The Last Day in Pelgaroin (3)
After our long embrace, Esilly and I talked late into the night about this and that. I returned to my room feeling utterly refreshed and quickly fell asleep. When I woke, my heart felt so much lighter. Who knew sharing a secret I'd been agonizing over alone with someone else could bring such immense comfort? On top of that, the confession—not quite a confession—that Esilly had given me in the courtyard kept my heart pounding relentlessly.
At the time, I hadn't let it show, but under the hazy moonlight, as she uttered those misty words, Esilly was several times more beautiful than usual.
— Please, save the first place in your heart for me.
Even now, Esilly's murmured words replayed vividly in my mind. The scene was pitiable yet adorable, compassionate yet alluring, and it lingered endlessly in my thoughts. Thinking it over again, Esilly was far too good for me—a woman so out of my league that I couldn't fathom why she liked a man like me. Sorry yet grateful, a smile crept unconsciously onto my lips.
'I don't want to go back.'
I wanted nothing more than to linger in the castle, chatting with Esilly a while longer. But I couldn't. Dodging the elf who wandered the halls for ongoing secret meetings was unrealistic, and leaving the Deharm family head position vacant too long would tangle up the mansion's affairs. Habid the butler and Baynen Brokena the knight were surely managing things well, but I couldn't shake the unease.
For those reasons, I packed early that morning and arrived at the count's office to bid farewell. After a deep breath, I knocked. Before I could offer a polite word, a stern voice came from the other side.
"Come in."
"Yes. Excuse me."
I opened the door and entered. There sat Count Leoberg Pelgaroin at his desk, monocle perched as he penned a letter—an aura of refined dignity emanating from him. With elegant script flowing from his quill, he murmured quietly.
"You're leaving, I see. The hour seems early. Why not stay another day or two?"
"I appreciate the offer, but I can't leave the mansion unattended too long."
"Stubbornly principled in the trivial things, just like your father."
A brief silence fell. Faint smoke rose from the melting spoon over the burning candle. The count continued writing and added,
"That's a compliment. Don't take it amiss."
"Of course, Count."
"When we're alone, no need for such formal titles."
"...Pardon?"
"You're not that oblivious. How do you plan to win my daughter's heart otherwise? 'Father-in-law' will do."
His kindness warmed one corner of my heart. It was pleasant to hear, but from my position, I couldn't oblige.
"I'll call you that after the wedding. For now, propriety demands otherwise."
"Tsk. Rigid in the useless matters, as I said. Not like the youth of today."
"Shall I take that as praise?"
"This time, it's not. Heed it as admonition."
Pouting because I wouldn't call him father-in-law? As I gauged his mood, he finished writing, folded the letter neatly—straight as if measured with a ruler.
"Theorad. I meant to tell you later, but since you're departing in haste, I'll say it now."
He folded it once more, slipped it into an envelope, and tapped the edge.
"Folks in the imperial palace have taken an interest in you."
The imperial palace? In me?
Speechless at the sudden revelation, I froze. The count casually grasped the melting spoon.
"By now, their letter should have reached Deharm Mansion. When you return, you'll learn who. A fine chance to forge ties with the palace—don't squander it."
"Really? Who exactly... No, why would they...?"
"Wonder after you read it. I hold you in high regard, Theorad. If you don't intend a lifetime as mere viscount, seize this lifeline."
He spoke with generous tone, but I couldn't make sense of it no matter how I turned it over. My regular magic research reports to the palace? Yet I wasn't exceptionally gifted in magic, nor a born scholar of logic. Hardly reason for Deharm's status to draw palace eyes—the family had some renown in the county, but not at court.
'This must be...'
The count had surely leveraged his connections with palace luminaries to put in a good word for me. A gracious act, though with family duties already burdensome, palace scrutiny might prove more trouble than boon. Still, since he'd gone to the effort, I bowed with due respect.
"Thank you for your concern, Count."
"Hm? Seems you're misunderstanding. I never breathed a word of you to the palace. Purely your own merits drew their notice—no thanks to me."
His pinky twitched subtly—his unconscious tell when fibbing.
'So you did mention me.'
His intent was transparent, but no need to press. He clearly preferred not to admit it. Instead, I broached what I'd planned to say before leaving.
"Count."
"Speak."
"Presumptuous as it is, might you transfer authority over the prisoner 'Mernon'—one I captured—to me?"
The count lifted the spoon, dripped sealing wax onto the envelope's center. Then, with his signet ring bearing the family crest, he sealed it smoothly.
