Chapter 91
When we arrived in front of the pier, the Wagon had just been moored. In addition to the flag bearing a lion aboard a ship, a flag depicting a roaring sea lion fluttered from its mast.
That was the emblem of the newly established Lionel Kingdom Maritime Guard.
"Romelia-sama! We're back!"
Gatt of the Romelia Squad waved from the deck of the Wagon, his hair tied back. Borel stood beside him.
The Wagon's mission was to transport supplies between Aileen Port and Melka Island. However, we had also sent Maritime Guard soldiers along so they could train as well. I had entrusted Borel and Gatt with overseeing the soldiers.
"Well then, how are things with the Maritime Guard—or should I say, the future Lionel navy?"
Deputy Director Maurice smiled beside me.
The Kingdom of Lionel had never had a navy, since it had never possessed a port in the first place. But now that we had one, establishing a navy was an urgent matter. However, it was impossible to create a military force out of nothing. Our plan was to first organize a Maritime Guard to protect Aileen Port and make it the precursor to a navy.
"All right, you can disembark!"
A gangplank was extended from the ship, and Borel called out the order. The soldiers who had been out training began to come down. However, their steps were unsteady, and their faces were bluer than the sea. The moment they reached the pier, some fell to their knees, while others even vomited into the sea.
Though the name Maritime Guard sounded impressive, the soldiers were in such a state that they could not even overcome seasickness.
"Hahahaha! Well, this is what I expected."
Deputy Director Maurice laughed heartily as he watched the seasick soldiers, who could barely stand. I grimaced bitterly, but it could not be helped. Few people in the Kingdom of Lionel had ever been aboard a ship. Expecting them not to get seasick was unreasonable.
"Honestly, what a pathetic bunch. It was only a few days at sea."
A woman came down the gangplank with heavy footsteps.
The red-haired woman with a cloak draped over her shoulders was Mary-san of Melka Island.
"Isn't training these guys just a waste of time?"
Mary-san looked down at the soldiers who could not stand because of their seasickness. A fist then came crashing down on her head.
"It's your job to turn them into full-fledged soldiers, Mary!"
"Damn, that hurt, old man! What the hell was that for?!"
Mary-san rounded on Deputy Director Maurice. She was the biological daughter of Deputy Director Maurice and Rebecca-san.
"Don't you dare slack off! Don't forget that you're alive thanks to Romelia-sama's mercy!"
Mary-san frowned at Deputy Director Maurice's words. She had previously raised a bow against me.
Given the seriousness of what she had done, she could even have received the death penalty. However, considering our relationship with Melka Island, her sentence had been reduced by one degree.
In fact, the rebellion Mary-san had started ended in just one day, thanks in part to Captain Maurice and the others. No one had died, and from an outside perspective, it was little more than a minor incident. I settled the matter without making it any larger than necessary by demanding reparations from Melka Island and sentencing Mary-san to military service. Her current duty was to turn the Maritime Guard into full-fledged soldiers.
"Shut up! ...I did my job properly."
"You'd better have! With a single word or action from you, the future of Melka Island could change!"
Looking down at Mary-san, Deputy Director Maurice repeated a line I had heard somewhere before.
"I know! But even if I'm training them, they need to get used to the sea first, or it's pointless! That's why we took a route with high waves on the way back this time! A few more trips like that, and they won't get seasick anymore. We'll start the real training after that!"
Hearing Mary-san's plan, the soldiers who were sick on the pier turned even paler. As difficult as it was, the best way to get used to seasickness was to experience it over and over. It would be painful, but I hoped they would persevere and treat it as part of the job.
"Mary-san, I'm counting on you."
While Deputy Director Maurice glared at her, I smiled and nodded. Although Deputy Director Maurice had spoken sternly, I was not particularly worried.
Mary-san could be somewhat lacking in judgment, but her skill as a captain was first-rate. Besides, we had a contract stating that her period of military service would be shortened if she successfully trained the soldiers. She would probably be fine.
"Oh, by the way, Romelia—"
"It's Romelia-sama!"
Deputy Director Maurice dropped another fist on her head.
"Ow—Romelia-sama. Is that guy here? You know, the one with the narrow eyes and the smile permanently plastered across his face."
Mary-san continued while rubbing her head. For a moment, I did not know whom she meant, but then someone came to mind.
"You mean Zeze? Yes, I believe he is here."
I looked around Aileen Port. I was sure Zeze was helping with the port's construction. Shifting my gaze slightly, I spotted a warehouse under construction at the edge of the port. A man was working there alongside the soldiers. The one who always wore a smile on his face was Zeze, one of the Romelia Squad.
"Sorry, but could you call him over?"
"Of course."
Although I tilted my head in puzzlement, I asked Borel to bring Zeze over. It was unexpected. Mary-san and the members of the Romelia Squad had crossed blades in the past. Zeze had been with us at the time, so Mary-san knew him. But I had not realized she was interested enough to call for him.
"Did you need me, Romelia-sama?"
After waiting a while, Zeze came over with Borel.
"No, Mary-san called you."
I shifted my gaze to Mary-san. She grinned and looked over her shoulder at someone behind her.
"Here she is."
