Risou no Himo Seikatsu - Volume 10 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 — An Unplanned Call Home

The next day, in accordance with his changed plans, Zenjirou returned temporarily to Capua.

“Welcome home, Sir Zenjirou,” a soldier greeted him calmly.

“My thanks. Where is Her Majesty?” he asked.

“Her Majesty is awaiting you in the inner palace,” the soldier answered briskly.

“I see. Thank you.”

It would appear that news of Zenjirou’s change of plans had indeed reached her. Either Francesco or Bona had relayed the message. In fact, there seemed to be more soldiers stationed in the room than normal.

“I will be heading there presently.”

“Of course, sir.”

Zenjirou’s statement and actions prompted the excess soldiers to escort him. The room was hot, but when he stepped out into the corridor, he immediately felt like he was baking in the sultry heat.

He’d been in the magic-cooled palace until mere moments ago, so the heat was all the more noticeable. Wanting to get out of it as quickly as possible, he hurried for the inner palace.

Once he arrived, he didn’t break stride, heading straight for his bedroom. The AC was running, making his room the one place in the country that could rival—and even surpass—the pleasantness of the Purple Egg Palace.

As the soldier had said, Zenjirou’s wife was waiting there for him. She was wearing a loose dress that wouldn’t restrict her stomach and sitting in a chair with armrests. She smiled at him from her seat.

“Welcome home, Zenjirou.”

“I’m glad to be back,” he answered.

He couldn’t help but smile upon hearing his name from his wife’s lips. If this had been an official return, they could have relaxed together as husband and wife. Unfortunately, it was an unscheduled journey.

What had required such a change of plans? Once Aura had received the explanation, she sighed with a meaningful look on her face.

“I see. People from two of the four dukes’ families wish to visit the country. Girls from the Elementacatto and Animeeum families.”

“Yup, Talajeh and Fiqriya, respectively. Talajeh wants a magic tool with an isolation barrier and Fiqriya wants to talk with Espiridion. Oh, she offered this as well. I think it’s her research notes. She wants him to see them.” As he explained that last part, Zenjirou placed the thick bundle of parchment on the table.

“Hmm. I believe it would be best handed directly from you to him. He is rather busy, however, so the girl’s wishes may not be granted.”

“I made sure both of them already knew that.”

The queen rested her chin in her hand at that and thought. “I see. As for Lady Talajeh’s goal of a magic tool... With my current condition, it would be you and Prince Francesco who will need to take the lead. If we come to an agreement, I will likely need to rely on you. I apologize, but I hope you can put the effort in if that comes to pass.”

Whatever else, Isabella’s presence would be putting a heavy burden on the Capuan treasury. The queen didn’t want to miss any possible opportunity to supplement it. Teleportation was one thing, but the isolation barrier was not a real concern.

Zenjirou indicated his agreement before suddenly thinking of something. “Oh yeah, Princess Isabella should already be here, right? Has she already seen you?”

He had been the one to provide travel via teleportation for the princess, her guards, and her attendants alike.

“Of course. She cast several stamina and vitality restoratives to be sure, but there are no issues at present.”

Healing magic for Aura was included in the original cost, so multiple spells were no problem. On the other hand, if anyone else—even Zenjirou—asked for healing while Isabella was here, it would naturally incur a separate charge.

Regardless, having someone, even only one person, capable of healing practically anything in the palace was surprisingly relieving from a psychological standpoint.

“That’s all I could ask for. My goals are pretty much all accomplished, then. So, just making sure, sending the two of them won’t be an issue, will it?”

“No, it is fine. However, we need to prepare rooms for them, so delay their arrival for as long as you can. The last day will be you and Ines, so the days just before that would be best.”

“Got it.” With the most urgent topics addressed, Zenjirou breathed a deep sigh. “Umm, was there anything else?” he asked himself. There was plenty of information he had to share, but his return was a sudden one, so he hadn’t gone over it all.

Aura spoke calmly to him as he glared up at the ceiling in thought. “I would like to hear about the magic tools first. Were you able to purchase a set for cooling? What of Princess Freya’s aims as well? Start there.”

“Ah, right. I didn’t have any issues with buying them; they were fine with selling. They wanted me to pay in marbles, but I paid in coin instead. I’ve already taken delivery of them but was asked not to bring them with me this time, so they’re still there.”

