GMWB 98

Chapter 98

Aithra looked very pleased as she recalled Karina from the past few days.

“Looks like school is fun,” she said.

Whenever she returned home, she would proudly tell everyone what she learned and what she played with her friends. Her school uniform, spotless in the morning, would always be covered in dirt and sweat by the time she came back.

Perhaps because of this, her longing and admiration for Leto noticeably diminished.

“Playing with friends is fun. In the capital, you learn from tutors, so there’s little chance to socialize with kids your age.”

“Still, isn’t there some interaction?”

“Even among children, nobles are still nobles.”

Even if the world changes, the noble society is not something that can be sustained with pure innocence alone.

“Besides, Leto has been acting kindly toward Karina, unlike before…”

The child’s anxiety had completely disappeared.

Thanks to this, Karina became the happiest child in the world. She put a photo of just her and Leto into the frame Albus had given her and proudly showed it to the adults, running around the mansion so much that her feet were sore.

“Miss Noah, do you know why?” Aithra asked.

“You mean the reason why Leto keeps his distance from us?”

“I haven’t heard it yet. But I believe he will tell me someday.”

“Then I suppose I shouldn’t speak carelessly either.”

Aithra stood up and asked Noah to wait for a moment. She pressed a button on the wall, and shortly after, a servant appeared.

“Master, did you call?”

Aithra gave her a command. The servant bowed politely and went somewhere, soon returning with an album.

“These are photos taken every time we visited the Sharp estate,” Aithra said.

The album was full of pictures of Leto as a child.

“…May I take a few?”

Noah couldn’t take her eyes off the silver-haired boy in the photos. How had this small, shy child grown into such a tall and sly husband?

Aithra kindly allowed it. Noah immediately picked out a few photos.

“…About what we were talking about earlier…” Aithra said.

“Leto’s self-esteem is surprisingly low.”

“Ah…”

Noah paused while selecting photos.

“You know that too, right, Miss Noah?”

“Yes. I feel it sometimes.”

“The reason is because of me.”

Noah widened her eyes at Aithra, but Aithra didn’t say anything more about it.

“I just ask one thing: no matter what you learn, just embrace and love that child. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”

The weekend spent at the Oceanus Mansion became a very happy memory for Clare and Karina.

“Grandfather-in-law was amazing! He was flying!”

“Sister As was incredible too! So fast and strong!”

“But we defeated them with our finishing move, right?”

“Yes! With the combined finishing move!”

“Article 7, Clause 1 of the Livestock Hygiene Control Act! Legal slaughterhouse!”

“…I feel like I need to kill the one who made the kitchen knife rabbit to feel at ease.”

Although Leto had been concerned about the children’s emotional education, aside from that, it was a fun weekend for everyone.

The childhood photos of Leto that Aithra had given them were organized into the Velo family album.

“Brother-in-law, why are you wearing a ribbon on your head if you’re a man?”

“A truly stylish man wears a ribbon. That’s what makes it stylish.”

“Oh my, even the little lord had this stage in his life.”

“But why did he end up like he is now…”

Noah trailed off, feeling a tinge of pity.

“Oh my dear? I’m still pretty and beautiful now, though,” Leto teased, but Noah ignored him.

“Sister-in-law, your older sister is too cruel,” Leto complained to Clare.

Clare placed her hand gently on Leto’s shoulder.

“Marrying such a woman was your fate too, brother-in-law. So bear it.”

Pretending to cry, Leto suddenly lifted Clare in surprise. Clare laughed out loud, delighted, making the scene a heartwarming one for anyone watching.

“…”

But Noah couldn’t tear her eyes away from the photo of young Leto blushing over the ribbon on his head.

It was especially because of what Aithra had said when she chose the photos:

“You know that too, right, Miss Noah?”
“The reason is because of me.”
“I just ask one thing: no matter what you learn, just embrace and love that child. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”

‘What does that mean?’

When Aithra said that, Noah remembered something Leto had once said:

“Have you ever eaten dirt?”

“….”

Noah kicked Leto lightly on the back.

“…Why?”

Leto, who didn’t understand why, looked at Noah with an unjust expression.

“No, if you like something, you should say so. Why hit me?”

“Why do you think I hit you?”

“…Jealous because I’m too cute?”

Instead of answering, Noah picked up a sofa cushion with a smiling face and hit him, just as much as she loved him.

