How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 6: Chapter SS1

Side Story 1: The Ambassadors Return

In the far west of the Gran Chaos Empire was the capital, Valois. It was larger in scale than the capital of the Kingdom of Friedonia, and atop the neighboring hill was the residence of the dignified Empress Maria, Valois Castle.

Because it stood atop a mountain, it was difficult for an enemy to attack, but it had been built with too much of a focus on design to really call it functional. It was said this was to demonstrate to other countries that they were the largest and most powerful among the nations of mankind.

In one room of Valois Castle, the office of Jeanne Euphoria, a man and woman were sitting across from each other.

The one at the desk was Jeanne, the master of this room and a general who was also the younger sister of Empress Maria. Before her stood the ambassador dispatched from Friedonia to reside in the Empire, Piltory Saracen.

Jeanne spoke. Oh, right. You were set to return today, werent you?

Yes. Piltory saluted. For my wifes sake, I will be taking a temporary leave of absence.

Piltory was sent to be the resident ambassador to the Empire, but before leaving, he had taken the two beautiful sister slaves, Anzu and Shiho, to be his wives, and brought them to the Empire with him. Hed gotten them from Ginger, who was still a slave trader at the time.

Eventually the elder sister, Anzu, had gotten pregnant. It was decided that, rather than give birth in an unfamiliar country, she would be better off giving birth at the home of Piltorys family, the House of Saracen.

In order to deliver Anzu back to the kingdom, Piltory would return for a time, then immediately return once he left her in his familys care.

Piltory said, In my absence, Shiho will remain here to serve as your liaison with the kingdom.

Im sorry, said Jeanne. Im sure your wife would prefer to go with you, too.

No... My wife understands the importance of my duties.

There was a secret alliance between the kingdom and the Empire. The permanent ambassadors who served as liaisons were indispensable to both sides, and it was a secret that was known only to a select few.

Ever since the kingdom and the Empire formed their secret pact, they had a system in place that allowed them to use the Jewel Voice Broadcast and simple receivers to hold the equivalent of teleconferences at any time.

For critical matters, Souma and Maria would hold talks personally, but for matters of lesser importance (such as the exchange of information), their intermediaries, Hakuya and Jeanne, would talk instead. Piltorys role was primarily to schedule their meetings.

Oh, right, said Jeanne. Since youll be returning to your country, I wanted to ask a favor of you...

A favor?

Jeanne opened a drawer in her desk, and pulled out a pretty wooden box of some sort. Please, give this to Sir Hakuya, your Prime Minister.

With that, Jeanne opened the box. Inside was an expensive looking bottle of wine with a fancy label, packed with wood chips that were likely intended to absorb any impacts.

I happened to obtain two fine bottles of wine, so I thought I would send one to him.

This is for the prime minister? Piltory asked.

Its not poisoned, I assure you. If youre concerned, you can have a poison taster test it.

Oh, no! Its not that we suspect you of that!

While watching Piltory rush to apologize, Jeanne let out a jolly laugh. Hahaha! I know that. The second-in-command of the Empire is sending a gift to the second-in-command of the kingdom. I can understand why you might want to probe my intentions. But this is just a small thanks to Sir Hakuya for always listening to me complain about my sister.

O-Oh... If thats all...

When Piltory accepted the bottle, that was when it happened.

There was a sudden rush of footsteps outside the room, and then the doors to the office were thrown open with a loud bang. The woman who had barged into the room held a red dress in one hand and a blue dress in the other. It was none other than the empress of this nation, Maria Euphoria.

Hey, Jeanne! Which dress do you think would be better for todays broadcast? Maria cried. She thrust both dresses out toward her sister.

Those dresses were both frilly, had short skirts, exposed the belly, and accentuated the chest. The kind that, if Souma were to see them, would make him say, Serious idol costumes? and tilt his head in confusion.

Jeanne pounded her hands on the desk. Sister! Im seeing a visitor!

Oh, my. If it isnt Sir Piltory. Welcome, Maria said with a soft smile, unperturbed by Jeannes shouting.

Faced with the sudden appearance of the Empires head of state, Piltorys mind locked up for a moment, but when he came to his senses, he stood up straight and saluted her.

Yes, Your Imperial Majesty! It is my most humble pleasure... to find myself in your... esteemed company?

Having encountered the bizarre intrusion of an empress carrying two idol dresses, Piltorys response was a mess, and delivered with too many pauses.

Seeing Piltorys reaction, Maria giggled and smiled. No need to be so tense. Youre one of Sir Soumas vassals, so you dont have to be so formal with me. Come on, relax, relax.

With that said, Maria gave him a smile that would make the heart of anyone who saw it melt.

Meanwhile, Jeanne had a look on her face like she just bit into something unpleasant. Youre too lax! What does the empress of this nation think shes doing, running through the halls carrying such gaudy outfits!

Oh, but this is work Im doing for the people, you know? Maria said with a teasing smile. Its for the broadcast of entertainment programs using the Jewel Voice Broadcast. Providing a moment of rest to the people who work so hard every day... I think its a wonderful idea that Sir Soumas come up with.

