Chapter 157

On the Other Side of the Party
The Arland Kingdom has many festivals. Among them, the grandest are the Founding Festival and the royal birthdays. The Founding Festival is naturally held in grand fashion, but ever since the neighboring federation collapsed and the kingdom became adjacent to the Empire, budget constraints have made royal birthday celebrations less extravagant. The budget was tight.

However, this year, the budget was increased slightly. The festival-loving citizens, seeing that the economy was doing well, pleaded with the government to make it grander. In truth, they just wanted an excuse to drink and party as much as they pleased.

Royal birthdays are celebrated only for living members of the royal family. Many argue that birthdays of deceased royals should also be honored, but this is dismissed as drunken nonsense. It's best to keep such true intentions hidden. Besides, there’s no money for it.

Even so, the kingdom can afford a slightly more luxurious birthday celebration this year. The reasons are a bountiful harvest leading to strong tax revenue and Alicetia’s contributions. By donating her personal assets to the kingdom and funding public projects, Alicetia has not only revived but also spurred economic growth.

Most residents of the capital are too busy to have spare time, but their pockets are full. The long-stalled capital expansion project had been meticulously planned by successive ministers of land, and all that remained was to integrate Alicetia’s technology. With that done, construction had already begun, and work was ongoing throughout the capital.

The airship industry was also thriving. Alicetia had become the kingdom’s limitless source of wealth, continuously generating prosperity and generously distributing it into the market.

The Viceroy's Merchant Union was also creating numerous job opportunities. In particular, they prioritized hiring former slum dwellers who had long been unable to pay taxes. Starting next year, tax revenue from them would flow in as well. If ever there was a reason to laugh uncontrollably, this was it.

"This has been a good year."

"Indeed. This is the first time I've ever looked forward to the next year so much."

The usually apprehensive lords, who used to fear whether the country would survive another year, now had hopeful expressions. The fear of being destroyed by the Empire was still present, but for the first time, they had hope for the future.

Even the lords benefited by sending slum dwellers to work in the capital. And it wasn’t just them—many laborers had flocked to the capital to earn money. When they returned to their lands, they would bring wealth back with them.

Furthermore, the Beastfolk and Dwarven nobility were perceived as being on Alicetia’s side. Although Alicetia herself disliked troublesome matters and refused to form a faction, she could easily create one rivaling the royal family’s power if she wanted.

The lords were grateful that she didn’t. If the royal family became unstable, that chaos would eventually consume the entire kingdom. Avoiding trouble was the best policy.

"Still, those fools acted so recklessly."

"Indeed. If they had played their cards right, they could have received benefits like Baron Bard… What made them think they could challenge Her Highness and win?"

Baron Bard, who was receiving full support from Alicetia, was nervously surrounded by many lords, discussing his territory and the magic tools provided by Alicetia.

The other nobles were deeply interested in these powerful magic tools, eager to someday introduce them into their own lands. As a result, many sought to build connections with Baron Bard. Approaching Alicetia directly was difficult; the royal family protected her thoroughly, making it nearly impossible to get close. Many nobles didn’t even know where she was or what she was doing—she was a mysterious princess.

"The Viceroy household has the backing of both the National Defense Council and the royal family. They should be grateful they’re even allowed to remain."

"If only they understood that, they wouldn’t have ended up in the Noble Council."

The nobles sneered at the fools gathered near the wall, while the members of the Noble Council glared back with resentment. They were easy to spot due to their uniforms. The uniforms served as a clear indication that noble ladies should stay away from these fools to avoid being deceived. However, the wearers deluded themselves into believing that only the elite were allowed to don them—such fantasies were their way of escaping reality. Without them, their situation would be too miserable to bear.

"Still, some of those looking gloomy over there don’t quite fit in…"

"Best not to mention it. Those are lords worn down by their grueling duties. A gentleman does not speak of such things."

It wasn’t just the Noble Council members standing idly by the walls, avoiding the dance floor. Another group, a mid-tier faction made up mostly of human nobles, was also gathered.

Their defining trait was the differently colored patches of hair—primarily on the tops and sides of their heads. Upon closer inspection, it was obvious they were wearing artificial pieces. Unfortunately, hairpieces in this world were still crude and easily noticeable.

However, a true gentleman would never point this out.

"Well, after what happened, it’s understandable they’re too wary to dance."

It all started a few years ago at a social event. During a dance, "it" had fallen off someone's head, exposing his baldness. That noble had not left his estate since.

The affected nobles had been furious. To avoid suffering the same humiliation, they now huddled together, pretending to be engrossed in conversation.

There was only sympathy for these men, who grew visibly uneasy at even the slightest glance toward their heads. They were, after all, competent individuals. But the demands of their responsibilities had devastated their once-thriving "grasslands," turning them into barren "wastelands." Why did human men go bald so easily?

Right now, no one wanted to meet Alicetia more than they did. If anyone could create a cure to restore their lost "fields," it was her. In fact, in her previous life, she had made such a product on a whim and profited immensely from its patent. It wouldn’t be impossible for her to do it again—though, out of convenience, she would likely make it a magic potion.

However, there were significant obstacles. First, they had to find a way to approach Alicetia. A careless attempt could land them in the same disgrace as the fools by the wall.

Second, they would have to confess their condition. They couldn't use the excuse of "helping someone else." Alicetia was royalty. If they tried, others would simply say, "Then bring the person here yourself. It would be disrespectful otherwise."

