A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

44 – Orphanage Princesses (2)

A child’s body is uncomfortable in many ways.

It’s not just because I’m young, but because I’m not an adult, there are times when I can’t enter the adult world.

That is the case now.

‘There are a lot of things I can’t say to a child.’

President Erwin knows me as just a little smart kid, but I know the whole truth.

‘It is not something that can be said carelessly about the true nature of these children, either politically or humanely.’

All of the children that Chairman Erwin wants to send to the pilot school that will be built in Gibraltar are ‘candidates.’

If you ask what kind of candidate-

‘Imperial candidates.’

They are half sisters.

Not just one or two people, but dozens – or maybe even dozens if you include those I don’t know.

-It is natural for someone with outstanding talent to spread his blood.

One day, the emperor said something like that.

-I am superior to everyone else, and it would be an insult to the empire and the world for only one person to inherit my talent.

Those with excellent talent have a duty to spread that talent.

-Aren’t you curious? Who has the best child? Was she a princess who longed for love from me, or was she a woman who only wanted power? Or women who rose from commoner background to the ruling class of the empire?

The emperor sowed seeds here and there.

To a matrix that satisfies one’s own eyes.

-Not everyone can become royal family just because they inherit blood. Only the best and most talented will become emperor. Competition starts from birth.

Among the children born like that, only one of them will become the true emperor of the empire.

-I did that. I killed all my brothers and sisters and became the crown prince.

Perhaps it can be said to be the empire’s long-standing history and tradition.

-If there are too many heirs to the throne, won’t a fight for imperial power arise? Of course. Without competition, we are left behind. Those who survive are strong.

So the future emperor had his children compete.

Even at this point, he would be competing with his children for the position of crown prince.

-The boy will learn the imperial swordsmanship. A person who does not become a master before the age of 20 is not qualified to become an emperor.

The boys are probably learning kingship in a basement somewhere. As a prerequisite, at the age of 7, one must be able to sense mana.

-Girls are raised well and used in marriage alliances.

Each girl will grow up cultivating her beauty in the style of □□youngae.

Someday, I want to start selling poetry books as a quality product.

-Listen carefully, Gray. If there was a problem with having many illegitimate children, it was just that people should not have taken such actions in the first place.

The emperor thoroughly regarded his children as tools.

-You are not a child born out of love, so there is no need to give love to him.

Everything for the empire.

-I am the father of all people and the emperor of the empire.

Everything for the world he will rule.

There is one reason why the Emperor designated her as his true successor, who was his biological daughter from his relationship with Erwin, the current Emperor’s granddaughter, and who was the official ‘only child’ of the Crown Prince.

-The child was of no use anywhere, but he asked you to come and open the gates of the Gorge of Gibraltar. That alone proved the child’s worth.

Among the many illegitimate children in the empire, she was the only one to open the gates of Gibraltar’s gorge.

Well, it’s a result-oriented story that omits the intermediate process.

That’s why I’m so embarrassed.

No matter how much the emperor considers his children as tools and does not care much about his daughters.

‘Do you want your illegitimate children to grow up normally, even if you send them to study abroad?’

I had no idea that Erwin would go out of his way to steal the children away from the kingdom.

And.

‘It’s sad that we can’t talk about this right now.’

If I had stepped forward as the Margrave of Gibraltar as an adult rather than a child, I wonder if Erwin would have given me a hint somehow.

Although they inherited the royal bloodline, they were born as tools.

Rather than growing up as the princess’s ‘spare’ without being loved in the empire, I would rather find new love in the kingdom.

All of those plans were canceled due to his own death, but until then, it seems that Chairman Erwin was working hard for his children.

So, at this point, I have to do as much as I can to intervene.

“President Erwin, do you plan to leave these children in an orphanage in Gibraltar?”

“Yes.”

However.

“They are children who have nowhere to go in the Empire. If Gibraltar takes care of them, we will provide sufficient budget support.”

“Is it the budget?”

It’s not about sympathy for children or anything like that.

“I see. Money is important, but….”

Only for my fundamental purpose.

“No one can accept it if it poses a risk to Gibraltar.”

Cheap sympathy cannot ruin the big picture.

“Can you find out who the parents of these children are?”

“…No. I’m an orphan so I don’t know.”

“Can we say that the possibility that any of these children are spies for the empire under the pretense of being orphans is completely zero?”

“Uhm…. No. I guess I can’t deny that.”

Chairman Erwin calmly answered even my sharp questions.

“I can’t go into detail. But if we accept these children, there may be a situation where Gibraltar will be in danger in the future.”

The expression on his face had a feeling of regret and disappointment.

“Still, I wish Gibraltar would accept these children.”

“…….”

“Even though there is nothing else I can do other than money…”

“As expected, this is difficult.”

I firmly refused despite Chairman Erwin’s snarky voice.

