Ch.5656. Child, Who Are You?

“The outer walls have been repaired firmly. But why are you telling us not to repair the bridge?”

“Leave that alone for now.”

“It’s an important bridge connecting the village and the forest. If you look closely, there are many cracks. It will surely collapse before long.”

I was receiving Padericks’ work report in my study, having come straight here without stopping anywhere else after returning from the Imperial Palace.

Resting my chin on my palm, I wore a disinterested expression.

“Padericks.”

“Yes, sir?”

“How many days late am I from my original scheduled return to the mansion?”

“About three days late, I believe.”

“And you have nothing to say about that?”

“Are you disappointed, sir?”

“I am disappointed.”

At that, Padericks straightened his back and spoke.

“Shouldn’t I be the one who’s more disappointed, not even receiving a proper report about why your schedule was delayed?”

“Oh, so that’s how you’re going to play it?”

“Honestly, young master, you try to solve problems by walking a tightrope. Even if you weren’t caught hiding your identity at the Imperial Palace this time, you would have been caught eventually.”

“Ah, that? Actually, I was caught.”

“See? That’s exactly what I—wait, WHAT? You were caught?”

“Yes, Emperor Malius already noticed.”

Padericks clenched both fists and his hair stood on end.

He looked like a wildcat hissing.

“E-Emperor Malius? So you were late because you were being tortured…?”

“No, fortunately, everything was resolved well. The Emperor said he would turn a blind eye.”

“He understood you hiding your identity… what on earth did you do at the Imperial Palace!?”

Should I say his dignified appearance doesn’t quite suit him?

Seeing Padericks in such distress, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Don’t worry about the Imperial Palace incident. As I just said, everything has been resolved. The Emperor himself promised not to go back on his word.”

“…Why are you smiling?”

“Seeing you worry about me has made my disappointment disappear.”

“Ha, if you become disappointed with me twice, I won’t be able to die in peace.”

I nodded at Padericks as he pressed his fingers against his temple.

“Anything else to report?”

“Are you really sure about not repairing the bridge? It might hold up for now, but it will eventually collapse if left alone.”

“I have something in mind for that, so don’t worry.”

“Sigh… I understand for now.”

“Anything else?”

“Baron Byron said he would be visiting the mansion soon.”

Uncomfortable, but as expected?

Well, it makes sense. The Imperial Palace sent an invitation to his son, so as the head of the family and as a father, he must be curious.

Of course, even if he comes to ask directly, I have no intention of telling him the truth.

“Is that so? That man visits quite often.”

“…That man is your father, young master.”

“Well, fine. It’s not like I didn’t expect it.”

“Ah… and I forgot to mention this.”

“What?”

“Miss Miria and Young Master Leonard will be coming with him.”

Damn it!

Leonard is one thing, but why is that crazy woman coming along?

Actually, maybe it doesn’t matter?

Since she’ll be with her father, she probably won’t pull any crazy stunts like last time.

Sigh…

I thought I’d just need to spend a day drinking with Baron Byron…

I never expected Miria Alphonse to come too.

She said she had many duties to attend to in her family, so why does she keep coming here?

“There goes my training for a few days.”

“Isn’t it fortunate though? With Miria Alphonse accompanying him, Baron Byron won’t speak harshly to you in front of her.”

“I might prefer the harsh words.”

“Ahem! I wouldn’t know about that.”

“Anything else to report?”

“Ah, Riden Solis has requested to see you.”

“Oh, tell him to come in.”

After Padericks left, Riden Solis entered the study a moment later.

We exchanged brief greetings.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes. Did you have a good time at the Imperial event, young master?”

“Well, better than expected. You said you had something to discuss?”

Riden Solis gently placed the documents he was holding onto my desk.

Thud-!

“I’ve gathered as much information as possible about the Alphonse family.”

It seems he prepared what I asked for last time.

Even at a glance, the volume was extensive.

I nodded with a satisfied expression.

