AWLITEB Chapter 24

After passing farmland that grew crops hardy to the cold and reaching a village, Genos gradually slowed down.

Since Genos hadn't announced his outing in advance, the village residents who didn't know of his appearance were startled and hurriedly bowed their heads low.

Houses belonging to the common people lined both sides of the wide road, and most had fenced yards where they raised northern sheep.

Since Genos visited the North periodically to reduce the residents' taxes or distribute grain, most of the Grand Duchy's people knew Genos's face.

The territory was vast, so naturally far more people hadn't seen Genos's face directly, but then others would draw it to help them memorize Genos's features.

To that extent, Genos was the lord, benefactor, and hero of the Grand Duchy.

"Should we dismount? I'd like to greet them from closer up."

Bella said.

Except for looking down at the White family from the imperial ballroom, Bella didn't particularly enjoy looking down at people.

"Yes. Good idea."

Genos loosened the reins to stop the horse, then dismounted first.

After that, he grabbed Bella's waist as she gathered her legs to one side and lifted her down effortlessly.

"We greet the Grand Duke."

The people spoke in unison respectfully and bowed on their knees.

At the same time, they exchanged glances with each other, uncertain how to address Isabella.

"A pleasure. I am Isabella White. I consider it an honor to meet you all through my engagement to His Grace the Grand Duke."

Before Genos could open his mouth, Isabella stepped forward and greeted the people warmly.

As she did, she reached out her hand toward a young couple holding the hands of their two young daughters.

The couple didn't know what to do, then immediately knelt.

And before the flustered Bella could withdraw her hand, they kissed the back of her hand in turn.

"No, I didn't ask you to kiss my hand."

Bella shook her head while holding the couple's arms to help them up.

"F-forgive us. For us lowly ones to dare touch my lady's hand..."

"Forgive us. Please pardon us."

At the couple's trembling voices, Bella shook her head more earnestly and explained.

"No, I simply wanted to shake hands with you."

Bella extended her hand to them again.

The bewildered couple looked back and forth between each other's faces and Bella's extended hand.

Bella smiled and waited for them.

"Really..."

"Then, really."

When Bella nodded to give them confidence, the couple finally extended their hands cautiously.

Bella shook their hands, holding them for a long time.

It was the image of a good leader.

Genos stood behind her, watching the situation unfold.

Bella had quite a talent for earning the people's favor.

She didn't look down arrogantly, nor did she lower herself too much and grovel.

Being excessively polite actually earned the people's resentment.

Such deception when both sides knew there was a clear class difference had the opposite effect.

In that respect, Bella was showing an appropriate and decent attitude.

"Although there are many Grand Duchy territories, isn't the North the one with the deepest bond with me? That's why I stopped in the North first with my fiancée."

Genos naturally took Bella's hand and stood beside her as he spoke.

As he did, he sent Bella a loving gaze and smile.

At this first glimpse of such a side of Genos, the villagers unconsciously smiled warmly.

The villagers newly realized that Genos was not only a good leader and Grand Duke, but also a young man full of vigor.

Showing the common people that royalty shared commonalities with them was a good way to earn their favor.

"We'll be holding an engagement celebration at the mansion soon, so please don't make other plans for the coming holiday. I'd be embarrassed if the festival we've prepared turns out to be deserted."

"Of course, Your Grace."

"It's an honor, Your Grace."

The villagers bowed their heads with excited expressions. The Grand Duke's banquets always overflowed with generosity.

Genos walked while holding the horse's reins in one hand and Bella's hand in the other, conversing with the people until they reached the village outskirts.

He deliberately kept the escort knights far back, also expressing his heart toward the people.

After exiting the village closest to the Grand Duke's mansion, Genos put Bella back on the horse and mounted behind her.

Genos gripped the reins and started off quickly.

"It looks like it's snowing, Your Grace."

Bella said, watching snowflakes land on her velvet fur gloves.

The empire's capital was warm so snow rarely fell, making Bella smile with pleasure.

"I'll need to move a bit faster. We have to return to the mansion before sunset."

Genos said as he kicked the horse's sides.

As they rode for some time longer, the amount of snow gradually increased.

Genos considered stopping the procession and turning back, but the distance they'd come was too far for that.

Besides, the weather prediction officer who reported news every morning from all corners of the empire had said the amount of snow falling in the North today wouldn't be much.

So Genos decided to continue to the orphanage.

Even if some snow accumulated, he expected it would melt quickly after they spent time at the orphanage.

When the horse's hooves were sinking deep into the snow—thud, thud—the procession reached the orphanage.

"It's quite large."

Bella said with a somewhat surprised expression after dismounting with Genos's help.

Usually such facilities were cramped and dilapidated, but this place had three buildings erected and quite a few floors as well.

Moreover, in the spacious yard, children wearing thick clothes were building snowmen.

A small smile touched Bella's lips.

"Grand Duke!"

A teacher who'd been watching the children ran over and bowed to Genos.

Though Genos had often donated, this was his first visit in person.

The teacher didn't know what to do and simply froze in a bowing position.

"How can you kneel when the snow has accumulated like this?"

Genos approached and helped the teacher up.

