Bad Man Theorad (2)
A silence as oppressively heavy as cruelty itself stretched on. To the servants watching from a distance, it looked like the elf and Esilly were enjoying a leisurely tea time with smiles on their faces, but in reality, they were merely suppressing their mutual animosity with great effort.
"But, Lady Esilly..."
It was the elf who shattered the ice-thin silence. She perfectly concealed her hostility toward Esilly, blinking her innocent eyes.
"Have you ever... been intimate with Master?"
"...Pardon?"
Esilly faltered. Seeing the crack in Esilly's composure, the elf subtly lifted the corner of her mouth.
"I've heard you've known Master for a long time and are even engaged. If that's an impolite question, I truly apologize..."
Esilly took a breath and glanced around at the onlookers. She wished one of the servants, offended by the elf's overstep, would intervene. But it was none other than Esilly herself who had insisted on sharing a meal with the slave elf. As the daughter of Count Leoberg—whom even His Majesty the Emperor could not easily command—and the lady of the Pelgaroin family ruling the empire's central region, her request carried the weight of an untouchable lineage. No one there had the boldness to interrupt the lady's tea time.
Self-inflicted wound...
Since Esilly had proposed dining together, there was no room for outsiders to interfere unless the elf crossed into outright rudeness. The elf was exploiting that very point with sly jabs.
She had been caught off guard, never expecting the elf to exploit her vulnerability like this. Esilly let out a low groan and bought time by sipping her black tea.
What should I do...?
Lie and say they had been intimate? And what would that gain me?
Pride. She could declare that Theorad, not yours, was her man. But it was a lie that wouldn't hold for long. The elf, who spent far more time at Theorad's side, would eventually see through it. Better to be honest than face the humiliation later.
Clink.
Setting down her teacup, Esilly declared boldly, "Unfortunately, no, we haven't."
"Really? You've known each other so long—why haven't you...?"
Perhaps, the elf said, tilting her chin up with a twisted smirk.
"You're not actually in love, are you?"
Her voice was soft enough not to reach the servants by the wall, yet it pierced Esilly's heart like a blade.
Esilly's grip tightened on her teacup, her knuckles turning pale yellow from the pressure.
"What did you just say...?"
"Isn't it obvious? Lovers share their bodies— that's natural for humans, from what I've seen. Master even touches a slave like me naked, so for him not to have seen your naked body, Lady Esilly... that seems like a problem."
"That was unavoidable...!"
Esilly clamped her mouth shut mid-sentence. In her excitement, she had fallen straight into the elf's trap.
"I see."
The elf smirked triumphantly, nose in the air.
"So you and Master haven't just avoided intimacy—you've never even seen each other naked. Such pure love. If you can call it that."
What you think is love is mere illusion. Even if you believe it's love, Theorad doesn't. The elf relentlessly poured scorn to break Esilly's spirit.
It would be a lie to say her heart hadn't wavered under the onslaught. But Esilly harbored no doubt about her faith in Theorad—or his faith in her.
"Does sharing bodies make it true love?"
Her ragged breathing steadied.
"Don't you find it laughable, saying that yourself? If love is completed by mere physical union, how many men does a brothel whore love?"
Her trembling voice grew calm as clear water.
"Lust is just lust, not love. True love is forged by reason, not instinct."
"But..."
"Yes, in that moment of union, when you see each other's nakedness and press skin to skin, you might feel love. But isn't that the greatest delusion?"
The elf's face grew icy cold. Esilly lowered her gaze to the now-cold black tea.
"Whores confess love from several men a day, they say. Reason half-paralyzes at climax. So let me ask you one thing."
Esilly looked up, meeting the elf's eyes. Their gazes clashed in the air, sparks flying.
"Do you think love with a whore is 'real' love?"
She phrased it politely, but the thrust was clear: You're just a whore Theorad uses.
"Lady Esilly."
The fun had turned to irritation. This fragile short-lived human, whom she could kill on a whim, refused to yield—and that grated.
But she couldn't kill her. Slaying Theorad's fiancée would end this life in an instant. With no way to confirm if Theorad would keep his past promise, she had no options.
"You speak so eloquently. Astonishingly so."
So she just smiled. Hiding boiling rage behind a mask was child's play.
