Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Won the Pope's Favor (2)
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Sudden companionship with a single girl.
"May I ask what family Lady Elsa hails from?"
Right now, I'm making small talk with the little nun who introduced herself as Elsa, the one I found lost in the woods.
Walking hand-in-hand down this quiet forest path with a young girl all by ourselves... it feels awfully awkward.
"It was the Myderz family. But now that I've devoted myself to the Church, it's a surname I can no longer use."
"Ah, I see. The Myderz family..."
"Do you know of the Myderz family, by chance?"
"...No, I'm sorry. It's my first time hearing it."
I used to hang out every day with the sons of noble houses at the tavern, so I'd hear all sorts of gossip from high society through them.
If even I had never heard of them... they must be from some foreign land.
"I see. That makes sense."
"..."
"..."
Our naturally flowing conversation suddenly ground to a halt.
Precisely, I was the one who stopped it.
'According to the flow, it's my turn to introduce myself now.'
The problem is... I'm not sure if I should reveal who I am.
If I tell her my identity, Elsa will talk about me once she gets back to the cathedral,
and then the Church will learn that I'm on the run.
The Bilheim family will notify the Church soon enough anyway, asking for their cooperation in the search for me...
But still, I want to delay the pursuit as much as possible.
"Now it's my turn to ask something."
"Ah, yes. Ask away."
"What about the succession ceremony? Why are you out here?"
"...!"
"Why the surprise?"
"You knew who I was?"
"Of course. Who else in these lands has black hair and silver eyes besides the Bilheim family?"
"Ah, I see."
Guess I'm admitting it, then.
...
What do I do?
I thought since she's young and raised in the cathedral, she'd be naive about the world, but I misjudged.
"?"
As I hesitated to reply, Elsa tilted her head innocently, looking up at me as if wondering what was wrong.
...Fine. No helping it now.
I'll have to come up with the most plausible cover story possible.
One that, even if Elsa tells the cathedral folks, they won't suspect me at all.
From our brief chat, I could tell Elsa was as knowledgeable and clever as any adult.
No half-baked lie meant for kids would fool her.
So I need to fabricate a highly believable tale explaining why I was in this forest.
"My apologies. I was just a bit startled since I didn't expect you to know me, Lady Elsa."
"Is that so? I figured no one in the Northern Territories would be unaware of you, the next Duke of the North. Anyway, the succession ceremony is just hours away. What are you doing in this remote forest?"
...Okay. Just finished sketching out my character in my head.
"I wanted to see the Northern Territories with my own eyes. This land that I will one day rule."
From here on, I'm Robertus Bilheim.
Not the prodigal wastrel Robertus, but a young heir who aspires to be a great leader yet doubts if he's truly worthy of the Duke of the North's seat.
Time to unleash my divine acting skills.
"...You wanted to see it? See what?"
"Once the succession ceremony ends, I will truly become the Duke of the North. The one responsible for the Bilheim family, this vast snowy plain, and all the countless souls who live upon it."
"Hmm."
"In the early hours of the ceremony day, I lay in bed with my eyes wide open, unable to move. I just couldn't wrap my head around it. That I would ascend to a position bearing such grave responsibility as Duke of the North?"
"..."
"So with my chest tight and heavy, I slipped out of the mansion without the servants noticing and wandered aimlessly. To etch into my eyes... the things I must protect."
Here, I pause slightly and gaze deeply at Elsa.
To show her eyes filled with anguish and melancholy.
"...I thought that way, it might finally feel real, even just a little."
Perfect. Even I think the story and performance are flawless.
If they don't know my past, they'll fall for it 100%.
No, even if they do, they'll wonder, 'Has this guy turned over a new leaf?'
"I see... so that's how it is..."
Elsa nodded solemnly, as if convinced.
"But if that's the reason, is there any need to come this deep into the forest? If you wanted to see the territory, wouldn't it make more sense to visit the open plains or the villages where the people live?"
"!"
Whoa. Didn't see that counter coming.
"W-Well, you see..."
Think fast. What do I say?
"...You're right. Before coming to this forest, I did walk through the places you mentioned, Lady Elsa. But as I looked around them, suddenly... I felt uneasy."
"Uneasy?"
"Yes. Doubts flooded my mind: Do I really have what it takes to be Duke of the North? Am I truly capable of shouldering this territory?"
"Huh."
"So I wandered aimlessly like a fugitive, kept walking and walking... and ended up here."
"Such profound thoughts..."
Not bad for a story I just made up on the spot.
Elsa was looking up at me with eyes tinged with admiration.
"...If it's that frightening, don't you want to run away?"
