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Freedom
Tanya didn’t reply right away. I didn’t rush her. I just leaned on the door and waited for her answer. As I said, I needed her opinion. I wanted to know what she wanted. If she wanted to leave and I kept her, she’d only loathe herself more. If she wanted to stay, I wouldn’t tell her to leave.
I was thinking, “What does Tanya want, though? Does she want to stay or leave?”
As Lucia and Nier said, Tanya was an understanding and sensible kid. When she realised what her condition was, she’d definitely choose to leave so that she didn’t disturb and threaten us. The North was her only home, however. I wanted to know if Tanya really wanted to leave.
Tanya didn’t make a sound after a long wait. I straightened up and turned around to look at the door. I sincerely said, “Tanya, I’m not looking for you answer after you think about it carefully. I want to know what you’re thinking, but that’s precisely why I think your answer is meaningless. Tanya, I know what you’re thinking. You’re a child. Don’t think about risks, safety, not safe and whatnot. You just need to tell me if you want to leave or stay. Of course, even if you go further North, I’ll make sure to have Irina look after you. I won’t give you the cold shoulder; you’re welcome back anytime, and I’ll visit you. You’re at home, Tanya. We’re your family. Nier and Lucia may not be your biological mother, but we all treat you as our child and sister. We all care about you. Therefore, we care about your feelings. Tell me, do you want to stay or not?”
I chose to word my last question as “stay” as opposed to “leave”. I was sure that Tanya could notice the subtle difference. As long as she said she wanted to stay. I’d have a reason to keep her. To be honest, I didn’t want her to leave; unfortunately, I wasn’t the only person in the Imperial Palace. If the others in the palace evaluated her as a liability I forcibly kept, they’d most likely discriminate against her. That was why I need justification. If Tanya wanted to stay, then I’d have a legitimate reason to keep her.
Tanya gently pulled open the door. She was expressionless despite the situation. I truly couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Eventually, she solemnly answered, “Your Majesty, I wish to leave.”
“Wh-…”
Tanya nodded: “I want to leave. It is not because I feel that I will bring you trouble or because others feel that I am a threat but because I want to leave. I was happy during my time with you. I can sacrifice anything for you, which is why I do not feel discontent with my current condition. To the contrary, I am honoured. Hence, please allow me to do something for my parents as a child, and let me leave. While I am at it, I will help you watch over those dragons.”
“Tanya…”
“These are my heartfelt feelings,” asserted Tanya, smiling very subtly, albeit bitterly.
I was sure that was Tanya’s genuine smile. She rarely smiled; she usually looked stoic. For that reason, I could tell how happy and blissful she felt despite how subtle her smile was.
I carefully touched her head and reciprocated the smile: “Yeah? You want to leave? I shall respect your decision, then. I’ll help you pack your luggage and inform Irina that you’ll be arriving there anytime. To be honest, I have plans for the North. I intend to establish a military in the North. Tanya, you should be ready and capable of handling things on your own now after Mommy Elizabeth mentored you. The rest will be on you to enact on it. Henceforward, actually, from the moment you leave the Imperial Capital, you will be the supreme commander of the entire North’s military.”
“Your Majesty!”
“There’s no need to be emotional, Tanya. You don’t need to thank me yet. I’m looking forward to seeing your performance. As I said in the past, if you want to come back, you’re always welcome back. If possible, I’ll be sure to visit you.”
I doubt that I’d go to the North as I didn’t want to go to Irina’s place. I was somewhat reluctant to accept Irina’s child despite him being my child. I was reluctant to recall how he came to be. I didn’t want to remember Irina and the dragons. As long as they didn’t harm the North, then I was fine with them residing further north.
Tanya still didn’t have any clothes on, so I didn’t let her come out of her room. I headed outside.
Tanya’s matter was settled. She chose to leave. That wasn’t what I expected, but I respected her wish. Since it was what she wanted, I could accept it.
According to Freya, it was time we built a military. I didn’t intend to form a military in the same format as Hilles City. Humanity could support so many armies with their large numbers, but that was pointless for the North. An army of ten thousand sufficed for the meantime.
Every factory had begun production. Cannons and rifles had filled every military warehouse. I felt the North, metaphorically speaking, was a big barrel of gun powder. We could pull out the gear for an entire army at the click of a finger. I needed to have the factories to turn their focus elsewhere for there were very few factories where the commoners worked at. Most of the factories were the Imperial Palace’s military factories. I figured I could have some of them focus on producing other stuff. At the very least, I needed to empower the North with more commercial products.
The North could be business driven in the future. We could purchase raw materials from Hilles City and Duargana. Then, we would produce commercial goods in the North to satisfy needs within the North and export them. It’d affect businesses in the elven lands and humanity’s; nevertheless, I was sure we could advance human society if we increased the range of available goods. I needed to produce lots of things internally.
I had Lorana and the dark elf, which made up the powerful duo of dark elves’ research and humanity’s technology. Next, I needed more scientists. I wasn’t after a system of a few individuals but an education system. It was to ensure the North was always the leader in science and technology.
The one benefit of Troy City being labelled as the City of Freedom was that everyone was willing to go there. The North? Same deal.