kscans

Chapter 119 - The Secrets of the Claudia Kingdom and the Little One

"You people are idiots."

Flustered by the Little One’s sudden departure, the suspicious group at the inn was in a state of panic. Unlike the Frontier party, who had noticed them long ago, Kazuki had only just realized who they were. He casually approached, apprehended them, and began to question them.

He learned they were officers from the royal palace.

It was likely at the behest of the King of Claudia, but they had been instructed to secretly remove the poor and any other unsightly things related to them, and they had simply followed their orders. The fact that they spoke of it so openly suggested that such actions were commonplace, and even the inn was in on it. The cook in the dining hall was also dispatched from the palace and had followed his orders without a second thought. This was the norm in the Claudia Kingdom. The king’s tyranny went unchallenged, and people followed his commands without question. The emissaries from the king didn’t even try to hide it, their expressions practically asking, "What’s the problem?" The members of the Frontier party could only look to the heavens in despair.

"We were told to provide the finest hospitality for our guests from Frontier… We never imagined you would stay overnight in such a remote village, so we were in a panic."

So you oppressed the poor and drove them from the village to make it look clean for us?

It was enough to give one a headache. Even if they tried to hide the dirty parts to maintain appearances, she would sniff it out anyway. That girl sought out such places herself, just as she had gone to see the orphanage first thing in the village. And then, she would unearth trouble, one thing leading to another. It was only natural that this would happen when she found out they were persecuting the weak.

And she was quasi-royalty. She held the right to exercise extreme authority. The Frontier royal palace acknowledged it. Of course, that was probably because the palace was confident that the Little One would almost always settle matters herself, so any sparks that flew their way would amount to little more than cleanup.

Kazuki looked at the officers dispatched from the Claudia royal palace.

They likely had no malicious intent. In fact, they had surely done this with the intention of being hospitable. Capturing the priest who tried to interfere was also a matter of course for them. The term "inhumane" did not exist in Arcadia. It didn’t exist in Frontier either. It was just that in Frontier, nobles and commoners were equal under the law, but there was no specific word to express something like humanity.

So the Little One would turn that to her advantage.

If the King of Claudia said to cast out the poor because he didn’t like them, then the Little One would use brute force to demand them back, saying she didn’t like it and she would take them herself.

"You don’t want them, right? Then give them to me."

He could almost picture her grinning slyly. They were the poor whom the village had cast out, even if it was on the king’s order. They had surely lost their place in the village. The same went for the priest who had tried to protect them. In that case, she would take them all, lock, stock, and barrel. That was the kind of creature that young girl was. And then she would probably clear some land somewhere and build another village. In Arcadia, land was the one thing they had in abundance. It was a bold move that only the Golden King, capable of creating forests in unconventional ways, could pull off.

With a loud sigh, Kazuki and the Frontier knights exchanged wry smiles.

"Um… where did Her Highness the envoy go?"

The officers were running about in confusion, unable to figure out where the carriage that had sped off had gone. Claudia’s spies would probably be unable to track it either. His eyes narrowing at their anxious faces, Kazuki muttered in a low voice.

"Didn’t she go to get the priest you people captured? I don’t know where, but she won’t be back until she finds him."

Kazuki felt a sense of satisfaction as the officers’ faces turned pale, and he stood from the table. As if on cue, the officers also stood and scattered in various directions.

Though there were differences in their perspectives, the Frontier knights and Kazuki envisioned a similar outcome.

They pictured the Little One returning with the priest, a triumphant smile on her face.

While this commotion was unfolding at the inn, Adonis and Zack were hard at work in the church kitchen.

"Remember this, alright? Even vegetable peels, if you chop them finely, season them with salt and such, then roast them in a pan to get rid of the moisture… see, they become savory little bits. They’re delicious on their own, but you can also mix them into soups or stir-fries, or even knead them into bread dough. They’re very versatile."

Oohs and aahs came from the people of the church who were observing Adonis’s cooking. The children scattered among them also had sparkling eyes.

"It’s also good for preservation, so when you have a lot of peels, it’s a good idea to make a large batch."

Zack was also teaching them how to make simple snacks.

"Take a steamed potato, like this… see? Mash it through a sieve to make a paste… mix it into a thin flour batter… then drop it by the spoonful into hot water."

He was making flour dumplings, similar to suiton soup. The batter, spreading like a cloud in the hot water, was boiled and floated to the surface. He scooped them up with a mesh ladle and drained them in a colander, and they were ready. Sweet potato flour dumplings. At the same time, he also made oni manjū by mixing diced sweet potato into the batter and steaming it. Zack’s eyes softened as he watched the excited children.

"It’s all about ingenuity… Do your best."

Zack, who had grown up in an orphanage and had a big-brotherly nature, was used to this sort of thing. How to make large quantities of food at the lowest possible cost. A sense of nostalgia washed over him, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

Ah, that’s right. I used to do this all the time.

