第１７７９堀： 新しい活躍の場所を (Part1)
Chapter 1779: A New Place to Shine
Side: Fiora
Lately, I feel as though my presence has been fading into the background.
Not that I expect to stand out, mind you; my primary duty is to turn away the endless stream of visitors from small nations seeking an audience with Yuki-sama.
"If only I could be of more direct assistance to Yuki-sama..."
Even now, my position is one that would make the leaders of other nations green with envy, yet I cannot help but yearn for more. After all, I am...
"What’s wrong, Fiora? Dissatisfied because you aren't out on the battlefield?"
I look up to find Seraria, the Queen of Weed, standing before me.
Given that my homeland has long been a protectorate of Roschur, I have had a passing acquaintance with Seraria for some time. Having both served as princess-knights, she seems to understand the source of my current discontent.
It hits the mark so precisely that I can only offer a wry smile.
"My apologies. I am already being treated with such consideration in my current position."
"Why so formal now? We’ve crossed blades before, even if we are both supporting the same husband."
"Ahaha..."
That is a painful reminder.
I once pointed my sword at a queen. Even if it was just for training, it is the sort of thing that would usually lead to all sorts of trouble—but this is Weed, after all.
...And so, I decide to speak my mind honestly.
"So, you truly understand."
"Of course. You were in the same position as me and Lowell, weren't you? You go from the battlefield to administrative work; the environment changes completely, and the frustration builds up. At first, the novelty of it all—and the way Weed’s common sense shattered everything you knew—kept you too busy to notice, I’m sure."
"That is exactly right. I have finally settled down. Or perhaps, 'grown accustomed' is the better term?"
When I first arrived in Weed, I truly thought I had found heaven. The fountains that never ceased their flow were exactly what I needed to solve the water crisis in Dafaio. Even setting that aside, the environment in Weed was extraordinary. Even the common folk stayed warm in their homes during the winter, and if one had a trade, they never went hungry. The medical care was comprehensive, and the management was so masterful that I was left utterly stunned.
But as Seraria said, it has become a familiar sight, and I have grown used to this life. I spend my days not swinging a sword, but turning away those who bring nothing but troublesome demands to Yuki-sama. That is why I find myself reminiscing about the past.
"It was never an easy job, though."
"True. Securing funds, managing supply depots, tracking the progress of expeditions... it was quite a handful, wasn't it?"
"You say that as if you did it yourself, but that was actually handled by me and Una," Quar interjects from the side with a frown.
Well, it is only natural for an adjutant to support such logistics, but knowing Seraria’s personality, she likely struggles with that sort of thing.
"Keep quiet about that. You should show some respect for your superior."
"And what good does coddling her do? Fiora-sama worked hard in that regard; you should learn from her. But, setting that aside, we are talking about Fiora-sama’s pent-up stress."
"In that case, isn't the only solution to move your body to your heart's content? Deryu is here, and if you ask her to spar, she will take it quite seriously..."
I started to say that would be enough, but...
"That won't satisfy you, which is why you have that gloomy look on your face, isn't it? The battlefield was our workplace, after all."
I fall silent at her words. I cannot deny them.
Deryu is indeed the perfect opponent to hone one's skills. As expected of a Demon Lord, she is formidable, but the atmosphere is simply different from a real battlefield. One might say it is because our safety is guaranteed...
"Well, even if we went to the battlefield now, our husband’s thorough support means we would barely get a scratch. But standing on that ground—the lives of your subordinates, the lives of the enemy, the extreme tactical gambles—there is so much more to it."
"...I understand."
"Personally, I wish you didn't have to understand. We were both princesses then, and now we are a queen and a high-ranking official. It is impossible for the two of us to head to the battlefield now, as it was then."
Quar says this with a wry smile. It is an undeniable, logical truth.
But...
"Still, I know that logic doesn't change how we feel. So, let us make a proposal at today's meeting."
"A proposal? By the way, do you know what the meeting starting shortly is about?"
"Yes. My husband contacted me directly. And, Fiora, you shouldn't be too busy with this one."
"Busy? No, since it is a summons from Yuki-sama, I assumed it would be at least somewhat troublesome."
"Yes, that is certainly true. But like the Queen, I don't think your workload will increase that much. Actually, let me ask: haven't the number of requests for audiences with Yuki-sama from small nations been decreasing lately?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. That is true. It has dropped significantly since I first arrived."
When I first became a maid—or rather, a servant as part of my punishment—it was truly terrible. Everyone wanted to bask in the grace of Yuki-sama, or rather, Weed. Especially after the water was brought to Dafaio, they tried every trick in the book. By having a princess like me fall to the rank of a maid and handle their correspondence, it served as a clear message that the punishment was severe.
On the surface, the water in Dafaio was handled as an indefinite lease of an experimental site. In other words, to outsiders, it looked as if the territory had been annexed. Seeing how I was treated, the requests for audiences and demands directed at Yuki-sama have gradually dwindled. It isn't zero, of course, and if they look closely, they can see the water problem in Dafaio has been resolved.
But setting that aside, it is true that my work has calmed down, but...
"Does that have something to do with it?"
"It does. This meeting is about building a fortress in the wilderness south of Ohe, on the New Continent."
"I have heard about the fortress construction, but is that why we were gathered?"
"Yes. The important point here is that the idea of letting other nations participate has surfaced."
"Surfaced? Wasn't that under consideration from the start? Inviting the great powers of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance, as it would be a perfect opportunity for those who want to wage war or earn some merit."
"Yes, that’s right. But do you think those countries can just build a base there so easily?"
"Ah..."
Hearing that, it finally clicks.
It sounds simple to say they will build their own bases on the New Continent, but establishing a foothold is no easy task.