Chapter 124

Silver Moon
Mr. Coote was racing through the royal capital. His speed wasn’t particularly fast, considering the city was crowded.

“Princess, please don’t act without us!”

“I’m in a hurry.”

My finely honed intuition was telling me that a new snack had been released at Silver Moon.

Then I had no choice but to go. Forward, Mr. Coote!

After some time, we reached a small café off the main street. Due to financial constraints, it couldn’t secure a prime location on the main avenue. However, the taste of the sweets it made was undoubtedly the best in the capital.

Yes, Silver Moon. As usual, there was a line of about ten customers outside the shop. The shop wasn’t small, but the number of customers was overwhelming. Despite having enough funds to move to a larger space, they chose not to, so the queue never disappeared. They claimed it would be difficult to handle the volume of customers if they moved to the main street.

A signboard in front of the store read, “Starting today, we have a new apple pie.” Exactly as my intuition had told me. The apples in this world were simply called apples.

“There are lots of customers here again today.”

“Huff… huff… How do you always know when there’s a new item?”

Alicetia caught up with me a few seconds later. While the royal guards were certainly around, they stayed hidden since they knew I didn’t like walking around with intimidating individuals. Nevertheless, I could sense their presence.

“My intuition is to blame.”

I attached Mr. Coote, now reduced to the size of a small dog, to a pole in front of the shop using a leash. For some reason, despite the few pet-owning customers, a setup for tying pets was available… perhaps just for me.

After standing in line for about twenty minutes, the number of people ahead of me dwindled. Then, a man came running out of the shop. He was a beastman with the features of a dog and an ex-mercenary named Rox. One of his ears was missing due to an injury, and his hair was gray. However, he didn’t have a rough demeanor. He seemed like an ordinary person, though he still trained, so he was apparently lean and muscular.

“As I always say, we’ve reserved a seat for you. Just come in normally. It doesn’t look good to keep the princess waiting.”

“I don’t cut in line. I wait my turn.”

I often buy a significant amount of sweets, so if I were to cut in line, someone behind me might not get any. That wouldn’t be fair to those ahead of me. Hence, I don’t use my status to skip the line. This is my rule when visiting my favorite shops.

“But still, there’s such a thing as appearances…”

“It’s common knowledge that I come here of my own volition. Besides, I’m here to enjoy a delicious pie.”

“Well… if you say so. But no one would complain if you came in and sat down.”

“The fact that there’s a designated seat for me is the real problem.”

It wasn’t as though there was a rule stating a specific seat was mine. It was just that I often sat inconspicuously against the back wall. Over time, the chairs and tables at that spot seemed to have been replaced with slightly nicer ones.

“Well, that’s because customers complain they can’t sit in your seat, and it’d be a problem if you sat with the rest of us. It’s not our rule; it’s what the customers wanted. I’ve never told anyone not to sit there, but… if they do, everyone glares at them, so no one does.”

Hmm. Is this good or bad? Well, as long as it doesn’t harm the shop, I suppose it’s fine. Oddly enough, my visits seem to increase their customer count. In fact, the line behind me had grown longer, but when I glanced back, everyone quickly averted their gaze.

For now, I gestured for the shopkeeper to return inside, as we wouldn’t be able to enter if he stayed outside talking. Shooing him back in, I reminded myself that I wasn’t here to chat with Mr. Rox. I was here for the apple pie. Enjoying the taste of the improved pie was far more important than conversation.

“Welcome! Here’s our new creation.”

Mr. Rox’s wife and daughter usually handled the customers, but today, only his wife, Shalia, seemed to be around.

As soon as I sat down, Shalia brought me tea and apple pie. After frequent visits, she probably knew exactly what I wanted. Nowadays, she hardly ever took my order and just brought me whatever I likely came for.

I picked up the pie and took a small bite.

“Delicious. You’ve improved again.”

“Well, we found some great apples from a traveling merchant. They’re grown in a noble’s territory, so we’ve decided to start ordering from there.”

Upon hearing “noble’s territory,” I remembered the noble Marza had mentioned. So that noble is doing pretty well.

“In that case, I’ll buy some. Deliver fifty pies to the castle tomorrow.”

“You know, I’ve always thought you don’t eat like a regular person. You’ll get fat.”

I instinctively touched a part of my body. No signs of plumpness.

“… It seems I have a body that doesn’t gain weight.”

Even this area, where fat should accumulate, remained the same.

“Well, maybe that’s something the princess still has to wait for.”

Shalia grinned mischievously, while I glared at her with half-lidded eyes. There was no need to laugh. Even though there were circumstances, I hadn’t grown in my previous life either.