“Ouch! Ack! That really hurts!”

“Sister hit brother-in-law! Hitting for no reason!”

Noah stopped only after hitting Leto exactly fifteen times.

Leto rubbed his sore back and looked at Noah, feeling genuinely wronged. But Noah was already lost in thought.

“Sister-in-law, did you see that?”

“Huh?”

“Noah hit me for no reason earlier.”

“Brother-in-law didn’t do anything wrong, did he? He gets punished too.”

Clare patted her round little tummy, the white skin peeking out from her short pajamas.

“How could you say that!”

Leto pretended to dial a phone in the air with his fingers. Then he made a receiver shape with his other hand and held it to his ear.

“I’m calling the police. This is assault!”

“Ugh, you know too much,” Clare said, covering Leto’s mouth with her small hand. Leto fell to the floor, making muffled sounds.

“…Phew, that should keep sister out of trouble.”

Satisfied, Clare went over to the sofa where Noah was sitting.

“Sister, what are you doing? I protected you!”

“Good job,” Noah answered vaguely and patted Clare’s back reflexively as she tried to snuggle in.

Noah was still thinking about what Aithra had said.

‘The marquis saved young Leto who almost died, and Leto had a prosperous childhood there. He seemed to be loved too.’

So why do they act like they’re both guilty?

“Let’s playyyyy!”

“…Ugh, seriously!”

Noah jumped up and shouted.

“Play with me? Really play with me?”

She then picked Clare up, laid her across one arm of the sofa, and held the child’s arms.

Right arm down, left arm forward.

Noah pretended to pull the left arm that was dangling.

“Click. Special operation commencing now.”

“I’m a submachine gun! Rat-a-tat-tat!”

While Clare sprayed saliva like bullets, turning the living room into a mess…

‘But…’

A sudden question popped into Noah’s mind.

‘…The marquis found Leto after searching for him, since his biological mother died and he became an orphan.’

Why?

‘Why did the marquis look for Leto?’

The next day.

The start of a new week, Monday, was announced through the radio across the garrison.

[Last weekend, the Audrabor Security Bureau arrested five suspects confirmed to have committed war crimes seven years ago.]

The announcement didn’t disclose the names or charges.

[According to the Security Bureau, more detailed information is temporarily withheld to ensure smooth war crime trials.]

While the kingdom buzzed with talk of long-awaited war criminals, the Security Bureau sent official notices to all military units.

An investigation was to begin to check for any personnel harboring subversive thoughts.

“…Interesting, isn’t it?”

Adbello, the commanding officer, chuckled as he read the notice.

“Our Security Bureau really caught a big one, you know? Things are going strong.”

Like a drunken, meaningless hum, he waved his fingers and sang.

“Damn it.”

Bang!

Adbello slammed the table and stood up. Admirals in key naval positions immediately rose as well.

To her left was Lieutenant General Leto Oceanus.

“Why are we in the navy?”

Adbello sat back down, but the other admirals remained standing, exuding an unspoken weight from their disciplined, middle-aged figures.

“Because we are the best soldiers, that’s why we are in the navy.”

Her serious tone left no room for play.

“Right?” she asked again.

“Yes! Absolutely!”

“Yes! Absolutely!”

“Yes! Absolutely!”

The admirals’ voices echoed sharply.

Adbello smiled, satisfied.

“Anyway, guests from the capital are visiting after a while, so let’s host them properly. At least for entertainment purposes.”

But don’t go overboard.

The admirals wore solemn expressions, acknowledging Adbello’s command.

A few days later.

Over ten black magic-powered vehicles passed through the Sharp estate square. Their windows were specially treated so no one could see inside.

Naturally, people’s attention turned toward the cars.

The convoy soon left the town, driving along a coastal road.

“This is my first time in the south,” said a newcomer.

“Capital city boy, huh?”

The burly man driving laughed. His shiny bald head gleamed.

“We’re not on a picnic,” said a young man in the backseat, removing his glasses. His red hair framed striking features.

“Look ahead.”

At the entrance, guards watched the vehicles with sharp eyes.

“This is an unwelcome visit.”

“That’s expected,” the bald driver grinned.

“Pirates—oh, I mean, from the navy’s perspective, we must look really annoying. We’re stirring up their territory.”

“But we’re here for a good reason.”

The young recruit, gazing at the sea, quickly defended their mission.