This Money is Now Mine (4)
Needless to say, there's no family quite as dysfunctional as ours.
A father whose every judgment prioritizes his wife above all else. A mother who committed infidelity out of a desperate craving for passionate love. The three siblings born between them had a decent relationship—up until that fateful day when the glasses were raised.
"Young master. Do you not wish to see your siblings before departing?"
"Not particularly."
Even on the day I left for the capital, they were too afraid to approach me. Our bond had grown that distant.
Does that mean I have to look after my younger siblings no matter what? It might be true in principle, but considering the atrocities they committed in the future, it's hard to say.
"Sir Robert. Do you believe people are born evil from the moment they're brought into this world?"
"Uh, well, that's quite the philosophical question."
"Something like that. I came across it in a book at the library."
The knight assigned to escort me to the capital, Robert, hesitated to answer right away.
"Rather than being born evil, isn't it the environment they grow up in that has the greatest influence?"
"Environment?"
"Yes. Even in a violent household, if there's someone around to comfort the heart... well, heh heh."
Robert chuckled innocently. He had probably grown up in an abusive home himself, but someone had been there to soothe his mind and body. A heartwarming tale. If this kingdom doesn't fall and get swallowed whole by the Empire—
—Robert!
—I'm back. I'll protect you from now on.
He could settle into his role as a knight, return to his hometown, and confess to his childhood sweetheart in a proper happy ending. Or so I imagined.
"In your view, then, is our family a good environment for raising children?"
"Ahem, er, ahem!"
"Oh dear. Perhaps it was a bit too indelicate a question for a knight of House Gibraltar."
"You're quite the tease, young master."
Robert scratched his cheek. He seemed to have something to say but couldn't quite bring himself to voice it.
"Then just be my sounding board. Hear me out with one ear and let it go in one out the other."
"Uh, sure. Yes! I'm good at that!"
"The margrave and his wife aren't good parents."
"......."
Robert's mouth fell open. He probably hadn't expected such filial impiety right from the start.
"Materially, we're well provided for. But mentally... it's lacking. And it's not because we're a noble house—it's that they failed to properly handle the accident."
The day Father resolved to betray the kingdom. Under the pretext of showing his rage, he killed the servants. Right in front of me and my siblings.
"Noir and Letar are probably still trembling in their rooms."
A person had died. Father had killed a person. The children were deeply traumatized, yet neither Father nor Mother comforted us. Instead, over the past few days, the two of them had been glued to each other.
—Well done, my son. As expected of my eldest.
Thanks to my not-so-subtle persuasion, they had started sharing a room again. The siblings likely had no idea what went on between them. But seeing Mother emerge in the morning with her collar pulled up to her chin was information enough for me.
"Once we reach the capital, I need to look into hiring a tutor."
"Is there something you wish to learn, young master?"
"There's one thing, but not for me—for my siblings."
I didn't need a teacher to instruct me in culture and etiquette, but my two younger siblings did.
"Someone kind and nurturing, a woman who can look after them."
"Hmm... A young female tutor might be risky."
"Why?"
"Well, she might fall for the margrave."
"......An unexpected variable."
Fair point. Despite being in his mid-thirties, the margrave retained the striking looks of a man in his mid-twenties. That's why Mother was so smitten. And he was a Sword Master to boot. His stamina was unmatched in the kingdom.
"Perfect timing—the carriage has arrived. Let's be off, then."
I boarded the carriage waiting at the castle's main gate, and Sir Robert took the driver's seat himself.
"Take good care of me all the way to the capital."
"Of course. If you get bored, feel free to chat with me from inside."
"Suits me fine."
I couldn't spend the long journey lost in solitary thought.
"By the way, young master. May I ask something?"
"What is it?"
"What is it you want to learn?"
"Me? Oh, right. Nothing major."
Once the immediate fires were out.
"Martial arts."
To face what lay ahead, I needed to build strength and stamina.
"Sir Robert. Father's a Sword Master, right?"
"Indeed."
"So if I master a single-edged sword—a blade—instead of a straight sword, would that make me a Blade Master?"
"...Young master."
Robert swallowed hard, his pride slightly wounded, before continuing.
"Mastery isn't that easy."
"I know."
There were fewer than ten Masters across the entire continent, kingdom and Empire included.
"Especially a Blade Master. That's a weapon they use over in the Empire, isn't it?"
"True."
"For kingdom folk, it's swords! Lances! Even rapiers! A floppy blade that's all about slashing feels a bit..."
"I get it."
I checked the two business proposals and neatly folded handkerchief in my pocket, then closed my eyes.
"I wonder if I could become a Sword Master if I inherited Father's talent."
In this life.
* * *
The Kingdom of Nostrum is a land of knights.
It reveres chivalry and honor, upholding tradition and decorum. So when disputes arise among men, nobles challenge each other by tossing white gloves—a call to duel.
The duel. A contest of honor.
As people often say that most problems can be settled through duels, they are held as sacred rites in Nostrum.
Why, then, was there no duel in this incident? Aside from their lofty stations—the margrave versus the king—
'No sane king would accept a duel.'
The margrave was a Sword Master. The king was an ordinary man with no talent for swordsmanship or any other martial art.
If the incompetent king had any saving grace—
'The bloodline that produced such a lovely Princess Naria?'
Just that much. Though compared to Father, it was one area where he held an edge—a secret between the king and Mother.
"Young master. We've arrived at the capital."
