Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Alensia's Request
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Even after the banquet had ended,
Alensia remained seated in her place.
'Elwin...'
The Frontier Viscount had firmly solidified Elwin's status as the Frontier Heir.
Elwin might as well have lost his position as heir the moment he proved unable to use magic.
Up until just one or two years ago, everyone on the island had thought the same.
That Elwin would be ousted from his role as heir.
'How did things end up like this?'
In her own path to becoming a duke,
she had viewed Elwin as an obstacle.
Not that the man himself was bad.
He simply lacked the talent.
She had agonized over it for a long time,
and in the end, decided on the broken engagement.
'And yet... why...'
Where had it all gone wrong?
Should she not have broken off the engagement?
Alensia slowly shook her head.
At the time, it had been the right decision.
He had no magical talent,
no sense of himself as a noble,
just a kindhearted, ordinary man.
"Elwin-nim must know your feelings, Madam."
"My feelings?"
What were her feelings, exactly?
Regret over the broken engagement?
Sadness at being distanced from the dukedom?
"Madam, you like Elwin-nim... no, you hold him in high favor."
"I do?"
"You've helped him so much."
"That was because he showed talent."
"Think about it. Did Elwin-nim's feats come first, or did your support come first?"
The moment Elwin had begun to shine was clear.
Farming.
It was when he succeeded in farming on the island.
'Then my help was...'
In the early stages of his farming.
When he started that absurd endeavor of farming on the island,
that was when she had provided the funds.
"And when you heard the news that Elwin-nim had died, you rushed there right away."
It had been just days after the broken engagement
when word came of Elwin's death.
She had set everything aside and gone to the Frontier estate.
'He was alive and well, though...'
Marie bowed low and took her hand.
"Look truly into your heart, Madam. See how you feel about Elwin-nim. Recall why you haven't gone through with your engagement to Clan-nim."
Clan?
Wasn't it Marie who had interfered with the engagement to Clan?
'No, perhaps...'
At first, yes, Marie had meddled.
But later?
She hadn't interfered.
Alensia herself hadn't.
"Could it be? You like Elwin?"
Marie startled, covering her mouth with both hands.
Her eyes smiling all the while.
Her gesture lightened the heavy atmosphere.
The garden of the Frontier estate.
Elwin waited there for Alensia.
'Why did she want to meet?'
Was she here to congratulate him like the others?
'Human relationships are so complicated.'
Back in Korea,
after a broken engagement, he wouldn't have seen her face again.
Their bond would have been worse than strangers.
But with Alensia, it was different.
Even after the breakup, they met often.
They helped each other when needed.
Almost like a long-distance relationship.
Slap.
His cheek burned.
His palms stung.
'No one's this much of a pushover.'
He had liked Alensia.
Even now, his heart raced at the sight of her.
So what?
Was he going to keep liking her after she dumped him?
'I'm crazy. I'm not some dog chasing after the master who abandoned it. I need to live my own life.'
Their current relationship was just right.
If he got any closer,
only he would end up hurt.
'If I can't get my act together after being dumped once, I'm a real idiot!!'
"Elwin."
"Ah, Alensia-nim."
Lost in thought, he hadn't noticed her approach.
"Why are you so startled?"
"No, it's nothing. Have you been well?"
"So-so."
He slowly raised his bowed head.
As he did, he quickly scanned Alensia's complexion.
Her mood today,
how to handle her,
and even what requests he could make.
But.
'I can't read her.'
It was different from usual.
He had no intel on this state.
Not her typical confident demeanor.
Her expression was cold, but not truly so.
'What the hell?'
"Are you feeling unwell, by chance?"
"No. I'm fine. More importantly..."
Alensia trailed off.
Averting her eyes as she did.
She, not him, looked away first.
"...You promised me a favor."
A favor... yes, there was one.
In exchange for access to the duke's family reports,
he had agreed to grant her a request.
"The maps in the reports were a huge help. What favor would you like from me, Alensia-nim?"
"Father commanded me to expand the territory. Both to me and Benia. I want your help."
"That's the favor?"
"...Yes, it is."
She placed one hand over her heart
and bowed at the waist.
"I'll do my utmost to assist."
Thanks to Alensia's help, he had discovered the mine and completed the system mission.
He had built Iron Village there,
and established large-scale workshops.
It seemed a fair request compared to the aid he had received.
'That aside...'
Throughout their conversation, Alensia was different from usual.
He had thought it a misread at first, but now he was certain.
She was off.
"Alensia-nim, you look unwell."
"No, I'm fi..."
"As expected of Elwin-nim."
Marie cut in before Alensia could finish.
