Kays Translations

Chapter 224: The Lord and Lady Head to the Royal Capital

While the underground chamber construction continued, preparations were also underway for the lord and lady to depart for the royal capital.

They were traveling to present two significant offerings to the royal family: the newly developed magical giant, the Scribe Golem Writer, and the first-generation magical giant golem that Isamu had captured.

Previously, when presenting the magical stove, the chief domestic officer, Sven, and Silvio of the Zambrotta Trading Company had been the ones to handle the delivery.

At that time, the viscount family was merely known as a “junk magic stone dealer,” and thus, no royal audience was granted—the offering was made under the guise of a merchant transaction.

However, this time was different.

The Scribe Golem Writer had the potential to reshape common knowledge in Ethersia, and the magic giant golem represented a military force on an entirely different scale. Given the gravity of these offerings, a royal audience was expected immediately, prompting the lord and lady to attend in person.

“I’m glad we made the carrier-type model.” 

Isamu muttered as he watched the first-generation golem being loaded onto a second-generation magical giant golem-powered carrier vehicle.

“No kidding. Transporting this by horse-drawn carriage would have been a nightmare.” 

“Having people accustomed to piloting the second-generation golems is also a huge help. Hehe… I never imagined my son would end up piloting a magic giant golem.” 

The lady added with a smile.

The lord and lady, watching the loading process, nodded in agreement.

When she noticed their son, Julius, helping with the loading, Nicolette’s expression softened.

Since they were offering not only one fully functional golem but also two inoperative ones, loading them onto the carrier-type magical vehicles was essential.

Originally, these carrier vehicles had been designed to transport the second-generation golems, so the cargo bed had been slightly enlarged. Additionally, by incorporating the same weight-reduction magic circles used in the magic scooter, the vehicle maintained its previous speed despite the modifications.

The convoy included three improved carrier-type magic vehicles, two standard magic vehicles, two cargo-type vehicles, and five newly built magic scooters.

“I never imagined we’d be able to travel to the royal capital with such an insane convoy. A year ago, this would have been unthinkable.” 

Selfers sighed in amazement.

For the first time, their entire fleet consisted solely of magic vehicles.

“We reinforced the exterior as well, so it’s not just fast—it’s safer, too.” 

Isamu reassured him with a smile.

The lord and lady’s personal vehicle was a standard magic vehicle, but it had been further reinforced with earth-attribute magic circles, making it arguably the safest vehicle in Ethersia at that moment.

Once the underground chamber was completed and the communication capabilities of the Scribe Golem Writer were confirmed to be functional, the lord and lady set out for the royal capital.

On the afternoon of the third day after departing Klaufendam, the Klaufeldt couple and their entourage safely arrived in the royal capital.

The journey would have taken five days by carriage, meaning their travel time had been cut nearly in half.

“This was my first long-distance trip in one of these, and I must say, the speed is astonishing…”

Nicolette was once again impressed by the magic vehicle’s pace.

She had traveled locally before but had never undertaken a full-fledged long-distance journey in one.

The high cruising speed and the ability to travel without breaks made a significant difference, and the benefits became even more apparent over longer distances.

As they entered the capital, they passed by their usual lodging, the Silver Dragon Scales Inn, and proceeded toward the noble district, where aristocratic mansions lined the streets.

Their vehicle came to a stop in front of a building with a modest yet well-built gate and an outer wall approximately three meters high.

A gatekeeper hurriedly approached.

“Welcome back, Lord Selfers!”

“Ah, I’m back. We’ll be staying here for a few days.”

“Understood! Please proceed inside!”

After the formalities were exchanged, the gates opened, and they entered.

The distance from the gate to the entrance was not particularly long, but a well-trodden path led the way. Unlike typical noble estates, the surroundings were sparse, with little landscaping—giving the area a somewhat empty appearance.

However, to modern eyes, the open space was unmistakably intended as a parking lot for magical vehicles.

“Welcome back.” 

The butler greeted them as they stepped out of their vehicle and entered the residence.

“Phew… I’m so glad the townhouse was ready in time. There’s no way we could have parked all those magic vehicles at the Silver Dragon Scales Inn.” 

Selfers chuckled as he glanced out the window at the neatly parked vehicles.

“Indeed. We’ll have to properly thank Lord Innocenti for this.” 

Nicolette replied, exhaling lightly as she removed her travel gear.

This residence was the Klaufeldt family’s townhouse in the royal capital.

