Arc-7 Ch-04

Several hours after the airship bound for the Bartfort territory departed from the royal capital, we were expected to arrive by evening, weather permitting. Inside the private cabin intended for the owner of the airship, or more precisely, the captain, my two children and I had gathered.

It had been several months since they had enrolled at the academy, and this was the longest period we had been separated since the war with the Fanoss Principality. For me, who had been burdened with a position I never desired and who nevertheless always returned straight to my territory whenever granted leave, being unable to see my own children had been genuinely painful.

After all, the Royal Academy prohibits family visits for enrolled students, except for members of the royal family or those with special circumstances, in order to shield students from political interference and power struggles between noble houses. I had been eagerly anticipating this long vacation, during which I would finally be able to see my eldest son and eldest daughter again.

And yet, my eldest son sat in silence, calmly turning the pages of the book he had brought with him, while my eldest daughter was visibly displeased, glaring at me with undisguised irritation. Why were my children so severe toward their own father?

I do not consider myself a good father by any means, but I believe I deserve at least a little kindness.

“Ariel, won’t you cheer up already?”

“…………”

“No matter how much they say, ‘Feel free to visit anytime,’ the Bartfort family is still a Earl’s house. Even if they are in-laws, visiting the ducal house of Redgrave requires proper procedures.”

“…I understand that much. But they could at least have allowed me to deliver a letter of greeting.”

“There will be chances during the long vacation to take Angie to visit the ducal house. So stop being angry. When the lord and his children finally return home after several months, it makes me uneasy to see one of them in such a foul mood.”

On the final day of the term at the Royal Academy, when I personally went to collect Lionel and Ariel, our young lady remained sullen from beginning to end. Most parents send servants to retrieve their children for the long vacation, so the head of the household appearing in person was apparently unthinkable, and I was reprimanded for it.

Lingering near the school gate until the two of them emerged was also a mistake. Having never attended the academy myself, I could not suppress my curiosity toward such facilities. Merse and Lutoart, who were treated as the eldest daughter and eldest son because Zora gave birth to them, despite their father being an unknown man, had attended the Royal Academy.

To ensure that no disruption occurred in the Bartfort family’s line of succession should anything happen to them, my elder brother and sister were also permitted to enroll. However, the Bartfort family at that time was impoverished, and there was no financial margin to send me, the third son, to school. Worse still, when my family attempted to marry me off to an obese elderly noblewoman, I ran away from home.

My education consisted only of reading, writing, and arithmetic taught by my father and brother; military drills and self-study during my time in the army; and, after becoming a noble, independent learning supplemented by instruction from Angie. As a result, I never received the education expected of a noble, nor did I possess even the basic knowledge required to govern a territory.

Had Angie not married me, the territory would undoubtedly have collapsed in short order.

It is precisely because of this that I keenly feel the importance of education. Even setting aside dealings with corrupt nobles and troublesome customs, a certain level of refinement is indispensable for a lord. An environment in which children can study properly is a precious thing that exists only in times of peace, and yet the students themselves find it tedious. That is deeply disheartening.

“You really shouldn’t trust her too much.”

Lionel, who had remained silent until now, spoke up in an irritated tone without lifting his eyes from his book. At the same time, Ariel’s expression darkened, and the hostility she had directed toward me shifted squarely onto Lionel. Please do not fight, the two of you. I have witnessed your sibling quarrels since childhood, but seeing my grown children bicker so bitterly is far too taxing on my nerves.

“Ariel is planning to ask Grandfather Redgrave to intercede with Mother on her behalf. Her final exam results were not particularly good.”

“Be quiet!!”

So that was the reason. Despite being struck by Ariel after exposing her plan, Lionel showed no sign of concern. Angie, once a ducal lady and formerly engaged to the crown prince, holds extremely high standards when it comes to both academic performance and etiquette. She expects both Lionel and Ariel to advance into the upper class. Lionel succeeded, but although Ariel passed the entrance examination, she failed to qualify for the upper class.