"!!!"
Did she figure it out? That I'm actually running away?
"..."
No. Doesn't seem like it.
Her expression looks like it's just innocent curiosity, a random question.
Almost there. Time to max out my acting...
"No. I have no intention of fleeing."
"...!"
I vowed it with resolute determination.
"When I heard of my father and brothers' sudden deaths, and before I could even recover from the shock, that I would become Duke of the North... I thought of abandoning everything and hiding. But recalling my family and the people of this territory, I vowed over and over. I must endure. I must accept it."
"If I don't bear this weight, who will? I can't claim I'll become a great leader, but I can confidently say I'll do my utmost to be one."
Good. Climax time.
Close my eyes, hand on chest, voice firm and resolute.
"...I will gladly embrace the fate given to me."
A dashing declaration to wrap it up.
"..."
And silence descended.
I cracked my eyes open to check on Elsa.
"..."
She stared at me blankly, shocked, for a long while,
...clap, clap, clap.
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Then she burst into enthusiastic applause.
"Splendid. Truly splendid! A model for any leader. It's been so long since I've seen a child with such depth of thought and unyielding will!"
"You're too kind, Lady Elsa."
"Ahh... how can I possibly put this feeling into words…! Yes! The Lord God surely guided me to this remote forest to meet you!"
Sweet. So very sweet.
I bask in her lavish praise without letting it show on my face.
I did overact a bit after that 'why not run' question caught me off guard...
But good results are all that matter.
"Sniff... What a joyous day... Such a precious encounter..."
Elsa was so deeply moved by my soliloquy that she was even crying.
Perfect one-act play, if I do say so myself.
Once I settle in the south, maybe I should try acting for real?
"...Ahem. I got carried away with emotion and showed you an embarrassing side, Lady Elsa."
I extended my hand to her again.
"We should hurry before it's too late."
Time lost fooling Elsa.
Drop her off at the cathedral quick, then head south for freedom.
"Right... yes. The star of the succession can't be late..."
She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, took my hand again, and we resumed walking.
...Clop... clop...
"?"
Imagination? The ground seems to be rumbling.
Clop, clop.
Tree branches shake, dumping snow down.
Not imagination.
In the distance, countless hooves thunder toward us.
Clop clop clop clop!
"His Holiness the Pope!"
In the blink of an eye, dozens of cavalry surrounded us.
"W-Wait. What is this...!"
Shing—
"!?"
A knight thrusts a sharp spear tip right between my eyes.
"You scum! To dare kidnap His Holiness...! Heretic? Or demonkin...?"
"Stop this instant!"
A bellow that shook my guts.
It was so loud, it took a moment to realize it came from Elsa.
"Y-Your Holiness?"
"This child is my benefactor. Lower your spears and dismount at once."
"Pardon?"
"Now!"
At her stern command, the knights exchanged confused glances before obediently dismounting.
"L-Lady Elsa? What in the world."
"...Looks like the fun ends here."
She let go of my hand and strode toward the knight who had aimed his spear at me.
The knight dropped to one knee and bowed his head as if she were his master.
"Miles, what is the meaning of this commotion?"
"Your Holiness has been out on a walk far longer than usual, so we rushed to find you. But we saw a stranger leading you away and thought he meant you harm..."
"Foolish man."
Thwack!
Elsa smacked the knight's helmet.
"Am I a child? I'd have come back when it was time. No need for all this fuss."
"M-My apologies."
My brain froze.
Who the hell are these knights?
And who the hell is Elsa, making them grovel?
And if I didn't mishear...
"...Did you just say 'His Holiness the Pope'?"
Elsa turned back toward me.
A smile lit her face.
The smile of a child caught playing a prank.
"Oops. I was hoping to enjoy a bit more 'lady' treatment. Caught too soon."
"Y-Your Holiness. Then who is that man?"
"Can't you tell by the black hair? It's Robertus Bilheim, the next Duke of the North."
"A-Ah!"
Miles, still kneeling, bowed deeply toward me.
"F-Forgive me, Duke Bilheim. I was rude."
"No..."
I answered on reflex, but my gaze remained fixed on Elsa.
"Sorry for the lie. But I couldn't resist the mischief. And I was curious. What sort of man is the next Duke of the North?"
Crunch, crunch.
She approached through the snow on those tiny feet.
"Your anguish, your resolve—magnificent. You moved this old pope's heart. So I shall gladly aid your path forward."
She stood right before me.
Still reeling in shock, I stared blankly into her radiant golden eyes, so captivating they drew me in.
"Come now. Let's return together for the succession ceremony."
This time, she extended her hand to me with a bright smile.