The Princesses of the Orphanage (4) "Let's Kill the King."
The twelve ministers gathered around the round table perked up their ears at the Culture Minister's words.
"I can't take it anymore. Whether it's deposition or whatever, let's put a stop to it."
"...Aren't you a royalist?"
"Damn it! Yeah! Our family has served the Nostrum royal house loyally for 500 years, but I just can't stomach that man!"
A frail middle-aged man, looking as if he might collapse at any moment, shouted with veins bulging in his neck.
"What father in the world swings a sword at his own child! And from a king, no less!"
"If we kill him, can you handle the fallout?"
"I don't believe in fairy tales! Golden dragon bloodline this, Gold Dragon's curse that!"
"When a legend repeats nearly nine times, it becomes reality, my friend."
Another minister tried to calm the Culture Minister, but even he wore a bitter smile and let out a scoff.
"Who here hasn't had those thoughts? I was even His Highness's teacher."
"What the hell did you teach him to turn out like this!"
"You know the answer. The man himself broke on the day the Margrave married his wife."
The cracks had been there before, but the final shattering came on the wedding day of Crimson Gibraltar and Lady Charlotte Lemur Gunther.
The most handsome man and beautiful woman of the era, married amid everyone's blessings.
Though they lacked a few well-wishers, they exchanged vows under the adulation of the masses.
"I never taught him to ruin himself over a woman."
Everyone agreed on one thing: King Saint Geo Nostrum didn't become the Incompetent King from the moment he ascended the throne, but on the day that couple wed.
And the nail in the coffin was the birth of their firstborn, Grey Gibraltar.
The moment that fruit of their love entered the world, the already broken man shattered completely.
"If everyone here wants something, it's just to wait quietly for those seven years to pass."
"I know. But I nearly died. The reason we have to wait those seven years!"
"......."
"If Grand Duke Morgania hadn't stepped in personally, I really might have died!"
"Who could've predicted a king getting drunk and swinging a sword at his own daughter. And not just any swing..."
The ministers shook their heads, unwilling even to think about it.
"That he really meant to kill her."
"Maybe it's a signal not to touch him? He keeps saying he's the only one left with royal blood."
"...You know what that leads to?"
One minister crumpled the napkin in front of him.
"If we're clinging to 500 years of tradition and history, do we even know how delusional that is?"
"Who knows. Maybe he believes a guardian deity will appear to destroy the kingdom if he dies."
"The same man who smashed that deity's egg?"
"...Legends say dragons are bound by contracts and oaths. Who knows."
"That's why he doesn't believe in legends!!"
The twelve ministers shouted over each other, plunging the round table into chaos on the brink of collapse.
"Foreign Minister. Do you know something?"
"......."
All eyes turned to the silent Viscount Hex Romana.
"If Queen Carmen gave any orders, speak up. We can't take it anymore."
"...Soon, the king will need to appear in sound condition for an important matter."
"Does it have to be the king?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
The ministers exchanged glances. Those in the know grimaced; the others sighed with a 'no way' expression.
"What a shameful state our kingdom has fallen to. How did it come to this?"
Where did it all go wrong? If it was just because one king's love failed, wouldn't it be better to change the monarchy altogether?
"...Separate from the Empire, if we rebel against the royal house recklessly, we'll all fail and end up executed."
Coups aren't taken lightly. Every rebellion against the crown had failed, not a single success in 500 years.
There had been close calls. And each time, a hero appeared to aid the king, slaughtering the rebels and restoring royal authority.
"For now—"
"Carry on with your duties as is."
The door creaked open.
"Whoa, Your Majesty the Queen. Even the Grand Duke...!"
"The decision has been made."
The ministers leaped to their feet, bowing as Queen Carmen took her seat at the head of the table.
"Saint Geo Nostrum will remain in the detached palace for the time being. Indefinitely, unless something urgent arises."
"Is that... confinement?"
