Alicia was astonished over the revelation by her father. It was a really shocking story. No normal person would believe someone saying “Hey, my wife is a noble who came from another world”.
“Well I was going to say this when you were older but given the current situation I should tell you this since there is no need to hide it anymore. And…”
As Ronald takes a deep breath and Irene took a sip of tea in the sideline as her husband reveals her past.
“Forgive us for never telling you this.”
“Its alright father, mother. I’m sure you have a good reason for it. More importantly, what happened after that? How did mother and father get married?”
“Well it went like this.”
After the incident, the entire household now are under the protection of the Court. They usually do this when the person or group can no longer live safely in their own world and have a good relationship with the Court (albeit just one or two Wizards were enough to make you a friend to the whole organisation).
Initially, they wanted to immediately return however after they learned that the king whom the duke swore loyalty to despite his preference towards the younger prince was also in on the assassination plot, they given up returning. The duke felt betrayed in particular. They were also presumably dead there so it doesn’t matter. As for the territory the family left behind, it was later managed by a civil servant in which the Court had an involvement in picking so the territory wouldn’t suffer the same fate. As for everybody else, it sucks for them to not be able to see their families again, but they don’t mind too much because of their loyalty to the household.
They would normally live near the vicinity of the base however they had recently taken in a large amount of refugees from another world, they could not afford to take more at the moment. And there someone took the opportunity.
“I will bring all of them to my world as the next head of the Bell Conglomerate!”
Yes, the young Ronald Bell just said that. His friend simply facepalm at the outrageous proposal. His father to was loss for words when he heard the news. The Court had very strict rules when it comes to bringing people from one world to another with exception of their own world though that is strict as well.
As you can guess, he succeeded anyway. Given the fact the current situation there is also a reason for him to say about the Bell Conglomerate.
It was the son of the first Bell who was Ronald’s father, Alicia’s grandfather had the idea of spreading the company other worlds, making branches there. It was an absurd idea but there was a proposition. The idea was the Bell Conglomerate were to set up a branch in one world, have someone in that world that can be trusted to manage it and simultaneously know about the Court and tell anything happening there. Essentially, its a spy unit under the guise of a simple merchant company. Only the president of that branch and other high positioned workers and their descendants who would then take over their jobs after their retirement would know about this secret. Ordinary employees would never be aware who they were working for. A merchant would dig up any information for profit so suspicion would be low. Another benefit would be that the branch can also be used by Wizards for convenience and the court can get their hands on that world’s money safely too (usually, they would have to sell a bunch of gold into black markets of that world). It was an ingenious idea.
It was also the reason that the Ronald and co. made contact with the Illyer family.
The branch in the Kirash Kingdom was only recently opened there right in Illyer’s territory. With smart business moves by the chosen president, it prospers sparking interest with the duke himself. He wanted to meet the man and so he gave an invitation. The branch president gives the letter to Ronald and without missing the chance to associate with such a powerful duke, he with Owen’s father went to meet him (with the branch president).
At the meeting, Ronald revealed the true colors of the company and the Court. The duke was of course taken aback at such a claim. He would of course do something about an otherworld group spying on the kingdom but Ronald had managed to win his trust and thus, the duke decided to cooperate with them since the Court was also in favor of the first prince to be crowned (which ultimately failed anyway).
It is also at that time Ronald met Alicia’s mother.
“Well things happen and we fell in love.”
“Should you explain our daughter about it further, dear?”
“Yes do tell me father.”
“Er… alright.”
…after telling Alicia about it (sorry still working on the story between them. Explained in later chapters).
Now back on topic, as Ronald had successfully secured the rights to bring the entire Illyer household to his home, he got to work.
He had made identifications for every person and managed to keep it under the radar especially when he married Irene (he is the son of the wealthiest businessman at that time after all, he is famous). He had also given the workers of the household new jobs to.
First is the maids, butler, chef, etc working in the mansion. Some to a mountain villa the conglomerate owns which Irene’s parents lived due to their dislike on the city atmosphere. He also train Bell’s driver who was once the carriage driver to drive a car.
Next, he had the captain and his subordinates of Illyer’s personal army, who were there at the burning of the manor, and the first prince’s attendants who were guards too trained and entered the police force. The captain today had become chief and was famous too.
“Wait, Chief Oswald?”
“Yes, moving on.”
(The whole explanation is being conveyed by Ronald mind you)
The prince got himself a degree (since Ronald would never fake one) and got work into the conglomerate. He got a really high position. He also married Irene’s younger sister too which factors in his promotion. In short, he is Alicia’s uncle now named Albert Kirash.
“So you got the police under your thumbs father?”
“Is that the first thing you said, my daughter?”
He ended of with a “Tomorrow, you will go to the Court. Owen, please guide her as according to the custom.”
