Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 167: The Busy Aftermath
The dispute within House Van Dyne finally came to an end.
Rumors spread rapidly through the Royal Capital. Some nobles considered exploiting the weakened house, but those ambitions disappeared as soon as the royal family publicly announced that the Queen had become Aeris’s guardian. The Queen was deeply favored by the King and enjoyed enormous influence. Few people were willing to make an enemy of her.
The Marchioness of Van Dyne was imprisoned in a tower and began giving testimony about her past crimes. One cold morning, however, she was found dead in her cell.
She had been poisoned.
The authorities believed someone had silenced her to prevent further testimony about the Assassins’ Guild.
The newborn child was taken in by a countess from the Marchioness’s birth family.
With the immediate danger removed, Aeris could safely return to House Van Dyne.
The nobles who had openly proposed engagements also fell silent. No marriage involving Aeris could proceed without the Queen’s approval, and the men who had previously made marriage a condition for their support now behaved as though they had never suggested it.
No one dared tell the royal family that they wanted a son to take control of House Van Dyne through Aeris. The royal family might eventually arrange a suitable marriage, but because House Van Dyne was a leading family of the neutral faction, any match would have to preserve the kingdom’s political balance.
Tauro was sincerely relieved that Aeris had regained a place where she belonged.
They hadn’t known each other for very long, but she had become an important friend. Looking back, her insistence on treating Tauro as the youngest member of the team may have been a desperate attempt to create a role for herself and prove that she had value.
For a time, Black-Gold Wings had given her that place. Tauro hoped it still would.
There was one more thing he wanted to do for her. He wanted to accompany Aeris to Babylon and offer flowers at the chamber where her father had disappeared. It might provide only symbolic comfort, but it could help her find some closure.
Babylon was under strict control, and approaching the restricted area would normally be impossible. Fortunately, Sharga was leading the dungeon investigation and had previously offered to help them enter.
Tauro also wanted to thank him for introducing Count Connoen.
Perhaps a special Reversi set would be appropriate. The handcrafted sets attributed to Giro Sugar had become rare collector’s items and commanded extraordinary prices at auction. Sharga would probably appreciate one.
Tauro contacted the Garfish Company and asked Mardai to arrange a meeting.
Aeris was occupied for several days with formal audiences involving the royal family. Tauro, a commoner from a farming village, couldn’t accompany her to official royal meetings. His informal friendship with Prince Fleue was an exceptional arrangement, not permission to appear at court whenever he wished.
Aeris was unhappy about being separated from him, but Tauro used the time to pursue permission for the dungeon visit and attend to his business in the capital.
“I’ll contact Sharga immediately and ask him to make time,” Mardai said when Tauro visited the Garfish Company. “I also wanted to report on the products made from the water-repellent cloth. We produced prototype tents, raincoats, and carriage covers, then presented them to interested organizations. The response was excellent, and we’ve already received large orders.”
“How large? Not merely one or two hundred, I assume.”
“The first order is for one thousand raincoats from the Royal Guard. Other knightly orders are requesting tents and rain gear as well.”
“One thousand? And there are more orders after that?”
“The cloth is lighter and cheaper than monster hide, repels water, and dries quickly. Government organizations also pay reliably. They’re ideal customers.”
“Can the workshops produce that much?”
“We’re already expanding the facilities and recruiting additional craftspeople. Mass production should begin next week.”
Mardai had once again prepared for success before anyone else was certain it would come.
“The magic lantern will go on sale the week after next,” he continued. “As you suggested, we’ll display working lanterns at the storefront to attract passersby. We’ve also purchased a large supply of low-grade and discarded magic stones from the Adventurers’ Guild.”
A clerk with a talent for speaking would demonstrate the lantern and explain its advantages to anyone who stopped.
The method reminded Tauro of live product demonstrations and television shopping from his previous life. Peddlers in this world demonstrated goods in the street, but established shops rarely used the same technique at their entrances.
If the display attracted attention, people would talk about the lantern before it even became widely available. That was exactly what Tauro hoped would happen.