“With this much material, you must have worked hard to prepare it?”

“N-not at all.”

As expected, since I had asked the Poison Woman for the same information, he seemed to have prepared meticulously.

I continued speaking while skimming through the documents.

“There’s quite a difference in volume compared to what you prepared last time?”

“This time, I visited various information networks and obtained their intelligence as well.”

“That must have cost quite a bit?”

“I exchanged information, so there was no financial loss.”

“Still, information itself is money to you. Set your own price and submit it to Padericks.”

“The money is fine.”

I looked up from the documents and turned my gaze to Riden Solis.

“Riden Solis, I didn’t rescue you from the Poison Woman to use you as a slave.”

“I know. But please consider this as an expression of my gratitude.”

“Enough, submit your bill.”

“Just this once—”

“I said enough.”

When I added a touch of irritation, Riden Solis reluctantly nodded.

It couldn’t be helped.

In the original work, Riden was the character who would bring the King of Hell’s weakness from the underworld if paid enough.

Yet here he was offering to provide information for free?

He would soon meet the protagonist, and it was best for me not to cause too much change in his personality.

“…Understood. Did you receive information from the Poison Woman?”

“Poison Woman?”

“Didn’t you say you would also request information about the Alphonse family from Hongwaru?”

“Ah, that? I forgot. But with this much information, there’s no need to ask separately, is there?”

“Haha… is that so?”

Riden Solis muttered “I’ve been had” under his breath and placed his palm against his forehead with a thud.

I had genuinely forgotten to contact Hongwaru due to the Imperial invitation, but seeing Riden’s reaction made me chuckle.

“Kuk! I didn’t do it on purpose. You know I’ve been preoccupied lately.”

“…I feel like I’ve been played by you, young master.”

“That’s why I’m telling you to bill Padericks. There’s nothing like financial therapy at times like this.”

“I understand. I’ll properly calculate the fee for the information I gathered and submit it to Sir Padericks.”

“Good, thank you for your hard work.”

After sending the fired-up Riden Solis out of the study, I slowly went through the documents again.

Particularly, the first and second sons of the Alphonse family whom I hadn’t seen yet.

They were currently vying for the successor position.

They were people I would have to face at some point within the family circle.

That’s why I needed to gather sufficient information before meeting them.

And.

According to the documents, the overall assessment of Miria Alphonse, the third child, was that despite her excellent swordsmanship and intelligence, she seemed to have taken a step back from the succession race.

‘Intelligent?’

She had acted so foolishly in front of me that I didn’t see her that way at all.

Indeed, one shouldn’t judge a person by appearances alone.

There’s no way Riden would bring false information.

Leonard Alphonse, the fourth child, was also described as having excellent swordsmanship with a promising future.

However, the document added that compared to his brothers, he lacked charisma and composure, putting him at a disadvantage in the succession race.

‘The fourth one seems accurate…’

Since I had encountered the fourth son, Leonard Alphonse, during our joint monster hunt, I was confident that Riden’s information about him matched my impression.

‘When am I supposed to read all of this?’

Even after skimming through, two hours had already passed.

Since the wounds from the assassin hadn’t completely healed, I rose from my chair to rest.

“Phew!!”

I left the study and headed to my bedroom to get some sleep.

When I reached the bedroom door, an unfamiliar noise from inside made me flinch.

‘Is a servant cleaning the room?’

Creeeeak-! Clunk-!

I opened the door without concern.

And there, standing by the window looking at the scenery outside, was a little girl who appeared to be about six to eight years old.

Is she the daughter of one of the servants?

Unless I personally permitted it, servants bringing their families into the mansion was clearly a violation of the family’s rules.

Even though we had filled the shortage of servants in this place of exile with villagers, they should at least know this basic rule…

“Child, who are you?”

At that, the mysterious little girl turned her gaze from the outside scenery to me.

Then, with a bright smile, she ran over and hugged my thighs.

“Daddy!!”

“…Daddy?”