Incidentally, the reason I didn’t grow was that I used my own body for the necessary human experiments. My previous body was worn out even without the accident. Well, there were other factors like extreme sleep deprivation. For years, I only slept about an hour a day. It was a miracle that my appearance didn’t change. Cornflakes’ nutritional management capabilities were incredible. I miss eating those.

But this apple pie is delicious. It must be shared. Eating meals or snacks alone isn’t enjoyable. I learned that all too well in my previous life. That’s why, if I have to, I’ll use my power to spread it.

Sharing and eating with everyone is the best. Besides, my stock is dangerously low. The amount I gave to Marza’s villagers and craftsmen needs to be replenished. I should have Alicetia stay in the kitchen for a while. If the stock of sweets decreases, my mental stability will be at risk.

“So, Alicetia, you’ll be mass-producing in the kitchen.”

“… It’s just me, isn’t it?”

Alicetia makes her sweets entirely on her own. Of course, the castle’s cooks can make them, but they’re treated as a separate thing.

“I’d love to have your handmade sweets, Alicetia. You haven’t made them lately…”

On the way back from eating apple pie, I pleaded with her.

“I’ve been busy too, you know.”

“But you’re my maid, right?”

“That’s true, but I also handle security and guard duties… so please wait for a while. Even if you say we’re running low, you still have a few months’ worth stored, don’t you?”

What a sharp observation. Or rather, I failed to deceive her. She quietly keeps track of my stock. Well, the anticipation of waiting is part of the fun. Pressuring her too much might add to her usual stress and give her an ulcer.

At dusk, the royal capital was lively. People walked here and there, and unlike daytime, the streetlights began to glow. Of course, due to mana conservation, only the minimum number were lit.

Mr. Coote walked along, sniffing around curiously. Apparently, the royal capital is now his territory. When stray dogs encounter Mr. Coote, they roll over and play dead, showing their bellies.

That was amusing. The stray dogs even had expressions like they were about to die. Dogs can make faces like that too.

“When we return to the castle today, let’s take a bath and go to bed. You’ve been overworking yourself lately.”

“I still have work to do.”

“Let the prime minister take over. He’d be delighted.”

He really would be. It seems like his only desires are work, food, and sleep. It’s questionable if he even returns to his manor. He probably does, but he works from morning till night, dragging his subordinates along.

Stopping him is likely impossible. They say the country’s finances would collapse without him. Besides, maintaining a wartime regime for hundreds of years is abnormal.

Although there are occasional ceasefires, the other side is desperate to claim Arland. Rare species, technology, resources, and vast fertile lands they couldn’t conquer—it’s no wonder.

From my perspective, they should just develop their large country. But they probably find that troublesome and prefer to seize it instead. After all, the Empire’s philosophy is that the strong take what they want. What a nuisance.

“Do you think he ever sleeps?”

“Who knows? But if he does rest, he instantly ages into an old man. It’s a strange phenomenon.”

A difficult person, indeed. He should care a bit more about his subordinates, who always look on the verge of collapse.

Despite being capable individuals, his subordinates don’t turn into dissenters even from overwork. They’re too busy to engage in scheming. Instead, fools who approach them without understanding get arrested regularly.

I should establish a paid leave system… no, start with holidays. Public holidays exist, but civil servants like them often work through those. Forcing them to work even during New Year’s is harsh. Something must be done.

Back to the main topic.

The first thing I need to address is the slums. Neither Father nor Big brother can take significant action. They’re busy, and the kingdom’s budget is limited. Refugees continue to increase and settle in the slums.

Outside Arland, human supremacism is still rampant. Arland is the only place where various races can live peacefully, so they aim to migrate here.

Previously, the Empire’s strict regulations kept the issue manageable. Moreover, living in Arland required following its rules, and the numbers weren’t overwhelming.

But now, Arland has formed alliances with other countries. News of this has spread across the continent. People are starting to come via Ostland and other routes without passing through the Empire.

Although allied nations have also adopted anti-racial discrimination policies, it’ll take decades to resolve the issue. Depending on how the immigrants integrate, the problem could remain forever—such is the nature of immigration issues.

To solve the slum problem, I need to understand them. What do they want? I can imagine to some extent, but seeing it with my own eyes will help align my perspective with theirs.

That’s why I want to visit the slums, but I can’t go. My family opposes it, and neither Alicetia nor the knights guarding me will allow it. I’ve even tried pretending it was a coincidence to go, but they’ve stopped me. Recently, even the capital’s residents have joined in stopping me. They’re too overprotective.

Alright, let’s try being upfront for once.

“Alicetia, I want to visit the slums.”

“It’s too dangerous, so absolutely not.”

And just like that, from the next day, I was assigned a watcher. Unacceptable.