Chapter 1. I'm screwed! (5)
Chapter 1. I'm screwed! (5)
Ah, I'm screwed.
I moved in such a rush that I didn't think at all about what Rosalyn hates. No, I was thinking about it, but I seem to have forgotten a little.
Rosalyn hates filthy things.
It's not just about dirty clothes or dust piled up in the corner. She hated everything that gave off that 'filthy' vibe. Naturally, she also hated the smell that seemed filthy.
Objectively speaking, the smell here was being suppressed as best as it could. It's not like this is a world where soap or shampoo are mass-produced in factories, and the concept of disinfection wasn't properly established either.
Alcohol? The only way to make alcohol in this world is to distill liquor multiple times. Naturally, nobles only drink it when they want to get heavily intoxicated; they don't apply it to the human body. Especially not for orphans in an orphanage like this.
"......You are always working hard, Brother Arno."
"I am merely following the will of the Goddess."
Brother Arno replied humbly to my praise.
But at the same time, a bit of suspicion dwells in his eyes.
Why did I, who hates places like this, come all the way here?
That must be what he's thinking.
Rosalyn doesn't go out of her way to visit people just to insult them. If there was a specific insult she wanted to deliver—like a witty nickname that suddenly popped into her head—she would just call that person over. Then, she'd throw out a word or two of insult and send them back.
"......"
Hmm.
At this rate, I'm afraid I might even get captured alive in a war. Before any prisoner exchange, wouldn't I be subjected to all sorts of 'ungentlemanly' acts? Or they might just chop my head off.
Rosalyn, who lacks magic, must have terrible combat ability too.
Alright. Let's create a knight order that can die in my place in case of an emergency. The Blutrosenorden should be enough. I'll provide Erna with tons of material support so she can stay by my side until the very last moment. A knight's loyalty is bought with money anyway.
"Your Grace."
Arno opened his mouth.
"May I ask what business brings you here?"
"Ah."
My thoughts wandered off for a moment.
When I came to my senses, everyone in the orphanage was looking this way. Not just the nuns, who had their hair completely covered by veils, but even the brothers of the monastery were watching us. Of course, they were all bowing. Because I, the most powerful person in this principality—in other words, the equivalent of a king—was here.
Even the children were bowing while glancing at each other.
"Uh... I came because I wanted to have a brief conversation with Brother Arno."
When I said that, people stirred just a little. Of course, quietly, without crossing the line to offend me.
"Is that so......"
Brother Arno looked up at me slightly while still bowing, then looked behind him.
And slowly, he turned his head back toward me and said.
"However, Your Grace. There is still work to be done today."
At those words, the surroundings stirred again. I mean, she's the Duke of the principality. And after saying something like that in front of Rosalyn, who is famous for having a shitty personality, what kind of fate would befall them—
One eyebrow twitched. Rosalyn tried to pop out from inside me, but I barely managed to hold her back.
Right. I can't put the vice-captain who was under me and Brother Arno, the Parish Deputy, on the same level. This side is 'truly' dangerous.
If they judge that I've damaged the authority of the Church, the Pope could even excommunicate me.
"......It is fine. This girl has plenty of time as well."
I replied with a voice that trembled just a tiny bit.
I tapped the fan I was holding in my hand.
"Then I shall wait. How long must I wait?"
"I will finish my work and come shortly."
Arno replied, bowing deeply.
His eyes were still fixed on my face, which was a little scary.
*
The orphanage is attached right next to the monastery. The monastery itself was quite far from what could be called the 'downtown' of the Duke's direct territory.
The monastery building is a brick building built quite sturdily, but in contrast, the orphanage was an old wooden building. It was a place where they tried to make it look decent while spending as little money as possible.
Naturally, it cannot be compared to the 21st-century buildings I remember. In other words, I would say it's just a space where you can 'at least sleep inside.'
And I ended up waiting outside the building.
The inside of the orphanage smelled too much, making it hard to endure, and I, a woman, couldn't enter the monastery. For one thing, that place is a no-women-allowed zone.
The servants set up a spot for me. The cargo hold of the carriage I rode in contained quite luxurious chairs and a table that could be disassembled.
"Y-Your Grace......"