When Ariel learned of the results, she was visibly dejected. I offered her words of comfort, but Angie scolded her harshly, declaring, “Do not bring shame upon the name of Earl Bartfort at the Royal Academy.”

For Angie, the logic was simple. She herself had accomplished it, so her daughter should be able to do the same. However, unlike in the past, when noble birth alone ensured admission into the upper class, the system has changed. Now, even commoners may enter if they possess sufficient talent.

It was the saint of commoner origin and the prime minister, who also serves as the academy’s director, who transformed the bloodline-based Royal Academy into a meritocratic institution where effort and ability determine one’s standing. Ariel admires Lady Olivia deeply, which makes it all the more ironic that the very examination she failed, the one that barred her from the upper class, was devised by the woman she respects most. Even so, as her father, I want to support my daughter, who endured the academy without sulking. It pains me that she must rely on her grandfather, who dotes on his grandchildren far more than their henpecked father ever could.

“Grandfather is especially fond of Ariel, the granddaughter who resembles Mother the most among all of us. If the ducal house, which has provided so much financial assistance to the Bartfort territory, takes her side, even Mother won’t be able to be too severe.”

“Why would you tell him that!?”

“Even if I kept quiet, there is no way you could fool Mother. Honestly, I think her anger would be less severe if you simply told the truth. Instead of wasting your limited intellect on schemes, you should reflect properly and apologize.”

“You are truly infuriating!!”

The Duke of Redgrave, or rather, the former duke.

Former Duke Vince, despite his stern appearance, is exceedingly indulgent toward his grandchildren. He eagerly anticipates Angie bringing the children she bore after marrying into the frontier back for visits, and he sends gifts at every possible opportunity, which leaves us feeling awkward. Among our children, Ariel most closely resembles Angie.

From my perspective, having lived with them daily, their personalities are quite different. Compared to Angie when I first met her, Ariel has a coarser temperament and lacks the natural elegance that Angie possesses. Even so, Ariel acting spoiled toward an old man like Vince is apparently unbearably charming to him. If Ariel were to ask, he would make almost anything happen using his wealth and influence. For Ariel to stand against Angie, who reigns unchallenged at the top of the Bartfort family hierarchy, her only viable strategy is to secure her ducal grandfather’s support. That said, Angie shows absolutely no mercy toward her retired father.

“I’m going back to my room! Do not come near me until we arrive!”

“Wait, Ariel.”

“Not just Lionel. Father too!”

“Hey, that is going a bit far.”

“Leave her be. In the short time before we reach the Bartfort territory, Ariel has to come up with excuses for Mother anyway, so she will calm down soon enough.”

“You really never stop talking!!”

“And when we get home, repay the money you borrowed from me. Do not forget the interest.”

“Hmph!!”

With that, Ariel stormed out of the room. In the past, Lionel was always the one reduced to tears by Ariel’s violence. Now, he overwhelms her completely with words. I suppose that, too, is a kind of growth. Still, as your father watching from the sidelines, it saddens me that you do not get along better as siblings.

“…Could you not try to get along a little more?”

“On the contrary, even at the academy, Ariel orders me around just like she does at home. I should at least be allowed some small revenge without being punished for it.”

“…I see.”

Lionel replied without even glancing at me, continuing to immerse himself in his book. I feel like crying. Are adolescents, or children in their rebellious phase, truly such difficult beings?

When I was young, I spent my days helping around the house and had neither the time nor the means to defy my father. In the kingdom’s army, orders from superiors were absolute, and talking back was unthinkable. Moreover, I was ennobled in my mid-teens and engaged to a ducal lady. My life has been far too turbulent to be considered normal. Because I never experienced what might be called an ordinary youth, I am ill-equipped to deal with children at this difficult age.

It cannot be helped. I will try, at the very least, to close the distance from my side.

“What are you reading?”

“An academic text. In addition to the vacation assignments, I want to review the material scheduled for next semester in advance.”

“You are quite diligent. This is a rare vacation, so it would not hurt to relax a little.”

“If I let myself slack off, I will fall behind my classmates by that margin. To maintain my ranking, I have to keep striving.”