Hearing the master he served being complimented, Piltory stood up straight once again. I-Im glad to hear that.

Jeanne, on the other hand, pressed on her forehead, shaking her head as if to say, Oh, good grief...

Even if thats true, surely theres no need for you to become a lorelei yourself.

But there were a large number of requests for me to sing, werent there? Maria asked.

Well... yes, but...

The concept of a lorelei was something Souma brought to this world. To explain quickly, what was called an idol on Earth was called a lorelei here.

Now, if you were to ask what an idol needs, it would be a pretty face and charisma. Singing and dancing ability were nice to have, too, but if someone had an above average appearance (this had to be categorized as a natural gift), and the charm to draw people in, that was enough to be an idol.

Now, if you were to ask who in the Empire had the prettiest face and the greatest charisma, the first response you would get, without a doubt, would have been Maria Euphoria. And Maria was an accomplished singer and dancer, too, so she was so overflowing with potential that even becoming a top class idol could be more than just a dream for her. Her talent even rivaled Junas.

Because of that, there were many requests from the people to hear her sing, and recently Marias popular name, the Saint of the Empire, started to have Singing and Dancing added to it.

They call you the Singing and Dancing Saint of the Empire... Jeanne said in exasperation. Are you okay with that?!

As far as Im concerned, the Saint part is the one I could do without. If I have to be called something, Id like it to be the Singing and Dancing Empress Maria.

This isnt a matter of taste, you know... Jeanne slumped her shoulders.

While looking at Jeanne, Oh, I see. So these are the sorts of things the prime minister listens to her vent about... Piltory thought, finding himself oddly satisfied with that answer.

Some days later, around the time Souma was taken to the Star Dragon Mountain Range

Piltory was back in Parnam, the capital of the Kingdom of Friedonia, inside Prime Minister Hakuya Kwonmins study at Parnam Castle.

Having left his pregnant wife Anzu with his family, he had come to the castle for a courtesy call before returning to the Empire. However, right now, it turned out Souma was on a diplomatic visit to the Star Dragon Mountain Range, so he had come to visit Hakuya, who was taking care of things in Soumas absence.

Piltory stood in front of the desk where Hakuya was seated with a salute. Now then, Prime Minister, I will be departing for the Empire once more.

Thank you for your service. Though, Im sure you would rather be at your wifes side... Hakuya said with an expression that betrayed little emotion.

It may have sounded curt, but Hakuya was the one who recommended he return to the kingdom when he learned his wife was pregnant in the first place.

Souma had been addressing the issue of urban hygiene, and was currently carrying out medical reforms centered around Hilde and Brad, so this country had now become the best country on the continent to give birth in.

Hakuya also arranged for Hilde and her people to look at the pregnant Anzu. What was more, he also considerately provided transportation by wyvern gondola to and from the new city, Venetinova, where Hilde was.

So even if he was curt, Hakuya was treating him well, and Piltory was thankful for that.

No... Im well aware of the importance of my duties, replied Piltory, thinking, I had a similar conversation with Madam Jeanne just the other day.

Then Hakuya rose from his seat and headed over to a shelf. He took a wooden box from it, placing it on the desk. Since youll be traveling to the Empire, I have an item Id like delivered to Madam Jeanne.

You want something delivered? Piltory tilted his head to the side questioningly.

Hakuya opened the boxs lid. Inside, there was an expensive looking glass with striking designs carved into it.

There was a hole next to the glass into which another glass of the same type would fit, showing that this glass was one of a two-glass set. I received a fine wine the other day, so Im sending this gift in return. It is my small token of appreciation to Madam Jeanne for always listening to me complain about His Majesty.

Complaining... You, too, Prime Minister?

Jeanne said she complained to Hakuya about her elder sister. Was Hakuya complaining to Jeanne, too?

While Piltory was pondering that, there was a rush of footsteps down the hall, then a perfunctory knock before the door to the room was thrown open. The one who came in was the daughter of the former king, and the candidate to become Soumas first primary queen.

When she came into the room, Princess Liscia paid no attention to Piltory as she hurriedly handed a letter to Hakuya. Hakuya, we got another messenger kui from Carla! It will be difficult for the three of us to stop the target! Requesting immediate backup! it says!

Urgh... Again? Hakuyas cool expression slipped slightly. Very well. Id rather not increase the number of witnesses, so I cant send reinforcements, but I will have the National Defense Force work to seal off the area. Ill place a gag order on the region, too. If this goes any further... it could lead to poor opinions of the future second primary queen, after all.

Ill leave that to you. With that, Princess Liscia left the room as fast as she had come.

As Hakuya put a hand on his head, and leaned back in his chair, Piltory hesitantly asked, Um... What happened?

Hakuya gave him a dry smile. Oh, nothing... Just another thing I can complain to Mama Jeanne about.

From the way he said it, there had likely been some problem involving King Souma.

Piltory had a sort of premonition.

Sometime in the near future, Hakuya and Jeanne would be drinking the same brand of wine, from identical glasses, together through their Jewel Voice Broadcast screens. They would commence complaints about their respective masters, Souma and Maria, to go with the drink.

Piltory imagined that scene as he returned to the Empire.