Chapter 8

Thus, I, Eltriede, had returned to the royal capital.

It was a return after eight years.

The upper residence of the Eldenvalk Duke family, where I had lived until I was ten and departed around the time I turned ten, remained completely unchanged even after being away for eight years.

I had thought a little change might be nice, but the steward left in charge of the house must have managed things impeccably.

The room where I used to sleep was also exactly the same as it had been eight years ago.

Though living in a ten-year-old’s cutesy-themed room as an eighteen-year-old presented a different kind of problem in itself.

“…I suppose I need to start by redecorating the room, don’t I?”

“Indeed, that would be best.”

Noah had accompanied me up to the capital.

Since she was originally from the royal capital, I had intended this trip to double as a homecoming for her as well.

I had assumed Noah would be delighted to return to her long-lost hometown, but…

“…Milady, it has been quite a while since I was last in the royal capital, but…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Was it always this foul-smelling?”

“…”

To Noah’s very first impression upon returning home, I couldn’t find an answer either.

After all, I shared the exact same sentiment.

“I didn’t mind it back then, but stepping back into it now, it’s definitely not an illusion.”

“I didn’t feel it at all in our territory, but the royal capital has odors wafting right through the streets. What on earth is it?”

“It’s the smell of the city as a whole, I suppose. Though I think it’s more accurate to say the royal capital smells, rather than the Eldenvalk territory not smelling.”

The port town where we lived in our territory had its water supply and sewage systems fully developed, and wastewater was strictly isolated from residential areas.

That was the result of Father pouring his heart into his duties as lord.

A port town visited by people from various nations had to offer a comfortable stay; otherwise, visitors wouldn’t settle down or return.

–“The foundation of comfort is cleanliness.”

Father would say that, vigorously establishing systems to prevent filth from lingering or accumulating anywhere in the city.

Installing the sewage system was one example, and he even constructed waste-disposal facilities using his own personal funds.

He learned new systems by consulting guests from foreign countries and implemented them. Thanks to that, the towns within the Eldenvalk territory had gained a reputation as the cleanest and most pleasant places to live in the entire country.

That was likely the reason why there were so many immigrants from abroad, and another reason why Father was hailed as an exemplary lord.

“The water, sewage, and waste disposal systems in the Eldenvalk territory make heavy use of techniques learned from foreign countries. That’s probably why they haven’t spread to the royal capital.”

Even if those methods were introduced, the people of the royal capital would likely refuse to adopt them.

In the magic-supremacist Spiritual Kingdom, magic was the supreme technology and all-powerful force.

Our country possessed that magic, so there was no need to rely on the techniques of other nations.

In the first place, things like technology and engineering were merely used as substitutes by other countries that failed to attain magic, so we, who possessed magic, had no reason to rely on inferior, substitute foreign techniques!

…Or so they apparently believed.

“That is likely why a foul stench lingers over the royal capital. They simply fail to properly process garbage and wastewater that inevitably accumulates in daily life.”

“How bizarre, isn’t it? If a technique is useful, they should proactively adopt it. If they are so proud of their magic, shouldn’t they just use that to make the smells vanish?”

“There is no such magic.”

In my previous life, I had combed through dozens of grimmoires trying to master magic.

Yet not a single magic book contained such domestic, mundane magic for processing trash or wastewater.

Magic was a sublime power bestowed by the spirits.

Using it for vulgar, everyday living is out of the question, or so they would say.

“Hearing that, magic doesn’t sound all that convenient, does it? Why do nobles treasure such a power so much?”

“Because magic proves their worth. More importantly, Noah, never say things like that outside the estate. If a noble were to overhear you, you could be put to death on the spot for disrespect.”

“Oh my, but Milady is a noble too, isn’t she?”

That is true.

It meant I was a noble through and through of the Spiritual Kingdom, believing that magic alone stood at the apex of the world.

“I’m starting to feel worried about bringing you up to the royal castle. Absolutely no private talk during tonight’s banquet.”

“If Milady commands it, I won’t utter a peep even if tortured. But Milady, isn’t it a bit rushed to have a banquet the very night we arrive in the royal capital?”

That’s fine.

I arranged it so that it would turn out this way.

The selection for Crown Prince Kistihart’s consort begins precisely tonight.

First, a grand evening party would be held at the royal castle, where hundreds of noble daughters who are candidates for the Crown Princess consort will gather all in one place.

