Chapter 305: Lindelheit
Chapter 305: Lindelheit
"Heave-ho."
Squish, squish.
Iris was currently perched on top of me as I lay comfortably face-down, diligently treading on my lower back and shoulders.
It wasn't that Iris or I had developed some strange new fetish. It was simply a massage to soothe the aches and pains that came as a side effect of Dragonification.
Perhaps because my Durability stat had risen so high, a normal massage using hands didn't really register. However, Iris’s body weight provided just the right amount of pressure.
"…Hah! Yah!"
"Oh, that’s the spot. Keep going."
"Is this to your liking, Master?"
Squish, squish.
"It’s perfect. Do that a few more times, and we’ll call it a day."
"Hmm. I was just starting to have a bit of fun, though…."
"Really? If it’s not too tiring for you, then keep going. I’m not complaining."
"Understood! Leave it to me!"
Iris began humming to herself as she meticulously stepped across my back.
Every time her small, soft soles made contact, I felt the knots in my muscles and the stiffness in my joints melt away.
…Well, they weren't actually melting away; it just felt that way.
I had already downed potions and received treatment from Helena, so my body was officially back to normal.
The stiffness and faint pain I still felt were apparently just lingering sensations from my body undergoing such a rapid physical transformation. It wasn't exactly phantom pain, but it was something similar.
That was likely why a massage with the right amount of pressure helped relax my overstimulated nerves…
But the truth was, I was mostly faking the pain because I wanted to see Iris huffing and puffing while she worked on my back. That, however, was a secret.
I spent a few more moments enjoying Iris’s weight and the sensation of her wiggling toes.
Then, Iris—who had been wobbling back and forth with her arms spread wide to keep her balance—spoke up.
"Come to think of it, it has already been a week."
"Hmm? What has?"
"Has it not been a week since we began idling away our time in the Imperial Palace’s VIP room?"
"Ah, has it?"
She was right.
It had already been a week since we took down Fiona and gave Boiling Silence a massive middle finger.
Boiling Silence had grandly declared they would send assassins, but apparently, infiltrating the heart of the Imperial Palace under the current circumstances was too much even for them. Nothing had happened yet.
It was thanks to that failure that I could lounge around like this… but in reality, we were the only ones playing. The people of the palace seemed incredibly busy.
Thankfully, Havel had taken over all the tedious tasks. Perhaps it was because his words carried the weight of a Sword Master’s authority, or maybe he was just exceptionally good at his job, but the cleanup was proceeding very smoothly.
First and foremost, the false charges against the Lindelheit family were completely cleared.
It was only natural, considering Havel had been right there to witness Fiona’s stunned reaction when she realized her secrets were out.
In the near future, Carla would be freed from her slave status and reclaim the Lindelheit name and her position as a daughter of a Ducal House.
As I nodded to myself, Elisha and Iona came over and sat on the edge of the bed, flanking me on both sides.
"What’s this? What are you all talking about?"
"Oh my. Isn't it obvious what Yandel is thinking about? It’s either which cultist to kill next, or how to torment us on the bed. It has to be one of the two."
"…Isn't that a bit of a harsh prejudice to have against me?"
"Was I wrong?"
"……."
I didn't say she was wrong.
I actually had been thinking about where the next ambush event might occur, and what kind of fun I’d have with the girls—including Fay—once we got back to the Academy.
Seeing me fall silent, Elisha let out a little chuckle and pulled out a fan. She began to fan me gently.
"Instead of that, you should be thinking about your new family name."
"Ah."
As a reward for this incident, I was set to receive an inheritable Earldom, and they told me I could choose my own surname.
Normally, a surname is bestowed by the Emperor along with the title, but being allowed to choose it yourself meant you were being treated as more than just a mere subject—more like an equal of sorts.
It was a nice gesture, but the etiquette involved was a bit of a pain.
"I’ve been thinking about it, but nothing has really clicked yet. I have a few ideas, but…."
"What’s the problem?"
"None of them sound cool enough."
"Hmm. Coolness is indeed a vital matter," Elisha said, nodding in understanding.
At first, I thought about using the surname I had back on Earth, but I decided against it. There wasn't really a point. I didn't miss Earth that much, and there was no one back there waiting for me anyway.