“Gibraltar Orphanage only accepts children whose identities are certain. It is dangerous to accept children from empires whose identities are unknown through expedient means.”

“…….”

“How much more so for the children here….”

I cannot go into detail.

However, he asks with his eyes, facial expressions, and actions.

“That’s it, isn’t it?”

This 13-year-old child.

This child has white hair and looks very similar to you.

“Chairman. I know not only one month’s worth of the Empire Ilbo, but also all the newspapers that the Marquis Claydoll over there has sent out with a cannon over the past three years.”

“Keu, keum!”

“There are some faces I recognize. Are you really planning on sending them to Gibraltar?”

Aren’t you in the imperial palace right now?

Isn’t this a child who was chosen by the current emperor and is growing up as the imperial granddaughter?

“Are you saying that we should accept the children of the empire in this situation, not even after a formal agreement has been signed and no humanitarian agreement has been signed with the country that is still at war?”

Are you sending a child like that to Gibraltar now?

Right now, not 4 years from now when the academy is created?

“Gibraltar is a good place, but it is not a good place for these children to stay. In many ways-“

“I will grant permission.”

“…….”

I turned my head without realizing it when I heard a voice next to me.

“Father.”

“Gray Gibraltar. This is the Earl’s order.”

“…Yes.”

I nodded at my father’s command.

“Oh. If it were my son, he would have screamed ‘Why!’ Instead of answering.”

Marquis Claydoll is fiddling with his beard as if it’s fun, but I agree.

“But you’re shouting hard with your eyes, Count. Why don’t you tell me the reason for your son’s sake? If you don’t want to be betrayed and lose the earldom later.”

“There are many reasons, but it is too much to talk about here.”

My father glared at the Marquis of Claydoll, then lightly patted his hand that was clutching my shoulder again.

“Let’s go to the study and talk. But please tell me one thing in advance.”

My father put his thumb down and wrote small letters on my back.

-I will protect you from danger.

“Father.”

“If you’re a father, that’s what you should do.”

No way.

Did you notice?

“Chairman Erwin. Although I am currently learning about the empire’s corporate culture, I believe that the fundamentals of buying and selling goods are similar.”

The father turns his head to Chairman Erwin.

“Children are not objects. But there must be a good reason for my son to express this concern. Although Gibraltar’s acceptance of children may bring about a major crisis for Gibraltar.”

My father snorted and lifted the corner of his mouth.

“The greater the risk, the better the results will be after investing.”

“Count.”

“Bring them in. As many as you want. Anyway, I don’t care anymore who points the finger at Gibraltar.”

“…Thank you so much.”

Chairman Erwin turns his head and covers his eyes with his hand for a moment.

“If you need anything, please let me know. I will prepare whatever I can.”

“Then now, I ask you two favors.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing special.”

My father continued calmly.

“A thing called a camera. And….”

Not calmly, but as if he was a little embarrassed.

“…I heard that the seaweed from the coast of the empire is so good for pregnant women. I wish I could get some of that. It’s something you can’t get in the kingdom.”

* * *

Gugugugu.

Gibraltar Gorge, the first gate is closed.

The Earl of Gibraltar received an item and immediately returned to his mansion.

“…Chairman Erwin.”

Marquis Claydoll unbuttoned the top button of his suit and pulled on his tie.

“Are you really okay? Even though the count doesn’t know, I think he noticed that that little girl is the imperial granddaughter.”

“No. You wouldn’t know. Among the photos in the Empire Ilbo for the past three years, there hasn’t been a photo of the granddaughter.”

“Then…?”

“Don’t you think it’s just my daughter?”

Marquis Claydoll scratched his head.

“Do you think the emperor will accept it? Still, he is my favorite child.”

“He will try to send more because he loves it. Although it is earlier than expected, it is because he loves it.”

Chairman Erwin smiled bitterly and tapped the floor with his shoe.

“At least Gibraltar and Nostrum will be safer places than the current imperial palace.”

“…….”

“Marquis Claydoll. Who are you loyal to? Your Majesty the Emperor?”

“I am loyal to the empire, not to anyone in particular.”

“Then what about when the current crown prince ascends to the throne?”

“No matter who becomes the emperor, the role of a soldier and marquis is to be loyal to the empire.”

The Marquis of Claydoll clenched his right fist and pounded it against his left chest.

“If he tells him to conquer Nostrum, he will do so; if he tells him to lift a spear for Nostrum, he will only wield it to help them.”

“You are a soldier to your core.”

“Didn’t you know? I was born holding a spear. hehehe.”

“Then, what about the granddaughter born to your third daughter?”

“……Well.”

Marquis Claydoll raised his head and looked up at the night sky.

“If you happen to be in Gibraltar with the president’s daughter, how will you grow up?”

