Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 471: The Border Town of the Raven Kingdom
We were riding in a special carriage designed for long-distance travel.
In recent years, the quality of horses has improved drastically due to horse racing, leading to a steady increase in strong, long-distance-suitable horses. Naturally, this carriage is pulled by such robust horses, and the vehicle itself is built to be sturdy and minimize shaking. Even so, the vibrations are still tough to endure.
“Julius-chan, is your bottom okay?”
“I’m fine. No problem.”
Just a while ago, Daniela, my sister-in-law, tried to put me on her lap, and I turned her down. I’ve grown bigger, and honestly, I’m not at an age where it’s appropriate to be sitting on someone’s lap anymore. To be frank, I turned her down with a heavy heart. Maybe it was a waste after all?
“It would be nice if we had a carriage that shakes less.”
“Do you have something in mind?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking of something like this.”
With that, I talked about a structure using metal leaf springs. I also mentioned coil springs. Until now, it had been common to use soft cushions made of wool or cotton. If my idea works, it could offer a new option.
“That’s interesting. Once we return to the Heine Frontier Territory, let’s give it a try right away.”
“It’s just a thought for now, so I don’t know how practical it’ll really be.”
“If it’s Julius-chan’s idea, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Oh, maybe I shouldn’t call you ‘-chan’ anymore.”
“Yeah. Even in the Raven Kingdom, being called that would be a bit embarrassing.”
When I looked down, laughter rose around me. My brother and I were doing our best to keep my sister-in-law from falling into gloom. Over the past two days, she had slowly begun to return to normal, but occasionally, her expression would cloud over like a stormy sky.
The carriage journey proceeded smoothly without any attacks from bandits or monsters. That was to be expected. At every town we stopped in, we would travel alongside merchants heading for the Raven Kingdom.
Traveling with merchants did carry some risk of bandit attacks, but the larger numbers also meant better odds of responding to danger—and it was easier to choose to flee if necessary.
Thanks to that, the journey was smooth, but it did take a fair amount of time. I was sure Sister-in-law Daniela’s anxiety was steadily growing. Still, safety was the top priority.
A few days later, the Raven Kingdom finally came into view.
“We can see the border of the Raven Kingdom now.”
“Is that it? I’m kind of excited to see what kind of country it is.”
“That’s right—this is your first time leaving the Spencer Kingdom, isn’t it? I’ve been here a few times before, but it’s not much different from Spencer. Oh, but the Raven Kingdom has a sea and a large port.”
“The sea, huh. I imagine it stretches out forever.”
Of course, I knew what the sea was. So I played along with Alex-niisan’s comment. The Spencer Kingdom is landlocked, so we have no connection to the sea or big ports. If we had access to the ocean, we probably would’ve engaged in active trade.
When Alex-niisan showed something to the border guards, their attitude visibly changed. It seemed they knew who we were. I stayed inside the carriage, so I couldn’t hear what was said, but Alex-niisan, Sister-in-law Daniela, and Lionel had a long talk outside.
“Did something happen?”
I asked Sister-in-law Daniela, who hurried back into the carriage. Right behind her were Alex-niisan and Lionel. Once the three of them got in, the door shut immediately. Their expressions looked tense. Did we not make it in time?
“It seems Sophia-sama is already very close. And of course, she’s brought wounded soldiers with her.”
“That’s reckless! What does she intend to do if something happens?”
“Please don’t blame Sophia-sama. It seems after reading the letter I sent, she just couldn’t sit still. It’s partly my fault, too.”
“Daniela…”
Saying that, Alex-niisan placed his hand on Sister-in-law Daniela’s shoulder. Not sure where to look, I turned to Lionel. He also looked troubled but quickly gave orders to move the carriage. We were probably heading toward where Sophia-sama was.
The place we arrived at was a large house in the border town. To those who knew what to look for, it would’ve been obvious that the place was under tight security.
Despite that, our carriage was led by the gatekeeper into the garden. In the yard, several people dressed in luxurious clothing were already waiting.
“Daniela-sama!”
“Sophia-sama, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Not at all.”
They must be truly close. The two of them embraced on the spot. A hug between two beautiful girls—it really makes for a picturesque scene. While thinking something mildly inappropriate, I quickly judged what I had to do.
“Daniela-sama, would it be okay if I went ahead on my own?”
“That’s right. We have something important to do, don’t we?”
Sister-in-law Daniela turned to face Sophia-sama. Her pale face now had a bright, hopeful look to it.
“This is my fiancé, Alex Heine. And next to him is my younger brother-in-law, Julius. Lady Sophia, Julius has brought a full recovery potion. Could we meet the knight under your care?”
“Of course.”
Sophia-sama gave a firm nod in response to Sister-in-law Daniela’s question.