sights with a light heart.
“And this is the County of Cortez, isn’t it?”
“You’re well-informed.”
“The current Count is likely in the capital, but… I heard the Young Count, who is about three years older than me, is in this city.”
Artula, the brilliant city of flowers, was a major southern metropolis equipped with a Warp Tunnel.
It was a representative trade city and the base of operations for merchants. I recalled that the Count had entrusted the management of this entire city to his son to provide him with heir training.
The Young Count was exceptionally talented in business for his age, shrewd, and very quick-witted. In the novel, even after the South was completely destroyed, he managed to survive and sought out Bibi, kneeling before her to beg for the reconstruction of the South.
Of course, by the time the South was ruined in the novel’s timeline, the entire Empire was in trouble.
A civil war had broken out, after all.
So Bibi had coldly cut him off, saying she couldn’t afford to be lenient under the circumstances. Instead, she declared, ‘Seize the opportunity to rebuild the South by helping me at my side!’
It meant she would take him in as her subordinate, so he should use his competence to help her and, in turn, use her to do whatever he could for his home.
The Young Count worked hard by Bibi’s side, and once the Empire stabilized, he was granted the entire southern territory and devoted himself to post-war recovery.
Naturally, given the current timing, it was too early for him to display the solemnity, maturity, and seasoned expertise he showed in the original work.
Since he was likely being showered with love by his parents and allowed to exercise his brilliant talents in a favorable environment, he was probably steeped in arrogance.
I smiled brightly.
“And yet, even though he knew I was arriving today, he didn’t come to greet me?”
In other words, he was the type of person who would utterly disregard a Princess famous for having a pretty face but an empty head.
No, he had already disregarded me!
Regardless of how poor my reputation was or how little backing I had, I was still an Imperial Princess.
If the 1st or 2nd Imperial Prince had arrived, he would have been waiting at least three hours before the scheduled arrival time to greet them without a second thought.
He might have even suggested with a smile, ‘Why don’t you stay and look around for a bit?’
Even if I intended to decline the invitation using the tight schedule of the Dedication Festival as an excuse, there was a difference between offering a polite empty word and not offering one at all.
And to not show up at all with an attitude like, ‘Who cares if that idiot Princess comes or not!’
Debbie tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.
“The Count of Cortez isn’t that great of a figure, is he? I don’t understand how the Young Count could ignore Her Imperial Highness already.”
From the perspective of a vassal working for the House of Castline, someone like the Count of Cortez might seem trivial. But that wasn’t the case for me.
“Well… his reputation is good, apparently? They say he’s quite exceptional among his peers. Rumors of him being handsome, intelligent, and resourceful are already spreading, and he’s even getting practical heir training. I suppose I might look like a fool of a Princess to him! Besides, the Imperial Consort is quite serious about luxury goods. From the perspective of the Count of Cortez, who is like the leader of the merchants, it must be awkward to get close to me!”
Barbara grimaced.
“I’ve also heard he’s a very popular young nobleman in social circles. Even Her Majesty the Empress evaluated the Young Count of Cortez as a talented individual. However, there were rumors that the County dotes on him exceptionally because he is an only son…”
Still, was the Young Count simply too young? To ignore me just because ‘he didn’t want to bow down to a Princess the world calls a fool.’
Isn’t the socializing of parents and children usually different?
Bluntly put, the current Count of Cortez could afford to ignore me. He wasn’t even in a position where he had to bow to someone like me.
However, the Imperial Consort wouldn’t be able to say a word if he sent his son to win my favor. Furthermore, since rumors were circulating that my relationship with the House of Castline had improved, he should have at least shown up to verify the facts…
As I was lost in thought while watching the scene—which was unremarkable except for the commoners glancing this way from a distance—a priest who had finished speaking with Gregory approached me.
“I greet Her Imperial Highness Titania. I am Priest Cronen, the head official of the Southern Temple.”
He had a pleasant-looking face. However, seeing as he spoke to Gregory before greeting me, I knew I couldn’t take him at face value.
