Chapter 65
When Das brought news of Luluria's marriage into the Greedle Empire back to his homeland, the King of Fezaris acted at once. He widely publicized the news throughout the countries of the Southern Continent.
This produced an immediate effect. Countries wishing to cultivate ties with the Empire sent envoys to Fezaris to offer their congratulations. When neighboring Andard saw how many countries there were, it judged the situation unfavorable and ceased making overt moves.
"Das, you have done well."
Das bowed respectfully to the satisfied king, then raised his head and shifted his gaze to the person beside him.
"Lord Doran-dono's plan worked perfectly."
In response, the man called Doran bowed to Das with a satisfied look like the king's.
"My plan was only a theory on paper. The credit for actually bringing it to fruition belongs to you, Das-dono."
Das returned the polished reply with a silent bow, secretly impressed by Doran's finesse.
This man called Doran, like Das, was not originally from Fezaris. He had been languishing in obscurity in another country when the King of Fezaris invited him into his service.
As a small country, Fezaris had a certain shrewdness, and this quality seemed to extend even to its merchants.
Doran had rapidly risen to prominence in Fezaris, and he had now become an indispensable adviser to the king.
He was still almost unknown abroad, but Das believed it was only a matter of time before his name resounded across the Southern Continent.
This marriage to the Empire was also originally a plan Doran had proposed. Even the king and his senior ministers had been hesitant about marrying into a distant country across the sea, but Doran was the one who persuaded them.
If this man were here, Fezaris would be secure. He possessed enough talent to inspire that belief.
Since both men had come from other countries to support Fezaris and were relatively close in age, Das and Doran had developed a strong sense of camaraderie.
Das, too, had to admit that Doran's plan was as good as it could possibly be. But at the same time, one person came to mind: Luluria.
――"I'm going to make Fezaris a great deal larger. Won't you help me?"――
Sending that princess, who had recruited Das with such a carefree smile, away to another country somehow seemed like a shame.
At the same time, however, Das also thought that Luluria was the only one who could successfully deal with that temperamental Emperor.
Right now, Fezaris could not afford to offend the Emperor. That petite princess must understand this perfectly.
Some time after Das returned to Fezaris, he happened to have an opportunity to speak with Luluria, just the two of them.
Over the past three years, Das had come to appreciate Luluria's talent anew, while she, in turn, held his abilities in high regard. They trusted each other enough to exchange unreserved opinions, so Das asked her directly.
"What do you think about marrying into the Empire, Luluria-sama?"
In response, Luluria brought out a box of some sort.
"There's a letter in here from the Fourth Prince of Greedle. You may read it if you like."
"...Then, if I may."
He opened a letter at random. It explained what the territory ruled by the Fourth Prince was like.
It also described the climate, and included remarks advising her to prepare a jacket in case it felt somewhat colder than on the Southern Continent.
The letter was full of thoughtfulness toward Luluria, meant to keep her from feeling anxious about her impending arrival. Whatever the Emperor's intentions, at least this Fourth Prince did not seem to view Luluria as a political tool.
"...I haven't even met him yet, but I feel as though we might get along well."
Though Luluria was a bold princess by nature, Das, old enough to be her father, felt humbled by how naturally she said this, despite setting out alone to marry abroad while shouldering such a heavy responsibility.
And so came the day of Luluria's departure.
While everyone else offered tearful words of farewell, Das watched from a spot a little apart from the group. Doran stood beside him.
"...Shouldn't you go and say farewell?"
Doran gave a small shake of his head.
"I have only recently entered the king's service, so I would rather let others have the time she would otherwise spend with me. Besides, I am the one chiefly responsible for putting the princess through this hardship."
"I don't think Luluria-sama would mind that."
"She may not, but I mean the feelings of those around her."
"Now that you mention it, that may be true as well."
"Rather, are you all right with not going, Das-dono?"
"I will have opportunities to see her in the Empire, so I let the others have this one."
"I see."
Even as Das and Doran continued that conversation, the time for Luluria to depart drew nearer with every passing moment.