Chapter 11 — A Strange Living Arrangement
Chapter 11 — A Strange Living Arrangement
Translation: Godtl
The four children took the seats on both sides of Lelia and across from her. It felt exactly like being surrounded.
"Boss, what's with that girl earlier? You trying to make a girlfriend, surely?"
"…."
Romeo raised one eyebrow and asked, and the other guys' gazes fixed on Lelia.
"Giiirlfriend?"
Kalix sneered with a face that looked like he'd burst out laughing any moment.
"B-boss… i-is that true? G-girlfriend… you say…."
Oscar interrogated Lelia while stuttering severely.
Lelia didn't answer the two and frowned, glaring at Griffith.
Griffith, perhaps knowing the girl's identity, had a nonchalant attitude.
Look at this shameless guy?
Lelia shrugged.
"What's the big deal if she's my girlfriend? She's none other than Prince Griffith's fiancée, you know."
"Fiancée? You have a fiancée too?"
Kalix looked at Griffith with a 'you bastard' face.
"…Is there anyone here without a fiancée?"
Romeo asked in an incredulous tone.
"I don't have one."
"…Really?"
Everyone looked puzzled at Kalix's answer of' I don't.'
"I-I don't… uh, have one either…."
Even Oscar answered that way.
'It's only the ones hated by the Emperor who don't have fiancées.'
Lelia clicked her tongue inwardly and thought.
Romeo's blue pupils were shaking wildly.
"Really, you don't? Then what about you, Boss? You don't have one either?"
"Huh?"
Uh… right. Did the Crown Prince have a fiancée?
'Given that Emperor who'd die for his son, he might have arranged one already… but he'd be extremely picky about choosing, so maybe there isn't one yet….'
The four stared at her, waiting for Lelia's answer.
Lelia finally found a wise answer.
"Um… I did hear Dad talking about something similar. But since I'm rather frail. He didn't tell me in advance because he was worried I'd be concerned. There probably is one? Or maybe there isn't yet."
It was the 'I don't know' tactic.
At Lelia's words, the four children nodded, thinking that could be the case.
"But you're saying you're frail? You look scrawny but you had good strength?"
Kalix said, tapping her forearm.
"…Hey, if I hadn't received healing from the priest that day, my arm muscles would've been shredded. If you ask me to carry you again, I won't be able to, ever in my life."
"Tch…."
"You should be grateful. Huh? How much did I want to save you that I exerted such superhuman strength?"
At Lelia's words, Kalix kept his mouth shut.
The five children present, including her, roughly knew about that day's events.
At least that a wolf appeared and that Lelia carried Kalix down the mountain.
However, only Lelia, Kalix, and Griffith knew that the culprit who summoned the wolf was related to the Emperor of the Ascard Empire.
After that incident, Kalix and Griffith wondered how Lelia had known that fact in advance.
Lelia couldn't tell the truth, so she made up an excuse, saying something like'I sometimes have prophetic dreams.'
"Boss. If I were in danger, you would've done the same for me, right?"
Romeo thought for a moment then asked.
"…Huh?"
At Lelia's blank expression, Romeo got upset.
"Ha. You're hesitating, right now? I was the first one to get close to you, Boss! Don't you remember? Is your head clogged?"
"Ah, I remember! I know! Of course I would've."
Lelia answered as if annoyed, and Romeo laughed, saying 'that's what I thought.'
"B-boss… th-then what about m-me?"
"Oscar? If it were you, I'd carry you every single day."
You're smaller than me so you'd be light.
At Lelia's answer, Oscar put his fist to his mouth and giggled.
'Cute. Like a fairy.'
Lelia stroked Oscar's silver hair. I said he's really like a younger brother.
Come to think of it, Oscar and she had different eye colors, but similar silver hair. It wouldn't be strange if they became sworn siblings.
With a sudden thought, Lelia said to Oscar.
"Oscar, come to think of it, we have similar hair colors so someone might think we're siblings."
"R-really?"
"Ha, really! Siblings? You're all being ridiculous! Saying things that would cause bloodshed between two nations."
"Sometimes I want to tape Boss's mouth shut."
Kalix and Romeo said in succession.
Lelia snorted.
Then she looked at Griffith who hadn't said anything since earlier. He was the only one in this place who hadn't asked, ' You would've saved me too, right?'
He was clearly afraid of hearing the answer 'no.'
Griffith had been following Lelia around with the other guys for the past few days, but he remained distant with her.
