The next day, I went on a trip to the Imperial Capital with Michael.
As part of the imperial family's official activities, the purpose was to visit the orphanage 'Laurel House' in District 14.
It became important for workers to decorate me to suit our outings.
Peony and Lian are excited as if they have received a ritual.
“You mean comfortable clothes, not dresses? As similar as possible to commoners?”
“But I don’t think Your Highness should be looked down upon as a commoner.”
“That is correct. It would be better to dress as a maid from a noble family rather than just a commoner.”
Early in the morning, Lian bought a light blue dress with puff sleeves from the Imperial Clothing Store.
It was very cute with a white frilly apron on the front and a white ribbon on the back.
The length slightly covered half of the shins to allow for comfortable movement, so white knee socks were visible.
The lime blonde hair was braided into a round shape and decorated with a long ribbon.
Michael, who accompanied me as an escort, also wore an outfit that suited me.
Instead of wearing the fancy knightly uniform that boasted to everyone that he was part of the Imperial Guard, he wore leather clothes like a traveler.
Wearing a gray cape and carrying a long sword loosely, he exuded the shabby charm typical of a wanderer.
As expected, Michael looked good in whatever he wore.
“Preparations are complete. Would you like to leave immediately?”
Cedella rests a robe on my shoulder.
Not only was spring not fully in full swing yet, but it felt chilly.
There were many people who would bite me if I showed up in a maid's outfit, saying it would undermine the Princess's dignity.
A carriage was waiting in front of the villa. This is the era when airplanes and ultra-long-distance warp portals were invented.
Map carriages were still an important means of short- and medium-distance transportation.
The carriage took me and Michael and set off. We removed the royal family emblem from the carriage, disguised to look like an ordinary commercial carriage, and leisurely left the imperial castle.
“I feel like I’m sneaking when I’m dressed like this.”
"Right."
I did not hide my excitement.
The fence was like a strict framework.
For me, who lived trapped inside, I never get tired of seeing the city where people live dynamically every time I see it.
I like the streets lined with houses boasting colorful triangular roofs, but of course, the most enjoyable thing to see was the downtown area.
A street wide enough for four carriages to run side by side. On both sides were rows of shops with colorful awnings and signs.
In the plaza where public institutions are concentrated, a fountain rose refreshingly into the sky and spread water droplets.
People walk busily. They bought something from a grocery store or a stall and sometimes ate their food while sitting at a table with a canopy.
I wasn't the only one who fell in love with the scenery of the ecliptic.
I, who was suddenly thinking about Michael, looked back at him.
As expected, he couldn't take his eyes off the sight seen through the window.
“Now that I think about it, Michael, this must be your first time seeing the city. How is it?"
“There are far more buildings and people than the imperial palace, and it is quite different from the imperial palace."
“I think so.”
"Yes? I think this is the real outside world. There are so many and diverse people living here.”
“In short, the imperial palace was a world similar to a slightly larger Homunculus training center.”
“Hmm, that’s not entirely wrong.”
After that, I explained to Michael various things seen through the window.
What is this unusual-looking store?
To find out what family the carriage just passed belongs to, go to the next alley.
What comes out, what is a market and how is it different from a store?
How expensive the houses on the other side of the bridge are, etc...
I generously shared my knowledge and experience.
Michael, who was listening to this with interest, pointed out an important point.
“Wasn’t my Princess only focused on alchemy research at the imperial palace? Why do you know the outside of the imperial palace so well? Isn’t that right?”
“I got caught.”
I confessed with a smile.
“Actually, I’ve been outside the imperial palace a lot. How to get alchemy ingredients cheaply, I had to buy it myself on the black market. Cedella didn’t know much, so I had to go there myself, but the black market was dangerous, so I couldn’t go there, so I went out secretly.”
“I see. It is an honor to know your secret that even Lady Arpel does not know.”
“Don’t ask me how I fooled Cedella. I won’t tell Michael because the day may come when she has to use it too.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to just drag me in as an accomplice?”
