“……?”

Huh, I stopped in my tracks, dumbfounded.

“……Well. I suppose it’s unlikely he only had Ernestine as a sponsor.”

“There were quite a few other sponsors. He would also use their talents for free when needed.”

“Don’t tell me that… for the original blueprint, he didn’t invest any labor costs at all?”

“It seems he thought that was normal.”

“Good heavens.”

I must have frowned without realizing it. Lord Joseph pressed his index finger firmly between my eyebrows.

My head was spinning from the shocking reality.

Most lamentable of all was that the improved version of the Daiern Imperial Capital mansion blueprint handed over by the architect was astoundingly excellent.

“……”

“Perhaps it’s not to your liking?”

“No, quite the opposite. I was in the midst of admiring it, as it exceeds expectations.”

“I’m glad. The original blueprint was easy to understand, so it wasn’t difficult for me to work on it.”

The architect let out a sigh of relief, with dark circles almost reaching his cheeks.

I was able to hear a more detailed explanation of the blueprint on the spot.

The completed blueprint was, as I had requested, or rather, complementing my request, a more refined work.

It was truly a satisfying and promising blueprint. I paid an additional amount on top of the promised fee.

Next was the task of recruiting a builder.

Let’s skip over the obvious condition of needing solid and meticulous skills.

What I wanted was someone who would build the mansion honestly.

This was partly because material theft during construction happens more often than one might think, but more importantly, because I wouldn’t be able to stay in the Imperial Capital until completion.

‘Well, I’ll visit from time to time.’

So at the very least, I needed to use a trustworthy construction supervisor, right?

But that issue too could be resolved without much difficulty.

This was also due to the power of information possessed by Lord Joseph, a returnee.

“There are contractors who were originally going to be entrusted with the construction of Hotel Chronos.”

Once again, he introduced some decent contractors.

I could quickly understand why they weren’t entrusted with it.

It was because their company was too small to handle the construction of Hotel Chronos.

According to Lord Joseph, although small in scale, their skills were guaranteed. So they were planning to entrust them with the interior decoration after the hotel’s completion.

‘Well, Hotel Chronos will probably still be building its outer walls for quite some time even after the Daiern Imperial Capital mansion is completed.’

After all, that’s a major construction project several times the size of a regular mansion.

I gratefully accepted the recommendation and, after checking the site with those contractors, signed a contract.

The burnt materials were to be cleared starting from the very next day.

“Now the problem is… procuring materials before starting the foundation work.”

However, even Lord Joseph found it difficult to help with that part.

Overlapping with the construction of Hotel Chronos, Lord Joseph was also mobilizing his maximum capabilities to procure materials.

But I didn’t find that statement particularly concerning. Rather, it was the easiest of all the processes so far.

“What are you saying, Lord Joseph? That part isn’t a problem for me at all.”

“Ah.”

Only then did a look of admiration cross Lord Joseph’s face. I smiled, lifting the corners of my mouth as I boarded the carriage.

I had learned about the commercial world from a young age.

Although the Enbar trading company had been taken over by Baron Landgritz, that doesn’t mean I had been idle for the past 10 years.

The saying “old habits die hard” exists for a reason, doesn’t it?

“I own a trading company. I had already sent a letter when I decided to rebuild the Daiern Imperial Capital mansion.”

This level of preparation was only natural since time needed to be shortened. After all, it takes time to prepare materials.

Thus, the Daiern Imperial Capital mansion, which had stood for over a thousand years, buried all traces of having been burned down in just a fortnight into history.

The new materials arrived five days after that.

After inspecting all the materials, I was able to go down to the Daiern duchy much faster than planned.

It was around that time that good news arrived.

“Duchess, a letter has arrived from the Daiern duchy.”

“Oh my…!”

I received the letter from the butler of the Alperon mansion. Even Loretta, who had been organizing luggage, lifted her head and her eyes sparkled.

Since it came from the duchy, it must surely be from the children.

As I quickly tried to open the top of the envelope with a paper knife…

“Hmm?”

The envelope was unusually thick.

