Chapter 28 · A Real Papa (2)

Huh? What kind of nonsense is this?

“How on earth would the Commander become Asha’s weal papa?”

“Well, for now, just know that much. Before everything is decided, let’s start by building some closeness.”

Closeness, my foot. Why would I need to build closeness with you! I couldn’t make heads or tails of what he was saying, but I became thoroughly displeased and squirmed.

“Put Asha down! I’m going to Papa.”

“What’s so good about that blockhead that you cling to him like that, Princess? I could treat you far better.”

“Don’t caww Papa that. Papa is… Papa is…!”

I tried to defend him but couldn’t find the words and agonized. Well, it was true that he was excessively stubborn and blunt.

“If I become the princess’s father, I have every confidence I would treasure you above all else in the world. First, we should get you changed. Isn’t that something only temple apprentices wear?”

“Asha is comfowtable in this! Don’t say the pwincess’s dwesses are uncomfowtable!”

“Oh my. Still, there is a proper attire for every situation, time, and place, Princess. You can’t stay in the temple forever, after all.”

Why has this man been saying nothing but things that irritate me since a while ago!

“In fact, under ‘normal circumstances,’ I would have been the princess’s real father. I was Princess Beatrice’s betrothed, you see.”

Wh-what did you say…? You were my mother’s betrothed?!

Just then, that stinging pain rose up inside my body again.

“Huk…!”

‘It hasn’t even been thirty minutes yet…!’

Was it because I had gotten a little farther from Paeon? Or was it because this man’s mana was powerful and affecting me? Perhaps both.

“Ugh…”

When I let out a thin groan, he tilted his head and asked.

“What’s the matter?”

I gritted my teeth so he wouldn’t notice. Through the zapping, organ-crushing pain, I held my breath until my face turned white, trying somehow to hide it.

“Aaah… agh…”

“Princess! Are you hurt somewhere?”

Beyond his flustered voice, I heard the voice I most wanted to hear in this moment—“Princess!” Paeon was running toward us.

“Put the princess down.”

He said, almost growling.

“Wait a moment. Shouldn’t we at least identify the cause? Just because you heal her on the spot doesn’t mean—”

“I said put her down!”

Kaboom!

Paeon’s divine power grazed sharply past Alter’s head and one ear. A few drops of blood beaded on his ear.

“Ah…”

He touched his wounded ear and furrowed his brow.

“Calm down. I’ll put her down.”

The moment he set me on the ground, I curled up and whimpered like a baby animal. Paeon swept me up in his arms, and soon his power flowed into me.

“Hah… hah…”

“Are you all right now?”

Alter asked, tilting his head.

“What kind of illness is this, exactly?”

“…It’s a panic attack. Weren’t you present when I reported it to His Majesty the King?”

“Hmm, it’s my first time seeing it in person, so…”

It was a great relief that the symptoms were similar. Because he kept tilting his head and staring at me as if I were some strange creature.

“I felt something… a slightly unique energy, you see.”

He shrugged.

“Well, it must be my imagination.”

Paeon held me tightly without a word and glared at him.

“Sir Parsiel! There’s no need to look at me as if I were an enemy, is there? I’m quite hurt.”

“Stop paying attention to the princess and go do your own work, my lord.”

“I was simply worried about the princess. And I also think you are monopolizing her too much, Sir Parsiel.”

Monopolizing?! Am I some public resource!

“If the princess’s panic attacks continue, wouldn’t that be a serious matter indeed? Sir Parsiel, you are only a temporary escort knight, after all. Since we don’t know when, where, or how she might fall ill, I believe fundamental treatment is necessary.”

“…Whatever it is, it is not something for you to concern yourself with, Lord Alter.”

That’s right, that’s right. Well done!

“Well, I might be entrusted with the grave duty of caring for the princess in the future, you see.”

“What do you mean…”

Paeon’s eyes wavered greatly for the first time.

“I do hope I’ll be able to lighten your burden, Sir Parsiel. Without you, even the steadfast Veritas would falter.”

“Lord Alter, it’s time. Let’s go.”

Count Ellenoa approached Alter and spoke.

“Ah, is it already that late?”

He fluttered his cloak, winked at me with a smile, and waved his hand.

“Princess, I’ll see you again. Please take good care of your health. Next time, let’s have a longer conversation.”

The moment Ellenoa and Alter moved away, I urgently asked Paeon.

“Papa, was that man weally Mom’s betwothed?”

“…”

“Was he hew betwothed?!”

“…Yes.”

So my mother had a betrothed!

Well, of course—royals with succession rights form betrothals with powerful families from their teens at the latest. My mother must have been the same. I just hadn’t known because I’d heard so little about her. But hearing that the other party was the commander of Dinitas felt like a blow to the head. What kind of messed-up love triangle was this?

The Alter family was one of the twelve founding families that had rendered great service at Santra’s founding, and one of the wealthiest in Santra, possessing three large gold mines in the west. The head of the family, Hildebert Alter, held the rank of marquis, and his eldest son, Edwin Alter, had also been granted the rank of count for his military merits and had risen to commander of Dinitas at a young age.

