Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Elf Who Wants to Be Insulted
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The elf was beating around the bush as much as she could, but I understood exactly what she meant right away.
She was basically saying she'd kill me if I didn't stay in character as the "master who insults her."
Snapping back to my senses, I broke out in a cold sweat and pulled my hand away from the elf's shoulder.
"With that thick skull of yours, it's only natural you wouldn't get it. No point praising someone who can't even comprehend it anyway."
Only then did the elf's expression soften, and she started sniffling again. I let out a quiet sigh of relief inside and jerked my chin toward the mansion.
"If you have nothing else to say, get back to your room. Looking at your face is making me nauseous."
"I'm sorry for having such a disgusting face... But, um, Master, there's something I need to tell you..."
"What is it?"
"I accidentally broke three of your favorite plates. A stupid, incompetent slave like me deserves to be punished by her master..."
When the hell did you break the plates, you crazy bitch...?
"You useless idiot. I'll administer the proper corporal punishment for that, so wait for it."
At my words, the elf's sniffling stopped dead.
Huh, what? In the uneasy silence that filled the air, I slowly replayed what I'd just said.
'But she didn't actually do anything wrong this time?'
That made sense— this was the first time she'd seemed unhappy when I said I'd punish her.
'Was my acting off?'
No, that wasn't it. The contemptuous, disgusted expression I'd honed through practice on the elf was flawless—even I would've been fooled by it.
So, did she pick up on some nuance in my words? From her perspective, she'd pulled off an amazing feat fulfilling my wish, so maybe she was annoyed by the measly reward of "proper punishment."
Yeah, that had to be it. Clearing my throat, I tried again.
"I misspoke. I'll give you a harsh beating, so brace yourself."
My guess was spot on, apparently—the elf started sniffling once more. What a relief.
"N-Nooo...! Please forgive me, Mastaaar...!"
"Forgiveness? A sow like you can beg for forgiveness after you've been punished."
"D-Don't do iiiit...!"
"Your whiny voice is grating on my nerves. Get back to your room."
I waved her off demonstratively, and the elf shuffled toward the mansion, tears trickling from her eyes. Crisis averted, for now.
But harsh punishment, huh. It felt like I'd been saddled with an unexpected headache already.
"Young Master!"
As I was clutching my head, Baynen's voice rang out. I turned to him with a bright smile—surely a good-for-nothing like him would know what to do.
Baynen approached me, wearing an unusually kind smile.
"Congratulations on completing the magic spell you've been longing for. Oh, and the old man seems to have caught a cold—he was coughing—so I shoved him back into his room."
"Good work. More importantly, Baynen, do you know anything about things women like?"
"Pardon? Things women like...? Ah, you mean adult toys?"
"Adult toys?"
"The sexual items witches sell, right? But why bring that up out of nowhere?"
It was hard to explain. I coughed awkwardly instead of answering, and Baynen grinned lewdly, like he got the picture.
"Well, yeah. You're at that age where you'd start getting interested. It's late today, but tomorrow I'll take you to a witch's shop I know, so don't worry."
I nodded without a word.
Even though it wasn't my idea, my face still burned hot.
Trying something I wasn't used to felt like death.
*
Late at night.
Roilen arrived at the imperial palace via warp gate and headed straight for Benelliia's chambers.
There was no need to knock—the door was already open, as if she'd been expecting him.
Taking a deep breath, Roilen entered and spotted Benellia seated before a massive tapestry depicting a white lion.
She didn't even glance up as he entered, completely absorbed in the chessboard on her desk.
"......"
Roilen started to speak but held back when he saw how seriously she was studying the board—far more intently than he'd expected. He simply observed the princess's appearance instead.
Her black hair, tinged with gray, cascaded down past her waist in luxurious waves, and her half-lidded eyes gleamed with a cold golden hue, conveying utter boredom.
Her slender jawline and neatly aligned lashes lent her an elegance befitting her title.
That elegance wasn't just facial. Though she wore the military uniform of the empire's generals, it suited her perfectly without a hint of awkwardness.
She stood in stark contrast to girls her age who dolled up in frilly dresses to win men's hearts.
She had the air of a sovereign who inspired unwavering loyalty, but there was one issue: her figure was quite impressive, drawing the eye inexorably to the graceful curves of her chest.
"You're leering like a filthy beast."
Gah! Startled, Roilen quickly averted his gaze upward. How did she know without even looking? Coughing to compose himself, he smoothly changed the subject.
"Your Highness. If you wanted to play chess, why not wait until I arrived?"
"Not in the mood. I'd have the advantage against you anyway."
"Heh heh. That's how you improve—by playing those who outmatch you."
"You always make me repeat myself. I said I don't want to school you."
"School me?"
Roilen blinked at the unfamiliar term, and Benellia clicked her tongue lightly.
