Chapter 11 - Volume 01; Behind the Scenes: Part 02 (2/2)

But I wonder why. I felt like I heard her say, 『borrowed』.

I prayed that it was my imagination because His Highness was in a good mood.

◊♦◊♦◊♦◊

The ambassador from Miseral Dukedom was entrusted with the mission of negotiating with the southern continent and was driven away by His Highness. A new, elderly and gentle ambassador turned up at Southlynd.

After that, I often saw a glimpse of Miss Elianna’s title of 『Brains of Southlynd』, and was impressed.

The writing tool that His Highness and I use also started when Miss Elianna saw that His Highness had injured his wrist while practising the sword, and had trouble writing, so she gave him this tool.

At first, he practised a lot because he wasn’t used to writing with it, but he was a fast learner, and it soon became his favourite writing tool. I think the chamberlain, who saw him write with it, spread this writing tool.

She also solved the previous problem with Maldura Kingdom, and when I was talking to His Highness about the military budget for the year, I suddenly wanted to ask her the same question.

However, this young lady isn’t concerned about anything else once she starts focusing on reading, and she had a unique skill of driving unconcerned things out. She doesn’t even twitch when Glenn accidentally makes a blunder while dividing the tea utensils. I admire her concentration.

I felt terrible and tried to change the subject, but His Highness called out to her, “――― Elianna.”

Her silver eyelashes blinked quietly, and she slowly raised her ashy-blue eyes.

Her eyes blinked as if she knew why he was calling her, but at the same time, she didn’t know why. His Highness smiled gently and drew her attention, “We’re touching the subject of the military’s budget. What would you use it for Elianna?”

She continued blinking when he asked her this question and as if she still hadn’t pulled out of the world of books yet.

I can see now why they were still not mutually in love with each other and why it was counted as one of the Seven Wonders by the court ladies who accompany His Highness… Your Highness, I can see that you’re enjoying this. I hope your flexibility doesn’t lead to a situation where you’re strangled…

I sighed in resignation and said, “We’re wondering if we should build more schools and stuff like that.”

Miss Elianna closed the book she was reading and shook her head.

“I think it’s important to raise the literacy rate of the people but…”

Bernstein people will fuss about that over everything else. I thought, while feeling dubious. She was urged to continue, and she told us her ideas, “For example, in poverty-stricken villages in the rural areas, even if they can read, or have books it doesn’t become a dora. The most important thing in villages like that is what they can eat for the day. Being able to read won’t fill their stomachs.”

“…”

Southlynd is a relatively stable and affluent kingdom in the Ars continent, but of course, the disparity of wealth exists here. The difference is remarkable the further you go from the royal capital.

I was struck with surprise when she had spoken about it as if she had seen it herself. His Highness was the same. She ducked her head a little.

“I read about it in Dan Eduard’s travel journal,” she said.

I recalled something a little bitter. I was interested in Mr Dan Eduard because of the incident in Weimar, and when I had actually picked up the book, I understood why his writing style wasn’t popular with the general public; rather than a travel journal, he wrote it like a report. But, his abilities were hard to come by. So, I tried to persuade him to gather intelligence for us, but I was turned down.

“I’m more suited for writing my travel journals as I like,” he said.

So I looked him up a bit. Who was publishing his unsold travel journals? Who was funding him to travel to remote regions that weren’t suited for trips?

In other words, rather than work for the royal palace by collecting intelligence, he felt a debt of gratitude to the Bernstein House who had quickly discovered his talents and appointed him a post.

Just how many others are like him? I recalled something that made my head hurt, and replied, “Are you saying that we should support those villages with the excess budget?”

Miss Elianna frowned as if it was difficult.

“I also think that’s important, but… We should first leave it up to the feudal lords to decide. If you’re going to use the kingdom’s budget, then I think you should spend it on updating health care in Krug.”

“In Krug?” His Highness asked as if he was thrust into the void.

Krug was located at the foot of the northern mountain range. It was a fief that didn’t have any specialties, was neither good nor bad and rarely cause problems.

Miss Elianna nodded meekly.

“According to the records of the culture and geography book that Max Wiz published five years ago, 『Valley of Winter』, the people of that region have always had a strong sense of indigenous belief and concepts, and the males dominate the women.”

She seemed a little flustered because we were listening carefully, but continued, “Krug has an overwhelmingly lower birth rate than other areas. I thought that this was probably due to the influence of their indigenous beliefs and concepts. But, not all of them are bad.

――― I heard that giving birth is an important deed that women put their lives on the line for. That’s why I don’t believe that the act of nurturing and producing life should be directly linked to death… I don’t think it would be easy to melt the deeply rooted concepts overnight, but I still think Southlynd should show its will to its people rather than do nothing and fold their hands.”

No matter their indigenous beliefs, they are Southlynd people as long as they live here, so we should lend them a helping hand if they are facing a life-threatening issue.

All the more so if the children they birth are the future children of Southlynd.

I was impressed inside. This part of her was what made her rare.

While talking about ideals and sound arguments, she stares firmly at reality. How did she acquire this ability?

“Did you think about this before, Miss?” Glenn asked in a similarly impressed way. Miss Elianna lightly tilted her head.

“I did… but I thought about it after reading Weimar’s regional circulation notice.”

“What do you mean?” His Highness urged and his expression softened a little.

“I felt that the women are very robust after reading the regional circulation notices. The short columns are the same. The housewives manage their houses enthusiastically, and their children are also healthy. Their husbands do their best for their families. That’s how an area becomes lively and prospers. The women were also the ones who came up with the Sami fish dishes. Some women couldn’t move while they were pregnant, and their health plummeted after giving birth. I thought that supporting women would help revitalise a community… and in turn, the kingdom will flourish.”

『Brains of Southlynd』… I was reminded of those words again. Unique to women. There is also an idea like that, isn’t there?

His Highness also pondered. “Thank you for your opinion,” he said, and she went back to reading her book when she realised that the conversation was over.

I sighed a little because I predicted that my workload would increase.

Glenn was looking at Miss Elianna in admiration, and I couldn’t deny that I also admired her.

――― But…

Can I say something? The book that she was more enthusiastic about than our conversation is called 『How to Tell Which Wild Grasses are Edible. You Can Also be Self-sufficient from Today! 』

How did the daughter of a Marquis, and the fiancée of the Crown Prince, get a book on wild grasses… no self-sufficient lifestyle… in the first place? I wanted to rebuke at this scene. I also thought about things that gave me a headache today.