"Wow, there are so many people," Isaac observed.
"Yes, indeed. Everyone is heading to the Royal Capital now," Lucia replied.
Although Lucia was going to the Royal Capital, Isaac would remain behind.
The journey by carriage would take around two weeks, and since he was still a small child, he wasn't being taken along.
He would stay at the mansion with his mother, keeping house.
"I want to go too," Isaac said quietly.
Someday he would live in the Royal Capital to attend the Royal Academy, but the city itself was a Palace of Intrigue—a place rife with political scheming.
He had hoped to get used to it while in his Child form, where he could make others underestimate him.
It was a little disappointing.
"You can go next year. Long trips are tough, so until you turn five, you'll stay here at the mansion. It'll be lonely with your father gone, but you'll have to endure it," Lucia said, patting Isaac's head.
"It's fine, Mother. I won't be lonely as long as I have you and Patrick," Isaac replied.
"Oh, come on, that's harsh!" Randolph protested, overhearing their conversation.
Isaac, however, was unfazed.
"I'm a Noble too. I can handle it without you, Father... but I do hope you come back soon," Isaac added, giving Randolph an upward glance while tugging on his trousers.
Randolph couldn't argue. He crouched down and hugged Isaac tightly.
"I'm sorry to make you feel lonely. But this is necessary as a Noble. Next year, we'll go together," Randolph said.
"Yes, Father," Isaac replied, hugging him back.
Just that small gesture had Randolph grinning foolishly.
(It's ridiculous how easily he manipulates me... Why do I feel like the scheming woman here?)
Isaac reflected briefly, knowing he was only taking advantage of his father's doting nature.
He wanted to be king, not a manipulative woman.
Even if the world was like a romantic conquest game, there was no need for him to stoop to that level.
(Although, aiming for gekokujo—overthrowing superiors—already puts me on a similar level... not ideal.)
"Ah, the woman left behind is desperate, isn't she? Using a Child to get attention?" Melinda's voice cut through.
Randolph glanced at her disapprovingly. Even seeing Isaac and Lucia together annoyed her.
Her narrow eyes gave Isaac a cold glance.
(She's not bad-looking, though...)
From past experience in romantic games, Isaac could even think a type like Melinda might be "cute" if she were more honest with her feelings.
Appearance was a must, and that consideration only applied when she wasn't in front of him. In person, her annoyance outweighed any charm.
"Melinda-san... I have no such intention," Lucia said, her voice timid.
Melinda's higher noble status seemed to intimidate her, leaving her unable to speak firmly.
"Well, let's see how serious you really are—"
"Melinda, stop. We promised to be civil when we married, remember?" Randolph intervened before she could escalate further.
Since their marriage, this had happened repeatedly. Randolph knew exactly when to step in.
"My way of being civil isn't exactly specified, and this is my method~desuwa," Melinda muttered.
"Melinda..."
Domestic quarrels were tedious, and this one wasn't any different.
Isaac seized the opportunity, using Nathan's presence to subtly end the spat.
Out of sight, out of mind.
"I envy my older brother going to the Royal Capital," Isaac said to Nathan.
Nathan smiled, a slightly chubby, villainous-looking grin, though his youth showed.
Perhaps Isaac only saw him as an enemy, making the expression seem worse.
"There's plenty of fun in the Royal Capital. I'll enjoy it even for you," Nathan said.
"Yes, thank you," Isaac replied.
He didn't just brush off Nathan's sarcasm; he returned words that might seem polite but were slightly cutting:
"I hope the experience in the Royal Capital helps you grow even further," he added.
To outsiders, Nathan might have seemed capable of further growth, but he was still only a five-year-old with limited knowledge and reasoning.
He hadn't even matured as an individual yet; expecting growth was premature.
Still, Nathan didn't notice any sarcasm.
"You don't need to tell me; I'm your older brother, after all," Nathan replied.
"Yes, I apologize for being presumptuous," Isaac said sincerely.
Even without sarcasm, Nathan felt irritated by every word from his younger brother.
He felt inferior, seeing a sibling speak in ways he hadn't yet learned.
Even his mother, Melinda, occasionally whispered, "Why isn't Nathan as smart as Isaac?" Nathan had overheard this and clung to the thought that he was the older brother for some solace.
In a sense, Isaac's very existence had made Nathan a victim of circumstance.
