Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Staged Quarrel
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Having finished grasping the situation, Esili let out a fake cough before gathering up the scattered papers and tucking them back against her thigh. So-called destruction of evidence.
Afterward, a brief silence settled between me and Esili.
It was something worthy of blessing that we understood each other perfectly, but the current situation wasn't calm enough to show it openly.
The elf was watching us. Now, the burden of that fact weighed not just on me, but on Esili as well.
“Sir Theorad. If you've done something shameful, you should apologize on behalf of the family somehow...”
Prolonged silence invites suspicion. Esili tapped the table with a thuk-thuk sound as she forced the words out.
Her gaze was fixed on the orchestra settled in the corner. Wondering what was happening, I turned to look, and the impeccably dressed musicians caught Esili's signal and hurriedly began playing.
Louder than usual, melodies that were anything but serene filled the ballroom.
“Esili. Don't tell me...”
Shh. Esili raised an index finger to caution me once more. *Not yet,* she mouthed, her lips moving faintly.
—Behold! Esteemed ladies and gentlemen!
The servant emceeing the party amplified his voice with magic. The nobles in the hall paired off as if it were routine, pleasant smiles on their faces.
—It's time to cap off the party! Take your partner's hand and gather in the center of the hall! Display your elegant steps beneath the night sky blessed by the God of Light!
The moment the servant finished speaking, the nobles formed pairs and groups of three, making their way to the middle of the hall. The orchestra's music swelled in tandem with the flow.
As I stared vacantly at the scene, Esili whispered in the tiniest voice.
“Sir Theorad. Drag me roughly. Like you're upset.”
“How could I ever treat you roughly?”
“That's sweet, but set it aside for now. Dodging the elf's suspicion comes first, doesn't it?”
Fair point. The elf was still watching us, her expression tinged with doubt.
If I played it half-hearted here, all of Esili's painstaking preparations would go down the drain. I nodded, rose from my seat, and yanked Esili's arm roughly.
“Kyaa—!”
Esili let out a scream as she stumbled into my arms. I felt the soft give of her chest, but this wasn't the time to dwell on it.
I murmured right by her ear.
“What now?”
“...Just in case, take me as far from the elf as possible. But Sir Theorad, I didn't mean *that* hard.”
“Any issue?”
I'd asked out of genuine curiosity, but Esili just hemmed and hawed without answering.
No point standing around regardless. I led Esili to the farthest spot from the elf. Only when we'd reached a secluded corner did I stop and turn to her.
“Now...”
“Dance.”
Dance? Hadn't we come here to talk? I stood there blankly for a moment before surveying our surroundings and getting it.
“Right. Everyone else is dancing—if we just stand here like idiots, it'll look suspicious.”
“That's not why.”
“Hm?”
“I just wanted to dance with you, Sir Theorad. You only bury yourself in books and quiet hobbies. It's been nearly three years since you even showed up to a ball, hasn't it?”
Esili took hold of my left arm and laced the fingers of my right hand with hers. The soft smile playing on her lips was shy yet refined.
“So enjoy it a little. With me.”
She'd put it that plainly—hard to refuse. I flashed a shallow grin and wrapped an arm around her back.
“Very well.”
As the sprightly music built to a crescendo, Esili's feet and mine moved as one. Though every so often my steps tangled and I flailed, Esili would stifle a giggle and guide me back on track.
The waltz—learned but never savored—burst into bloom with her. It felt like a happy fragrance seeping into my inner realm.
“Sir Theorad.”
But such bliss couldn't last. Midway through the dance, Esili's expression shifted, and she whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
“Tell me now. How old is the elf exactly.”
“Ah. By my reckoning, she's two hundred fifty. Her magical prowess rivals that of a grand mage.”
“I see...”
Her reaction was detached, as if she'd half-expected as much. Keeping time with the rhythm, she followed up.
“No other details? Like why she's playacting as a slave?”
“Her disposition's perverse. Beyond that, nothing solid yet.”
“Hm. Well. To me, she doesn't seem like your average elf.”
“Not average?”
“Just speculation. When I asked her name, she didn't answer straight away—brushed it off. And at lunch today, there was this odd hostility in how she looked at me. Simple possessiveness, really?”
