episode_0027

‘Was it warehouse cleaning today…?’

The morning Julia left.

Lloyd opened his eyes in his bed and instinctively reached for the broom.

Well, it was a habit.

Only after arriving at the warehouse where the junk was piled up.

“Lloyd. What are you doing here? We need to go!”

I was dragged outside by Julia.

Huh? Outside?

why?

It was only as he was being dragged shakily by Julia that Lloyd realized he was still half asleep.

A carriage was ready outside.

“Wow. What kind of carriage is this big.”

It was worth muttering. There was a carriage standing there, almost as big as a small annex. Its outer wall was decorated with imperial patterns.

“Glory to the bloodline of Estrid. Welcome, Your Highness Princess Julia.”

The coachman knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

Even the groom has dignity.

Lloyd rode in the carriage with Julia, admiring her.

“Is this your first time in a royal carriage?”

“I think I know why they are so obsessed with collecting taxes. And why are the seats so soft.”

A cushion that keeps your hips and waist warm.

Lloyd had only ever ridden in a slave carriage and a warrior party’s baggage wagon.

This splendid luxury was quite a new world.

Well, I tried my best not to show any tea…

“Will you stop mumbling and look at me?”

Julia seemed to notice.

You have good insight.

– Rattle

The carriage started off, so I didn’t have to make any excuses. But what was strange was that, unlike other carriages, it didn’t rattle much. It was like there was some kind of magic to absorb the shock…

‘Why am I so obsessed with carriages?’

Lloyd shook his head to shake off his rambling thoughts.

Julia looks this way with a puzzled expression.

Lloyd opened his mouth with a blank expression on his face.

“You’re probably wondering why I suggested heading to East Tan, right?”

Rattling.

The carriage rocked gently once again.

This carriage’s destination is Easttan, a city located east of the imperial capital.

Lloyd suggested this location for the institute.

“That’s right.”

Julia nods.

Lloyd, who was about to answer, suddenly became curious.

“You left without even listening to the reason.”

Although she is nothing compared to Aina, even someone of Julia’s status has a mountain of work to do.

I was curious as to why Julia readily followed along, even though it could easily have been a waste of time.

Julia opened her mouth as if it was no big deal.

“Because you’re my bookseller. Aren’t bookseller supposed to be in charge of things like this?”

Lloyd’s eyes narrowed.

‘You seem to believe pretty easily.’

No, I don’t believe it.

It would be correct to say that they are testing.

Even though the other person appears quite disheveled compared to when we first met, she is the princess of the empire.

We are in a position where we must constantly test and evaluate those around us in order to survive.

It’s showing a disheveled appearance, and it’s showing that you believe this.

I was right to think of it as a test.

Of course, since she had bought Lloyd himself, Lloyd’s goal of ‘escaping Gray Mansion’ was essentially achieved.

‘If you like it, you’ll have more freedom of movement.’

There was no reason not to keep track of the princess’s scores.

‘The reason why East Tan was selected as the candidate site.’

In fact, it was chosen because it was easy to escape to anywhere on the continent if you were located in East Tan.

Of course, I’m not saying I’ll run away, but I’m going to give the princess a sum worth 1 billion kroner and leave.

Nevertheless, staying by the side of the grandson means always being exposed to a threat to your life.

Since there is no guarantee that the princess will protect him 100%, it is natural to prepare an escape route.

‘If I explain it like that, of course I’ll go to jail.’

The original explanation was such that even if you change just one letter, the meaning changes.

Lloyd opened his mouth slightly.

“The biggest advantage of East Tan is its accessibility.”

“… Accessibility?”

“Yes. It is close to the capital of the empire, and there is a large river nearby. In addition, the roads are well-paved.”

“… definitely.”

As we approached East Tan, the already small rattling of the carriage became almost as smooth as flowing water.

“The princess must build up her power outside the palace. But as you know, the empire has a power structure that is extremely centralized in the palace.”

“There is a reason why they say that the farther you go from the capital, the weaker your power becomes.”

“Yes. That’s why East Tan is good. It’s close to the capital and has a transportation network that makes it easy to access power outside of the imperial family. ”

Lloyd finished his speech with a shrug.

“It’s the gateway to the capital.”

Anyway, Princess Julia has to build up her power from the ground up.

The process will never be easy.

There will be checks from other princes and princesses, and heroes will also have to be defeated.