“Even so, you are in the upper class of the Royal Academy. Among all the nobles in the kingdom, that places you firmly within the elite.”

Since I never attended the academy myself, I find it difficult to imagine what the atmosphere there is truly like. Moreover, the stories Angie told me were of the academy before the war, when corruption was rampant, and the sons and daughters of high-ranking nobles brought exclusive sub-human attendants with them while repeatedly abusing lower nobles and commoner students. Was that not one of the reasons the kingdom suffered so badly during the invasion by the Principality of Fanoss? The young nobles who were meant to shoulder the kingdom’s future had been raised in precisely that manner.

According to what Angie heard from the queen and the prime minister, various schemes involving the royal family were also at play. Even so, it should be obvious that raising selfish fools who rely solely on their lineage leads nowhere good. As a reaction to that era, the current academy places heavy emphasis on academic ability and conduct. Those lacking scholastic competence are eliminated at the entrance examination, and to enter the upper class, students must pass additional tests while undergoing thorough scrutiny of their family background and personal behavior.

There is no doubt that Lionel, who passed those demanding examinations, is exceptional. Among children of his age throughout the kingdom, he ranks within the top few dozen. Naturally, as his father, I am proud of him. And yet, he himself seems dissatisfied. What, exactly, is he dissatisfied with?

“I am not a genius like you, Father.”

“Not a genius? Tell me, then, where exactly do I appear to be a genius to you?”

“…………”

This time, Lionel directed a cold gaze toward me. I have had enough. Dealing with both my eldest son and eldest daughter is exhausting. Once we return to the territory, I will consult Angie immediately. I will bury my face between her breasts, have her stroke my head, and let her comfort me. After that, I will order the bridge crew to increase the airship’s speed. At this rate, my heart will give out before we arrive.

“I am fifteen this year.”

“I know. I am not heartless enough to forget my own son’s age.”

“What were you doing at that age, Father?”

“I had already joined the kingdom’s army and was serving as a soldier.”

I remember fleeing home like a fugitive to escape Zora’s schemes, then traveling for months to a remote garrison. If I joined the army, at least food, clothing, and shelter would be guaranteed. I intended to work until I qualified for a pension, then retire to farm or start a small business. Then the Fanoss Principality launched its invasion, and I was sent to the front lines. I was wounded multiple times, came close to death more than once, and before I realized it, the war had ended. Recalling those days makes the old scars on my face and body ache. Frankly, I never want to join the army again.

“I have heard that at my age, you were already leading troops and fighting against the former principality’s army.”

“It was never something I wanted. My superiors kept dying in battle, and command simply fell to me.”

“And yet you earned military merit and were ennobled. Among the feudal soldiers, it is praised as unprecedented. A viscount in his mid-teens.”

“Take that with moderation. There were many others besides me who were ennobled.”

Corrupt individuals like Zora betrayed the kingdom and fled, while honorable nobles and soldiers died in great numbers. To fill the resulting voids, the kingdom had no choice but to reward and promote anyone who appeared usable. I merely happened to be evaluated as having the greatest achievements among the surviving soldiers and lower nobles. Even when praised by people I do not know, I feel no real sense of accomplishment. In the final operation, I nearly died outright, and portions of my memory from that time are still unclear. I was forcibly granted a title and a territory I never wanted and left utterly lost. Both my body and mind were in shambles. There is no way I could have governed as a viscount and lord on my own.

“That is precisely why Grandfather must have arranged your engagement with Mother, recognizing your achievements.”

“It was not a matter of recognizing me personally.”

“Even so, if you were completely incompetent, you would never have been chosen as a marriage partner.”

“The ducal house had its own circumstances at the time.”

“What kind of circumstances?”

“…If the opportunity arises, I will tell you someday. Perhaps around the time I hand the title over to you.”

Lionel glared at me at my evasive response, clearly interpreting it as an attempt to brush him off. The truth, that the Bartfort ancestors were leaders among the kingdom’s founders, that the Redgrave ducal house once plotted rebellion against the Holfort royal family, and that my engagement to Angie was born from those circumstances, is something I cannot tell him. Only a very small number of people, even among the kingdom’s highest circles, know the full story. It is not knowledge suitable for a boy who has only just turned fifteen. It truly is not the sort of tale meant for children. And yet, why will he not trust me?

