Chapter 99.1 – Courting the Duchy’s Princess

I came in front of Princess Caroline’s room with the vigor Lyle-sensei gave me.

「Hero-sama, are you here to see the princess?」

「Yes. It would be great if you could report my arrival to her.」

The old knight from the duchy, who was guarding the door, responded.

After the young knight was slain during the Brynie kidnapping incident, the Duchy of Transylvania has increased the number of knights. There are now 5 knights guarding her.

That made me feel terrible but it can’t be helped since it was our fault that she was put in danger.

It is even rather touching since they never said a single word of condemnation.

By the way, during the war with Germania Empire, we had her evacuated to the City of Est in order to avoid the risk of her getting involved in the war.

Since the princess was a guest of honor, that was a natural arrangement.

However, Brynie, who was targeting the princess, is dead so there’s no longer any need to keep her under my protection. However, I can still see her every time I return home.

It must be true that Duke Varlam wants to marry off the princess to me.

When I entered her room, I found Princess Caroline sitting on a chair by the window, wearing a blue dress decorated with lace flowers, and wearing glasses which is rare in this world.

She was writing something on her desk. Though smaller compared to Silesie, she is a princess of a country. Even if she’s in a neighboring country, she probably has official duties.

「It is unusual for hero-sama to visit my room desu ne.」

「Sorry for suddenly intruding.」

The girl with long, neatly combed flaxen hair says, “No, not at all.”, stops writing, and stands up. She then offers me to sit on a chair before making me a cup of tea with her own hands.

This kind of chore is not something a princess would normally do but Caroline seems to be rather enjoying her current environment where she can do everything by herself.

「Here’s some tea leaves sent from my country desu. Or does hero-sama prefer coffee?」

「No, I like tea too. It has a nice aroma of strawberries.」

「You see, this tea is a blend of strawberry leaf, a specialty of Transylvania. It’s good for your health too. I hope it suits your taste.」

Caroline smiles happily when she talks about her homeland. This girl is quite the patriot. She probably feels that way because she is a duchess from a small country.

That is also why she said she would prefer a man from her own country to be her husband since they would be ruling their country. It was a bit awkward for me, a stranger, to propose marriage to a girl like that.

I listened to her story of Transylvania over tea for a while.

Transylvania is a lowland country and not a very rich land but it has ports and rivers suitable for trade.

The country grows flowers like roses, carnations, lilies, tulips, and gerberas, which are used to make jams and perfumes as well as this strawberry leaf tea.

Their dairy farm is also thriving and Transylvania’s cheese is internationally famous.

In recent years, Transylvania has also been focusing on the glass industry. The lenses for the glasses that Caroline wears are made in Transylvania. It can be said that the polishing technology of Transylvania is the best in the world.

The Duchy of Transylvania is lined with windmills and all kinds of flowers.

I only went there for a short time and came back but Caroline’s story makes me want to visit there.

「Please visit our duchy again. I’m sure my father will be pleased.」

「I will.」

If we were to get married, I have to greet the duke too.

No, it hasn’t been decided yet.

「By the way, what can I do for you today?」

「It’s kind of hard for me to say.」

「Well….if you are here to propose marriage, I would respectfully accept it.」

「Eh?」

No, why are you expecting it?

Could she have been informed by sensei in advance?

「No, when you got engaged to her majesty Queen Silhouette, I thought maybe I should too. I’ve been waiting for you since then.」

「Is that so?.....no, wait, didn’t Princess Caroline tell me before that you wanted to get married to a citizen of your duchy?」

「I was wondering if I should do that when I think about my country but, when I saw her majesty Queen Silhouette stand up, I changed my mind.」

「I see.」

Caroline says in a clear voice and her brown eyes are shining with strong will.

「If hero-sama wants to marry me, I would like to maintain the independence of the Duchy of Transylvania as a condition. And I would like to eventually inherit the duchy from my father.」

「Oh, so plan on being Duchess Caroline?」

Caroline nodded.