Chapter 35: The Freshman Doesn't Hide His Slave (5)
Chapter 35: The Freshman Doesn't Hide His Slave (5)
Meals at the Academy are basically provided for free, but if you pay extra, you can order much tastier food.
The Academy’s policy is to not recognize unfair oppression based on status, but it doesn't deny the existence of status itself. Giving the nobles a slight edge over commoners in these small ways is likely a tactic to quiet their dissatisfaction.
Well, in the game, these were simply menu items used to build affinity. Characters with the 'poverty' trait absolutely loved it when you treated them.
"Yandel. You said you were a commoner, right? ...You don't seem like an ordinary commoner, but since I'm the one who invited you this time, I'll pay."
"I'd be most grateful. Thanks to Lady Glenziel, I'll get to try something delicious."
In truth, I probably had more money than her... but free food always tastes better. Besides, it’s an unwritten rule to butter up the person buying you dinner.
I offered a polite word of thanks and waited for the food. Even though we had intentionally sat in a secluded corner, Elisha seemed bothered by the noise of the other students nearby. She waved her hand lightly and muttered a spell.
"O secretive veil, hide our whispers. Silence."
A small, hemispherical ripple of mana spread out from Elisha. As Carla and I were enveloped within it, the surrounding noise vanished instantly.
Smiling with satisfaction at the effect of the Silence spell, Elisha finally moved past the small talk and got to the point.
"First of all, I swear by the Mother World Tree, I never wished for things to get this extreme."
"Are you referring to Carla’s treatment?"
"What else would I be talking about?"
Perhaps she trusted the Silence magic; while her tone remained elegant, her voice now carried a sharp edge she didn't bother to hide.
Seeing Elisha grumble like that made a chuckle bubble up inside me. As I forced myself to hold it back, Elisha let out a deep sigh and continued.
"Well... to be honest, it’s true I wanted to tease her a little. You know, don't you? About what happened between me and Carla—ahem—Sister Carla."
"I heard about it from Carla recently."
"...You only just found out? Yandel, how long has it been since you started learning magic?"
"It’s been a little less than a month."
"Oh? You not only passed the Academy entrance exam but were assigned to the advanced class in such a short time? You must be gifted with incredible talent."
"You flatter me."
Elisha covered her mouth, looking surprised. But the expression didn't last long. She glanced at Carla, who had been standing silently behind me like any other attendant, and returned to the main topic.
"Anyway, since you know, this will be quick. To reiterate, I didn't want to break Carla this badly. I never intended to shame her so publicly."
"Yes. I understand that part well."
"Of course, I can't say I'm entirely without blame. When you order someone to do something, you should make your intentions clear, and I was negligent in that regard."
Elisha sighed again, admitting her shortcomings. Despite her strong pride, she seemed to genuinely believe she had made a mistake this time.
...I guess she hasn't realized I was the one who intentionally shifted the blame.
"Though it’s already caused quite a stir, it’s only the first day. We can still put a stop to this starting now."
"So... you're saying I should treat Carla better from now on?"
"Yes. At the very least, she shouldn't look so pitiful that it hurts to watch. Try to treat her more like an attendant than a slave."
That wasn't hard. In fact, this was the best outcome for me. The only reason I had pretended to mistreat Carla at the Academy was because of Elisha. Now that the misunderstanding was cleared up, there was no reason to make Carla act like a victim anymore.
My reputation was one thing, but more than that, I had grown fond of Carla and wanted to treat her better. When a woman like Carla does everything she can to please me, calling me "Master" all the while, how could I not like her?
While I was thinking about Carla, Elisha must have been thinking of the same person. She stared blankly behind me, her expression turning somewhat melancholy.
"The Carla Lindelheit I knew wasn't like this. She was much more dignified, much more beautiful, and she shone so brightly. Like a star that remained out of reach no matter how much I stretched out my hand."
"......"
Carla remained standing behind me, saying nothing. It felt as though she were trying to hide behind my back.
"You were my lifelong goal. I wanted to be like you. I wanted to surpass you one day."
"......"
"How on earth did you end up like this, Carla..."
"......"
"I certainly don't want to become like the person you are now."
"......"
At Elisha's lament, Carla could only hang her head low like a criminal. This was the girl who had been close to her as a child, but who had eventually burned with inferiority and competitiveness. Hearing such words from Elisha—comparing her current state as a mere slave to her brilliant past—must have made her feel incredibly small.
...This is getting on my nerves.
Just as I was about to snap back out of irritation—
Squeeze.
Carla grabbed the back of my clothes, stopping me. When I glanced back, she finally raised her head, her lips pouting.
"That's not true."
"What do you mean, Carla?"
"I'm not as pitiful as you say, Eli—I mean, Lady Glenziel. Master treats me very well."
