The Legend of the Reclusive Princess Zuicho of the Rikan Empire ~She Escapes From The Palace Everyday and Works as a Capable Government Official.~ - Chapter 12

“—Officer. Let me take a look.”

“What? No, we couldn’t possibly trouble the Vice (Deputy) Minister with this…”

“I’m the one who made the request. If I find any problem at a glance, I’ll correct it myself and arrange for the remaining payment right away.”

When Saya said those words calmly, the officer, looking deeply embarrassed, handed her the ledger.

The document had a proper cost breakdown written on it.

“…I see. Yes, this amount is exactly half the fare.”

As she muttered this, the three men looked at her with wide eyes.

Ignoring their silent request for an explanation, Saya took out a small brush and ink bottle from her sleeve.

“To the driver, we gave only half the fare for a round trip. We planned to add a small amount for a light meal during the waiting time, as we expected him to be on standby for half a day. Since the return time is uncertain, we agreed to settle the rest afterward. … The total pay should be about this much if we estimate the time and calculate the final amount.

As she spoke, she quickly wrote out a rough estimate and showed it to them.

When she explained it clearly, point by point, the three men nodded in agreement.

“So that’s how it was…”

“I can agree to that amount. How about you, driver?”

“Oh! If I’m getting paid that much, I don’t mind waiting until after midnight!”

The driver’s face immediately turned businesslike, and the officers laughed.

Seeing this, Saya put her writing tools away and handed the ledger back to the officer.

“Then I’ll have someone prepare the rest of the payment based on this estimate. Once we return, we’ll settle any difference. Is that alright?”

She asked the question plainly. The officers straightened up, ready to run back to the guard station.

But the driver, a little panicked, waved his hands in front of his face.

“No, no, it’s fine like this! Now that I understand how the payment works, I’m completely okay with it!”

Apologizing for the trouble, he bowed his head and quickly returned to the driver’s seat.
It seemed just getting a clear promise of payment was enough for him.

The officers, now at ease, stepped aside respectfully and saluted Saya.

Saya adjusted her position, leaning back against the well-cushioned seat.

“Then, we’re heading out.”

With that, the driver tugged the reins.

The horses began to walk, and the carriage slowly started to move.

It would take a little while to reach the main street.

Feeling the gentle motion of the carriage, Saya let out a breath and closed her eyes for a moment of rest…

＊＊＊

“He’s truly worthy of the name ‘Ice Blossom,’ that Vice Minister…”

One of the officers from the stables quietly spoke to his fellow guard as they watched the carriage disappear into the distance.

“I thought he was just a pretty ornament… But he solved the problem so smoothly, and he’s a genuinely kind person.”

“A high-ranking noble like him, helping guys like us… it is hard to believe.”

“No wonder he stands out. It’s obvious why the palace ladies are always gushing about him.”

His colleague’s grumble made him chuckle.

Indeed, his calm and graceful face and his upright posture would easily charm many women.
His dignified presence, with a sense of distance that made him hard to approach, always caught people’s eyes. (When Saya is a man—the Vice Minister).

“…Though he probably thinks that wearing plain clothes is enough to blend in with commoners…”

“No way. His whole aura is on a different level.”

“…Yeah.”

The man took one last glance down the road, where the dust from the carriage lingered.
Then, turning on his heel, he went back to work after talking about Saya, the Vice Minister (Tobe Samurai)