Chapter 48
The journey to deliver Rururia to the Empire proceeded with astonishing smoothness.
That was only natural. The Tenth Knight Order was not the only one protecting Rururia and the others. The Fifth Knight Order, having received word in advance, was clearing the way ahead of us.
The Fifth Knight Order was stationed in the area around the Yorose Corridor.
The Fifth Knight Order's primary duty was dealing with the Empire, and they had repeatedly repelled the threats that came their way. Because of that, their feelings toward Rururia, who was marrying into the Empire, were frankly even more complicated than those of the Tenth Knight Order.
The commander had even offered to step down from the direct escort, in case any of his subordinates might lose control.
Instead, the Fifth Knight Order temporarily halted the flow of people along the route and through the Yorose Corridor, guarding us so thoroughly that no one but our procession could be seen.
"We'll be reaching the Empire soon," Wickhart said as he rode beside me.
Thinking that it had been a long time since I had visited the Empire, I replied, "Yes, we will." Wickhart looked slightly puzzled.
"Roa-dono, you seem remarkably calm. Is this perhaps not your first time visiting the Empire?"
Oh no. I had visited the Empire only after my country had been destroyed. In this era, an ordinary civil official would have no opportunity to visit the Empire.
"...It is my first time, but I've seen the country so often in books that it doesn't feel like my first visit."
"...I see. Given your extensive knowledge, that makes sense." Wickhart, who had far too high an opinion of me, accepted that explanation easily.
"Are we almost there?" Rururia poked her head out of the carriage.
Even if I wished she would stay quietly inside the carriage because it was dangerous, Rururia was not the sort of princess who would do so. The fact that she had not asked to ride a horse herself was the best I could hope for, so Rays-sama did not press the issue.
"The roads are rough around here, so the carriage must be jostling you," I replied. "Yes. The roads are better on the Southern Continent," she said.
"What are the roads on the Southern Continent like?"
"Well... On a proper highway, you'd dig up the road, lay crushed stone at the very bottom, spread fine sand over that, then put soil on top and compact it. After that, you'd smooth the surface with tar..."
"Tar?"
"You don't know it? It's sticky black soil that can be used for all sorts of things if handled properly."
"Huh. That's the first I've heard of it. You certainly know a lot."
"Of course I do. Tar is one of Fezaris's specialties. As a princess, I have to know at least how to use my own country's specialties."
"Tar... tar, huh? I wonder whether it's found on the Northern Continent. Wickhart, do you know?"
"I'm sorry, but I've never heard of it."
"Hmm. Maybe I should ask Rays-sama about it later..."
"What? Roa, are you interested in roads?"
"It's not so much that I'm interested in them. We're actually discussing whether we can build wider roads right now."
"That's a good thing. If the roads become wider, people will gather, and if logistics pick up, the country will thrive."
"But it's proving quite difficult... Tar might not be easy to obtain, either."
"...What are you talking about? If you don't have any, buy some. From my country."
"Huh? Is that all right? You're marrying into the Empire."
"That has nothing to do with this. If it benefits Fezaris, of course I'll sell it to you. Once we reach the Empire, I'll write a letter to one of my country's ministers so you can arrange a trade. If you want to buy it, just give the letter to a Fezarisian at the port."
"That would be a huge help. I don't know whether we'll be granted permission, but please do."
"The pleasure is mine. I hope it turns into a profitable business."
...Unexpectedly, we had ended up discussing the expansion of the highways here. When I returned to the royal capital, I would consult Drew. He would be able to work out the financial side of things.
As I pondered the development of the roads, the Empire's border finally came into view.
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The handover of Rururia and the others would take place in front of a fortress called Gradelio, just beyond the Yorose Corridor.
Even from a distance, I could tell that Imperial troops were already lined up in front of the fortress, waiting for us.
"Dark-blue flags with four stars embroidered on them..."
"Roa, do you know which unit that is?" Rays-sama suddenly called out from behind me.
"I recognize that standard. That's General Gafor, the Greatsword, isn't it?"
"Yes. I never expected Gafor to show up... No, perhaps the possibility was actually quite high."
Rays-sama looked somewhat troubled. That was only natural. He and General Gafor had a particularly bitter history.
In recent years, the Empire had been intensifying its war with the powerful northern nation of Tsanadefor, so its offensive against Ludeck had not been especially intense.
But back when the Empire had focused its efforts on invading Ludeck, General Gafor had often led its armies as their commander.
By contrast, the central figure commanding Ludeck's forces against the Empire had been none other than Rays-sama.
The Empire had invaded again and again, but the unchanged border showed how those invasions had ended. The battles later recorded as the Great Defense of Yorose apparently numbered seven in all, even counting only those that grew into major engagements.
This success in ultimately repelling the Empire made Rays-sama, whose name had previously been known only at home and in places such as Golbel, renowned throughout the continent as one of Ludeck's great commanders.
In other words, General Gafor, who was welcoming us now, had been made to swallow one bitter defeat after another.
Since our entry into the Empire had stemmed from rescuing an Imperial drifting ship, I told myself there was probably no danger of our being suddenly surrounded and annihilated... Probably. Even so, I was starting to feel a little tense.
Then we came face-to-face.
General Gafor was easy to identify. He was carrying a sword as tall as he was.
When General Gafor saw Rays-sama, he furrowed his brow slightly, but stood there in silence without moving an inch.
Instead, the young man standing beside General Gafor stepped forward.
"Are you General Rays? I thank you for the gracious treatment you have shown my people and my wife on this occasion. I am Tsetsedra, the Fourth Prince of Greedle."
The moment I heard the name Tsetsedra, I quietly caught my breath.
Then I shifted my gaze toward the carriage Rururia was riding in.
I should have checked properly beforehand.
The Fourth Prince, Tsetsedra.
According to the history I know, he will die young within the next six months.