Dual Life ~Hiru wa Yuusha Party, Yoru wa Maou Gun~

Chapter 33 – Reunion at the Capital (1)

As the wheat harvest season drew to a close, the sun, gradually ushering in the fullness of summer, asserted its presence at the center of the vast sky, illuminating the earth with a bright and warm glow. 

In the heart of the Valois Kingdom, the central region, summer was never too scorching nor winter too harsh. It boasted a remarkably temperate climate throughout the year, making it a pleasant place to reside. 

The northern and western parts were even cooler, while the southern areas facing the sea were characterized by high temperatures and dryness. However, such matters were of no concern to the people residing in the heart of the kingdom, the Royal Capital of Valois. 

The houses, growing larger and more spacious as one approached the city walls encircling the capital, basked in the gentle sunlight of early summer. 

At the eastern entrance of the city, known as the East Gate, a man exuded an air of nobility as he stood idly, his gaze fixed upon the eastern road. 

With his rare obsidian eyes and similarly darkened hair, one might mistake him for someone from the Far East. Yet, his tall stature and well-defined nose hinted at a different heritage. 

The eldest of the guards protecting the gate approached the man, whose appearance suggested to him mixed Eastern ancestry, and spoke to him. 

“Lord Speciēs, if you will allow me, I can guide you to a waiting area. While the climate here is mild, waiting for a long time at this hour could be burdensome.” -Old Guard 

“No, please don’t worry about me. Besides… look, they are already in sight,” the man, Farsa Speciēs, replied, gesturing toward the road and indicating the approaching carriage to the guard.  

In the driver’s seat, a golden-haired woman clad in armor was accompanied by a small figure, possibly a young boy or girl, whose head was covered by a hat. 

Apparently noticing Farsa’s presence near the gate, the diminutive individual, Julia, pointed and began speaking to the woman beside her. 

“Julia seems to be as lively as ever,” Farsa thought, amused, as suddenly, Julia leapt from the carriage and sprinted towards the gate with incredible speed. 

In the blink of an eye, Julia had increased the distance between herself and the carriage. Maintaining her momentum, she threw herself into Farsa’s arms. 

“Far-niiiii!!! I’m so glad you’re here to greet me! Were you lonely without me? Did you eat properly? Have you managed to charm another woman?” Julia exclaimed, her words rapid and seemingly disconnected. 

Amused and slightly bewildered, Farsa tightly embraced Julia, caressing her head over the hat, and wore a smile that conveyed his genuine delight. 

“Julia is being melodramatic, isn’t she? It’s only been a week. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine, and it seems Julia is doing well too. I wonder if she diligently continued her magical training while I was away?” -Farsa 

“Ah, ah! I’m full of energy because I got to see Far-nii! And since I’ve been diligently practicing magic, I’d like an award! Ahh, Far-nii! Far-nii! Far-nii!” 

Julia’s repeated action of rubbing her face against Falsa’s chest, accompanied by the design of the cat-eared hat she was wearing, made her appear incredibly adorable, as if she were a real cat. 

The guards wore puzzled expressions, unsure of how to address the situation. Julia, on the other hand, was delighted to be able to seek comfort from Farsa. 

For a while, this scene continued, but eventually, as the carriage caught up, it was accompanied by Zenobia’s angry voice, bringing an end to it all. 

“Oi, Julia, stop this right now! I’ve told you countless times that it’s dangerous to suddenly jump off a carriage!” -Zenobia 

“Eek! Zenobia is angry! Save me, Far-nii!” -Julia 

While chuckling at Julia, who quickly hid behind him, using him as a shield, Farsa addressed Zenobia. 

“You seem as energetic as ever, Zenobia. It feels nostalgic, even though it’s only been a week.” -Farsa 

“Y-Yes. Farsa-sama, you look well too. I appreciate you waiting for us.” -Zenobia 

Although it was only a week, it seemed much longer to Farsa, perhaps because he had been pulling all-nighters every day. Zenobia’s anger seemed to subside after talking with Farsa, and Julia had a triumphant expression on her face. 

“Hello, Farsa. It’s been a while.” -Palmina 

“Hey, Palmina. It has been a while indeed.” -Farsa 

Palmina, who peeked out from the carriage’s cargo bed, exchanged greetings with Farsa and waved her hand with a warm smile. 

The guards, who had the opportunity to see the Saint of the Fortuna Faith up close, were captivated by her presence. They stared at Palmina with their mouths slightly open, wearing somewhat vacant expressions. 

“I apologize, but may we proceed with the procedures to enter to the city?” -Zenobia 

“Yes, y-yes! I-I’m terribly sorry. Right away.” -Guard 

Zenobia, seated in the driver’s seat, called out to the bewildered guards. A few of them hurriedly inspected the carriage’s cargo bed and confirmed the permit handed to them by Zenobia. 

The confirmation process was merely a formality since Palmina was a well-known figure in the capital city. In just a few minutes, permission to enter the city was granted. 

The carriage carried Farsa, who took Julia’s place on the coachman’s seat, and set off into the heart of the capital city. 

“It’s been a while since I returned to the capital, but this area is still as quiet as ever.” -Farsa. 

The carriage, with Farsa and the others on board, traveled along the main street known as East Street, connecting the palace in the center of the capital to the Eastern Gate. 

