Opportunity from a Game Becomes Reality, Episode 180
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Opportunity from a Game Becomes Reality, Episode 180
43. Development of the Duchy of Lawrence (1)
My name is Arka.
No surname, just Arka.
I turned 15 this year, and I live with my younger sister in an orphanage called the Protection School of the Duchy of Lawrence.
Orphanages in Rondel, unless they are directly run by the Sepia church, exist merely for appearances, because this world is largely made up of nations based on a class system.
Because of that, children in orphanages who sit at the very bottom of the social hierarchy were often ordered around from a young age and mobilized to earn money in various ways.
The orphanages make excuses that the tight operating budget leaves them no choice, but the catch is that despite that, every orphanage director rides around in fine clothes and fine carriages.
'But the Protection School run by the royal family of Lawrence is completely different.'
This place provided quality education so that children could later become independent and make a living.
In an environment where learning to read was a distant dream, they taught not only reading but also various academic subjects, and depending on aptitude, magic and swordsmanship.
The dormitories were good, the clothes were proper, and the food was good enough to be called a feast.
Moreover, if you had siblings like me, they even assigned siblings to the same dormitory, showing great consideration.
Because of that, I, Arka, always held gratitude toward Adrian-nim, who became the master of this duchy.
"Big brother, big brother."
"Hm?"
"They say the King is getting married this time! They said we can watch the wedding from the plaza!"
Strictly speaking, it should be Your Highness the King, not His Majesty the King, but I didn't nitpick my younger sister Armi's words and just smiled and nodded.
"Then shall we go watch together?"
"Yeah! Yay!"
But not all children in the orphanage were favorable toward the royal family.
"Tch, just like slave bastards. Look at them fawning over the invaders."
Given the current state of the nation and the nature of the orphanage, many children who had lost their parents to war had come in, and these children held great animosity toward the royal family.
"We're not slaves. Don't you know slavery was abolished?"
"Once a slave, always a slave. You slave bastards!"
"Wh-what? You gonna hit me? You'll be the one in trouble."
"Shut up!"
Just as children sometimes carry out discrimination as vicious as adults, the ones right in front of me were extremely aggressive.
Aggressive enough to use violence without hesitation.
"You! What do you think you're doing!"
But the Protection School reacted very sensitively to such violence, and the teachers actively punished the perpetrators.
Depending on severity, if the offense was bad, they were immediately sent off to other schools; if it was minor, they received educational punishments like community service and a mountain of homework.
A sincere letter of apology was the baseline, and if during that process it was discovered that someone had received help without showing any sign of remorse, they too were immediately transferred.
"Oh my, Arka, Armi, are you okay? Sorry the teachers came late. Don't worry, we'll give those kids a proper scolding."
"Yes!"
Thanks to that, I easily realized that those who approached angrily and aggressively only ended up at a greater loss.
So my trust and faith in the Lawrence royal family never wavered.
Compared to the days of the Croysen Empire, this is truly heaven.
And so, I was able to spend peaceful days with my younger sister.
"Big brother, you're back!"
I withdrew the allowance the royal family deposited into the orphans' accounts, and with my pockets full, I headed to the festival grounds.
The plaza where the wedding was being held was decorated lavishly.
So much so that approaching it felt intimidating.
"It's alright to go right up. Want me to stay with you?"
"I-it's fine."
A soldier approached me as I hesitated and spoke to me, but the very existence of soldiers was frightening to me, so I said I was fine and followed my younger sister, who had run ahead.
My younger sister was squirming wedged between adults' legs, and I quickly rescued her.
"Thanks, big brother!"
At this rate, I wouldn't be able to see anything, blocked by the wall of people.
Holograms were floating here and there, but seeing something with your own eyes versus seeing it in a video feels completely different, doesn't it?
I looked around and spotted someone waving at me.
Unlike the burly soldier before, she was a very pretty older sister.
So I led my younger sister as if bewitched and approached that place.
"Where are your parents?"
Caught off guard by her question asking about our parents out of nowhere, I hesitated.
But soon, I answered with confidence.
"They're not here."
Usually, when someone hears that, they'd look pitying or twist their expression, but her reaction was utterly composed.
"Really? Me neither."
"You too, big sis?"
"Yeah."
Her clothes looked quite luxurious.
I froze because she looked like a noble, but when she revealed she was also an orphan, a strange sense of kinship bloomed within me.
"Want to watch from closer?"
At her suggestion, my younger sister Armi nodded eagerly.
"Yes, pretty unnie."
"This kid has a way with words."
She seemed weak to compliments.
And so, my sister and I followed her.
Soon, I began to realize something was off.
"Huh?"
Because she walked without any hesitation up to the stage where knights were forming a wall, took a seat in the VIP section, and sat down.
Two small chairs were quickly brought beside her, and once I sat there, I froze stiff.
Armi kept giggling with joy, but this seat seemed far too dangerous for us to occupy.
Surrounded by people in splendid attire, my shoulders instinctively hunched.
The woman who had guided us wasn't just noble-looking she was a real noble.
And a noble of seemingly high standing, at that.
"Ah, is it the clothes that give it away?"
"Huh? Th-that's…"
"Hold on."
She suddenly placed her hands on our shoulders.
In an instant, my sister's and my clothes changed into outfits fit for young noble lords and ladies.
"All set?"
"Wow! Unnie, are you a Mage?"
My little sister just giggled with delight.
"Not a Mage, but I work for a famous one."
"You work for one?"