"Reason? Lust, grudge, public good, honor—name it."
"None of those. Merely to console a widow and her daughter who lost a husband to that prisoner."
He removed the ring and dusted his hands.
"Pity, then. Good intentions among them. Youthful thinking, not particularly astute."
"Count."
"Yet in this dark world, such salt and light are needed somewhere. Not the worst to have talent like yours in my county. Granted."
Successive favors left me at a loss. I bowed deeply in gratitude.
"Thank you! Count!"
"Everything's a 'thank you' with you. Life must be exhausting that way."
Chuckling softly, he opened a drawer, retrieved a fist-sized box, and set it on the desk.
"Enough talk. Take this and go. I'll return to work."
"What is...?"
"Engagement ring. I meant to stay out of your romance, but after so long courting, you lack even a proper ring."
"My apologies. We planned to exchange after fully confirming our feelings."
"Good. And have you?"
"Yes. Now, I'm certain."
A rare smile graced his face—something akin to contentment.
"Fortunate. My daughter won't scorn such sincerity."
"My sincerity? This is yours..."
"Fool. You plan to name me when gifting an engagement ring? Honesty has limits. Claim you bought it."
"But..."
"Enough. One more word, and I'll deem our bond severed."
Silenced by the threat, I took the ring case wordlessly. Watching me, his eyes felt somehow warm.
Leaving the office, I requested the count's soldiers escort the criminal Mernon, then headed straight for the castle entrance. I couldn't keep my welcomers waiting. In the grand hall adorned with its massive chandelier, the only Pelgaroin family member awaiting me was Esilly. The rest were a few vassal knights like Maltaro and castle servants.
"Ah. Sir Theorad."
Spotting me, Esilly approached with a bright smile, though apology tinged it.
"Sorry. Brother Fred vanished off somewhere again, that pig Maldon refused to see you, and I have no idea where my sister is. Really... I'll tell Father to scold them all later."
A touch disappointing, but hardly grounds for complaint. I wasn't in a position to expect a full Pelgaroin welcome anyway.
"I'm fine, no worries. Actually, I prefer it this way. I have a gift for you, Esilly."
"A gift?"
Her blue eyes blinked innocently with curiosity. Confirming no elf nearby, I drew the ring case from my breast pocket and offered it. Esilly flinched, uncharacteristically flustered.
"What... is this?"
"Engagement ring. Sorry it took so long."
At "engagement ring," her face flushed like ink blooming on paper. A far cry from her usual bold assertiveness, she went mute as a honeyed fool—utterly adorable. Smiling, I opened the case and withdrew the ring. The diamond-encrusted band sparkled brilliantly.
"Give me your left hand."
"I-I'm fine. I can do it myself."
"I'm not fine with that. Come on."
Emphasizing again, she extended her hand tensely. I drew it toward me and slipped the ring onto her ring finger.
"Esilly. Yesterday, you asked a promise of me. Now, I'd like one from you. May I?"
She nodded shyly.
"If we meet again soon, smile at me like always. Seeing your smile is the joy of my life."
Pong! Her face heated crimson, her whole body trembling as if vibrating.
"Th-that... that..."
"Did I overstep?"
"N-no. Absolutely not."
"Then, will you keep that promise with me?"
She nodded vigorously.
"Good. Until we meet again."
I gazed at her fondly, then turned and walked away. Even then, she stood frozen like stone, making me wonder if I'd erred somehow.
— Oh my. Oh my!
— Did you hear that? I'm losing my mind!
— Kyaaa!
The reactions from the watching maids felt a bit off too.
Back in her room after seeing Theorad off, Esilly couldn't calm her pounding heart. An engagement ring out of nowhere, followed by a sweet confession...
'Wh-why so sudden...?'
She'd known it was coming someday, but not so abruptly. Not that she minded—far from it. She was so overjoyed her mind went blank...
"Hmmm. Hm."
Still, fawning too much would undermine her dignity. No one was watching, but who knew? Calming herself with deep breaths, Esilly stood before the full-length mirror and tried a smile. To honor Theorad's request for her usual smile next time, she meant to practice a "pretty smile" from now on.
'As elegantly and beautifully as possible...'
She poured effort into a noble, refined smile, but an unexpected foe kept sabotaging her practice.
"Ehehehe..."
Every glimpse of the engagement ring in the mirror sent her mood soaring, spilling out a foolish grin.