Chapter 265
“Have you returned?”
Xiaoshi, who had been guarding the Ministry of Magic alone, welcomed her masters. Although Ian and Jin looked a bit more tired than when they left, why was Beric in such a state? His side wound had reopened, and he was muttering curses that were hard to hear.
“Jeirutt, that son of a-“
So it was Captain Jeirutt’s doing. Then it must surely be the result of Beric’s own rudeness.
Xiaoshi skillfully took out a first aid kit from the cabinet. As Ian’s nosebleeds had become more frequent, the doctor had prepared it in the office.
“Be quiet, you fool! Is Captain Jeirutt your friend?”
“He’ll be my friend when I become captain!”
“Oh my, the captain should have pinched the other side too.”
“Does this look like a pinch to you? He tore at it! Aaagh! It hurts! Apply it gently, will you?”
Romandro took the ointment from Xiaoshi and tended to the wound. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to require calling the doctor again.
While the two were bickering, Ian, as always, immediately checked the desk in his office. It was a gesture to see if any documents had come in while he was away.
“Nothing came in.”
“I see. Everyone was gathered at the grand council, so there wouldn’t have been any reports processed.”
That’s good. Honestly, Ian was a bit tired too, so he felt relieved that he could rest until tomorrow morning. He rummaged in his inner pocket and gestured for Xiaoshi to come closer. Jin pulled a chair close and rested his chin on it, as if waiting for something interesting.
“Xiao, you can read, right?”
“Yes, thanks to Your Highness, I dare say.”
“Here. This is yours.”
A crisp, high-quality paper was neatly folded. Ian motioned for Xiaoshi, who was hesitating, to hurry and take it. As he carefully received it, even Romandro stopped the treatment to watch Xiaoshi’s reaction.
“Read it.”
“...Welcome to becoming a citizen of the Great Empire of Bariel.”
For an official document, an extremely sentimental phrase adorned the beginning. It detailed the permission to live as a person, not someone’s private property, and the rights and duties granted with it.
But Xiaoshi was captivated by the first sentence and couldn’t move on to the next.
“Xiao, what’s wrong?”
Aren’t you happy? He had expected a bright smile, but instead, she looked like she was about to cry. Xiaoshi shook her head with a bitter smile.
“It’s not that. It’s just-“
The lives of countless people flowing in his blood came to mind.
Her mother and unknown father. And her mother’s mothers and father’s fathers. Possible siblings. All of them lived and died so miserably without obtaining this single sheet of paper.
Isn’t it truly ephemeral? She was no different before and after receiving this paper, yet by the permission of some formless entity, she had become a completely different being.
A person. A person whose existence as an individual is acknowledged.
And a citizen of the Great Empire of Bariel, at that.
“I’m glad I can cut it off at my generation. Thank you.”
The bloodline of slaves that had continued for eons was cut off at this moment. Xiaoshi read the certificate without missing a single word, repeatedly murmuring words of gratitude.
“That’s enough thanks. As I said, I didn’t do this out of mere kindness. Fifty gold coins. It would be a burdensome amount for a tenant farmer with a large family, but it should be appropriate for you, Xiaoshi.”
It meant to pay it back slowly. Usually, a commoner’s monthly salary was one gold coin. Fifty coins meant an amount that would take nearly 4 years to save without spending a penny.
But Xiaoshi was currently Jin’s only attendant, and she would have opportunities to work in the palace in the future, so she could expect more income. Above all, what expenses would there be when she was fed and housed?
“What happens when I pay it back?”
Xiaoshi looked around at Jin and Ian as he asked. When she pays it back, does it mean she can no longer be with them? If both the master-servant relationship and the debt disappear, where should Xiaoshi go? Having been bound by others’ will all her life, anxiety suddenly washed over her.
Ian seemed to understand her thoughts and answered while hanging his coat on the back of the chair.
“Xiao. Freedom will be sweeter than your worries. Let’s meet again in a few years. Remember yourself now well. The future you will probably be very surprised at the current you.”