The teacher stood with a completely dazed face and bent deeply at the waist.

"I don't know what to do with myself that you've visited such a humble place."

"If you'll permit it, I'd like to play with the children. Would that be acceptable? I have several able-bodied men with me."

Genos smiled while lightly indicating the knights standing in a row behind him.

"Also, I wanted to introduce my fiancée to the North, my long-standing place of connection. Here, Isabella White. My fiancée."

"I cannot express how honored we are. My eyes are dazzled to see the empire's beautiful sun and moon."

"Then may I request your guidance? These knights have good appetites so we need to eat soon. We've brought all the food."

At Genos's words, the teacher said of course and guided them.

Another teacher approached to guide the knights to a place where they tied up their horses and unloaded the food and donations.

The children in the yard were watching the unfamiliar adults with curious eyes.

"Hello."

Bella waved as she entered the building following the teacher.

Among the children, a few brave ones waved back to greet her.

"Maybe because of the large scale, the children's age range is diverse too. Usually most places mainly care for children under ten years old."

Bella spoke as if to herself.

Here there were children from very young three and four-year-olds up to what looked like seventeen-year-olds.

"Yes. That's correct. Many older children transferred from cramped orphanages are in our facility. You must have done a lot of volunteer work, miss."

The teacher spoke with a moved expression.

Bella flinched and immediately made a bland smiling face.

"I haven't visited as much as I'd like, so please don't praise me too much."

"Bella."

Genos lightly shook the hand he held with Bella's.

"I know, I'm sorry."

Bella apologized in a small voice.

Being in an orphanage that stirred up old thoughts, her heart had started to loosen a bit.

Bella tightened her resolve again, not forgetting the purpose of coming here.

While the knights organized the donated items and made food with the teachers, Genos and Isabella were guided to the infant class's playroom.

"Who are you?"

One young child ran up to the two with round eyes and asked.

"Oh, Bena! You can't. You mustn't bother them."

The teacher panicked and picked up the child to move her away, but Genos waved his hand.

"We came without notice saying we'd play, so leave her be. What good would it do for these children to know who we are?"

"But..."

"It's fine, so go outside."

At Genos's words, the teacher hesitated for a moment, then put the child down and left the playroom.

"Are you two married?"

A child who looked about seven years old asked cautiously.

Her eyes sparkling with curiosity were adorable.

"No. But we will be soon."

Bella pulled Genos's hand and sat down on the floor together as she spoke.

Genos, who had no experience sitting on the floor, kept shifting his large body this way and that, trying to find a comfortable position.

"Do we have to sit here?"

"You can't sit in those tiny chairs."

Bella said, pointing at the children's chairs.

Genos had no choice but to keep adjusting his position, causing his luxurious northern sheepskin cloak to flutter busily.

"Really? Then will you have babies too?"

"Cough! Cough, cough!"

Bella clutched her throat and burst into coughs.

Caught completely off guard by the question that suddenly assaulted her ears, she'd choked automatically.

"Wow? Babies?"

"Babies?"

The children made expressions like they were beside themselves with excitement and sat surrounding the two.

"How many babies will you have?"

"Girls or boys?"

"Do you have a baby in your belly now?"

Amid the children's innocent questions pouring out, Bella just trembled her lips while waving both hands.

"No, children. It's not that..."

"Children, shh."

Genos brought his index finger to his lips toward the children.

The children reflexively brought their plump sausage-like hands to their lips and made shushing sounds together.

"If you ask that loudly, the baby can't come. Soon a bird with very large golden wings will bring the baby. If there's too much noise, it'll leave because it's too loud."

"Gasp, then that won't do! What do we do!"

"Hey, be quiet...!"

"You be quiet first...!"

"Everyone shh, shh!"

The children warned each other wildly and lowered their voices.

Bella smiled while looking at Genos, when the teacher called the children saying the food was ready.

The scent of warm soup was spreading throughout the building.

The teacher informed them that seats for the two were also prepared, then withdrew respectfully.

"Shall we go then? Finally escaping this torture-like floor sitting."

Genos stood with a grimace, feeling his numb legs, then extended his hand to Bella.

When Bella only stared without taking his hand, Genos tilted his head curiously.

"Why? Not very hungry?"

"Do you have any children hidden away?"

"That's the most ridiculous question I've heard in my life."

Genos swept away Bella's speculation with a short answer.

"But how do you handle children so well? Saying the bird that brings babies will leave if it's noisy. The children became quiet in an instant?"

"It's a tactic my mother mainly used."

"...What?"

"My mother. The previous emperor's mistress."

The Grand Duke spoke calmly, then lifted Bella by the waist.

Bella stood there dazed even with both feet on the ground.

This was the first time Genos had mentioned his mother.

No, to be precise, she'd thought that no matter how much more time passed, he would never say anything about his mother.

"What. Surprised that I mentioned family matters?"

Bella slowly nodded honestly.

"She's my wife even if fake. Can't I tell a trivial baby delivery story?"

Genos spoke casually and led Bella's hand out of the room.

Bella walked out with him, staring at his back with a dumbfounded face.

Though only for a brief moment, Bella saw him not as the Grand Duke but as Genos.

It was the first time his name had appeared before his title.