Chapter 116
“I don’t know the time. Why?”
“I need to see you sing.”
“…Father? Today, where are you supposed to go?”
“The Great Temple.”
“The royal palace! It’s not just a quick visit to see the king’s face; it’s a day to report on the management of the fief, isn’t it?”
Even now, the secretary behind the Duke was trembling while clutching a stack of documents. Surely, the papers weren’t for folding paper airplanes with the king—they were to report everything!
But the Duke shook his head.
“An audience can happen anytime. If not today, then tomorrow—”
“Usually, yes. But you’re different, Father.”
“…”
Right.
Duke Schleiger is someone with ice powers. No matter how many elite knights gather, they couldn’t stop the icy disaster he could unleash.
The king feared the Duke, so audiences were only allowed on the hottest day of the year to prevent him from using his ice abilities.
“Go. Even for your father’s sake.”
“…Alright.”
He let out a short sigh.
“Still, the report might finish quickly, or time might be flexible. Let me know the time.”
“Ugh… wait a moment.”
I searched for the program sheet I had received beforehand. Like most events, the times weren’t set precisely.
“The event starts at twelve, and the choir is fifth. Shouldn’t it start around two?”
“Understood.”
“Don’t force yourself to come. There will be so many kids that it’ll be hard to find me anyway.”
“It’s impossible not to find you.”
“…Excuse me?”
“See you later.”
The Duke patted my shoulder and spun around. The secretary, clutching the document stack, finally exhaled in relief and followed.
Hah…
Impossible not to find me, huh.
Well, that makes sense. The Duke can see the mana pearls inside me.
…but I now realize he didn’t mean it in that way.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
Just as I heard the Duke leave the entrance, Linda’s panicked voice spoke up.
“Miss, didn’t you tell His Grace about the choir competition?”
“No. Do I have to?”
“Of course! All the other students’ families will come and clap, right? Gruner Vant… I mean, at a school this proper, events where parents can attend are rare!”
“Is… that so?”
“I assumed you would tell him! His Grace doesn’t care about temple events, so he only knows if you say something in advance. Elber doesn’t know either, right? What do we do?”
“…It’s not that big of a deal. Family attendance isn’t mandatory.”
“It’s not about obligation. Wouldn’t it be disappointing for him?”
I guess in our terms, it’s like a school performance.
Still, I don’t get it. I never understood in movies or dramas how parents who skip sports days are depicted as ‘unfit parents.’
I never felt lonely at sports days, entrance, or graduation ceremonies; the orphanage kids always stuck together.
Besides, Seraphina would be alone too. I highly doubt Count Tillon and his wife, those jerks, would come to see her.
I mumbled something to Linda, who was still worried.
“Since Father asks this much, he must want to come. That’s enough for me.”
“Hah… It’d be nice if he could make time.”
Linda didn’t seem to have high expectations. Neither did I. The Duke isn’t stupid enough to neglect his duties just to be a doting father.
I have my own duties too.
To witness the birth of a saint up close.
“All right, I’ll do my best!”
It’s hot.
I want to go home.
Back to the house where dozens of mana pearls emit cooling magic and lower the temperature instantly.
“Ugh…”
Am I the only one struggling after living in Phlogel?
…Hmm.
The other kids are having a hard time too. Some who even put on makeup are sweating and looking distressed. Seems like waterproof cosmetics don’t exist in this era.
The indoors must be cool. Traditionally, students sweat under the sun while the dignitaries sit comfortably in shade.
Then, a large shadow fell in front of me. It was Eugene.
“Wow, you look tired. Why are you guys waiting outside?”
“Some dignitary came to give a speech at the event.”
“Shouldn’t you go inside and listen then?”
“They said to clap outside after the speech.”
“Ridiculous.”
No one understood Eugene’s grumpy curse words. Good.
Still, he lowered his voice.
“No wonder those flashy knights came earlier. The Sovereign must have come too.”
“Sovereign? Like the Pope?”
“Something like that. Though honestly, there’s not much for them to do. Even in this medical system, it’s too much to make an eighty-year-old work…”
Muttering, Eugene handed me a sheet of paper.
“This annoying volunteer lady said to give this to you.”
“Thanks, Eugene.”
It was the last report from Freya: the participant list.
As Freya said, most participants represent their family names. On the list, where the family name is bigger than the real name, I immediately found Elber’s name.
Eugene whistled.
“He did well last year. Maybe we can expect more this time.”
“Don’t you participate in these things?”