For a mere maid to interrupt a duke's daughter would be a grave offense.
But as her personal attendant, Marie could get away with it.
Their bond had always been close.
"Elwin-nim, my hands are dirty, so could you check if Madam has a fever for me?"
Marie pointed at Alensia's forehead.
"Me?"
Place his hand on Alensia's forehead?
He imagined his wrist being severed.
And yet...
Alensia showed no reaction.
She should have scolded Marie and ended the matter, but she didn't.
'No way? She actually wants me to check her temperature?'
"Elwin-nim, what if Madam has a fever? Please check quickly."
"Ah... uh..."
Marie urged him on.
Reflexively, he wiped his palms on his clothes.
And then...
slowly placed his hand on Alensia's forehead,
watching her expression carefully.
'A bit... warm, maybe?'
Up close, her face seemed a little flushed too.
"You do seem to have a fever. The estate has a physician—go see them. I'll send over some potions I have."
"Th... thank you."
Alensia murmured her thanks and walked away.
Marie followed after her.
A bright moonlit night.
Standing alone in the garden,
he felt the lingering warmth on his palm.
Thump thump.
Thump thump.
Alone now, he heard his heart pounding rapidly.
'I'm acting like I've never been in love. Get a grip. You're a pushover!'
He walked slowly through the garden.
To calm his mind.
Then,
an unexpected figure appeared.
"Brother."
"Gibson? What are you doing here?"
"I looked out the window and saw you. So I came."
Elwin walked the garden with Gibson.
"Brother, I think I can master 2nd Circle too."
"Brother, I heard a lot about you at the Gray Mage Tower."
"Brother, you expanded the Frontier lands."
"Brother, you built a village."
"Brother, mercenaries..."
"Brother..."
Gibson seemed thrilled to see him.
Before Elwin came to this world
and got engaged to Alensia,
when he lived in the Frontier estate,
Gibson had yet to enter the mage tower.
Even then, Gibson had been like this.
Gentle and bright.
'Different from typical noble kids.'
Nobles were calculating from childhood.
Gibson was different.
He liked people,
and worked hard at whatever Brilda assigned.
Just like Elwin back on Earth.
Why study?
What happens if you study well?
He hadn't thought deeply about such things.
Just told to study, so he did—diligently.
Gibson was the same.
Why study magic?
What comes from mastering magic?
How the territory was faring?
He didn't seem to worry about any of it.
As they walked, Gibson took Elwin's hand.
"Hehe."
Elwin couldn't shake it off,
nor grip it tightly.
It wasn't strange for Gibson to feel affection for him.
Half-brothers were still brothers.
'If only Gibson were bad.'
With him approaching like this, his resolve weakened inevitably.
Having known Gibson since childhood, Elwin knew this wasn't an act.
'But...'
There was no way he and Gibson could get along.
As long as he clashed with Brilda, Gibson was the enemy.
What if... Brilda were gone?
He shook his head.
If he killed Brilda, Gibson would become a true enemy.
Brothers or not, they could never stand together.
The garden entrance neared,
and he let go of Gibson's hand.
"Don't like me too much."
"Brother?"
Frontier estate, third floor.
Brilda's room.
Bang. Crash.
Smash. Thud.
"What the hell!! Why!!"
Where had it gone wrong?
How could Elwin remain the heir?
No matter Elwin's achievements, she thought he could never surpass his lack of magical talent.
"You idiot. Do you really want the Frontier family to lose its magic?! Is that it!?"
Bang. Crash.
Smash. Thud.
Only after smashing things once more did Brilda stop.
"Madam, it's not over yet."
"Not over? Didn't you see at the banquet? How the Frontier Viscount spoke!!"
"The Frontier Viscount is still young. Elwin-nim isn't old either."
Brilda swept the chair roughly.
Then sat down.
"What are you saying?"
"Succession to lordship takes at least five years, even ten or more if delayed. If an accident happens in that time..."
"An accident?"
"The dead can't become lord."
It was true.
How could a dead man become lord?
Knock. Knock.
Brilda flinched at the knock.
This was a conversation no one else could hear.
Anna checked the visitor
and opened the door.
A man rushed inside.
"Sillon? Why are you here...? What if someone sees!"
Sillon, head of the Silnia Merchant Group.
Publicly neutral on the Frontier succession issue.
For him to come like this.
"Madam, big trouble."
"...Let's hear it."
She swallowed her rising anger once.
"The Island Merchant Group is rapidly taking over the Frontier markets. They've already seized over half the food sector, and now weapons and armor market share too."
"That's for you to handle!!"
Brilda's fury exploded once more.