“...That too, I want!”
The possibility of permission is becoming more visible! Jin unconsciously stood on his tiptoes and bounced up and down. Even when Ian told him to maintain his dignity, the flush didn’t subside from his face.
“Alright. I’ll set a date within this week.”
“Wow! Lord Ian! Thank you!”
“Not at all. When Your Highness grows up, there will often be occasions for secret inspections. You can think of this as practice in advance.”
Prince Jin’s first secret inspection. Romandro scratched his chin as he thought of things to prepare.
First, they’d need to inform the Imperial Guards to secretly select knights to follow, confirm the route, prepare fake identification, and so on. Although it was called a secret inspection, in reality, cooperation from various departments was essential even for this.
“Then are we all going together?”
“Beric, promise to behave outside. With His Highness Jin present, even small disturbances can’t be tolerated.”
“Hooray! Ian is the best! Your Highness Jin, I heard from Captain Hale that there’s a tavern that serves beer mixed with honey. He says it’s amazing. Let’s have fun and then have a drink there-“
“You fool!”
Thwack!
Romandro delivered a final tap on the head. How dare he mention a tavern to His Highness Jin! He glared, telling him not to say such nonsense.
“Why! They said it’s incredibly delicious because they grow the honey themselves! They sell milk too! His Highness Jin can drink that!”
“That’s right, Beric. This is my first time going out, so tell me a lot. I’m truly curious about what the imperial citizens like and enjoy.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll guide you! Yippee!”
“Your Highness, don’t trust him. That guy has no sense of direction.”
Beric jumping around excitedly and Romandro whispering. Jin burst into laughter, finding it all so exciting.
Ian watched them while organizing documents. Jin’s mood had seemed quite bad earlier, but it must have been just simple fatigue.
‘He said he’d keep his conversation with Quintana a secret.’
Ian smiled slightly as he recalled his conversation with Jin. Keeping secrets is the beginning of establishing one’s personality. It was a green light among green lights, wasn’t it truly admirable?
Above all, someone who would ascend to the emperor’s throne needed to know how to stand alone even more.
“And be especially careful not to expose His Highness Jin’s identity outside!”
“Geez, I said I got it! Really, your nagging is intense. Then what should we call His Highness Jin? Huh? It’s not like we’re revealing his identity!”
At Beric’s shout, Romandro hesitated. Then he slowly turned to look at Ian. That’s right? Usually, we use a disguised identity when going out... We’ll need to decide on a new form of address, won’t we?
Ian raised his head, feeling the gaze of the three men looking at him. As if wondering what they were worrying about.
“We’ll say His Highness Jin and I are brothers, and Xiaoshi and Beric are attendants. Sir Romandro would be good as an uncle or grand-uncle.”
“B-Brothers? Lord Ian and me?”
Jin’s eyes widened to the point of popping out. Doesn’t that mean he’ll have to call Ian ‘brother’ when addressing him outside? Goodness!
“I like it very much. I agree!”
“Wait, why am I an uncle or grand-uncle among all possible relationships? Isn’t that cumbersome? I think just uncle would be better.”
At Romandro’s words, Beric clutched his burst wound and giggled.
“Ah, Sir Romandro. For a non-blood-related guardian, that’s perfect. Our appearances are too different, right? Don’t you think, Ian?”
Aha! Romandro snapped his fingers as if he understood, but then comprehended the latter part and made a gloomy expression. Seeing this, Jin hurriedly took his hand and comforted him.
“Romandro, don’t worry. Your child will surely take after Viviana.”
“...Your Highness, thank you for the consolation.”
“Are, are you crying?”
“No. I’m just sad...”
Jin continued to laugh while comforting Romandro. What would he see when he goes out, and what would he experience? Whatever it was, it would be enjoyable with these people.
The child looked back at Ian, who was skimming through documents, and smiled with determination. A determination that believed without doubt that everything would turn out well.