Chapter 159
Chapter 159
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Hometown Visit (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The two imperial princesses, who had been raised more nobly than anyone else.
They exchanged awkward smiles with each other before asking the orphanage director.
“So, what kind of woman is the baron’s ideal type?”
The orphanage director stared blankly at the saintess.
He had thought for sure that the nun had no interest in romance.
But thinking about it, she hadn’t returned to her convent and had stayed in the room next to Veil’s.
Hans seemed to realize she harbored feelings for Veil, as the corner of his mouth quirked up.
“Hmm… Well…”
The saintess had an image utterly opposed to that of a woman who toyed with men.
Reassured by this, the orphanage director answered honestly.
“As far as I remember, Veil liked his older sisters.”
Hans pointed to a large family photo hanging on one wall of the orphanage.
In it, Veil’s plainly featured older sisters stood in a row, smiling.
They were certainly not as beautiful as Irina or Lydia.
Anyone could see they were ordinary commoner women.
Yet, the young Veil sandwiched between them was beaming happily.
As if his heart found peace only when he was with them.
“Before his sisters became candidates, he taught them how to study and often cooked for them… Well, how could he not like them?”
Hans gazed at the sisters, now all married off, lost in memories.
Even if he hadn’t birthed them himself, they were all precious children to him.
“Every time they taught him, the boy vowed that when he grew up, he’d teach the students and let them eat without worrying about food.”
Lydia chuckled at the mere image of the adorable little fox.
It was hard to even imagine Veil shorter than her.
“So the moment he returned here, he handed me a fortune in gold coins. He said it was his turn to repay the favor.”
The director laughed heartily just thinking about how commendable Veil was.
But soon, reality dawned on him, and his laughter faded.
“But it won’t be easy. This place is so barren…”
Veil’s foster father let out a deep sigh.
Then, he gazed intently toward the window.
“There are so many rocks in the soil that farming is tough, and even the sisters Veil loved ended up as concubines to nobles.”
The director squeezed his eyes shut, as if regretting it just thinking about it.
“Truth be told, this isn’t a land for the poor to live on. That’s why there are so many orphans…”
He sighed deeply, worn down by financial woes.
“I’d love to take them all in myself, but it’s starting to get overwhelming.”
He must have earned quite a bit in his youth as a knight from a noble house.
Yet, with the orphanage constantly in the red, even he was growing weary.
This was the moment the reason for Veil’s obsession with money and his acquisition of territory was revealed.
“Aren’t you receiving any sponsorships?”
“Of course we are. An orphanage can’t be maintained on personal wealth alone.”
The director shook his head at the words of the two princesses, who were well-versed in money matters.
“We do receive some, but we’re very selective, so it’s woefully insufficient.”
He glanced at the plaques beneath the frame.
They bore the names of convents that had sponsored the orphanage so far.
“Most of the nobles who wanted to sponsor us…”
Hans’s eyes flashed with the fierce gaze of his knightly days just recalling it.
It was a strong, upright look reminiscent of Veil’s.
“They were scum who demanded my daughters and sons as compensation.”
He could never accept such transactions.
But his children knew his situation and stepped forward willingly, and in the end…
They were sold off as concubines or live-in lovers to old nobles.
“So now, we reject most noble sponsorships.”
As the nun and the young lady nodded in understanding, Hans murmured quietly.
“I don’t plan to accept Veil’s support either.”
If it became known that he was an orphan, it would hinder his future.
No matter if he was a baron now, his origins couldn’t be changed.
So he wanted to sever ties now, to let Veil rise even higher unimpeded.
“I don’t want that child owing us any more debts. I hope he forgets this place and lives happily with a trustworthy woman.”
Hans deftly stacked the empty plates on one hand.
Then, he forced a gentle smile.
“I’ve gone and shared needless stories. Please forgive me.”
The director bowed his head in apology.
The saintess and the schoolgirl hurriedly shook their heads.
“No, you must have needed someone to talk to, given how hard it’s been.”