"You'd think a full professor at the university mage tower would know his students' slang. 'Schooling' is short for slaughtering commoners. It's what you say when there's a huge skill gap."
"What a vulgar expression... I'll make sure the students watch their mouths."
"Let it slide. It's amusing—no need to stifle their freedom. Besides, you have more important things to worry about. Isn't there that seditious book that's been making waves lately?"
Clack. Benellia moved her black knight to capture the white bishop, then pondered her next move from white's perspective.
Roilen watched her, clearing his throat again.
"We've apprehended the culprit who wrote and distributed that obscene book insulting Your Highness. The trial is pending, but..."
"Don't kill him."
"Pardon?"
"The crime reeks of cowardice—must be my second brother's doing. He's scheming behind the scenes to tarnish my reputation. Even setting that aside, I actually rather liked that book."
Cold sweat beaded on Roilen's forehead.
"...Did you read it, by any chance?"
"Yes. I still remember the scene where the me in the story gets captured by the enemy general and raped for three days and nights. The psychological depiction was exquisite—quite arousing, in fact."
"Y-Your Highness!"
"No need to be shocked. I'm serious. Of course, I said don't kill the culprit—not don't punish him. Cut off his left wrist and right ankle. Without anesthesia, and with a saw, not the guillotine."
Without anesthesia, using a saw on wrist and ankle. The risk of death from blood loss or shock was extremely high.
Even if he survived, he'd be branded a traitor and live as a cripple forever. Easy to identify as the amputee criminal, he'd surely be beaten to death by the populace.
Benellia claimed to spare him, but it amounted to a death sentence.
A warning to her second brother and a threat to her other rivals? Chilling, how she plotted so calmly.
"I'll see to it."
"Good."
Benellia acknowledged Roilen's response and moved a piece. Then, with a soft chuckle, she whispered "checkmate." She looked genuinely pleased, even though she'd beaten herself.
"Um, Your Highness."
"Speak."
"I have a report on the artificial rainfall magic from the Deharm family you mentioned before."
"Ah. That was bound to fail. Time was short, wasn't it?"
"No. It succeeded."
Succeeded? Benellia, who'd been staring at the chessboard the whole time, finally looked up.
"Succeeded? Are you jesting with me?"
"No jest—it's the truth. We even tested the phenomenon manifestation with the palace mages."
"What?"
A ripple spread across Benelliia's serene face. Amazement laced with bewilderment pierced her heart.
'How on earth?'
Count Leoberke, summoned to the palace by the emperor, had raved endlessly about Teorad until his ears rang, so half in jest, she'd sent the Deharm family an order to submit a research report.
If progress was poor, it'd give her leverage against Count Leoberke; if there was progress, the imperial family could buy and properly develop the magic.
But to complete artificial rainfall magic? The research records from three years ago had been riddled with errors—a total mess.
'Perhaps.'
It might all have been a ruse. The research was finished long ago, but they'd deliberately hidden the results until the right moment.
Why? As far as Benellia knew, the previous Deharm family head had died of a sudden illness. If Teorad had waited until then to monopolize the credit...
"Hahaha."
Silly laughter escaped Benelliia's lips.
Because she'd spotted a familiar trait in Teorad.
'A cunning parrot, that one.'
How could she dislike a young man with ambition? Compared to those bootlickers and eunuchs who only eyed others' moods, he had real backbone.
'No wonder Count Leoberke praised him nonstop.'
But whether it was a gem or not depended on polishing away the impurities. Benellia didn't jump to conclusions and fixed her gaze on Roilen.
"You've piqued my interest. Come, sit. Tell me more about this Teorad Deharm."
Had Her Highness ever shown such curiosity about another person? Roilen found it odd but happily complied with her request.
The next day, in Pelgaroin County, Red Feather District.
"Here we are. Hard to find a shop like this anywhere else in the county."
True to his word, Baynen had brought me to the witch's shop.
It didn't look that big, but the signboard was obnoxiously eye-catching.
[Turn Your Lover into a Sex Slave with the Witch's Tools!]
The phrasing was so blatant it bordered on vulgar, furrowing my brows.
Even in the Red Feather District, rife with prostitution and decadent entertainment, this seemed over the top.
Hesitating to step forward, I felt Baynen's arm around my shoulder as he grabbed the doorknob. I jolted in surprise.
"B-Baynen! I'm not mentally prepared yet...!"
"What are you saying, like some virgin on her wedding night? You begged to come here earlier."
"Misunderstanding! Like I said, I didn't want to come because I wanted to...!"
"Yeah, yeah. All you rookies say that before stepping inside. You're no different, Young Master. It's not that special, so relax."
Grinning mischievously, Baynen flung the door open.
I squeezed my eyes shut in worry, then opened them—and froze for an entirely different reason.