Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 78

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 78
We set out for the Peram Territory lord’s estate with the unconscious priests in tow.
“What sort of person is the lord of Peram?”
I’d heard from Everett that he was capable and shrewd.
But a man who would neglect the Temple in his own fief to this extent suddenly seemed questionable in character.
“Pragmatic type, as far as I could tell. Rare for the Western Region—he’s Neutral Faction.”
Everett offered a brief assessment after a moment’s thought.
There was no personal history between them, so his judgment lacked the weight of intimate knowledge, but it wasn’t unfairly harsh either.
“Neutral Faction, though? That’s surprising.”
The Peram Territory lay close to Count Harkan’s Domain.
Minor fiefs typically aligned themselves with the great lords in their vicinity.
Everett gave a crooked smile and elaborated.
“It’s only recently that he’s adopted the Neutral Faction stance. He still attends the Western Region nobles’ gatherings without fail.”
‘The type who backs the winning side, in other words.’
Even now, he was keeping one foot planted to avoid a complete break with Count Harkan.
‘Then why would such a cunning man leave the Temple to rot?’
The presence of the Temple in the Peram Territory didn’t place it under the lord’s jurisdiction.
Especially in the Western Region, where the Temple’s influence ran deep enough that lords often deferred to it rather than the reverse.
Turning a blind eye was customary practice.
But if the Temple’s corruption had grown this severe, the situation changed.
‘The children of the Orphanage are also territory subjects of Peram.’
A lord who failed to properly protect his subjects would pay the price for it.
Our immediate goal was to borrow the underground detention and a carrier pigeon, but if circumstances allowed, I was prepared to turn over the Peram Territory as well.
‘One incident or two—makes no difference.’
Strung together, they’d be bundled as a single affair anyway.
With that resolve steeled, we arrived at the lord’s estate, and the guards immediately accosted us with suspicion.
“May we have your names and the purpose of your visit, please?”
They seemed skeptical but maintained minimal courtesy, uncertain whether we might be guests of the lord.
“I’ve come from the Imperial Palace. Is it possible to see the lord?”
I produced my Imperial Palace credentials.
The guard’s eyes widened visibly at the sight of the issuing authority.
“I’ll inform the lord at once. Please wait a moment.”
The guard departed with far greater deference than before.
I watched his retreating figure shrink into the distance and tilted my head.
‘That’s… odd.’
For a minor fief’s garrison, discipline was remarkably tight.
Usually, if the higher ranks were poor, the lower ranks were worse.
‘Could the lord actually be decent?’
Just then, the lord approached us with evident haste.
‘I’ll judge once I see him for myself.’
“A guest from the Imperial Palace, you say? I am Gilleman Orso, Baron of this territory.”
The lord had a narrow chin that gave him a boyish air, but he was a lean, middle-aged man who would have been popular in his younger days.
“Lina Diaz, Inspection Unit.”
I gave my full name since I’d already shown my Imperial Palace credentials.
“I see.”
Despite learning from my introduction that I held no rank beyond commonborn or minor nobility, Baron Orso’s demeanor scarcely shifted.
“Please, come inside.”
The way he ushered us in was as natural as a host welcoming expected guests.
And throughout, he remained cooperative.
After placing the priests in an empty detention block, he provided us with a carrier pigeon for dispatch to the Imperial Palace.
I fastened a hastily written report to the bird’s leg, sent it aloft, and then Everett, Baron Orso, and I faced each other across the sitting room of the estate.
“I never expected you to come in person.”
Baron Orso placed teacups before Everett and me himself, his words laden with meaning.
Everett and I were in the midst of a covert operation.
The inspection of the Temple had been pure chance.
“You knew we would come?”
Everett’s tone sharpened—he thought our cover had been compromised.
“Ah, I didn’t explain myself properly.”
Realizing he’d given Everett the wrong impression, Baron Orso waved his hand hastily.
“It was I who reported the Western Region Temple’s misconduct.”
“Ah, that!”
His words jogged my memory.
‘That must be the document I reviewed with the tax auditor.’
