Published: September 6, 2025
When I said that it was pitiful to leave Nicola alone in the children’s quarters for an entire season when there were parents who could take him in, Brother Cornelius made a troubled face.
“Father is in charge of directing the purge. I have taken opportunities to talk to Nicola a few times, but it’s impossible to take him in. We can’t just leave a child who hasn’t even entered the noble academy alone in the detached quarters.”
“...Mother is at the main residence, isn’t she?”
I murmured that it didn’t have to be the detached quarters, but Brother Cornelius looked puzzled and said, “Why would Mother take him in when she isn’t Nicola’s mother?”
“Huh? She can’t take him in?”
“Lady Rosemine was raised in the temple and, after the baptism ceremony, became Lady Elvira’s child. Perhaps she has little understanding of full siblings and half-siblings. If the mother consents... in Nicola’s case, if Lady Tordeleide wishes and entrusts him to Lady Elvira, he could be taken in. But since she’s imprisoned, we can’t confirm her intention.”
At Leonore’s explanation, Brother Cornelius and Brother Lamprecht nodded, saying, “It’s probably hard for Rosemine to understand.” Angelica nodded along as if she understood too.
“Without Tordeleide’s consent, for Mother to adopt Nicola, a formal adoption is required. Tordeleide is expected to return after her punishment, and adopting just to take a child from the children’s quarters isn’t realistic, right? Mother has also said Nicola should stay in the children’s quarters. She said they can’t just take the child away while Tordeleide cannot object.”
Even though they live on the same estate in the detached quarters, the fact that half-siblings are treated as completely separate families shocked me. If there is such a big difference just because of different mothers, wouldn’t there be more children left unclaimed in the children’s quarters than expected?
“I thought that if the father took them in, he would care for them even if they were half-siblings...”
“Because Lady Rosemine and the lord candidates asked Aub for this, Nicola and Matthias have been exempt from implication. But it doesn’t change the fact that they are children of criminals. They’re not directly punished, but people’s perceptions don’t change easily. Few would willingly bring them home.”
Though the scrutiny on relatives of criminals varied, it existed even in the reno era. I could only quietly say to Leonore’s words, “Nicola is still only nine years old…”
“Rosemine, he’s already nine. Considering how Tordeleide has raised Nicola, and how he must feel about his mother being captured by his father, I don’t want him in the main residence.”
Brother Cornelius’s words made Brother Lamprecht shrug, “Nicola is training to become a knight apprentice.”
“Nicola is well-built, and according to grandfather, talented. I oppose letting someone whose actions I don’t know when emotional into the main residence. Aurelia and the infant’s safety must come first.”
Because Aurelia and the newborn baby are currently at the main residence, they especially don’t want to introduce uncertainties. If Aurelia were in top condition, she could easily restrain Nicola, but her postpartum state makes it difficult.
…It’s hard to believe that Aurelia, moving slowly under her veil, could easily hold back a knight apprentice.
“Tordeleide respects Lady Veronica and has insulted Lord Ferdinand before. She mocked Mother over the matter of Eckhardt’s name offering and Rosemine’s involvement with the temple. Though she rarely visits the main residence, I dislike Tordeleide and don’t want to accept Nicola, raised by her. Until Tordeleide finishes her punishment and returns, Nicola staying in the children’s quarters is best.”
“I see…”
I understood Nicola’s situation but felt a heavy unease inside. Despite having committed no crime, the social backlash seemed overwhelmingly harsh.