“We understand perfectly, so don’t worry.”
Touched by the two women’s words, Hans expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you…”
The director shuffled back to the kitchen.
And began washing the dishes alone.
“…”
He clearly had a sturdy build that must have been impressive in his youth.
But perhaps because of starting the orphanage and tasting harsh reality.
Today, his broad back looked especially lonely.
“I think I get why Veil went after territory to make money.”
Lydia crossed her arms alone, gazing at the orphanage director with serious eyes.
The seductive gaze she usually used to tease Veil like a little devil was long gone.
Her red eyes brimmed with wisdom.
“Yeah…”
Irina felt a pang of mixed emotions too.
Given the director’s circumstances, his dislike of noblewomen made sense.
“Well, that doesn’t mean we’re giving up, right?”
But.
They were no imperial princesses to abandon prey for such reasons.
“Exactly. Now that we know the cause, we just solve it.”
On the contrary, they wore relaxed smiles befitting the lords of their cities.
And simultaneously stared out at the barren wasteland visible through the window.
There was indeed nothing here.
Just desolate wasteland and rough unpaved roads.
Improving the environment would require major effort.
“How about a temporary alliance this time?”
Saintess Irina asked, looking at little princess Lydia.
The twin-tailed girl pouted her lips for a moment, then…
“Sure, fine. This is for our empire too, after all.”
Agreed with a haughty gaze.
The two princesses rose from their chairs.
Instead of heading to their lodgings, they went to Lydia’s personal carriage, from which messenger birds could be dispatched.
As if calling for someone.
「――――――」
The next day.
Warm midday sunlight poured into the shabby room.
“Ugh…”
He finally awoke from his hangover.
No matter how much Mago and Cain plied him with drink.
Starting with beer and downing fruit wine like water, his mouth reeked of alcohol.
But.
“Hm…?”
Surprisingly, there wasn’t much alcohol smell from his mouth.
“What’s this? Did I eat some fruit before sleeping?”
Instead, a faint sweet scent lingered.
And that wasn’t the only odd thing.
His pants were stiff.
As if he’d spilled water on them last night, there were wet stains.
“…”
Trying to ignore it, he reached to zip up his pants.
But perhaps because of the thickening bulge since last night.
The pants wouldn’t zip easily.
As if he’d had some lewd dream.
“Not like I’m in puberty or anything…”
He finally came to his senses and checked the clock.
It was noon.
“I promised to teach the kids history once I got up…”
He had agreed to teach the young orphans, so he hurriedly looked out the window.
At that moment.
“Yes, yes— you’re all so clever, I wonder who you take after.”
A very familiar voice came from outside the window.
A clear, seductive voice.
“Now, let’s learn about His Majesty the Emperor’s Second Conquest War. It’s a truly great history.”
“Yes—!!”
The children’s enthusiastic responses, brimming with eagerness to learn.
In response, he approached the window.
Soon.
The children sat huddled on chairs laid out on the orphanage lawn.
And a petite schoolgirl almost the same height as them.
With her hair neatly tied in twin tails, she pointed at the blackboard with a stick and continued her lively lecture.
“The ones who shone brightest in this war were the knights of our ally, Samad—”
The spirited little princess in full form.
Rubbing his eyes hard at the sight, he wondered.
“A dream…?”
It had to be someone who just resembled Lydia.
There was no way she’d know about this place.
But…
“Sis, can I join the Eastern Knights too?”
“Of course— We don’t discriminate by birth in hiring. Work hard, and Her Highness will pick you herself—”
No one on the continent had those brazen, seductive eyes and cute dragon-like features.
Nor that sage-king gaze full of love for the children.
“Anyone can see it’s Lydia.”
Amazed, he vaulted over the window onto the lawn.
The children being taught turned to him all at once.
“Brother Veil!!”
The kids jumped up from their folding chairs and rushed over in a group.
“You said you’d teach class today, but you slept in?”
“Sorry, sorry—”
He patted their heads and approached Lydia.