The one Natan had handed me when I was restless for want of work.
When I responded to Baron Orso’s words, Everett relaxed slightly.
“So you sought to use another’s hands to clean the refuse in your own fief.”
Though his tone softened, it remained barbed.
“My modest resources proved insufficient. The stench was unbearable.”
Baron Orso laughed good-naturedly.
Yet his voice carried weight.
“The Temple in my territory falls under the ecclesiastical district overseen by Priest Harkan.”
Count Harkan’s wayward son, bolstered by the family’s wealth, had secured a position within the Temple.
In a single sentence, Baron Orso had explained why he’d had no choice but to involve the Imperial Palace’s Inspection Unit.
Everett’s brow narrowed.
“You’re moving to sever ties with Count Harkan.”
“If you’ll have me.”
It seemed Baron Orso had harbored this intention from the moment he reported the Temple’s corruption.
Everett smiled as if he’d discovered something intriguing.
The baron’s audacity in placing him upon a scale and assessing his weight amused him.
“I’ll give you the chance. Show me your capability. I’ve no patience for men of empty words.”
The tone was arrogant for a mere knight to employ, yet it rang true.
“I shall endeavor to do my utmost.”
Baron Orso bowed his head to Everett.
A respectful bow.
The kind one might offer an emperor.
‘Though Everett holds the rank of baron as well, his comes from a single elevation, so technically Orso outranks him.’
Was he hoping to secure a connection to the emperor through Everett?
When he raised his head, he seemed faintly disconcerted.
Had Everett’s forceful presence momentarily overwhelmed him?
Their gazes crossed in the space between them.
The instant Everett glimpsed the baron’s bewildered expression, he turned toward me. Then he started as if shocked.
The crushing weight of his presence evaporated.
“Right, the children at the Orphanage—they’re alone there.”
Everett stood abruptly as though the thought had just occurred to him.
“We can’t leave them there. We’ll have to collect them.”
Baron Orso and I rose as well, neither of us attempting to stop Everett’s unusual haste.
“A side building stands vacant. I’ll have it prepared for the children.”
“I appreciate that. Until we find them permanent lodging—there are so many young ones—do you have carriages we might borrow?”
“Of course.”
As we discussed the arrangements, the subtle awkwardness dissolved entirely.
* * *
We returned to the Orphanage to collect the children.
“Oh, um, that, that…”
“The patron, silly.”
The children playing in the Orphanage’s courtyard recognized us and waved in greeting.
Oblivious to whatever had happened in the adjacent building, they played on with innocent cheer.
“Hello there.”
I waved back and smiled.
Then, as gently as I could manage, I made my request.
“Could you fetch Nancy, Robin, and the other children for me?”
Even with such young ones, I wanted to explain the situation so they could understand.
“Nancy and Robin and—”
“And the others too?”
The children exchanged glances before dashing into the Orphanage.
“Everyone come out! Come on!”
They called out at full volume, and within minutes, every child in the Orphanage had gathered in the courtyard.
‘Twenty-one in all, then.’
Except for Nancy, they all appeared to be around six or seven years old.
I asked to confirm no one was missing.
“Are all the children living at the Orphanage accounted for? Twenty-one total?”
The children tilted their heads or glanced around but offered no answer.
I wondered if they, like Robin, simply couldn’t count—but Nancy spoke up.
“There’s one more.”
At her words, all the children called out at once, knowing who that one was.
“That’s right!”
“Our older sister!”
“There’s one more! Our big sister too!”
Over twenty children shouting for their sister or big sister gave me a headache.
“Children! Shh!”
I brought a finger to my lips and hushed them, and they mimicked the gesture.
“Shh.”
Mercifully, quiet followed.
I prayed they’d remain silent for just three more minutes as I turned to Robin.
“Robin, wasn’t that older sister you mentioned Nancy?”
Robin’s eyes went wide.
“Robin doesn’t have to stay quiet.”
Robin removed his finger from his lips and answered.
“Nancy is Nancy, but—”
It seemed there was another guardian among the children.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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