A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

Chapter 49

49 – Orphanage Princesses (7)

Log cabin near the nursery.

Rather than a house, it is closer to an inn that can be found in any village.

If you pay a little bit of attention to the exterior and interior furniture, there is nothing strange about calling it a hotel.

Even though it was built quickly, it is possible to build it similar to the structure of a hotel.

Jeopuk, Jeopuk.

Imperial orphans who entered the temporary orphanage building scan the lobby.

I don’t know what kind of facility you may have grown up in in the empire, but everyone knows that this place was newly built.

‘It was also built anew for the people themselves.’

Originally, it was a place for orphans, but the two people who happened to come here had a similar reaction.

“This is….”

“Wow! A new house! Ha, the wood smells really good!”

…Although it was a conflicting reaction, it seems like they both had a hunch.

That this is where they will stay.

‘I have to let him sleep here right now.’

We couldn’t even get out of the rooms of the children who were sleeping in the daycare.

There were many reasons, but my mother’s words were the most important.

-If you mix girls with whom you don’t communicate well in the dormitory, trouble may arise.

The opinion is that even for children, the kingdom and empire are different, so they need time to gradually integrate.

Was it a prescient idea?

“You will stay here together for a while until you learn the kingdom language.”

Not everyone knows the kingdom language, and it is difficult for my father to speak smoothly in the kingdom language, which he has just started studying.

“If you need anything, please tell Gray. Gray will stay here and manage the orphanage for the time being.”

Although I am translating my father’s words verbatim, this was agreed upon in advance.

Apart from Nariana Astasia.

“Is there anyone among these people who can speak the Kingdom perfectly?”

In response to their father’s question, the orphans began to look at each other.

“Some people seem to understand, but they must be able to read and write.”

“Me!”

One person.

“I know how to speak the Kingdom language!”

Astasia raised her hand.

“I know a little bit of other languages besides the Kingdom! I learned them from a young age!”

“It looks like there’s no one else but Astasia. In that case, Astasia can just blend in as is…”

Father stood behind Naria.

“This child is the daughter of an acquaintance of mine. She is like my niece.”

When I put my hand on Lia’s shoulder and let go of her threat, all of her orphans were startled.

Everyone seemed puzzled from the moment we arrived.

Suddenly, a girl dressed as a man came with them and brought her in a container with them.

‘I think Naria was also surprised.’

You probably didn’t know that the word ‘nephew’ would come out of the Margrave’s mouth.

I didn’t know either, and I was a little surprised.

“For some reason, I am staying here as a citizen of the same empire as you. I guess this will suffice.”

“Father.”

“Okay. Is there anything you want to add?”

“I’ll let you explain. Father, please go in and rest. It’s late at night.”

It was a little later than the scheduled time. Your mother may be worried.

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“Okay. It’s late at night, but please take care of me.”

My father patted my back and walked out.

Kkiik.

As soon as my father left the orphanage, a knight came in as if crossing his path.

“Excuse me.”

This is Lord Mente.

“I will escort you from now on.”

“Sorry for being late at night, sir.”

“Not much to say. Thanks to you, I got to see something nice, so it’s okay. hehehe.”

It may not have been noticed by others, but Lord Mente just watched his father pull the container.

Still, the good news is that Lord Mente is not the kind of person to speak out carelessly.

“Then I-“

“Wow! Is this a new friend?!”

Before Sir Mente could say that he would become a folding screen, Astasia approached Sir Mente.

“Nice to meet you! My name is Astasia! Um, since I look like your older sister, can I stop talking?!”

“…….”

Sir Mente’s expression twists.

It seems absurd, but as if he is trying to hold back laughter, he is trying his best to lower the corners of his mouth that are about to rise.

“Master, may I speak to you?”

“Yes. If possible, it would be a good idea to take a quiz.”

Just like you did to me before.

“Miss Astacia. First of all, I am an adult.”

“Eh?”

“Then how old am I?”

“Because I’m an adult…20 Years old!!”

Sir Mente shakes her head.

Meanwhile, I kept looking at the other orphans.

‘As expected, the shadows seem to know.’

Three people.

The tallest and oldest line seems to already know about Lord Mente.