“Ideally, we should have entered the royal capital with plenty of time to spare, I suppose. But I am the infamous ‘lady with no magic’, am I not?”

“An infamous reputation in the worst sense, yes.”

Just the thought of malicious people approaching out of sheer curiosity…

If I secured too many days before the main event, I might even receive invitations to tea parties in advance. Accepting an invitation would only spell bad news, and declining it would waste too much mental energy trying to come up with a reason that wouldn’t ruffle feathers.

That was why I managed my schedule well along the transit stops and arrived right on the day of the evening party.

All I had to do was attend the party and depart promptly the next morning, keeping my stay in the royal capital to an absolute minimum.

“Or did Noah want to stay in the royal capital longer? In this capital filled to the brim with foul odors?”

“As expected of Milady! After all, troublesome matters are best dealt with as early as possible!”

She’s an agreeable servant, but I agree with her sentiment.

As long as I cannot use magic, there is no place for me in this city. Since nobody wants me here, it’s best to stay only for as long as I have business.

By this time tomorrow, I hope I’ll be breathing a sigh of relief inside a carriage on the way back home.

And before I knew it, day turned to night…

The carriage carrying me was just passing through the front gates of the royal castle.

“It’s bright even at night, isn’t it?”

“Indeed, it is. Could those lights be gas lamps?”

Gazing at the royal castle radiating a brilliant, crystal-like glow amidst the dark night, Noah and I let out a sigh.

“There are no gas lamps in the royal capital. Everything eye-catching here has been manifested through magic.”

“Then even this light is magic?”

“Crown Prince Kistihart, our current Crown Prince, excels in light-attribute magic. With the Crown Prince’s vast magical power, illuminating the entire royal castle as bright as midday must be effortless for him.”

“My, magic is not to be underestimated after all, is it?”

Noah was simply filled with awe, but I remained rather unbothered.

After all, it wasn’t my first time seeing this scenery.

When I first laid eyes on this view in my previous life, I was far more astonished than Noah is right now.

I could only stand there, completely captivated by the beauty of the radiance…

My heart was stolen by the magnificence of magic, and at the same time, anger welled up within me.

Why had this power not been granted to me? Why was such tremendous power poured solely upon certain individuals?

“Milady, it seems we will be getting off the carriage shortly.”

“Suprisingly smooth.”

Since hundreds of noble daughters were gathering, I had expected more hassle with the entrance.

I suppose the royal family repeats this every time a Crown Prince comes of age, so they are quite used to it.

I stepped down from the carriage through the opened door, and Noah followed closely behind.

“During the banquet, you will wait in the servants’ waiting room. You know that, right?”

“Of course, Milady. If you have any orders, just call, and I’ll come running.”

It was just to be safe, but there was nothing to worry about.

Noah was an exceptionally capable maid, despite how she looked. If anything, the one with the problem was me.

Once I step into the hall, people will likely say all sorts of things to me. Nasty remarks, sarcasm, or perhaps something more straightforwardly abusive.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t bear it, but I had no desire to court hardship of my own free will either.

For the record, I considered my mental faculties in this life to be quite normal.

As I mentally braced myself for whatever troublesome matters awaited me inside the royal castle…

“…Oh?”

Someone was blocking my path.

Three young women.

Given the circumstances, were they also noble daughters participating in the Crown Princess selection? If so, instead of standing around in a hallway like this, they should have hurried inside the hall.

Looking down on me as if to block my way, they spoke.

“Could you perhaps be the Eldenvalk Duke family’s young lady?”

“And if I am?”

The moment I replied, distorted smiles bloomed at the corners of their mouths.

Ominous smiles worn when treating someone with contempt. I had seen them more than enough times in my previous life.

“There were rumors that a defective daughter called ‘one with no magic’ might show up because she’s of age, but to think you actually came.”

“What a shameless person. Do you honestly think our beloved Crown Prince would ever deign to entertain a failure like you?”

“We thought we’d teach you some self-awareness since you’re so clueless, so waiting here for you was spot on. This is also proof of our loyalty to Prince Kistihart. Before the prestigious Crown Princess selection even begins, we shall clear away the trash ourselves!”

Well, this is troublesome.

I had been on guard, wondering what kind of trouble or harassment I would encounter once inside the royal castle.

To think a commotion would break out even before stepping inside…!