War on the Table (1)
The orphanage fundraising event had been a disaster. No grand parties had followed. 'Though I did extend a few casual invitations here and there.' The Gibraltar family had kept up a steady stream of light dinners, if not full-blown banquets. Some came to spy on us. Others to investigate a noble's suspicious death. And after touring the orphanage once, they all left generous donations "to support the operations." Bribery? No, gifts. Charitable aid for lost children in need. Certainly not an attempt to get their foot in the door with promising kids who might become knights someday.
Once they grew up, the orphanage graduates chose their own paths. It was pure coincidence if they ended up frequently spotting a certain name on the "Major Donors Plaque" inside the orphanage. Or if they later made their new home in that noble's territory. The nobles competed fiercely to donate. It was a gesture of goodwill toward future relations with Gibraltar—and a lecherous investment in our children. In just ten years, three prime prospects would emerge. Grey. Noir. Letar. The top priority was naturally Noir, already training with the sword. Next came Letar, destined to be the beauty of her generation. And then there was me: the eldest son, older than both, shrouded in ugly rumors. Still, I carried Gibraltar blood. If Noir failed, I'd be the reluctant heir. The donors brought their own children to meet us often. Noir and Letar built broader networks from a young age than they had in my previous life. I observed them closely, jogging my memory. Nothing noteworthy. No one like Ethan Sezar, the silver-haired orphan prodigy who stuck in my mind.
The real point was the frequent exchanges that filled plaque after plaque. They were even tiered by amount: bronze, silver, gold. The nobles vied to claim those golden nameplates. And the biggest donor among them? The one with the most gold plaques?
"The orphanage has greatly improved relations with Morgania. All thanks to our benevolent Queen Carmen."
"You're Viscount Hex Romana, the External Minister."
"Who doesn't know that money comes straight from Her Majesty's purse?"
"Ha."
Today, the man delivering yet another massive donation was Hex Romana, External Minister.
"Welcome, Minister. I appreciate you letting me greet you each time."
"Talking to you gets results fastest anyway. Why bother your father?"
"Academy days?"
"Don't be ridiculous. He'd just end up drawing steel. I heard you pierced that Sezar kid's heart the other day?"
"Just a flesh wound, not the heart."
After deciding on treason and expanding the family, Morgania had slipped new spies into our household.
"That was days ago. How do you know already?"
"Our eyes and ears are everywhere in the kingdom."
"Like that freckled new maid from Baron Kalia's territory?"
"......Tch."
"I won't kill her. She's been working hard at the orphanage."
"I can't let my guard down around you."
Perhaps scarred by past betrayals where everyone died, this time they'd sent servants utterly loyal to the family—except for leaking info on the sly.
"You. The moment you blab the source of this money..."
"It's Her Majesty's slush fund. Ghost companies from jewelry shops, stock investments."
"Hey. This comes from my wife's trading firm."
"I didn't know she dabbled in smuggling too."
"Ahem...!"
The Queen had her fingers in pies across the kingdom. Not just the capital's commerce, but foreign trade too—all under her direct oversight. Morgania's Duke handled the surveillance, investigations, and management.
"One thing: the Grand Duke hates money flowing here."
"He might invest directly soon. I've hooked one already."
"...What?"
"Drew the joker."
And with them, I'd forged a tight alliance—nearly fully transparent, sharing nearly all secrets.
"For real?"
"Yes. Took pulling the last one from a hundred."
"Grey. I'm not talking about anything else—"
"Morgania can't raise talent properly. Just leave it to us."
"Ugh...."
The joker would tempt them. Even with our covert alliance. Even if relations seemed to warm.
"It's talent we discovered. We'll raise them better."
"Nngh...."
Gibraltar and Morgania had been bitter enemies for ages.
"Even Mente alone..."
"Enough about that. I have nothing to say about Mente, even with ten mouths."
"It's fine. It bruised the Morgania Grand Duke's pride, and Father was thrilled."
"......."
Previously, when Mente shone in the mansion raid, I'd formally asked Father to invite her. He sent a letter straight to Morgania.
"I understand why the Grand Duke flew into a rage. One of his knights wasting away untapped. Then I declare I'll develop her."
"That's what he said. 'If the Margrave sees what I missed, I'll see it too.'"
Mente's treatment became a masters' pride clash.
—That bloodsucker dares mock me?! Fine! I'll prove it! Make Mente a master! In mighty Morgania!!
Father had poked first with the letter, but the Duke exploded and committed to investing in Mente.
"'We'll back her fully during the contract. Stay in Morgania.'"
"Any progress with Mente in those three years?"
"She rose to knight order rank two, but not master."
The Duke half-doubted Father's—really, my—eye for talent. Yet Mente improved by leaps under the investment, reaching advanced knight. Still, no master. My own training lagged too.
"Three years as my disciple, and I see my master once a season for tests?"
"Ahem. Well, that's..."
Instead, Mente sent regular letters, books, training manuals. Theory-heavy, but solid for my age.
