The Little Tyrant of the Orphanage (4)
Noir is my younger brother, and my father's son. But at the same time, he's also my mother's son. I'm not trying to disparage my mother—doing so would be like spitting in my own face. If I had to pinpoint where Noir got his tendencies from...
Maternal grandfather. My mother's father—my outer grandfather. The scum of the century. Jacques Lemur Gunther, Baron. A notorious playboy, the kind who couldn't keep his hands off any woman he saw. He's probably living quietly in his territory now.
After his plan to sell Mother to the Incompetent King for advancement failed.
Before his regression, he kept dragging Mother toward the capital. He hospitalized my maternal grandmother in the capital's nobles-only hospital, then lured Mother there too.
He wouldn't have known himself, but with Grandmother ill, there was no excuse to stop her.
Father couldn't follow. He had to guard the canyon. The man would do anything for his own success, a repulsive old lech in his sixties still chasing young women.
Noir, unfortunately, inherited those traits the most. So he needs to be controlled. How? By chaining nine collars around him.
"Everyone, good work."
"How was meeting the orphanage kids?"
After the meeting time, the Whites returned to the building and sat before me.
"Any boys you liked?"
The Whites shook their heads briefly.
"They were decent-looking, at least. Number 9, speak for them."
"Their faces were, overall, quite good."
It seemed the orphanage kids didn't catch their eyes much.
"What didn't you like?"
"Well... for us to 'challenge' them, they all seemed a bit..."
"So your ambition outweighs romance? Interesting."
According to imperial health theory, pubescent boys and girls are supposed to be highly interested in the opposite sex.
"Well, knight candidates are mostly commoners anyway. Still, there should have been at least one decent prospect?"
"If you're talking about Ethan Sezar, he didn't seem interested in us at all..."
"No one else caught your eye?"
"May we speak frankly, young master?"
"Of course."
Perhaps because of the emperor's blood? "We still have plenty of opportunities ahead. We're not thinking of pairing with an orphan boy just yet."
"Oh? So what are you aiming for?"
"At most, the margrave's daughter-in-law or a concubine. Or a current knight's lover. We could aim for that, so no need to settle for an orphan."
Clap, clap, clap.
"Impressive. No sarcasm. I'm genuinely admiring you."
They prioritize power, status, success over romance.
"If the orphanage kids were all nobles, high-status ones, you'd be interested, right?"
The Whites fell silent.
"No need to be embarrassed. It's natural. You should have pride matching your looks and abilities."
They wouldn't nod outright from shame, but that silence was affirmation.
"I approve of that attitude. So, one request."
I pulled a parchment from my bosom.
"My brother Noir."
"......"
"I've hinted before, but I told Noir this: If you can seduce any of the girls here, go ahead."
The Whites exchanged glances. Noir was only ten, but the age gap wasn't huge.
"If you like him, steal his heart. You two together is fine, or all nine taking turns."
"Young master, if I may ask without offense?"
"Go ahead. What?"
"...Are you planning to make us Noir young master's concubines?"
"Not at all."
I'd told Noir that way.
"I'm not assigning you as wives or concubines. Though if Noir truly loves and cherishes one, I'd support that love."
"Then...?"
"Use Noir. But make sure he doesn't fool around with random women."
"Uh, um..."
The Whites didn't grasp it immediately.
"It's fine." I understood. "Be honest, so you can act decisively."
They had to watch my mood, even if I said I understood.
"I can't let Noir meet just any woman. I won't allow lowly ones near him."
So, explain in terms they'd grasp easily.
"I can't stand seeing him marry some commoner girl, orphan, or talentless nobody." Even if unintentional.
"Over the past three years, quite a few orphans developed crushes on Noir."
Persuade them the most noble way.
"I won't tolerate that."
"Ah..."
"If she had talent enough to buy a noble title, maybe. But mistaking Gibraltar support for her own ability and daring to covet Gibraltar blood? Unacceptable."
Of course. Will they notice? That this applies to them too.
"To win a Gibraltar heart, show matching ability. Or be as beautiful as our mother."
The emperor had said something like that before.
"Man or woman, looks are ability too." And exploiting that is skill.
"In that sense, you lot outshine any kingdom noble in looks. You're better suited."
"Ah..."
Praising a woman's appearance works in any situation.
"I've been to the capital a few times. Objectively, you're prettier than those ladies."
Rating higher than others? Even better.
"In dresses at a party, they'd think you're distant Gibraltar cousins. Or hidden heirs."
Stimulate their subtle desires, show them admired as more beautiful.
"So, here's my order."
Noir won't know.
"Until Noir becomes an adult, no messing with women. You monitor, guard, chase off clinging pests."
"Young master, a question."
"Speak."
"If Noir young master tries to take us, what then?"
"Obviously."
One answer.
"Until adulthood, tease him—lead on without giving in."
"Eh?!"
"After adulthood, elope, have kids, whatever—your call, two or ten."
Once grown, no issue what they do.
"Say wait till adulthood, guard chastity as wrong now, limit to kisses—whatever keeps him from women before then."
In the past. The year the kingdom fell, when I turned twenty and became margrave. About three years. Until Noir became adult.
-Ah, why block me!!! I wanna do it tooooo!! Why can brother do it all the time but not meeeee!!
That time was hell, truly unforgettable agony.
"Imperial papers mentioned it: To stop stray dogs or alley cats breeding wildly, they remove peanuts or whatever."
"......!!"