Even if each child had written one page each, it’s quite a lot of content. I felt a bit uneasy and…

“……”

When I opened the letter and checked the contents.

I realized that my ominous premonition had been spot on.

“Is Lord Joseph in his room?”

After reading the letter with trembling hands, I immediately left the room. It seemed we needed to depart by carriage earlier.

The story goes back two weeks from then.

On the fifth day after the carriage carrying the Daiern children and Prince Raphael left the Imperial Capital.

The carriage, which had long since left the Emperor’s direct jurisdiction, stopped late at night in a small town.

This area, too big to be called a village and too small to be called a city, belonged to a count’s territory and was managed by an appointee of the count, not the count himself.

“Did we pass through a place like this when we were going to the Imperial Capital?”

Euphemina muttered to herself as she peeked out the window.

Kardiel, who was turning the pages of a book, answered.

“No. We deviated from the route two days ago.”

“I see. But why did we come here again?”

“……”

Because Prince Raphael insisted on stopping by this place.

Seeing her ask again despite being present at the route discussion, it was clear she hadn’t been paying attention.

Kardiel, however, turned another page of his book instead of reprimanding her.

“Must be a sense of adventure.”

“Ah, right. He said he was going to buy something, didn’t he?”

She smiled broadly as if just remembering, and looked out the window again. They had just arrived at their intended hotel.

Surprisingly, this small town had quite a decent hotel.

Moreover, it seemed that many people in rather nice attire were staying there.

Quite a number of staff were also busily moving around the exterior of the hotel.

“But Chelsea and His Highness seem to be very close.”

Only Kardiel and Euphemina were riding in the Daiern carriage.

Chersion and Prince Raphael had been traveling in the same carriage for several days.

“From here on, you shouldn’t call him ‘His Highness’, Euphemina.”

“I think I heard something like that.”

For reference, the carriages the group was riding in now bore neither the Daiern crest nor the imperial crest.

They had all been removed before arriving in this town. This was also at the suggestion of Prince Raphael.

“Anyway. Is Chelsea a traitor?”

“…Rather than that, I think they became close quickly because their personalities are similar. They both talk a lot.”

We are quiet people.

Euphemina’s head tilted slightly at Kardiel’s additional comment.

She looked like she didn’t quite understand what he meant.

As her brother, Kardiel decided to show her kindness.

“Above all, it’s in both of their basic natures to consider the other person’s position.”

“I know how to be considerate and I like talking too, you know?”

“Considerate… You do know what that means, right? That you can think from the other person’s perspective?”

“What are you talking about? How can I think from their perspective if I haven’t been in their position?”

“Then Euphemina, what does being considerate mean to you?”

“Not breaking things. Like how I don’t kill Chelsea’s goldfish anymore.”

Ah, right. It seems I shouldn’t have tried to have a serious conversation with Euphemina after all. Kardiel learned his lesson once again.

“…You certainly are being considerate.”

“See?”

“Chersion is probably just keeping Prince Raphael company so he won’t be bored riding alone in the carriage.”

“Ah, I see.”

Finally, Euphemina nodded in understanding.

In the meantime, the carriage slowed down and came to a stop. Kardiel escorted Euphemina out in front of the hotel.

“Kar hyung, Yuphi noonaa!”

Chersion, who had already arrived in the hotel lobby, waved his hand in the air upon seeing the two.

Prince Raphael was holding Chersion in his arms.

“Here, here!”

Looking at it this way, the size difference was quite apparent and a bit amusing. Like a hamster being held by a grizzly bear, one might say.

Especially seeing him shouting so uncouthly with such an urgent expression, unable to contain himself, made it even more so.

Kardiel let out a sigh. He had found something else to nag about.

“Chersion. I told you not to move your body so much……”

“Young lord… no, Lord Kardiel, and Lady Euphemina.”

“……”

For a moment, Kardiel was about to point out to Prince Raphael the ‘rudeness of interrupting someone else’s speech’.

“It’s as per the information I obtained in advance. I just confirmed it with a hotel staff member.”

Surprisingly, he had a slightly different expression than usual.