The children who did not know were busy guessing how old they were, like Astasia, but the shadows were looking inside the orphanage, not at Lord Mente.

“It’s higher than that.”

“…21 Years old? Oh, 22 years old?”

“hehehe… This is it.”

“Four fingers…? You’re 24 years old!”

“40 Years old.”

“…….”

“I’m 40 years old.”

Astasia’s expression hardened and she turned her head towards me.

“Ji, is it true?”

“Because of the warlock’s curse, his age stopped at the age of 13. Sir Mente is a high-ranking knight.”

“Oh, well, I see.”

Astasia must be embarrassed too.

She said that there was a girl who was about the same height as her, or slightly shorter, but three times older.

‘If it’s her, she’s definitely here-‘

“Then, since I’m 13 years old and 27 years old, I’m the older sister in body!”

“……?”

Astasia puffs out her chest and puffs out, and her Lord Mente opens her mouth in surprise.

“Ah. Is your sister starting next year? Well, then she’ll be the same age for the time being!”

“…….”

“……Ha.”

As expected, the fundamentals of people do not change.

‘It’s so pure.’

Although people may change depending on their environment, their roots remain the same.

‘It’s hard to believe that I grew up in the imperial palace.’

If even that changes, it would mean that the surrounding environment has been polluted to the point where the roots are rotting.

If so, the situation in the imperial palace is brighter than expected.

‘Did the current emperor pay much attention to many things?’

The crown prince would not have given her affection out of love, so the old emperor would have taken good care of her.

Although I will die soon, I must at least be thankful for now.

“Lord Mente. Let me introduce this side first.”

“…I, Jabeth.”

“……?”

Sir Nariae Mente, who introduces himself as Jabeth in the broken Kingdom language, tilts his head in the opposite direction this time.

“Over there….”

“Jabeth. Sir Mente is my knight. You can trust him.”

“…….”

Nod.

Naria nodded her head heavily, and Lord Mente was shocked to see the wound on her neck.

“Master.”

“Later. Would you please show Jabeth to the room first? Over there, next to my room.”

“Yes.”

Sir Mente took Naria to the room on the first floor.

‘We’ll talk quietly in the room.’

If we haven’t talked about it, we’ll have to talk about it separately later.

‘You are completely distrustful of humans. No, was it always like that?’

Even when she was the princess of a ruined country, she did not easily trust people.

Even when I sent spies to the revolutionary army, they failed every time, and I even picked out the good and bad ones among them and made them my own.

What about this time?

How will Naria do here when it is not in full bloom yet?

‘I might have a connection with Ethan Cesar like this.’

Future revolutionary army leaders and executives are in a daycare center.

That’s surprising, but the future princess is also here.

“Your Highness Astacia.”

“Um…Yes!”

“When I called you Your Highness….”

“I’ll just continue to treat you with respect! I think it’s better than not saying anything. hehehe…”

Astasia scratches her head.

‘It’s because of Lord Mente.’

She tried to tell her mentor, but when she heard that he was 40 years old, she seemed to be intimidated.

“Your Highness. Then would you like to take a look at this place?”

“Sightseeing?!”

“Yes. For now-“

Inside the nursery building, no intruders.

No escort is required.

‘I guess it’s okay if I leave it alone.’

It’s really okay, but it may actually be more dangerous to be here.

Right now, there are as many as nine people who secretly harbor hostility towards Astasia in their hearts.

“Please look around all the way to the 4th floor and choose the room you like best.”

“Oh, is that okay?!”

“Yes, since you said so. Instead, this may be the last privilege I can give you!”

“Uhm…. It’s okay if I choose the bar and room first… Right?”

After Astasia asked for understanding from her other orphans.

“Then, I’ll take a look at the new house!!”

I ran straight to the stairs and jumped up to the second floor.

Fortunately, the minimal furniture such as beds and wardrobes were just brought in yesterday, so there is no problem if they go up and sleep right now.

“Huh.”

I took a deep breath.

“Everyone, to the restaurant.”

Then he pointed to a restaurant next to him, and the orphans squirmed and took their seats one by one at the long table placed near the restaurant.

“Now we can talk quietly. Ah, I was just saying it out of courtesy, and there is no such thing as warm cocoa.”

