Chapter 6

Vol . 13 Ch . 06

“Onii-sama, this is the ship we prepared to put in the water . Actually, we have put it in the water many times and have confirmed it is very safe before deciding to let you play with it . Of course, it is also to test how it performs on a long journey . ”

Freya and I stood at the port . Eyes on the ship, she elaborated, “Naturally, in the future, this ship will be a warship . It is Lorana’s new work . She used mana-powered machinery to operate it . That way, we will be able to use as little manpower as possible to operate this huge warship . It is also very fast . With this warship, we can be considered the leaders of warships . ”

“Since it’s powered with mana, there’s no need to use wood to build the frame . I think we can use metal, instead . ”

“Metal? Miss Lorana had the idea, as well . However, she did not proceed with it, so use this ship for now . This ship has been modified a lot . It is very spacious, but is not equipped with many weapons . If you run into pirates or the sort, I hope you can leave it to the navy behind you to handle . Logically, please do not separate too far away from the navy guarding you . Needless to say, if you want to enjoy something more exciting, you can go and start a fight with a pirate ship . I think Royal Princess Nier would be very happy to . ”

“No… I don’t plan to do something so crazy . Also, are there actually pirates out at sea? Humanity doesn’t  have many routes leading to the sea, so why would there be pirates?”

Elves didn’t have a seaport, so they definitely wouldn’t be pirates . Humanity didn’t have many seaports . In the vicinity of the empire, Castor was the only city with a seaport, and there were no sea exports, so why would pirates exist in humanity’s domain? What would they rob, fishing boats? Boats at sea didn’t carry much money, and Castor had a navy . If there were pirates, they were eighty percent likely to be Castor’s people . The pirates didn’t even have anywhere to hide, so they couldn’t prosper .

I reasoned, “If there are pirates, then they would only prosper once there’s a flourishing market overseas, after discovering a new continent, right? There shouldn’t be any pirates now, right…?”

“Although logically speaking there should be no place for pirates to come about, Onii-sama, there are indeed records of pirates existing, and there are reports of them monthly . It is just that they are not powerful, nor have they stolen anything worth money . There was nothing they did not steal . They occasionally come to shore, resembling starving beggars,” explained Freya, smiling .  “That is why you have a navy to guard you this time . You will not have many with you, though . There will only be a total of three warships, so you do not need to worry about being awkward . Besides the crew, the rest will be maids and servants . Hence, you do not need to worry about your wives… Ah, I do not think anybody would dare to harbour crooked agendas for Royal Princess Nier and Imperial Princess Lucia . ”

I nodded, and then wrapped my cape around me . The sea breeze still chilled my bones despite the weather still being warm .

The port was below the Imperial City . It was a port at a small fishing village . Due to it being the port closest to the Imperial City and located in a decent position, we purchased it with plans to establish a navy base . The North and humanity’s empire differed . The goods in the North were exported via sea route . Consequently, a navy was mandatory . Our plan was to form a powerful navy in twenty years . It appear to be a difficult task based on the fact that we had mana-powered machines .

“Onii-sama, I feel a little bit cold now . If you do not have a problem with the ship, let us get going . ”

Freya couldn’t handle the chill anymore, either . Her lips were purple due to the breeze . I rubbed her head and replied, “Let’s head back, then . Let’s go back to the village for a hot drink . Honestly, it’s summer, yet it’s not warm in the least here . ”

The navy chief who followed us the entire time swiftly replied, “That is because a storm should be coming soon . The breeze from the sea is especially cold because of the storm . ”

I lingered for a moment then turned to him: “Storm?”

“Ah, that is right . There will be a storm coming from the sea, so we will need to prepare for a hurricane soon . It will be extremely cold when there is a storm . It is the same as snowfall in winter . The usual weather is quite nice, but this storm is lowering the temperature . Your Majesty, we have prepared hot drinks for you . ”

The chief courteously handed us three simple cups . Inside was a specialty of the North, and a drink the masses enjoyed . The taste is somewhat similar to coffee, but a bit more soothing . It was made by grinding a berry growing on trees . Freya and I quickly grabbed a cup each . We let out a soothing sigh of cold air once we were able to hold a warm drink in our hands .

Tanya poked her head over just as I had a sip . She snatched my cup from me and had a sip . After a moment of waiting, she handed the cup back to me and said, “Your Majesty, please allow me to have a sip first before you drink next time . Otherwise, you might be in danger . Mm, so, this is for you . I shall take your cup . ”

Freya angrily looked at Tanya, who was standing there softly humming a tune, and loudly reproached her: “Wh-?! You’re pushing it! What right do you have to take Onii-sama’s drink?!! Furthermore, Onii-sama drank from it! You’re going overboard!”

“That’s because I’m His Majesty’s bodyguard . I have a duty to protect him . Would you be able to take responsibility if His Majesty suffers a liability? Shouldn’t a bodyguard test the drink first in case it is poisoned?”

“Umm… I swear I did not poison the drinks…”

The person in charge standing to the side quivered . He was afraid that the two girls were arguing over suspicions he poisoned the drinks . I smiled and gave him a few pats on his shoulder: “It’s all right . It’s all right . I trust you . It’s all right . The two of them often argue . It’s not because of you . You did very well . Quickly prepare for the rain . We won’t interrupt your work . ”

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty . Thank you, Your Majesty… Thank you for understanding, Your Majesty . ”

I turned around and climbed onto the horse carriage . Only then did the two girls end their quarrel . Freya still looked dissatisfied and enraged . She sat next to me and hugged my arms . She angrily looked behind her despite not being able to see Tanya at the rear . I touched her head with a smile: “You don’t need to be angry, Freya . Tanya wasn’t wrong . ”

Freya fumed, “Onii-sama, you are too lenient with Tanya! That was clearly impolite of her!! How can you thoughtlessly let somebody else have a drink you had, let alone letting her snatch it from you?! Onii-sama, you must discipline her!”

“Okay, okay . I consider Tanya my younger sister . I’m very consoled to have my sister snatch her brother’s cup for a drink . She’s a sister, after all . Of course, if you were the one who snatched my cup, I’d be very happy, too . Freya, we’ll be heading out to the ocean in a few days’ time . You and Tanya will be the only ones in the palace, so you need to get along with each other . I don’t want to come back to find you two have torn my palace down . ”

Freya snorted then folded her arms and put one leg over the other . She pouted: “Hmph! I cannot promise you that! You have been much colder to me after you had Tanya! Now you want me to get along with that vixen? I cannot do it!!”

Afterwards…

I spent a long time soothing Freya, before going to sooth a somewhat jealous Tanya… I swear soothing my two sisters was tougher than soothing my moms and wives…