It's Not Your Child!
Three days had passed since returning to the Beauty Tower. I'd spent the weekend catching up on all the sleep I'd missed, and after two straight days of rest, my stamina finally felt recovered. And today, Monday, I'd deliberately timed my visit to the territory office right at closing time, forcing Rachel into some overtime before slipping out just now.
"Haa~ Who knew Rachel could pull off that expression. As expected from a countess—there's a whole different class to it, class! Ahahaha!"
"Did something good happen, Director?"
Walter, waiting by the carriage, asked as I let out a hearty laugh.
"Ah, nothing much. Let's head back now."
"Please, hop on. And congratulations, Count."
"Haha, cut it out. I prefer just being called Director."
Rachel had briefed me on the count registration tax and the increased noble taxes, but it didn't bother me one bit. Her micro-expressions had given it all away—despite it only being a few minutes, she was brimming with resentment toward me for the extra work.
Rachel's scowling face really is the best. The ultimate stress-reliever.
The thought of seeing her snake-eyed glare again tomorrow, the 25th, had my lips curving into a crescent moon smile.
As I mulled that over on our way back to the Beauty Tower, Walter squinted out the carriage window.
"Director, was there some event today? There are tons of people gathered outside the hospital."
"Oh, that. Yeah, we're running an event today. Something that'll really hook people, but I'd totally spaced on promoting it until now."
"An event?"
"You'll see when we get there. Looks like way more people showed up than expected. Speed up the carriage a bit."
"Yes, Director."
Clatter—clatter clatter—
The magic carriage sped toward the front of the Beauty Tower.
As I stepped out leisurely, Cache had already set up a small podium where she'd been laying out her stall before, and she was up there, raising her voice to the crowd.
"Alright! I've explained what genes are to all of you, right? No one confused?"
"Just start already!"
"Get on with it!"
The territory folk's reactions were hotter than expected. I should've thought of this sooner—good thing it hit me now, at least.
"Alright, we'll now begin paternity tests for couples and lovers to confirm if the men here are truly the fathers of the children involved!"
"Stop stalling!"
"Hurry up!"
Today's event: paternity confirmation. I'd planned it figuring there had to be plenty of folks like that paranoid emperor, doubting their own kids despite all evidence. A famous American reality show had inspired me, too.
Heh heh, give it a little more time, and I can evolve this into a full TV program.
No TV or internet here, but maybe I could charge relay fees through crystal orbs? The idea swirled in my head.
"Before we announce the results, let me explain our Beauty Tower paternity test: we compare 15 markers for perfectly accurate results! In other words, the outcome is absolute truth! Now, onto the announcements!"
"Wooo! We've been waiting forever!"
"Reveal the truth!"
"Start already!"
The front of the Beauty Tower was packed with a frenzy of people. Unlike before, the tower had become Frederik Dungeon Zone's hottest spot, drawing a huge crowd.
Nice one, Cache. You're nailing it.
Cache commanded the masses with a crisp voice drawn up from her diaphragm.
"Just a reminder: these announcements are only for those who confidently stepped forward. Now, our first pair: Maria and Anthony, please come up!"
"Wooo! Truth time!"
"It's starting!"
The paternity test used the gene analyzer—a simple check of 15 markers. If all 15 match between parent and child, they're biological relatives.
"Maria and Anthony, a couple married five years—quick self-intros, please!"
"Hello, we're Maria and Anthony."
"Anthony here. Maria's husband and father to our precious three-year-old daughter Angel, who's the apple of our eye."
Maria and Anthony, five years married, still radiated that fresh newlywed vibe, holding their daughter like something out of a May calendar.
"Oh my! The crystal orb shows Angel—she's angelically beautiful! First, could you tell the crowd here why you've joined us?"
"Yes, I saw the promo at the Cash Shop last Friday or Saturday. Thrilled to be selected for this free event—thank you."
"Great! Now, Maria!"