Since it had come to this, should I just go with something like 'Fafnirson'?
While I was busy weighing potential names in my head, Elisha spoke up with a deeply moved expression.
"An Earldom, though? Ohohoho! You’ve finally reached a rank worthy of being by my side."
"Wait, aren't you a slave?"
"Ugh… I-I’ll be reclaiming my honor soon too!"
"I don't know about that. You don't have any evidence, Elisha, so it might be difficult for the time being."
In Carla’s case, there were witnesses, and evidence would surely surface as the investigation continued, so her name would be cleared quickly. But that wasn't the case for Elisha.
Her trial had taken place in the Kingdom of Alfheim, not the Levantine Empire. It was difficult to track down those involved, and the verdict couldn't just be overturned.
However, they were apparently looking for a way to at least grant her the status of a quasi-noble within the Levantine Empire.
As for Iris, she was technically a criminal caught attempting to summon a spirit with clear evidence against her… but since she had contributed to the cause, they said she would also be treated as a quasi-noble.
To me, it felt more like they were just extending the courtesy to them because they were my women.
As I chuckled at the sight of Elisha stomping her feet in frustration, Iona began to playfully tickle the back of my neck with her finger.
"Now, now. Yandel, you can just do whatever makes you comfortable. What matters isn't the family name, but the title and how much power you wield. More importantly, what happened with that thing I mentioned?"
"The thing you asked me to check with Sir Havel? I happened to run into him during a walk in the garden this morning and asked."
What Iona had asked was simple.
Our rewards were all well and good, but she was more curious about the fate of those connected to Fiona.
It made sense. They needed to uproot not just the other spies and followers of Boiling Silence, but also those who had been following Fiona’s orders for their own gain.
"First, they’ve isolated the Crown Prince and are checking to see if Fiona did anything to him. So far, everything seems normal, but they want the Saintess, Helena, to help just in case."
"Heh. What do you think, Yandel? Do you think the Crown Prince is innocent? Or guilty?"
"…You’re asking the exact same thing Sir Havel did. For now, I think he’s innocent. I don't think he was being manipulated, either."
He was just an ordinary human who happened to be born with a talent for Aura, much like the Emperor. That was why, in the original H&A, he had died at Fiona’s hands after putting up a bit of a fight.
Judging by what Fiona had said, she probably didn't manipulate him because she wanted to see his raw, genuine reaction when everything he believed in was shattered.
Of course, that was just a guess. Fiona, the only one who could tell the truth, was already dead.
One thing was certain, though: things would play out differently than in H&A, where the prince had proven his innocence by slaying his own mother.
"Proving innocence is always harder than proving guilt, isn't it? He’ll probably live under a cloud of suspicion for the rest of his life… but that’s beyond our control."
"Dear me. That is quite unfortunate."
Iona clicked her tongue.
As she said, the Crown Prince’s situation was a bit pitiful, but I thought the general trend of being highly suspicious of Boiling Silence’s spies was a good thing.
They were apparently investigating everyone from the maids who served Fiona to the nobles of her faction and their children.
Given the nature of Boiling Silence, it would be hard to catch them all, and some would surely go into hiding before they could be caught.
But the important thing was that the cultists of Boiling Silence could no longer operate openly within the Levantine Empire.
By the way, the investigation into Marquis Cyprus revealed that he wasn't a cultist—he was just a sadistic pervert.
Not that he got off scot-free. He was caught for all the illegal acts he’d committed to satisfy his tastes, stripped of his title and assets, and exiled from the country.
That guy was something else in his own right….
While I was lost in thought, Iris pressed down firmly on my shoulder blades with her feet.
"I have just realized something. The Empire is not hiding or downplaying this incident; they are announcing it openly and warning neighboring countries to beware of the cult. Honestly, it was quite unexpected."
"I happen to know the reason for that."
"Is your morning prayer finished, Miss Helena? Then please, do tell us. What could possibly possess them to throw away the image they have built up so easily?"
Helena, who had been quietly praying in the corner while clutching her medallion, nodded with a gentle smile.
"It is quite simple. It is because the matter concluded in a way that is more profitable for them."
"Eh?"
Iris tilted her head in confusion.
As a result, her center of gravity shifted, and she ended up flailing her arms wildly on my back.
How cute.