Chapter 7: Even If We Part
Before Fuuga Haan began his invasion of the Kingdom of Friedonia, Souma was having the people of towns and villages along the Great Tiger Empire’s invasion route evacuate to the south of Parnam. He had more leeway to prepare this time than in the Amidonian War, so he didn’t need to take drastic measures like inventing the Flame Pierrots to burn villages and drive people out for their own good. He could complete the evacuation just by spreading word of what was coming.
This was done because the great minds of the Kingdom agreed that, win or lose, the fighting would go no farther than Parnam. Some people wanted to stand and fight in the places of their birth, but the priority was evacuating noncombatants like children, women who didn’t serve in the military, and the elderly.
The same was done in Parnam itself. Souma had Poncho take over for Weist as the lord of Venetinova, now the Kingdom’s second largest city. This allowed the gourmet to evacuate there along with Ginger, Genia, and the other noncombatants and their families. Poncho had been Souma’s magistrate in Venetinova once upon a time. But when the title was originally handed out, it was decided that giving such a key city to a relative newcomer like Poncho would result in major pushback. Instead, it had gone to Weist, who had long served under Excel. However, with his efforts in the food crisis and war logistics, Poncho now had a distinguished career behind him, and it was safe to appoint him Lord of Venetinova.
The city was also home to many former refugees who looked up to his second wife, Komain, so he wouldn’t have trouble ruling it. As for Weist, he was rewarded for his service by the expansion of his previous domain, Altomura.
Meanwhile, Souma was arranging for a certain someone to leave the capital...
◇ ◇ ◇
“Roroa. I want you to move to Venetinova with the children tomorrow.”
That night, I was alone in my room with Roroa, who was in her pajamas when I broached the topic. She looked at me like a child who’d just been slapped across the face for no good reason; it was a mix of shock, frustration, and sadness.
Still, she ground her back teeth as she tried to feign calm.
“You’re sure...I can’t be here...?”
“Yes...” I said. “There are things I want you to do in Venetinova. If anything were to happen to us...you’re the only one I can count on to take care of things after that.”
“Take care of things if somethin’ happens to you? Do ya realize how awful you’re bein’, askin’ me to do that? I’d have to live on, takin’ care of the kids all by myself, y’know? With the shame of bein’ royalty from a country that no longer exists...”
“Sorry...”
“Don’t go apologizin’!” Roroa shouted, bringing her fist down on my chest.
It made a loud thump, but the punch of a frail woman like her didn’t hurt all that much. Roroa bit her lip in frustration as she realized that.
“There’s nothin’ more frustratin’ than not havin’ the strength to fight. Even Big Sis Juna, the lorelei, can go into battle...but when it comes to me, there ain’t a thing I can do in times like this...”
“Don’t say that. It’s thanks to you that our coffers are so full. That lets us face the war at our best. And I think that, Fuuga or no Fuuga, we’re more likely to come through this without losing than not.”
“It’s that last bit that’s worryin’ me.” Roroa took a step backwards and looked straight at me. “What’re ya gonna do with Yuriga and Big Sis Maria? Neither of them can fight either, right?”
“I have to consider Yuriga’s wishes, and I want her on hand to negotiate with Fuuga if necessary. As for Maria, she’s already away from the capital, doing her own thing. Besides...they married me only recently, so there are no children yet. If I’m going to trust someone with all of our children, then she has to be one of their mothers herself—which means you, Roroa. I want you to look after Leon and the other kids.”
“It ain’t fair, sayin’ it like that...” Roroa lowered her eyes sadly for a time before looking up once more. “I had a feelin’ this was comin’ ever since we figured out Fuuga was gonna attack. I’ve done everythin’ I can at this point, and there ain’t much left I can do.”
“Roroa...”
“So count on me!”
Roroa struck a pose like a model, putting her right hand on the back of her neck and her left hand on her hip with a coquettish giggle. It was the same pose she’d struck the day we first met.
“If anythin’ happens to you, darlin’, then this here Amidonian beauty’s gonna use all her skill and feminine wiles to kiss up to the big shots in Fuuga’s court, and protect our children.”
She said it jokingly, but...I had no doubt she’d do exactly that. This was the girl who’d had the pluck to marry me, her father’s killer, in order to protect the people of Amidonia. If it were to defend our kids, she could suppress her anger and hatred to marry the man responsible for my demise. No matter how she felt about it herself...
Seeing that I couldn’t say anything in response, Roroa realized how I must be feeling and dived into my arms.
“What? You hate the idea that much, huh? Sure, Fuuga ain’t as hardheaded as my old man, but he wouldn’t let me have all this fun makin’ money and spendin’ it. You know you’re the only one for me, darlin’. Now, if you do somethin’ to let go of your cute wife and let ’er fall into the hands of another man, I’m gonna hold it against you for the rest of my life and beyond.”
“Yeah...I know.” I gave her a firm nod.
Roroa wrapped her arms around my neck. Her face came closer, and our lips pressed together. After a long kiss, she grinned at me.
“I’m really countin’ on ya, darlin’. Ya better come for me.”
“Yeah. Count on it.”
“Hee hee! Well, I don’t need to be headin’ off until tomorrow, right?” Roroa pressed herself tight against me, whispering in my ear. “How ’bout you try knockin’ me up once more. Just to be sure. There’s no tellin’ if we’ll conceive tonight, but... Well, if we do, I’ll take my profits where I can get ’em.”
She whispered seductive words to me with a shy smile.
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