I parted with Harold and the others and returned to Water Palace.
There was no more time as it was about an hour until the launching ceremony begins.
I felt guilty about being unable to stay by Harold’s side who was in low spirits.
However, I trusted Gilbert and somehow managed to reluctantly excuse myself.
As usual, when we entered the room from the window, Palug had already been waiting for me to change clothes.
She had a relieved expression for a moment, and quickly turned into a cat and crawled out of the dress.
It was a changing clothes method unique to someone with the ability to transform.
『Jeez, I was wondering if you could make it in time~』
“I’m sorry. Because the fraud case is getting more and more serious and complicated.
The transition magic is being camouflaged, and there is a northern n.o.ble that is difficult to deal with.”
『A camouflage? I want to hear it in detail.
It might be a specific hint for the camouflaging means of the altar that is in trouble.
……But, before that.』
Returning to her human form, Palug helped me changed clothes with a quick work that couldn’t be followed with my eyes.
It was about twice the speed when I was dressed by a servant everyday.
In the blink of an eye, my outfit turned into the dress for the launching ceremony.
With bright blue fabric as the base, there were decorations made with frills embroidery and high-quality golden thread that formed waves.
“It’s important to be able to attend the launching ceremony. So let’s tie your hair and pick the accessories……”
“Palug can do anything, huh.”
“This is not my first time taking care of girls.”
She gathered my hair in a high position and tied them with a white and blue ribbon.
A necklace with a small sapphire head on a fine golden chain was around my neck distinctly.
As the finishing touch, to conceal my lack of sleep, a light makeup was put on my face until my complexion appeared nice.
It was finished with a bright refreshing image as a whole.
The only thing left was to wear a bright expression that matched this image. That was a tall order.
“Thank you. Palug.”
“Now, you should go before Ernst becomes suspicious. We’ll talk again later, okay?”
When the preparations were over, Palug once again turned into a kitten and sat at my feet.
Before I knew it, Tirnanog had also finished his disguise as a stuffed toy-size steel golem.
I changed places with Palug just in time, headed for the venue while being escorted by my father who was waiting by the door.
☆
Knot Reed’s wharf was turned upside down in confusion from the abundant people there.
The occupations of the visitors were varied, and they were crowding to see the launching ceremony from a better place.
They pushed aside the ropes and the city guards wearing ceremonial armor away.
Us partic.i.p.ants were lined up on the opposite sh.o.r.e of the visitors, along the crimson carpet leading up to the shipyard.
Aligned on this side were the Ignitians and the neighboring aristocrats, powerful people in the town including the mayor, and the shipbuilders who work their hardest for this.
The shipbuilders were wearing high-quality clothes up to the lowest apprentices and everyone was proudly sticking out their chest.
In the shipyard where the curtain covering it was taken away and removed, there was an aircraft carrier waiting for the launching ceremony.
The new aircraft carrier seemed wasn’t a steel ship like its predecessor, but a huge wooden sailboat with a wide deck and five masts.
However, it seemed that golem powers were built inside, so it wasn’t just a sailboat.
The aircraft carrier was placed on a foundation for sliding down an iron rail drawn to the sea.
The board which had prevented the hull from slipping had already been removed, and the only thing left was to cut the rope that held the ship.
The horn was reverberating grandly.
The n.o.bles who were standing in a row drew their lips together and straightened their spines.
A few seconds later, the shipbuilders also stood upright immovable.
Ignitia knights marched on the carpet.
With Auguste at the lead, he was followed by knights and military band, the knights were carrying a wide ceremonial sword, while the flag-bearers were holding a battle flag.
Auguste wore ceremonial costume on top of his dark red uniform.
It was a dark-blue-almost-black velvety robe, embroidered with the crest of the dragon knights.
A sash with golden thread embroidery on the red background slung diagonally from his shoulder.
On his waist was a slender sword that seemed to be a ceremonial sword.
Auguste was wearing the spectacular and heavy costume without discomfort.
With the appearance of Auguste, the cheering sounds of the visitors came from the opposite sh.o.r.e.
It seemed that the women’s cheers sounded louder in particular.
Apparently Auguste had dispelled his disgraceful reputation and seemed to have become popular with women.
Auguste was walking with a serious look, but loosened his lips a little bit when he pa.s.sed in front of me.
I also met his eyes and responded with a smile.
Auguste went up to the podium placed in front of the aircraft carrier and turned around.
