Talking with the Lord of 'Noza's Town'

"A relative of the Empire's grand duke is Princess Sophia's escort?"

I asked the girl, Dorothy.

The girl in front of us watched us with a smile, her ponytail swaying.

"The fact that the grand duke's relatives and soldiers have come means... 'Noza's Town' really has become part of the Grand Duchy, hasn't it?"

"Yes. The Emperor's decision has been made, and the area around 'Noza's Town' has become an exclave of the Grand Duchy."

Dorothy placed a hand over her chest and bowed.

"And the grand duke decided to entrust the governance of this land to Princess Sophia."

"So the Imperial grand duke decided to increase the troops protecting the town and place one of his relatives in charge of Princess Sophia's escort...?"

"That's right. Though I also came here at my own request."

"Of your own volition?"...