episode_0113

Even in the same city of Seoul, just as it takes a long time to get from one end to the other by car or subway, the system was the same.

Of course, the system did not grow to the extent that it could be called a ‘megalopolis’ like the advanced capitals of modern Earth. Both the technology and the level of welfare were the same as in the early 20th century, so although the population increased explosively compared to the Middle Ages, that did not mean that all of humanity achieved an average life expectancy of 70 years.

According to official estimates, the population of the empire is just over 110 million. Considering the countless illegitimate children and orphans who are born and die in the industrial zones, the actual population is probably a little more than that.

The population of the island was just beginning to become dense, just over 7 million. By world standards, it was an overwhelmingly large metropolis, but it was inevitable that it would seem a little lacking by my standards, as someone who knows real megalopolises like Seoul, New York, and Tokyo.

Anyway, even though it is a city with a population of 7 million, it is by no means small. It may be smaller than Seoul, but in fact, even in Korea, excluding Seoul, there is no city with a population that matches the size of the island.

Because of a bill known as the Red Flag Ordinance, steam-powered automobiles were virtually impossible to operate within the system, so the only option was the horse-drawn carriage. So, when thinking of transportation at a speed of just over 10 kilometers per hour, a city of 7 million people must have felt much larger than any modern city.

Fortunately, the distance from the academy to Grace’s estate wasn’t that far.

I had only been there once when I was young, but it was still an impressive place to see again.

In a country where smoke billowing into the sky is widely accepted as a symbol of industrialization and steam spewed out by locomotives at train stations is accepted as a symbol of modernization, there are not many places that proudly maintain green lawns.

I’m not saying it’s tacky or anything. I just thought that if you have that much land, you’d probably use it for something else. Aristocrats wouldn’t build factories in their front yards, but they usually make big gardens instead of just lawns like that.

Besides, for a ‘territory’, there weren’t that many guards around it. Winterfield, Northwood, and Crowfield had a lot of guards around the lord’s castle. People avoided the guards who were armed with guns and swords and glared at each and every one of them as they passed by.

However, the only people guarding this territory are the two people at the entrance to the territory.

The armament of those two people was not much different from that of the police officers roaming around the island. The only difference was that they were carrying swords on their waists.

On the left was a sword, on the right was a pistol. The uniform itself was not much different from what the police officers wore. It was a coat with a large single button, a thin leather belt, and dress pants and shoes that would come to mind if you were thinking of a British police officer in the early 20th century. The color was black, not blue, perhaps to distinguish them from the police officers. However, he did not have the distinctive hat.

In fact, the color of the clothes was enough to scare away people passing by. However, the expressions of the two people standing in front of the door were so comfortable and relaxed that I didn’t pay attention to the weapons. Honestly, if there was no one to ask for directions on the street, I felt like I could ask those two people.

“Welcome, Master. And Miss.”

“Long time no see!”

After completing what was essentially a formality check—they asked her if she was really armed—one of the guards spoke, and Claire waved happily and smiled brightly. The guards also smiled broadly at Claire’s bright smile.

Even looking at him again, he looked more like an old man who would bring his niece or daughter in front of him and laugh heartily rather than swinging a sword.

Considering that Claire said it had been a long time, those guards were probably not simply hired servants, but rather people close to Grace’s vassals. Of course, vassals are hired with money.

“How have you been?”

Leo, who was sitting across from Claire and could see out the window facing the same direction, said the same thing.

“Of course, your highness.”

“How have you been, Master?”

The security guards spoke to Leo in a friendly manner without seeming too nervous in front of him.

“Yes, of course.”

“Is that so?”

The older-looking security guard said that and smiled.

“The Lord was worried that the young master was doing ‘too well’.”

“… … Yes?”

“For example, muscle loss and fat gain… … .”

As the young guard spoke, examining Leo from every corner, Leo screamed in fright.

“No, I trained hard in my own way!?”

“Wouldn’t the Lord himself be the judge?”

The atmosphere is a little different when dealing with Claire.

Maybe it’s because Claire is a woman and Leo is a man. If you think about it from the perspective of gender in this world, it would be considered ungentlemanly for a man to fight or pick a fight with a woman.

Besides, Leo was the next in line. It means that he was the one who would take responsibility for the family as a member of the family until he died of old age.

On the other hand, Claire… … will eventually marry a man from another noble family. Even so, the connection that ‘Grace was a member’ will remain, but in the end, her last name will change to follow her husband’s last name, and she will become a person from a different family, not Grace.

So, even if Claire is a little more free, there won’t be a big problem. As long as she knows how to keep the minimum courtesy of being a noble, that’s enough.

After a while of bickering like that, a bell rang from something that looked like a speaker attached to the front door.

The younger guard walked over and listened to the speaker.

The security guard, who had heard a noise for a moment, returned and looked at us and smiled.

“Baroness Grace and her husband report that it is an honor for the Duchess to visit.”

And the two of them pulled out their swords and saluted each other. The way they held their swords straight up in front of their faces and held one hand behind their back was a pose that could have been drawn on a game package.

“Thank you on behalf of the Royal Family.”

When Alice said this with as much courtesy as she could muster in the carriage, the two men bowed.

“I hope you have a pleasant and fruitful time at Grace Estate.”

*

The word ‘poor’ does not always mean ‘looking poor’.

The estates of nobles were usually decorated extravagantly. Gardens filled with colorful flowers, splendid fountains. Sometimes, there were even mazes built into them.

But as I said before, Grace Estate wasn’t decorated that extravagantly.

However, it is by no means easy to maintain the lawn so neatly. Not a single blade of grass was sticking out, and there were no holes or yellow spots.

The same was true of the buildings that had been constructed. The buildings of the Grace family, which seemed to have been built using the latest construction methods, had almost none of the flashy decorations that the other estates had. In terms of style, they reminded me of 20th century New York rather than European castles.

Because the buildings were built in a restrained manner without being too cluttered, it was inevitable that this place would look more like a ‘facility’ than a ‘territory’. You could say it felt like a university with a long history.

“It is an honor to have you visit, princesses.”

The owner, Baron Edward Grace, was already standing in front of the main entrance of the main building.

I don’t know if the face I saw 10 years ago has changed much. In fact, it was difficult to remember clearly because I only saw it briefly from afar.

Still, some parts of his face resembled Leo’s. Like the blue hair, and the eyes. The reason Claire was able to naturally blend into this family despite not having mixed blood was probably because of this person’s hair color and blue eyes. If you didn’t know the background, you would have thought they were definitely mixed blood.

Maybe they’re distant relatives. Claire’s parents weren’t revealed until the part I played.

As the Baron bowed and showed the courtesy of a nobleman, the Baroness, who was slightly behind him, also slightly bent her waist and knees. This person also had blue hair. However, it was not a bright blue like her husband’s, and depending on the light, it seemed to have a slight emerald tint to it.

“I’m visiting as a friend of Claire and Leo, so there’s no need to be so formal.”

Alice spoke calmly, and I nodded in agreement.

But I didn’t bow my head or waist.

I think that status really complicates human relationships.