"Yeah, the shameless Mage who's having his wedding today."
At that, I flinched and froze in place.
But only for a moment I quickly snapped back to my senses and bowed to her.
"I'm sorry. We overstepped our bounds."
"Oh, don't worry about it. I just took a liking to this kid, so make yourselves comfortable. Would two more children ruin an event this lavishly funded?"
"But…"
"Learn from the one next to you. You need that much nerve."
As I kept hesitating, the beautiful older sister pointed beside me.
I, who had been too afraid to even turn my head until now, unconsciously followed her finger with my gaze and was startled.
"Tch, why do I have to congratulate these damn brats' wedding anyway?"
A fox beastkin so adorable it was almost absurd was scowling fiercely while cursing.
"Hey, Maryang. Shut it, will you? There are kids next to you."
When the sister who had brought us said something to the fox beastkin, she perked up her ears and glared with slanted eyes.
"How dare you tell this body, the Union's captain, to shut up? You rootless little worm."
"So what if you have roots? You're sitting right next to me anyway. Why don't you go show your face over there with the Elisia Union's VIPs?"
"What nerve would I have!"
"Hahaha!"
The sister teasing her, and the fox beastkin getting all riled up.
I had no idea what was going on and felt like dying, but my little sister's eyes sparkled with delight.
"Puppy unnie is pretty."
"I'm a fox, not a dog. Well, you little human have good eyes. What's your name?"
"Armi."
"Want some candy? The crazy girl getting married today gave me a handful."
"Yesh!"
My younger sibling, making friends so easily with these mysterious VIPs, was almost admirable.
As it turned out, the place we were seated in was reserved for the close friends of the king (of a duchy).
A space where those who could be called friends of the king and queen (of a duchy) could sit, regardless of status.
It was placed right next to the family seats.
I could hardly breathe, but the candy and snacks she kept stuffing into my mouth were, regardless of my feelings, incredibly delicious.
And so, after a while, we stayed in our seats until the wedding began.
Ba-ba-bam!
A grand wedding reminiscent of divine ceremonies began, accompanied by majestic music.
"Wow."
Just like my sister's exclamation, all I could say was "wow."
Forget the golden powder and gem dust scattering amid countless magical effects the bride and groom standing at the center were so dashing and beautiful that my mouth hung open on its own.
'Those two are the Father and Mother of this nation.'
I'd seen them in photos many times, but seeing the fully dressed couple in person was on a whole other level compared to any celebrity.
It was truly beyond sufficient to call them the finest masterpieces crafted by the gods.
As twin crowns of pure milky white were placed upon the couple's heads, Maryang, the fox beastkin who had been watching the ceremony with a dazed expression while swallowing her dissatisfaction, was startled.
"W-wait. Bug, is that really Orichalcum?"
"You didn't notice? Not just the crowns the bride's accessories are all Orichalcum too."
"Holy shit. Where on earth did they get that?"
"They came back from exploring the Dragonlands a while ago."
"What? I thought they were out of their minds, but they're genuinely insane. They're going to get themselves killed."
"Honestly, we'll probably get worked to death before those two kick the bucket."
"Damn, I can't argue with that."
I also know that Orichalcum is a treasure from fantasy.
And I know the Dragonlands are a place called hell.
That's why the sight of the two getting married felt all the more impressive.
"They're gonna kiss. Alley-oop, here we go."
When the older sister called Bug, who had brought me and my younger sister here, chuckled and wiggled her fingers, I was horrified.
But once again, Maryang asked her.
"Come to think of it, I've rarely seen those two being affectionate."
"Well, Adrian doesn't pay much attention to women anyway, so there were rumors he was impotent... but who knows how he flips at night."
I had to cover my younger sibling's ears.
The wedding ceremony lasted about thirty minutes.
Fortunately, whether it was because the anti-riot squads were out or because the wedding was so beautiful, no jeers rang out like at the coronation ceremony.
The wedding came to an end with the king and queen of the duchy sharing a kiss, and as splendid fireworks decorated the sky, a festival for the citizens began.
[For one day, food and drinks will be provided free and unlimited throughout the entire duchy.]
[Additionally, wedding commemorative gifts will be delivered to each household during the week, so citizens please take note.]
Parades for the festival were held all over the city.
It was a wedding where I couldn't even begin to guess how much was spent.
"So gorgeous."
Even after the wedding ended and the festival began, I couldn't easily leave my seat.
Because the lingering impression of the splendid ceremony was too powerful.
And that was the reaction most women showed my younger sister was no different.
"W-we'll be going then."
Coming to my senses belatedly, I tried to slip away discreetly, but...
"Where are you going?"
"Let's grab a bite together."
"Yeah, sure!"
Bug and Maryang latched onto my younger sibling.
The attention of two people who seemed to be of high status.
Should I really be happy about this?
* * *
"Phew, I'm tired."
Did she like the wedding?
Even after the ceremony ended, Arcia was still excited.
"Adrian-nim, the ceremony was so beautiful."
"Really? I'm glad. Haha."
I stroked her back, and Arcia looked up at me with hazy eyes and said one thing.
"Are you engaging in reproductive activities?"
"Huh?"
And then, at her utterly unexpected remark, I froze.
I coughed awkwardly and asked her with a bewildered expression.
"Can I?"
"What?"
The two of us stared at each other blankly.
-Swoosh.
I scooped her up in a princess carry and dashed to the room.
For the record, I'm not impotent.
I'm just patient.