Volume 2 Chapter 15 The Saved Twins
The boy drifted in a warm, soft haze. Somewhere deep down, he knew this wasn't real—just a gentle dream before death. In truth, he and his twin sister had clung to each other in the cold, trembling through the final moments.
That's why, when he opened his eyes and saw an unfamiliar ceiling above him—when he realized he was lying in a warm bed with his sister beside him—he could only think one thing:
So... this is heaven?
"Oh! You're awake!"
A middle-aged woman, tidying up nearby, noticed and hurried over.
(This is bad... we've been kidnapped.)
That was the boy's first thought. But it didn't make sense. Instead of a dungeon or cell, they were lying in a clean guest room on a soft bed.
"Your Excellency! General, Your Excellency! The children are awake!"
The woman's loud voice echoed down the corridor as she rushed out. The noise stirred the girl beside him.
"...Big brother?"
"It's okay. I'm here."
He tried to calm her, even though his own chest was tight with anxiety. He held back the fear—he had to stay strong. He was her brother, after all.
The door opened. Two women entered.
One was tall and broad-shouldered—at first glance, she could be mistaken for a man. But her voice, deep as it was, confirmed otherwise.
The other had a softer look, with a gentle face that felt almost like an older sister's.
"You should be thankful to the crow and my father," the tall woman said, voice cool. "If it were up to me, I would've left you behind."
"There you go again... always so harsh," said the gentler woman with a sigh. "I'm sorry about her. She's not very... diplomatic."
She crouched down to meet their eyes. The boy kept his gaze on the blankets, but the girl stared up, meeting her eyes directly.
"Big sister, who are you?"
"Me? Hmm... Who am I, I wonder?"
"...You don't know your name?"
"Of course I do," she laughed gently. "I'm Johanna. And this is Ms. Eleonora."
Johanna smiled and patted the girl's head. Eleonora stood with her arms crossed, watching with a bored expression.
But the question the twins really wanted to ask—the one that hung heavy in the air—was about their parents. And they already knew the answer.
"...What happened to your parents?" Johanna asked softly.
"They were killed," the boy said, almost whispering.
Johanna pulled the girl into a quiet hug.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Jeanne!"
"That's a beautiful name, Little Jeanne."
Jeanne flushed and gave a shy smile.
"Don't just tell them like that!" the boy snapped.
"Oh? You're a very responsible big brother," Eleonora said. "But first, as a person, it's polite to thank those who helped you."
The boy didn't reply. He just glared at her. Eleonora gave a thin smile.
"Kid, I'm irritated too. At myself, mostly, for getting dragged into this. But if you keep acting like that, I might take it out on you."
"Ms. Eleonora!" Johanna cut in sharply.
Even with Johanna's warning, Eleonora's frown didn't fade. She tapped her folded arms with one finger, thinking.
"You're cautious. Smart, too. I can tell you were raised well. Don't tarnish your parents' memory."
"...Thank you," the boy muttered, still sulking.
But Eleonora's expression softened just a little. The boy knew he'd been acting childish, and it showed on his awkward face.
"What should we do about them?" Eleonora asked.
"Normally, the church would take in orphans," Johanna replied, "but the Parisess church... well, it's not an option anymore."
The city had been ravaged during the capital's conquest. Even with aid from the Maro Papal States, the damage was severe. Prices had skyrocketed, merchants had fled, and the nuns struggled just to survive.
It wasn't until Eleonora's army from the Ropsein Kingdom secured the city and Princess Elodia returned that order began to return. Only today had the merchants started to come back.
"Easiest option is just to leave them," Eleonora said flatly.
"Please don't say that. They're just children. How could they survive winter alone?"
Johanna held Jeanne tightly, glaring at Eleonora.
"I heard your sister's name. What about you?" Eleonora asked.
"...Hugh."
"Family name?"
"Hugh de Joybune."
Eleonora let out a breath and looked at Johanna, whose eyes had widened.
"Jeanne de Joybune..."
"You recognize it?"
Johanna nodded slowly. Eleonora scratched her head and sighed.
"For now, they'll stay in the castle. Johanna, I need to hear your reason."
"In my memories from Japan... those two were there."
"Oh, is this one of those 'otome games' or whatever?"
"Little Jeanne is supposed to hear the voice of God... in about eight years."
At those words, Eleonora burst into laughter.
"God's voice, huh? That's a new one. Never heard it myself—not before or after being born in this world."
"It's the story. So if it happened once, it could happen again..."
"Maybe. But we've already changed things, haven't we? That means the future can change too."
Eleonora placed a hand on Johanna's shoulder, her tone slower now. Johanna hesitated, unsure.
"...Could I ask what kind of story this is?"
"If you're willing to listen, I'll tell you."
After losing the war in Tyria, the Empire of Loriengita fractured when Emperor Raimont died. Civil war followed. Amid famine and chaos, Jeanne lost her family—and then, one day, she received a divine revelation:
—Go east, to the lands without gods. Spread the faith, and you shall be saved.
Believing those words, Jeanne gathered allies and set out for the eastern lands. But in the end, the world chose power over love.
"...Sounds like the Baltic Crusade," Eleonora muttered.
"Maybe. But the one who was reincarnated didn't know much about history."
"Well, whatever. What matters is that the girl and her brother are alive."
She ended the talk there and called for the maid.
"Start with soup and barley gruel. They won't be able to stomach anything heavy yet. And let the boy sleep afterward—he'll need rest."
"Yes, ma'am."
As the maid left, Eleonora turned back to Johanna.
"So? What are you planning for those two?"
"Nothing," Johanna said. "They're just kids. Of course we'll protect them."
"They're the main characters in the story, though," Eleonora said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you saying we should... kill them before anything happens?"
"I never said that!"
"Still, we don't know what's coming."
"...That's just life, isn't it?"
Eleonora chuckled and stood.
"So, where are you sending them? The church?"
"No," Johanna shook her head. "I'll keep them with me."
Relieved, she nodded—but then remembered something.
"Oh, right. Someone's here to see you, Ms. Eleonora."
"Me? Who?"
"A man wearing a mask. He says he wants to serve you."
Johanna, now without her saintly powers, had been handling paperwork and errands for Eleonora since they arrived in Parisess. Everyone kept telling her to rest.
"Why are they telling you, though? You don't have official authority."
"I have results. That's enough."
Eleonora gave a tired sigh and turned to the doorway.
Notes:
• Johanna - Silvia's new name.
• Jeanne - Female. A young girl with a lovely name. Her appearance is not described in detail, but she blushes and smiles shyly. She is the twin sister of Hugh and is expected to hear the voice of God in 8 years. Her parents were killed, and she is currently under the protection of Eleonora and Johanna.
• Ropsein Kingdom - A budding military power located in Naroppa, known for restructuring Kotche territory and functioning as a production base for weapons and armor. It has protected the lives of soldiers from the Holy Maro Empire.
• Elodia - The second princess of Loriengita. She has shown favor to Georges, who aims to marry her by achieving military merit.
• Hugh - Male. A cautious and protective older brother. His appearance is not described in detail, but he has a sulky expression. He is the twin brother of Jeanne and has a strong sense of duty. His parents were killed, and he is currently under the protection of Eleonora and Johanna.
• Raimont - The ruler of Loriengita.
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