Published: January 4, 2026
“Um… excuse me… who are you?”
“Well, in terms of blood relation, I’m your father’s uncle—meaning to you, I’m your great-uncle.”
“Oh… uncle?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know someone like that existed… but you look so young…”
“There’s only about ten years difference between your father and me. Your grandfather was the second son, and I am the thirteenth son.”
“…Um.”
“What is it?”
“The second son, the thirteenth son… could it be that what my father said was true?”
“I don’t know what Geneuin said.”
For now, I said that and repeated myself.
“Your grandfather was the former crown prince, Albert Alarate, and I am the former prince thirteen—now the emperor.”
“—!”
Canaan swallowed hard.
Her expression asked silently: Could what my father said really be true?
“R-Really…”
“Take all the time you need to come to terms with it.”
“……Um.”
“What is it?”
“What will happen to my father?”
“Hmm?”
“My father left with the impression that he’s going to start living luxuriously… but that can’t be right, can it?”
Canaan looked at me cautiously as she asked.
I stared at her, observing her face and the intelligence behind her eyes.
“Um… I want to say something.”
“You’re sharp.”
“Huh?”
“I mean you’re smart.”
“Th-Then what about my father—”
Canaan leaned forward, her expression tense.
Even with everything, he is still her father, so she worried.
“Don’t worry, it’s not like they’re going to take his life or anything like that.”
“Eh? Then—”
“To put it bluntly, Geneuin is a disgrace as he is.”
“Ah…”
Canaan fell silent.
She surely understood more than anyone that Geneuin being a disgrace is obvious, since she’s been close to him all along.
That’s why she had nothing to retort.
“On the other hand, I took responsibility for him as his father, your grandfather. I promised to look after the children without killing them.”
“Then…”
“A disgrace, yes, but I cannot kill him. So we’re confining him to the mansion under house arrest. He’ll live with no shortage of food, clothing, or shelter until he dies. It’s a measure that balances duty to the deceased and reality.”
“House arrest… I see…”
Canaan visibly relaxed.
Even if it’s house arrest, her father’s life will be spared, and she seemed relieved by that.
“Now, as for you…”
“Y-Yes!”
Canaan flinched.
Her back straightened and her shoulders tensed.
I smiled softly.
“Don’t worry, it’s not a bad thing.”
“Yes…”
“I can’t just leave you as you are. It’s not directly about you, but it’s impossible to protect only the children and abandon the grandchildren.”
“You mean…”
“You haven’t committed any particular wrongdoing, so this is about family ties and affection.”
“Ah…”
Canaan’s expression softened a little.
She hadn’t thought of it that way, but the logic was easy to understand and she accepted it quickly.
“That said, Geneuin is who he is, and if he has a daughter, things can get complicated.”
“—!”
Canaan flinched again.
It felt like she was led up only to be let down.
“Don’t get defensive, it’s not a punishment.”
I repeated similar words.
Her defensive reaction gave me a glimpse into the parent-child relationship between Canaan and Geneuin.
“Then…?”
“I’m going to make you—my adopted daughter.”
“……………Eh?”
It was such an unimaginable statement that Canaan completely froze like a stone.
☆
That night, inside the governor’s mansion.
In the living room on the sofa, I faced Audrey.
After hearing the whole story, Audrey looked at me with a dreamy expression.
“As expected… it’s amazing.”
“Hm?”
“Especially the way you’re handling the two of them—Canaan in particular.”
“Ah.”
I nodded distinctly.
First, the face of the man who resembled Albert Alarate appeared in my mind.
“I saw his face. Without any circumstantial evidence, that resemblance alone was enough to tell he was Albert’s son.”