"I'd prefer actual confinement, but since he's the king, we have to keep providing the trappings."
Queen Carmen scanned the ministers with a face full of irritation.
"Be honest with me. Has the king ever fathered a bastard out there?"
"......Your Majesty."
"If he's gotten some woman pregnant somewhere I don't know about, please tell me. This isn't about splitting the throne—it's a national crisis."
"...You know better than anyone, Your Majesty the Queen."
Viscount Hex bowed his head in reply.
"The king may be many things, but when it comes to contraception, he's always been thorough."
"......."
"Whether to avoid your reproach, or because he never intended more than one child. It's embarrassing to say, but even after Princess Naria was born..."
"...This is maddening."
"Your Majesty."
The Grand Duke standing behind her stepped forward with a bow.
"Why not just put him on the throne?"
"What?"
"......500 years is a long time for one dynasty."
"Father. No, Grand Duke."
"At least if he becomes king, the system of twelve ministers to advise him might endure. Though you'd have to step down."
"Grand Duke...."
The ministers gazed at him with conflicted expressions.
"...No. You know what happened 100 years ago."
"That time—"
"The sole Nostrum heir took four years to reach adulthood. In those four years, famine, plague, disasters, and monsters ravaged the land."
And on that adult Nostrum's birthday, the calamities ceased as if by miracle.
"Seven years. Just seven more. We waited thirteen—can't we wait seven?"
"......."
"In exchange, for those seven years...."
Queen Carmen toyed with her neck with one hand and continued.
"Prepare the guillotine."
* * *
Princess Naria said her mother had abandoned her.
"Did Queen Carmen say anything else to you?"
"Just that this place is safe for now, so stay here."
"...Nothing more?"
"She did tell me to request 'personal protection' from Gibraltar."
Princess Naria spoke calmly, yet kept staring at the ground, unease flickering in her eyes.
"Father. This."
"...I think the same. Queen Carmen must have managed it more thoroughly than expected. Even hiding it from her own daughter, the party involved."
"She said she had me assist with paperwork by her side."
"Probably just work, indeed."
She seemed oblivious to the secret pact between Gibraltar and Morgania.
"Princess Naria."
"Yes, Margrave Gibraltar."
"Officially a secret, but Gibraltar has had a covert alliance with Morgania for three years."
"......??"
Princess Naria tilted her head.
"Queen Carmen didn't tell you? Publicly, we maintain the status quo with Gibraltar, but behind the scenes, we're aligned."
"...Why?"
"Various reasons, but it's fine to explain."
Father glanced at me, and I nodded.
"We drag Saint Geo Nostrum down. On the day Princess Naria turns twenty."
"......."
"I can't understand it. Not telling you this."
"She did tell me... no, wait. She did."
"But you didn't believe her?"
"......."
Princess Naria looked confused. Could she trust it? Or had her mother truly abandoned her to an enemy like Gibraltar?
"Princess Naria."
"...Yes."
"Do you remember what I said in the garden that day?"
"...Yes."
She nodded. Of course she did. She had the intellect to remember everything, no matter the situation.
But she was only thirteen.
She started truly shining at the academy.
Before seventeen, Naria had been just an ordinary princess. Like me. Or similar to me.
But the future leader who headed the revolutionaries is different from the princess now.
Who knew how many scars her body bore now—but
The wounds I saw after she saved me... some might predate the revolution's formation.
At least no burns, whip marks, or bullet holes through her stomach—not yet.
"Princess Naria. Was this the first time the king attacked you?"
"Yes."
Bringing up the garden perhaps lowered her guard completely.
"I see. Then you're safe."
One possibility: in the next seven years, this girl could suffer wounds from Saint Geo's drunken rages.
"At least, while you're under this Gibraltar, those scars won't increase."
In this timeline, at least, it wouldn't happen. Events that hadn't occurred wouldn't, and those that had would be erased here.
"Father. We can check later why Queen Carmen didn't tell Princess Naria about our alliance. For now..."