“At the same age of fifteen, I have accomplished nothing.”

“No, that is perfectly normal.”

For commoners, fifteen is an age at which one begins to learn the family trade in earnest. For nobles, however, there is simply too much to study: governance, etiquette, history, and more. I struggled immensely with all of it. As the third son of a poor noble family, I never received the refined education that young lords and ladies take for granted. The moment I was ennobled, people began flattering me shamelessly, all with the intent of exploiting an inexperienced lord.

I grew so weary of it all that I was on the verge of isolating myself completely when Angie came to visit from the Redgrave house in the capital. If Angie had not been there, I cannot imagine what would have become of the Bartfort family by now.

“The era was different. Because so many nobles died in the war with the Principality of Fanoss, the kingdom ennobled anyone who seemed usable, regardless of intelligence or character. Had there been no war, I would never have become a noble.”

“And yet you began as a viscount, skipping over Grandfather entirely. After that, you were promoted to Earl, received the court rank of Third Rank Lower Grade, and now hold important positions.”

“That was also coincidence. I married into the Redgrave ducal house, earned the favor of the Holfort royal family, and kept being burdened with positions I never wanted. When I finally reached a post that seemed tolerable, it was riddled with corruption and bribery, so I reported it to my superior, and everything exploded.”

Since becoming a noble, my life has been nothing but a series of troubles. Even when I seek solace from my wife and children, I am immediately burdened with new responsibilities, and it wears me down. All I want is farmland and livestock that produce enough to sustain my family. Meetings discussing the kingdom’s future are far too heavy a burden for me.

Those who seek advancement envy me, and I have endured unwanted interference more times than I can count. I can tolerate gossip and harassment. But anyone who attempts to lay a hand on my family will never be forgiven. Living this way has earned me fear or respect, depending on the observer. The only person who truly understands my feelings is probably Angie.

“Forgive my saying so, Father, but are you naive about how the world works? The world is not so kind that everything can be dismissed as mere coincidence.”

“Even so, it is the truth.”

“…Please do not say such things in front of other nobles. You will not merely be disliked. You will invite genuine hostility.”

“Do not worry. I have been disliked for a very long time already.”

I was born into a family with unusual ancestors, survived battlefields where death was all but certain through sheer luck, received an unwanted title due to circumstance, caught the attention of the Redgrave ducal house after it fell out with the Holfort royal family, and married the exceptional Angie.

It does seem excessive to call it coincidence, yet I truly believe I possess no extraordinary talent and am no genius. I am alive today thanks only to fortune, connections, and the aid of others. It feels as though dozens of dice were rolled at random and all landed on the same number. At times, I even feel as if some unseen hand has been guiding events from behind the scenes.

I sometimes feel uneasy, wrapped in happiness far beyond what I deserve. Or perhaps the present me is merely a dying dream seen by the me who nearly perished on the battlefield.

“I am truly not that remarkable. You, who are properly receiving the education required of a lord, are far more exceptional.”

“Even if you believe that, Father, it lacks persuasiveness. While ordinary nobles require several generations to raise their court rank, you accomplished it in a single generation. Even accounting for the founding era or periods of upheaval, that pace is abnormal.”

“That is why I keep telling you. It was simply that kind of era. Do not overthink it. Even now, I am still not accustomed to being a Earl.”

I feel no joy whatsoever in my rising title or court rank. It is nothing but a burden. Even so, after exposing bureaucratic collusion and bribery, and after the uproar in the Alzer Republic, I was at risk of being promoted yet again, so I preemptively declined. It has not even been twenty years since I became a noble, and yet I am already a count. Above this, for subjects who are not royalty, only the rank of marquis remains.

