episode_0114

When we visited, the sun was already setting, so we went straight into the main building without delay. Since we were planning to stay for a few days anyway, it would be okay to postpone our tour of the shrine until tomorrow.

Leo and Baron Grace seemed to have something to talk about separately from us.

When Leo, who was following behind Baron Grace, turned to look at us, it seemed like they weren’t just having a conversation using words. Judging from the Grace family’s style in the original work, he was probably having a duel with his father.

And Baron Grace’s military power is shown to be among the top in the game.

Besides, he’s not someone who would consider me a son.

… … I can understand why Leo made that expression. If he had come home for the holidays and told me that he was waiting for me to undergo more intense training than at the academy, I would have made that expression too.

And at the same time, I felt a little gloomy.

If I return to the palace, won’t I have an interview with the Emperor?

In fact, even if Leo hadn’t trained separately, having him around us would be another matter. It can’t be helped since the Academy is a mix of men and women, but in aristocratic society… … it would be hard for a man to make a good impression if he were to be mixed up with women like that.

If women flock to a man with a truly macho vibe, that’s something to brag about, but if a character with a pretty boyish look like Leo makes the ladies go “hahaha”… … um.

I felt sorry for Leo once again. While Alice and I were here, Leo would have to show that side of himself to others many times.

“When I heard Claire say that the ‘sister’ she always talked about was the princess, I honestly doubted Claire’s memory a bit.”

The Baroness, who guided us into the reception room as the female representative of the family, said this while drinking tea elegantly.

When I saw that he didn’t put a single sugar cube in his tea, I briefly considered not putting sugar in his tea, but I felt like I would end up with leftover tea, so I had no choice but to put in just one sugar cube.

Fortunately, the atmosphere was not one to care about such behavior.

“… … .”

I didn’t know what to say in response to the Baroness’s words, so I took a sip of tea to kill time.

“I think that’s natural.”

“Sister.”

Claire answered my words as if she was sad, then quickly closed her mouth.

And then I glanced at the Baroness.

It’s unlikely that the Baron and Baroness would discriminate against Claire just because she’s not related to them by blood, so they probably care more about the fact that she calls me ‘sister’.

Although the Baron and Baroness were relatively progressive people, nobles are nobles. And to a noble, the expression ‘sister’ was an inappropriate expression to use for someone who was not a ‘real’ sister.

Even if the other person is the princess.

Ironically, since Grace didn’t show any particular discrimination against people who weren’t of the same blood, in their eyes I was definitely a member of the royal family.

“It’s okay.”

Before the Baroness could say anything, I opened my mouth first.

“Because that’s how we lived, relying on each other when we were young.”

Claire blushed slightly at my words. Alice looked back and forth between me and Claire. There was interest in her eyes.

Alice never asked me about my past. We didn’t promise not to, but it was a kind of unwritten rule. It was the same for the other emperor’s children, not just me.

In the original, it was also Alice’s fault for not knowing Claire’s past.

But, with someone who knows so much about my past in front of me, it’s inevitable that I’ll feel curious.

I didn’t ask him about it though.

“Is that so… … .”

The Baroness looked at me carefully and said.

It would be a bit cautious to say that the princess herself confirmed that her daughter’s memory was correct.

“Claire and I came from the same orphanage. I was the one who brought Claire here.”

“And you brought other children with you too.”

“… … Yes.”

I didn’t hear any blame in my wife’s voice, but now that I was trying to say it in front of her, I felt like I had done something a little embarrassing.

In a way, it was no different from leaving the kids in my care. I knew Grace’s personality in advance.

Besides, I originally planned to entrust it to you too.

I often wondered how I would have grown up if I had been left here. Would I have grown up like Claire and Leo, bickering over who was my brother and sister? Or would I have grown up like the eldest?

Well, I don’t have any swordsmanship skills, so I might not have been adopted by Grace. In fact, out of the children who were fostered at the same time, only Claire was adopted.

Even though you must have taken the academy entrance exam, you may have been in a different class.

And if that had been the case, Alice and I might not have had an equal relationship, but rather one where I looked up to Alice.

Every single choice changes the future so completely.

“Don’t worry too much.”

The Baroness smiled gently at me and said, wondering what I thought of her expression and reaction.

“All the children have grown up well. Some of them have already started working as our new family members.”

“Is that so?”

hmm…….

Actually, I’m not sure how they remember me. It seems to have remained such a strong memory for Claire, but for the others…

Honestly, I can’t even remember the face or the name.

I studied the game content diligently. I copied it down on paper over and over again so that I wouldn’t forget it, and I visited and walked around the game’s backgrounds as much as I could within the system.

But I didn’t try to remember the other memories in such detail. Just living like that was a bit too much for me.

Still, it’s fortunate that they weren’t wrong.

“Fact,”

The Baroness put down her teacup and spoke in a slightly heavy voice.

“I didn’t tell those kids the princess’s true identity. It’s a sensitive issue in many ways.”

“Thank you.”

I spoke honestly.

The fact that I am not a blood relative may be spread, but the truth about my true identity is better left undisclosed. The less information is known, the better.

If you look at it that way, it was dangerous for Claire to call me “sister”… … Well, even within the noble class, Claire was treated as a bit of a different species.

Besides, the noble class kids all thought there was something behind me, so there weren’t many people who tried to get involved openly. So even though the way I addressed Claire was a bit strange, I didn’t really care.

“However, if Your Highness wishes, I can let you meet other children.”

“… … .”

I looked at Alice and Claire.

Alice seemed a little interested. Among the children I had rescued, there was a girl named Claire, so she seemed to want to see what the other children were like.

In Claire’s case, it seemed like she was expecting something.

Even though Grace was adopted, she must have been close with those kids before then. I was only with them for a short while, but Claire must have spent her childhood with those kids. They must have been like childhood friends.

So, I was a little intrigued too.

There was a good chance they wouldn’t recognize me, but I was curious about the kind of relationship Claire had built with them.

Since Grace and her family were living in an atmosphere where they were open with each other, wouldn’t it be possible that Claire was also living in an atmosphere where she was open with each other?

And, above all else.

I also wondered how meaningful the things I did back then were.

but.

“But it’s late at night.”

I hadn’t had dinner yet, but conversely, it was almost time to do so.

For commoners, the number of hours they slept each day was so short that they could count them on one hand, but it was different for nobles. And there was no way Grace would treat her gods like commoners who worked in factories.

But if I say I’m going to go around the family all the time at this time, wouldn’t that be a bit much? Besides, since the princess is going around, I have to come out and say hello no matter what.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

But the Baroness spoke confidently.

“There is a child learning work inside this mansion. He has decided to learn work in the afternoon today, so it won’t be a big problem if you go there.”

At the woman’s words, Alice and Claire looked at me at the same time.

“… … Okay. Then I will rely on your kindness. ”

In the end, I ended up answering like that.