The Reincarnated Count's Daughter Is the Strongest as She Is Loved by the Spirits, Though She Is Only Wishing for Regular Romance!

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Author Notes:  

  The Luftanen arc ends here. The next part will likely be longer, but it will be the final chapter.  

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The next day, Camille came to pick me up right after breakfast. Before noon, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were scheduled to make a public appearance in the plaza in front of the royal palace. Camille also had to attend, so this was the only time he had free.

Yesterday, shortly after everything happened, Nelly came to fetch me, informing me that some of the nobles from Luftanen and the Crown Prince had arrived to thank me. There was a break between the ceremony and the ball to allow for a change of clothes and some rest, so the men, who were quicker to prepare, had come over. It seemed that those waiting in the hall were representatives from each island and their affiliates, and the average age of the men surrounding me was quite high.

My father had accompanied them, wanting to confirm my safety, while Duke Powell was in talks with people from the southern archipelago and the eastern island nations. Why is the Duke the only one working so hard? Elliot, Salomon, and all the younger men were busy working. The representatives of the islands, who had heard the situation from the Crown Prince and the Spirit King, were particularly eager to express their gratitude to me.

It felt like being praised by a crowd honoring a hero.  

On top of that, they showered me with compliments like "cute" and "intelligent."  

The Crown Prince, listening with a joyful smile, added, "Come visit anytime. I'm considering sending Camille to study in the Empire."

It seems he's fully backing Camille and wants to match us together. Even today, despite being a busy day, he's letting Camille be my guide.

For the farm visit, I figured wearing a frilly dress wouldn't be appropriate, so today, I wore a long skirt down to my ankles without a petticoat, paired with boots. I had a light blouse with a large shawl over it, similar to what the local women wore, but the fabric was, of course, silk made in Duke Powell's domain. I had to wear something that clearly represented me as an envoy from the Empire. If I dressed in Luftanen attire while walking with Camille, it could lead to some misunderstandings, right? As for Camille, he was in traditional attire, ready to jump into his duties right after returning. In this scorching sunlight, he wore a long-sleeved black outfit. He stood out, but… he looked good.

The welcome from South Island was overwhelming. I only bought cacao because I wanted to make chocolate, but they were so grateful, saying it brought them wealth and improved their lives. They almost seemed ready to bow down to me. The entire town seemed to gather, with adults and children alike cheering loudly.

South Island and North Island are quite far apart, so the climate is entirely different. It's so hot. Without spirits, I'd want to carry around some air conditioning. The sun is painful. The people on South Island have darker skin than those on North Island, with many having a deep tan. Perhaps due to the abundance of nature, most of them have spirits and don't seem to mind the heat, but they wear breezy clothing, and most men are dressed in Aloha shirts.

Cacao trees are taller than people, so we couldn't see the entire field up close. We first observed the workers from a distance, and then we planned to view the area from the upper floor of a building on a hill.

I was a bit worried about what labor conditions might be like. In poorer countries, children are considered part of the workforce, and in this world, the disparity in treatment between nobles and commoners is vast. I feared they might be forced into labor, but it seems my concerns were entirely unfounded.

A new town had been built close to the fields, and most workers lived in new houses in that town. The houses were small, single-story buildings, all of the same design, and could hardly be called luxurious. The roads were just flattened dirt, without any bricks laid, unlike in the cities. Still, each house was spacious enough to accommodate a family of four, with room for a children's room, and the sewage system construction was steadily progressing.

Did I really spend that much money? I did buy up a lot of cacao, but even so, this seems like a lot.

"The southern nobles invested to make it the island's main industry. The Empire alone wants about three times as much cacao as we currently produce, right?"  

"I want more!"  

"You were talking to Tatiana about setting up chocolate production on South Island, weren't you? We're still not meeting the demand."  

"I see."

The smiles of the workers were incredibly bright. Everyone had jobs, new homes, and regular monthly pay. They used to feel marginalized because of the Fourth Prince, fearing that the Crown Prince hated South Island, but now, with their noblewoman becoming the Crown Princess and soon to be Queen, they were filled with hope. Someone muttered quietly that they hoped the Fourth Prince would remain missing, and others quickly changed the subject, but that was probably what everyone truly felt.

"Wow, the fields are vast!"

After handing out chocolate to the workers in the fields, we moved to a building on the hill. This was apparently Tatiana's family home. On the fourth floor, we were led to a room where the entire front wall was an opening leading to a spacious balcony.

Since it was the top floor of a building on a hill, I first saw the sky. Only the sky. As I moved closer to the balcony, the view gradually expanded, revealing distant mountains and a vast cacao plantation stretching across the land. The new cacao fields were neatly arranged with a grid of pathways, clearly distinguishable from the older plantations.

