Chapter 93 - The Return Journey and a Second Viscount Title
Alphonse was also preparing to head to Oriole Fortress, so the Mellerfield family party would be traveling alongside Alphonse Murat for a while longer. For safety, Charlotte reapplied the effects of 'Mental Allure' to herself before setting off.
This time, Charlotte attempted more precise control when using 'Mental Allure', aiming to make herself think of beautiful girls, but not to the point of excessive fantasy. However, the attempt wasn't entirely successful.
Sitting in the creaking, advancing carriage, inhaling Laina's natural fragrance, Charlotte found her "interest" easily piqued. Although a Meiwa's scent inherently possesses aphrodisiac qualities, Charlotte believed that under normal circumstances, she wouldn't be so easily tempted.
When Charlotte wanted to play intimate games, the little Meiwa naturally wouldn't refuse.
Even though they were in a carriage, it was actually quite convenient for the two girls to do what they wanted.
A little-known fact: beneath the skirts of Oran noblewomen, there was often nothing.
Common hygiene knowledge in this world suggested that covering private areas for extended periods could lead to feminine ailments. Therefore, Oran noblewomen, who favored splendid long dresses, usually didn't wear things like underwear, whether cotton or silk.
This offered Charlotte significant convenience. When playing games with Laina, there was no need to consider the extra steps of dressing or undressing; simply lifting the flowing skirt was enough. When stopping for a rest, she only needed to lower the hem again. An unknowing observer would hardly notice any trace.
After about half a day more on the road, the convoy finally reached Oriole Fortress.
Oriole Fortress was the name of a castle, and also the name of the coastal city beside it.
According to etiquette, prominent nobles like King Alphonse, Count Philip, and Count Rade, passing through this territory, should pay a visit to the castle of the local lord, the Marquis of Oriole Fortress, even if the Marquis was currently still in Platinum City. But none of the three mentioned it.
Clearly, the three great nobles were preoccupied with heavy thoughts, lacking the energy for superficial formalities.
Count Philip took his sons to the docks to find a ship.
Count Rade planned to stay in Oriole Fortress temporarily for two days, waiting for Platinum City to stabilize before returning. Charlotte suspected that, given Henry's temperament, someone like Rade, who had run off and slacked during the empire's chaos, would eventually lose his position as Minister of Finance.
However, it seemed Rade himself didn't care much about his job, and Charlotte couldn't be bothered to worry about a near-stranger she had just met.
As they parted ways, Charlotte asked Count Rade, "Your Excellency, would you be willing to sell those children to me?"
Charlotte was referring to the dozen or so youths who had hidden with Count Rade in the manor's granary.
These youths were descendants of tenants and serfs from Count Rade's domain. Possessing decent potential for the extraordinary, they had been selected and sent to Platinum City for training, normally residing at Count Rade's manor. During the sudden tribal attack, many peasants and servants at the manor had perished, but these youths survived thanks to the protection of the knights.
"Oh? Miss Charlotte, why do you wish to buy those children?" Count Rade asked, puzzled.
"My domain has too few knights; I need some reinforcements, that's all," Charlotte replied with a smile.
Count Rade looked surprised, seemingly only just remembering that Charlotte had also been granted a rural viscountcy by the Emperor. However, Count Rade wasn't stingy about a dozen unawakened commoner youths. He waved his hand and said, "If Miss Charlotte wants them, just take them. It saves me the trouble of sending them back to my fief."
The meaning was clear: he didn't intend to charge Charlotte. Nevertheless, Charlotte had Renee leave some money for Count Rade. Having fled the manor in haste, Count Rade was nearly penniless. Given his status, inns wouldn't refuse him food and lodging on credit, but it wasn't very dignified. The money Charlotte left was enough for Count Rade and his knights to cover their expenses in Oriole Fortress for several days, helping him solve a small, pressing problem.
Both parties got what they needed and were satisfied.
In the afternoon, Count Philip found a suitable ship, and the Mellerfield party prepared to board and leave Oriole Fortress. Departing just before them were Alphonse and his knights.
Since their chance encounter the previous night, both Count Philip and Count Rade had subtly tried to inquire about the situation in Platinum City from Alphonse, but he remained tight-lipped. This made Charlotte suspect he might have done something in Platinum City, hence his rush to return to his own kingdom.
Watching Alphonse's ship gradually recede into the distance, Charlotte suddenly called out, "Knight Garcia."
