The Princesses of the Orphanage (9)
It had been about a week since the Empire's orphans—the illegitimate children of the crown prince—arrived.
"Whites," she said.
Whites. The term for the newly arrived orphans. They do have extremely pale hair. Not just Astasia, but from number 9 to 81, all of them had snow-white hair, which was how they got the name.
Though it started as a derogatory nickname coined by the kids already at the orphanage.
I hadn't encountered them directly in that week. They weren't ready to be mixed in with the others for daily life—their grasp of the kingdom's language was still too weak.
Same orphans or not, they're from the Empire. The kids here naturally look down on them and treat them like trash.
I hadn't intervened directly, but the children of the gorge were scorning the Whites. At a glance, it seemed like the gorge kids were calling them that to differentiate themselves from the Empire orphans. And in truth, there was intent behind it.
Still better than outright calling them orphans or bastards.
So officially, we decided to call them Whites. Even if the kids used it as a slur at first, they were still young children—
Acting like they hate it on the outside while shyly wondering how to strike up a conversation on the inside. Boys who just want to bully the girls they like.
Give them half a chance, and they'll cling like burrs. No doubt about it.
For now, without direct contact, they could only watch from afar. Why? Because I was staying here at this Whites' orphanage.
"Young master. Dinner is ready."
"Mine, or the kids'?"
"The children's first. Yours..."
"Bring it to my room separately."
"Young master. The head seat..."
"Leave it empty. I have business after dinner."
"Yes."
The maid dispatched to the orphanage bowed and left the room.
She doesn't need to be so tense.
The maid had been sent from the main estate. The pay was much higher and the work easier here than at the mansion, but for some reason, she still feared me.
Is it the room layout?
This room was my temporary quarters at the orphanage, but its setup closely resembled my father's study. More precisely, the office of "Traitor Grey" from the future.
Interior design fundamentally aims for the most comfortable and cozy structure for its occupant. This room was shaped as closely as possible to the layout I'd used most in the future.
My private space alone.
Or it should have been—
"Dinner's here~~!"
The door burst open, and a white-haired girl in a maid outfit entered, carrying bowls piled high with food.
"Breakfast time, young master!"
"...Why young master?"
"Because you are, silly!"
She wasn't the same maid who'd just left. Of course not—this girl was Astasia, not a real maid.
"Why the maid outfit?"
"The people serving at a young master's side wear these, right?"
"......"
That expression. Those eyes.
"You're just doing it because you wanted to try it on, aren't you?"
"Ah, busted!"
I knew it.
"Do as you like. Thank you for bringing the meal... Wait. Why two portions?"
"I have to eat too?"
"......"
"Heh heh..."
Astasia set the bowls on the table, then fidgeted with her fingers, grinning sheepishly.
Well, yeah. Eating with the others in the dining hall must feel awkward.
Astasia wasn't equal to the other Whites there. Even for the kindest person, sitting and laughing with nine kids who saw her as the enemy would be uncomfortable.
"...If it's that hard, how about being my exclusive maid?"
"Really?! Like, your personal one?!"
"Of course. A week's enough justification."
Grey Gibraltar takes a liking to one of the ten and brings her back to the mansion as his exclusive maid.
Not a bad deal.
Astasia escapes an uncomfortable spot, and I move her to the safer mansion. For the Whites...
They'll see it as a path to elevated status.
Not stuck in the orphanage, but chosen by me to enter the mansion. Whether as a maid or whatever, it's higher status than staying here.
"Good. Come here."
"Yay! Thank you. Hee hee."
Astasia plopped down right in front of me.
"Thank you always, young master."
"No need. Eat plenty."
To avoid Erwin Chairwoman chewing me out later, I had to feed her well and raise her right.
At least better than the imperial palace.
How had she been at seventeen? Her development was unbelievable for that age. Raised in the palace with the finest food, combined with her bloodline's talent, that's how she grew.
She has to reach at least that, but I'll aim higher.
I couldn't raise her carelessly. Not child-rearing exactly, but knowing future nutrition and human growth science, I couldn't let her grow on the orphanage's standard meals.
This is a matter of pride.
Seventeen—the first time I met her at the academy, purely raised by the current crown prince.
I have to raise her even better than that.
I couldn't compare to the future emperor just because the current crown prince saw her, but if I couldn't win even here, how could I beat him?
She'll grow even prettier and more beautiful after four years in Gibraltar than thirteen in the palace. I'll prove it.
Astasia had to thrive. It was proof of my victory over the emperor.
I'll raise her thoroughly.
With that in mind.
"Astasia."
"Mm, yes?"
"Don't push the peas aside—chew them properly."
"......"
I couldn't forgive picky eating.
"You have to eat it all, even if you don't like it. The menu's balanced for a reason."
"Ugh..."
"Didn't they feed you this in the palace?"
"Nope!"
Astasia's eyes sparkled as she answered.
"What did you eat mostly, then?"
"Meat!"
"And?"
"Cake!!"
"And?"
"Orange juice!!!"
Meat, desserts, and more of the like.
"No vegetables?"
"I learned grass isn't for eating—it's garnish to make meat shine!"
"From whom?"
"Grandpa!"
"......"
Fair point. I recalled the current emperor had been quite the physical powerhouse in his youth.
But—
"Meat only makes you fat."
"Nuh-uh!"
"Absolutely. No question."
I knew. How much she'd struggled in the future to fix her eating habits. Personally, I didn't mind her figure, but—
"For your future, chew thoroughly. Otherwise, no story time today."
"Uwah... Torture..."
"Not torture."
Astasia made a miserable face as she forked up the peas.
"Instead, when we get back to the mansion, I'll ask Mother to make homemade pudding."
