Chapter 51
Before my eyes, a small town stood completed. Was this to become the prototype for the city in the ruins…?
Though it lacked a few things, it was nevertheless a splendid model town, impressive enough to merit serious discussion. I had helped with this work myself. Comparing it with the shape of the future city I had yet to see, I felt genuinely moved.
"This is magnificent."
Wickhart and Roa's other close aides, along with Rivote, all voiced their praise of the model, which somehow filled me with pride.
"Now, this is where the real work begins."
Sazen rolled up his sleeves, while Roa folded his arms and stared intently at the townscape. Indeed, this was where the real work began. We had to identify the problems and consider countermeasures. Depending on the circumstances, there might be matters we would have to take back and discuss with Father Drak.
Though this was a vacation, since I was here, it would be more efficient for me to bring back any necessary information myself.
Roa immediately pointed out several concerns, and Sazen moved the buildings accordingly. However, as one would expect of Father, the zoning plan was generally sound, and we seemed able to proceed without any problems.
"Does everything else seem all right?"
"I think so. From here, shall we deal with things as they arise while the actual construction proceeds? Prince Rocabill, I have a few messages I'd like you to deliver to His Majesty."
"Yes. Leave it to me."
Thus, our meeting concluded, and we moved on to preparing materials and the like. Our business here appeared to be finished. There was nothing more for us to do.
We left the town and headed for the royal capital, Ludectrad.
Just before leaving the room, I secretly and gently stroked one of the models of the completed town.
It was a precious model I had made, a little more awkwardly shaped than the other buildings.
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"Oh, you've finally arrived. How were the ruins?"
In the royal capital, Ludectrad, Salisha-sama greeted us while holding hands with a girl. It was Lufa, the girl who was also close with Luluria.
"...It was quite worthwhile, but... what brings you here? More importantly, why are you still in the royal capital?"
Hadn't she gone back ahead of us?
Noticing that I was looking at their joined hands, Salisha-sama gave a little laugh and lifted them slightly.
"Isn't it nice? Lufa-chan has been showing me around the city for the past few days. She knows the capital inside and out, this girl."
"You went around the city, Salisha-sama? Without an escort?"
"I had an escort, of course. Don't worry."
There was probably little to worry about in the royal capital. Well, never mind.
"Anyway, I'm going out again today. Bye."
"Is it really all right for you to be taking it so easy? And what about my sister-in-law, Luluria?"
When I questioned Salisha-sama, who was trying to leave right away, she replied, "Luluria has already gone to Gadeland."
"So you were the only one who stayed behind, Salisha-sama?"
"I couldn't very well go home and leave Rocabill here alone."
"I see."
I was grateful for the sentiment, but what she was doing was hardly any different from Father's. No—was this part of her revenge, too?
...Father's surprise visit last year had been the same. And this time, Salisha-sama and Luluria were much alike as well; their free-spiritedness struck me anew.
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I went to see Father immediately after returning to the country. Father, whom I had not seen in a while, looked somewhat thinner than before.
"Father, I've returned."
"Ah."
"Roa-dono entrusted me with several messages for you."
"...Wasn't that supposed to be Salisha's responsibility?"
"...It was."
"...Honestly..."
The two of us exchanged glances and could only laugh.
"That said, Salisha-sama wasn't merely playing around. It seems she and King Rudek worked out several proposals that would benefit our country."
"...Yes, word has already arrived by fast courier. They are all proposals worth serious consideration. Honestly, that makes it difficult to complain. As for Salisha, we'll let it go. Now, let me hear what Roa had to say. There is a copy of the zoning map we drew up in the room over there. Let's go."
"Yes."
"...By the way, Rocabill. Has something good happened?"
"Huh?"
"...No, never mind if it was just my imagination. From now on, make sure you take a vacation from time to time. Find yourself some sort of hobby."
"Yes."
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Rocabill=Delassa, son of Drak=Delassa, the first emperor of the Gridol Empire.
He was an outstanding man who supported the internal affairs of the Gridol Empire, but among his siblings, he was an unremarkable presence.
That was only true insofar as he was the emperor's son, however.
Amid his busy schedule, he found time to devote himself to making dollhouses and three-dimensional town models using them.
In particular, a series of works known as the "Imperial Capital Series," which recreated selected sections of the Imperial Capital, was carefully preserved at the Imperial Museum for generations to come, both for its superb craftsmanship and as valuable records evoking the early Imperial Capital.
As a result, Rocabill=Delassa was revered by many people for the next hundred years as the hobbyist who established diorama-making as a major pastime.