Well, that rank would certainly be appropriate for someone who takes a bride from the quasi-royal Redgrave family, but only an exceedingly small fraction of the kingdom’s nobility ever attains such status. I would end up surpassing many long-established count houses that serve as ministers or occupy key positions, despite being a relative newcomer. The development of the Bartfort territory is finally approaching its conclusion. Crop yields have stabilized, and the number of tourists visiting the hot springs has reached a steady level. However, if my rank were to rise any further, expenses would begin to exceed income.

I understand perfectly well that rising too high is not necessarily a good thing. The key to survival lies in avoiding attention as much as possible. The “me” from another world would surely have been an arrogant, heroic figure, forcing aside other nobles with overwhelming power as he climbed the ranks. That was something an ordinary man like me could never hope to imitate, no matter how hard I tried. All I can do is prepare the foundation to a reasonable extent and then pass it on to my successor. It has already been nearly twenty years since I left home and joined the military. Surely, it is not too early for me to start thinking about retirement.

“…I wanted to stay at the academy instead of going home. I don’t want to return to the Bartfort territory.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, come on. That’s taking it a bit too far.”

If it were Ariel, who is terrified of being scolded by Angie, I could understand. But why is Lionel so reluctant to go home?

“Everyone there treats me as the next lord. Every single person I meet burdens me with expectations or compares me to you, Father. I can’t stand it.”

“…Is it really that bad?”

“I’m not as outstanding as you are, Father. Even within the upper class, my abilities are closer to the bottom than the top.”

“Compared to everyone our age, you’re in the top tier. No matter how you look at it, you’re excellent.”

“The upper class is full of geniuses, including commoners who were admitted through sheer ability, and prodigies from houses with lower titles than the Bartforts who are smarter than I am. For someone like me, who is inferior to them, to stand above them simply because of family status… it feels terribly unfair.”

“That’s what it means to be born into a position. Are your exam scores being graded more leniently just because of your family’s rank?”

“…I don’t think so.”

“Then there’s nothing you need to worry about.”

According to Angie’s account, when she was enrolled at the Royal Academy, practical skills were indeed graded more leniently for nobles, but there was no favoritism in academic subjects. After all, Olivia-sama, who outperformed even Angie, a duke’s daughter, went on to become valedictorian. That said, there was apparently widespread petty harassment, such as “How dare a commoner act so arrogant,” and Angie had a hard time dealing with those ill-mannered nobles.

Lionel’s fastidious temperament likely resembles Angie’s. And conversely, that seems to be the very source of his suffering. “I’m inferior to both my extraordinarily talented father and my excellent mother. Even among the upper class, I’m far from outstanding. I can’t convince myself that I’m worthy of inheriting the count title.”

“Don’t overthink it. Life rarely unfolds exactly as planned.”

“The title and territory you and Mother prepared for me, and even a fiancée chosen before I was born. There’s nothing I’ve chosen for myself. Even if I tried to make my own way in the world, I know I’d never measure up to you, Father.”

“…”

This is bad. Lionel’s tone is becoming heated and abrasive. It seems that since enrolling at the Royal Academy in the capital, his horizons have broadened, but in exchange, he has developed a severe inferiority complex. It is rare for Lionel, who has always been quieter and more compliant than Ariel, to express himself this forcefully. I would like to offer him some proper fatherly advice, but when I was his age, my life was drenched in blood. Any answer from someone like me, who never experienced a proper youth, would be meaningless to him. And no matter how carefully I think, I cannot deceive the sharp-minded Lionel.

“…You’re just exhausted. Spend some time resting at the Bartfort estate. Everyone wants to see you.”

“I’d feel more at ease if you would just leave me alone.”

“At least show your face to my older brother. Your fiancée has been feeling lonely.”

“…Theresia, you mean? She’s pitiful too, being forced into an engagement with someone like me before she was even born.”

“Do you dislike Theresia?”

“She’s only accepting it because everyone keeps telling her that ‘marrying the next head of the Bartfort earl house will make you happy.’”

“That makes it sound as though my brother or I are forcing her.”

“Isn’t that the case? She’s only eleven. That’s far too young to decide her own future.”

“You’re only fifteen yourself. From my perspective, you’re still half-grown.”