"Enough. Since you're here first in ages, about the reception... Serving the Queen..."
"Oh, that's fine. Her Majesty said anywhere—territory hotel or castle guest room."
"......Pardon?"
Unexpected.
"We just built the villa."
"An unopened villa? No thanks. She'd rather stay in the castle, even if inconvenient."
"Father won't visit at night or anything."
"Talks like a thirteen-year-old."
"I was worse at ten."
"You never shut up."
Viscount Hex grumbled, pulling out a parchment.
"Her Majesty's requests. You can handle this much?"
"Of course. No issue. Though..."
I pointed to a tiny line amid the dense list.
"'Dinner with Father. Marchioness presence optional. If that's set, the rest doesn't matter.'"
"Ahem."
"One more for my political godmother."
"What're you scheming?"
"Well... Hmm...."
Mother wouldn't like it, but.
"A midnight intimate date—for just the two formerly betrothed, before meeting Mother—"
[Gasp....]
A stifled breath, then an inadvertent 'oh no'.
"Viscount."
"Ahem. That is."
"Remote comm device? Or magic?"
"Why send the External Minister if you're eavesdropping, Godmother Carmen?"
Hex pulled a crystal orb from his bosom, face like he might cry.
"I can make it happen."
I'd only promised the venue, but she imagined a full terrace setup with tablecloth, wine, cheese.
"Don't you trust me?"
Poor thing, but I got it.
"Godmother Carmen. Do I seem the type to promise the most crucial thing and deliver air?"
"I've already secured permission."
Hallucination? The orb seemed to tremble, though it was clearly for remote magic comms.
"The orphanage roof has a garden. And a table there for tea with major donors. Just two chairs."
"After donating ten billion for orphanage support, how could I host such a guest anywhere less?"
Father should host. Late hour, wine present, just the two on the roof? Minor tastes.
"By the way."
The orb wouldn't show it, but I winked toward Queen Carmen.
"Even Mother hasn't been there yet."
"Pardon?"
"......."
What decisiveness. She wouldn't visit the orphanage anyway—seemed urgency had struck.
"Collaboration?"
Queen Carmen's voice took on a playful lilt.
"......."
After getting Father's approval on Viscount Hex's reception parchment and handing it to Head Butler Malcolm.
"The Queen comes in two days?"
"Speak freely. This is the study, just you and me."
"...Carmen really pushing to come early."
Uncharacteristically, Father covered his face with his hand.
"Why ditch your fiancée for Mother then?"
"You asking knowing nothing?"
"At least there should've been a transition. You flipped the moment you saw her."
"...Saint Geo kept getting in the way. He threw himself at your mother nonstop—before and after we met."
No regret in Father's voice.
"Confessed love at first sight, then stalked her relentlessly."
"That's called 'stalking,' right?"
"Stalking?"
"New term from the Imperial Gazette. Obsessing over someone who doesn't reciprocate, tracking their every move."
"Ah, perfect fit. Stalking."
Father chuckled.
"Thanks to him, I won her heart."
"Pardon?"
"Saint Geo stalked your mother; she was terrified. One night, she felt eyes at her bedroom window, begged me to stay."
"So you rushed to Mother's room?"
"Smashed the window jumping out—there was Saint Geo."
"......."
That man. And Mother fell for him—
'No.'
New info: previously overlooked. Mother had mitigating factors.
"Father."
"Yes."
"When did you realize Mother has insatiable appetites?"
"......."
Father's face stiffened.
"Why ask?"
"Just wondering if physical aspects swayed you from Carmen. The difference and all."
"It's vast."
Gibraltar: famed for canyons. Morgania: endless plains.
"When I got engaged to Carmen, I had no idea about your mother."
Father paled briefly.
"Don't spread it. Badmouthing her spits in your own face."
"What I hear here stays here. No one else around."
Just Father and me.
"Your mother... haa. She's a succubus."
"......."
One of today's fresh revelations.
"Not literally a monster. Figurative..."
"Imperial Gazette said it. Viewing Mother from afar: elven beauty, goddess's bountiful mercy, succubus's allure."
"Who wrote that?"
"Imperial Gazette. Fun checking what flies over Gate 1 lately."
"......."
Father tilted his head back.
"I realized post-Noir—unplanned."
"Oof, saying stuff that'd hurt Noir and Letar."
"Truth. Nothing false."
Father, content with one heir, why three more with Mother?
"Your mother's... extraordinary. Sword talent? She'd be a Sword Master."
"......I'll pretend I didn't hear."
New knowledge, instant regret.
"Anyway, business. Let's discuss."
"What now."
"Soon, someone from the Empire."
One 'scheduled future' I recalled well.
"New educational institution in the capital. Their diplomat wants passage through Gibraltar Canyon."
"......?"
"Ah, sorry. Empire funding 99%. Joint kingdom-empire Royal Academy."
Empire delegation incoming.
"They want the gates open for the delegation."