He first bowed to the visitors, and then to the aligned partic.i.p.ants.
Waiting until the visitors quieted down, Auguste opened his mouth.
“I am deeply grateful that I can witness the launching of the new aircraft carrier on this fine day.
On the behalf of my father, Henry the King of Ignitia, I pray that G.o.d’s blessing will be with the navigator of this aircraft carrier Metatronius.”
Auguste declared with a loud voice.
A knight handed a treasure sword to him who went down the podium.
It was still a sword that seemed to be too big for the ten-year-old Auguste, but he was able to pull it out easily.
The raised blade was shining under the sunlight.
When Auguste swung down the treasure sword, the rope was cut in a single slash.
A solemn sound was reverberating like a rumble in the ground.
The huge hull slowly slid down the slope.
Loud cheers sounded, and the military band played a lively tune.
As the numerous crowds were watching, the aircraft carrier gradually accelerated and sent towards the sea.
At last the ship landed on the water, making a big splash.
The hordes of sea birds in the harbor were surprised and flew away at the same time.
Ten dragons and the dragon knights who urged them forward took off from the old-style aircraft carrier who had been anch.o.r.ed in the bay.
While circling the sky above the new aircraft carrier, the dragon knights scattered flowers of various colors.
Children were jumping up and down with their hands in the air, trying to catch the scattered petals.
Such a lovely sight could be seen in both the aristocrats and the spectators’ side.
The dragons made a graceful land on the new aircraft carrier one by one.
When the launch and the transfer of the dragon knight troops had finished safely without any accident, the ceremony was over.
The visitors were dispersing, and many of them would be going to celebrate the new aircraft in the future.
The circ.u.mstances on the partic.i.p.ants’ side were also similar.
A number of boats arrived on the sh.o.r.e of the shipyard.
After this, we would change location to the deck of the new aircraft carrier, the party would start by gathering not only the relevant aristocrats but also the merchants of Knot Reed.
☆
Many tables were brought in on the deck of the new aircraft carrier, and a lot of well-dressed people were sitting and talking.
At first I was thinking of greeting Auguste, but I couldn’t find his figure.
I guessed he also had many things to do.
I went with my father to say h.e.l.lo to Ignitia and the northwestern lords.
While hiding behind a smile, I strained my ears for the talks about the silverware industry and the fraud.
However, the topic about the Earl Nibelheim never came out.
Were they not yet widespread or were they all looking at Otou-sama’s att.i.tude?
Come to think of it, I couldn’t see the figure of Earl Nibelheim.
I caught a glimpse of him during the launching ceremony, so perhaps he was busy running around after the launching ceremony.
While chatting with the lords and the others including Viscount Turm, the prominent merchants of Knot Reed turned up.
I felt like they were examining the facial expressions of my father and I.
After all, the story of the mine fraud was already spreading and they were evidently observing for a reaction.
The topic shifted to the bidding of the aircraft carrier’s outfit and equipment.
Although outwardly it was a formal bidding, it seemed that the consignment of who got which goods was decided before the actual bidding started.
So, the wealthy merchants entered a craze of hard selling of their self-made techniques and commodity.
Cheers could be heard suddenly near the bow.
The lords and merchants also temporarily suspended their negotiations that had been getting intense and looked up toward that direction.
“Auguste-sama!”
Auguste was riding a large dragon over several tens of meters and waved his hand.
He wasn’t wearing his ceremonial costume, instead he had changed into clothing he could easily move in like his riding clothes.
It seemed that he didn’t bring the small dragon Goldberry.
He stood up on the back of the dragon and let his body fall lightly.
A voice closed to a scream rose from the audience.
Several dragons came flying in a way that intersect with his falling course.
They took the falling Auguste on their wings.
It was just like bouncing on a trampoline.
Auguste softened the impact a couple of times in the same way, spun his body like a gymnast, and landed splendidly.
The audience applauded spontaneously and raised shouts of joy.
That surprised me.
As usual, he was a prince that was bad for my heart.
However, as expected of someone from the royal family, he really knew how to draw attention.
When I looked at the cat at my feet thinking that she had to be worried about him, she had a comfortable look.
It seemed that Palug had predicted this.
This was due to their long-standing relationship.
Otou-sama saw the state of Auguste who was surrounded by many people and gave a restrained smile.
“Good grief, he really is the same as His Majesty Henry.”
“That’s good, right, Otou-sama.”
