CHAPTER 19: THE UNEXPECTED COLLATERAL IS MY...

"Welcome Lord Seiou. We’ve been waiting for you."

At the gate of Morris’s mansion, several soldiers in armor, lined up, greeted me. It seemed they had been waiting for me in front of the mansion for quite a while.

"I am Kanon, captain of the Freesia Kingdom’s Royal Guard," a woman who appears to be the captain introduces herself.

(The Royal Guard, a military that is controlled directly by Princess Ellis herself. Since it’s a country dominated by women, the soldiers here are women as well.)

She is wearing armor that looks a little heavy for a woman. The other soldiers are all women as well.

"The princess awaits you at the castle Lord Seiou. Let’s go now," Kanon said.

"Alright," I replied.

Now that I think about it, the princess said she would send someone to pick me up. I have a large check, so I would be more than happy to have an escort.

Kanon and the others surrounded me on all sides as if they were escorting a high level prisoner, and hurried off to the royal castle.

....

....

"Is that the royal castle?"

We soon arrived at the castle. The castle was built in a medieval European style, with stone walls and a sturdy design. It sat atop a small hill, surrounded on all other three sides by the sea. The scent of salt confirmed the capital was on a peninsula.

From the hill, I could see the entire city. The sea guarded three sides, while the massive city wall, Victorina, protected the fourth. It was a fortress city, impregnable in theory.

(Well, if they have money and soldiers, that is...)

In the current state of the country’s finances, there is no money to maintain a garrison, let alone repair the walls. The supposedly impregnable defenses are full of holes and are completely meaningless.

Still, the royal castle was a spectacular sight up close.

"Lord Seiou, we’ve been expecting you," Princess Eris greeted me at the gate, dressed in an elegant gown.

"Judging by your demeanor, the negotiations went well. Let’s discuss the details inside," she said warmly.

But instead of heading toward the grand castle, she led me in a different direction.

"Isn’t the castle that way?" I asked, confused.

"That castle has been seized," she replied, pointing to a red seal plastered on the gate.

"A foreclosure seal? They have those in this world too?" I muttered.

The foreclosure seal used to seize debts seems to exist in this world too.

"So that’s why we live here now...." Ellis explained, guiding me to a smaller, fortified building next to the grand and luxurious castle. It was more of a fortress than a palace, even far less luxurious than Morris’s mansion.

A temporary castle, I supposed. Inside, I noticed that much of the furnishings inside the castle are also covered with many red seals.

"Our kingdom is, as you know, in steep decline," Ellis said with a wry smile, sensing my thoughts and criticism.

(This kingdom’s decline is beyond steep...)

I followed her inside, keeping my thoughts to myself for now.

---

"I understand the situation," Ellis said after I explained her everything about my dealings with Morris in the guest room of the temporary castle. Her cheerful demeanor darkened when I mentioned the collateral.

"But to offer ’yourself’ as collateral..."

It was the first time I’d seen her look so displeased ever since I came here.

"Couldn’t you have offered something else?" she pressed, clearly unhappy.

"There was no other choice for me," I replied, echoing her own words. "After all, ’our kingdom is in steep decline,’ right?"

She pouted, her lips forming a small frown, a rare, youthful expression for her.

"If we succeed in turning the kingdom’s finances around, it won’t matter," said Mia, her aide. "If we fail, everything is lost anyway."

Ellis nodded. "Very well. I’ll overlook this for now. But in the future, consult me before making decisions that involve your safety. To the outside world, you are my... guest, after all."

Her words carried a subtle edge, almost possessive.

"And," she added with a mischievous smile, "Morris’s homeland, the Daddas Emirate, is known for its... fondness for male companionship."

"Male... Wait, male companionship?" I echoed, startled.

"If you fell into their hands, you might find yourself surrounded by strong men every night, used relentlessly like an object," she said, her tone teasing yet sharp. "What an... interesting predicament that would be."

She was clearly enjoying this.

"Never do something like this again, especially with the Daddas Emirate," she warned.

"Yes, ma’am," I said, nodding quickly. Her words felt like a veiled threat, as if she were ensuring I wouldn’t run off to Morris.

"Let’s move on from this," she continued.

"Tomorrow, you’ll visit the sewing workshop and the brothel to provide guidance. We’ll discuss the details of the business revival then."

"Right. I’ll need to prepare samples first," I said. The sewing workshop needed women’s undergarments as samples, the brothel needed promotional undergarments, and I’d have to supply enough body soap for the workers too. All of it would be created using my "Item Creation" skill.

I focused, channeling energy into my arms to begin crafting....

"Princess, we have a problem!" a female guard burst into the room, her face pale.

"Huh? What is it?" Ellis asked.

"The garrison soldiers are demanding unpaid fees. They’re not just here, they’re heading to the sewing workshop too!"

"What? I already told them we have no money to pay right now!" Ellis snapped.

"They’re threatening to seize the silk and sewing machines at the workshop now," the guard reported.

Ellis’s expression hardened. "If they take those, the workshop can’t function anymore."

This was bad. We weren’t even close to paying off debts yet and now this....

"Mia, Captain Kanon, stay here and deal with the garrison commander. I’m going to the sewing workshop immediately," Ellis declared.

"Wait, Princess," I called out. "I’m also coming with you."

"Please, do," she said, her voice firm.