Chapter 147 : Chapter 147
Chapter 147. The Princess’s Two Faces (1)
Young Master Hamel, who had visited to celebrate Princess Ophelia’s birthday, ended up staying here for several weeks. Eluna, who had come with him, did the same.
“Why are you not going back right away?”
“You gave me a mission, did you not?”
I was still using Eluna’s lap as a pillow. When I tilted my head from that position, Eluna stopped stroking my hair and looked down at me.
“The new paper.”
“Ah. I wondered what you meant.”
“All things in the world pass through the Royal Capital. I plan to broaden my horizons here and look for some ideas.”
“In other words, you came here to play.”
“Surely not.”
Eluna smiled beautifully, and I let out a sigh. When it already was not enough for me to go all in on product development, a five-hundred-year-old story had suddenly surfaced, so my head was somewhat complicated.
Still, I had to make what needed to be made.
I had to abandon the suffocating thought that I should simply do it myself. Making good use of the resources around me and assigning manpower efficiently would produce far better results.
“You still have not found a clue?”
“No.”
Eluna answered honestly. I thought it would not be an easy problem. Even the paper from the world I had lived in had been made with all sorts of chemical agents mixed in. There was no way something like that would simply appear at once.
When I put on a deliberately serious expression, Eluna began watching my reaction.
“It must be a difficult problem even with elven blood. Since you handle trees well, I thought you would make something quickly.”
“Somehow, every time I cut down wood and grind it finely, my heart aches.”
“……I am sorry about that.”
“No, it is all right. I have more human blood in me than elven blood, after all. It is fine. I will grow used to it as I continue.”
She did not look fine, but she seemed to be deliberately making a strong show of being fine, so I felt sorry.
I admit that much. I was a wicked boss and master. But there was nothing I could do. Even the elves would understand once they saw innovative paper made from wood as a raw material. Perhaps they might even offer the World Tree.
Would paper made from the World Tree not be something special?
Perhaps magic would be cast on it to improve its writing feel, or perhaps the ink would not fade and would be preserved forever. It sounded very good.
Naturally, I did not say that thought aloud. Eluna would be deeply disappointed.
Perhaps because the atmosphere had suddenly sunk, Eluna changed the subject.
“Even if I return to the Adeline Territory, the trade route is blocked, so there is not much for me to do. Even without you, Master, Sir Kalmond is working hard, and after we signed the exclusive supply contract with House Adeline, the company also entered a stable state, so there is no need for me to move personally. Mr. Spinel has shut himself inside the laboratory and will not come out. And…….”
I had been briefly doing something else, biting my fingernail, but when she trailed off, my gaze naturally turned toward her. She was looking at me.
“Sir Kalmond is worried about you, Master.”
“Why would that fellow be?”
“He said you have been away from his side for too long. So we finished the discussion with the conclusion that I would assist you for the time being. He told me to tell you not to worry about the company’s affairs.”
“Is that so?”
It was not a bad idea. Moving alone around the vast Royal Capital had been somewhat burdensome, so this was good timing. After all, I now had a highly capable subordinate.
“Then do that. I will specially allow you to stay at the mansion.”
“Would that be all right?”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems Young Lady Sapiela is conscious of me.”
Perhaps because Eluna was still a woman after all, she straightened her chest with a meaningful smile. Her Favorability was also near its maximum. It was clear that she had feelings for me.
She had this side to her as well?
However, when I imagined the Young Lady becoming irritated for no reason after seeing Eluna, my head began to ache.
“Even so, considering efficiency, there is no helping it. Reducing my route of movement is your role. I will give you a room, so stay there. Try talking with the Young Lady as well and become close to her.”
“That is rather difficult. Perhaps even more difficult than making new paper.”
“It is an order.”
Eluna lowered her head and showed her obedience. For some reason, however, there was a smile on her lips. Surely she was not enjoying this situation.
“By the way, how will you return? You came comfortably while following the Young Master, but it will not be easy to go back alone.”
“I decided to return with Young Master Hamel as well.”
“Will that be all right?”
Perhaps she noticed the worry in my voice, because Eluna answered with a smile.
“Nothing will happen. Surprisingly, he seems to have no interest in women. He did not give me a single glance on the way here, except when there was work to discuss.”
“Yes. I also find that a little unexpected.”
And this was Eluna, of all people.
With her exotic appearance, pure white skin, and fairly impressive figure, a healthy man could not help turning his eyes toward her. Decisively, the very fact that Sapiela was conscious of her meant she was someone of that caliber.
“Could that also be one of the reasons you chose the Third Young Master, Master?”
“Who knows.”
Alignment was certainly important. However, I had chosen him for a slightly different reason.
Some might think it was a somewhat emotional decision, but the reason I sided with the Third Young Master was because a clear future appeared in my mind when I was with him.
From the other two young masters, I only received unpleasant feelings, and I saw no particular vision.
Even setting aside the fatal weaknesses of a taste for men and Dark Magic.
“In any case, since we have placed our stakes, we must hope our affairs go well. To eat the fruit or drink the poison…… that is the question. Up we go!”
I raised myself. I saw Eluna’s face as she let out a soft “Ah” and looked regretful. I understood that she wanted me to stay a little longer, but I was working right now.
I rose from my seat, looked into the mirror, and straightened my disheveled tailcoat.
“It is about time for me to go work. An esteemed guest will come this evening, so if you want to broaden your connections, dress yourself up. I will attach a maid to you.”