It felt like a lifetime ago, but it was only about ten years past. Adonis watched Zack with a happy expression as he smiled softly, reminiscing about his happy childhood.

While Molotov and his sister were performing puppet shows and paper-story plays, turning the church into an unexpected source of comfort, the Little One was striding through the border lord’s town.

"We couldn’t make a pretext, could we."

"Well, isn’t it a good thing we made it here without incident?"

The Little One had been hoping for some resistance or a battle with armed soldiers, but the lord’s town she arrived in was the picture of peace. In fact, a guide had been dispatched for them, and they were being led to the lord’s mansion. The streets were clean, and the people’s faces were calm. At a glance, it seemed he was governing his domain well. Then why did he cast out the poor?

With her mouth set in a pout, the Little One was ushered into the lord’s mansion.

"Welcome. I am Auguste von Calvados, the lord of this domain."

"I am Chihiro, daughter of Count George from the Kingdom of Frontier. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Clad in a dress that was her version of a battle uniform, the Little One executed an elegant curtsy. Behind her, Chihaya also introduced himself as her brother. Count Calvados, a man with the face of a kind old grandfather, gave a magnanimous nod and welcomed them, offering them seats on a sofa.

"My, I wonder how long it has been since I last welcomed guests. Please, make yourselves at home. How many days do you plan to stay? If you wish, you are welcome to stay at my mansion."

Disarmed by Count Calvados’s cheerful, beaming face, the twins exchanged a look.

Something’s not right, is it?

Could it be that he doesn’t know what happened in the border village? Even though it happened in his territory? She had specifically sent a herald to give him time, so he should have been able to grasp the situation.

While feeling suspicious of the mismatched atmosphere between them, the Little One cut straight to the point.

"I am grateful for your hospitality. In truth, we have come because there is something I wish to discuss with you, Count Calvados."

"A discussion… you say?"

The old man held his teacup, his face a question mark. Those around him also looked puzzled.

"Actually, in a border village, the poor were cast out from the village, and the priest who tried to protect them was arrested and has gone missing."

At the Little One’s words, Count Calvados’s eyes flew wide open.

"Such an outrage? Who on earth would do such a thing?"

The old man placed his cup back on its saucer with a clatter, as if by reflex. The sharp sound spoke of his indignation.

It doesn’t look like an act. Did this happen without his knowledge?

Thinking hard, the Little One glanced at Chihaya. He seemed to be of the same mind, giving a small nod.

"You were not aware of this?"

At the Little One’s question, Count Calvados nodded emphatically, blinking his eyes. Confirming this, Chihiro related the events she had witnessed in the border village.

After hearing the entire story, Count Calvados clutched his head.

"That… is likely an order from the king. It is a matter beyond my control."

There was no way to defy the king’s command. That was how things were in a medieval world. Frontier was the exception. If told to do something, one had no choice but to meekly comply, and furthermore, if one failed to carry out the order, they would be unilaterally punished. The one who could not follow the king’s order was at fault. No matter how unreasonable the order might be.

"It seems the captured priest was taken away. His whereabouts are unknown. Do you have any idea where he might be, Count Calvados?"

After a moment of silence, the old man spoke with a heavy heart.

"I have received no report of the matter. Criminals from my domain are imprisoned and tried in this town. …This particular case is likely the tyranny of His Majesty the King. If so, the criminal… was either taken to the royal capital, or imprisoned in a town along the way."

He wasn't here. A dead end.

Her eyes narrowing slightly, the Little One summarized the situation regarding the poor and the church.

"What will you do about the poor who were driven from the village? And those who were involved with them?"

"I cannot afford to incur His Majesty the King’s displeasure. …I believe I have no choice but to leave them as they are."

So you’re abandoning them.

Her gaze sharp and unforgiving on the hesitating old man, the Little One gave a faint, cunning smile.

"In that case, would it be acceptable for me to take them all into my care?"

"What? Take them into your care?"

"As things stand, they will not be able to survive in this land where the cold still lingers, will they? Therefore, the Kingdom of Frontier will take them in as refugees from the Kingdom of Claudia."

Refugees?!

Count Calvados’s head shot up in alarm.

If such a thing were to become known to the world, it would be a disgrace to the Kingdom of Claudia. The outflow of refugees to a foreign country was tantamount to announcing that one’s own country had significant problems. War, civil unrest, poor harvests, and so on. Such rumors would surely fly through the world. Since each country was independent and self-sufficient, the outflow of refugees was rare, which would draw even more attention.

Leaving behind Count Calvados, whose face had gone beyond pale to pure white, the Little One set off for the royal capital. Her unit, fully prepared to storm the capital if the priest was not found, followed close behind.

"This is why it’s so much trouble when the people at the top are morons."

With the Little One puffing out her cheeks in frustration, the monster-drawn carriage made its way toward the royal capital.

Little did she know that the abandoned Count Calvados was now hastily making his way to the border village. Today as always, the Little One forges her own path.