“Even if we can’t protect it in Claydoll, at least it won’t grow like it does now.”

“Is it better to live with only the wound of being abandoned by your parents without even knowing your roots?”

“That’s right. Each person has different interpretations as to what kind of life would be better…”

“But?”

“At least in Gibraltar, there seems to be at least a human relationship between parents and children, so they will be looked after well to some extent.”

“…Is that so?”

The Marquis of Claydoll tilted his head, but Chairman Erwin chuckled and tapped the jewel-like bracelet on his wrist with his hand.

“Then, please think about my offer. Receiving Ipheria’s support is not such a bad thing for Marquis Claydoll.”

“Okay… Wait a minute. Are you really going to go alone?”

“Yes. Oh, did you ever want to give me a ride in the back?”

Buuung.

“I’m sorry, but I have to be careful about running alone.”

Something with two wheels stopped in front of Chairman Erwin.

“I will make a schedule at the factory in Claydol later. Let’s meet separately then.”

“No, you man. A woman alone this late at night…!”

“Oh my. I really appreciate your concern.”

President Erwin climbed onto his saddle as if riding his horse, holding the handle in front of him with one hand.

“Marquis, can you defeat me?”

“…….”

“Isn’t the reason why she hasn’t been able to replace me and her granddaughter with her own daughter because of Aiperia’s capital? Then, I have to quickly go back and make a new camera. “Enough for today!”

The moment Chairman Erwin pulled his handle.

Booaaa!!

With a harsh sound, Chairman Erwin disappeared in a flash.

Leaving only dark traces of the wheels rolling on the floor.

* * *

Tap, tap, tap.

Hop on the carriage and head back to the mansion.

“Are you angry because I made a unilateral choice without consultation?”

Pulling on the horse’s reins, my father stopped the carriage.

“No, that’s not true.”

“You seem angry.”

“How dare I do what the Count has decided?”

“You’re showing off very openly that you’re upset.”

My father laughs lowly.

“Neither Sir Mente nor Robert are here now, so speak honestly.”

“There is a saying.”

“Isn’t it a beast that can’t even speak?”

“I guess you’re in a good mood? You even make jokes like that.”

“Nothing. It’s nothing else….”

My father looks back at me and smiles.

“Because you trusted me and didn’t stop me on the spot.”

“…….”

“It’s dangerous, but if you’re a father, you can handle it somehow, right? If you really thought it wasn’t going to work, aren’t you the kind of kid who would have stopped me right then and there?”

“That’s right.”

Being the chairman and the Marquis of Claydoll, if I didn’t think it would work, I would have immediately tried to stop my father.

“There are many advantages. When I go to the study, I will have to give another comprehensive speech. But…”

“What is the most dangerous?”

“I don’t know about Chairman Erwin, but is it possible that among the children sent away as orphans there may be a child with imperial blood?”

“…….”

“Now, do you know why I was worried?”

“Yes. That much is reassuring.”

My father was still smiling.

“The fact that the empire is sending a girl with royal blood means that it intends to form a marriage alliance with Gibraltar.”

“It’s not that easy, father.”

“Yes, I know. A spy could come in, a kidnapper or a poisonous assassin could come, or an evil woman who would bewitch Gibraltar could come in.”

My father is already aware that there is some risk.

“Son.”

Still, if there was a reason why my father decided to welcome the female orphans of the empire at Chairman Erwin’s suggestion.

“Don’t forget that I am a person who is willing to join hands with the Empire if it means cutting off Saint Geo’s head.”

“Yes.”

Because my father is also Gibraltar.

“It’s all good now. Looking at the faces of the kids, it looks like they’ve all grown up to steal many men’s hearts.”

“…That’s why I was worried.”

“Why? Are you afraid that all the girls who come to the orphanage will try to steal your heart?”

“I just hate troublesome things.”

Sincerely.

“Everyone will be targeting me, so what should I do?”

“Son.”

My father was still smiling.

“Since you inherited my face, you were destined to be harassed by women from the moment you were born.”

“…….”

“When you become an adult, you will be loved by many women. Think of it as experiencing it in advance.”

Does my father know?

“Is it a future prophecy or a curse?”

“It’s fate.”

“Ha.”

The fact that I have already suffered until I die.

“It’s going to happen anyway, so just take the wife you marry and raise her from a young age.”

“What a crazy thing to say.”

“It’s sincere.”

“…….”

“Perhaps because I decided to become a traitor, I don’t mind having a daughter-in-law from the empire as long as I love you.”

“Father.”

I expressed my sincerity along with my lament.

“No matter how many princesses there are in the orphanage, there is only one princess that I will love for the rest of my life.”

“…Ha.”

My father chuckled.

“That’s how he is my son.”

One day later.

Vacant lot near the nursery.

Under the Count’s orders, a wooden building similar in size to the orphanage began to be constructed.