Jarrod Garcia immediately jogged over upon hearing his name.
"Please return to Platinum City for me and find out what happened after we left," Charlotte paused, then added, "And while you're there, handle another matter for me..."
After noting Charlotte's tasks, Jarrod Garcia bowed his head. "As you command, Viscountess."
The Mellerfield party, numbering over a thousand people, departed the port aboard five merchant ships. The Rouen Sea, being an inland sea, experienced far fewer storms than the great oceans. The fleet sailed smoothly for three days.
Three days later, the fleet docked at Mai Port.
Mai Port was a crucial Oran Empire port on the southern shore of the Rouen Sea, already within the Byron region of the Oran Empire. Traveling south from Mai Port for two or three days would bring one to the border of the Gatu Kingdom, while heading southeast for five or six days led to the territory of the Green Plains Duchy.
As soon as the Mellerfield party disembarked, they immediately sensed a tense, oppressive atmosphere. The harbor had very few merchant ships docked; instead, there were numerous warships, and heavily armed patrols could be seen frequently on the docks.
Not long after landing, the Mellerfield group attracted the attention of a port patrol for inspection. After Count Philip revealed his identity, they were promptly invited to Count Onsa's castle – Mai Port belonged to Count Onsa, Werner Cafaro's fief.
From this Count, Charlotte learned the reason for Mai Port's high state of alert.
Count Onsa had a "good neighbor" – the Marquisate of Niuyin.
Years ago, when Joseph Holovin schemed for the imperial throne, Werner Cafaro's father had sided with Joseph Holovin, refusing to transport supplies by sea for Ethel Holovin's army. Therefore, after Werner Cafaro came to power, he naturally became a supporter of Emperor Leopold, and subsequently, Emperor Henry.
However, his neighbor, the Marquis of Niuyin, Roy Beckett, was a fervent follower of Ethel.
In the last two days, Werner Cafaro had noticed that the Marquisate of Niuyin was massing troops towards the border. Count Onsa's domain had limited forces, and Werner Cafaro wasn't confident he could stop Roy Beckett's "Pure Ones" from marching straight through. Thus, he had ordered warships to be ready at the Mai Port docks at all times. If the front line fell, Werner Cafaro planned to flee to the sea with his family.
Although war was on the brink of erupting, Werner Cafaro still hosted the Mellerfield party, including Princess Laina Holovin of the Gatu Kingdom, with great enthusiasm.
Because Werner Cafaro's grandmother also shared the Mellerfield surname.
The noble circles were just that small; after centuries of intermarriage, tracing back a few generations revealed that almost everyone was related.
This might also be why the former Duke of Panma, Madaki Tone, constantly wanted to defect back to the Edisa Empire. The nobles of the Oran Empire were all relatives, naturally forming a closed circle bound by blood ties. Madaki Tone, a "surrendered general," could never truly integrate, even as a Duke, even after marrying a princess.
Having reached Mai Port, Charlotte and Laina also had to part ways. For Laina, arriving in the Marquisate of Niuyin was practically equivalent to returning to the Gatu Kingdom. There was no reason to continue traveling with Charlotte and the others.
"I was actually planning to visit your domain, Charlotte," Laina said, her spirits somewhat low. Returning to the Gatu Kingdom meant she would likely be confined to the royal palace again, with no telling when her next chance to go out would be.
"My domain can't afford to support a princess like you," Charlotte teased with a smile.
Laina puffed out her cheeks unhappily. "So stingy."
"Even if I were generous, I couldn't afford it," Charlotte retorted, rolling her eyes. This Meiwa's pampered lifestyle was no joke. The silk threads for her clothes needed to be produced in special silk farms staffed only by women, avoiding male contact as much as possible, otherwise, she considered them dirty.
Such a person was a gold-devouring beast that burned through money like paper. How could the small Lanwan Viscounty possibly support her?
However, Laina was merely venting her frustration about losing her freedom again and wasn't truly angry with Charlotte. She opened her arms and said to Charlotte, "How about a farewell kiss?"
Charlotte embraced and kissed Laina, then suddenly blinked and said, "A farewell kiss? Just a simple peck like this?"
"Then how else should we kiss?" Laina asked, confused.
Charlotte placed her right hand near her lower abdomen, her fingers lightly hooking the hem of her flowing skirt. The movement was small but incredibly alluring. "Don't you enjoy kissing it? Why doesn't it get its share of the farewell kiss?"
