"It's become like thiiiis~"

  "Don't make weird sounds! You're a king—have some dignity!"

  Rashion had come to play at the royal family's private villa in the depths of Celeste's estate under the pretext of an incognito visit, taking his sweet, sweet time...

  ...completely letting himself go.

  Though protesting, he'd been forced by Celeste into a bath, enjoying the jet bath, then savoring a massage chair in just a yukata with cold drink in hand—experiencing carefree refreshment utterly impossible in Tusita until now—

  "But it's my first time feeling this goooood in this life~"

  "That's! Why!"

  Though usually such a dignified king, wondering why he loosened up so completely in strange ways, even making weird sounds—sighing at this, Celeste still had necessary business to discuss.

  "Like I said earlier, talks with Luina went well.

  Connecting with other Piglet refugees through him.

  Don't know how many will come, but seems I can secure staff in numbers."

  "I see...

  I understood choosing mid-tier over major houses, but...

  Deliberately choosing refugees was unexpeeeected~"

  Why must I hear a guy's deep squeals, Celeste thought wearily, but pretending not to hear, continued talking.

  "Well, they're easier to manage that way.

  The Interior Minister said it'd help too.

  Sympathy... though that'd be rude to them, but I did want to help."

  "What, it's all Father's enterprise.

  Just do what Father wants.

  Even if it fails, only the Finance Minister will cry."

  "Hey, consider my position when he comes crying to me?"

  Remembering the Finance Minister—who'd complained about mane hair loss, received anti-hair-loss shampoo as gift, and recently become a playboy flaunting his silky mane—imagining him crying about hair loss again, Celeste shuddered.

  To avoid that, both businesses must get on track.

  "What, I think they'll work hard.

  Besides Father, you dangled such delicious bait before Luina-dono."

  "Sorry for saying whatever I wanted."

  "No, no problem.

  Granting great noble rank is royal prerogative anyway, but Prae and below can be appointed by Comis-level great lords' authority.

  You could even grant it, Father, no problem."

  "Prae? What's that?"

  "Starting from theeeere~

  You know noble hierarchy up to Vicari?"

  "Yeah."

  "Prae is basically~ when great lords find managing all their territory difficult, they assign divided management... vassal minor lords.

  Treated as great lords' retainers, so just appointing by great lord's discretion and notifying the College of Arms suffices—you can grant it by your authority, Father."

  "But I only have Tenger as fief.

  However large, it's still 'just that'—can I even divide it?"

  "What, no need to grant immediately.

  It was 'if business succeeds, contributing to the nation,' so there's grace period."

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Though sounding carefree, truth was it hinged on interpreting 'national contribution'—depending on perspective, could become quite ruthless.

  Of course, Celeste had no intention of reaching such twisted conclusions for convenience.

  "Feels like I made a back-breaking promise."

  "Father, though always speaking cynically, you're fundamentally a 'good person'~ ?"

  "That squeal again!"

  "—So that's how it is."

  The head office of trading house 'Golden Barrel.'

  Company executives and senior staff gathered, listening with serious faces to Company Head Luina's explanation.

  "Isn't that... too convenient for us by any calculation?"

  "Can't deny it.

  But just becoming kingdom purveyors is huge for us outsider gatherings.

  Plus offering proper employment to compatriots still living poorly—hard to abandon."

  Even the questioning executive agreed with that.

  Five years—though called that, for refugees with no foundation needing to rebuild from zero, too short a time.

  Still couldn't say they'd 'settled.'

  Though desperately establishing the company and clawing up this far, they could only employ, only aid, part of their compatriots.

  Therefore Celeste's proposal was for Luina, for them Piglets, a lifeline they'd cling to even if deceived.

  "That he frankly told us without hiding—being suspected as restless ethnic group, easier to manage gathered in one place—I found that more trustworthy.

  So I've decided to believe.

  If I can give compatriots better lives, anything's fine."

  "Prince..."

  "No, now I'm merely a company head.

  Our motherland is already destroyed and gone.

  We refugees must live as accepted citizens of this nation that took us in."

  When the former prince said this, former vassals and subordinates as executives could say nothing.

  "National restoration was our dream.

  But what can just 3,000 people of all ages accomplish?

  I want to build my compatriots' future in this country, I thought.

  So I decided to follow that Regis.