A girl was standing behind Mary-san, though I had no idea when she had appeared. Her golden hair had been carefully braided, and she wore a red skirt beneath a white shirt trimmed with frills. However, she kept her head lowered shyly, so I could not make out her features.
"How long are you planning to hide behind me?"
Mary-san moved half a step to the side, but the girl immediately hid behind her again.
At first, I did not know who the girl was.
There were many children on Melka Island, and I was acquainted with several of them. However, I had never seen a girl her size before. Judging by her sun-tanned skin, though, she was undoubtedly from Melka Island.
I looked closely at the girl's face as she hid behind Mary-san.
Her wheat-colored hair sparked a memory of having seen it somewhere before. Her downcast face bore burn scars.
"Oh, you're... Ann, aren't you?"
Zeze realized who the girl was before I did.
Yes, the girl hiding behind Mary-san was Ann, who had engaged in piracy alongside Mary-san on Melka Island. But I was surprised. The last time I had seen her, her hair had been unkempt and she had dressed like a boy. Now her hair was neatly braided, and she wore a skirt, making her look very much like a girl.
Neither Zeze nor I could immediately find the words. As our silence lengthened, Ann's face gradually grew redder.
"W-what?! If you think it doesn't suit me, just say so!"
Ann shouted in embarrassment. It was a heartwarming sight, but Zeze did not tease her.
"Not at all. It suits you very well."
Ann's ears turned red in response to Zeze's smile.
"Good for you."
"Shut up!"
Mary-san poked Ann in the back with her elbow, and Ann, her face flushed, punched Mary-san in the back in return.
Watching Ann and Mary-san together made me happy, too. Ann had once opposed us and even raised a blade against us. But she had been driven to despair by her painful past. Seeing her regain a childlike side of herself made me feel that the hardships we had endured on Melka Island had been worthwhile. However, Jini alone was pouting.
"What about me? I put my life on the line back then..."
Borel patted Jini on the shoulder to comfort him as he muttered discontentedly.
"Oh, that's right, Romelia-sama. There's one more thing I'd like to discuss. Is that all right?"
"Mary-san, what is it?"
"It's something Ann and the other children brought up..."
Mary-san scratched her head as she looked at Ann beside her.
"Romelia...sama. I heard you're recruiting workers here. Are you still hiring?"
"Huh? Yes, Ann-san. There's plenty of work available."
I looked toward the streets of Aileen. Immigrants had begun gathering, and the city was expanding as a result. We could never have too many workers.
"Then I'll work too. I want part of my wages put toward the island's reparations. Even after they're paid off, I'll keep paying. I want you to shorten Mary-san's sentence. It's not just me. The children who stayed on the island feel the same way. Please. No, I beg you."
Ann lowered her head, and I was at a loss as to what to do.
The matter of reparations with Melka Island had already been settled. More importantly, anything a child could earn would barely make a dent. Shortening Mary-san's sentence would also create legal problems.
"...Ann-san. You were a child at the time. It has already been decided that you will not be held responsible for a crime."
The question of how to treat Ann and the other children had been a delicate issue for us. Considering our relationship with Melka Island, we could not punish the children harshly. That was why the matter had been settled with Mary-san bearing all the responsibility alone.
"That doesn't change the fact that we did it. You can't put all the blame on Mary."
A resolve unbefitting a child shone in Ann's eyes.
"I told you that you didn't need to worry about that."
"We were on Mary's ship. We live and die together."
Ann's eyes did not waver. Looking into them, I felt somewhat guilty myself.
Mary-san had started the rebellion, but I had learned about it beforehand. If I had been determined to, I could even have prevented it before it began. There were several reasons I had not done so, and one of them was strengthening my relationship with Melka Island.
If I allowed Mary-san to start a rebellion, suppressed it, and then forgave her, Melka Island would be heavily in my debt. A second rebellion would not be forgiven, leaving Melka Island with no choice but to move forward alongside me.
Mary-san's rebellion had worked to my advantage. Of course, it was she and the others who had decided whether to start it. But it was also true that I had used them.
"I understand. Regarding the reparations, would it be acceptable to repay part of them from your wages?"
I nodded, accepting that it could not be helped. The paperwork would be a little more troublesome, but I would consider it a small inconvenience.
"However, I can't shorten Mary-san's sentence. This is a matter of law."
I made it clear that I could not simply grant her request. In the first place, what Mary-san had done was not something that could be settled with a fine. Naturally, her crime could not be atoned for with money.
"However, I promised Mary-san that her sentence would be shortened if she trained the soldiers. Once you become adults, I will appoint you as her assistants. Help Mary-san. If you work hard, you can help shorten her sentence."
Ann's expression brightened at my words.
"Then! Can I be on the same ship as Mary again?!"
"Yes. I'll arrange it once you're adults."
When I made that promise, Ann happily threw her arms around Mary-san.
"Romelia-sama, thank you for accommodating my request."
Rebecca-san bowed her head, and I merely nodded in return.
Rebecca-san and Captain Maurice naturally understood that I had deliberately left Mary-san's rebellion unchecked. Therefore, I should not take advantage of that fact too much. I had used a stratagem to make them my allies, but once they had joined us, we should prosper together without discrimination.
A breeze swept between us.
A good wind was blowing. I hoped we could ride it and move forward smoothly.