And most importantly, how could grown men possibly ask a six-year-old girl to cure their baldness? They still had their pride.

"I hope the princess's whim takes effect."

"Yeah."

There was a nonzero possibility that Alicetia's whim could lead to the birth of a new medicine. Since Alicetia had no interest in people she didn't know, that possibility was close to zero—but not entirely zero.

As they were discussing this, the surrounding area suddenly fell silent.

"What’s going on?"

"Hey... Princess is attending the party."

Alicetia was well known for not performing royal duties. However, since she demonstrated her competence elsewhere and granted many privileges to the nobility, many nobles found themselves unable to criticize her. That was why rumors had spread that she would not be attending this party either.

Nobles who wished to establish connections with Alicetia attempted to approach her—only to take a step back.

"Puff~"

Alicetia was clearly in a bad mood. It should have been obvious. The reason Alicetia, who had publicly declared she avoided social gatherings because they were a hassle, was present here was that someone had forced her to be.

"Madame Smith, huh… what a troublesome woman."

"Why would she do something to anger the princess…? Don’t get close, or you’ll get caught up in it."

At the sight of Madame Smith walking behind Alicetia, the nobles immediately understood everything and refrained from approaching. Speaking to her now would only increase the likelihood of earning her ire.

Meanwhile, the Beastfolk nobles had quietly knelt down, but everyone ignored them. Lately, they had become unbearably annoying. Whenever they spoke, it was only to express their reverence for Alicetia. While this did help strengthen the royal family’s authority, it was nonetheless a nuisance. Most nobles had reached the conclusion that they would be best left alone for the time being.

After that, Alicetia, while intimidating any nobles who tried to approach her, greeted Draconia and danced with Gilbert. In that moment, she certainly carried herself with the dignity befitting royalty. A certain madame, watching with satisfaction, wondered why Alicetia didn’t always exude that regal presence.

Once the dance ended, one of the nobles disregarded Alicetia’s clear intent to keep people away and approached her. He likely wanted to mend relations and secure a stake in her interests. How naïve.

Two Beastfolk nobles lunged from both sides and delivered a clothesline, knocking the noble unconscious. They then casually excused themselves, claiming it had been an accident, and dragged him out of the hall.

For reference, exiting to the right would have led to the infirmary, which was temporarily set up nearby for party attendees who might pass out from drinking too much. However, they dragged him down the left corridor—where the guards' post, soldiers’ quarters, and the dungeon were located.

"If you pull another stunt like that, I’ll melt you down in a smelting furnace."

"Better yet, let’s tear off his limbs and put him on display."

The remaining nobles found themselves surrounded by Beastfolk and Dwarven nobles, whose temples bulged with anger, making it physically impossible for them to approach Alicetia. Their patience with opportunistic scheming had reached its limit.

Alicetia then spent some time engaged in an odd routine where she menaced nobles creeping toward her while they tried to close the distance—until, at last, she unveiled the magic-powered vehicle.

The reception for horse-drawn carriages had been exceedingly poor. The roads were terrible, and so were the carriages, making for a brutally bumpy ride. Moreover, horses were expensive, delicate creatures that required tedious maintenance.

The magic vehicle overturned all of that. Even on bad roads, it wouldn’t be worse than a regular carriage. While the 2000GT model had its limits, other variations could be developed.

“… I want one."

"But we just spent so much on an airship…"

Everyone had been yearning for an alternative to horse-drawn carriages. A few nobles were aware that automobiles existed in other worlds, but in this one, engines could not be developed.

More than the clergy nobles, it was the lords living outside the royal capital who desired magic vehicles the most. A fast and safe mode of transportation was invaluable. They could even get by with minimal escorts, and according to what they heard, the vehicle could outrun most monsters.

Being attacked by monsters while traveling was extremely dangerous, and escaping by horse-drawn carriage was often impossible. The magic vehicle, however, outperformed traditional carriages in terms of speed.

However, few nobles could afford to buy one. This was clearly a personal vehicle. Lords who had already invested in airships to develop their territories didn’t have enough funds left to buy a magic vehicle.

“Guhhh…”

"She keeps inventing things one after another… our wallets can’t keep up."

This was precisely why Alicetia was allowed to do as she pleased. She produced so many innovations, and each one was outstanding—captivating the nobility.

They wanted it. They desperately wanted it to be mass-produced.

At this point, none of them harbored any grievances. The royal family was now impeccable. Gilbert was an excellent statesman. Though he had a slight tendency toward fear-based governance, as long as one didn’t engage in excessive wrongdoing, there were no issues. Meanwhile, Alicetia, having established an independent branch of the royal family, had begun mass-producing magic tools on an industrial scale.

The next generation of the royal family was in good hands. The third heir was still an unknown factor, but with Gilbert and Alicetia working together, the kingdom would prosper without internal conflicts over the throne.

And yet, on their way home, the nobles realized something.

Not only had they failed to establish a connection with Alicetia—they hadn’t even managed to get her to remember their faces.

"That was her plan all along!"

It finally dawned on them that she had deliberately chosen to unveil the magic vehicle at the perfect moment—to divert attention and avoid entanglements.

They felt dejected, realizing how much of a nuisance she must have considered them.

Not all nobles intended to bring harm to Alicetia. In fact, many simply wished for a normal aristocratic relationship with her. However, those around her were simply too terrifying.

And so, they continued to agonize over how to convey to Alicetia that they were not troublesome individuals.