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Chapter 14
The day after the Coming-of-Age Ceremony ended without incident.
At the Dripps family’s secondary residence in the royal capital, I spent my day inside the “box” placed in my private room.
The inside of the “box” remains the same as always, so whether I am in the secondary residence or the main house, there isn’t much difference from my perspective.
I had come to the secondary residence to attend the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Once that was over, all that remained was to return home.
Still, even returning requires preparation. Until that is done, I plan to remain quietly here.
Well, simply staying quiet would be boring, so I decided to observe the secondary residence and even the royal capital from here.
By infusing the Mikikibako (Observation Box) with magic, it can fly through the air, but generally it is used when set in place. There are several sizes available, and the smallest is small enough to hold in your hand and hide.
In that sense, it is convenient in many ways, but if you want to use it without flying, someone must carry it or set it up somewhere, which can be inconvenient.
However, once placed, you can always see and hear whatever the Observation Box is capturing, making it very useful. Flying it requires moving it to the desired location, either by giving instructions or controlling it yourself. So pre-placing it is more convenient for continuous observation.
By the way, I had asked Kachina to set up Observation Boxes in various locations in both the main and secondary residences, and even throughout the streets of the royal and provincial capitals.
For now, though, let’s observe the secondary residence.
Thinking about Prince Siphon’s behavior yesterday, it seems likely something might happen from his side today—well… we shall see.
For now, let’s check on Steward Montoya. I brought one of the Observation Boxes in front of me and began watching the scene in the office that was displayed.
My father, the Chancellor, spends most of his time in the royal capital, so the lordly duties are entrusted to Montoya Sinan Heinzel, the steward. He has served our family for generations, and he is highly trustworthy—not just to my parents but to me as well.
Montoya is granted a certain degree of discretion by my father, and instructions are sent via letters, so he rarely faces situations where he cannot decide. Occasionally, he consults me through Kachina, but the matters are usually within the range I can handle, so it works out.
Montoya also comes to the royal capital when necessary. This time, as my father summoned him, he accompanied me to attend the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Since he is returning with me, he is now performing whatever work he can in the secondary residence in the capital.
Montoya is an elderly gentleman whose once dark gray hair and mustache have been greatly mixed with white, showing his age. Yet his posture remains straight, and in his neatly fitted butler’s attire, he shows no sign of decline.
With his left middle finger, wearing a white glove, he pushed up the bridge of his glasses while reviewing documents. After confirming there were no issues, he stamped the documents with the seal entrusted to him by my father.
He repeated this process while murmuring to himself:
“Hmm. Last year’s crops were somewhat poor, but this year seems fine.”
Even last year’s poor harvest was predicted by me through the Observation Box, allowing my father and Montoya to respond effectively.
This year, there were no such complications, so things seem relatively calm. If the year continues peacefully, it may be easier on Montoya as well.
Just as I was beginning to tire of watching Montoya work, hurried footsteps approached the office. Without a doubt, the office is their destination.
Montoya seemed aware of this and exhaled as if to prepare himself before the door opened.
Immediately after, the office door swung open with force.
“Mo-Montoya…san!!”
It was a young maid working at the royal capital residence. She is talented and promising, but when flustered, she sometimes skips proper etiquette, which can be a flaw.
Her name is, if I recall correctly—Ranika.
Perhaps due to running hurriedly, her normally neatly styled dark blue hair was disheveled.
“Knocking is basic etiquette when entering a room, isn’t it?”
Montoya spoke as if to mildly scold her, though it seemed the matter at hand was far more important. He appeared to brace himself.
Presumably, Ranika ran all the way from the entrance to this room on the second floor. Despite the short distance and considering it is summer, running while letting so much sweat pour from her face without wiping it off is unusual.
…Well, I can somewhat guess why she is so flustered.
Without catching her breath, panting, she held out a letter to Montoya.
“This…was brought by someone claiming to be a messenger of the royal family…!!”
