Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Pure Malice
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I lock eyes with the Saintess, who is gripping my hand tightly, and sink into thought.
How on earth did things end up like this?
I rewind the situation in my mind.
At some point, the kings of various nations began treating their palaces as a measure of their own power.
A magnificent palace meant you were a big shot; a shabby one meant you weren't.
And the place where I lived was unmistakably that of a "big shot," no matter who looked at it.
Statues, chandeliers, and paintings that just screamed expensive.
"Wow..."
The Saintess's eyes widen as she looks around, then she turns back to me.
"So this is the Empire's imperial palace... Wow, those chandeliers...!"
"Yeah, it is! Pretty cool, right?"
I raise my voice a bit, trying to draw her full attention.
It felt a little like bragging about my house, but...
She didn't seem to mind at all. Her eyes sparkling, she just wandered around taking it all in.
"It's really amazing..."
She murmured to herself as she gazed around.
I take another close look at the Saintess.
I hadn't been able to check her properly earlier because of the Cardinal.
She looks a bit skinny.
And kind of timid, too.
It's weird to say a kid who doesn't even look ten is skinny or fat, but anyway.
Do people from the Holy Kingdom live ascetic lives with simple meals and dorms as a daily routine?
With that thought, I quietly speak to the maid trotting along beside me.
"Could you bring some cookies?"
"Shall I prepare a tea party?"
"Hmm..."
A tea party.
"Just set it up where I ask, that should be fine."
"Understood. Is there anything else you'll need?"
"Bring a lot of cookies."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The maid hurries off, and after watching her go, I approach the Saintess again.
"Well, shall we see more?"
No point in just killing time anyway.
I continue guiding the Saintess around,
"Wow, this is so amazing!"
"Is this ice that doesn't melt?"
"Ah, these must be portraits of the three of them...!"
More than I expected, the Saintess was full of curiosity and brightness.
She had seemed so hesitant next to the Cardinal earlier.
But before I knew it, her face was beaming with smiles.
"..."
"..."
The only ones with dissatisfaction etched all over their faces were my two older sisters behind me.
I get it completely.
My sisters still haven't fully formed proper social connections.
Living in their relatively small world, unlike me, they lack awareness of how vast the world really is.
They don't know you can make friends anywhere, or that connections come from unexpected places.
They've never ventured out into society.
In their little world, I must seem bigger than they realize.
And to them, the Saintess probably looks like a bad person stealing away their little brother.
So the way to handle this is...
"Sisters, come play with the Saintess too!"
To reframe the Saintess not as a threat, but as a friend.
After all, a child's jealousy stems from a lack of attention.
And the one giving attention here is me.
The key is to team up the objects of jealousy so they feel included, not left out.
With that in mind, I look at the other two.
Fortunately, my approach works.
"...Fine!"
Ravire purses her lips but walks toward me,
"...Okay..."
And Lily mutters curtly as she approaches too.
I look at them both, then turn back to the Saintess.
"Saintess, you too—"
"Isfil..."
"Huh?"
"Call me... Isfil."
"Ah, okay... Isfil."
"Nice to meet you, Isfil!"
"...Nice to meet you too!"
Ravire and Lily seem to have accepted her as well.
For now, the plan is working perfectly.
Like that, I lead Isfil—no, Isfil—around some more, then head to the spot where I'd asked the maids to set up the tea party.
And that's when the situation flips again.
Still unable to hide my bewilderment, I look at Isfil.
For starters, I just can't believe she's the one meant to save the world.
Or rather, I don't want to believe it.
Anyway.
While I'm still unable to pull my hand free as she munches away, Ravire wedges herself between us and yanks Isfil's hand off with brute force, shoving her hard.
"Ow!"
She'd pulled hard enough that Isfil cries out in pain and stumbles back, but Ravire raises her voice without a care.
"Theo doesn't like it!"
At the same time, Lily yanks my body back into her arms.
"..."
Unlike Ravire, Lily glares at the Saintess with a cold expression, saying nothing.
I never imagined the positive relationship I'd worked so hard to build would shatter like this.
With that thought, I glance at the maids.
They're looking at us with expressions screaming they have no idea what to do.
Can't blame them.
A Saintess and princesses fighting—whoever they side with wrong could make their lives hell.
No intention of blaming them.
If I were in their shoes, I'd go home tonight, down a bottle, and lament picking the wrong job.
Thinking that, I wriggle free from Lily and walk over to the Saintess.
Let's think this through.
Her gaunt face.
That's where it gets suspicious.
For a kid this young, with no concept of dieting, a skinny face means one thing.
Poor appetite to begin with.
That's why I set up the tea party.
To test if she really couldn't eat much.
And nope, confirmed right away.
Her eyes lit up at the cookies, and she kept eating—anyone could see she had an appetite.
From Lily's arms, I look up at the Saintess.
Age gap means I'm still smaller.
Now, just need to confirm one thing.
"Did the Cardinal tell you to?"
"...!"
Isfil's eyes go wide at my words.
"Uh, um, ah..."
"Did the Cardinal say he'd scold you if you didn't take me?"
