「Well. Time flew while messing around with that idiot. Let’s talk a bit about Noie」
「…Sure」
「Don’t look so tense. You already know she’s not normal, right?」
「Pretty much」
「It’s second-hand from Mische, but 『whether it’s a horse, a bird, or a mouse… once you know them, you figure out how to get along』 apparently」
「Why isn’t 『human』 in that list?」
「Have some pity on her current leftover status」
How am I supposed to take advice from someone like that?
「Don’t make that face. It’s from one of the few people Noie actually talks to. It can’t be completely off the mark」
「True」
But, if possible, I’d like to meet the other vice-captain… Frea-san, was it?
When I mentioned it to my brother, he just said 「When she gets back」
「Anyway. It’s not a fun story, but… Noie is an orphan. Strictly speaking, her parents abandoned her to reduce mouths to feed」
「Reduce mouths?」
「…Ten years ago, dragons started appearing in this country too. We were prepared, but we got caught off guard and crops took massive damage. People struggling to eat started killing the elderly and young children to physically reduce the number of mouths」
It really wasn’t a fun story.
「That’s when Noie was abandoned. Her real father probably grabbed her head and pushed her face into the river. It was a quick method popular at the time. He left her thinking 『she drowned』… but luckily, she received a 『blessing』 right then and came back to life」
「Blessing?」
「Exactly what it sounds like. No one knows who gives them, but there are innate ones and acquired ones. Innate blessings come at birth, acquired ones when you’re on the verge of death. All of them are tremendous powers for a human to possess」
「And Noie-san has one?」
「Yeah」
My brother gave a bitter smile and looked at the ceiling.
「The one she got when nearly dying was 『healing』, and the one she was probably born with is thought to be 『amplification』」
Lots of assumptions… Isn’t there any documentation?
「Wait, you can get two?」
「She has them, so yes. But no book anywhere describes that. Well, every country would want to hide something like that」
「Why hide it?」
「Even one blessing can make someone a hero in some countries. Two? From a military standpoint, having a piece that strong would let you completely overturn tactics in any war. Sounds fun, right?」
「…..」
I silently glared at my brother’s face.
「Don’t make that scary face. I have no intention of using Noie in war. She’s only good for dragon extermination anyway」
「Why?」
「Simple. As a rule, I don’t want to order women or children to kill people. Unless absolutely necessary. Plus, the moment she sees a dragon, she reflexively charges at it. Counting her as regular military strength is difficult」
He said it with a smug face. That proud look was exactly like the king’s.
「After all, women are meant to be cherished in bed, right?」
「You really are that king’s son」
「You bastard～ You’ve got half the same blood in you too!」
Wait? Half? What does that mean?
「Yeah. You and I are half-brothers. The eldest and I are from the legal wife. You’re from a concubine. By the way, I’m second in line for the throne. You’re fourth」
My question must have shown on my face.
Huh. So that’s how it was. I didn’t know.
「Who’s third?」
「Father’s younger brother. His son is fifth」
「If we brothers kill each other off, the throne goes to them?」
「That’s how it’d go. Wanna try? If you and I team up, we could aim for first」
Don’t flash that battle-hungry grin.
I’ll pass on any succession fights.
「If possible, I’d rather retire to the countryside and live peacefully」
「…No ambition. Well, you’re hated, but if Noie disappeared, the capital’s defense would get shaky. Give up and live in the capital」
「I’ll give up on that, but… give me some kind of job」
「Taking care of Noie should be enough, right?」
That would make me a freeloader living off my wife’s income. No thanks.
Apparently just being 「royalty」 comes with some allowance.
「I want to keep finances separate from Noie-san. I’ll manage them, though」
「Ha! Already thinking about divorce?」
「That’s not it. She’s the one doing dangerous work and earning money, so she should spend it」
From the look of her room with basically just a bed, she doesn’t seem like someone who spends much anyway.
「In this country, married couples usually share one wallet. The husband’s things are the husband’s. The wife’s things are the husband’s too」
「…Even if that’s how this country does it, I don’t like it」
「So serious. Fine. I’ll find you some random job」
He shrugged with a weary laugh.
「Anyway. We got pretty off track. After that, Noie was picked up during the orphan roundup and put in that facility, trained for six years. …That’s about all you heard from Father?」
「Yes」
「Got it. Want the detailed version?」
「…Yes」
The air somehow changed.
I naturally sat up straighter and waited for him to continue.
「It was a facility kept completely secret, but a whistleblower appeared and everything came out. The people running it panicked and did something reckless to prove their worth. A rushed completion of the product… the method was cannibalism」
It wasn’t as shocking as I expected.
It didn’t shock me… but my chest hurt a lot.
「Noie was the only one who survived. But that fact is hidden. On Father’s orders, it was made official that the facility’s children couldn’t endure the harsh trials and died. As some small consolation, a big memorial monument was built on the site」
He smiled bitterly, aware himself that it was just ego.
Then… he leaned forward.
「How about it, kid? Scared now?」
「…Strangely, it just makes sense to me. I’m not scared」
「I see」
I couldn’t read the meaning behind his bitter smile.
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