The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me

14 – First Day of Vacation

There was a Haven Orphanage on the outskirts of the Empire.

Unexpectedly, there were levels even among orphanages. The closer an orphanage was to the capital of the Empire, the higher the probability of receiving support and higher chances of adoption.

In that sense, the situation of Haven Orphanage, which was poorly located, was not very pleasant.

The children didn’t have proper clothes, always having to wear hand-me-downs from older siblings, and the only books they had in the orphanage were shabby, faded, Empire language books.

Aileen had requested aid from the Empire multiple times, but was never accepted. In her heart, a growing hatred for the Empire was blossoming… At least, this was the content of the novel Ascal knew.

“Are you the helper who came as a daily teacher?”

“Yes, it’s Ray, the one who contacted you.”

Ascal applied to Haven Orphanage as a daily teacher, hiding his identity. In fact, being a daily teacher wasn’t anything extravagant.

Just playing with the children and reading books to them was more than enough. If he was unlucky, he might have to wash a diaper or two.

“Where have I seen that face before…”

Aileen seemed pleasantly surprised as she recognized Ray, or rather, Ascal’s face.

“You were a regular at our sandwich shop! What a coincidence…I understand that you were flustered when the shop disappeared; the orphanage got busy.”

“I understand. Of course, the main job comes first.”

Following Aileen’s guidance into Haven Orphanage, Ascal felt that something was strange.

The situation of the Haven Orphanage in the novel Ascal knew was simply the worst.

The children were so starved that they couldn’t eat properly, and their blankets were infested with lice, causing them to toss and turn every night, unable to sleep properly.

Thus, the children who grew up struggling in the orphanage harbored hatred for the empire in their hearts and grew up to be excellent anti-imperialists. It was a desirable outcome.

However, the orphanage that Aileen led him to was different from what Ascal knew.

Contrary to the description in the novel, the orphanage building was clean and seemed quite decent. It even looked like a prestigious school.

“The building is clean?”

“They recently expanded it.”

Expansion?

Where did the money come from?

‘Ah, I gave it.’

Up until now, Ascal had anonymously donated most of the bribes he received to the Haven Orphanage.

There was an evil intention behind it. By sponsoring the children, who would grow up to be anti-imperialists, in advance, he planned to receive amnesty even if the empire fell.

Moreover, there was an expectation that if the young anti-imperialists were raised in a pleasant environment, they would grow much better.

Could a one-star rebel evolve into a three-star rebel?

’But this, …’

Swish.

A ball flew in.

“My ball! My ball!”

“Uh, it’s offside. It’s not your ball.”

“Kids, be careful when there are guests! If you keep doing that, your ball will be confiscated!”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Aileen.”

Ascal picked up the ball.

It wasn’t a tattered ball with a peeling skin, seemingly ready to cry “Kill me…” but rather a shiny and clean new one.

“Mister?”

As Ascal held the ball and was lost in thought, the children who were playing with the ball looked at him curiously.

Ascal looked at the children.

Their chubby bodies seemed to be well-fed with meals consisting of a blend of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Their clothes were clean, and their faces were radiant.

‘Do they live better than most noble children?’

Something seemed wrong.

“Everyone, this is Mr. Ray, who came to volunteer as a one-day teacher today. He’s from the Imperial Management City.”

Aileen gathered the children and introduced Ascal.

‘Maybe I should have lied about my job.’

In recent times, the pitiful trend of men with no jobs who have passed the age of enlistment being treated less than human has spread throughout the Empire. Thus, Ascal could not simply say he was unemployed.

Moreover, an unemployed person was not even allowed to participate in the relief activities at the orphanage. Unable to think of a suitable job, Ascal claimed to be an Imperial administrator, but he had the feeling he had made a mistake.

These children have been ostracized by the Empire.

If he was an Imperial administrator, they should have had a negative reaction …

“Wow, that’s so cool!”

“I want to work in the Empire too!”

“What should I learn to become an administrator?”

A flood of inquiries poured in.

‘What is happening here?’

The children did not hate the Empire at all.

With a flustered look on his face, Ascal answered their questions.

“You can become an administrator if you thoroughly study and review the basic subjects.”

“Our tutor says it’s different …”

Huh, a tutor?

You guys have a tutor?

“Once a week, we invite a tutor from the outside to teach the children the subject of their choice.”

Ascal was at a loss for words.

“I want to be a musician when I grow up!”

