Home/The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief of Exile/ch 114

Chapter 114

The Octo Trading Company must be a precious treasure to Chairman Kommer.

'I heard this from Uncle Pofina.'

The Octo Trading Company started as a small shop he built with his wife.

There, he saved money, built a family, experienced every joy and sorrow, and met countless people.

The Octo Trading Company was his life itself.

But if he kept holding on to it, he would face great trouble when everything came to light later.

'And the Emperor will pretend not to know and cut off the loose ends.'

Just like burning down the Antema Lab to hide it.

Just like turning the Deste mansion employees into undead.

'That monster will survive!'

The children may have committed the crimes, but in the end, Chairman Kommer would also die.

And so would his second son, Ceblis.

"I am a Clavis. Like your son, I was framed and sent to exile."

I revealed the truth to persuade him. Only the truth I could tell, that he could handle.

"Not just me—all twelve of us prisoners, including Uncle Pofina, were framed by the imperial family."

"All, all of them?"

"To the monstrous Emperor who kidnaps orphanage children for human experimentation, everything in the world is just material and chess pieces."

"......"

Chairman Kommer glanced at the exposed secret passage.

'It was just as Edul said.'

Ceblis and Chairman Kommer had rescued the remaining orphanage children and Edul to stop their family's crimes.

"The village we live in is inside the primeval forest."

"But there are monsters there...!"

"Father, Ixelium Village is the safest place in the world."

Uncle Pofina supported me.

"It's a place protected by the Clavis."

"My youngest..."

"And the only place the Emperor's hands cannot reach."

"I know this is cruel to say."

Chairman Kommer had declared that he no longer saw Arun and Kanna as his children, but I knew that wasn't his true heart.

Because even when Uncle Pofina ran away to become a chef, he'd secretly kept an eye on him.

But this situation was completely different from back then.

He had to steel his resolve.

And I decided to help him make that cruel decision.

"If you join us, I promise you one thing."

The lives of Arun and Kanna.

At my promise, Chairman Kommer's eyes widened.

Uncle Pofina quickly interjected.

"Hebenia! That's not right! Those two committed terrible crimes! For you to protect them too..."

"I'm not granting them immunity."

All I could protect was their 'lives.'

"Arun and Kanna must pay for their crimes. I'll make sure of that, and for that, they need to stay alive."

They would be imprisoned forever, never again enjoying freedom, never again seeing the sun and moon that illuminate day and night.

At my words, Uncle Pofina's lips relaxed slightly, as if relieved. Then he looked at his father beside him.

"Father."

"......"

"Hebenia—no, the village chief—has never broken a promise. She's someone I respect as much as you."

Caught off guard by the sudden praise, I felt quite embarrassed.

Verity grinning beside me only made it worse.

But thanks to that, the chairman made his resolve.

"I understand."

Chairman Kommer said with a firm face.

"I will join you, Lady Clavis."

"Th-thank you!"

I quickly extended my hand to him. Chairman Kommer hesitated for a moment, then quietly smiled and shook my hand.

'All right! The Ixel Trading Company just caught a red arrow!'

All that's left is to rise!

We'd succeeded in recruiting the very person who built a major trading company in the south!

Since this was an unexpected achievement, my heart was bursting with joy.

Now I could breathe easier about the trading company issue.

"We can discuss the details before heading to the village inside the primeval forest."

"Good."

"And..."

This time, the chairman set a condition for me.

"Could you grant this old man one request?"

"Sure, I can do that."

If I didn't like it after hearing it, I'd just sedate him and drag him along anyway.

I thought that complacently.

"Perhaps, Lady Clavis, it might be a bit dangerous for you."

Which is why I was caught off guard by his following request.

---

Chairman Kommer said he'd return tomorrow and left. He held onto Uncle Pofina's hand until the very moment he departed.

"Father..."

Uncle Pofina wiped his tears again and vowed.

"I'll show you a stage worthy of you, Father."

"......"

A performance praising a seven-year-old village chief—in front of his father?

'Wouldn't it be filial piety to just not show him?'

For the first time, I considered whether I should cancel the performance festival.

That evening.

I shared the day's emotional story with Ian, Uncle Modi, and Uncle Pex, who had returned after signing the factory preliminary contracts.

"Brother, I'm so glad!"

"I'm glad you and your father were able to reconcile."

"I hope you can talk to your brother tomorrow too!"

The three rejoiced as if it were their own good news.