Having heard from the husband, Cache turned to interview the wife.
"How are you feeling right now, Maria? Nervous?"
"No, why would I be? My husband sometimes jokes that our daughter doesn't look like him, so I figured this was my chance to shut that down."
"Hoho, how cute. Let's reveal the results then. I haven't seen them yet—only Rebecca, who assisted, knows! Rebecca, hand over the results!"
At Cache's bubbly call, Rebecca ascended the podium with a faint smile, handing over the neatly folded result sheet.
"Shall we check together?"
"Plenty more behind—hurry!"
"Stop dragging it out!"
The crowd was electric as Cache unfolded and scanned the sheet top to bottom, her expression unchanging. Then she shouted:
"Maria's husband, Anthony, is NOT Angel's biological father...!!"
"Gasp! Is this for real?"
"What?"
"No way—something's wrong, right?"
The crowd buzzed in shock as Maria collapsed. Only Anthony wore a sinister smirk.
"What? Shut you down? Get over here—I'll shut you down!"
"D-dear! It was a mistake! But Angel's your child in your heart—"
"Shut up!"
In the shock and horror, Cache boomed to the crowd after each reveal:
"Colin is NOT Brian's father!"
"I knew it! Sneaking around next door!!"
"Gerard is NOT Wesley's father!"
"Ugh! This place is insane!"
"It's not Antonio's child!"
"All the money I've blown...!"
"It's not yours!"
"Kyaaak!"
Cache amped up the drama, playing to the crowd's fever. Only one couple confirmed as biological parents amid the chaos—screams, flights, sobs everywhere.
"Director, isn't this... a bit too intense?"
"Events are supposed to be intense! And this one's promoting the people's right to know."
"Right to know... Makes sense."
Emperors doubting their own kids was one problem; cuckoo cheats raising others' was another. This wasn't some beautiful homeland, but I'd purify at least my territory with the power of great science.
Bzzz—bzzzz—
As we passed the still-chaotic hospital front from the shocking paternity reveals and entered the first-floor Cash Shop, the crystal orb rang.
Before long, it was Friday, July 27 in the Ailene calendar. Unlike usual, an eerie silence hung over the Beauty Tower.
"They should be here any minute now."
I waited on the rooftop helipad—repurposed for doctor helicopters—with Walter and the witches for our VIP patients.
"Huh? Director! Look—it's an eagle!"
Rebecca pointed skyward. Far off, a massive eagle hurtled toward us at ferocious speed.
"Not an eagle—a griffin."
"Griffin or eagle, it's definitely the royals inbound. Everyone, get ready. Greet them, then straight to beds and the VIP ward."
""Yes!""
Moments later, a golden sky carriage—flanked fore and aft by screeching griffins—landed smoothly on the helipad.
So that's a griffin...
Eagle head, forelegs, and wings; lion body and hindlegs. Larger than either, it alit with gentle flaps, almost silent.
Whoosh—
Symbol of the Initium Empire, its graceful landing and majestic aura were stunning. Distracted by the griffin, I snapped to as the sky carriage door opened. Attended by valets and maids, they emerged.
Those kids...
I stepped forward as they were supported by attendants.
"Minor Gold of Gold Territory greets the little suns of the Empire."
My first words were to the crown prince.
"An honor to meet you, Count Gold."
As our talk ended, he spun like a revolving door, revealing his identical twin—the princess. Different hair and eyes, but unmistakably so.
"We greet the little sun of the Empire."
"Pleased to meet you, Count Minor Gold."
Everyone assembled, now to assess surgery viability. Visually, it was hard to tell if their brains were fused or just skin-deep.
We moved them to the VVIP ward to rest, then I ran full diagnostics—not just MRI and CT, but all metrics critical for conjoined twin separation.
Post-scans, I captured 3D models in the crystal orb and integrated their data into the VR surgery suite, awaiting perfect results.
And the verdict came the next day.