"Aah, I'm exhausted..."
"Good work today, Jin."
Jin lay slumped on the sofa in the guest suite of the Detached Palace.
Jin, Reiko, Deus Ex Machina, and Sion were all lodging together as honored guests.
They had been shown to a spacious suite featuring individual bedrooms, a large living room, a washroom, and a compact kitchen.
Rather than being intended for family cooking, the kitchen was designed for attending maids to boil water and prepare light refreshments.
A refrigerator was also provided, stocked with an assortment of beverages and fresh fruit.
"...They're not going to charge us extra for using these, are they?"
Jin sounded like an uneasy guest at a Japanese inn. He was clearly run ragged.
"Come to think of it, this Detached Palace..."
Jin fondly recalled that Princess Lieschen used to reside in these very halls.
"Tia is serving under Princess Mimir now, isn't she?"
When Princess Lieschen had married Prince Ernest of the Kingdom of Egerea, her automata maid, Tia, had gone with her. Now, centuries later, she watched over her descendant, Princess Mimir.
"It looks like this palace has undergone quite a few renovations, too."
A wave of nostalgia washed over Jin as he realized just how much time had passed and how much the Klein Kingdom had changed.
"Right. You used to visit the Klein Kingdom fairly often back then, didn't you, Jin?"
"Yeah. Arranging to make Kaina Village a leased territory, treating Alois III, and so on."
Elsa was the one who actually handled the treatment, though, Jin remembered.
"...Oh, that reminds me. You and Maquina had girls attending to you today, right?"
"Yeah."
"I suspect there was a slight ulterior motive at play—hoping that if you took a liking to one of them, she might become a prospective bride."
"...I had a feeling."
It hadn't been anything as blatant as a honey trap, so he hadn't made a fuss. Once dinner concluded, he had simply thanked them and sent them on their way. While the thought had crossed his mind, he hadn't dwelled on it.
"Besides, as long as people assume you're a bachelor, you're bound to run into the same thing no matter where you go."
"You really think so?"
"I do."
"Hmm... But I already have Elsa."
"Then why not bring Elsa along with you?"
However, if he did that, her appearance and magical capabilities would match her historical record to a tee. Coupled with his own craftsmanship, Jin imagined people would immediately conclude they were the exact same Second Generation and companion from four hundred years ago.
"Inviting unnecessary suspicion would just be a headache."
"Then why not make a Doppel of Elsa and alter her features?"
"Hmm... If I do that, I'm worried she'll take it the wrong way and think I'm dissatisfied with how she actually looks."
Sion burst out laughing at his response.
"My, my, how delightfully affectionate."
"Don't tease me."
"Still, it really is a delicate issue."
Just then, Reiko piped up.
"Father, in that case, why not bring Hanna-chan or Lishia-san with you?"
"Huh?"
Jin blinked in surprise, but Sion nodded in agreement.
"That might actually work. Why not bring both? If you casually let it slip that they're your first and second wives, the meddling will dry up in no time."
"Give me a break..."
I don't have the worldly swagger to juggle a first and second wife, Jin thought with a wry smile.
"You really sell yourself short on things like this. Aren't you already providing for every single member of the Jin Family right now?"
How can you claim you lack the capacity after taking on all of that? Sion prodded.
"No, providing for a household and keeping multiple wives are two completely different things."
The All-Creation clan was strictly monogamous, though other clans had practiced polygamy in the distant past. Sion understood where Jin was coming from. She understood, but still...
"At any rate, all you really need is to have a woman of suitable age by your side whenever you travel."
"Put like that, it makes me sound like an utter scoundrel."
"..."
"..."
"Ahaha."
After a beat of dead silence, both broke into laughter.
"Joking aside, you really should give it some serious thought. Even something as simple as giving Elsa longer hair would work, wouldn't it? Or changing its color."
"If it's just minor tweaks like that, I can manage."
Years ago, she had dyed her hair to mask her identity. Jin figured adopting a similar approach this time around would be straightforward enough.
"Then there are accessories. Non-prescription glasses might do the trick."
"You could even go with light polarized sunglasses and claim she has sensitive eyes."
"All that's left is deciding on an alias."
Should I call her El, or perhaps use her grant-name, Razura? Jin mused.
"Well, I'll have to discuss it with Elsa first."
"Naturally."
No matter how much they plotted here, if Elsa herself was against the idea, he had no intention of forcing it on her.
"Hmm. So neither Jin-dono nor Maquina-dono took the bait?"
Meanwhile, inside the King's private office elsewhere in the palace.
"Indeed. However, rather than viewing it as a missed opportunity, I believe it speaks well of their character that they refrained from pursuing young women they had only just met."
The King, the Chancellor, and the minister of general affairs—who had been absent from the banquet—were conferring in low tones.
"Sion-dono warned us in no uncertain terms never to force women upon him. In that regard, our conduct today remained well within acceptable bounds."
At the King's words, the tension in the room noticeably softened.
"Given that he has devoted his life to technical research, he is likely not well-versed in political games. Had we acted too aggressively, we would only have earned his disdain."
"Indeed. The Chancellor makes a fine point."
The Chancellor pressed on.
"Furthermore, with every nation watching his movements closely, any overt move on our part would only sour our standing with foreign powers."
"Quite so. Haste will gain us nothing."
The King nodded in agreement.
"Precisely, Sire. Furthermore, we have learned that last year, back when Jin-dono was still unknown, he visited the estate of Viscount Sharned alongside Lordtoss-dono and made the acquaintance of the household."
The minister of general affairs added this new piece of intelligence.
"The household... meaning the Madam and their daughter as well?"
I had not heard of this, the Chancellor remarked, raising a brow.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"Hmm. I wonder if his superior, Magic Technology Minister Cowen, is aware of this connection?"
"I suspect he is."
"...Presently, Viscount Sharned is in Avalon, is he not? We shall question him once he returns."
"Please, go easy on the man, Your Excellency."
"Setting that matter aside, is there any suitable pretext we might use to foster an ongoing relationship with Jin-dono?"
From the King's perspective, parting ways after this single exchange would be far too regrettable.
"Indeed, Your Majesty. I share your sentiments....Seeing as he is a craftsman through and through, perhaps commissioning a piece of work from him would be best?"
The suggestion came from the minister of general affairs.
"Oh, an excellent idea. He is, after all, a Magi Craft Meister; asking him to build something is the most natural approach possible. The question is what to commission—and what to offer in return."
Hearing the Chancellor's assessment, King Melikalans I spoke.
"If it is a commission you seek, I have an idea....What if we were to order an automata for my daughter?"
Just like the automata wet nurse, Tia, whom Princess Lieschen once possessed centuries ago, the King mused.
"A splendid proposal. The only remaining hurdle is the compensation."
Gold, rare materials, or something else entirely?
The three men continued their deliberations deep into the night.