Manrique was a little surprised to see Claude come in with such a huge package. "What's that? It looks like a refugee …"
Claude smiled bitterly. He didn't expect it either. He told Aunt Natalie that he would be going to the royal capital for business in the next two or three days. He didn't think that Aunt Natalie would bring Zahirak to his doorstep at ten and ask him to deliver the huge package to the third son of the salesman.
Claude thought that the old couple hadn't given up and sent their daughter to his bed that night, but he got excited for nothing.
Even though the package was big, it wasn't heavy. It was filled with spring clothes and bedding.
It was already February and spring was about to come.
The weather would heat up after the rainy season in March and he would have to change out of his thick winter clothes.
Manrique's trip to the royal capital was actually for the sake of uniforms. He had to get the spring, summer, and autumn uniforms for the thousand-odd cadets he was training.
Even though he agreed to help deliver the package to the third son of the old couple, Claude still felt a little displeased.
It was understandable that Nathalie and Zahirak loved their son so much, but it was a little difficult for Claude to help them.
The royal capital wasn't a small town and he only needed to make a trip there.
The royal capital had a population of a million and was the largest city in the eastern part of the kingdom. It would take Claude half a day to find the merchant where the third son of the old couple worked.
Manrique had his adjutant, Lonkedo, go to the mess hall to get breakfast for him and Claude. They would eat in his office.
As Claude had expected, the breakfast was rather simple. It consisted of white bread without honey and bacon, a cup of black tea, a small bowl of oatmeal, and a fried egg.
After breakfast, they prepared to leave. Manrique only brought his adjutant, Claude, and a coachman to the royal capital.
The paperwork was done. Claude and Manrique sat in the carriage, while Lonkdo sat in the driver's seat, ready to take turns with the coachman.
After tying the bag to the carriage, Claude told Manrique that he was leaving and went to the mess hall. Not long after, he returned with another bag and carried it into the carriage.
"What is it? So sweet?" Manrique's nose twitched as he asked.
Claude opened the package and found dozens of white bread with honey eggs, just like the one from the night before.
"I brought it home for you. Consider it a meeting gift for my three nieces and nephews," said Claude.
"No, wasn't this supplied last night?" Lieutenant Colonel Manrique was speechless. "How did you get it?
I wanted to eat this in the morning, but the cafeteria said there was no more. "
Claude smiled. "Of course not. I went to the canteen last night to look for the two chefs and bought the rest of the ingredients for this bread. I asked them to bake it for me this morning so that I can take it away."
"How much did you spend?
This big bag isn't cheap … "Manrique breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Claude was the one who bought it. However, he felt a little embarrassed to have Claude spend so much money to bring home for his three children to eat.
"Didn't I tell you? It's a meeting gift for my three nieces and nephews.
It doesn't matter if it's money or not. If it wasn't for this in the mess hall last night, I really wouldn't have thought of what to bring for your three children.
Now that I think about it, I think this is more suitable. I believe your children will be happy to eat this delicious bread. "
At the mention of his three children, Manrique smiled. "I'm sure they'll be very happy and welcome you, the uncle who brought them so much delicious bread, to our house.
Forget it, I wanted to try one, but now I feel like I'm trying to steal a gift for them. Let's just tie up the bag. "
Caleben Village was around 40 kilometers away from the royal capital. Given the speed of the carriage, it would take around 12 to 14 hours to get there. They also had to stop for food and rest.
If they left at eight in the morning without a hitch, they would arrive at around 11 or 12 at night.
First, they went to Manrique's house. There was a tavern nearby and they could get two rooms there for Claude and Lonkdo. The academy would reimburse them for the accommodation fees.
The next day, Manrique would bring Lonkdo to the ministry of war on some business, leaving Claude free to do as he pleased.
He had to deliver the large parcel to Aunt Natalie's third son before he went to Lady Maria's baronial house to pay her a visit.
If he had time, he would go to the bookstore in the royal capital and buy some books.
If Manrique's business went smoothly, they would be able to return to the academy on the third day. Otherwise, they would have to stay in the royal capital for another day.