The relationship with Duchess Grey will also have to be kept ambiguous.

‘Of course I’ll be one step behind.’

The role of a bookkeeper is to provide advice.

I have no intention of coming forward and doing anything.

All I have to do is…

“We’ve arrived. This is Eastan.”

It’s probably a matter of finding a decent spot where you can lie down and roll around.

“Okay.”

Lloyd got out of the carriage with Julia.

The sun was unusually bright.

What lay before them was a small, two-story wooden structure.

◆

“Hey… Is this our research lab building?”

Julia muttered in confusion.

That was understandable.

Because it is a wooden structure that is quite old.

Ignoring her reaction, I stepped into the building.

– Giggle.

The wooden hallway groans.

A ‘Eek!’ sound was heard from behind.

I guess being absurd isn’t acting.

Perhaps, to the eyes of a princess who grew up only in the imperial palace, these noises coming from the building might be seen as signs of collapse.

‘From my perspective, if it stops raining, it’s a hotel.’

When I think back to my camping experience at the warrior party, this kind of thing is nothing.

‘… Of course, the bigger the room and the softer the bed, the better.’

I should ask for a better room.

With that determination, Lloyd looked around the building.

It’s a fairly old guild building.

It’s a little old, but it has everything you need.

“Actually, we named it ‘Research Institute’ to avoid attracting the attention of the princess or those in power as much as possible, but it is actually a guild.”

Immediately to the right of the building’s entrance.

As I opened the wide door, a large room appeared.

The reception desk and the tables in front of it.

“This could be used as a reception warehouse.”

The tables can be used as waiting seats.

There’s a little dust, but I guess I can just wipe it off.

I also looked around the rest of the rooms.

There was also a room that Julia used as an office.

As the name suggests, there was a dark and clean room that could be used as a research lab.

The two rooms in the corner of the upstairs can be used as bedrooms.

“… Growing up here? Can people live in a place like this?”

Julia made a full stomach sound, but Lloyd pretended not to hear.

“Would you like a large room or a small room?”

“Big room.”

Still, the answers keep coming out one after another.

With this, the princess’s minor complaint was resolved.

‘Well, at least they provide a high-quality bed and blankets.’

Lloyd looked around his bedroom.

It’s a little old, but it’s definitely a hundred times better than the royal storage room.

“Plus, the materials are pretty high quality.”

It’s a pretty well-built building, even though it’s old.

At this level, no matter who comes, it won’t be a problem…

— Boom!

As I was thinking about it, a loud noise was heard from downstairs.

“Some guys are trying to destroy my lab…!!!”

Julia, who had been grumbling about how old the building was just a moment ago, is now running downstairs, holding onto her hands.

Lloyd followed her.

“Hey! I know what’s inside! Come down quickly!”

Bang bang. The violence became increasingly violent.

Julia ran downstairs and swung her sword.

“You guys! What kind of bullying are you doing here at my house!”

Before I knew it, the place where I wondered, “Can people live in a place like this?” had become “our home.”

Anyway, it’s easy.

Lloyd chuckled and followed Julia.

A huge mass visible beyond Julia’s white hair.

Two men stood at the door, armed with a huge piece of heavy equipment.

Those people who are standing there ready to destroy the house at any moment.

Lloyd was still amazed at how dignified Julia was.

So she is the princess of an empire?

Lloyd slowly approached her from behind.

If this continues, I feel like something bad will happen.

“Ha. What does this woman believe in to be so confident? Well, why is she doing this without our permission?”

“What are you guys?”

“At this point, I’m starting to get a little bit annoyed. You’re trying to do business here without even knowing our gang’s name? This won’t do. Let’s catch this bitch and make an example of her.”

The men growled and threatened.

However, since there was no action, Lloyd watched quietly.

Julia’s hands begin to shake.

“What an insolent person. Do you know who I am… … .”

If this continues, it will explode.

If it explodes here, the ending will definitely not be good.

It’s not that Julia is bad.

‘Of course it won’t be good for those punks.’

But for now, Lloyd was on the side of those punks.

That’s because those types of thugs are precious.

If you follow those weeds up.

‘The real power in this city is revealed.’

Or something similar to that.

It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

If you want to swallow an empire, you have to swallow its capital.

To swallow a capital, you must swallow its gate.

East Tan.

The gateway to the Britannian Empire.

The key to open that gate was given to me.