He paused and Aura could tell that what he next had to say wouldn’t be so welcome. Even so, she nodded wordlessly, urging him to continue.

“So, with Princess Freya, things were a lot more complicated. First off was the shock that Princess Margarita from the Sharou family was appointed her attendant. As far as ranks go, it looks like they’re treating her better than me. She managed to buy the water purification she most wanted, but the Twin Kingdoms made a point of giving her this amazing tool called the Lulled Sea. I’ve only heard of it secondhand, but apparently it’s incredible. Specifically, it...”

Zenjirou explained exactly what it did, and how and by whom it had come to be given to Freya. As Aura listened, a deep furrow appeared between her brows.

“So despite being landlocked, they want friendly relations with Uppasala that much. They even moved to include us. Speaking of such things, have you been acting towards King Bruno and Prince Josep as we discussed? How have they responded?”

Zenjirou thought back on the past few days and replied uncertainly. “Uh...I’m not sure anything’s really changed. I’ve barely spoken with King Bruno, but Prince Josep’s been very friendly, publicly.”

“And you ensured the letter was delivered as we discussed as well?”

“Yup. I had the letter to King Bruno delivered, and I personally delivered the letter to Pope Benedict.”

“So despite your clear reticence, their pleasant facade has not changed. They haven’t spoken against you in either public or private. They don’t seem to want to bargain, let alone find a compromise. Are they intending to simply accept our demands? What is panicking them?”

Zenjirou stayed silent to avoid derailing her train of thought. A while later, the queen turned to him for confirmation.

“Perhaps it was the jewels? What did Prince Francesco say about them?”

“Oh? You didn’t hear?” He only asked because Francesco had been back in Capua for two days already. But the queen simply offered a slight shrug.

“I am both pregnant and busy. We have yet to sit and talk.”

“I get it. That makes sense. He said none of them would work and that they were useless. The best one was apparently very close, though, and he’s looking forward to future versions.”

“Hmm, I see.”

The queen fell into thought again. So, they couldn’t yet say they had succeeded in creating the marbles for mass production. However, they were apparently close enough that it was only a matter of time. She could therefore understand—to a degree—why the Sharou family hadn’t changed their behavior even if it put them in a slightly worse position.

The topic of the marbles reminded Zenjirou of something else that was loosely related. “Oh, right, have you heard about that ridiculous thing Prince Francesco wants to make?”

“Ah, the magic tool of enchanting? I have. So, it would seem, have you. It is a calamity waiting to happen.”

“It’s just like him.”

The couple sighed in unison. The prince’s actions were impossible to read, and he acted like a thoughtless fool most of the time, just barely avoiding crossing the line. It all led to him having some level of control over everyone around him.

Regardless, this wasn’t the time to lament that. Zenjirou explained how he and Francesco had directly opposing views of what that tool—something capable of making other magic tools—would mean.

“So Prince Francesco sees it as something that would be beneficial to the family,” Zenjirou concluded. “His father and grandfather went so far as to ask if he was trying to destroy the family, though. It might have been an exaggerated way of saying it, but I take it you agree with them?”

The queen considered the question briefly before confirming. “Indeed. If I had to come down on one side or the other, I would agree with Prince Josep and King Bruno. Lineal magic is a country’s greatest treasure. Enabling people outside of the royal family to use it is equivalent to throwing your own power away. It seems you think otherwise, though?” she asked, propping her cheek in a hand and looking expectantly at him.

At this point in their relationship, she had come to truly understand that Zenjirou was from another world. It wasn’t a big deal in day-to-day life, but his way of thinking and sense of values were fundamentally different. It certainly caused problems, but it was equally true that those different perspectives could help.

Feeling the pressure of her expectations a bit, Zenjirou truthfully offered his thoughts. “Yeah. I think a magic tool that creates magic tools has the potential to see the Sharou family ruling the world.”

“Elucidate,” she said after a long pause.

That was far beyond what she was expecting, so her eyes had widened in shock. Still, she kept her voice calm. Zenjirou continued, slowly putting his thoughts in order as he spoke.

“Currently, every royal family has its own lineal magic and maintains that magic’s value by hiding and monopolizing it. Of course, that isn’t wrong, since lineal magic is definitely a pillar of support for the families. As far as enchanting is concerned, though, I think it could overturn people’s sense of values. Do you remember what you said when I asked why people here didn’t buy the magic tools for cooling if they were so convenient?”

