“Shall we proceed, my lady?”
My attendant, Carol, said.
Carol has served me directly since I was a child.
She is the daughter of a vassal of the Klein family and has been with me even before I could form memories.
When I turned three, my father gave her to me as a gift.
Even now, after I submitted to Exus, she continues to serve me faithfully, as my personal attendant.
…Lately, since I’ve become conscious of “hygiene,” I’ve been making her bathe daily and wash her hands and brush her teeth.
Even girls can smell bad if they don’t take baths…
Currently, she’s the only servant who doesn’t smell, so I pamper her quite a bit.
Though Carol is a vassal’s daughter, she has no magical powers, not even the capacity to be a mage. She’s a child of no bloodline value, yet I still keep her close.
Exus often raises commoner orphans, and when I think about it, there are quite a few diligent commoners without magic who can be useful, like Carol.
If it’s possible to grant magic, then it might indeed be wise to make use of the hard-working among the commoners.
“Carol, how have you been lately? That guy… Exus, hasn’t secretly mistreated you, has he?”
“No, he hasn’t. However…”
“What?”
“Why do you serve someone like him, my lady? I know he’s strong, but…”
“Oh, do you dislike him?”
“N-no. It’s just that, you often voice your disapproval of his strange behavior and cruelty, so I’ve been concerned…”
Ah…
Well, yes.
That’s true, isn’t it?
“It’s true that I disapprove of those things, but you see, I actually like that ‘frightening’ part of him.”
“…Huh? I-I’m sorry?”
“If all I wanted was a strong man, then an ogre or a werewolf would do just fine, right? But a ruler must be not only strong but also fearsome.”
“I-I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand…”
Well, she doesn’t have magic, so it’s no wonder she doesn’t get it.
“Listen closely, Carol. It’s only natural for rulers to be feared by their subjects. That fear is what protects them.”
“Y-yes.”
“You’ve seen Proxia, haven’t you? If you only pamper and coddle the commoners, they’ll turn into unproductive scum, doing nothing but drinking and chasing women. We, as nobles and rulers, must be feared by the commoners so that they work.”
“I see…?”
“It’s like herding sheep. Commoners are like sheep, and we need capable shepherd dogs to bark at them and keep them in line.”
“I see. So, what about Exus then…?”
“Exus is amazing in that regard. Such strength, such cruelty! No one dares defy him. Even I wouldn’t dare—I’m certain that if I did, my entire family would suffer a fate worse than hell… With such a terrifying ruler, we are safer.”
“I-I see…”
“Moreover, great power and wealth don’t just instill fear, they also command respect. Or maybe… fear and respect are actually quite similar.”
“I see, so that’s how it is?”
“Heh, but imperial knowledge like this isn’t something you’d understand, right? The way a ruler lives is different from how a commoner does. But don’t worry. Exus may be a fearsome ruler, but he’s also a kind husband to me. So, you just need to follow me without worrying about anything, and I’ll continue to care for you…”
And so, before I knew it, we arrived at the Klein estate.
The journey was pleasant, thanks to the automated iron carriage Exus lent me, along with the homunculus attendants, a fridge, and a portable shower.
And at the castle…
“Father, I have returned.”
“Oh, Fran. Welcome home.”
The first thing I did was greet Father.
As the head of the family, he holds the highest position, so it’s only natural to greet him first, even in diplomacy.
“Brother, I’ve returned as well.”
“Ah, welcome back.”
Next, my elder brother, the heir.
After that, I suppose I’ll greet the rest of the family in order?
Exus doesn’t care much for formalities—well, more like he kills anyone who annoys him on the spot—so he doesn’t pay attention to attitudes or ranks, but I still care.
So I’ll continue to conduct myself like a noble.
Even if Exus were to assassinate the king… I will uphold my manners and customs to the very end.
…Not that I’d stop him, of course. My family comes first.