At noon, the three of them had lunch at a tavern that doubled as a relay station on the side of the national highway. After exchanging for two healthy horses, they continued their journey to the royal capital.
As there weren't many carriages on the road, the journey was shortened by an hour. By seven in the evening, Claude could already see the bright lights of the royal capital from the window of the carriage.
"We're only at the outermost edge of the royal capital," Manrique said.
Lieutenant Colonel Manrique said, "Back then, the founding king, Stellin I, decided to build a city here. At first, he only built Black Swan Castle and the Rose Palace, but within ten years, he found that the city was expanding rapidly. So, he built a wall along the periphery of the residential area, which is where the current royal court is located.
In the end, more residential and commercial areas gathered outside the wall. Even the workshops that the royal family wanted to set up could only be built outside the wall.
With no other choice, Stellin I ordered for a second wall to be built. That's how the inner city came to be.
But after another decade or so, the inner city became unbearably crowded and the area outside the second wall became filled with residential and commercial areas and workshops.
Stellin I invited ten of the most famous architects on the continent to discuss the expansion and redesign of the royal capital.
So, a third wall was built, which was the outer city wall. The outer city was also laid out and the 36 districts of the outer city were laid out. Complete sewers and water channels were built, giving the royal capital the basic requirements to develop into a large city.
By the time of Stellin III, the royal capital had already doubled in size. Back then, some ministers suggested building another wall, but Stellin III rejected it.
Stellin III said that it wasn't just a wall that defended the city, but the kingdom's valiant army. He would rather spend the cost of the wall on the army than rely on a wall to defend the kingdom against invading enemies.
Ever since Stellin III's reign, the kingdom's army began to take a more formal path. From then on, the kingdom no longer relied on the private armies of the nobles to fight wars. The royal army became the main force on the battlefield.
By the time of Stellin IX's reign, the royal capital had a population of close to a million and it was called the royal capital.
As a result, the official name of Black Swan Castle was forgotten. Even the official documents issued by the royal court only had the name 'royal capital' on it.
After Stellin IX ascended to the throne, the royal capital underwent a major overhaul. The residents were relocated from the central district and the roads were rebuilt.
Now, people refer to the layout of the capital in terms of the number of rings, and not the original distinction of the inner city and the outer city. "
Manrique gave Claude a detailed introduction of the history and geography of the royal capital as a native of the royal capital. He didn't want Claude to make a fool of himself because he was new to the royal capital.
"For example, the area within the walls of Black Swan Castle and Rose Palace is now known as the royal court. It's the symbol of the highest authority in the kingdom and the royal court is held there.
"The inner city has been split into two halves. The first half has become the offices of the various authorities of the kingdom. The ministry of the army I'm going to is also located there.
The latter half has become the garrisons and warehouses of the royal guards. No one is allowed to enter.
"The entire inner city is now known as the first ring.
The original thirty-six districts of the outer city were now completely different from the residential and commercial districts of the beginning.
The first and third districts are where the various departments of the first ring are located.
The second, fourth, and fifth districts are where the various warehouses are located. The kingdom's armory and largest granary are located there.
The sixth district is the patrol district that governs the entirety of the royal capital. The police headquarters and other security departments are located there.
The seventh to tenth districts are the garrison districts where the various garrisons of the royal capital are stationed.
The eleventh to the twenty-second districts are the residential districts for the nobles and officials of the royal capital. Baron Normanley's manor is located there.
The twenty-third to the twenty-fifth districts are where the various military academies of the royal capital are located. They're also known as the academy district.
If you say you're from an academy or military academy, the coachmen will be able to get you there even faster. On the other hand, they won't know which district you're from.
The twenty-sixth to the thirty-sixth districts are collectively known as the commercial district. It's said that there are more than 400 trading companies in the commercial district. There are new trading companies opening every day, and there are also old trading companies that have closed down due to improper management.
The thirty-second district is also known as the dock district. It's where the canal leading to Lake Branopes starts. Together with the thirty-third district next to it, it's the largest water storage district.
