"This is Rorschach, my classmate and good friend. He came all the way from Valuva for our wedding. He’s already a Middle Level Mage now." Bart seemed a bit reluctant to say that last part.

’That’s what you get for spending all your time wooing a princess!’

"It’s a pleasure to meet you." Unlike how she treated Bart, Amalia treated Rorschach with the decorum befitting a princess. She extended a delicate hand, and Rorschach took her fingertips and bowed, giving an air kiss without actually touching her skin.

"It is my honor to have been invited."

The poised and proper princess had appeared. The housekeeper nodded in satisfaction.

"Let’s go to the dining room and wait for your brother. Rorschach has so many interesting stories from the Holy Kingdom he can tell you."

"Oh, lovely!"

’Wait, am I not just the third wheel here, but an atmospheric lamp with a built-in media player?’ Rorschach tightened his fist around his Civilized Stick, but then the housekeeper took the cane away.

This residence was less like a nobleman’s home and more like a property a wealthy merchant would acquire. It had all the facilities, like a dining room and a parlor, but none of them were large. By the standards of the nobility, you couldn’t even fit all the servants inside.

’Is this their little secret base? Actually, Rorschach had always been a little puzzled. How could the King let his prize cabbage meet freely with the pig before they were even married? Wasn’t this a bit too much like modern dating? Based on his knowledge of history and limited understanding of etiquette, a "marriage between a noble and a commoner" was a major taboo for the Royal Family.

’Over the past century, there had been cases of wealthy merchants marrying into the minor lines of noble families, but these were usually transactional. Bart had the status of a Mage and was the son of a major chamber of commerce, but a Town Mage was appointed by the council and His Majesty the Emperor, which made things a bit delicate... And the Bayern Royal Family was one of the Empire’s top Great Nobles.

’If it were Richard, it would be a match between equals... No, no... what am I even worrying about this for...

’Maybe Princess Sophie really is a champion of true love, clearing the path for this couple... This realization unconsciously elevated her status in Rorschach’s mind.

...

The Princess covered her mouth in surprise. "So the King of the Holy Kingdom even knows how to make timepieces?"

"He does." Rorschach took out a gold pocket watch. "His Majesty Charles XVI gave this to me. I thought it was just a hobby of his, but it’s always kept perfect time."

Rorschach handed it to his friend to examine, who then passed it to the Princess.

Bart was a little astonished. Comparing himself to Rorschach, he suddenly felt that his own horizons had been too narrow this past year. "The King of the Holy Kingdom gave you a gift personally!"

"Because I gave him a terrible idea." Rorschach then explained the origin of the Valuvanan Higher Normal College.

The Princess listened intently, then nodded. "Education is indeed important. Every kingdom should build a school for training teachers. If you were to give my father the King a ’terrible idea,’ he might gift you a pure-blooded eastern horse."

"Then I’ll have to think hard about what kind of terrible idea could impress His Majesty." ’In fact, he really did have an idea to please the "pioneer of the tourism industry."’

As they chatted, the guest they had been waiting for finally arrived. A tall, slender young man entered, and the housekeeper curtsied. "Your Highness."

On the way over, Bart had told Rorschach that this small, private dinner was arranged for the Second Prince, Otto. With Albert recuperating at a royal villa and the Eldest Prince having joined the army, Otto could be of great help with the matter of building the factory.

He had inherited the King’s black hair, which he wore long and parted to either side, covering his ears.

The Princess was the first to greet the Prince. "Brother, I’m so happy you could come."

"Don’t start. You think I don’t know what my little sister is thinking? If you come back to the palace with me tonight, you won’t get scolded, right?"

Ignoring his sister’s pout, he bypassed the detestable merchant’s son and sized up Rorschach directly. "You’re the Mage from the Holy Kingdom?"

"I graduated from the Empire Magic Academy, Your Highness, but I did indeed pursue further studies at the Tower of Stars."

Once everyone was present, they took their seats at the table. The Prince naturally took the head of the table, with the Middle Tier Mage on his left and the Princess on his right. Seated next to the Princess was the young master of the Balderom Chamber of Commerce.