At home, I couldn’t eat the food because of my “hygiene standards,” so I used the “purification magic” I recently learned to cleanse the food.
If it were like the freshly grilled fish I had in Proxia, then it wouldn’t matter if it was dirty or not, and I’d be fine eating it.
But the elaborate dishes served at home… I have no idea what might have gotten mixed in during preparation.
So, whenever possible, I ate alone in my room, using the “replicator” that Exus gave me to make food.
Except when dining with family, I did that.
Returning home wasn’t just about resting my body and mind. I also had to show that I hadn’t neglected the military studies and training Father had assigned me.
Since I’m a girl and have many older siblings, I won’t get scolded as long as I maintain the minimum skills required to carry the family name.
But my elder brother, the heir, had it much tougher. He’s been rigorously trained since childhood. I admire him for that.
“I see… So, that boy Exus, was it? He’s not just anyone, after all.”
“Indeed… With all due respect, even if the entire Klein family mobilized its full strength, we would be no match.”
“Hmm… It seems your judgment was correct. My daughter, it appears you have quite the eye for people.”
“I am honored by your words. However, his talents are not his only charm.”
“Oh?”
“He is also captivating as a man and as a ruler.”
“Guh… Are you still holding a grudge about me opposing the engagement? I don’t oppose it anymore! In fact, I encourage you to marry him!”
“I recall you saying, ‘I will not give away my daughter!'”
“Alright, alright! I was wrong! So please, stop being so distant with me!”
“…So? Is there anything else to report?”
“There is. Would you take a look at this, Father?”
After a brief quarrel with Father, we reconciled.
Then, I presented him with an extraordinary proposal.
“T-this is… an Iron Golem?”
“No, it’s not! This is… what they call a ‘robot!'”
Yes!
I studied hard, had Exus program most of it, and worked tirelessly to fine-tune it!
It’s a ‘combat robot!’
“It operates on a similar principle to an Iron Golem but is lighter, more agile, and can use weapons and basic magic. It’s an amazing weapon! With this robot, the Klein family could fight for another hundred years!!!”
“I-I see…”
“I’ve already produced an initial batch of 500 units, so try deploying them on our frontlines!”
With that, I gave instructions to the combat robots lined up in the training ground.
“Wow… Did you really make these?”
“Well… Exus did all the foundational work, but I designed them!”
“…An army of steel, huh? To think you received something like this for free—you are well-loved.”
…I wonder.
“…No, Father. It’s not because I’m loved. Exus… he gave this to me because, to him, it’s not a ‘threat.’ That’s why he gave it so easily.”
“I see… The difference in power is staggering.”
“But! I do think he loves me! He treasures me in his own way, and he doesn’t yell or hit me! Yes, he’s insane, but he tries to be a good husband!”
“I see… You’ve grown, haven’t you? You’ve come to understand love.”
With that, Father gently patted my head for the first time in a long while.
It felt nostalgic…
And so, I spent my time quietly at home, reporting my recent affairs to Father and chatting with my siblings.
It’s so peaceful when I don’t have to deal with any interruptions!
×××××××××××××××
Excerpt from “Biographies of Great Figures of the Kingdom of Biltria”
Francis Klein
The youngest daughter of the prestigious military family, the Kleins, in the Kingdom of Biltria, Francis Klein was a sorceress often referred to as the “left arm of the demon Exus.” Her innovative “Mechanical Magic,” which combined the Klein family’s traditional castle-building techniques with her own engineering methods, later laid the foundation for the Industrial Revolution.
As a battle mage, she was highly proficient and was called titles such as the “Moving Fortress” and the “Iron Castle” at the time. However, in modern terms, these would be classified as “robotic weapons.” For the people of that era, witnessing these soulless machines operate autonomously must have been nothing short of terrifying.
Though she understood the honor of being a warrior, it is ironic that her creation—the robotic weapons—ended up being seen as the force that stripped the battlefield of its honor.