Time is on my side anyway.
One day, she'd conquer Theorad body and soul. Without any 'coercion' or 'bonds,' if he came to love her—what face would you make then? She was dying to know.
"You're the same, Elf. We could be good friends."
Esilly met her gaze with a graceful smile.
You think time is on your side.
Sorry, but you're wrong. Don't assume I'll keep taking it lying down. Once I uncover everything about you, I'll use every means to drive you from the mansion and reclaim Theorad.
So...
Therefore...
Venom filled their eyes.
Don't think you can stay arrogant forever.
Paradoxically, sharing the same resolve deep down, they savored their leisurely tea time.
*
Arriving at the mansion, I dismounted and ran frantically. Servants I passed stared oddly, but I had no time to mind appearances.
Esilly's in danger...!
If the elf spotted my engagement ring, who knows what foul play she might be pulling right now!
I dashed on and burst into the drawing room, flinging the door open.
"Esilly...!"
But contrary to my fears, the room was eerily serene. The elf and Esilly sat at the table with tea, utterly still.
...Nothing happened?
Panting heavily, I swept back my sweat-dampened bangs and stepped inside. Even then, neither spared me a glance. Puzzled, I approached closer.
"Esilly. What brings you here today...?"
Only then did Esilly turn. Her neatly cascading golden hair and clear blue eyes were dazzlingly beautiful as ever. Was this the feeling of happiness just from looking?
As I opened my mouth to continue warmly, Esilly spoke first.
"Lord Theorad."
An inexplicable chill radiated everywhere.
"I have something to say. Dismiss all the servants."
"Huh? What’s this all of a sudden?"
"I said I have something to say."
Her sharp tone cowed me. With no reason to refuse, I glanced around.
"No need to attend. All of you, withdraw."
The servants hesitated, bewildered, but a glare from Esilly sent them bowing hastily and fleeing the room.
Moments later, in the empty drawing room, Esilly rose and faced me.
"I heard from the elf. You tortured her just for breaking a plate. You're still living like a demon."
It stung. Her accusation tore at my heart. But knowing it was unavoidable acting, I played along.
"And?"
Esilly stepped closer, blocking the elf from view.
"Lord Theorad! Aren't you ashamed to have tried to violate such a vulgar slave? Why not a street beggar instead!"
What the...? Why is she suddenly...?
Unsure how to react, I saw Esilly mouth silently: Slap my cheek.
Hit her? Perplexed, I hesitated, but she shouted again.
"What's so good about that insolent, shameless slave that you keep her around? Tell me!"
I still didn't get it, but I knew she was playing the villain. I didn't want to touch her, but thwarting her plan would ruin everything. Steeling myself, I swung my hand.
Slap!
Esilly cried out and collapsed. W-was she okay? I hadn't hit hard, but cold sweat beaded my brow.
Looking up tearfully, as if the world had wronged her, she whimpered, "Lord Theorad...! Just for insulting a slave, you strike me? This... I can't let this slide!"
As her words ended, two Pelgaroin knights from outside thudded in.
"Lord Theorad. I'll drag you to the tribunal for punishment!"
"Wait, what’s going—"
Ignoring my confusion, the knights flanked me. They maintained the formality of not touching the family head, but the pressure was immense.
How did it come to this? Pondering, realization dawned, and I gasped.
To dodge the elf's suspicions...?
The elf thought our relationship was rocky—from her past visits and the ball, she'd only seen us fight. Showing another quarrel would erase any doubts. Sending servants away prevented damaging rumors, and she'd clearly coordinated with the knights—they appeared perfectly timed without her summons.
Dragging me to the tribunal...
A pretext to leave the mansion by carriage. Slaves couldn't go to tribunals, blocking the elf from following.
Brilliant. Esilly had planned from the start to lure me out, visiting unannounced to avoid the elf's precautions.
"Ha..."
Understanding, I chuckled hollowly, looking down at her. With her back to the elf, Esilly slowly raised her left hand, index finger to her lips.
Shh.
No ring on that seductive gesture. Overwhelmed, I couldn't hide my emotions. Infusing apology and gratitude, I continued the clumsy act.
"You're a cunning wench."
Esilly replied with a faintly sad smile...
"In a world where cunning means survival."