"Amazing… whoa!"

I'd love to have stayed captivated by the majestic view for a while, but the wind was strong here. With nothing around to block it, it blew in from the balcony and out the opposite side. A gust hit me, and I stumbled back, my forehead fully exposed. The hairstyle Nelly had set for me was ruined in an instant.

"That's true. That's why this room is only used on windless days. Normally, they use the balcony on the second floor. But it's a nice view, isn't it?"

Indeed. But why isn't Camille's forehead showing? Is it the angle? Am I the one at fault for facing directly into the wind? Camille looked cool fixing his hair, but with all my hair flying upwards, I had no choice but to pat it down, feeling embarrassed.

"Hey, Dia."  

"Hm?"  

"My brother seems intent on advancing a marriage proposal between us, but what about you? Is there someone else you're interested in?"

Oh, wow. This conversation escalated quickly!  

Oh, I just realized we were alone. Everyone else stayed inside the room, giving us privacy on the balcony.

"Uh… I don't have to decide until I'm fifteen, so I'm not in a hurry?"  

"That's not an answer."

Right, of course not.

"When you ask about someone else… I haven't met anyone from other countries yet. But in the Empire… no one comes to mind."  

"No one, huh."  

"As I said, it's still too early to be talking about engagements. In the Empire, you can't get engaged until you're fifteen."  

"I know that. But even if it's not announced, families make promises, right?"  

"Well… close enough."

We talked, but don't come any closer!  

It's only been a day since yesterday, and I still haven't sorted out my feelings. I was finally in work mode just a moment ago!

"Then, for now, I'm the only candidate, right?"  

"That's true, but isn't it that you want to marry me for the sake of the country?"  

"…What?"  

"I plan to continue working with the company, so if—"  

"Wait. Hold on. Wait, what? That didn't get through to you?!"

"Huh? But you haven't said you like me."  

"Ugh…"

Oh no—stop blushing around your eyes!  

What is this silence? The longer it lasts, the more awkward it gets. Just remembering what we said makes my face burn! Why did I have to say that? Am I acting like a love-struck maiden?!

"I thought I had made it clear that I liked you."  

"Huh?"  

"I mean, I wouldn't enjoy being with any other girl."  

"W-Wait, wait, wait!"  

"Why are you covering your ears? Don't run away."  

"What is this—what's happening?!"  

"You're the one who made me say it."  

"I'm sorry! It was my fault! Forgive me!"  

"…Your face is bright red."

Oh no! What should I do? The air feels sweet…  

This is bad. My face is burning.

"How about you, Dia? Is there any chance for me?"  

"Uh…"  

"What was that sound?"  

"Don't laugh! I'm serious here."

"Well, sure, the conditions are good, and you're easy to talk to…"  

"This isn't about conditions."  

"True, but it's important, right? This world is male-dominated, and the head of the family has absolute authority. Camille respects my opinions, and we could work together. You treat me as an equal, which is rare."

Okay, I'm calming down a bit.

"Equal?"  

"Yeah. I want a relationship where we walk through life together as equals, not one living for the other's sake."  

"…Equal with the Fairy Princess?"  

"Camille."

What's wrong? He crossed his arms and started thinking seriously.

"Indeed, as things stand, other countries will keep interfering. Especially Bejaia and Starke… they might

 be troublesome. Alright. It might take time, but it can't be helped. Dia, will you promise me something?"  

"What?"  

"I'll do my best to be worthy of being your equal, so I hope you'll give me some time. But if you find someone else you like, please let me know before you start seeing them."  

Someone I like… It's probably the person standing right in front of me now.  

I wonder if anyone better than Camille will appear in the future.

"Okay, but what are you going to work on?"  

"I can't say right now."  

"Does that mean we won't see each other until you achieve it?"  

"Huh?"  

"Huh?"  

"Why would that be? I already have a handicap against the Empire folks; there's no way I'd want to stop seeing you."

A handicap?  

Isn't the only difference whether you use a teleportation array or a spirit to get here?  

Wait, so what did he mean just now?

"Dia, your forehead is showing."  

"Gah! You're supposed to pretend not to notice!"  

"Why? It's cute."  

Don't say things like that with a straight face!

"Somehow…"  

"What?"  

"You're reacting differently than before. Are you finally starting to notice me a little?"

Oh no, has he figured me out?

"A-Anyway, I'm not sure I understand, but if I find someone I like, I'll let you know."  

"Hey, listen to me properly."

That's what you said! Why are you looking at me like that?

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Author Notes:  

  Thank you for reading.  

  Your corrections are always helpful.  

  If you found it enjoyable, please consider giving it a rating below.  

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