The Princess (Part Two)

After making his rounds, he saw the sun sinking toward the sea.

Blue Soil Island had a port, residential and commercial districts, and newly cleared farmland beyond them. Had Romon been there, he would have noticed that Count Xiusenya's plans were almost identical to his own.

Count Xiusenya had heard that Romon had hired scholars, so he had done the same. Finding the two islands much alike, the scholars had simply copied the plans.

The roads wound about, but the neat rows of green fields drew an admiring exclamation from the princess.

It was early May, late spring. The crops were flourishing, and great stretches of wheat swayed in the wind, sending ripples across the fields.

Birds flew merrily overhead. Farther away rose the hills.

"Brother, what a huge estate!" The princess's eyes lit up. "You could build several manors here, couldn't you?"

There was envy in her voice.

"Yes. Most of my island is flat, with only a few hills around the edges. The scholars say there's enough land for at least ten manors, and that's without counting the port's income." Count Xiusenya sounded pleased. "But I've only established three so far. What can I do? We're short of people and supplies."

Each manor amounted to a village.

Seeing her envious expression, Count Xiusenya patted her head. "When you marry, little sister, I'll give you a manor."

"Really?" Her eyes brightened at once.

Ordinarily, even a princess would receive only one manor as her dowry.

"Of course. Why would I lie to you? Look, one of our manors is just ahead."

Before sunset, they reached a village enclosed by a wooden fence. Several hundred people were busy inside, and a fairly simple building stood at its center.

"Sorry it's so plain, little sister. You'll have to make do for