Chapter 25

Nebel is a bastard, and since he himself has said so, I imagine he’s treated quite poorly at home. If not, he wouldn’t have spoken to me like that, a member of the royal family, right? For him to think to the point of 'if I die, you die too,' it must be quite bad.

However, looking at it from the opposite angle, it means that Nebel has made up his mind to that extent.

If there was a purpose in taking him in, he should be treated in a way that benefits me, but the type that treats him roughly on a daily basis would become even more brazen and give high-handed orders if they were to receive favor from above. If he were to gain the means to stand on his own, he wouldn’t listen to such orders.

It’s a waste. Yes, it’s a real waste.

"Nebel, are you prepared to leave your current home?"

"Eh?"

Unable to follow the conversation, Nebel responds with a questioning tone.

"If I didn’t like you today, wouldn’t your treatment get even worse?"

"Yeah, probably."

Hmm, he understands that much.

"Do you have any attachment to your current family?"

"Nope."

"Do you want to change your family name?"

"...Yes."

Nebel’s answer makes me smile with amusement.

"Decisive, I like that. If you’re asked about me when you get home today, can you say that I ignored you?"

"Got it."

"Tomorrow, there will be an application from the Marquess Fulftball’s household to adopt you as a foster child. Can you manage until then?"

"I can."

"Good, I look forward to seeing you again."

I’ve got a potential aide! I’ll look forward to our next meeting.

The potential aide was decided so easily. But, I still need to find a few more, right? However, this is where my intuition comes into play.

Hilda, who had been listening to my conversation with Nebel in silence, finally spoke up with determination.

"His Highness Albert, I have a rather presumptuous request to make today."

"Can you drop the formal tone?"

"Eh, ah, no, I can’t do that so easily. We, the Württembergs, exist here today thanks to His Highness Albert’s grace."

The Württemberg family, to which Hilda belongs, is the main branch of that joker aide, Zelbst Fuss, one of my merry band of aides.

Hilda is a lady of that main branch.

"...The decision was made by the old man, not me."

Moreover, it was the result of discussions among the heads of various families, so I didn’t have a say in it.

What I said was about how to handle those merry aides.

'They seem to be too comfortable, so why not throw them into boiling water?'

That’s all I said.

The ones who heard it turned pale, but since they were already prepared to be executed if caught, they have no right to complain even if they suffer.

Still, I thought the Württembergs would resent me. Although I didn’t wipe out the entire clan, I did destroy one of their branches, and that branch was in the king’s good graces.

However, Hilda didn’t harbor any resentment towards me.

"Still, I believe it was all due to His Highness Albert’s decision. If His Highness had said he wouldn’t allow it, the Marquess Fulftball would have acted accordingly."

I wonder? The old man isn’t the type to hate the robe because of the monk, so I don’t think he intended to destroy the kingdom. The moment Zelbst Fuss is no longer the king, his head can be taken at any time, so he’s probably waiting for that moment.

"The Württembergs, no, I, am grateful to His Highness Albert."

"Grateful? I didn’t do anything that warrants such gratitude."

"You did."

Hmm? Hmm, could it be...?

"Do you have a grudge against Lord Zelbst Fuss? The Württembergs? Or Hilda personally?"

"Both."

Fuuu! What, did he manage to make even a six-year-old lady of the main branch hate him? What was he doing? I’m curious now.

"I’m tempted by curiosity."

"Eh?"

"No, no, just my thoughts."

"I see. Well, then..."

"Ah, you have a request, right? I can’t say whether I’ll accept it until I hear it."

Just say it, it’s free to ask. It’s just me, Hilda, and Nebel here. The other children are keeping their distance, even though they’re paying attention.

"His Highness Albert will eventually become the head of the Marquess Marcosias family and succeed the Marquess Fulftball. Therefore, I would like to be appointed as the guard knight for the lady who will become His Highness Albert’s wife."

That’s what you want?! I thought you were trying to sell yourself as a potential bride.

"You’re not trying to become the wife yourself?"

Nebel, good point.

"Huh?! Are you an idiot? His Highness Albert’s wife? A person like me, who can only swing a sword, can’t possibly handle that role, can she?"

Oh, right. The Württembergs are a family known for producing many royal guards.

There are female knights in the Kingdom of Rave, but they are few in number. The reason is partly due to the limited acceptance and the strong conservative view that women shouldn’t be knights.

"You don’t need to say it like that. You have talent with the sword, so be proud of it."

Oh, Nebel is accepting Hilda as she is.

Well, let’s see...

"Hilda."

"Yes?"

"Do you have a particular attachment to being a knight?"

"Eh..."

"The Marquess Marcosias family doesn’t need a guard knight. Do you understand what that means?"

"Y-Yes."

The Marquess Marcosias family has been the administrator of the Unreturning Forest, which borders the Fulftball territory, since the founding of the kingdom. Their main duty is to slay the monsters that emerge from there, but in reality, it’s a bit different.

The existence of a guard knight can serve as a deterrent, and I don’t deny that, but the Marquess Marcosias family doesn’t need one.

Another role of the Marquess Marcosias family is to oversee the dark side of the Kingdom of Rave.

"Are you willing to undergo our training?"

"Yes!!"

Nebel and Hilda, both so decisive. Shouldn’t you think about it a bit more? Your future is still uncertain.

But, I guess it’s not for me to say.

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