Return to the Beginning (4)
Naria Geo Nostrum. This doll-like little girl with golden hair and green eyes was the princess of this kingdom. And in the future, the woman who would be called the "Princess of the Fallen Kingdom."
"I've heard that you hold the top position in the line of succession to the throne."
"......"
I tried striking up a light conversation with Princess Naria as we walked through the garden, but she ignored me.
"And because of that, they say in high society that you possess a divine blessing known as the perfect memory ability."
"......"
But I kept talking. Most men would give up and walk away after a few words—but
I know.
This cold girl was participating in the conversation as hard as she could.
"You must have had a hard journey coming all the way to Gibraltar. Sincerely."
"......"
A slight bow of her head—that was this girl's reply.
Princess Naria wasn't much of a talker. Some might say she was too quiet, but that was just slander.
"Do you happen to know who I am?"
"...Grey Gibraltar."
For the first time, the princess opened her mouth.
"Second son and eldest of Crimson Gibraltar's two sons and one daughter. Age ten. Born with unusually distinctive hair and eye color even among the Gibraltar family, which caused a stir. Fell ill with a high fever two months ago."
She recited the report on me straight from memory.
"...I know."
Her expression remained blank, but she stared at me with those indifferent eyes.
"That's correct, Your Highness."
"Yes."
A conversation of one-word answers. It might feel stifling to some, but I didn't show it and pointed to the center of the garden.
"Please, have a seat. It will take some time before the conversation between His Majesty the King and my father concludes."
"......"
I naturally pulled out the chair for her to sit.
"Your Highness?"
"......"
Another bow, and then she sat down demurely.
One of the lady knights who had followed behind Princess Naria eyed me with displeasure, but I paid it no mind.
She's just scenery.
As long as I wasn't about to harm the princess right here, the guard knight would simply stand by as a guard.
She'll report everything I said to the queen later, but that's no problem.
A report to the queen, not the king. Indirect proof that the queen's hand—more precisely, the hand of the Morgania Grand Duke family—reached everywhere in the palace.
It doesn't matter.
In the long term, the Morgania Grand Duchy was dangerous, but Carmen Morgania Nostrum, not Nostrum, was not a dangerous enemy.
"Your Highness. Do you know why His Majesty the King and the Queen came all the way here?"
"...Rebellion."
The lady knight flinched at Princess Naria's quiet question.
"I heard the margrave is very angry because of His Majesty's mistake."
"Yes. That's right. My father was furious."
It was such a major scandal in the kingdom that even a ten-year-old princess like her had heard about it.
"Probably the queen insisted strongly on coming."
"...Yes."
And that political scandal was big enough that Carmen herself had to step in.
Even if the truth was a secret known only to the two of them, the external issue alone required the king to step in and clean it up.
"You must have had a hard journey coming to the borderlands."
"Yes."
Still, the conversation didn't flow well. Or at least, it seemed that way to others.
"However, Your Highness, I'm sorry, but it seems we'll have to part ways again soon."
"......?"
Princess Naria tilted her head.
"By the time I could serve tea, you'll already have left this place."
".......Ah."
Only then did she realize I hadn't even prepared tea for her.
"...Why?"
That one word held so many questions. She was curious, but surely already speculating countless reasons in her head.
She's a genius, after all.
Naria possessed perfect memory ability. That also meant her brain was exceptional enough to handle remembering everything without issue.
A versatile hero excelling in all fields.
The future great hero who would shine in various domains based on that intellect. Though the country fell before she could even hold her coronation.
Ah.
And the family that brought that country to ruin was mine.
"Oh dear. My apologies. I got curious for a moment."
I brushed it off appropriately.
"I have one correct answer, but I was wondering how many options you have in mind, Your Highness."
"...Seven."
"You came up with seven possibilities? For why you'll have to leave soon?"
A nod.
"Impressive, Your Highness."
It wasn't childish whimsy. I knew well that they were truly logical and plausible inferences.
"Truly remarkable."
But I didn't pry.
"Oh? Wondering why I don't ask?"
If I asked about one, she'd explain all seven—and
"Because it's already time for you to go."
"...?"
"The meeting is over."
Boom—!
A explosive sound rang out from the mansion's front gate.
"P-Princess?!"
The guard lady knight lunged toward the princess, but I leisurely turned my head toward the mansion where the explosion had occurred.
"Farewell, Your Highness. His Majesty is preparing to depart now."
"...Father."
The man who burst through the mansion's front gate, the incompetent king, emerged clutching one cheek with his hand, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
"......Tch! We're leaving!"
Then, as soon as he stepped out, he yelled at the soldiers and strode quickly toward the carriage, vanishing.
Even a child could tell, but it was a bit hard to believe.
He held back with just one punch to the face. Because they're old friends, I suppose.
The margrave had punched the king in the face. Considering the royal family's honor, this incident would never leak to the public.
If he knew the truth, it wouldn't have been a fist but an aura blade flying.
Father survived because he didn't know. But did the incompetent king know? That this fist was a declaration of war, a resolve to commit treason against the country.
Right now, it was just a statement of I'll hold back to this extent, but from now on, it was a vow to devote everything to rebellion.
No obligation to tell him.
The one I pledge loyalty to isn't the incompetent king.
"Princess Naria."
I stood and knelt on one knee before Naria.
"Regrettably, this meeting must end so briefly, but I hope we meet again someday."
"......"
Following etiquette, Naria extended her left hand toward me.
"I promise you here."
Still just ten years old, a small hand. In my memories, the Princess of the Fallen Kingdom's hand was callused and scarred, but this hand was pure white, without a single mark.