If you want to buy something, go look for it in the commercial district. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. "
The entire 36 outer districts are now known as the second ring district.
Outside the second ring district, the third ring district outside the third outer city wall, is now divided into 72 districts. Among them, 28 are the workshop districts of the royal capital, and the rest are residential districts.
My home is in the third ring district 41, number 122, Short Ear Dog Street. After my previous home in the outer city was demolished, I was assigned to live there. "
So there are demolition projects in this world too. However, Manrique didn't seem to care much about it. It seemed that the compensation offered by the kingdom would be more than satisfactory.
"We just passed through the fourth ring district. Most of them are manors and villas set up by the kingdom's nobles in the outskirts of the royal capital. The rest are mostly small farms and orchards that provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the royal capital.
The people of the royal capital call this the fourth ring district. That's a good feeling. They won't think that the third ring district is the outermost part of the royal capital.
Last year, the most popular investment in the Royal Capital was greenhouse cultivation technology, which allows farms to provide fresh vegetables and fruits during winter. The black strawberries you ate yesterday were grown using greenhouse cultivation technology, but the price is three times more expensive than it was when it was in season … "
Manrique looked out the window and said, "We're now in the residential district of the third ring district. It'll take about ten minutes to get to my house.
Speaking of which, I've been in the military academy for about twenty days. I wonder if my children will be surprised to see me back. By the way, Claude, thank you again for the gifts you gave them. "
Claude smiled and waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to be so formal with his family.
It was nearly nine o 'clock in the evening when they arrived at Lieutenant Colonel Manrique's home. The three children were very happy to see their father come home. Of course, they were even happier that their father had brought them a big bag of delicious honey egg white bread.
Manrique introduced Claude to his family. The lieutenant colonel's wife was a very virtuous housewife and she thanked him for the gifts he had given them.
The three children also came forward to express their gratitude under their father's urging. The youngest, a five-year-old girl, even kissed Claude on the cheek, perhaps because of the delicious food.
As they returned too late, Manrique didn't see Manrique's parents and mother-in-law. The lieutenant colonel's wife said that they had already gone to bed, so Claude didn't want to disturb them.
By then, Manrique had already put down the documents he brought with him and was prepared to bring Claude, his aide and the coachman to a tavern not far away for a good meal. He would also arrange a place for them to stay.
The tavern in the residential district had a rather odd name. It was called the Boiling Steak Tavern.
Manrique said that their signature dish was the steak. After it was cooked, a ladle of stewed gravy would be poured over it to make it look like it was boiling.
Even with the allowance for meals and lodging, Manrique didn't go to the tavern to eat to his heart's content.
He only ordered the signature steak for each of them, along with some bread, soup, sausages and mashed potatoes. He even ordered two glasses of rye wine for each of them.
It wasn't that he didn't want them to eat well, but that the allowance for meals and lodging provided by the military academy was only enough to fill their stomachs, not enough for them to eat well.
If they were to go on a business trip, they would only need to spend two-thirds or even half of the allowance and they would be able to eat well.
But in the royal capital, being able to fill their stomachs was already good enough.
After the meal, Manrique booked three rooms in the tavern. Two guest rooms were for Claude and Lonkedo, while the third room was for the coachman.
There was also a barn for the coachman. He would stay with the coachman in the barn in the backyard of the tavern …
After settling the paperwork, Manrique went home.
He hadn't been home for more than 20 days and all he wanted to do now was get a good sleep in his wife's arms.
Claude was rather tired after a day of riding in the carriage. After washing up, he wanted to rest on his bed.
Unfortunately, there were people knocking on his door from time to time.
When he asked who it was, all he got were women. They only wanted to know if Claude needed company.
In the end, Claude had no choice but to look around the room. He finally found a note in the bedside cabinet that said 'do not disturb' and hung it on the doorknob. Thankfully, no one else came knocking on his door.
Lonkedo, on the other hand, seemed rather energetic after a day's ride. Soon, the sounds of lovemaking could be heard from his room.
The walls weren't soundproof and the sounds were rather loud. Claude had no choice but to cast a silence spell and fall asleep.