Damn, I recarneted As A Judge in Fantasy World

The evening sun cast a warm glow over the estate as Abel walked alongside Princess Justia through the expansive halls of the Carriers Duchy.

The elegant décor and grandeur of the building reflected the long-standing prestige of the family. Abel led the way, his mind abuzz with thoughts of the trial earlier that day, but more importantly, with the grand plans he had set in motion.

As they entered the grand dining room, the servants were already bustling about, setting the table with an array of fine dishes.

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The smell of freshly baked bread, roasted meats, and aromatic herbs filled the air, enticing Abel's senses. Still, his mind remained preoccupied with the latest imperial developments.

Princess Justia sat gracefully at the head of the table, her poised demeanor never faltering, even amidst Abel's silent contemplation. She tilted her head slightly, watching him with curiosity.

Abel couldn't help but overhear Princess Justia's initial comment.

"I've heard rumors that the Carriers Duchy is amazing, but I didn't know it was this great."

Dinner began with Princess Justia's speech. There wasn't much of an introduction, just the formal pleasantries, but she seemed genuinely impressed by what she had seen on the way to the mansion.

'It can't be helped,' Abel thought.

The layout of the estate was indeed remarkable. Despite the presence of industrial areas, logging camps, ranches, and employee housing, it wasn't at all crowded. A wide, paved road and streets clear of trash or sewage — such a neatly organized estate was rare to find.

Abel smiled broadly and responded, "That is too much praise. The Duchy of Crawford was also a beautiful and charming country."

"But it's not that clean. In a city, there are always vagrants and piles of garbage," Princess Justia pointed out.

"That's probably because there aren't many people living in the Duchy of Carriers. Only those who work for me reside here," Abel explained.

"Ah!" Princess Justia snapped her fingers as if she had realized something important.

However, the conversation couldn't continue. There was no way Abel could openly discuss the reality of his title and its implications on his control of the Duchy. He was expected to keep quiet about his claim to the throne.

'She's smart and quick-witted,' Abel thought, impressed as always by her insight.

It was a shame, really. If only he could hire someone like her, the results would be astounding. Just as these distracting thoughts began to take over, Abel snapped back to reality.

'Oh, this is not the time,' he reminded himself. He had a more important matter to address.

As dessert was being served, Abel gathered his courage and spoke. "I know it may be presumptuous of me to ask a favor, but may I request something small?"

"Oh! So, this grand reception was leading to this moment?" Princess Justia replied with a knowing smile.

As expected, she had understood his intent immediately. There was nothing sinister in his request, so Abel spoke openly.

"Do you remember the Cordyceps sinensis cultivation experiment from last time?"

"How could I forget? I almost got in trouble because I accidentally broke a bowl. They said it was fine since the Cordyceps sinensis had grown, but I still felt bad about it."

"No," Abel reassured her, "I mean it, there's no need to feel bad. Breaking a glass bowl isn't a problem when the experiment was successful."

He meant every word. The conditions for cultivating Cordyceps sinensis had been improving steadily; a broken glass bowl was insignificant in comparison.

"That's why I'm telling you," Abel continued.

"Yes?"

"Could you help me with this experiment again, just like last time?"

Princess Justia looked thoughtful. Vargas had just requested Abel's assistance with soap research, but he knew Princess Justia's talents would make the process a success with a single attempt. Even if conditions weren't perfect, as they had been with the Cordyceps sinensis, she had the right skills to make it work.

If they could produce a solid soap cheaper than what was currently available, Abel would be willing to accept minor inefficiencies in the process.

"Are you saying I can conduct the experiment myself?"

"Yes," Abel confirmed.

"Anyone could perform such a simple task," she replied dismissively.

"No," Abel corrected her, "Princess Justia's skills are unparalleled…."

"Huh? What do you mean?" she asked, curious.

Abel quickly realized he couldn't reveal the existence of her skill, *Luck Follower*, without sounding insane. He scrambled to find another explanation.

"No, a blessing! Yes, that's it, a blessing!" Abel said hastily.

"I'm not a priest," Princess Justia said, raising an eyebrow.