After the Avalushi incident led to their initial summons to the capital, they foresaw the need for a permanent base and had arranged for this property—which had only recently been completed.

Originally, the building had been an empty house owned by Margrave Innocenti, who had purchased it when the previous owner vacated.

By securing the adjacent property, he improved security and also planned to use it as a personal retreat once he passed his title to his children.

He had generously agreed to sell it to the Klaufeldts.

Moreover, he had even sacrificed a portion of his own land to create space for parking magic vehicles and arranged for trusted contractors to handle the renovation.

The building itself had only been lightly repaired where needed, but the construction was completed in record time thanks to the Innocenti family’s support.

That night, as both a gesture of gratitude and a formal introduction as new neighbors, the Klaufeldts hosted a dinner party, inviting Tsail, the eldest son of the Innocenti family, and his household, who resided in the royal capital.

The following morning, Nicolette, accompanied by her knight escorts, headed to the commercial district.

This area, adjacent to the noble district, was more like an extension of it rather than a typical marketplace, lined with large, high-end stores.

Stopping in front of an especially grand and distinctively designed building, she approached the gate adorned with a beautiful statue towering above.

“What is your business at the Clarine Theater?”

“Good day. I am Nicolette Claufelt, wife of the head of the Viscount Klaufeldt family. Could you connect me to Manager Clarisse Bontella? I have an appointment with her. Here is the letter confirming it.”

As she explained, Nicolette handed a letter to the gatekeeper, who wore a cleaner-looking set of light armor than the guards patrolling the royal capital.

“My apologies! Lady Nicolette Klaufeldt, I have been informed by Lady Clarisse! Please, allow me to guide you this way!”

“Oh, good. I appreciate it.”

“Understood!”

It seemed the gatekeeper had already received prior notice, so Nicolette was quickly allowed inside.

The Clarine Theater—a theater built in the royal capital a few years ago.

There had always been small theaters in the capital, but they were mainly entertainment venues for commoners with some financial flexibility. Nobles, on the other hand, typically invited a troupe to their homes for private performances of plays or operas.

However, the Clarine Theater was designed to be of a level suitable for noble audiences, transforming it into a social hub.

It featured both general seating, which commoners could afford with some effort, and high-priced private boxes. As a result, it quickly became a popular establishment in the capital.

For theater troupes, the steady audience flow provided financial stability, allowing them to focus more on their craft. For nobles, it eliminated the hassle of organizing private performances.

This led to a rise in theater performances, increasing opportunities for nobles to discover and support talented troupes.

Commoners also benefited, gaining access to higher-quality productions, and more people began aspiring to become actors.

Just as its founder, Clarisse Bontella, had planned, the royal capital was experiencing a secret theater boom.

Walking down the theater’s polished corridors, Nicolette and her company stopped before a large door, guarded by security.

“Lady Clarisse, Lady Nicolette Klaufeldt has arrived.”

“Understood. Let her in.”

A woman’s voice answered from beyond the door.

“Please, come in.”

“Thank you.”

Nicolette gave a slight nod to the guard before stepping inside. She was greeted by a beautiful woman with long, dark green hair reaching her waist.

“Welcome, Lady Nicolette Klaufeldt.”

“Good day, Lady Clarisse Bontella.”

“You may leave us now. Thank you.”

After exchanging noble greetings, Clarisse dismissed the guards, and the door closed once again.

“It’s been a while, Nico!!”

“Ufufu, it really has, Clarisse!”

The moment the door shut, Clarisse rushed over to Nicolette and embraced her tightly.

Nicolette accepted the hug without hesitation.

The two had been classmates at the magic academy.

In fact, their connection went even further back—they were practically childhood friends.

Clarisse, the second daughter of the powerful Marquis Skiracci family in the South, and Nicolette, the second daughter of the Viscount Baresi family, which was a vassal of the Skiracci house, had often met at family gatherings.

Both were second daughters, and the relatively relaxed hierarchy of the South allowed them to develop a close friendship. Even after graduating and marrying, they occasionally kept in touch.

“During the Annual Festival, I was in my domain’s capital, and after that, I was caught up in the whole Magic Giant Golem incident…”

“Yes… Ever since the ‘Wanderer’ incident, things have been quite eventful for your family.”

“Indeed. But thanks to that, Anne found a wonderful husband, so it wasn’t all bad.”

“Oh, right! Lord Matsumoto, wasn’t it? I can’t believe that shy little Anne managed to land such a great husband! How did she do it??”