Seeing his messy hair and bleary eyes, she grinned, lifting the corner of her mouth.
And then…
“Brother— why are you so late?”
She approached him in the girlish voice she used only with family.
“…?”
She linked arms with him familiarly.
Like the spoiled youngest daughter of a wealthy house, overflowing with charm.
“I came to see you after so long, but you were sleeping, so I taught in your place—”
She was disguised as a schoolgirl, it seemed.
But her imperial princess gaze was far too seductive for a mere student.
“R-Really…?”
He glanced over at Hans standing at the dining hall entrance.
Lydia squeezed his arm tightly, pressing against him.
“Veil, how can you keep such a fine young lady waiting?”
Hans approached them without suspicion, looking friendly.
And introduced Lydia, who was teaching the children herself.
“She arrived late last night just to see you.”
“Oh, I see…”
‘What the hell happened while I was asleep?!’
How did she even know about his hometown?
Chills ran down his spine at the princess’s intelligence network.
As if sinking into a sweet, lascivious swamp.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am. We’ve had a hard time with no proper school around here…”
The director bowed his head gratefully at Lydia teaching the children.
Lydia waved it off modestly and delivered even gladder news.
“Don’t worry, Director. I happened to speak with the dean of a school I know well—”
On a whole different scale.
“And get this—they’re going to build a school here in Cornell.”
Too grand to call coincidence.
“Y-Yes…? In this outskirts area?”
The director’s stern face lit up like a child’s.
Lydia pointed to the wasteland near the orphanage, smiling maturely beyond her figure.
“Yes, a satellite campus of Ruton College, the top prestigious school in the capital’s east, will go up right there.”
A prestigious school from the east.
And one of its affiliates coming to this remote area.
“The school wants to expand its influence to other regions. This place has cheap land, so it’s perfect.”
Hans blinked in disbelief at the news.
Before he could doubt, Lydia struck first.
“That’s why I came here. To check out the area in advance.”
As if the school had eyed this spot long before she arrived.
“Th-This is truly great news, truly…”
Hans decided to be grateful for the massive boon rather than suspicious.
Just having a prestigious school would transform this rundown town’s quality.
Commerce would spring up around it.
“Architects and executives will probably arrive by carriage soon.”
“Thank you, miss… Truly, thank you…!!”
The burly man expressed thanks to the much smaller girl.
Lydia leaned her face on his shoulder and spoke with a seductive gaze.
“No need. I’m just here on the dean’s orders—”
As if imprinting herself on the director.
The ploy worked somewhat, as the director kindly addressed the twin-tailed girl leaning on his shoulder.
“This won’t do. Lunch is ready, so join us.”
“Shall we?”
Lydia said, hugging him so tightly their shirts were damp with sweat.
“Let’s go, brother. You need something for that hangover, right?”
She spoke kindly, no doubt.
Yet it somehow felt imperiously like an imperial decree.
“…”
He gazed down at her steadily.
No idea how it happened, but she was looking after his hometown.
And smiling at him like an endearing, seductive junior.
Even knowing she was a princess, he didn’t dislike the warmth and gratitude.
“Yeah. Let’s eat together.”
He smiled and headed to the dining hall with her.
The children trailed after them in a line.
Like a brood of kids, they queued up for food.
“This really makes us look like a couple, doesn’t it?”
He nodded along with Lydia’s playful smile.
“Yeah, it does—”
But the moment he grabbed a tray and lined up.
“Come on in, everyone—”
His lips parted at the unexpected second guest.
“Line up slowly— there’s plenty of food today.”
Dishes luxurious beyond imagination for the orphanage.
The splendid sight left him dumbfounded.
From creamy soup with truffles.
To crayfish dishes rare even in Cornell.
And atop it all, a holy nun ladling them out herself.
The painting-like scene drew a hollow laugh from him.
“Baron, come quickly so those behind can get served too.”
Irina, with her lustrous silver hair.
