A chilled sea breeze swept in from the west, carrying the scent of salt as it blew past.
The distant sound of waves lapped at their ears, and seabirds soared overhead.
"The sea...!"
Standing atop a hill, Rest gazed down at the ocean stretching endlessly before him and let out a simple exclamation.
It was blue, and it was vast.
It was the very first time Rest had ever seen the sea.
"It's this enormous... I'm amazed."
"Isn't it? I was equally surprised the first time I saw it."
The one responding to Rest was Celestine, the young lady of House Crocus.
Celestine wore a fur overcoat atop her pale lavender dress, with a fluffy scarf wrapped around her neck.
"In the summer, they say some people come here to play in the water or swim along the shore. Of course, most nobles don't deign to swim, so..."
"What a shame... I really regret that it's winter already. If I could, I would have loved to try playing in the water..."
Rest said with a clear note of frustration.
In his past life, he had been born in a prefecture with no coastline, and his parents never had the means to take him to the beach, so he had never once laid eyes on the ocean.
His middle school field trip was supposed to be to Okinawa, but... he had been too poor to afford the travel expenses, and having to give up on it had been a painful memory.
Now, after reincarnating, he had finally gotten the chance to see the sea. His joy was beyond compare.
Rest and Celestine were currently visiting the coastal region in the western part of the Kingdom of Aiwood.
Their purpose was absolutely not some illicit vacation to cheat on their respective fiancés... of course not.
They had come to this place to visit the villa where Frederica, the queen dowager, had spent her later years.
By inheriting Rodele's estate, the villa had also become Rest's property… but there was something on his mind, and he had come to see it with his own eyes.
(It's not certain… if anything, there's a high chance I'm completely off base. But… if my prediction is correct, the queen dowager is a reincarnated person like me. And that villa might contain evidence to back that up…)
He had received a report from Celestine, who had been entrusted with managing the estate settlement… apparently, around this villa, the queen dowager had been using a pseudonym.
That pseudonym was a fully Japanese name, which served as circumstantial evidence that she was a reincarnated person.
From his encounter with Leonard Gascoigne of the Council of Sages, he already knew that other reincarnated people existed.
If the queen dowager was, as he expected, a reincarnated person, he wanted to gather as much information as possible.
"Still… was it really all right for you to go out of your way to act as my guide?"
"Yes, it's no trouble at all."
Rest turned his back to the sea and addressed Celestine.
Celestine nodded with a gentle smile, the very picture of a well-bred lady.
A short distance away, Celestine's bodyguard and butler stood at a polite remove, careful not to intrude on their conversation.
"I've been curious about Her Majesty the queen dowager's estate as well, and honestly, I've been so busy with work lately that I could use a break. It isn't exactly the peak travel season, but… I'd like to enjoy this brief outing, if you'll let me."
"That's… a relief to hear, truly."
For the record… the only people who had come here were Rest, Celestine, and the soldiers and servants of House Crocus.
Rest's fiancées, Viola and Primula, were not among them.
In Rest's stead, the two of them had taken on all the miscellaneous tasks.
The frontier development of the Sabnock Plains, a demon realm.
The initial stage — sweeping away the monsters and erecting a barrier — had been completed.
But in truth, the real work of development was only just beginning.
From here on, proper development would commence. Roads had to be laid and towns had to be built.
Clover County, which Rest would come to govern. The site for the first town had already been decided.
His father-in-law, Marquis Rosemary, who also served as his noble patron, had chosen a fine location for them.
It seemed he had already made arrangements for the transport of materials as well… and the Rosemary sisters had taken over those various errands on his behalf.
"Well, standing in for one's husband's work is a wife's duty, after all."
"I'm so glad I could be of help…"
He truly owed a great deal to Viola and Primula.
Rest quietly resolved that he would repay them for this, no matter what.
"Now then, Rest. I shall guide you to the queen dowager's villa. Please follow me."
"Sure. Lead the way."
Rest cast one last lingering glance toward the sea.
(I suppose this area will become my land before long… Once summer arrives, it wouldn't be bad to bring the two of them here for a holiday retreat…)
After letting that thought cross his mind, he followed after Celestine as they walked over the hill.