Dispensing with strict etiquette, the four of them ate and chatted normally. The courses were served in order—cold appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, main course, and soup—followed finally by a reddish rice porridge. "I’ve heard the Holy Kingdom has a rich variety of sweets, but aside from sweet biscuits, most food in Bayern is savory. Please, Rorschach Mage, try this beetroot porridge and make do." It was as if Prince Otto were the host here.

"The pastries in Valuva are exquisite, but they’re too sweet for my taste. No matter how many meals I eat there, I still have the stomach of someone from the Southern Empire." ’As if. The food in the Holy Kingdom is leagues better than the Empire’s.’

"You’re from the south?" The Prince’s demeanor became much friendlier. "I thought Bart’s case was an exception. The Royal Academy should be filled mostly with northerners."

’Why does this prince seem so conscious of a north-south divide?’ Rorschach nodded. "You’re right, but I do indeed come from a village on the edge of the Black Forest."

Strangely, Otto became even more animated upon learning Rorschach was from the southern part of the Empire. He was also knowledgeable about the arts, especially symphonies and operas. "Have you met Mr. Franz? How is he doing? Ever since that talent went to the Holy Kingdom, our orchestra’s life has gotten easier, but that’s not exactly a good thing for the audience."

"I’ve spoken with him briefly. It seems he’s currently seeking the favor of the muse of inspiration."

The Prince also asked about popular operas in Valuva. Rorschach had, by chance, actually seen them and even knew the playwright, Karon. Their exchange left Otto very satisfied.

To Rorschach’s surprise, Bart was also able to keep up with the conversation, discussing music, masters, and famous works. Rorschach knew for a fact that this guy had hated all of this back at the academy, just scraping by in etiquette class. ’If you had put this much effort into your studies, you wouldn’t have needed my help on the theory exams.’

’Perhaps this is the power of love.’

...

「The next evening.」

In a hotel in Munich Center, a worried Mr. Pierre was reporting to Rorschach while drinking a mug of beer.

"When Mr. Hasse spoke with me, he provided several potential factory sites their chamber of commerce had selected, but I’m not satisfied. I feel the plots are too small, which isn’t good for future second and third-phase construction. But when I went to the City Hall today, I was told that if we want to purchase more land, we’ll have to pay a huge lump-sum tax, which is over budget..."

When he put down his beer mug, a white beard made of foam appeared on his round face.

Rorschach took Mr. Pierre’s beer mug away and wiped the table. Without a word, he summoned a piece of paper bearing a fire lacquer seal from his Storage Ring.

"A Land Trading Charter?" It was stamped prominently with the Royal Family’s seal and signed Otto Friedrich Ludwig.

Then another.

"A Goods Circulation Tax Exemption Order..."

"Proof of Free Trade Membership in the Duma River Trade Alliance..." Pierre’s hands trembled as he held the documents. Each and every one of them was worth a fortune.

’I’ve heard the men of the Ludwig Clan have... unusual preferences...’ Nixingen shivered.

"I went to the Royal Palace this morning. Tomorrow, you will attend a banquet with me. Balderom will send a new representative, you will represent ’Hercules,’ and the Execution Officer and Tax Officer of Munich will be there, along with three trade representatives from the Duma Alliance."

"We’re not waiting for Hasse. The day after tomorrow, we’re going to the artisan district to inspect the glass and lumber factories." Rorschach placed great importance on the construction of the beverage factory; it would be a dress rehearsal. After he revealed his intention to build a personal Magic Tower in Bayern, the Prince had spoken with him for a long time.

He didn’t get the chance to give the King any terrible ideas, but he gave plenty to Prince Otto. In the end, His Highness personally saw Rorschach off, shaking his hand.

With matters at the Royal Palace settled, it was time for the local powerhouse, the Bart Family’s chamber of commerce, to make its move and build good relations with the Trade Alliance. Rorschach, however, didn’t plan to get involved. He was a Mage, not a pure-and-simple merchant. His attendance tomorrow was only to back up Pierre Nixingen and lend him authority for the negotiations.

As it turned out, business dinners were unavoidable no matter where you were. In his past life, the tables were round; on the Otherworld continent of Ferolun, square tables were the fashion. Fortunately, as a Middle Level Mage, all he had to do was say "I don’t drink," and no one dared to force him. It just meant double the work for Pierre.