'How bothersome….'
Lelia, watching servants bringing meals from afar, tossed a remark at Griffith.
"Griffith, for the record, I would've done the same for you. At least you guys wouldn't cry and throw a tantrum refusing to be carried like Kalix did."
"Hey! Who cried and threw a tantrum!"
Griffith bit his lips tightly whether Kalix screamed or not.
"…I didn't even ask."
He answered with effort, but Lelia had an unconcerned attitude.
Soon the servants set meals before them at their table. It was the same in front of Lelia.
"Let's eat, kids!"
Lelia shouted energetically, then nonchalantly began her second breakfast.
After the meal, Lelia returned to the room with her subordinates.
The children sat scattered across the large sofa and began drinking the tea a servant had brought them.
Perhaps because they were all royalty, their posture while having tea after the meal was quite elegant.
Lelia, too, did her best to imitate them as she sipped her tea.
"Oh, right. So what did that fiancé of yours say to you, Captain? Did he ask you to come to his wedding or something?"
Romeo asked with a hint of sarcasm.
"Has Griffith ever told his story?"
"Why ask me that?"
"I wouldn't know either."
Everyone turned their gazes toward Griffith. He ignored them, keeping his eyes fixed solely on his teacup.
"Anyway, that's surprising. I never knew you were good at talking to women."
At Kalix's words, Lelia's expression twisted.
What was that supposed to mean?
"Good? The girls were certainly eyeing the Captain."
At Romeo's follow-up remark, everyone looked surprised.
"Him? Why would they be eyeing him?"
"W-well, the Captain is... h-handsome..."
Kalix found it strange, but Oscar spoke as if it were obvious.
'Hmm. So that's how it turned out...'
Lelia chuckled inwardly as she observed the four children.
They were all imperious royals, yet here they were, playing the role of her subordinates. Even the children passing by could tell.
So naturally, she would look impressive.
'Kids...'
Lelia clicked her tongue internally, but her expression openly revealed her pride.
"By the way... instead of just staying cooped up in our room, why don't we go out and have some fun?"
Romeo suggested.
"Out where? The garden?"
"No, outside this temple."
"Will the priests let us go out?"
This Holy Neutral Zone was a vast city.
At the center of the city lay the extensive temple grounds, surrounded by a commercial district.
The children's quarters were located in a large building at the innermost part of the temple. Security was thorough and safe.
Romeo sighed as if dismayed and spoke.
"Think about it. After that incident, we essentially hold leverage over the temple. If this fact gets out, even the Holy Emperor would have to step in to settle things down."
Surprisingly, Romeo was quite clever.
Everyone appeared shaken. Lelia, too, was curious about what lay beyond the temple.
She hadn't lived long, but she had spent all her days in a secluded corner of the Imperial City.
After that, she had been stuck right here. Of course, she had no complaints since she could eat plenty.
"We need to establish proper discipline so the priests come to their senses. Let's go out for a bit. They'll assign us guards anyway, won't they?"
At Romeo's added words, Lelia shot up from her seat.
"Alright. Decision made. Everyone, let's go!"
"I... I'll stay here..."
At Lelia's words, everyone rose, but Oscar was the exception.
"Why not just come along?"
Romeo said this as if to not spoil the mood, but Oscar sprang up and headed toward the bedroom.
"I... I'm sleepy... s-so I'm going to sleep. You guys go... have fun."
Lelia quietly watched as the door closed.
'He must be afraid of crowded places.'
The busy streets would have many people passing through and be chaotic. Oscar seemed to have a fear of people.
'Is there anything that could help Oscar...'
As she stood there pondering, something came to Lelia's mind. Then, as if having made a decision, she spoke.
"Let's go."
"You're really leaving him behind?"
At Lelia's words, Romeo asked, sounding surprised.
"Yeah, let's go and come back quickly!"
Lelia thus hurried Romeo, Kalix, and Griffith along.
At the priest's request to let them go outside, the priest was startled, but when she threatened him about what happened last time, he ran to report to the high priest.
And shortly after.
They were able to come out accompanied by five elite holy knights.
Their range of movement was limited to the nearby downtown area, but that was enough.
Those living in the neutral zone were mostly families of priests and holy knights. There were also many servants working at the temple, and ordinary merchants as too.
It wasn't a tourist destination so it wasn't that crowded, but as a commercial district, the streets were lively.
It wasn't fancy, but just walking through the downtown somehow gave a feeling of freedom.