Zenjirou and Freya were mainly in Valentia to receive the group from the Glasir’s Leaf into the country and to send the professor back to Uppasala. They had also checked on the progress of the dock and shipbuilding facilities being built in the city, but after having come all this way, there were other matters they wished to see to while in the area.
After two nights in the estate and sending the professor to his homeland, the next day was spent heading south to Alcott.
Alcott: the word was initially nothing more than a name designating an uninhabited region of territory under the direct control of the crown. When Freya married Zenjirou, though, she had gained the title of the Duchess of Alcott, which was to be a historical turning point. At least, that was the plan.
Princess Freya had married from a country advanced in smithing and shipbuilding, and her countrymen skilled in both trades would be building a major shipyard and port for intercontinental vessels rivaling Valentia. Or again, that was the plan. At present, Valentia was unquestionably the best port in the country. It was their biggest trading port, a site for fishing, and also a naval port that was home to the majority of the country’s seafaring military. Capua had a great number of small fishing ports, and a reasonable number of trading ports where small vessels could dock, but only Valentia could properly function as a naval base.
It was far from an ideal situation, particularly in the current climate where large-scale naval warfare seemed an inevitability. It was potentially fatal. Valentia was the only port where the larger intercontinental vessels could dock, so if the Northern Continent’s assault toppled it, Capua would be in a distinctly troubling position.
There was a saying about putting all of one’s eggs in a single basket, and it applied perfectly to putting all military assets in one location. A single port capable of repairing larger ships meant that losing it would also mean losing that ability. A single dock suitable for building such ships would put a complete halt to such production if it were captured. A single harbor for large ships led to a single point of retreat in the event of a naval defeat, and in turn a fixed route would make for an easy ambush. It was dangerous in every way possible.
There was therefore good reason to establish a second suitable location in Alcott. Aura was naturally aware of that, but unfortunately there was the greatest possible impediment to such endeavors: budgetary constraints. As a result, Alcott currently stood as a practically vacant lot slowly being cleared and excavated by a small number of people.
“As Duchess Alcott, I bid you welcome to my domain, Sir Zenjirou,” Freya said with a grin, standing in front of him as he stepped down from the carriage.
The two of them had traveled from Valentia together, but the princess was not in the carriage with him because she had taken the opportunity to ride on a dash drake instead partway through the journey.
The lessons in the inner palace’s gardens were ostensibly for Zenjirou, but—perhaps unsurprisingly—Freya had picked up the skill much more quickly. Frankly, it was a rather predictable outcome for all involved. While it might have been a new experience in terms of the specific mount, both she and Skaji were skilled in horse riding and were therefore on another level from Zenjirou, who only had a standard driving license.
“Thank you, Freya. I take it you preferred the journey on drakeback?” he asked, taking her hand without thinking about it.
Freya responded to her husband’s question with a smile. “I did. The carriage is an easier journey, but drakeback is more pleasant.”
Her grin was earnest and underscored her words completely. While Zenjirou didn’t really understand it intuitively, a female royal or noble—particularly a married woman—eschewing a carriage to don pants and ride personally was practically unprecedented. A closer look would reveal a well-used hand axe hanging at her waist.
Freya was well and truly satisfied with her life, which allowed her the liberty to simply ride on drakeback at her own discretion rather than needing to get special permission.
“You certainly seem to have enjoyed it more. I will have to keep at it.”
As he spoke, Zenjirou stretched to work out the stiffness caused by the carriage journey. He was currently at the stage where he could move around fairly freely on the two dash drakes in the gardens, but those specific drakes had been chosen specifically for their placid natures. He would only be able to proudly proclaim confidence like Freya and Skaji once he could do the same for the average dash drake that was used by royalty.
The two of them moved off arm in arm, followed by Skaji, Natalio, and the knights underneath him for their protection. Originally, Zenjirou’s protection had been handled by personnel loaned to him by Aura, but now they were all his direct subordinates.
Contrary to Zenjirou’s wishes for it to be as small-scale as possible, the Knights of Bilbo were currently growing in number. That was at Aura’s word. Blatantly trying to increase their forces would be difficult so soon after the war. Considering the potential issues in the North, though, improving their military force was a requirement. Increasing the number of knights belonging to the newly established order for Zenjirou was the easiest way, as they could be trusted to be at hand and trustworthy for Aura.
The only people less welcoming of the increase in numbers were Zenjirou and Natalio, the leader of the order, so it was difficult to refute. Zenjirou was considering just how large their numbers had grown without his realizing it as he looked over the area.
“So this is Alcott...” he murmured, considering continuing the sentence but stopping short of doing so.
There were several small huts and that was all. It would be difficult to call it a village, let alone a town. He doubted anyone would honestly call it “the Port of Alcott.”
Freya must have noticed his conflicted expression. The duchess offered an exaggerated sigh. “Indeed, it is as you say, simply ‘Alcott.’ Though I will make sure it is one day known as the International Port of Alcott,” she stated.
The agreement was already in place for Capua’s resources and Uppasala’s skill to make Alcott into a port capable of serving intercontinental ships. There were limits to both monetary and human resources, though. Valentia’s improvements were currently the priority, and building the new port was—as was evident from the sight of the area—on hold.
“Ah, yeah, Alcott will be a major strategic location in the future,” Zenjirou answered vaguely, his gaze shifting.
Just as Freya was the duchess of Alcott, Aura was the duchess of Valentia. Zenjirou was perhaps the most dangerous person to voice any opinion on which construction should be prioritized. Whichever side he came down on, he would doubtless fall prey to the birds of the royal palace seeking gossip, or the nobles looking for seeds of intrigue.
Because of that, he kept his feelings away from both his face and voice as he moved the conversation onto more administrative matters. “Well, it was originally uninhabited, so I suppose it needs to be made into a suitable workplace for the craftsmen.”
“True enough,” Freya agreed with a sigh.