“Yes, exactly. Compared to my outstanding father, I lack talent.”

This is going nowhere. Every attempt I make to help only seems to aggravate him further. I’ve never been good with words. Provoking enemies or confusing negotiators is one thing, but patiently guiding someone has always been beyond me. My father and brother are considerate by nature, and Angie excels at teaching and covering for my shortcomings. Because of that, I have never improved at offering guidance. Still, as his father, I have to say something. Teenagers truly are moody and difficult.

“Do you hate arranged marriages?”

“I despise forcing them while ignoring the person’s own feelings.”

“Theresia is actually quite enthusiastic about it. I’ve heard as much from both brother and Dorothea-san.”

“That’s only because she’s been indoctrinated since childhood to believe that ‘an arranged marriage will make you happy.’”

“You’re jumping to conclusions. Angie and I had an arranged marriage as well. It’s entirely possible to cultivate love after engagement and marriage.”

“I can’t imagine that kind of future for myself. Grandfather and Grandmother, you and Mother, Uncle and Aunt… why is it that every couple carrying the Bartfort blood acts so openly affectionate?”

“…Were we really that bad in public?”

“I’m more surprised that you’re unaware of it, Father. You’ve been all over each other in front of us since we were little.”

“Sorry about that. My fault. I’ll try to restrain myself from now on.”

Seeing one’s parents being affectionate was always painful for my brother and me when we were young, so I understand how Lionel feels. I swore I would never become that kind of parent, yet I seem to have unconsciously turned into one. That realization is rather depressing. At any rate, when I return home, I’ll make sure to keep my affection for Angie out of sight. I absolutely will not stop being affectionate, though. If I did, my heart would wither.

“It’s fine for couples to get along. But I absolutely hate the practice of deciding engagements without confirming the individual’s wishes. I don’t want to see my little sisters or cousins treated like pawns in political marriages simply because they’re noble ladies.”

“Neither your brother nor I intend to use the children for political marriages.”

“Then why do you have so many children? Having four, five, even six without taking concubines seems cruel to me.”

“…It just happened.”

“…Are the men of the Bartfort family beasts or something?”

Please stop asking questions I cannot deny. I can’t answer carelessly. For nobles, succession is always a concern, but neither Angie nor I planned things this way. We simply had many children because we loved each other. The same is probably true of my father and brother. I want to end this topic immediately. Discussing such matters with my teenage son is pure agony.

“When you return to the mansion, just take some time to rest. A break is important.”

“…I can’t accept that. I’m shallow and untalented.”

Concluding that talking to me was pointless, Lionel left the room. The way he walked reminded me of Ariel earlier. Different genders aside, they truly are twins. In the end, I failed to give my own child proper advice. At this stage of my life, I curse my lack of lived experience. I want to hurry home and have Angie comfort me, but remembering how she scolded me earlier makes me hesitate. To make matters worse, I’ve been saddled with work I don’t want to do. My life seems to be a continuous string of setbacks.

I’m going to sleep. I’ll sulk my way into sleep and forget everything unpleasant. I left the room to drink some cheap liquor stored in the kitchen.

┳⁠━━━━⁠━⁠⁠━⁠━⁠━━━⁠┳

Author’s Note

┻━⁠━━━━⁠━━⁠━━━⁠┻

Being a father is hard. This chapter depicts an interaction between Leon and his children.

In the original story, King Leon leaves his children in the countryside and works alone in the capital. However, whether he is king or not, the hardships of parenting never disappear.

I imagined that the suffocating pressure felt by noble sons and daughters whose futures are decided for them must be painful, which is why I wrote this episode.

Having outstanding parents is difficult everywhere in the world. Because of that, the growth of the children is also an important theme.

Addendum: At the request of the commissioner, illustrations were drawn by effort_star-sama, SH339-sama, Drone-sama, and mya-moto keisuke-sama. My sincere thanks.

effort_star-sama- Pixiv (slightly erotic, caution)

SH339-sama- Pixiv (adult-oriented, caution)

Drone-sama- Pixiv

mya-moto keisuke-sama- Skeb

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