“I do, of course?” she answered, a hint of questioning in her tone.

“You mentioned how expensive they are and that no one would spend that much money just to escape the heat of the blazing season. In the palaces in the Twin Kingdoms, though—both the Purple Egg Palace and the Ivory Cathedral—there is a steady supply of those tools, which makes the buildings pleasant to be in. The announcement alone would be enough—if the Sharou family said they were discontinuing such items to keep costs down, there’d be outrage.”

“Hmm. I could see that happening in the Twin Kingdoms, yes.” The queen still wasn’t sure where the conversation was going, but she nodded along.

“In other words, Capuans see them as nice to have, but not something they ever could have, but the people spending time in the palaces there see them as something they do have and that they could not do without. I think most people in this world, not just Capua, see magic tools in general as ultra-luxury items they could never own. Obviously, that means they can do without it, right? But Prince Francesco’s magic tool could turn that on its head. It would make mass production, and mass sales, of magic tools possible. That’ll change how people see the world. People will start feeling the same as those in the Twin Kingdoms’ palaces. Magic tools will become a necessity they can’t live without.”

For once, Aura was overwhelmed by her husband’s explanation and was unable to really understand it. He realized that and did his best to clarify his thoughts.

“If a magic tool that creates magic tools comes into the world, the prices of individual magic tools will fall. Right now, they’re more expensive than jewels or military dash drakes, but if they can be mass-produced, things like cooling tools will become more like a particularly expensive bit of furniture, like a chest of drawers or a desk. At that point, it won’t just be nobility...commoners will be able to afford them too. Gathering money from a million customers a coin at a time is more profitable than obtaining more money at once from a hundred.”

“Wait, Zenjirou. This is all just speculation. Even if they can mass-produce the tools, that won’t necessarily reduce the expenses to produce them, and people who live without magic tools won’t necessarily spare the still-considerable expenses even if they are cheaper. What of the possibility of theft? The Sharou family would be wringing their own necks.”

It would mean that something only a certain subset of people had been capable of would become possible for all if they had the tool. Of course, even people could be kidnapped, but there was a distinct difference in difficulty between kidnapping someone and stealing a tool. Further, someone who was kidnapped could resist by escaping or killing themselves. Those risks didn’t exist with a tool. Once it was stolen, it was all over.

Aura’s objection was entirely logical, but Zenjirou utterly rejected it with a shocking statement. “Then they can just sell them from the start. It would have to be at an even greater price than a normal magic tool, though.”

“Would that not be surrendering their own interests?” she asked, unable to hide her shock.

He chewed over his response with a conflicted look.“That’s true, but... Man, how do I explain this? Actually doing that would change its value in the first place. It’s hard to explain, so I’ll just skip over all the intermediary stuff and explain what will happen if things progress like I’m thinking. The Sharou family manages to mass-produce magic tools that create other magic tools. They then get sold all over the world and every country can start creating its own magic tools. Once that happens, the world won’t be able to continue without them. Weapons would be the best example. There are a lot of them like the spear of fire or the shield of wind, right? Imagine magic tools that create those being spread throughout the world. Every country will be able to make those magical weapons. Can you see a country managing to survive if they didn’t take that up?”

Aura carefully considered his question before shaking her head. “There are a lot of variables in war, so I cannot say it would be impossible, but it would certainly be exceedingly difficult.”

Her response gave him some more confidence, so he continued. “That would make countries without the magic tools to make such weapons inferior to those who can. There are many neighboring countries on poor terms on the Southern Continent. Would any of them be able to withstand a situation where a rival country has such a tool and they do not?”

“I see...”

Military matters were the easiest for Aura to relate to, and she could finally understand at least part of what Zenjirou was getting at.

If two countries fought, one with magic weapons and one without, the one without would be unable to resist. A magic tool that allowed them to create those weapons would let them build a stock. However, all magic tools had a finite lifespan and usage limit. Eventually, even the magic tool that created the weapons would break.

What would happen if the Twin Kingdoms then said they would sell to one of those countries but not the other? It required no real thought. The country that could not restock would fall. With that understood, neither country could afford to displease the Twin Kingdoms. It would create an irrevocable hierarchy between them.