In a nun’s habit that clung seductively, accentuating her navel’s curve, she sent him a pure gaze.
“Will you come this way, please?”
Holding the soup ladle.
“Th-Thank you.”
He received his serving from the holy nun in a half-dazed state.
Seeing this, Hans said to him with a pleased expression.
“Surprised, huh?”
“Yes…”
After getting food from Irina, he sat across from his foster father at the table.
Then, the man shared glad tidings.
“It all came from that nun’s convent.”
Hans, oblivious, said happily.
“The ingredients filling our warehouse now are worth a hundred times our orphanage budget.”
He shook his head, still unable to believe it.
But Irina approached with even more unbelievable news.
“Oh, Director. Soon, architects and workers from our sponsoring convent will arrive to reclaim the wasteland.”
Clasping her hands tightly, she smiled holily.
“I looked into it— good-quality potatoes grow here. Remove the rocks from the soil, and you can have fertile fields.”
Saintess Estina’s sacred smile.
Hans, utterly smitten, clasped his hands in fervent prayer.
“Truly, thank you, Saintess…”
“No need. This is a reward from above for your devoted care of the orphans.”
Irina said so and slowly sat, pressing her hips against his waist as he sat.
For an instant, she looked down with a seductive gaze.
“…!”
At that look, saliva gathered inexplicably in his mouth.
“It’s all the will of the gods.”
Lydia, sitting side by side with him, added.
She too pressed close to his other hip, smiling seductively.
Caught between the two clinging women, he agreed.
“Yes, it feels like the will of the gods…”
“Aah…”
Hans crossed himself and prayed.
Then, with joy, enjoyed the lavish meal he hadn’t had in ages.
“Eat plenty, Baron Veil.”
“Eat up, brother.”
It was certainly good news.
His hometown was starting to prosper again thanks to the princesses.
“Thank you, everyone…”
But why.
An inexplicable chill washed over him.
As if they had slipped right into his most precious and private domain.
And.
That chill peaked as the meal ended.
――――――.
“Hey, over there. There!!”
Men’s voices from outside the orphanage.
And the dull thuds of something being driven into the ground.
The noise shaking the shabby orphanage made them all look out the window at once.
“…!!”
People staking signs at regular intervals along the wide unpaved road.
Puzzled by the sight, they went outside.
“What are you doing here?”
The burly middle-aged man, Hans, asked with furrowed brows.
The workers, planting stakes firmly, replied.
“Oh, we’re marking the route for the new paved road going in soon.”
“What…? A road?”
Hans and he tilted their heads.
A neat-looking worker politely pointed along the path they’d come.
“Yes, we got orders to build a large commercial district here soon.”
A large commercial district.
Even barren land would see population flow with big commerce.
But such massive projects weren’t for just anyone.
Not in this short time.
Even grand dukes had to report to the imperial family for permits.
How many in the empire could execute this on a whim.
“Oh, the project lead is arriving.”
They all turned to see the planner behind it.
Soon.
They stared intently at the massive platinum carriage approaching from the horizon.
――――――.
The huge carriage stopped before the orphanage.
Its wheels were so large they left deep ruts in the unpaved road.
The conqueror’s footprint now marked his secret hometown.
“The vice minister is coming out.”
The carriage door opened.
Emerging was not in her usual uniform or glamorous dress.
A blonde woman in a sharp suit.
“Pleased to meet you all.”
With a monocle over one eye.
Even in pants, her voluptuous hips strained the fabric taut.
“I’m Lea, Vice Minister of Urban Planning in charge of Cornell’s development.”
She descended the carriage with a haughty gaze unbefitting a vice minister.
Bluntly addressing the stunned group.
“Oh, today I’m here not as a noble, but as a mere ‘civil servant.’”
Neither princess nor operations commander.
She who had seized the vice minister post through power.
She sent him an empress-like sensual gaze.
“So, may I come inside?”
Like a lioness who’d found a fox den.
The beast began personally laying her red carpet on the barren soil.
To come and go as she pleased.