"Official or not. That's the priority."
"Yes. What's your view, Father? I'll follow you entirely."
Would Gibraltar declare publicly or keep it hidden?
"We could expose Saint Geo's scandals now and build justification immediately."
"......."
"Worst case, use it as pretext to lock him in some villa, keep him alive but comatose for seven years."
"......."
The adult can't die?
"If death is the trigger, just prevent it."
"Any methods?"
"A few come to mind, but not in front of the princess."
Someday. I'd discussed it with the emperor.
How to keep a human merely alive?
—Smash the limbs and chain them so they can't move. How's that?
The emperor had replied.
—Just turn them into a vegetable. If alive is enough, trap them in eternal dreams so they never wake.
That was my answer.
Experiments proved inducing endless sleep cleaner than bloodier methods, with less backlash.
"Seven years, Father."
In other words.
"Just keep him breathing for seven years."
"......."
Until the minor becomes adult. That's all.
"What do you think? It's a golden opportunity now."
"...But perfect for the Empire to strike us from behind."
Father glanced at the ceiling.
"Even taking Charlotte and the children to the front, someone must hold the gorge."
"I'll stay."
"The Margrave of Gibraltar absent—a prime chance. Entrust a thirteen-year-old with defending against a massive army? Ha, ridiculous."
"But without you, Father, we lack the force to seize the capital. Even with justification, without power to back it..."
"...Justification we have, but we're not ready yet."
Father hesitated. Partly for reasons already stated—but
She's pregnant, after all.
Mother's pregnancy. Due date approaching. No reckless moves.
The emperor would've acted regardless.
He's that kind of man. Father is the opposite—won't force a pretext.
"...Enough. First, prepare a place for Princess Naria to rest."
"Yes."
I respected Father's choice. Not perfect timing anyway; forcing the army now would invite the Empire regardless.
Might have to hold the gorge against the Empire myself, as Father said.
Thirteen-year-old total war commander? Pass.
Better break the baton than lead troops who won't follow a boy.
"Then we must shelter the princess. Officially..."
"Princess Naria. What do you think? We can protect you in Gibraltar's name."
"......."
Father turned the choice to her.
"We'll protect you. But the method is yours to decide."
"...If His Highness knows I'm here, he'll send letters or men to retrieve me."
"Why?"
"I don't know why, but..."
Princess Naria looked genuinely baffled, yet said:
"The one most eager for me to become an adult... is His Highness himself."
"......What?"
"He said it."
Princess Naria spoke flatly.
"I can't kill you right now, you bitch."
"......."
"'We'll see on the day you grow up,' he said."
"......Ha."
Perfect recall meant no human blessing of forgetfulness.
"I don't know the details, but Mother sending me here probably means hiding my location even from Father. If so, I want to stay hidden. So."
Princess Naria bowed again.
"Please treat me as Jabez, the common girl whose mother sent her to the orphanage to escape her abusive father."
Orphan backstory updated.
"I see. Perfect timing, then."
"Pardon?"
"It's the day. Grey, prepare the carriage. Princess Naria, come along."
"Father. Wait."
I blocked Father as he moved to leave.
"Do I really have to go?"
"The Chairwoman's bringing the children herself. Who goes if not you?"
"That's—"
"Come."
"...Yes."
"Um, where are we going?"
Princess Naria asked cautiously.
"If it's the orphanage, brace yourself, even if briefly..."
"Orphans from the Empire are arriving."
I answered for Father in the end.
"One extra girl among ten won't matter much."
"......."
"Well?"
Princess Naria pointed at her mouth, drawing an X.
"...Doesn't know the kingdom tongue. Pass."
She didn't know imperial either, but.
"Mute works fine. Good. Princess Naria—from now on, you're an imperial orphan who can't speak."
I extended my hand.
"Your name is Jabez."
Moments later, I boarded the carriage with Princess Naria, Father at the reins, heading for the gorge.