“I understand what you wish to say. I can think of several impediments to that sequence of events, but it would certainly make the Twin Kingdoms rulers in effect.”

“Yeah, well, that’s what I mean,” he said vaguely as Aura grew wary.

She actually understood a single part of his thoughts on the matter. It was less her lacking the capability to understand and more Zenjirou lacking the capability to explain. The true threat wasn’t clear because he had used the example of military might—something everyone could understand—to simplify things.

But really, he conceptualized magic tools as the machines supporting modern society, including such things as appliances and cars. In that respect, the weapons would be akin to guns, tanks, and planes. The magic tools that made other magic tools would be like machine tools. Factories would spring up across the world, creating cars, air conditioners, fridges, and even computers.

However, the machines in those factories could only be created by a single country. Would any other country be able to oppose such a nation? If relations broke down, the foundations of people’s lives would vanish from beneath them. Zenjirou could only imagine that because of his own life where such luxuries were “only natural” to have access to.

For someone like Aura, who had only lived in this world, his descriptions were insufficient. He let his gaze shift around awkwardly.

“Honestly, Prince Francesco developing it isn’t really that big of an issue. On its own, the time needed to increase the number of magic tools created won’t change much.”

Magic tools that created magic tools would not in and of themselves increase the number of magic tools forged. Aura could immediately understand the implication.

“The problem is when it is combined with your offering and the mass production of marbles from our craftsmen.”

“Right.”

The production of truly round, transparent marbles, something that would allow for a vast reduction in manufacturing time for magic items and the very thing Capua was on the verge of accomplishing. If both things were brought together, the mass production of magic tools in general would be possible.

Roughly half of Zenjirou’s concerns with the situation were of his own making, which was exactly why he was bringing it up.

“That’s why I think we’re in trouble. Maybe we should cooperate with him. Regardless of our success with the marbles, I don’t think we should just sell them all off to the Twin Kingdoms.”

Aura’s response to that was slightly unexpected. “Indeed. I understand your concerns. However, it is not something we can decide here and now. I may be reading too much into things, but I think I can smell smoke.”

“Smoke?” Zenjirou asked.

“Yes,” she replied with a nod. “Both king and prince have reacted far too mildly to your behavior. They were also far too generous with Princess Freya. I feel like they are hiding some form of panic behind their actions. It seems like they want to make both us and Uppasala allies in something. Again, I may be overthinking it but perhaps King Bruno has noticed the seeds of some form of chaos that I have not.”

“The seeds of chaos...” Zenjirou parroted. He grew all the more concerned at that. He had lived all his life in a world far removed from chaos and conflict. He could not call Aura’s senses in this area into question after she had lived through a war.

Her expression twisted apologetically as she continued. “You may need to reconcile with King Bruno and Prince Josep, depending on what happens. I’m sorry, but ready yourself for that.”

He scowled but wasn’t foolish enough to put his personal feelings before the country’s politics. “Got it. I’ll be ready.”

“I apologize,” she said, even as she thought of how she would be steering her country. “Regardless, our final decisions will be dependent on their behavior. King Bruno and Pope Benedict should both offer replies as you leave the country for the last time, so we will decide based on those.”

“Got it,” he replied, agreeing with the queen’s decision.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Zenjirou’s sudden return was to last for two days, so he was only spending a single night in the country. The next morning, therefore, saw him in the bedroom, getting ready for the trip. He would be teleporting from there to the Twin Kingdoms.

The only place he could visualize strongly enough to teleport without aid was the designated room in Capua’s palace. Since he was unable to form a strong enough image of his current destination without help, he had the camera turned on to display an image of the room in the Twin Kingdoms.

While Zenjirou was setting that up, Aura rose from her seat with the maids’ assistance.

“I know that this may be getting a touch trite now, but please take care,” she said.

“I will. Thanks, Aura,” he replied, lifting his gaze from the camera to his wife with a smile.

She handed two letters to him. “I thought things over last night, and I believe we should change our plans. Give these to King Bruno and Eladio.”

Eladio was the name of the Drake Marksmen Knights’ third battalion commander—the man in charge of Zenjirou’s protection while he was in the Twin Kingdoms. The letter to the king was properly sealed with wax, while the one addressed to Eladio was simply folded over.

“You sure you don’t want to seal it?” he asked. “It’s not going to cause issues if I see it, is it?”