The orphan children had name tags attached to their clothes. Crina. This child later became the leader of the anti-Imperial guerrilla force.

“I’m going to be a chef!”

The one who just spoke was Stefan. Later, this child carried a bomb into the Imperial government building and committed a suicide bombing.

“Hmph. You’re all so trivial. I’m going to be a minister.”

Finally, this child was Sirius… He was the leader of the anti-Imperial forces in the story.

“What rank are you as an administrator?”

“I’m a 6th rank.”

“Hmm. Not bad.”

Sirius crossed his arms and nodded his head. He wore a look that said he earned the right to speak with him.

At this rate, it didn’t seem like these kids would grow up to be in the anti-Imperial force.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Ascal asked.

“By any chance, haven’t you thought about it? Wanting to take revenge on the empire that has ignored you all this time, or to blow up the building constructed with the blood of commoners lined up with bombs…”

“Teacher, are you a communist?”

“Guys, report this to the empire quickly!”

One child ran out, and Ascal quickly grabbed the child’s leg.

From No ble mt L dot c om

It took quite a while for him to explain that it was a joke.

Eventually, Ascal realized.

The fact that he had donated too much money to the orphanage.

It turned out that the worst result came from throwing away all the bribes, as it was troublesome.

The children who would grow up as half-empire soldiers had instead become the empire’s pawns…

“Teacher, please look at this. I drew this picture.”

A child who looked about six years old held out a picture he had diligently drawn to Ascal.

Ascal looked at the picture.

Though it was clumsy, there was a man with black hair and a cloak. The man was smiling and wielding a sword. It was a wonderful picture full of sincerity.

“Who is this?”

“It’s the Sword Gentleman.”

“Sword Gentleman?”

“He’s a very great adult who sponsored our orphanage!”

Sword Gentleman.

Come to think of it, Ascal remembered.

When Ascal donated to the Heiven Orphanage, he had used the alias Sword.

So this picture drawn was an imaginary Ascal.

“Oh, is this the Sword Gentleman?”

Then, Stephan came close.

“It’s well-drawn, but my Sword Gentleman is cooler.”

Stephan pulled out a handmade doll from his pocket. The man in a suit with a conductor’s baton looked like the indomitable bookman.

“Is this the end of Sword Gentleman?”

“? There’s one hanging on the wall too.”

Stephan pointed to the wall with his finger. There was a large frame on the wall. A black-haired, handsome man he had never seen in his life was drawn, elegantly standing in it.

＜The great comrade Sword – by Sirius＞

“I can’t believe it, seriously.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yes. The children are so clever that it seems I don’t have much to teach them.”

“hahahaha. I guess so. But they’re all quite mischievous, even if they try to act tough.”

Before leaving, Aascal had a conversation with Aileen.

Clearly, Aileen later awakens as a saint due to her hate and despair towards the empire.

But does the same hold true now? Perhaps Aileen could have led an ordinary life, teaching the children.

“What do you think, if the man who sponsored the orphanage, Mr. Kal, had ulterior motives?”

“Well… even if the intention was bad at first, as long as the result is good, wouldn’t it be considered as a good deed? That’s what I think.”

“Is that so?”

“Most importantly, thanks to him, we are all happy.”

It seemed there was nothing more to hear.

Aascal left the orphanage, bidding farewell to the children.

“Goodbye, teacher!”

“Come back again next time!”

“Bye-bye!”

However, Aascal never knew that Aileen watched his back long after he turned away.

Quietly, Aileen whispered a word of thanks that no one could hear, soon to be carried away by a gentle breeze.

The first day of vacation came to an end.

Upon returning home, Aascal discovered his appointment letter and a royal seal signed letter from the Crown Prince on the desk.

“When on earth was this delivered… No, how did they open the door?”

It seemed as if he had glimpsed the horrifying truth in the letter.

The hurried handwriting sounded as if it was the voice of the Crown Prince himself.

＜Congratulations on becoming a 5th class manager, Aascal. You don’t know how hard it was to get through those old fogies’ opposition. Eventually, I made you a 5th class with my royal prerogative. No need for any gratitude, the massage I received in the staff lounge that day was worth it. When your vacation is over, let’s ride together later! hahahahaha!＞

Aascal gave the letter to Pegasus, who had recently been given the nickname “Per.”

“Neigh!”

Per enjoyed the taste of the letter. It seemed the high-quality paper satisfied him.