I suddenly felt sorry for Paeon. Seeing Beatrice betrothed to such a family, he must have suffered a great deal.

‘No, I shouldn’t feel sorry for him… Anyway, I’m too softhearted.’

Just then, Rizen and Ark hesitantly approached us.

“Um… Princess, about what we were saying earlier.”

“What is it?”

“That girl is locked up in Yuditium!”

What?!

◇ ◆ ◇

The Raticla Tower in Salus.

To attend the central council of the senate, over thirty powerful families, including the twelve founding houses, had gathered. They were the highest authorities among nobles, holding voting rights in the state council.

“Ladies and gentlemen. I wish to thank you for attending despite your busy schedules.”

The Marquis Laselles, Santra’s minister of finance, who chaired today’s meeting, declared the opening.

“You must all have come here feeling a great crisis over recent events and seeking a solution.”

“Ahem. We barely managed to end the war, and now it seems disaster is brewing in the country again!”

The Marquis Orléans, Santra’s minister of state, stepped forward.

“By national law, Santra does not recognize bastards. Yet the royal family has shown blatant disregard for this law—how will this country fare! Every sort of bastard will shamelessly cause chaos everywhere, demanding property!”

“There will also be commoners rushing in to try their luck by producing bastards of nobles. Good heavens, how repulsive.”

The Count Flanavia shuddered.

“And yet the temple tries to silence every noble with talk of oracles!”

“This is the path to the end of immorality and can lead to the destruction of social order. Is this what Lord Lux wishes? Was the temple not meant to exist for the glory of Lord Lux?”

“Now, now, everyone, please calm down for a moment.”

Edwin Alter settled the noisy assembly. Everyone looked at him in surprise. Most of them had not expected Edwin Alter to speak today. From their perspective, Alter was the unfortunate man whose lover had been taken by a mysterious man from an enemy nation. So they had naturally assumed he would remain quietly in the background of society for some time.

“Hmm, hmm. Lord Alter must also be suffering greatly over this matter…”

“Yes, I have struggled in pain for a long time. I suffered a terrible betrayal, and the one who did it left my side without even giving me someone to resent.”

Sighs of pity flowed from around the chamber.

“But Princess Aquila warmly comforted me in my grief. She became my only solace when I was utterly devastated.”

Princess Aquila? Murmur, murmur. The unexpected pairing made the chamber noisy again.

“Unable to contain my feelings, which had grown deeper before I knew it, I asked for her hand in betrothal, and fortunately, she graciously accepted.”

“Whaaat?!”

Everyone was bewildered by the sudden betrothal announcement.

“And we have decided that after the marriage, we will adopt Princess Anastasia.”

“!”

“Adopt? The princess?”

“A few days ago, Princess Anastasia secretly slipped out of the temple. She must have been lonely, living there alone away from her family. As a result, she suffered something far too harsh for a child of only five.”

He continued in a deeply sorrowful voice.

“Spending her childhood without parents to care for her would be very bad for the princess’s emotional well-being.”

“Indeed, she is also too young to receive the right of succession.”

The Count Caesar, who had been sticking close to Alter, chimed in.

“That’s right. Such a thing should never happen, but the royal family always needs to be prepared, don’t they? If… something were to happen to His Majesty, how could that bastard—no, Princess Anastasia—handle state affairs if she inherited the throne?”

“It would be absolutely impossible.”

“If another country were to invade during such a situation… it’s horrific just to imagine.”

“I believe it is right for Princess Aquila, who is fully capable of governing even now, to receive the right of succession.”

“But the temple will surely raise objections…”

“It’s not as if Princess Aquila is stealing the succession, is it? If Princess Anastasia becomes our adopted daughter, she will receive the next right of succession. There’s no room for criticism.”

At Alter’s words, the chamber fell silent. Everyone was frantically calculating the benefits that would come their way.

“I believe this is a highly reasonable and proper course of action.”

A voice of agreement rose from somewhere.

“I agree. Lord Alter has made a courageous decision. It could not have been easy, from his wounded position, to think of taking her as a daughter.”

“What sin does a young child have? I have every confidence I would cherish her more than my own flesh and blood.”

In truth, most of the nobles had noticed that Alter’s words were a facade. The Alter family was a calculating house that pursued only profit, far removed from charity work.

But since they were offering to solve this troublesome and complicated problem for now, there was no particular reason to refuse. Above all, given their nature, they did not seem likely to ever actually hand over the right of succession to that bastard child.

“Will His Majesty permit it?”

“If we have everyone’s full support, what could be impossible? After the betrothal ceremony, we shall submit a petition bearing your signatures to the royal family.”

Some nobles glared at him with displeasure, but the mood of the chamber was already flowing in the direction Alter wanted.

◇ ◆ ◇

“The girl is… locked up in Yuditium? Why? What did she do wrong? Who said so?”

“Well… the commander of Dinitas said… that she used Kalisa’s magic, so by principle there was no choice…”

Ark trailed off, hanging his head.

You bastard!