The queen offered a nod in response. “Indeed. I would prefer it if you did, in fact. It concerns you as well, after all. It posts Eladio and his men in the country for the long term. The letter to King Bruno is to ask for permission to do so.”

Zenjirou considered that for a while and was only able to come up with a single reason. His face twisted at his thoughts. He then opened up the letter and cast his eyes across it. His current level of literacy in the language meant he could only understand about half of it but it seemed to say exactly what Aura had told him.

“And that long-term post is to protect me?”

“Indeed,” she replied bluntly.

Zenjirou let out a deep sigh. “Seriously?”

Him needing a guard in the Twin Kingdoms meant he would be staying there for longer than expected. That, in turn, meant that his business in the other nation would not be complete after this next visit.

Aura gave a slightly guilty smile at his disappointed slump. “I apologize, but we need closer communication between our nations. The quickest, most definitive method to do so is teleportation. You and I are the only ones currently capable of that, at least for the next decade or so.”

“Yeah. Zenkichi’s old man needs to step up to the plate until he’s old enough.”

Aura gave no response. After all, Carlos Zenkichi was first in line to the throne of Capua. Even when he grew up, he’d not have such a free position as Zenjirou.

The child currently growing inside her was a different matter, but the older prince reaching maturity would do nothing for Zenjirou’s busy schedule. The one saving grace was that teleportation meant he could make frequent trips back to the inner palace where his wife was waiting.

This wasn’t the time to be considering that, though. She would leave that problem to her future self and set her mind to bidding her husband farewell.

“I should get going, then,” he said. “I need to focus, so step back a bit?”

“Very well,” she replied, moving back with the maids at her side. Zenjirou then focused on his teleportation. He fixed his gaze on the camera’s screen to burn the image into his mind before closing his eyes to imagine himself standing in the middle of the image.

He put all of his concentration into maintaining that image while practically unconsciously manipulating his mana output and chanting the spell.

“Send all things in the space that I envision to the place that I desire. As compensation, I offer—”

A moment later, he vanished from in front of Aura. He had managed it in a single attempt this time. The many opportunities he’d had to try it had led to his proficiency improving by leaps and bounds.

After seeing him off, Aura eased back into her chair with assistance from the maids. Once she was seated, she let out a deep sigh.

“They assigned Princess Margarita to Princess Freya. Additionally, they sold her a purifier and even gifted the Lulled Sea as a ‘symbol of friendship between their countries.’ There has to be something behind it. We see the Northern Continent as a necessity as well, after all.”

Freya would soon be boarding the Glasir’s Leaf and returning to the Northern Continent. Aura wanted to have people she trusted on board to gather information there.

“Margarette, you are a given, considering your appearance.”

“Understood,” replied the woman in question from behind. She bowed her blonde head in agreement as she stepped forward to talk.

“I regret that sending you to the Northern Continent may be somewhat harsh, but we have no one else capable of blending in. I offer my apologies and hope you will do so.”

“Thank you for your concern. However, I only have vague memories from my youth. Capua is my home, and my loyalty is to you.”

“Very well. Know that I do not take that loyalty lightly,” Aura replied.

The maid gave another bow before moving back to her original position. Aura kept her in the corner of her eye while her thoughts swirled.

“Zenjirou would be the best option, I suppose. Part of the reason for the trip is to gain permission for Princess Freya to become his concubine. It makes perfect sense for him to accompany her on such a journey. Above all else, if he goes to the Northern Continent even once, he will be able to come and go via teleportation. That cannot go unconsidered.”

Zenjirou was irreplaceable, so she was hesitant to expose him to danger. However, the increased utility that it would represent was too much to pass up. Teleportation was just that much of a game-changer.

“The magic tools should make it far less dangerous. I can ensure Prince Francesco creates a single-use magic tool for teleportation in case the worst should come to pass. That should minimize the risk.”

As a politician, she could not disregard the benefits of sending Zenjirou to the Northern Continent. Her thoughts developed further. The Twin Kingdoms was showing an unusual amount of accommodation to Freya, who came from that continent.

And it wasn’t just to Freya either. Despite the clear reticence Zenjirou had demonstrated, they had practically bent over backward for him. The Twin Kingdoms having an ulterior motive and trying to get them involved in something would not be a concern.