Frida called out to me as I sat blankly in the spot they had made, waiting endlessly.
"Um, that......"
Frida hesitated before finally opening her mouth.
"Are you alright?"
I am not alright.
But in people's eyes, I must look even less alright. In fact, I probably look half-crazy. Muttering about getting revenge in front of my father's grave, then suddenly abandoning my position as the Knight Order Captain, and then, without any context, coming to the monastery to find Brother Arno.
It's a series of actions without any consistency, so it's only natural to be worried.
"......"
But Rosalyn chose to ignore it.
Even though I was terrified to the point where my fingertips were trembling slightly, pride came first. That in itself was a bit funny to me.
It was only after waiting for nearly another hour that I was able to meet Brother Arno.
"Would you please sit down?"
Seeing me waiting with refreshments and a sunshade set up in front of the orphanage yard before he knew it, Brother Arno seemed to have forgotten what to say for a moment.
Brother Arno just stared at me blankly for a moment, then approached and sat in the seat I pointed to.
"As I said a moment ago, this girl came because I wanted to have a brief conversation with Brother Arno."
"Is that so. However, Your Grace, there are priests at the church in the city center, but......"
"But you are the one who took care of my father's funeral."
Strangely enough, even while being terrified and elevating the other person, Rosalyn's words themselves came out clearly.
It's the posture of a noble. A hard shell that doesn't reveal emotions to the person in front of them.
"......Do you wish to talk about the late Duke?"
"That is so."
I nodded and said.
"My father, he must have gone to heaven, right?"
"That is correct. He was certainly a great person. He was the most excellent person among the nobles I have met."
Although he was born here and lived here almost his entire life, there are many nobles in here too.
"Then I shall ask. When this girl is called by the Goddess, will I be able to go to heaven?"
Yes.
That was the 'reason' I came up with.
The reason Rosalyn 'changes'.
"That is......"
He couldn't bring himself to say 'yes'.
Because one of the people Rosalyn insulted so much was Arno. Besides, if he had exchanged various letters with Frida, he would easily know how Rosalyn usually lived.
"Do you think I will not be able to go to heaven?"
"That is why I came, because I do not know."
I looked at Brother Arno quietly.
The Church exerts influence not only on the Kingdom but also to some extent on the Empire.
The reason the Kingdom's army wasn't completely wiped out by the Empire's forces in the beginning was that there were resistance forces within the Empire resisting the Demon King.
The Church was at the center of that resistance.
If so, I need 'connections' too.
And the stronger those connections are, the better.
"......You must do good deeds and bestow benevolence."
In the end, Brother Arno told me the fundamental things.
"Is that so?"
I answered while nodding.
"Then, I will do that."
"......Pardon?"
Perhaps it was because I answered too obediently.
Brother Arno asked me back as if he were a bit bewildered.
*
5 years later, the war will definitely happen.
How much time and effort would it take to prepare for the Great War within this worldview and slowly erode the leadership of the Imperial Court? Naturally, it's not something that can be done in just 5 years.
The plan must have been proceeding slowly from even before that. So, I have no intention of trying to stop anything now.
The important thing is how I will survive while being swept up in that war.
The Principality serves the Empire. That must be why Rosalyn eventually accepted evil. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to control those below her.
I'm probably the same. If things go on like this, no one who is loyal to me will remain in this land. The only stain tarnishing the rule of the great late Duke. That was Rosalyn.
However.
I still have 5 years left.
I will make sure the loyalty of those under me within the Principality is properly directed toward me, and I will prepare for the war in advance so that we can endure the forces to some extent. And I won't kidnap or harm the Saintess.
I will let the passing Hero go to the Empire without hindering him.
And while watching the Empire crumble under the Hero and the Kingdom's army following him, I will endure that war.
That was the only strategy I could think of.
So—
"Do I really have to do it with my own hands?"
Looking at the rag Brother Arno handed me, Rosalyn said.
"......Pardon?"
At the reversal of Rosalyn, who had come saying she would perform good deeds, Brother Arno was dumbfounded again.
The 'me' inside Rosalyn's head clutched her head.
No, no matter how much you are drawn by your nature.
What are you going to do if you say something like that, Rosalyn!