Laina looked at the suggestive smile on Charlotte's face, bit her lip, and couldn't help but laugh. "You lecher!"
And so, Laina didn't leave immediately that day. Instead, she stayed another night with the Mellerfield party in Count Onsa's domain, properly bidding farewell to the 'cherry lips' beneath Charlotte's skirt.
In truth, Charlotte was the one who enjoyed kissing the 'cherry lips' beneath Laina's skirt more. The bodily fluids secreted by a Meiwa during arousal were a unique delicacy – colorless and odorless, yet providing an experience of sweet, mellow richness.
The next day, departing from Count Onsa's domain, Charlotte set off again, yawning. After another six days, Charlotte finally returned to the Green Plains Duchy.
By this time, the Green Plains Duchy had also entered a state of military readiness, though not as tense as Count Onsa's domain. At least Jose Mellerfield still had the leisure to sit in his study reading a book.
"Was the journey smooth?" Jose Mellerfield asked Charlotte.
"Not entirely," Charlotte gave a wry smile and recounted how, shortly after Jose Mellerfield had left, they encountered the tribal surprise attack on Platinum City. "The scale of the tribal forces was too large, blocking the direct land route south. We had no choice but to take a ship via the Rouen Sea. Speaking of which, it's rather strange how the tribesmen could cross the entire Bonan Duchy undetected."
"Strange?" Jose Mellerfield initially looked surprised upon hearing Charlotte's account, but after repeating the word, he shook his head. "Actually, it's not that strange."
"Why do you say that, Father?" Charlotte was curious.
Jose Mellerfield explained, "Fernandez has been doing business with the tribesmen for years, supporting tribes close to the Bonan Duchy to attack and annex others. He calls this strategy 'raising dogs to bite dogs,' meaning raising his own hound to hunt other harmful wild dogs."
"I once warned Fernandez that tribesmen are not easily domesticated house dogs. Be careful that after raising them, they don't turn around and bite their master. But he didn't take my advice and even purchased salt from the Green Plains Duchy to resell to the tribesmen in the mountains."
"Fernandez always said that no matter how large a tribe, they are easily crushed before the Empire's knights. A single large tribe is easier to eliminate than many small ones. Now, it seems my worries have come true."
"Mm, Father, you truly have foresight," Charlotte offered a compliment dutifully.
Jose Mellerfield chuckled. "No need to flatter me. If I truly had foresight, I wouldn't have just casually reminded Fernandez once. The tribesmen in the Kanpei Mountains becoming a real force isn't good for the Green Plains Duchy either."
"So, what do you intend to do, Father? Send troops into the Kanpei Mountains to suppress them?" Charlotte asked.
"Heh, let's forget about that. If suppression is needed, the Emperor should send troops first. This time, the tribesmen slapped the Imperial family right in the face," Jose Mellerfield said, shaking his head. "Right now, we need to be more concerned about your maternal grandfather than the tribesmen."
At this point, Jose Mellerfield paused before continuing, "Your prediction was correct. When I returned to the Green Plains Duchy, the army at the Gatu Kingdom border encampment was already moving towards us. Only after I made a public appearance and announced the conscription of knights did Her Majesty Ethel change the direction of her army's assembly."
If he had been delayed in Platinum City for a few days and then traveled back slowly over half a month, the Green Plains Duchy might truly have become history. Jose Mellerfield felt a wave of fear just thinking about it.
"This time, you've performed a great service for the Duchy. Meritorious deeds must be rewarded; this is the Mellerfield family's golden rule for governing the military. Although your contribution wasn't won on the battlefield, it carries more weight than battlefield merits. Charlotte, what reward do you desire?" Jose Mellerfield asked.
Charlotte crossed her arms, her face lighting up with pleasant surprise. "Can I ask for anything?"
Jose Mellerfield laughed. "Well, not anything. The prerequisite is that I must be able to afford it."
"The reward I want, Father can definitely afford," Charlotte said without ceremony. She walked over to the map hanging in the study and pointed to a long, narrow island where Lanwan met the ocean. "Father, can you grant me this island as a fief?"
"Swordfish Island?" Jose Mellerfield wasn't put off by the request; instead, he asked, "You only want an island?"
"Yes, just this island will do," Charlotte confirmed.
"Alright then," Jose Mellerfield nodded and smiled. "If you don't mind the title sounding unpleasant, then I shall enfeoff you as the Viscountess of Swordfish Island."