But after hearing the chairman's request, their faces immediately fell.

"Are you going?"

At Ian's question, I nodded.

"Getting a trading company chairman for attending a tea party—of course, I'm going."

"But that tea party just happens to be..."

Ian muttered with displeasure.

"Hosted by the Royal Consort's family."

Let me pause here.

The Royal Consort was a commoner, and even a married woman.

It was strange that she had a family with enough wealth, connections, and social etiquette to host a tea party.

In fact, to quell the backlash that had erupted like a storm, the Emperor had the Royal Consort adopted into a noble family.

That family was the Count Reten family, her new in-laws.

One of the most overt pro-imperial factions, originally just a minor provincial noble family, they had risen rapidly since becoming the Royal Consort's patrons.

"According to the chairman, they're hosting a children's tea party."

"A children's tea party?"

Ian looked even more confused.

"The Countess Reten is currently in the T'mari Territory, and she's hosting a children's tea party to gather the local dignitaries."

"Using children as shields to scheme behind their backs."

"The chairman doesn't know her purpose either."

Public sentiment toward the Emperor in the south was already poor due to the Crape Myrtle Cold epidemic.

In such a situation, a tea party gathering local dignitaries was highly suspicious.

"I received an invitation, but I had no child to bring, so I was troubled..."

"So you're taking me?"

"I'll attend as an employee's granddaughter."

Of course, I'd also change my appearance with a magical tool. Safety is important.

'Honestly, I'm a little excited.'

I was finally going to enjoy the refinement befitting my birth.

'A beautiful dress, fine tea, and sweet pastries...!'

Isn't that exactly what a noble lady deserves?!

'Hehe, I'll dump all the headaches on the chairman and enjoy myself like a carefree seven-year-old!'

---

The next day.

"Brother Ceblis...!"

"Pofina!"

"Brother!"

"Why are you bald?!"

The two brothers, having a tearful reunion, embraced each other.

Ceblis ran his fingers over his youngest brother's bald scalp in disbelief.

"Brother, I shaved it voluntarily. I'm a chef, after all."

"Right, of course."

Still, apparently liking the feel, Ceblis rubbed Uncle Pofina's head several times.

"Oh, the children...!"

"The children have been evacuated to a safe place."

I took the chance to interject.

"And I'm sorry about yesterday."

I apologized for mistaking him for a kidnapper and for drugging him without warning.

Fortunately, Ceblis was a good person.

He not only forgave us but also bowed his head, thanking us for safely hiding the orphanage children and Edul.

"Besides, perhaps because I slept so well, I feel unusually light. It seems I've become much healthier."

That's because I felt so guilty for knocking you out that I gave you a Dulcevia tonic as an apology.

'Let's keep that a secret for now.'

Giving medicine to an unconscious person wasn't the best thing to do, either.

Ceblis greeted everyone in the room.

"Brother, I met Father yesterday."

Uncle Pofina told him about the previous day's events.

Ceblis was genuinely happy that his youngest brother and father had finally reconciled and cleared up their misunderstanding.

"By the way, you, young lady..."

"My name is Hebenia. Hebenia Clavis."

"......"

Ceblis froze for a moment upon hearing that I was a Clavis.

But he quickly recovered and continued what he was saying.

"Y-you're going to attend the tea party with my father?"

He rubbed his chin and tilted his head.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Yes. If it's dangerous, I can just run away."

"No, that's not it..."

"Is there a problem?"

"I saw the invitation too. Do you know where the tea party is being held?"

"No. I was going to ask the chairman when he comes today."

"It's being held at the Sanctuary of the Divine Beasts."

Olive, who had been leaning against the wall in silence, widened his eyes.

"What did you just say?"

He glared at Ceblis as if he was about to devour him.

The Inquisitor's ferocious expression was quite terrifying, but Ceblis didn't flinch.

"The venue is the Sanctuary of the Divine Beasts."

"That's a ruins managed by the state religion...!"

"The tea party is being held there."

What should be the most sacred place had been reduced to a mere venue for entertainment.

This was also the imperial family's way of openly crushing the temple.

The Count Reten family hosting the tea party was the most famous pro-imperial faction.

'It's retaliation for what happened in the Deste Territory.'

And another thing.

"Currently, the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince—two princes—are present at the Sanctuary of the Divine Beasts."

"Wow."

A scoff escaped me.

'This could be...!'

Between the adults' schemes and the children's side, the children's side seemed far more dangerous.

Back   Next