"It's just a superstition. But working with you always brings me luck," Abel added, hoping it would satisfy her.

"Hmm." Princess Justia appeared deep in thought for a moment before smiling brightly.

Abel knew instantly that he had succeeded in persuading her.

"I'll do it," she agreed.

"Thank you," Abel said gratefully.

"But there's a condition," she added with a sly grin.

"Anything you want," Abel said, nodding confidently.

"When you attend my wedding—"

"Yes," Abel responded automatically, assuming she would ask for something reasonable. After all, she was clever enough not to make unreasonable demands.

But then her next words left him momentarily frozen.

"I'll make room for you, so you can introduce yourself to someone special."

"Oh, of course… wait, what?" Abel stammered.

He was slowly getting used to life in this world, but was it really this drastic?

'Am I overthinking this?' Abel mused.

The biggest problem was the distance, after all. Since ancient times, "out of sight, out of mind" had been a common saying for a reason. Even in modern times, many long-distance relationships failed. How much harder must it have been during the medieval era, when transportation was so inconvenient?

'Oh, I've gone too far. Ahem!' Abel cleared his throat, pushing away the thought. He hadn't even seen her face yet, and here he was already contemplating a relationship. At this rate, he might end up married with children before he knew it!

In order to gain Princess Justia's cooperation, Abel knew he had to agree to her condition. After all, it was just an introduction.

But still, an important question remained.

"If you don't mind, I have one question," Abel asked cautiously.

"Ask as many as you like."

"Is there anyone you plan to introduce me to?"

"Yes," Princess Justia answered confidently.

"Is she pretty?" Abel asked, though it was a somewhat obvious question.

Princess Justia's response wasn't what he expected.

"… … ."

No words came out, but the way she looked at him said it all.

Abel could only wonder what that look meant.

Abel blinked, unsure how to interpret Princess Justia's reaction.

The silence stretched between them, her expression unreadable. It wasn't a harsh look, but more of a curious, slightly amused one, as if she were debating whether to say something or let him stew in his own awkwardness.

He cleared his throat, suddenly feeling foolish for asking such a shallow question. "I mean, well, beauty is subjective, of course. I was just wondering if—"

Princess Justia raised a hand, cutting him off with a gentle wave, her lips curving into a soft smile.

"You really are interesting, Abel. Always so practical, but you have moments like this." She chuckled softly. "You'll see for yourself soon enough."

Abel swallowed his follow-up questions, realizing he wasn't going to get much more out of her on this subject. His mind raced with possibilities. Who could she be introducing him to, and why was she being so mysterious about it? He'd agreed to this favor in exchange for her help, but now he was starting to wonder what exactly he'd signed up for.

The rest of the meal passed without much tension, though Abel's thoughts wandered back to the looming introduction, despite his attempts to focus on the task at hand. Princess Justia had agreed to assist him with the soap experiment, and that was the most important thing at the moment.

After dessert, as the servants began clearing the plates, Abel leaned back in his chair, grateful for the relaxed atmosphere. Princess Justia dabbed at her lips with a napkin, her sharp eyes still observing him with that faint amusement.

"Well, Abel," she said, breaking the quiet. "I'll prepare everything for the experiment tomorrow. Make sure to have the necessary equipment ready. As for our little agreement... I'll be sure to arrange a meeting for you at my next event."

Abel nodded, trying not to show his apprehension. "Thank you. I'll have everything prepared for the experiment."

Princess Justia rose gracefully from her seat, her poise reminding Abel once more that she was no ordinary noblewoman. She moved with an ease of confidence, her steps light and deliberate as she turned to leave.

But just before she exited the dining room, she paused and glanced back over her shoulder, her smile more mischievous than before.

"Oh, and Abel... she's very pretty."

With that, she swept out of the room, leaving Abel to sit there, wide-eyed and speechless. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and leaned forward, running a hand through his hair.

This was going to be more complicated than he thought.

Still, a part of him couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity — and maybe a little excitement — about who Princess Justia had in mind for him. But first, he had to focus on the experiment.

Tomorrow was a new day, and with Princess Justia's help, his plans for cheaper soap could finally move forward.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

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