We spun once, switching places.
“What're you driving at?”
“Nothing concrete. Just... I doubt she ended up sold to you by chance.”
Bewildering.
“Nothing of the sort on my end. No evidence to pin down her true nature.”
“Same here. For now, I'll dig into what I can on the Great Forest. It's shrouded in mystery, so intel's scarce, but better than zilch.”
“Appreciated, even if only in words.”
“Not *just* words.”
Esili shot me a playful smile and snuck a glance toward the entrance. The elf was still eyeing us.
“Either way, she looks pretty pissed. Can't stand seeing you dance happily with another woman?”
“How'd you know?”
“Woman's intuition. Keep this up, and you'll catch hell from her, Sir Theorad. Worst case, she drags you off to the Great Forest...”
I sucked in a sharp breath and clamped down on Esili's hand.
“That can't happen! I've a duty to safeguard the family...!”
“J-just calm down. Purely worst-case thinking. There's a way out, for sure.”
“A way?”
“Yeah. Unflattering for you, though.”
“Doesn't matter. So long as it soothes the elf's temper.”
“Then... it'll sting a bit.”
Sting? What did she—In that instant, Esili slipped her fingers free and swung at my cheek.
Slap—!
My jaw whipped around, vision strobing. The orchestra cut off; dancing nobles froze and turned our way. Amid my daze, I looked back to see Esili mouthing furiously.
*Act like we fought*
Ah. Pretend we'd fallen out to defuse the elf's anger. And with public violence to boot, no way she'd suspect a ruse.
Convinced, I cleared my throat and straightened my collar.
*But how to sell the fight?*
Esili and I had never so much as quarreled. Truth be told, I'd never had a real spat with anyone in my life.
Too many eyes on us to half-ass it, though—and we had to fool the elf. After a beat of hesitation, I seized her chin.
“You insolent wench.”
I pulled her face toward mine and dipped my head to meet her eyes.
“One day, I'll make you mine.”
Esili's eyes went wide. Her cheeks flushed crimson; her mouth hung slack.
Playing the part, no doubt. I nodded as if to say I got the message, released her chin, and strode toward the entrance.
The elf, who'd been waiting, hurried over and latched onto my arm. Her soft breasts enveloped it in a way that prickled distractingly.
“Maaaster. You okay?”
Satisfaction gleamed in those worried red eyes. Relief flooded me, draining the tension from my body.
“Don't butt in with needless concern.”
“Hiiing... If you're fine, wanna grope my tits, Master?”
“No need. Scram.”
She caught the hint and slunk away reluctantly. I tsked openly and glanced back.
Esili watched with utter naturalness.
*Take care of the rest.*
No choice but to trust her with cleanup. I dipped my head in a light bow and exited the annex.
*
Meanwhile, Esili could only stare blankly at the annex entrance. Her heart pounded too fiercely to settle.
*Insolent wench...?*
She knew it was all an act. But human emotions didn't bend to logic. Her face burned; her breaths came ragged.
One noble, eyeing her curiously, laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Lady Esili. What on earth possessed you to slap Viscount Theorad?”
“Eh? Y-yes?”
Esili snapped to with a dazed sputter.
“Ah, um. He tried to kiss me out of nowhere, so I panicked... Nothing else.”
“Hah. You slapped him for *that*? And you're engaged?”
“Yeah. I was the fool. Shouldn't have...”
The noble barked a good-natured laugh. Her bashful demeanor let him write off the scene as a 'silly spat between young lovers.'
“Sheesh. Brawling over nothing. The fire of youth, eh? Orchestra—keep playing! Can't let the leads' exit kill the ball!”
He clapped sharply, and the music resumed. Amid the buoyant strains came the giggles—kyaa, kyaa—as noblewomen and young ladies buzzed with romantic fancies of their own.
Heat flooded her cheeks; she had nowhere to look.
“I-I should head out.”
With apologies to the surrounding nobles, Esili slipped away from the whirl of dances and chatter, arriving at the annex's private suite.
She shut the door behind her, crossed to the bed, and flopped down, willing her trembling heart to still. Yet every time calm nearly came, Theorad's voice echoed unbidden in her mind.