"If Noir acts recklessly before adulthood, does something he can't handle."
This was sincere.
"A beast biting anything needs a muzzle."
Not remove entirely—muzzle till time comes, then release.
"I'd have no choice. Father approved this too."
And.
"If Noir later whines why only him."
This.
"Tell him Grey Gibraltar follows the same. Gibraltar heirs guard chastity till adulthood."
Me too.
"Gibraltar tradition, rule, law."
One external reason.
"After adulthood, have as many as you want. But at least till then."
Ten years till Noir's adulthood.
"If any child from you, I'd tearfully kill it."
Till then, no children in Gibraltar except Father's.
* * *
Study.
"Heard you slept with Princess Naria and Grand Princess Astasia."
"Yes."
"No funny business?"
"Of course not, Father."
Father summoned and grilled me immediately.
"Can't break Gibraltar's ancient rules."
"...Right. Till adulthood, Gibraltar mustn't waver to personal feelings. Especially lust."
He seemed worried.
"Gibraltar guards the canyon. Must have unshakable, pious resolve in any situation."
"The beauty of restraint?"
"Yes. If desire makes us abandon the canyon, we're no longer Gibraltar."
Father fiddled with a musket from the study, continuing.
"I had brothers."
"......"
"Youngest of four. Three older brothers."
"They..."
"Left Gibraltar before you were born. Two reasons. Guess."
I knew.
"Father was the greatest master."
"Yes. Top among our swordsmen, despite youngest."
One: Talent gap.
"Another reason."
"Seems like exposing uncles' shame."
"They can't use Gibraltar castle anymore, so not uncles."
"Couldn't endure?"
"Yes."
Father nodded calmly.
"Gibraltars, once in love, see nothing else."
"Especially before adulthood, love comes too often."
Prime age of vigor. And the other. Sword Master father's sons, brimming with vitality. Love's elopement. Blood boiling, handsome—women flock.
They all slipped. Madly in love, lost restraint.
"Are they alive?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Those women loved Gibraltar, not my brothers."
And they lost lives too. Abandoned, they all suicided.
"Mente Knight said Father avoided women entirely till adulthood at academy."
"True."
Qualified as heir too.
"Lucky, Father met Mother after adulthood."
"Grey."
"Yes, Father."
"Not just after adulthood—I waited till your mother's wedding day."
"......"
Father boasted like winning a sword tournament; I suddenly felt ill.
"We were each other's first. Heh."
"...Don't want those details. Anyway, what will you give me?"
"Ah."
Father finished adjusting the musket, handed it over.
"Take it. But don't use recklessly outside."
"Only inside orphanage, my room."
"Before that."
Father gripped musket like sword.
"Heard from Mente Knight and Robert—you showed restraint with two princesses beside you."
"Naturally."
How could I touch them?
"No desire for them at all?"
"Slightly different."
"Different?"
"For Princess Naria, duty to make her queen."
Knight's oath or repaying second chance at life.
"Underlying that, intense desire to eliminate someone."
"Saint Geo Nostrum."
"Yes. Want to kill the Incompetent King. So."
Obvious, but.
"For Naria to become queen, no impurity."
Purity symbolizes queen's authority.
"On coronation, Naria Geo Nostrum on unicorn—who'd dare gossip?"
"Never thought of her that way?"
"If needed, yes—but she doesn't either."
Our bond is pure reason, no romance.
"I see her as future king; she sees me as knight seating her on throne."
"...Dry as dust."
"It's right. For us."
Because I am so, and she is so.
"Then, Grand Princess Astasia?"
"Her..."
"Your every action shows it."
Father looked seriously.
"My father was so, my brothers, me. Now my son too."
"Gibraltar in love?"
"Yes."
Father approached, planted musket like sword, gripped end with both hands.
"You like Grand Princess Astasia. Emotion akin to love."
"If so, I'm acting convincingly."
"What?"
"To fool enemy, fool ally too."
I lightly bowed to Father.
"Do you think I like Astasia?"
"Yes."
"Then everyone watching me thinks so."
Perfect disguise.
"Grey Gibraltar head over heels for Astasia."
"......"
"Empire will exploit it. Send someone to me or Father."
High chance.
"Using me as pretext, try making Gibraltar imperial territory. Some already arrived."
"Those girls...?"
"Yes. Spies among them. Caught one for now."
Actually three.
"Let them report freely. More spies come to Gibraltar; we profit from them."
Bribes, interests, baby goods, postpartum items.
"If I'm 'smitten' with Astasia but no result, dragging it out buys time against Empire."
"......"
"Seven years to dethrone Incompetent King. Then prepare for after. When queen reigns, Empire ignores kingdom, crosses canyon."
"What of Astasia?"
"Obviously, cherish and care like truly in love."
Far future.
"Even after adulthood, till child—Empire waits."
"You don't mean."
"Astasia is hostage."
Good relations between Gibraltar heir and imperial granddaughter, yet Empire wars kingdom someday.
"I'll seduce Astasia, stall."
Then, crown prince's patience snaps.
"Even married, no child."
Empire wants Gibraltar-imperial blood mix.
"Till they realize no child intent, no war."
Buy time defying kingdom-empire—world—common sense.
"Father."
No one would think.
"Love, marriage—everyone assumes kids."
"......"
"Especially Gibraltar heir and imperial granddaughter? Empire expects it, plans child as next emperor. But."
No child born—hostage to build strength killing emperor.
"Love doesn't mean must have kids, right?"