"Really?!"
"Of course."
Mother was an excellent cook, especially masterful with fire and desserts.
"Like the one she brought last time?!"
"Different this time."
"Wooow!"
Rumors said even Father, who never touched sweets, was tempted by her desserts.
"Not as sweet as palace desserts?"
"Mm, a bit less, but I like it better! No cloying, so I can eat more!"
"Good to hear."
Empire food was mostly oily, salty, stimulating. I'd instructed the maids to tailor meals to the Empire arrivals' tastes as much as possible, but—
Only for a week.
Maintaining that long-term would make life in Gibraltar—no, Nostrum—miserable. Still, you can't change thirteen years of habits overnight.
"Hiiing... At least ketchup..."
"What's ketchup?"
"Ah! You don't know ketchup? It's this sauce where you crush tomatoes, add sugar, boil it, and cool it thoroughly..."
Astasia excitedly explained ketchup.
I know it well.
How could I not? The culprit who'd warped my tastes to Empire style was right in front of me.
"Good news, Your Highness."
"What?"
"Word is the Empire and kingdom are holding a summit between kings in the south."
"Uh..."
"Yes. Official state talks."
I casually speared a stray pea with my fork.
"If war ends and an armistice is signed, we might even import ketchup."
Astasia's face lit up instantly.
"Wow! Then... when the gorge gates open, I can get news and stuff?!"
"Not just news. If Empire merchants set up nearby, you could buy Empire goods there."
"Oh yeah...!"
"But you still need to eat well here quietly."
"Why?!"
"Obviously. You have to grow right so I can face the imperial family and Erwin Chairwoman."
I picked up a thin fork.
"Can't have you not eating properly and getting skinny wrists, or overeating and turning piggy."
"I'm fine! Mom s—"
Astasia paused, took a deep breath.
"Erwin Chairwoman said everything I eat goes straight to my chest!"
"...You say that to my face?"
"What's wrong with it?"
Her brazenness drew a dry laugh from me.
"Have some shame, Your Highness."
"I learned a woman's chest is her pride!"
True, but tone it down a bit.
"So my dream is to get as big as Mother!"
"......"
"Ahem, uh, right!"
While Astasia cleared her throat awkwardly, I silently finished my plate.
"How big do you want?"
"Mother's size, obviously!"
Odd. Astasia was innocent but not one to repeat slip-ups.
"...My mother?"
"Yes! Marchioness Charlotte, that big!"
"Hmm..."
I recalled. Visually, they seemed similar.
No. Astasia's were bigger? But that's past Astasia.
The one I raised would be as she desired.
"I'll make it happen. Help as much as I can."
"Really?!"
"After you finish that."
"......Fine."
Astasia slowly lifted a fork heaped with peas.
"Young master, ahh~?"
She offered it to me.
"My gift to you—"
*Crunch.*
"Eh, wha...?"
"Just this once."
"Uh, th-that..."
"Time to wrap up and have dessert."
I chewed and swallowed the peas, then pulled out the Somnus flower beside me.
"Eat this. Snack. Gibraltar special dessert."
"......"
"Good for you. Might even grant your wish."
"Ugh..."
Astasia bit into the Somnus petals with a dying expression.
"If it's a lie, I'll chatter in your ear every night while you sleep..."
"Sounds nice. But it's not a lie."
Somnus flowers built mana in the body, which in women gathered mainly in the chest.
"I'll feed you whatever else you want besides Somnus, so trust me."
"......"
The meal with Astasia ended lightly.
While Astasia and the Whites attended kingdom language classes.
"Sir Robert. What is it?"
"Two questions. Where's Lady Mente?"
Robert, who'd come to the orphanage like clockwork that morning, asked cautiously.
"Guarding behind the Whites' class."
"Lady Mente seems to have a new assignment."
"Makes sense—protecting someone more important than me."
"...Ahem. As expected."
Robert instantly guessed who Mente was guarding amid the Whites—one blonde stood out.
"Young master, be careful. Servants are gossiping you're bewitched by those Empire girls and out of your mind."
"And I should watch that?"
"If you've taken a liking to one, we need measures! Grey Gibraltar smitten? How pretty is she? Everyone's buzzing."
"Fair enough. Thanks for the warning."
All bore the crown prince's blood. Imperial lineage flowed in their veins. And their mothers had been beauties.
"They'll all rank in the top thirty beauties of the margraviate when grown."
Beauty guaranteed. Without promising futures, they wouldn't have survived to reach Gibraltar.
"Especially that one... the girl you made your exclusive maid..."
"Enough."
"Yes."
"If she's the prettiest, shouldn't I guard her myself? Right?"
"...Sigh. What are you planning?"
Robert thumped his chest in frustration.
"Marrying an Empire wife is fine, but as a Gibraltar, you won't take others!"
"Amusing hypothesis, even if baseless. Go on."
"Marry an Empire woman, and the title passes straight to Young Master Noir!"
"Ah, that's the worry. Not wrong."
Marrying an Empire citizen was treason outright. For a Gibraltar heir, his wife would be a massive weakness.
"If relations with the Empire improve, it's worth considering."
"Young master...! Mess up, and you'll be called an imperial traitor for real!"
"Even better. Relax."
I patted Robert's back reassuringly.
"Whatever happens to me, your position's secure."
"Young master!! Ugh, my heart!"
"Not your heart that needs bursting—"
*Clop clop clop.*
Hoofbeats thundered as a knight galloped toward us urgently.
"Young Master Grey!"
"What is it?"
"It, it burst!"
"...What?"
"Lady, Lady Marchioness's water!!"
"......"
I hadn't expected this to burst now.