“Well, actually, Isamu—ah, that’s his name—he was the one who proposed! And he did it right in front of us!”

“Kyaaah! What!? That’s so romantic! I’m so jealous of Anne!”

“Right? So, then—”

The two friends continued their lively conversation for another thirty minutes.

“—Alright, back to business.”

After chatting to their heart’s content, Clarisse steered the conversation toward their main topic.

“This is the script. It follows the storyline you provided, with some adjustments to enhance the drama.”

She handed a bound script to Nicolette. The cover read:

“The Ancient Giant and the Hero Who Commanded the Golden Beast.”

“Thank you. I’ll take a look.”

Nicolette briefly widened her eyes at the title but quickly began reading through the script.

“This is fantastic! As expected of you, Clarisse!”

Fifteen minutes later, Nicolette finished reading and gave her friend a bright smile.

“Thank you. The original story was already like a legend, so it was easy to make an engaging script.”

Clarisse shrugged with a playful grin.

Clarisse was not only the owner of the Clarine Theater but also a renowned playwright.

Even in her student days, she had been passionate about theater. She frequently gathered friends, wrote and directed plays, and even organized performances in the academy’s auditorium.

After graduating and returning to her family estate, she distanced herself from the stage.

However, marriage changed everything.

Clarisse’s husband, Noebia Bontella, was the eldest son of the Bontella Count family.

The Bontella family belonged to the Gown Aristocracy, a class of nobles who served as bureaucrats in the royal court rather than ruling over land.

Their marriages followed a unique custom—they always married into neutral noble houses that didn’t belong to any faction. This was particularly strict for firstborn heirs.

This ensured that bureaucratic positions remained independent of political alliances, preventing power from becoming monopolized by specific families.

While the children of gown aristocrats did not inherit their parents’ exact positions, they typically pursued careers in government, reinforcing the importance of faction-free marriages.

Clarisse’s family, the Skiracci House, was a powerful but politically neutral Southern noble house.

Thus, her marriage to Noebia was a natural and expected match.

At first, Noebia was just another low-ranking bureaucrat.

However, over time, his natural diligence earned him recognition, and by the time he inherited the Bontella name, he had risen to a high-ranking official.

He was assigned to the Ministry of Public Welfare, overseeing housing, education, culture, and other essential aspects of daily life—everything except food and fuel.

As she supported her husband in the cultural sector, Clarisse’s old passion for theater was reignited.

Using her family’s wealth, personal connections, and at times even her husband’s authority, Clarisse devoted herself to the development of theater and its infrastructure. Eventually, she succeeded in completing a grand theater.

Even after its completion, she continued to pour her energy into writing scripts, directing, and even performing herself. As a result, the Clarine Theater became a cultural landmark of the royal capital.

Officially, the initiative was credited to her husband, Noebia. Thanks to this recognition, he was promoted to Vice Minister last year.

“All that’s left is deciding when to start the performances. How’s the rehearsal going?”

“We haven’t started full rehearsals yet since we were waiting for the final confirmation of the script, but the actors have been practicing on their own. We just need to do run-throughs, so we should be ready in about ten days.”

“I see… I can’t go into detail, but thanks to a magic artifact my husband is offering to the royal family, the current situation of the war in Plazzo will soon be made public.”

Lowering her voice, Nicolette continued.

“My husband thinks it will still take some time before the war ends, so how about we wait a little after the war report is released before starting the performances?”

“Understood. Since the story is closely tied to real events, it’ll definitely create a buzz. Heh, I can’t wait!”

“I’m counting on you. Your husband might hear some things at the royal palace, though…”

“It’ll be fine. Thanks to the picture stories that have been spreading throughout the kingdom, people in the palace are starting to question Duke Yadelud and his faction. That was your doing, wasn’t it?”

“Hehe, that’s a secret.”

“Honestly, you haven’t changed at all. Well, in any case, we’ll start full rehearsals today. Be sure to come watch once the performance begins!”

“Of course.”

With a smile and a handshake, Nicolette took her leave of the theater.

When she returned to her townhouse, she was met with a surprised expression from Selfers.

“Ah, Nico, welcome back. The date for the royal audience has been set.”

“Oh? That was quick.”

“Yeah, the response came surprisingly fast… The audience is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.”

“…What?”

Nicolette widened her eyes in shock.

Thus, an audience with the king was arranged at an unprecedented speed.

(I’m going to have to ask Clarisse to hurry things up… Sorry in advance…)

With that thought, Nicolette mentally apologized to Clarisse.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter