The Princesses of the Orphanage (2)
A child's body is inconvenient in many ways. Not just because of their youth, but because, not being adults, there are times they can't freely enter the adult world.
This was one such moment.
'There are too many things I can't say to a kid.'
Erwin saw me as just a slightly clever child, but I knew all the truths.
'I can't carelessly speak about these children's true nature—neither politically nor humanely.'
The children Erwin wanted to send to the pilot school in Gibraltar ahead of time were all "candidates."
What kind of candidates? Imperial royal candidates.
Half-sisters. Not just one or two—dozens, perhaps even more than I realized, if there were others I hadn't identified.
—It's only natural for those with superior talents to spread their blood.
The emperor had once said something like that.
—I am the most superior, and for my talents to be inherited by only one is an insult to the empire and the world. Those with superior talents have a duty to spread them.
—Aren't you curious? Whose child is the most superior. The noblewoman who craved my love? Or the woman who lusted only for power? Or perhaps the commoners who rose to the empire's ruling class?
The emperor had scattered his seed far and wide, to any mother who pleased his eye.
—Not all who inherit my blood can become royals. Only the most superior and talented will become emperor. The competition begins from birth. The greatest among those born that way becomes the empire's true emperor.
—That was me. I killed all my siblings and became crown prince. Perhaps it's the empire's ancient history and tradition.
—Won't too many heirs lead to struggles for the throne? Of course. Without competition, there's stagnation. The survivor is the strong one.
That was how the future emperor pitted his children against each other. Even now, he was surely making them compete for the crown prince position.
—The boys will learn imperial swordsmanship. Those who don't become Masters before twenty have no right to the throne. The boys are probably learning statecraft underground somewhere. As a prerequisite, they must sense mana by age seven.
—The girls are raised well for marriage alliances. They're growing up adorned as ladies of [redacted] houses, cultivating their beauty to be sold off as prime goods someday.
—Listen well, Grey. If illegitimate children cause problems, it just means those people shouldn't have acted that way from the start.
The emperor viewed his children purely as tools.
—They're not born from love, so no love is needed. Everything for the empire.
—I am the father of ten thousand souls, the emperor of the empire. Everything for the world I rule.
The reason that emperor had designated her—his daughter by Erwin (now imperial granddaughter), the official "only child" of the current crown prince—as the true heir was simple.
—That child was useless anywhere else, but she bit you and opened Gibraltar's canyon gates. That alone proved her birth's worth. Among the empire's countless bastards, she alone opened Gibraltar's gates. Well, a result-oriented story skipping the process.
So it was bewildering. Even if the emperor saw his children as tools and paid little mind to his daughters.
'Does he hope to send them abroad for studies, letting the bastards grow up normally?'
I never dreamed Erwin would openly declare she'd smuggle them to the kingdom.
And.
'It's tragic I can't discuss this right now.'
If I had appeared as Gibraltar's margrave in an adult body, not a child's, would Erwin have hinted at it somehow? That they carried imperial blood but were born as tools. Better they find new love in the kingdom than grow as unloved "spares" under the imperial princess.
That plan had crumbled with her death, but until then, Erwin had worked tirelessly for the children.
So now, I had to act to the fullest within my current limits.
"Erwin Chairwoman. Are you thinking of entrusting these children to Gibraltar's orphanage?"
"Yes."
But.
"They're children with nowhere to go in the empire. If Gibraltar takes them, I'll provide ample funding."
"Funding, is it."
Not out of pity for the children or anything like that.
"I see. Money is important, but..."
For my fundamental goals alone.
"If they pose a danger to Gibraltar, we can't accept anyone."
I couldn't ruin the big picture for cheap sympathy.
"Do you know who their parents are?"
"...No. They're orphans, so I don't know details."
"Can you say there's absolutely zero chance one of these children is an imperial spy disguised as an orphan?"
"Hmm... No, I can't deny that."
Erwin answered my sharp questions frankly.
"I can't say details. But if you accept them, Gibraltar might face danger later."
Her expression held apology and disappointment.
"Still, I'd like Gibraltar to take them."
"......."
"All I can offer is money, but..."
"It's still difficult. This is."
I firmly refused despite her pleading tone.
"Gibraltar's orphanage only accepts children with verified identities. Taking in imperial children like this, with unknown backgrounds via back channels, is too risky."
"......."
"Moreover, these children here..."
I couldn't say it outright. But with my eyes, expression, and gestures, I asked.
"Isn't that right?"
This 13-year-old child. White hair so eerily like yours.
"Chairwoman. I've memorized not just the past month's Imperial Daily, but every paper Claydoll Marquis sent—three years' worth."
"Kh, ahem!"
"I recognize some faces. Are you really planning to send them to Gibraltar?"
Aren't they in the palace now? Chosen by the current emperor, growing as imperial grandchildren?
"Without a formal agreement, in this ongoing war with no humanitarian pacts, you're asking us to accept imperial children?"
Such children, to Gibraltar—now, not in four years when the academy opens?
"Gibraltar is good, but not the right place for them. For many reasons—"
"Approved."
"......."
I turned involuntarily at the voice beside me.
"Father."
"Grey Gibraltar. This is the count's command."
"...Yes."
I nodded to Father's order.
"Ho. If it were my son, he'd yell 'Why!' instead of answering."
Claydoll Marquis toyed with his goatee amusedly, and I agreed inwardly.
"But his eyes are screaming it. Count. For your son's sake, explain why? Unless you want your title usurped by filial impiety later."
"There are many reasons, but not for this setting."
Father glared at Claydoll Marquis, then patted my shoulder lightly again.
"We'll talk in the study. But one thing first."
Father pressed his thumb to my back, tracing small letters.
I'll handle the danger.
"Father."
"A father must do that much."
No way. Had he noticed?
"Erwin Chairwoman. I'm still learning imperial corporate culture, but buying and selling should be similar at root."
Father turned to Erwin.
"Children aren't goods. But if my son voices such concerns, there's reason. Accepting them might bring great crisis to Gibraltar."
Father smirked.
"The greater the risk, the greater the rewards after investing."
"Count."
"Bring them. As many as you like. I no longer care who points fingers at Gibraltar."
"...Thank you truly."
Erwin turned away, hand over her eyes briefly.
"Tell me anything you need. I'll prepare whatever I can."
"Then two requests now."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing major."
Father continued calmly—not quite calmly, a bit sheepishly.
"...That thing called a camera. And... I hear seaweed from imperial coasts is good for pregnant women. I'd like some. Unobtainable in the kingdom."
Rumble.
Gibraltar Canyon, Gate 1, closed.
The Gibraltar father and son received one item and returned to the mansion.
"...Erwin Chairwoman."
Claydoll Marquis loosened his collar and tugged his tie.
"Is this really okay? The count aside, that kid seemed to notice she's an imperial granddaughter."
"No. He won't know. No photos of the imperial granddaughter in three years of Imperial Daily."
"Then...?"
"He probably thinks she's my daughter?"
Claydoll scratched his head.
"Think the emperor will accept it? She's his favorite."
"That's why he'll send her sooner. Earlier than planned, because he cherishes her."
Erwin smiled bitterly, tapping the floor with her heel.
"At least Gibraltar—Nostrum—is safer than the current palace."
"......."
"Claydoll Marquis. Who do you serve? His Imperial Majesty?"
"I serve the empire, not any one person."
"And if the current crown prince ascends?"
"Whoever becomes emperor, my role as soldier and marquis is loyalty to the empire."
Claydoll clenched his right fist and thumped his left chest.
"If he orders Nostrum conquered, I will. If he says take up arms for Nostrum, I'll wield them to aid them."
"A soldier to the bone."
"Didn't you know? I was born gripping a spear. Heh."
"And your third daughter's granddaughter?"
"......Well."
Claydoll looked up at the night sky.
"If she ends up in Gibraltar with your daughter, how might she grow?"
"She won't grow up like now, even if unprotected in Claydoll."
"Better to live scarred only by abandonment, ignorant of roots?"
"Indeed. What life is better varies by interpretation, but..."
"But?"
"At least Gibraltar seems to have human parent-child bonds, so they'll care for them properly."
"...Is that so?"
Claydoll tilted his head, but Erwin chuckled, tapping her jeweled bracelet.
"Think about the proposal. Iferia's support isn't all bad for you, Marquis Claydoll."
"Fine... Wait. You're going alone?"
"Yes. Oh, hoping for a ride?"
Vroom.
"Sorry, I ride solo."
Something with two wheels stopped before Erwin.
"I'll schedule a visit to your Claydoll factory. See you then."
"Hey, woman. This late at night, alone...!"
"Oh, your worry is touching~"
Erwin gripped the handle with one hand, mounting the saddle like a horse.
"Can you beat me, Marquis?"
"......."
"The reason that woman hasn't replaced me—hasn't swapped in her own daughter for the imperial granddaughter—isn't just Iferia's capital, right? Anyway, I must hurry back and make a new camera. Till next time!"
As Erwin pulled the throttle.
VROOOOOM—!!!
With a roar, she vanished like an arrow, leaving dark wheel tracks.
Clop clop.
Riding back to the mansion in the carriage.
"Angry I decided unilaterally without consulting?"
Father reined the horses, halting the carriage.
"No. Not at all."
"You seem angry."
"Who am I to question the count's decision."
"You're sulking openly."
Father chuckled lowly.
"No Mente or Robert here now, so speak freely."
"There's a saying."
"Beasts can't speak, right?"
"You're in a great mood? Making such jokes."
"Of course. Because..."
Father turned, grinning.
"You trusted me, so you didn't stop me there."
"......."
"Dangerous, but Father can handle it. Right? If you truly thought it impossible, you'd have blocked me right there."
"True, but."
Countess, marquis—whoever, if it seemed bad, I'd have dragged Father away.
"Many benefits. We'll have a speech in the study. But..."
"What's the biggest risk?"
"Even Erwin might not know, but among the orphans, some could carry imperial blood?"
"......."
"Now you see why I worried?"
"Yes. Reassured then."
Father still smiled.
"Sending girls with imperial blood to Gibraltar means they seek marriage alliance."
"Not that simple, Father."
"I know. Spies could infiltrate, kidnappers or poisoners assassinate, a seductress enchant Gibraltar."
Father knew the risks.
"Son."
Yet Father accepted Erwin's proposal, the imperial girls. Why?
"Don't forget: to take Saint Geo's head, I'd ally with the empire if needed."
"Yes."
Father, too, because he was Gibraltar.
"Perfect timing. The girls—all grown to steal many men's hearts."
"That's why I worried."
"Why? Afraid orphanage girls will steal your heart?"
"I hate hassle."
Sincerely.
"All aiming for me—what then?"
"Son."
Father still smiled.
"Inheriting my face, you were doomed to suffer women from birth."
"......."
"When grown, you'll receive many women's love. Consider it practice."
Did Father know?
"Prophecy or curse?"
"Fate."
That I'd already suffered to death.
"Since it's inevitable, pick your future wife young and raise her yourself."
"What madness."
"Serious."
"......."
"Maybe traitor thoughts, but if you love her, an imperial daughter-in-law is fine."
"Father."
I sighed, spilling truth.
"No matter how many princesses overflow the orphanage, I have only one princess I'll love forever."
"...Ha."
Father snickered.
"That's my son."
A day later.
Near the orphanage, an open field.
By count's order, construction began on a wooden building like the orphanage.