The concern came with the possibility that they were simply in a position where they could not afford to do anything else—if they had noticed something which meant they needed friendly relations with both Capua and Uppasala.

“If that comes to pass, I doubt we could refuse any such treaties or alliances.”

Perhaps they wanted an even closer alliance or pact. There were several ways of going about that, but she could hypothesize the most likely steps they would take.

“They will probably offer a high-ranking noble—or maybe even a royal—as a concubine for Zenjirou as a symbol of their friendship,” she mused aloud.

More specifically, it would be Lucretia or Bona, with a lesser probability of one of the girls from the four dukedoms. If the Twin Kingdoms saw an alliance as indispensable, it would become immensely difficult to refuse them. While marriages between different countries were rare due to lineal magic being equivalent to royal status, Zenjirou already carried the blood of both the Capua and Sharou families, making him an exception.

“Truly, though, it feels like every solution is being pushed onto my husband as of late...”

She then let out another deep sigh, as if to expel her feelings of guilt at the same time.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Meanwhile, having safely arrived in the Twin Kingdoms, Zenjirou had returned to his rooms and set about completing his duties as quickly as possible.

Before anything else, he had called Eladio up to hand over the letter from Aura.

“Eladio,” he said, “Her Majesty has issued a change in your order. The particulars can be found here.” He handed the letter to the taller man as he spoke.

“I shall review them immediately,” the knight replied, doing so. His eyebrow quirked as he finished. “A long-term posting here? In other words, we are not to return with the relief force from the Twin Kingdoms?”

Zenjirou nodded. “Indeed. We will be forming closer ties with the Twin Kingdoms, so you and your men will be posted here for a while. However, that will not apply to those who cannot adapt to living abroad. Anyone who finds the burden too onerous will be allowed to return with the relief force.”

“Understood. To confirm, how long will any others be remaining in the country?” he asked, thinking of his subordinates.

“The Twin Kingdoms are replacing their forces in Capua periodically. They seem to intend to do so once every two to three years. We will be doing the same and rotating with them. In other words, they will return after two to three years.”

The knight’s expression relaxed slightly at his answer.

“Very well. I will inform the men of that. From my perspective, there are three who would be best served by returning. However, I would suggest a visible punishment for them when they return.”

Zenjirou wasn’t entirely happy with the suggestion. “I would say that not being suited to a foreign post would be beyond an individual’s control, would it not?”

The young commander did not falter at the question from his superior. “Indeed. However, they are still insufficient in some way. No matter what else, there is the risk that we could invite a spate of people feigning that inability if there were no form of punishment.”

“I see.” Zenjirou had no choice but to defer to the commander here.

At least some people would certainly go so far as to lie in order to get home if it would be two to three years otherwise. Punishing those who dropped those duties—even if it was due to unavoidable poor health—would serve as a deterrent.

Emotionally, Zenjirou didn’t want to agree. However, he wasn’t arrogant enough to refute his subordinate’s valid suggestions with no alternative plan of his own.

“Very well. I will discuss this with Her Majesty when I return to make those arrangements.”

“Thank you for taking my suggestion into consideration, sir,” the knight said. He came to attention so rapidly, you could almost hear his spine straightening.

Once the man had left, Zenjirou sank back into his chair and considered things. “What to do now, then?” he mused quietly to himself.

He was currently holding the letter from Aura to Bruno in his hand. Its contents were much the same as he had already informed Eladio of. Changing plans and having a guard force stationed long-term would require permission for them to remain in the country. The Twin Kingdoms was doing much the same for Francesco’s and Bona’s guards, so permission was practically assured. The problem Zenjirou had was how to deliver the letter.

His emotions agreed with doing the same as last time and getting Lucretia to deal with it. However, Aura had told him to consider reconciling with the two men. She had spoken in vague terms, but Zenjirou could hear what went unsaid—it was extremely likely that he would have to do so before long.

He doubted she would give such warnings if the possibility was small.

“Then again, this is relatively urgent, so sending it via Lucretia shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

The letter requested that plans that had been made for Zenjirou’s guards to depart imminently be scrapped. It required several days of notice, so not being able to directly discuss it with the king or crown prince was unavoidable.

“Yup, I’ll ask her to do it.”

His conclusion wasn’t wrong by any means, but he couldn’t claim to have not included his emotions in making the decision.