Within three years or so, Giovanna had almost completely solved the construction of the water and sewage system that remained in and around the city-state of Astra, established restoration techniques, and disseminated them to artisans. Not only did she revive the old techniques, but she also did a lot of inventive work of her own.
Water once again flowed through the city, and the fountains in the plazas were restored and became places for people to relax. He was also called an inventor for his many other innovations. His fame spread beyond the Astra neighborhood to other countries.
If she stood tall, surprisingly, no one would suspect her. Once one became so conspicuous, no one would ever guess that she was a woman.
However, she could not relax. The town where she was born and raised was nearby, and there was always the possibility that her name would be revealed as Giovanna rather than Giovanni.
It was around this time that an invitation arrived from Prince Vassily Yurinova, Duke of Yurigran.
[I have always admired Yurigran. Because I heard that there was a school where women could study together with men] She told him.
Giovanna-san, I’m sorry. That was a state trap…
However, the Magic Academy (the original form of the school) was established shortly after the founding of the Imperial Kingdom. If I applied it roughly to the history of Europe in the previous era, we would say that the current time is around the late modern period, and 400 years ago was around the beginning of the Renaissance. If I applied it to Japan, it would be around the Muromachi period, perhaps?
Coeducation was indeed very innovative!
I respected the founding father, Piotre the Great, once again!
But when the young ruler of the city-state of Astra learned that Giovanni Di Santi intended to accept Yurinova’s invitation, he was furious.
He was Giovanni’s protector and patron. He must have considered Giovanni, who was also a citizen, as his own property. The ruler himself was fond of Giovanni, who was popular among the people, and he had no intention of letting him go. In times of war, the city’s waterways were a military secret, and Giovanni himself, who knew all about Astra’s, was a man with classified information.
[If he wanted to get out of my hands. I’d rather keep him with me as bones than give him to someone else.] said the ruler.
Giovanna was desperate, too. And the emissary, who had urged Vassily to assess the inventor’s worth, was determined to bring him back to his master after seeing what he had accomplished in three years.
[Whether I sit down and wait for death or throw the roll of the dice in my hand, I have already made my choice.]
Giovanna had no hesitation when she said so.
Thus, an escape plan from Astra was formed.
***
She had always been paranoid, but if the Astra ruler at the time was aware, or at least suspected, that Giovanna-san was a woman, the phrase [I’d rather give it to someone else…] would have drastically changed.
The ruler’s name was not mentioned in the memoir, but it was said that he was still young and quite shrewd.
Lord Vassily was probably in his late 20s at this time, and the ruler of Astra might have been about the same age. Two young men of status and ability vying for Giovanna-san, a beautiful, boyish genius in men’s clothing… Somebody, make a movie about this love triangle!
…But first, the world would have to be able to produce movies…
In the end, Giovanna-san succeeded in escaping from Astra and moving to Yurinova, but it was a very dangerous time.