"Princess Naria. No matter what happens in the future, please remember only this moment today."
I performed the knight's courtesy and kissed the back of Princess Naria's hand.
"I, Grey Gibraltar, swear that in any situation, I will devote my loyalty solely to you."
I looked up at Princess Naria.
"......"
A nod. Her expression unchanged, but Princess Naria nodded lightly.
Clatter, clatter.
Even though it was a royal carriage, it rocked unusually violently today.
"Tch."
Queen Carmen clicked her tongue in irritation at the carriage's state and propped her chin on her hand.
"Your father seems to value himself more than his wife and daughter."
"......"
Princess Naria, seated across from Queen Carmen, silently closed her eyes.
"He messes up, gets slapped once, throws a tantrum, and runs off without even looking back."
There were several carriages that had come to Gibraltar.
"He didn't even check on his daughter and wife. Ha, was he embarrassed to show his ugly side to the countess? Ahaha."
But Saint Geo Nostrum, the king, had hopped into the royal exclusive carriage and bolted straight for the capital.
"...At his age, he can't even keep up with half of the margrave."
Leaving the carriage carrying the queen and princess behind.
"When I see this, I want to join the people calling your father the Incompetent King."
"......"
"Really, who do you take after? Sigh. At least you're definitely not like your father in that one way—thank goodness."
Queen Carmen shook her head at her unusually taciturn daughter's demeanor.
"...At least we must stay sharp. He is your father and my husband, but he's king only because he carries the royal blood."
If not for the bloodline.
"If there had been even one more son to inherit the throne, he surely would have become king, even as the second son."
If he hadn't been the only legitimate heir.
"...Still, thanks to the royal blood, his face is at least on par with the margrave's shoulders. Ugh."
Without the royal blood making him handsome, who would revere him as king?
"Remember this. Your father is just a wastrel who happened to sit on the throne. We—the Morgania ducal family, the council of elders, and others—must support him well. Even this time..."
"Mother."
"Wh-what?"
"Is there... no possibility that the Gibraltar Margrave will rebel?"
"......Don't speak carelessly."
Queen Carmen leaned in close to Princess Naria with a stern voice.
"That man, the Gibraltar Margrave, is a loyal subject who would never betray the nation."
"......"
"He, Gibraltar, will never betray the kingdom."
"Then the future Gibraltars as well?"
"Of course. This is a tradition and pact passed down through generations."
Tradition, pact.
Princess Naria quietly mulled over the two words.
"...Just a promise, then?"
"Yes, a promise. The men of Gibraltar never take back their words once spoken. Especially if..."
Queen Carmen gazed wistfully at Gibraltar Castle beyond the carriage window, a faint smile on her lips.
"It's a vow made by a Gibraltar man on bended knee."
13 minutes.
The time from when the king arrived at the count's castle, got punched in the face, and fled in haste.
It was too short to even call it time, but I was satisfied that I had conveyed my intent to Princess Naria.
If she knows the Gibraltar oath, great; if not, no matter.
I had delivered my will to her. The rest was for me, returned from the past, to handle.
Creeeak.
I opened the door to the firmly shut study.
"Father."
Following the strict order that no one else enter—only Grey Gibraltar was permitted.
"You called for me."
"Grey."
Father was kneeling on one knee, hands clasped in prayer toward the wall.
"From today, you are the Gibraltar Margrave."
"......"
"I am no longer the Count of Gibraltar."
"To break the oath of loyalty to the kingdom?"
"...Heh."
Father didn't look at me, but let out a low chuckle.
"You understand well."
"Until the day of the promise you envision arrives, you will remain a loyal subject, Father."
"Yes."
"This is a rite. A declaration to the ancestors."
"Correct. Whether the rebellion succeeds or fails, Gibraltar must endure."
Father unclenched his hands and drew his thumb across his own neck.
"On the day the rebellion fails, you cut off my head."
"...Father."
"And proclaim it. That you've beheaded the traitor Crimson."
"You want me to become the unfilial son?"
"Even if it makes you unfilial, protect your mother and siblings."
Though I had never been a father, I could easily guess his thoughts from those eyes filled with parental resolve.
Please! Margrave! Spare my daughter, my son's lives!! K-Kill me instead! Please!
I-I'll work myself to death! I'll make money somehow and pay the taxes! Please, at least spare my daughter...!
I had seen countless fathers willing to die for their children.
Father was one of them—but
"Father, if you had to choose between saving Mother or one of your siblings, who would you save?"
"......"
"Mother, right?"
"......"
Among family, he leaned more toward wife than the average father.
"Rest assured, Father. I have no intention of letting the king who insulted our family go unpunished."
"...Oh?"
I knelt on one knee beside Father.
"I'll make sure to thoroughly shatter this country so the rebellion can succeed."
"......"
"The method... well, at least until that day you spoke of arrives, I'll play the loyal subject diligently. Or the opposite."
"Opposite?"
"I'll become a traitor."
Father turned to me with a coldly hardened face.
"You be the loyal subject, Father. I'll go astray as I please and join hands with those traitors selling out the country."
"You."
"A wastrel coveting the margrave's seat, secretly allying with the Empire. Well, even if not that, there are other ways."
There were many methods.
"I'll become the scum selling out the country."
But what I was best at was, after all, that.
"To protect what I love most, I swear to follow your words."
I.
"Even if it means committing a little filial impiety."
I conveyed my true feelings as they were.
"Yes."
For the first time in his life, Father smiled at me with genuine warmth.
"You are my hope."
I would save this country's hope through treason.