Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 98.3: Bonus Story: Battle for the Imperial Crown Part 3

Byleathea leads the young woman and her four year old daughter into the capital villa owned by her brother, the heir to her family's viscounty. Her brother meets her at the entrance, walking with them. "Byergeth, it's good to see you."

"Same to you, Byleathea. Come inside, the others are in the upstairs drawing room."

"Thank you for doing this."

"Don't mention it. Come what may, you and Sundenelle are family. I would do anything for you."

Byleathea smiles warmly, teasing playfully, "Be careful saying that, my Lord Brother. Your niece can be quite ruthless."

"I shall ensure that I am behind her, rather than in front of her, then."

He leads them to the room, and the young woman nervously enters, finding the other women with their children at all.

The most recent one with the daughter is the daughter of a merchant family with a fabric production method that is barely keeping them afloat. As she studies the other women and children, she doesn't recognize any of them, but the children catch her eyes.

They look like they could be siblings to her daughter, in spite of their mothers sharing only their hair color of a light brown.

"Um... M-My Lord, My Lady..." murmurs the young woman a she holds her daughter close. "M-May I ask what is going on, now?"

Byleathea replies gently. "You must be very concerned. But, please don't be afraid. These women are in much the same circumstances as you. We are investigating the man who may be the father to your children."

The women all gasp, stunned by this revelation, and they all instantly realize the same things; Byleathea mentioned only a single father, but very obviously referred to all of the children present. Now, each of the women are sizing each other up to determine who they might have met in common, as they all believed that they had met a true prince.

The only exception is a rather skinny woman with light freckling and a brand on her cheek. The brand is a bit foreboding, as it is something rumored to be the mark of exile from the Imperial Palace.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what it is, and the woman with the scar pleads, "Please, I haven't said a word to anyone! I swear! I have been doing everything I can to survive. P-Please don't..."

"Shhh," replies Byleathea. "You don't have to be afraid. We aren't here to hurt you. We need your help."

"I'll never try to prove his status! He's my son, and only my son!" The woman has the oldest child, a seven year old boy whose hand she is clutching. He is watching the conversation with innocent, but concerned eyes. The mother drops to her knees, beginning to cry.

Byleathea doesn't move. She can't show favoritism, as all of these women are victims of the same circumstance. Fortunately, they are the ones that were able to be bought off.

"The father your children all have in common doesn't know about you, as far as we can tell. Or rather, your children specifically. I can't say how he'll react, but the agents responsible for sending you money and ordering you to remain silent are threatened by your existence."

The young woman with the youngest daughter feels a sense of dread as well. The way the conversation is going, they have been entangled in the politics of noble families. But, the man who she spent the night with claimed he was a prince and went by the name of Fau. She was easily charmed, but after being discarded, she never saw him again. The only person to approach her afterwards in regards to her mystery lover was a person paying her money and forcing her to sign a contract, lest her entire family be destroyed.