Chamber in a castle in royal capital of Castall Kingdom.

A young woman is standing with majestic amour covering only her upper body near the door. Her yam coloured hair is not long, slightly reaching past her neck. Her crestfallen eyes are glued at the luxurious bed in the middle of the king's sleeping chamber. Lying sickly on the bed is an old man in his sixties. 

His hand is being held by a kneeling girl beside the bed. 

Like the young woman in body armour, the kneeling girl is stunning lady with grief-stricken look. The sorrow doesn't reduce both of their charm.

The kneeling girl has silver hair tightly knit in a braid. Not wearing any armour, her silk fighting attire fit her well proportioned body nicely. Her long white skirt reaches her ankle. Her breasts are above average size. 

 "How are you feeling, father?"

"Ah.. Seeing your face makes me better." The old man struggles to speak.

"I'm sorry I can't be by your side."

"Worry not. Behl has told me about the noble families. Are they behaving?"

"Yes. They are doing their responsibilities."

The girl says in gentle voice.

"Like your mother, you don't know how to doubt people. That worries me."

Hearing her father tells her obvious weakness straight to her face, she turns her lovely face downward.

Not wanting to worry her father, she forces a smile,

"Please don't worry about me. Please rest father. Get well soon and show the people your are healthy."

Her voice becomes even gentler and sweeter as her hands caress the old king's wrinkled hand.

Putting her father's hand into the mattress, she stands up and retreats to the door.

She exits the royal chamber with the armoured girl. Both of them seem to be of the same age. 

They walk gloomily along the corridor.

"Are you alright, princess? Your face seems pale."

The princess before her stops and turns back.

"Thank you, Demia. I am fine "

"You have been working non stop recently without enough rest. I am worried you might..."

"There's no time to rest now. The kingdom is poor state."

Demia gazes outside, "Are things really going to get worse?"

The princess stares beneath towards the garden, "I don't know. For now, we must assume and prepare for the worst."

Her face gradually changes from sorrowful to a slight smile.

"Your presence beside me is such a great help. If you have led a noble daughter's life, you could avoid risking life with me."

"Do you remember this, your highness." Demia smiles and resumes talking.

"Princess Scarlet. Years ago when we were small girls, when I saw you furiously training with your sword, I had the audacity to ask this question. Why do you, a princess need to take up a sword? To that you replied, 'The duty of the royal family is to protect the state,.not to wear a pretty dress and learn dancing. 

Scarlet's smile widens.

"Yes. I remember."

Demia smiles nostalgically.

"When I saw the determined look in your eyes, I swore an oath. If you, a princess, must take up the sword, then I shall become your shield. I will protect you, princess."

"Demia."

The two girls hold hands.

***

(Hiro's point of view)

Accompanied by Mirai and Irijina, each of us in a horse, I have been travelling to every village in former northern Dioral region. The reason I only bring these two is because they won't ever question or doubt my action. I have the ability to summon things and my women have been persistently questioning me for my out of the world actions. There are seven girls who never question me. Three brainwashed girls - Clementine, Sekrit and Soraya Zoen. Three kunoichi - Hanabi, Kurotsuchi and Mirai. Finally, Irijina Wolls who is an idiot. 

The reason for my tour is for summoning mini sewerage treatment system for each village. Northeastern Dioral that is Hyuutia region and recently subjugated northwestern Dioral are vast land that consist small villages separated by natural obstacles such as hill, ponds, dense woods, and streams. My previously summoned mega sewerage treatment system only covers major demesnes and towns, neglecting remote areas. Thus, I have been travelling to remote villages and summoning sewerage system. That means every poor wooden houses within my state shall possess a modern toilet. Mirai and Irijina won't pester me on the out of the world actions.

When traveling to remote villages, at first the peasants won't know I am their king as the three of us wears casual clothings.

At the same time, I want to investigate in detailed the actual situation in the land I rule. 

"Hey, do you have some time?"

"….what, who are you guys?"

A man who looks to be a peasant came to speak with us. His age is around 40, he isn’t young, but he isn’t old either. It seems like he’s growing something.

"You planting? In the middle of winter?"

"They’re potatoes. If I grow them now, there will be many that won’t turn out good, but if we’re lucky enough we can harvest them before summer. As we are now, we might not have enough to make it past the season."

"That field over there, the planting of the winter wheat hasn’t been done yet."

Mirai sharply points it out.

"We didn’t have enough hands. And by the time the noble and knights come back from the war, it would be too cold. We would miss out on the time to sow seeds."

After winning the wars, I was not directly affected so I didn’t know, but the villages in this area may also be affected by the bad access to traffic.

"But it’s not like we can give those guys nothing to eat when they come back. When there are more people, we suffer more."

I see, those returning soldiers are eating meals without helping out with the farm work. I can only say that the timing is bad. Although I don't collect taxes and I stop the nobles from sending taxes to Dioral Kingdom, the local aristocrats who rule their own demesnes still need food from their serfs for their sustenance.

The major agricultural overhaul in the main area should be nearly completed. Perhaps I should consider distributing food from their to all noble families so that remote peasants could have enough food for themselves. The remote peasants are not as technologically developed as the main area after all. Although now, the remote peasants and noble families would have their health and hygiene increase by leaps and bounds because of my sewerage treatment system.

The peasant speaks up thinking that our silence seems suspicious.

"So, where are you guys going?"

"We would be setting up a tent further down the main village for the night. But definitely we would be returning to your house tomorrow."

As I say that, Mirai holds her head in her hand, Irijina is thinking about something and one bite of the hard bread is left on the ground. I don’t think it’s true but even if you plant bread, nothing will grow from it, you know? The goodwill you left behind will just rot and disappear.

We bid farewell to the peasant and follow the route ahead. We set up a tent where the three of us would sleep together in it.