Her tone sounded like a stubborn child. Elisha looked taken aback, her lips parting as she looked back and forth between Carla and me. But Carla, seemingly determined to brag about me for once, spotted a servant approaching from a distance and nodded.
"I'll prove it."
The waiter, unaware of the situation due to the corner location and the Silence spell, politely set the dishes down and left.
Naturally, there was no portion for Carla. It wasn't because she was a slave; it was simply common sense in this world that an attendant does not share a table with their master.
Seeing the meal for two, Carla spoke with a meaningful smile.
"Did you know, Lady Glenziel?"
"Know what?"
"They don't feed slaves. Especially young, beautiful slaves like me who are too precious to just beat recklessly."
"...Then don't they starve to death?"
"No. They give us medicine instead, so we don't die. Master, please take that out. That thing."
Carla poked my shoulder, urging me. What was she planning? She looked like she wouldn't stop until I complied, so I pulled out a meal-replacement pill I had bought earlier from my inventory.
"Hmph! I wondered what it was, but it's just a pill made for emergency rations. Since it has enough nutrients, you only feed her pills instead of food? I suppose you can use gourmet food as an invisible leash since she can't taste anything."
"It's a bit different. These don't have the magic that provides a feeling of fullness."
"Eh? Then..."
"Exactly. It's not taste, but hunger that is used as the leash."
"Th-That's too cruel!"
Elisha glared at me as if asking how a human could do something so heartless.
I didn't do it, though...
Just as I was about to shake my head with a sour expression, Carla nodded a step ahead of me.
"Exactly! It really is too much! Do you know what happens to a person when they're hungry? It feels like there's a hole in your stomach, you want to bite your own arm off, and you feel so miserable that you'd do absolutely anything for a single loaf of bread!"
Carla's ruby eyes sparkled as she continued her passionate speech.
"But! Master is different! He actually lets me eat real food! Do you have any idea how merciful he is...?"
"Hmph... Come to think of it, you said you'd prove it. Are you saying you'll show me right here? You, Carla, actually eating a meal?"
Elisha tilted her head, her attitude saying 'go ahead and try.' An attendant isn't even allowed to share a table, yet I would go as far as to hand over food ordered for myself? That would cause a scandal in its own right.
Elisha likely didn't believe I would throw away my dignity to give Carla my food. Carla nodded triumphantly.
"Of course! Just watch!"
Carla naturally stepped beside me. For some reason, the corners of her mouth were curled up in an ominous way. She was definitely plotting something. I decided to play along and see where it went.
Suddenly, Carla knelt before me and stretched one leg far back.
Screee—
The sound of the chair being pushed by Carla's foot dragging across the floor cut off abruptly. It must have been pushed outside the range of Elisha's Silence spell.
Several people nearby who heard the noise glanced over. Their eyes widened. It was only natural to be shocked seeing someone kneeling inside a Silence field in the corner of a cafeteria.
Elisha herself was frozen, her expression stiffening as she hadn't expected Carla to kneel so easily. In that situation, Carla bowed her head with an incredibly nonchalant attitude.
"Master, Master. Would you please allow this lowly slave the grace of a joyful meal?"
"...Uh, sure. Will this do?"
From the various plates in front of me, I handed her one with a large piece of meat. Carla accepted it respectfully, placed it on the floor, and clasped her hands in front of her chest with a look of profound emotion.
Though, from this point on, it felt a bit like awkward acting.
"Ah... Thank you, Master."
Carla slowly lowered her head and kissed the top of my foot.
This was truly unexpected, causing even me to freeze for a moment. While Elisha and I were both stunned, Carla was the only one moving, albeit awkwardly.
Still kneeling, Carla bent her upper body forward and buried her face in the dish I had just given her. It was a sight reminiscent of a puppy eating from a dog bowl.
Beyond her, I could see the face of an nameless student staring at us with their mouth agape.
Startled back to my senses, I quickly hooked my hands under Carla's armpits and pulled her up as if embracing her... but the damage was already done.
Everyone in the cafeteria was staring at us with horrified expressions. Because of Elisha's Silence magic, I couldn't hear what they were whispering, but the same applied to them.
Elisha, with an 'I dare you' expression, and Carla, who had just kissed my foot and buried her nose in a plate like a dog right in front of her. And what if the food on that plate was a premium Academy menu item that Carla used to enjoy frequently?
The gazes falling on Elisha were filled with disgust, as if she had gone too far. Realizing the situation, Elisha turned pale and shook her head violently.
"N-No! It's a misunderstanding! I... I never ordered her to do that!"
But since the Silence spell was still active, her words didn't reach them. To the onlookers, it only looked like Elisha was suddenly throwing a tantrum.
In an instant, Elisha had become the villain.
Carla, still held in my arms, watched Elisha's reaction and let out a small giggle.
"Heheh."
Did she do this on purpose...?