The only thing here is cold water and a temporary wooden cup.

“There are 9 people. There is enough food.”

I slowly poured water into a wooden cup.

“If you do anything foolish, you will die. No matter what you are hiding in your arms, Sir Mente will jump through the wall faster than you can draw your sword.”

“!!”

The orphan sitting right in front of me lowered her eyes in contemplation for a moment.

“Good posture. I think I said something clearly earlier, but it seems like you didn’t understand, so let me say it clearly.”

I took out a glass bottle from my pocket.

“Even an assassin carries his dagger in its sheath. Why should he allow the tool to harm its owner? It’s not even a dagger, but a hunting dog.”

“Well, that is….”

“Shh.”

I poured the white powder from the glass bottle into each cup little by little.

“There is nothing more unpleasant than being bitten by your own dog. That’s why you put a leash on it and a muzzle on it. Sometimes… I even cut your fingernails and toenails.”

“Hee, hee hee…!”

“Don’t be scared. Do I really have to kill you?”

I smiled once at a time at the pale-faced orphan.

“I haven’t done anything fatal yet.”

He lifted the dagger and lightly slashed his palm, then dropped a little drop of blood into each cup.

“It’s okay to kill them. President Erwin sent you here out of cheap sympathy, and the only person I have to protect is Her Highness Astasia.”

Drop, drop, drop.

The water in the cup turned red, and I stuck the dagger into the cup and stirred it lightly.

“If you die, you will be sad and regretful, but that is all.”

“I have a question….”

“Who can open his mouth as he pleases? I didn’t even give him permission.”

I walked up behind the orphan who opened his mouth and immediately grabbed his long hair.

“What’s your name?”

“Ah, Anansi, it is!”

“Anansi. Yes, but that’s not the name I asked for.”

I tied my white hair like horsehair at the back of my head and held the dagger to the back of my neck.

“You all have real names given to you, right?”

“……Number 18.”

“Yes, that’s it. Did you think you wouldn’t know? Did you think Chairman Erwin wouldn’t tell you that?”

I didn’t tell you.

“Numbers are probably more important to you than names.”

In the first place, she probably never imagined that I would know this far, and she probably didn’t want to reveal the secrets of the empire that far.

“Speak one by one from the front.”

“…It’s number 9.”

“Okay, next is me, number 27.”

One by one, each person tells their number.

Some people secretly raised their hands as if to cover their lower abdomen, and I felt a moment of disappointment after hearing the last number.

“From number 9 to 18, 27… and the last one is number 81? What kind of bad taste is this?”

Collect and send only numbers that are multiples of 9.

‘Chairman Erwin, you’re caught.’

You probably think that you personally chose the children and sent them to you.

However, this kind of bad taste is the dark taste of the crown prince.

‘Would you like to talk about it? No. You shouldn’t touch it for no reason. Let’s just pretend not to notice.’

The human who chose her children by her side was probably the crown prince’s henchman, but even if she told Erwin, what power would she have?

She would rather be caught by the crown prince and questioned as to how she knew the identity of her spy.

In that case, it is right to ensure my safety.

The safety of this Gibraltar.

“Okay. I’m done introducing myself, so let’s continue talking. Before that…”

Suddenly.

“Hee, hee hee…?!”

“I’ll let you know this time. Please only ask questions when I give permission.”

After returning to my seat with the hair I cut off in one go, I held out a glass containing a mixture of blood drops and white powder.

“I plan to use you guys. I want to buy your experience in the empire.”

It’s quiet.

“Soon, things from the empire will come to Gibraltar. Things made through magical engineering. You just have to explain and inform them of them to the people of Gibraltar. To do that, you need to quickly learn the language of the kingdom.”

The kids in the previous number noticed and turned their cups to the side, so I took out another wooden cup and poured cold water into it.

“Prove your worth. If you want to be called by your name rather than your number, show that you are useful to me.”

Click.

“Raise your glass.”

The orphans raise their glasses in unison.

“Drink. Not a single drop is left.”

Of course.

“This is Gibraltar’s first command.”

Blood is just pigment.

“I don’t raise a dog that doesn’t follow orders.”

The white powder is just the dried somnus petals that I always carry with me.

‘It’s like a kind of mana supplement.’