Garius stared at the notebook, groaning. "Did he just increase my workload after I become sovereign? Ugh! What is this? After the speech, Iām supposed to be broadcast while sitting on the throne? Which throne? We donāt even have a throne built yet."
Erinnette smiled, tilting her head. "My lord, did you forget~? The main grand hall in Armand Estate was completed with a full golden throne, red carpet, and all the proper designs ages ago. Donāt you remember when Young Master Javier first captured and presented the Amazarak princess, Zania?"
Garius let out a long sigh. "Weāre going to use the main grand hall for the ceremony?"
"Yes, my lord. And... you didnāt notice Young Master Javier is now directing his puppet knights to redesign the throne room?" Erinnetteās voice was calm, but her lips curved in amusement.
"Hah!? Why didnāt he tell me about this?" Gariusās eyes widened, then he exhaled and leaned back, a tired smile breaking through. "No... now that I think about it, he never tells me anything, does he? I suppose this is his little ārevengeā, making sure I go through the same kind of trouble I put him through all these years...his way of getting even for all my orders and demands."
Erinnette poured another cup of tea, serving it with fresh snacks. "By the way, my lord?"
Garius glanced over. "Yes, Erinnette?"
"It appears your sovereign armor, your sovereign robes, and even the crown... Young Master already finished all of it. Itās already been presented to Lady Fransesca."
"W...what!?" Garius turned just as the door swung open.
"Dear~ look at this!" Fransesca swept in, several maids following, each carefully carrying new golden armor, a golden sovereignās outfit, a crown, and all the future queenās gowns. Fransesca beamed. "See? Our youngest already prepared everything for us, with the help of all the estateās finest craftsmen and seamstresses!"
Fransesca was absolutely glowing. She moved closer, practically bouncing with excitement as she set the notebook down in front of Garius.
"Dear~ Iām so happy. Our youngest really thought of everything. He already gave me all the details of his plan, I still canāt believe heās organizing a vow renewal, and itās going to be broadcast live! He even showed me how the holo TV and holo cam work~"
Garius just smiled, quietly enjoying the sight of his first love, his first wife, glowing with happiness. Seeing her this excited made her beauty shine all the more.
"You know, dear~ the golden wedding gown and the tuxedo he designed for our vow of marriage are just stunning! I canāt wait to wear it," Fransesca said, her gaze drifting fondly to the open notebook Javier had left on Gariusās desk. She pointed eagerly. "This page, he showed me the same thing! Ah~ I canāt wait for our vow of marriage, dear!"
Garius reached out, taking her hand in his, and for a moment simply watched her smile, feeling all the burdens and worries of leadership fade away.
Fransesca settled onto Gariusās lap and hugged him close.
"I canāt wait, dear~"
Garius smiled, arms wrapping around her. "Yes~ me too, honey~"
She leaned in and kissed him softly. The other maids in the room averted their eyes with quiet smiles, letting the couple have their moment.
Meanwhile.
Javier balanced at the top of a mana-powered elevating work platform, a mobile panel lift heād designed himself from ore and magic crystal. He was finishing adjustments on the rocket and its satellite, lost in thought.
Buddy, sprawled comfortably on the grass below, watched with lazy curiosity.
Inside Javierās mind, the calculations spun.
Should I integrate my puppet knight design for these satellites? I still donāt know if space in this world has things like solar flares or cosmic radiation. Since I already installed a mana converter for power, and even added solar panels as backup, maybe I could use this to explore even more up there...
"Cuquawked!!" Buddy squawked impatiently from below.
"Just wait! Iām busy here," Javier called down.
"Cuquawked!!"
Javier rolled his eyes at the giant birdās complaints. With a snap of his fingers, he pulled out a pile of roast meat from his dimensional storage and tossed them down one by one.
Buddy snapped up the first chunk, swallowing it in a single gulp, then caught the next piece mid-air with practiced skill.
Javier paused, noticing five familiar figures making their way across the estate grounds. Even from a distance, he could tell Liana and Gloria looked thoroughly pissed off. The others, Felicia, Mimi, and Delya trailed behind, all wearing various shades of worry.
Huh? What happened to them? Why do they all look so mad?
He squinted, trying to get a better look, just as Liana finally spotted him perched high above on his makeshift platform.
"This young master of mine!!" Liana muttered, breaking into a run toward the rocket scaffold, clearly mistaking it for some kind of building Javier was working on.
Gloria dashed after her, panic written all over her face. The rest of the girls picked up speed, convinced Javier was about to do something reckless and dangerous.
"YOUNG MASTER! GET DOWN THIS INSTANT!" Liana yelled the moment she reached the base of the structure.
Javier, still fiddling with the satellite mount, leaned over the railing and stared down, blinking. He saw Liana angrily signaling at her ear.
He tapped his own mana talkie and infused it with a bit of mana. "What?"
"GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!" Lianaās voice thundered through the talkie so loud that Javier instantly yanked it away, rubbing his ear in pain.
Inside his mind, he could only sigh. Damn... talk about a wake-up call...
Javier pressed the button, and the mana-powered elevating work platform hummed as it slowly descended.
As soon as it touched down, Liana stormed forward, her voice echoing across the yard.
"YOUNG MASTER!!"
Javier winced, clapping his hands over his ears. "Ugh! Donāt shout... my ears are going to fall off."
Liana wasnāt having it. "What in the world were you doing up there?!"
Javier gave a half-shrug. "Itās my project! And this thing Iām standing on? Itās a mana-powered elevating work platform, completely safe. You really donāt have to worry."
"Elevating... what?" Liana blinked, still scowling, not even pretending to understand.
Javier sighed. "Itās just... the thing I use to reach the top. I canāt float in the air, so I had to build something. And how did you even find me here, anyway?"
Liana bit her lip, tears welling up. "I tracked Buddyās mana. I knew you wouldnāt be far from him! And then I saw you all the way up there and..." her voice wobbled, worry leaking through the anger.
Javierās expression softened. "Oi, donāt cry. Seriously, Iām fine. See? Buddy was here the whole time." He pointed to Buddy, who puffed his chest and let out a proud squawk.
Gloria stepped up, frowning softly but with relief in her eyes. "Young master, if youāre going to do something dangerous, at least tell us first."
Javier raised both hands in surrender, putting on his most innocent grin. "Alright, alright. You all worry too much. Come on, you know I never do anything really dangerous... right?"
( End Of Chapter )