“Will you become an accomplice? Then it’s good for me.”
While we were having a private chat, the carriage arrived at District 14.
Because I was passing through a high hill, I could see the slums on the lower ground at a glance through one window.
It was a colorless area as if it had been made of wood.
Michael, who was looking at the same thing, opened his mouth.
“So, the Princess prevented the massacre. The slum residents should be grateful.”
“I just did what I had to do.”
“Then I will be grateful to you.”
"Huh?"
I released the arm supporting my chin and looked back at Michael. Then I lowered my eyes and made an informal gesture.
“Thank you for preventing the homunculus from committing the crime of massacre.”
I was in a strange mood.
Is it because he knows that he is born with the destiny to become the King of the homunculus?
He was seen as representing his own people.
'I'm doing well now.'
It felt like I had received a compliment. A soft smile appeared on my lips.
At that time the carriage stopped. Hearing the coachman's voice announcing his arrival. When I came out, I saw an orphanage sign that said ‘Laurel’s House’.
The rusty iron door that made a beeping sound served as a doorbell in itself.
“Oh, are you here, Your Highness the 7th Princess! I was waiting.“I am Anna Uribel, the director here!”
A shabby orphanage built on a dirty street. Few visitors come here. Perhaps because of this, the director welcomed me warmly without even suspecting it.
“Nice to meet you, Director Uribel.”
“Oh, please go inside. I’m sorry it’s such an ugly place.”
I and Michael followed the director and crossed the threshold of the building. The crying kids greeted the two people even more violently than the director.
“Uhhhhhh!”
“Aaaah!”
I was greatly embarrassed by the children's cries that seemed to never stop.
'Wow, it's loud.'
The imperial palace was generally a static and quiet place. There was no chance to hear the deafening noise.
Also, because I was originally a scholar who explored intellectual areas, I was weak to noise.
“Oh, the kids keep crying.”
"Usually... And the manpower..."
It seemed like the director was trying hard to explain the orphanage, but very few words were audible.
The conversation seemed impossible. I spoke to the director, trying to get used to the noise.
“Well, first of all, I want to look around the orphanage and talk to the children.”
“Are you serious?!”
The director was pleased.
Usually, people just come to the entrance and see the orphanage's finances on the shabby sign.
They often ended up handing over donations, saying they had seen through the situation.
But isn't the Princess in front of her very active compared to them?
The director said, his eyes red with a little emotion.
“These children are like angels. Your Highness will like it.”
Because I put my face close to it, I guess this sounded good.
Just then, the director received a report that a child had had an accident in the yard.
The orphanage suffered from a chronic shortage of manpower, so the director had to leave the orphanage to personally take care of the problem.
I and Michael remained in the room where dozens of children were noisily crowded together.
I didn't want to just wait for the director to arrive. I made a solemn decision and approached the nearby children first.
"Hi, nice to meet you."
I look like a pretty maid.
From the moment I opened the door and came in, I had caught the attention of several children.
The children accepted my greeting.
“Who are you, sister?”
“Where are you from?”
“Are you playing with us?”
The children surrounded me and started asking questions.
I felt like my concentration and agility were being tested.
While answering the children's questions one by one, I ended up answering them without thinking.
"Huh. Shall we play together?”
The barrage of questions was an intermediate process to get this answer.
It was clear. Children shouted from all directions with sparkling eyes.
“Let’s catch the tail!”
“I like playing with dolls better!”
“Sister, sister, sing a song!”
“Please read a storybook!”
“The ribbon is pretty! Give me this!”
"I'm hungry! Give me a snack!”
Each person's requirements were different.
In order to win in the competitive environment, they pulled on my sleeve and skirt, asking me to look this way.
Meanwhile, the hair ribbon came loose and my hair became long and loose.
It got to the point, but the kids didn't stop.
“Hold the tail!”
"No! It’s doll play!”
"Sing!"
"No! Fairy tale book!"
While being tormented by children who were completely out of control, I gained enlightenment.
'Ah, this is why Alben told me to wear comfortable clothes...'
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