"Uh, uh..."
She rolls her eyes everywhere, unable to speak.
Knew it.
Kids are weak to authority.
Specifically, to power figures.
One of the first ways kids socialize is learning to obey adults like moms or teachers.
And the Cardinal exploited that.
"N-No, it's not..."
She trails off, mumbling.
I gaze at Isfil quietly, then close my eyes.
This is worse than I thought.
"If I say no, will the Cardinal get mad?"
"..."
She clamps her mouth shut at my question.
How much did he bully her to make her shut down like this?
Anger boils up.
Not protecting kids is one thing, but tormenting and exploiting them like this?
Disqualified as a human. Utterly disqualified.
The fury of a modern, highly educated person—that kids should grow up as kids—ignites inside me.
"..."
Time to plan.
How can I secure my own safety while freeing Isfil?
Not about to get captured for her sake.
I close my eyes, pondering for a moment, then speak.
Let's see, let's see...
No brilliant ideas coming.
Political approach is too tough.
Even as a prince, I'm just a kid.
No private soldiers or loyal followers under me.
Then, a bolt of inspiration strikes.
A method only available because I'm a child...
"..."
A gamble, but.
"...Theo?"
As I pull away from Lily, she murmurs anxiously, looking at me, but
"Let's go to the Cardinal, Lady Isfil!"
"Huh?"
Isfil's eyes widen at my words,
"Your Highness...!"
And the maids look at me in bewilderment.
It's fine.
"I have something to say to the Cardinal!"
Nothing's as malicious as a pure child.
When I burst into the audience chamber, Gordolf and Cardinal Luis are deep in serious conversation.
Looks like their talk is running parallel, going nowhere.
A face I've seen plenty in office life.
Neither side listening, just fighting to the death.
Thinking that, I step forward. Gordolf's eyes widen upon seeing me.
Luis's face, meanwhile, lights up.
"Your Highness...?"
Sorry, Gordolf. You thought I'd run off, but here I am, walking right back.
"Ah, Your Highness, welcome."
Luis shoots to his feet, beaming at me.
"I've been greatly interested in the hero's tale—"
"No!"
Luis freezes at my interruption.
I take a deep breath.
Time to drop the adult self for a bit.
I'm a five-year-old kid... I'm a five-year-old kid...
I glare wide-eyed, pointing with one hand.
My finger aims straight at Cardinal Luis.
Pointing at him, I open my mouth.
"You're mean!"
"Pardon...?"
"Cardinal Luis is a bad person!"
The blunt accusation only a child could make.
And the gaze only a child could have—the words no one else could say.
"Wh-What's this all of a sudden, Your Highness...?"
The smile vanishes from his face, replaced by pure bewilderment.
"Cardinal Luis bullied the Saintess!"
I say that, glancing at Isfil who'd followed me in. She stares back at me like the sky's falling.
Confirms it even more.
The Cardinal gaslit Isfil.
That's fear in her eyes.
Fear of getting scolded for badmouthing him.
But it's okay.
"B-Bullied her...?"
Luis still looks baffled at me, and I keep pointing, continuing.
"Cardinal Luis didn't give Saintess Isfil any food and said he'd scold her!"
Children are innocent.
That's why they're credible.
If a twenty-something guy said this, it'd be dismissed as nonsense, maybe even turned against me politically.
But right now, I'm a five-year-old kid.
Too young to lie convincingly.
And Isfil's reaction proves my words aren't wrong.
Gordolf. As Foreign Minister, you can't let this slip.
Bite now.
"Intriguing."
Thankfully, Gordolf proves why he's in such a high position.
"Intimidation or control over the Saintess..."
Luis's face flushes beet red at Gordolf's murmur, and he stands taller.
"That's not it!"
"Our prince has said so."
Gordolf replies calmly, pressing on.
"Might the Empire conduct an inspection for the time being?"
"What?"
"Her Majesty the Empress, with her deep interest in continental affairs, would surely wonder if the Saintess is being treated properly."
Gordolf smiles, and Luis's face reddens further.
"Are you now—no, doubting the Holy Kingdom...! Lord Gordolf...!"
"Not at all. It's about trusting Prince Theodor."
Yes, keep hammering that.
Eventually...
Luis rolls his eyes, muttering.
"Even for a prince, isn't it too much to be swayed by a mere five-year-old's words...?"
That's a political misstep.
"How dare you!"
Gordolf glares, but before he can speak,
"A mere five-year-old?"
Clicking heels echo.
A voice thick with fury.
Cold enough that even I, a child, feel the killing intent.
A voice I've heard all too often.
"Not a mere five-year-old."
"N-No, I never said mere five-year-old..."
"Silence."
The clicking heels halt beside me, cutting off Cardinal Luis.
"The words of the sharpest, purest mind—someone who could be the next Emperor. That's why they're trustworthy."
Mother glares at Cardinal Luis, eyes blazing.
"Otherwise..."
Still glaring, she speaks.
"Shall we take that remark as a challenge to the Empire?"
Bigger success than I'd anticipated.