The capital city was circular in shape, surrounded by outer walls. In the central area, one could find the royal palace and mansions where nobles resided. However, the eastern and southern parts were commercial districts, with numerous shops and restaurants lining the streets. 

Among them, the eastern district mainly catered to the nobility and wealthy, so it was natural that there were no shops loudly calling for customers. The southern district, on the other hand, experienced frequent turnover of shops. However, the commercial establishments in the eastern district, with their affluent clientele, rarely went out of business, just as Zenobia had mentioned. It was indeed a place where change was scarce. 

“All three of you might want to change clothes before heading to the palace. For now, would you mind if we head to my house?” -Farsa 

“Yes, if you are okay with it, I would prefer that as well. It would be too grand if we went to the Ctesiphon estate.”  -Zenobia 

“Me too~~. I also wanna take a bath.” -Julia 

“May I also take you up on your offer? Going back to the church would take quite some time, and if it’s alright with you, Farsa.” -Palmina 

Farsa received immediate and unanimous consent from Zenobia in the coachman’s seat, as well as from Julia and Palmina in the cargo area. 

In Zenobia’s case, she was referring to a separate residence owned by the Ctesiphon family in the capital city. Normally, it was managed by the staff, but if the daughter of a marquis visited, they would be treated with a certain level of hospitality. 

The same went for Palmina. If the Saint of the Faith of Fortuna’s return was known, various individuals would flock to see her, causing quite a commotion. 

Moreover, during their journey, it was not uncommon to stay in inns without baths, so it was understandable that Julia desired a bath, as she had mentioned. 

Having confirmed everyone’s agreement, Farsa drove the carriage towards one of his own houses. 

During his solo travels throughout the kingdom, Farsa acquired numerous properties, ranging from mansions in the capital to small hideaways. While he had multiple houses within the capital city, there was a reason behind it. If he casually teleported to such locations, suspicions would arise as to how he ended up in a room unnoticed. Thus, he needed to prepare unmanned residences as well. 

The one Farsa was heading to now was one of those houses. Though he hired cleaning staff on a regular basis, it remained uninhabited most of the time. 

This particular residence boasted a large bath as its main feature, which was why Farsa had purchased it without hesitation upon finding it. However, due to his busy schedule, he rarely had the opportunity to utilize it, making it a truly wasted treasure. 

“Here is my retreat… Well, it’s more like a hidden getaway. I don’t use it much, but the large bath is its highlight and highly recommended,” Farsa explained, guiding the three of them as they arrived at the estate and parked the carriage on the premises, resembling a real estate agent. 

“Hmm, though it has a different charm from the aristocratic district, this property seems quite impressive. As expected of Farsa-sama, your discerning eye is truly remarkable.” -Zenobia 

“Hmm, I wonder how many houses Far-nii actually owns. He wouldn’t secretly be housing a mistress, would he?” -Julia 

“I had thought it would be the same mansion we visited before, Farsa-kun. But it seems I was mistaken. Nevertheless, it’s a relief and more comfortable without other people around.” -Palmina  

The noble district that Zenobia referred to was a place where mansions of aristocrats lined up around the royal palace, with higher-ranking nobles residing closer to the center. 

However, this location where the four of them stood was slightly before the noble district, an area where affluent merchants and other wealthy commoners resided. 

There were numerous residences more luxurious than those of mediocre lower-ranking nobles, and it could be said that Farsa’s property, praised even by the daughter of a marquis, was indeed a desirable asset. 

While all three of them had visited Falsa’s mansion in the noble district before, this was the first time he had invited them to a different house. 

“Julia, I haven’t been involved with any specific individuals, let alone secretly accommodating anyone. For now, could you all come inside? I’ll show you to the baths,” reassured Falsa, countering Julia’s peculiar remark as he opened the front door, inviting the three of them into the house. 

In fact, he had already filled the bath with water and prepared everything for immediate use. Falsa’s ability to anticipate their actions, considering the personalities of the three, allowed him to perform this feat. It was a level of foresight that was not normally expected, but within this residence, there was another person waiting who exceeded even that. 

“Ara, Farsa-sama you have finally returned. I have been waiting so impatiently. How weary I have become.”  

The speaker, adorned in a resplendent dress and with long, golden hair cascading like Zenobia’s, approached Farsa, elegantly brushing the hair away from her face. 

Caught off guard by the unexpected presence, all four individuals froze momentarily. However, Farsa, as the host, managed to muster a voice of inquiry. 

“Why, may I ask, are you here, Princess Aurelia?” -Farsa 

Aurelia de Valois, the very princess who had appointed Farsa as the court mage, selected Julia as her apprentice, and reigned in the corrupt nobles within the Valois Kingdom, stood before them. She was the first princess of the Valois Kingdom, not much older than Julia or Zenobia. Yet, she held the highest claim to the throne, making her the strongest contender for the future queen. 

“Such a greeting, questioning my presence. I can already anticipate the thoughts running through Farsa-sama and everyone else’s minds. As I’ve come this far, I thought it would be a good opportunity for us women to bond in the bathhouse and perhaps exchange tales of our journeys.” -Aurelia  

Farsa, despite his exasperation, pondered how best to handle the situation, his mind racing. He silently wished for a respite from these predicaments.