“You are kind.”
“Receiving guests is my specialty.”
I opened the door and was about to go outside when a thought suddenly came to me, so I turned back.
“You know a bit about quilting, do you not? Go out right now and prepare various good tools and materials.”
“Understood.”
“Do not spare the money. Do you understand?”
After emphasizing that repeatedly, I went outside.
***
That evening, Princess Ophelia visited the mansion as promised.
It had been noisy long before she arrived. Since she had personally led the Royal Guard here while riding in a splendid carriage, that was only natural.
Receiving the Princess was the role of Sapiela and Brituang, the Chief Administrative Officer. Young Master Hamel was irresponsibly waiting inside. It would not have been enough even if he came out and wagged his tail. Well, he must have his own thoughts.
And I, a mere insignificant Attending Butler, stood one step back.
“Welcome, Your Highness. It is an infinite honor that you accepted our invitation.”
Sapiela held the hem of her dress and offered a splendid greeting. However, Ophelia, who received the greeting, said a single indifferent word.
“Why are you suddenly acting like this? It is embarrassing.”
“I am greeting you as the representative of House Adeline.”
“I did not come because I had business with House Adeline. I simply came to have dinner comfortably with you.”
“I am deeply honored.”
When I looked at the Princess, I naturally thought that she had truly lived an easy life. She had surely been raised with indulgence. Otherwise, she could not have shown such unconventional behavior.
“Enough. Let us hurry inside! I am hungry! Are you hungry too, Ella? You prepared plenty of delicious food, did you not? I am really looking forward to it.”
“It will be to your liking.”
“Then, let us go~”
Sir Cassiopeia, who was behind her, tried to step forward, but the Princess took Sapiela’s hand and went inside, so she could not.
All the important figures, including Brituang, went inside.
The timing had arrived.
I pushed Arthas, who had been hiding beside me, on the back.
“Huh!”
Because my hand carried mana, he could not resist, and after being pushed forward with awkward steps, he ended up standing before Cassiopeia.
“……Arthas?”
“Ah? Hahahaha! It has been a long time. I was going to contact you anyway since I came to the Royal Capital, but to meet you like this. What a coincidence. Sister.”
“I told you not to call me Sister!”
WHACK!
Sir Cassiopeia struck him on the back. Since it was a hand wearing a gauntlet, had she broken a bone? Still, he was wearing armor, so it probably ended with a bruise at most.
“Ugh…… Why are you hitting someone the moment you see him?”
“Because I am happy to see you.”
“You still have that wicked hobby. I do not know who will take you as a bride, but still.”
Sir Cassiopeia placed her hand on her scabbard with indifferent eyes. She looked as though she might cut off his head at any moment, so Arthas flinched and stepped back.
They are close, are they? I watched the two reunite with great interest.
I had told Arthas in advance that Sir Cassiopeia would be visiting. They were closer than I expected. After all, they had learned Swordsmanship together.
To be precise, they had gone back and forth between each other’s houses to train in Swordsmanship. Arthas had learned the secret sword art of House Hazard, and Cassiopeia, like me, had also mastered the entire Merdiang Sword Art.
By the way, he had always been a confident fellow, so it was fascinating to see him shrinking before a specific person like this for the first time.
“What have you been doing without sending any news?”
“Well, I was just holed up in the countryside, practicing Swordsmanship.”
“The Adeline Territory is the countryside? Good grief. How absurd. At least make an excuse that makes sense. If your head is bad, you should at least be good at swinging a sword, but you are not even that.”
“……By the way, it looks like things went well for you, Sister. That is a Royal Guard Badge. Is this real? Wow! Fascinating!”
It seemed he had tried to touch the badge, but his hand ended up going to Sir Cassiopeia’s chest.
A silence came over them in an instant.
It did not seem intentional…… but Arthas was hit one more time and staggered. This attack seemed to have carried a bit of Aura.
“Hmph, serves you right. I heard you lost to a Butler Apprentice in a Sparring match. Do not go around saying you learned the secret art of House Hazard anywhere. It is so embarrassing that I cannot hold my head up.”
So that was why she had reacted so sensitively.
It was not simply the feeling of someone close to her having lost. It felt as though her pride had been wounded. If he had lost despite learning the secret art of House Hazard, that said everything.
That said, I could not persuade her by saying, Actually, I am a Mage, a very special Mage with a Mana Circle in my heart instead of my Dantian!
“Sister, you should face him once as well. That fellow is stronger than he seems. He is an Aura User, but when it comes to Swordsmanship, I think he is a genius. You know, do you not? I do not acknowledge people easily.”
At Arthas’s explanation, Sir Cassiopeia’s gaze flew over and fixed on me. Her eyes were half-doubtful and half-convinced.
“A genius? Since you say that, my hands are itching. It would not be bad to check once. What do you think, Sir Dilen? Do you have any intention of exchanging a move with me?”
No. I do not.
I am not so free that I can play along with all of you.
“Today is a fine day on which Her Highness has personally visited us. I cannot possibly point a sword at anyone on such a joyous day. I must attend to the Young Lady, so please excuse me.”
After offering a polite bow, I moved my steps toward the banquet hall.
Some time had passed, so they should have introduced themselves to one another. They were probably having a pleasant conversation.
Young Master Hamel had to do well.
No, I did not even hope for him to do well. I only wanted him to do exactly average. And to suppress that psychopathic temper of his.
With a sigh, I entered the banquet hall.