Redcliffe Castle.

(Nina's point of view)

Nobles are lined up dressed in formal uniforms and Duchess Isolde Guerrin sits with an air of composure on the cathedra. I, Nina, a former refugee, am standing there amongst those nobles too. Today, they didn’t approve of Valena coming along so it can’t be helped that she has nothing to do. The only ones with the right to be allowed to line up here are those with Viscount status and above, and I am specifically allowed as the Lady Isolde's direct servant.

A trumpet’s sound rings out and a palace soldier dressed in an elegant outfit declares resonantly.

"The wife for Lord of Venetian City State, Federico de Vandimion, Lady Charlotte de Vandimion  has arrived!"

"Let her through!"

Lady Isolde declares exaggeratedly. All of us are waiting for her sake in the first place, so I don’t think there is a need to purposely put on an act, but nobles are troublesome beings.

"Nina, it’s a state guest. You better not take your usual attitude, alright?"

Marchioness Ivanna Reskina gives me a warning while standing beside me. That’s right, when I was told that Duchess Farnese's mother was coming, I didn’t feel any sort of tension. 

The noblewoman is walking on top of a red carpet and the impression I got from seeing Lady Charlotte reminds me of a more matured Lady Farnese. The appearance of her flowing dress as she walks with her head held high makes me feel that this is truly what a noble looks like.

Lady Charlotte bows elegantly as she walks up in front of the Lady Isolde.

"It is a pleasure to meet you for the second time, Duchess. On this occasion, I have come as a proxy for my husband. I cannot thank you enough for this extremely kind treatment as a state guest."

"You did well to come from such a long distance. I appreciate yours and Lord Vandimion’s sincerity."

Lady Charlotte returns to her normal posture and starts to speak while smiling.

"I apologize on behalf of my husband for coming to greet you so late. Even though Vandimion had pledged allegiance to His Majesty, King Hiro."

I was told by Valena that as lord of a tiny nation, Lord Federico Vandimion is much beneath the level of Marchioness of Ferelden  like Lady Isolde. Furthermore, in the newly established Hezri Kingdom that Vandimion had secretly joined as a vassal state, Lady Isolde is a Duchess. 

"What of it..House of Vandimion had provided us with many thousands of gold coins."

"I thank you for Hezri Kingdom's generosity in providing us raw foods for our self sufficiency.... Although this is sudden……we have been entrusted with a letter from Marquis Solange de Montbelliard, a member of Council of Herald, highest order in Orlais Allied States."

Looking perplexed, Lady Isolde gives cue to Lady Ivanna. Lady Ivanna takes the decorated letter, opens it and passes to Lady Isolde.

Lady Charlotte adds,

"Solange de Montbelliard's land shares the borders with Venetian and Margrave Odbart Adalgiso's region. Although he is in the dark about Hezri Kingdom, he wants to have good relationships with House of Adalgiso and you as one of the great nobles in Ferelden. My husband told him that Vandimion has very close ties with both of you. Lord Solange de Montbelliard wants to have secret dealings with you behind Orlais's back."

Lady Ivanna, Charlotte and Isolde look at each other for quite some time.

Ivanna finally break the silence, "Knowing Hiro,...ehem...I mean..His Majesty King Hiro, he would give green light to that. But is Lord Solange  trustworthy?"

Lady Charlotte replies calmly, "House of Vandimion has survived in the continents by playing as double agents for decades. We have relationships with many noble throughout many countries including the church. We keep in touch with all factions in the Council of Herald. But House of Montbelliard is special. I myself was a granddaughter of former head of Montbelliard and married to Vandimion."

Ivanna responds, 

"So Duchess Farnese has similar blood flowing in her as Montbelliard."

It seems that in the past, Lady Charlotte, a heiress to a great noble of Orlais’s family has married into the Lady Farnese's family.

"Next, I will present gifts from House of Montbelliard to Marchioness of Redcliffe. Please take this."

Charlotte hands over a list of gifts.

"Good, thank you. I will also be giving you something in return."

Lady Ivanna’s aide hands Lady Charlotte a list. As if it is something natural, both parties seem to have been prepared.

"If they were going to do an exchange, wouldn’t it be better if the both of them took what they want? They didn’t have to bring the heavy stuff." Without thinking I mutter those words in gushed voice.

A soft hand pats my shoulder. It is Lady Claire, the merchant who recently became Viscountess.

"This is called a noble’s manners. Also, Nina, I thought I told you not to make pointless chatter."

I got Lady Claire irritated. Just when I am about ready to seek an apology from her, she says,

"Forget it!"

Lady Isolde announces,

"Then, let’s begin the welcoming banquet immediately. There are people I want to introduce you to. Escort the Lady to the lounge!"

Just like that, Lady Charlotte is taken by Lady Ivanna and left the room. 

***

Torun.

Hiro's Point of View.

I sneeze. Someone must be talking about me behind my back. Perhaps my women. 

I am calculating. Out of 80,000 gold coins received from Vandimion, I had spent 40,000 coins in my translucent dashboard to summon sewerage treatment plants. Now, every part of land in my kingdom with people living on it has modern sewerage treatment plants. Every house in my kingdom even a remote wooden house is equipped with at least two modern toilet bowls. I had secretly taken eight villages in central Castall by persuasion and money. They secretly pledge allegiance to me. Castall's cruelty and mismanagement makes their subjects hate their lords and King. 

I also had summoned complete sewerage treatment plants and modern toilets for those villages. 

My only dilemma is that until now, I can't solve water supply problems. 

My subjects still have to carry water in pails from ponds, lakes and rivers or dig wells. 

I still cannot summon a modern water supply system into this universe.

In fact, I cannot transmigrate any system other than toilet and sewerage treatment plants despite being able to summon large equipment for construction.

I have even summoned modern toothpastes, toothbrushes, and alcohol cleaning sanitizers. I then distribute them to my people, to Lothering and even to Vandimion. 

The nobles get the high quality ones while the peasants get the cheap ones. At least with this, I can improve their hygiene and health by leaps and bounds.

Civilization of this world has good lighting items made from crystals. Even many peasants have those crystal lights equipped in their houses. 

However, there is no electric facility in this world. 

I am thinking about those things while brushing my teeth and stare at my face on the mirror. Yes. Mirrors exist in this world. Beds, mattress, pillows, blankets, and shoes exist but not at par with the same things in my original modern world.