“Aa, His Majesty Henry will be relieved if this is the case. Truly, what a relief.
Erica must be worried too. Don’t hesitate to go there.”
Otou-sama stroked my head lightly and said so.
I bowed to my father and the others and headed for Auguste.
“Auguste-sama, I’m happy that you are in good health.”
“Yaa, Erica. I’ve been wanting to see you.
Everyone, I’m sorry for being rude immediately after arriving, but I will have to excuse myself.
I don’t want to keep my special friend waiting.”
Auguste bowed with a dramatic gesture, drew my hand and left the circle of people.
I apologized for depriving them of the most popular prince, but for some reason everyone was watching me with a warm smile.
Auguste and I brought the two phantom beasts accompanying me and moved to the vicinity of the ship’s bow.
The figure head seemed to imitate the figure of an angel, and when I looked down from the bow, I saw the wing parts were carved precisely.
When there were no people around us, Auguste showed an innocent smile suitable for a child of ten years old.
“I was saved, Erica. I didn’t think that it will raise so much attention.”
“Well, Auguste-sama. I thought that you want everyone to see you and made a flashy entrance.”
“No, no, right now I’d rather spend my valuable time with the person I was looking for.
To tell the truth, this princely mask, it doesn’t have any room to breathe.”
Auguste put his hands on the ‘mask’ that couldn’t be seen, and made a serious look.
I laughed at his silly gesture unintentionally.
“I just sent Goldberry to my room for a while.”
“My, my, then, there will be a terrible rumor among the city people about the dragon knight prince.
Was Goldberry hurt somewhere?”
“Aa, no, Briar and Blumbell fell asleep, so she’s babysitting.
Those two have just been born.”
“I see.”
I thought of the appearance of the small Goldberry taking care of the hatchlings.
It was somewhat cute.
Palug who was looking up at Auguste also seemed to be happy.
“By the way, the launching ceremony just now was also wonderful, Your Highness.”
“Right~? I’m also good at being a cat. You can praise me more, you know?”
“My, the cat’s true character has already shown through, Auguste-sama.”
“Haha, that’s not good.”
Auguste smiled amiably as usual.
Palug was moving at his feet unnoticed.
She seemed to enjoy watching her former master from various angles.
A golden cat’s tail was standing upright, moving and swaying happily.
Yup, yup, it had been a long time, so she should enjoy herself to her heart’s content.
“Really, this is my first time feeling this excited. It seems that I was able to trick them skilfully.”
“Yes, I was also tricked. Your Highness Auguste was very cool.”
As I responded with a smile, Auguste looked as if he was embarra.s.sed.
He seemed to be unusually shy.
Auguste had a familiar atmosphere, so his response which was suitable for his age was very fun.
“That’s right! Do you want to see the result of the training I mentioned before?”
Auguste suddenly changed the topic as he hit his palm in sudden remembrance.
It seemed like he was in a hurry somehow.
Speaking of which, he was getting his training to become a Theurge from Professor.
“Is it the result of your training with Professor?”
“Aa, I want to try it out. It’s convenient for you to be here.”
Auguste said so and took my hands.
He closed his eyes and prayed silently, correcting our connected hands.
I was somehow confused.
“It’s difficult for Aurelia to become the partner……do you feel like something touching your spirit?”
“Well……no, there’s nothing like that.”
“Huh~, this is not good. Your spirit is far away, I cannot perceive it……right, let’s converse it.”
Apparently, Auguste seemed to be doing a trial and error.
I was in a state that didn’t know at all what he was doing right now.
When I tilted my head, suddenly there was a sensation as if a palm was touching me lightly.
“I wonder if this is sufficient. Close your eyes, Erica.”
I closed my eyes in accordance to Auguste’s words.
Huh? What, was I floating? But, my feet were on the deck properly.
There was a strong wind pressure that I shouldn’t be able to feel on my skin.
I felt like my body was thrown and cast away into the sky.
“Eeh……!?”
I was about to panic for a moment at the impossible sensation.
Auguste gripped my hands and I regained my composure.
“Calm down, take a deep breath once.”
When I breathed deeply as I was told, a sensation of ascending slowly flowed into me.
I connected with something on the outside of my body, and I became at ease as if I was being anesthetized.
I opened my eyes abruptly even though I was supposed to close my eyes.
I could feel the heat of the sun with the ‘wings’ on my back.
There was a blue sky above my head and a sea of white clouds spreading like a snowy landscape before my eyes.