“No castle, no entry.”
“What a jerk.”
“In a world without ID numbers, the family name is the only proof of identity.”
I guess Western surnames mostly came from occupations. Makes sense if parents’ jobs were passed down.
…But if I were a terrorist, I’d borrow a castle and pay to participate even without a proper family.
First, I need to check if these participants really belong to their claimed families.
As I skimmed the list, my eyes stopped at one name.
“Ah…”
Alkaios Lafrand.
Even if I wanted to glance past it, my gaze inevitably landed there.
It can’t be a namesake.
But he’s still young, right? Even a strong supporting male lead shouldn’t properly appear until two years later!
Could my interference in this world have changed Kai’s fate too?
What if Kai gets injured in a fight…
My voice betrayed my panic.
“Eugene, is the lance tournament dangerous? No one dies, right?”
“Mostly safe. The point isn’t to pierce someone with the lance but to knock them down with the impact.”
“Mostly safe…?”
“If the lance hits the face, or the horse throws someone off and tramples them, or some extraordinary person pierces armor…”
“Eek!”
“It’s fine. Doctors and priests are on standby, so as long as no one dies instantly, injuries are treatable.”
“….”
My worries shifted immediately.
To me.
The stepdaughter who would die instantly if an explosive went off and never appear again.
Hmm, I need to prepare from multiple angles.
“Do they have armor for girls, Eugene?”
“Armor has no gender. Why? Are you entering the lance tournament?”
“No, I just want to try it on.”
“Ask your father. He’d probably melt diamonds into it for you.”
“…That’s scary. He might actually do it.”
“Go ahead. The Sovereign might appear. I’m off. Sing well.”
Eugene ran off into the bushes.
Soon, a magnificent silver carriage left the main hall of the Great Temple. I stood on the roadside with classmates, giving lifeless applause.
Even an old man who could be a hundred smiled and waved at us, sweat dripping down his face.
Who enjoys these events…
After the carriage departed, a priest led us.
“Prepare for the choir. If you forget the lyrics sometimes, your friends will help, so don’t worry.”
A small joke eased the kids’ tension. I wiped my sweat-drenched hands on my uniform.
“Don’t feel pressured during solo parts. The saint hasn’t appeared in a hundred years. She probably won’t show up this time either.”
“Hahaha!”
“But the solo is the only time the families in the audience can recognize you. Don’t run away.”
“Yes!”
Hearing that, the kids straightened up with determined expressions—even Seraphina.
“Seraphina, are your parents coming?”
“Of course.”
Of course?
“During the summer festival, the warehouses are blocked. They couldn’t work, so they decided to come see me.”
“…Ah.”
“They would have come even on a workday.”
Seraphina smiled brightly, without a hint of doubt.
“Sol, is His Grace coming alone?”
Even asking about someone else’s parents.
“…Ah, that’s…”
Then someone nudged Seraphina’s side—a subtle signal to not ask obliviously.
Most in the capital know that Duke Schleiger only receives audiences during the summer festival, like a northern monster legend.
But Seraphina had no clue.
“Why did you nudge? Has the event started?”
“….”
“Do you have something to say?”
The kid who wanted to help me shook their head and stepped aside.
Seraphina linked arms with me as we entered the main hall, chattering.
“Ah, the Duke only meets the king on this day?”
“…Yes. It’s an audience combined with reporting from the lords, so it will take a long time.”
“I’d come to see my daughter. Can’t he spare a little time?”
“Impossible.”
“It’s impossible. Trust your father a little more.”
“….”
Her innocent trust almost teased me. But I restrained myself; she’s a saint, someone who believes in everything.
Yet as we entered, the surrounding children’s chatter grated on my nerves again.
“Ah, it’s Dad!”
“Oh, big sister. You said you wouldn’t come but even did your hair nicely.”
“Kyaa! My darling… oh, uh, a neighborhood brother came.”
Even among the tiny crowd, everyone recognized their families. Seraphina too.
I wished this time would end quickly.
The priests seemed to think this warmth was part of the event and smiled indulgently, prolonging the moment.
…Don’t feel left out by watching the audience. Just look at the floor.
I lowered my head…
Then, a commotion rose outside the main hall. The temple knights guarding the area ran out in surprise.
What’s happening?
Among the murmuring crowd, an apprentice priest ran toward the stage and told a priest:
“Wait! Please start after the seats are ready!”
“What’s going on?”
“Well, Duke Schleiger… brought the king with him!”
The Duke!