  I want you to come too."

  At Luina's earnest eyes making this appeal, the elderly vice company head answered.

  "What are you saying now?

  If you as company head decided, we just follow.

  Right? Everyone?"

  Seeing everyone silently nodding, Luina grinned.

  "Thanks.

  It'll get busier from now.

  Prepare yourselves, everyone!"

  "Yeah!"

  "Arime? Just checking—building a resort here, no problems with weight balance or ground collapse? Not mansion-scale, you know?"

  "Rest assured.

  Resort though it is, compared to Tenger's own weight, incomparable.

  Has ground ever existed that couldn't withstand major buildings?"

  "Sinkholes?"

  Surveying sites for resort construction on Tenger, Celeste suddenly worried about weight, asking Arimecalises if it was okay.

  "Those are accidents from ground defects, shoddy construction, underground water abuse.

  Structures my lord creates, on land I manage.

  Don't worry."

  "Ah... yeah, right."

  At Arimecalises' response stating it like obvious certainty, Celeste decided not to question. Though wondering how she 'manages' this floating land, suspecting asking wouldn't yield comprehensible answers, he began exploring likely sites while manipulating Tenger's 3D map floating on the control table.

  "Then... securing vast area, distant from Bridge, good view... means... here and here... which to choose, let's check directly.

  Then estate residence...

  Why must nobles maintain estates in both capital and fief?

  No, normal nobles need both... but in my case, you know?"

  In his case with Gate travel, two estates unnecessary?—Celeste grumbled, but Arimecalises said flatly:

  "People call that stingy."

  "Geh."

  "Construction costs nothing, no need for stinginess."

  "Hey, aren't you harsh?"

  "Abandoning a frail maiden on grassland—my lord is harsher, I believe."

  "Ah, Arimecalises-san?"

  Arimecalises fluttered her topmost two wings.

  "Joking."

  "You're laughing, right? Right?"

  "How fares Royal Father's 'work'?"

  "Ah, when he came asking about Piglet refugees recently, I confirmed he's preparing something called a 'resort hotel' to build on his fief."

  At the Finance Minister's casual question, the Interior Minister answered.

  The Finance Minister naturally looked forward to tax revenue from Celeste's enterprises, but other ministers held interest for various reasons.

  "When he suddenly proposed a refugee-origin company, even I was shocked, but think it clever in various ways.

  Can organize refugee residential areas becoming slums, plus offering employment, so helps them settle as proper citizens."

  "Will it go so smoothly?"

  The Foreign Minister interjecting thus, the Interior Minister answered.

  "Honestly, just employing as staff while having them reside permanently on Tenger helps.

  Besides, Foreign Minister, aren't you leasing surplus land on condition they develop wasteland into farmland? You should hope it succeeds?"

  "That's why I'm worried.

  If what we're supposed to receive doesn't come, that's loss."

  "Calling it 'what we're supposed to receive' for lending wasteland—how greedy."

  "Don't want to hear that from someone feeling relieved having worries solved?"

  "What?"

  "Please stop, you two."

  Like cats and dogs... or rather, the Interior and Foreign Ministers were feuding again today.

  "I have arrived, My Providence."

  Somewhere in five dimensions.

  Arimecalises bowed deeply to someone.

  "Ah, contact with 'him'... no, needn't even ask."

  "Yes. On the timeline of delivering Tenger to my lord, it proceeded/will proceed without problems."

  Arimecalises' words sounded oddly tense-overlapped, but neither cared.

  "I see... thanks.

  Since he's still not there yet, feels frustrating sometimes...

  Even knowing everything he will do, retracing that path is interesting.

  Continue Tenger control, please."

  Turning what seemed her face toward the man, Arimecalises said:

  "My Providence."

  "Hm?"

  "That person properly remembered my name."

  "Oh, really?"

  "Yes."

  "I see—

  Got it. I'll check.

  Your siblings?"

  "Each in their timelines."

  At Arimecalises' report, the man smiled.

  "Thanks always, everyone."

  — Flutter flutter flutter

  From invisible directions, invisible times, countless intense waves transmitted.

  The Arimecalises before the man also fluttered all six wings, rejoicing.

  "Such undeserved words... greatest joy!"

  "Well... even getting that happy?"

  Scratching his head with troubled expression, the man was surrounded by five cats.