Yuri Empire

“My name is Roselotte Eldard, and my sister Lizelia has told me about you. Please allow me to apologize for the invasion of the Kingdom of Eldard into the village where Melfalude-san resides when my grandfather was the lord of the kingdom, as I, like my sister, am of the Eldard blood.

―――I am truly sorry for that incident.”

It was the morning of the fourth day after Melfalude arrived in the Yuri Empire. She visited Roselotte’s room, the『fourth concubine』of Your Majesty Yuri,  who had been given a room in the Yuritania Palace. When she met her for the first time, she was the first to tell me so and bowed her head deeply.

Melfalude was rather dismayed by her sudden apology.

As she had thought yesterday when Lizelia bowed to her, Melfalude couldn't help but feel uncomfortable when someone more important than her bowed to her.

“As I told Lizelia, there is no need to apologize. I'd accept an apology if it was something you initiated, but you weren't old enough to participate in politics at the time, were you?”

“I'm glad you said that. I am Roselotte, the fourth concubine of Your Majesty Yuri. I look forward to working with you.”

“I'm Melfalude. It's nice to meet you, too.”

Melfalude grasped the hand that was offered to her from Roselotte's.

Her hands were a touch smaller than Melfalude’s, but at the same time, they were well-trained hands that showed that she was using some sort of weapon.

Perhaps, like her sister, she also trains in the『Labyrinth』.

“It's a room where I rarely receive guests, so I'm afraid I only have a simple table and chairs… I've at least prepared some tea for you, so please make yourself at home.”

“Thank you.”

Melfalude sat down on a chair in Roselotte's private room, near the small table where tea was served. Immediately, Roselotte sat down on a chair on the other side of the table.

She knew that Melfalude would be visiting, so she had prepared a cup of tea beforehand, and she was glad for her thoughtfulness.

In addition, the tea that Roselotte had made herself from the pot was still as hot as freshly brewed, as if she had accurately predicted the time of her visit to the room.

“My. It's a rather astringent tea, but it's strangely easy to drink.”

“It's called green tea. It's made in Hourai.”

“Hee…”

It has a bit of bitterness, but there is also a hint of sweetness.

The high elves who live in the forest will love this taste.

“I heard that you have visited the cities of Ulysses and Eureka as well as Yuritania. Have you been to Hourai?”

“I've heard of it, but I've never been there. I've heard that it was built by the same unit as Yuritania, Ulysses, and Eureka, so I imagine it must be a magnificent city.”

“Yes. I am proud to say that it is a magnificent city that can live up to your expectations.”

Roselotte smiled cheerfully as she said this.

It was as if she praised herself. When she saw Roselotte's happy smile on her face, Melfalude wondered just a little.

“Actually, my husband has entrusted me with the role of the lord of Hourai.”

“Ah… so that's why you're so happy.”

Apparently, like her older sister Lizelia, Roselotte also calls Your Majesty Yuri『husband』.

“Yes. It's a great honor to be praised for the city I'm in charge of.

―――Well, there's not much I can do for Hourai at the moment, though.”

Roselotte's smile was laced with a hint of self-mockery.

Seeing the faintly sad expression on her face, Melfalude almost said, “No, that's not true,” as if to comfort her. But she swallowed her words quietly, as it seemed wrong for her, who didn't know much about the situation, to comfort her.

“By the way, Melfalude-san, do you have a sweet tooth?”

“You mean sweet food? Yes, of course, I do. We didn't get a chance to eat much of it, though, because what we could find in the High Elf settlements was limited.”

“There are many sweet stores within the city of Hourai. I can show you around if you like, so why don't you make today a day of making your mouth happy?”

“My, that sounds wonderful! I'd love to have you show me around!”

“I'm glad you like it. I'll be sure to give you plenty of recommendations.”

With such a tempting proposal, it would be a shame to stay put.

Immediately, Melfalude and Roselotte left the Yuritania Palace and used the『Transfer Gate』in the central square to move to Hourai via Ulysses.

The first time she visited Ulysses using the『Transfer Gate』, and the first time she visited Eureka, Melfalude was deeply moved by the majesty of the cities, each of which was different but highly complete.

The scenery of Hourai, which she visited for the first time, was different compared to the past impressions.

Melfalude felt as if she’s in a different country―――or even a different world.

In Hourai, the buildings, the streets, and the way the people on the street were all very different. Hourai was clearly different from the civilization Melfalude knew.

All the buildings in the city seemed to be made of wood, but why were there so many strange roofs that looked like they were made of fine blocks?

Why are there carts driven by people instead of horses on the streets?

What are those unfamiliar clothes worn by the people walking the streets?

Just by taking a look around, Melfalude could feel all sorts of questions welling up in her mind, and at the same time, her curiosity was strongly aroused.

In no time at all, Melfalude felt as if she had been captivated by the charm of this city called Hourai.

“―――Amazing amazing! What a unique city!”

“Fufu, I'm glad you like it.”

“………………ah.”

When she heard the calm voice of Roselotte standing next to her, she came to my senses.

Melfalude couldn't help but feel her face getting hot. Feel a little embarrassed at herself for the last ten seconds or so, when she had been shouting and shouting innocently and moving like a child.

“There's no need to be ashamed. I was the same way when I first saw this city.”

“Ro-Roselotte was the same way, wasn't she?”

“Yes, because there is so much scenery in this city that you can't help but be impressed.”

Roselotte said this sincerely, as if she was thinking back on the past.

Melfalude could understand that feeling very well. Well, since she was experiencing the emotion in real-time right now, of course, she could sympathize.

“Hey, hey, why do all the houses in this city have blocks on their roofs?”

“Those are called『tiles』, and they're a little different from blocks. The thick boards made of baked clay are neatly thatched and lined up to protect the building.”

“Wow…! But why go to the trouble of putting such things on the roof?”

“There are several reasons, but the most important one is that a roof lined with tiles will hardly deteriorate over time due to its high resistance to sunlight, rain, and wind. According to the people of Kikyo who built it, it can last more than 2000 years in some cases.”

“―――2000 years!? That's amazing!”

The length of time that Roselotte had told Melfalude was quite astonishing.

Even the High Elves, who are very long-lived, do not live that long.

“The roof is lined with tiles, so the sound of rain hardly echoes inside. It's a bit of a luxury to be able to spend some quiet time indoors on a rainy day.”

“Wow, that's wonderful! It's quite stressful when the sound of the rain is too loud.”

“I know what you mean. It's a very unpleasant feeling, isn't it?”

“Hey, hey, Roselotte, what's that carriage over there with the people driving it?”

“It's not a carriage, it's a rickshaw.”

Melfalude asks questions out of curiosity about everything she sees.

As expected, Roserotte is the lord of Hourai, and she answered all the questions Melfalude posed to her without hesitation.

Hourai is a city where you can have any kind of fun just by looking around the city.

Because of this, it took quite a while to get to the sweet store where Melfalude and her friends were served.