“You must be very weary from the long journey. However, there is still some distance left to the temple. If you would be so kind, please step back into the carriage.”
“Yes.”
I nodded obediently and climbed back into the carriage. Lisianthus, who had said he would scout the surrounding area, brought his horse close to my carriage and grumbled.
“This place is boring every time I come.”
“Have you been here often?”
“A few times?”
“I heard the House of Castline cares about the Dedication Festival, but I didn’t know they paid attention all the way to the South.”
“Two years ago, there was a massive drought in the South, and the temple was wailing that they couldn’t even hold the Dedication Festival properly.”
I searched my hazy memories. Lisianthus’s profile, visible through the open carriage window, was stoic.
“Well, I don’t know what kind of curse was on the weather that year. In the North, hailstones fell in the middle of summer when it wasn’t even winter. In the South, the drought persisted. The central region where the capital is was fine, fortunately, but I came here back then too.”
“…If it was the Dedication Festival then, I suppose Prince Brian participated?”
“Yeah. Though it felt like it would’ve been better if he hadn’t.”
Ah, I remembered only after hearing that.
It was because around that time, Prince Brian and Imperial Consort Cleo had caused a literal uproar.
The Imperial Family didn’t care about the weather in the distant South or North, far from the capital.
However, Imperial Consort Cleo seemed to harbor hope that if her son returned from the Dedication Festival and the abnormal climate of the continent calmed down, his reputation would improve.
But as luck would have it, the weather actually worsened right after Prince Brian held the summer Dedication Festival that year.
The capital suffered from unseasonable heavy rains and flood damage.
Even Titania, who lived cooped up in the Imperial Palace, was surprised enough to wonder ‘why the weather is like this lately,’ so there was no need to say more.
To make matters worse, swarms of demon beasts began to stir as well.
It was a total mess!
The Duchy of Castline did their best to rectify the situation. Although the southern tip and the capital were not their direct territories, they were in a position where they had to clean up the mess from the North.
No matter how hard the North worked to block the demon beasts, other regions couldn’t stop them at all, and they were even flowing into the North…
So, the Duke of Castline stepped forward himself. He reached an agreement with the Emperor, obtained temporary control, reassured the panicked Empire, and drove the demon beasts away.
Suddenly, a stinging memory surfaced, and I looked up at the air.
Reporting to the Imperial Palace, and personally approving and processing various matters under the Duke—Raymon at the time didn’t have enough hours in the day. And yet, Titania had thrown tantrums, demanding to know why he didn’t come to see her when he was frequenting the palace so often…
To whine ‘why don’t you come to see me’ to a person who was working overtime on three hours of sleep a day—I really had no shame.
“Claiming Prince Brian couldn’t be sent alone, Imperial Consort Cleo came down with him, bringing twenty servants and over thirty luggage wagons. She was so horrified at the thought of precious imperial blood being shed that they replaced the spot where imperial blood should have been used with animal blood.”
“Mmh… It’s not my place to apologize, but that is regrettable… Even after such a thing, Priest Cronen still speaks to Sir Gregory first?”
“The South is a place where wealthy nobles hold sway. There are many from High Priest Margid’s faction here.”
“And the North has many on High Priest Illian’s side?”
“Over there… well, so many people get torn to death by demon beasts. Most people there prefer ‘let’s just save the dying’ over bullshit like whether only the chosen noble lords can receive treatment or not.”
When the Holy Emperor passes away, one of the existing High Priests becomes the next Holy Emperor.
High Priest Margid, who had taken the Imperial Consort’s side, was closer to the Aristocratic Faction, while High Priest Illian, who had supported the Duchy, belonged to the commoner faction.
To be precise, he was of the faction that believed, ‘Let us treat everyone equally regardless of status; is that not the teaching of the gods?’
“Since we’re near the barrier and the temple, there’s almost no chance of a demon beast attack, but…”
Suddenly, Lisianthus looked at me with a complicated expression.