The carriage halted. I stepped down and took in the grand sight of the royal capital with my own eyes.
'Grand, my ass.'
Compared to its future state, it was downright shabby. And even that future was as an 'Empire colony.'
The emperor had razed and rebuilt the capital upon conquering the kingdom. He repaved the poorly bricked roads, summoned mages to install sewers underground, and demolished slums under the banner of redevelopment to erect grand Imperial-style housing districts.
Even as a colony, some commoners said things like:
—Living like beggars in the kingdom was worse than being second-class citizens of the Empire.
The nobles lost their titles and everything else, but for the common folk, life didn't change much with the regime shift.
"Y-Young master? Knights are approaching."
As I compared present and future while admiring the city walls and crowds, Robert pointed ahead.
Clank, clank.
Knight in resplendent golden armor approached us. Their breastplates bore the royal lion emblem, red cloaks billowing as they halted before us.
"Grey Gibraltar of House Gibraltar. Is that you?"
"Yes. I am Grey Gibraltar."
I bowed to the imperious middle-aged man.
"I see Sir Zeros Basel, captain of the royal Golden Dawn Knights."
"Hmph...!"
A grunt escaped from beneath the helmet. The full-face mask hid his features, so he'd assumed I wouldn't recognize him.
"How fares the margrave?"
"Well. Father spoke often of you, Captain."
"The margrave, of me?"
"Yes. He said that if there were five who could injure him, you were one."
"...Ha. Hahaha!"
Sir Zeros threw back his head in boisterous laughter.
"To think he'd rate me so highly. Worth the trip out here myself."
Praise from a Sword Master was cause for joy, naturally. But did he know those words were Father's assessment of potential enemies in his path of treason?
—There are people to watch out for in the capital.
Father had left me several warnings before I departed. This man was one.
"Grey Gibraltar, follow me."
The epitome of knighthood in Nostrum, a man who embodied honor itself. He never reached Master. In the future, the Empire's emperor slew him in a single strike.
"Ah, yes. One message to relay."
Sir Zeros leaned in, lowering his voice.
"No matter what happens in the throne hall, don't panic."
"......Understood. I'll keep that in mind."
What could it be? Obviously.
'The incompetent king being incompetent.'
Something like that.
"Will the queen and princess be in the hall as well?"
"......You'll see."
The captain ground his teeth, his tone weary.
"Just don't panic."
"......?"
Moments later, I nearly let out an incredulous laugh.
The king's throne sat empty.
* * *
"Delighted to see you again, Grey Gibraltar."
The king's throne was vacant, but the woman seated in the queen's chair beside it greeted me.
"Grey Gibraltar greets the Moonlight of Nostrum."
"Your etiquette remains impeccable as ever."
Queen Carmen offered a faint smile. Her gaze flicked briefly to the empty throne before she composed herself and extended her hand to me.
"You have something for me, don't you?"
"Business proposals to present to His Majesty the King."
"Then give them to me. The throne is empty at present."
"......."
I rose slowly and withdrew two sheets of parchment from my breast pocket.
Normally, the queen shouldn't receive these in the king's absence. As major ventures submitted by the margrave himself, protocol demanded the king review them first.
"Here they are."
"Mm, very well."
Even such rules were flouted these days; the palace administration lay in ruins.
"...Hmm."
In truth, she shouldered the kingdom's politics entirely.
"Cloud Bridge reconstruction and elevator installation projects... The former I understand, but the latter is quite ambitious in scale."
"Yes."
"You expect the capital to fund it all?"
"Yes."
One hundred percent.
"Together, that's roughly 50 billion gold, isn't it?"
50 billion gold.
"Do you know the annual salary of a ninth-grade administrator?"
"Around 30 million gold, I believe."
"Correct. Knights average about 100 million. And yet... 500 billion."
The queen stared down at the proposals with sunken eyes.
"This will require a council."
She couldn't decide alone—
'Or so she says.'
The king's seal sat on the side table beside her. She already managed administrative orders.
Yet invoking a council here meant she needed time to think.
"I'll discuss it with the ministers."
Not ministers—House Morgania's people.
What proper bureaucrats existed among this kingdom's administrators? Nine out of ten were corrupt rich men who bought their posts or noble parachutists.
"You've had a long journey. I'll inform you of the decision soon, so rest in... yes, the palace guest quarters meanwhile."
"My thanks for your hospitality."
Normally I'd stay at a capital mansion, but House Gibraltar had none. Generations of subtle pressure kept us from residing here—go rest in the gorge and guard the kingdom, that sort of thing. Hotels were the usual fallback.
"Or would you prefer to rest at the ducal house?"
Queen Carmen suggested playfully, her tone sly.
"House Morgania always has a room ready for Gibraltar guests. Heh heh heh."
Even for her own maternal house, was this appropriate in the throne hall? It was. The few attendants present—Sir Zeros and the others—were all her people.
Still.
"My thanks. I'll follow Your Majesty's will."
"...Pardon?"
I wasn't the traditional Gibraltar who would pledge loyalty to the royal house in such a moment.
"Your Majesty. Might I trouble you for a cup of tea?"
"...Oh?"
"Nothing more."
It might seem brash and rude for a child addressing the queen, but.
"Father sent something for you."
"......!!"
I knew her weakness.
"What might that be?"
"Not here."
"......I see."
Queen Carmen rose immediately, proposals in hand.
"Come to my chambers."