Nathan couldn't pinpoint why he felt frustrated, though.
If he knew the word injinburei (polite but rude), he might have realized it.
He had been taught by his mother not to get close to Isaac, yet he didn't feel able to.
"Since it's Nathan's first trip to the Royal Capital too, you must be excited. It's almost time; let's board the carriage," Melinda said to Lucia.
Isaac and Nathan followed, with Randolph stepping in to cut off further sarcastic exchanges.
Exactly as Isaac intended—annoyances removed from sight.
"It'll be a long journey. Take care," Lucia said with relief as she watched them leave, gently patting Isaac's head.
"Nathan is your older brother. You must get along," she reminded.
"Yes, Mother," Isaac replied.
He gave the correct response but had no real intention of being friendly.
Lucia, unaware of his true thoughts, felt at ease.
"Now, let's greet Grandfather and Grandmother," Lucia said.
"Yes," Isaac replied, taking her hand as they moved a safe distance away from the three carriages.
This precaution prevented the Marquis family's lineage from being compromised on the road.
Even with guards, extra care was necessary.
Isaac addressed Margaret instead of Morgan.
"I'll miss you, Grandmother. Please take care of yourself," he said.
"Yes, of course. It'll get cold soon, so keep warm. Don't sleep with your stomach exposed," she replied.
Though he was used to being treated like a child, hearing it directly still made him blush slightly.
"Lucia, please take care of Isaac," Margaret instructed.
"You can leave him to me, Mother-in-law," Lucia answered.
As a Noble's daughter, Lucia understood the importance of the heir.
Even though Nathan might claim precedence in inheritance, Isaac's upbringing could not be neglected.
Her responsibility as a mother was weighty.
Morgan, observing, added, "I entrust him to you as well. Isaac is smart; focus on teaching him morals and ethics first."
"Grandfather, I already have both morality and ethics!" Isaac exclaimed proudly.
"Hahaha, unfortunately, not yet. You should learn slowly from Lucia," Morgan said, patting Isaac's head.
Isaac's sense of morality was derived from his Previous Life, after all.
Isaac's knowledge wasn't yet at a level befitting a Noble.
From Morgan's perspective, Isaac still had much to learn.
But that expectation was for an adult Noble.
Considering he was still a Child, Morgan thought it would be harsh to demand more at this stage.
"I understand. I want to learn little by little. Please take care of yourself, Grandfather," Isaac said sincerely.
"Indeed," Morgan replied.
After that, they bid farewell, and Morgan and the others headed to the carriages.
The long procession moved toward the Royal Capital, gradually disappearing from view.
Isaac watched them leave, pondering the meaning behind this journey.
Because it was Isaac, he could perceive the real purpose of traveling to the Royal Capital.
(In the game, there were events where you met the families of conquest characters around year-end and New Year, as well as the Royal Academy graduation ceremony in March and the entrance ceremony in April. Nobles in the territories likely gather in the Royal Capital from year-end through spring to match those events.)
They would depart in mid-November and arrive in December.
From there, preparations for the year-end and New Year parties would begin, followed by the Social Season continuing until spring.
Isaac figured all of this existed simply because the scenario writers wanted events to be easy to stage.
(Feels a bit like sankin-kōtai [alternate attendance], but probably not in that sense...)
They weren't sending hostages to the Royal Capital.
They were going simply to mingle with other Nobles.
The unnecessary grand movement made Isaac sigh quietly.
And he wasn't the only one sighing.
He could hear another sigh beside his own—it was Lucia.
"Even though it happens every year, it still feels lonely," she murmured.
――Mothers with young children remain behind with them.
Because of that tradition, Lucia had stayed at the Wellrod estate since Isaac was born.
This season always meant separation from Randolph, which explained her melancholy.
Isaac did not miss a single word of his mother's quiet lament.
"Yes. I may not be able to take your place for Father, but I am here. And Aunt Karen and Tiffany are here too," Isaac reassured her.
"That's true. Now, let's head inside before we get cold," she said.
"Yes, Mother," he replied.
(Even if we don't go to the Royal Capital, there are things we can accomplish. I'll start with those first.)
Isaac took Lucia's hand, and together they returned to the mansion.
Notes:
• Ran - She is a gentle orphan, appeared as Mobu's close friend, surviving the demon attack in their secret hideout.