July 8th, the morning after the lively banquet.
"I suppose it's about time I head back..."
Empress Emerita Hilde murmured with a helpless shrug of her shoulders.
"It has been a full week, after all," Flora said with a smile.
"Ah, but it truly was a delightful week!"
"...I am glad to hear that. Though as for your original goal of escaping the heat..."
Indeed, with the weather growing warmer, Empress Emerita Hilde had come to visit Jin in secret under the pretext of a summer getaway.
"I rather got the impression you were hardly able to relax at all..."
It had certainly been an eventful and packed seven days.
However, Empress Emerita Hilde simply laughed.
"In terms of a change of pace, it was the best week imaginable. I was able to see all sorts of fascinating things and even had experiences I never could have anticipated."
Besides, she added, her mental exhaustion had far outweighed any physical tiredness.
"Well, if you say so..."
"I truly appreciate everything, Jin-kun....May I impose on you again sometime?"
While Flora made a wry face beside her, Jin smiled and nodded.
"Yes, of course."
Her title was 'Her Majesty the Empress Emerita.' Though Hilde held the second-highest position in the Shouro Empire, being around her never felt draining.
For Jin as well, it had been a thoroughly enjoyable week.
"I'm glad to hear it. Thank you, Jin-kun."
"You're very welcome."
Jin and the others were still staying at Randol Mansion, Elsa's family estate.
"Your Majesty, were you able to rest well...?"
Seeing Moritz's concerned expression, Empress Emerita Hilde gave him an assuring nod.
"Yes, very much so."
"I am glad to hear that, though..."
"You worry too much. Everything is fine."
At Empress Emerita Hilde's reassuring smile, Moritz appeared visibly relieved.
Afterward, following a lavish breakfast, the time finally came for Empress Emerita Hilde to return to the Royal Palace.
Empress Emerita Hilde and Flora would naturally be returning, and Moritz was to accompany them.
He wished to submit his marriage and birth registrations as quickly as possible.
Elsa decided to stay a little longer at her family home with the twins.
Fritz and Gloria also planned to stay another night.
"Well, I'm heading out. Please lend me Edgar for just a bit longer."
"Nn. Take care."
To start, they would take the Golem automobile Moritz had arrived in, the Golem horse Jin had brought, and the golem-rickshaw to reach Konron 3.
Moritz drove the Golem automobile, Jin rode the Golem horse, and Empress Emerita Hilde and Flora rode in the golem-rickshaw. Reiko and Edgar ran alongside them, just as they had on the journey there.
From that point, they would board Konron 3 and fly to the Royal Palace.
"Marlene, thank you for your hospitality. Give my regards to Georg as well."
Empress Emerita Hilde spoke to Elsa's mother before departing.
"Elsa, I'll be borrowing Jin-kun for just a little while longer."
"...Yes. Have a safe journey."
With that, the party departed from the Moritz estate.
On such a short trip, there were naturally no complications. Konron 3 cruised at a leisurely pace and arrived in Loizart, the royal capital of the Shouro Empire, at nine o'clock in the morning.
Since Jin, in his capacity as the Lord of Kunlun, possessed open clearance to the Royal Palace, Konron 3 touched down in the courtyard without any interference from the guards.
"Oh, Jin-dono, welcome....I see Moritz hitched a ride as well."
Watching Konron 3 land, Chancellor Jung Fowles von Kebsler stepped out to greet them and spotted Moritz.
Then, Empress Emerita Hilde disembarked, accompanied by Flora.
"Chancellor, thank you for coming out to receive us."
Seeing her emerge with those words, he was visibly taken aback.
"Her Majesty the Empress Emerita! You were together?"
Once Reiko stepped off behind them, the gangway was drawn up.
In other words, the pilot Edgar, along with Land A and B, remained inside Konron 3.
"Jin-kun, since you're already here, why don't you pay your respects to His Majesty the Emperor?"
"Ah, sure. But is that really all right?"
Jin hesitated for a moment at Empress Emerita Hilde's suggestion.
"It will be fine. You possess more than enough standing and influence to do so, after all."
"I'd rather not throw my influence around, though."
"It is precisely because you are that sort of person, Jin-kun, that such influence is entrusted to you."
"I see..."
Exchanging such casual banter, the group arrived before the Emperor's office.
"U-Um, am I to enter as well?"
Having been swept along with the group, Moritz was growing slightly flustered.
"Indeed. You are Jin-dono's brother-in-law, and you will soon be elevated to baron, so there is no reason not to. If anything, it would be best for His Majesty to become acquainted with you."
With even the Chancellor encouraging it, Moritz steeled his resolve.
"Your Majesty, we are entering."
"Very well. Have you brought Lord Nido?"
"Yes. And also..."
"Ernst... No, Your Majesty, I have returned."
"Aunt, you have returned?...Oh, Lord Nido, welcome. Thank you for looking after my aunt. Good work to you as well, Flora....Hm? Is that Baronet Moritz toward the back?"
The new Emperor of the Shouro Empire, Weisberg Ernst von Shouro, who had ascended the throne in May of this year, appeared to know Flora and Moritz well.
"Do you have a moment to spare right now?"
At Empress Emerita Hilde's inquiry, the New Emperor nodded.
"Yes, of course. There could hardly be any matter more pressing than an audience with the Empress Emerita and the Magi Craft Meister."
Jin and the others, including Moritz, moved to the small conference room adjacent to the office.
"Well then, let us begin with Moritz's matter," Empress Emerita Hilde started off.
She then explained the birth of his eldest daughter and his union with Jin and Elsa's adopted daughter.
"I see, so that is how it unfolded."
"I-I am deeply humbled..."
Moritz shrank back self-consciously, but a marriage involving the adopted daughter of Jin—the Magi Craft Meister and Lord of Kunlun—and Elsa—the Reichsarzt—was certainly a matter fitting for the Emperor's attention.
"Furthermore, I visited the Lord of Kunlun's territory. They have implemented a variety of advanced policies that are seamlessly integrated into the local community."
Empress Emerita Hilde noted that she would elaborate on that in detail later.
"Also, while it was informal, I traveled abroad to the All-Creation clan territory in the Nord Federation."
"Wh-What did you say?!"
At this revelation, even the Emperor was utterly flabbergasted.
"Aunt!!"
"Calm down. There was no danger whatsoever, and they welcomed me warmly. Besides, we have already established diplomatic relations with the Nord Federation, have we not?"
"B-Be that as it may..."
It seemed the New Emperor, much like Flora, had yet to completely shake his instinctive apprehension toward the Northern People.
"They are humans just like us. Keep that in mind."
"Y-Yes..."
Empress Emerita Hilde then concluded by stating that she would compile the particulars regarding mutually beneficial trade at a later time.
"...Haah... I truly am no match for you, Aunt."
Even after abdicating and becoming Empress Emerita, she continued to hold the country's best interests in her heart, leaving the New Emperor with profound respect for her.
And once again, he secretly resolved in his heart to surpass his predecessor.
As long as leaders who genuinely cared for the nation and its people stood at the helm, the future of the Shouro Empire would surely remain bright...