Chapter 134: To Alfheim(1)
Chapter 134: To Alfheim(1)
There was a brief "happening," but things eventually settled down smoothly. I had been worried that Arwen might try to peek even after giving us space, but those concerns vanished once the main event began.
At that moment, my priority was properly disciplining this naughty little cat. Mari pleaded for mercy halfway through, but it was useless against me once I was already worked up.
In the end, we skipped dinner entirely, and it wasn't until late at night that Mari could return to her dormitory. We had been so vigorous that her legs had turned to jelly, forcing me to support her as we walked.
When we finally arrived in front of the girls' dormitory, I gently stroked her hair and teased her before letting her go.
"Don't play pranks like that anymore. Got it?"
"Hmph..."
Mari merely grumbled with a bright red face, offering no rebuttal. Since she had charged in boldly only to be utterly defeated, she didn't have a leg to stand on.
"...Just you wait. I'm working hard on my fitness."
"I'm sure you are. Nothing special going on tomorrow, right?"
"Nothing much, but Lina said she has something to talk about tomorrow. We can just chat then."
It really was nothing special. I was already used to having meals with Lina, so talking with her was just part of the routine.
However, Lina had been acting a bit strange lately—or perhaps "suspicious" was the better word. Whenever she looked at me, she couldn't quite meet my eyes and kept glancing away awkwardly.
I could say with absolute certainty that it wasn't romantic interest. Far from showing her any kindness, I had done nothing but tease her, so there was no way for affection to build up.
Besides, ever since Lina set aside her royal authority, she viewed me as a comfortable friend and nothing more.
To begin with, she wasn't someone I met as often as Mari or Cecile; we saw each other maybe two or three times a week, and only during meals.
We had never met privately one-on-one, and after I started dating Mari, our points of contact had dwindled even further.
"Alright. Go get some rest. I'll feel bad if you can't wake up tomorrow."
"Hmph. My stamina has improved thanks to someone, so I'll be perfectly fine."
"Oh? In that case, shall we head to an inn right now...?"
"But tomorrow's lecture is more important, so I'm going! Bye!"
The moment I reached for her waist and made the suggestion in a suggestive tone, Mari scurried away. She stumbled briefly since the strength hadn't fully returned to her legs, but she stubbornly made her way into the dorm.
Of course, she didn't just heartlessly walk away; she turned back to give me a beaming smile and even blew a playful kiss.
I waved back, smiling at Mari, who seemed to grow more charming by the day. As I always thought, I was truly happy to have her as my girlfriend.
'Time to head back to my room.'
It was around 8:00 PM when I left the dorm, so I still had time to work on the speech for Arwen. I could afford to pause my writing for a week and focus on the speech.
Moreover, there was a perfect historical parallel for Albenheim's current situation, which was on the verge of fracturing. It was the speech of Abraham Lincoln, the president who unified a United States that was being ravaged by the Civil War.
The great president who abolished slavery and made America one in the truest sense. While his speech was criticized as a failure by some in his time, it went down in history as a masterpiece for generations to come.
'I don't remember all of it, though...'
I remembered Hitler's speeches because I was a fan of WWII history, but I only knew fragments of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
Still, those fragments should be enough. The key was to make those famous lines flow naturally within the context.
'I feel like some kind of shadow power.'
A memory of one of the worst scandals to rock South Korea in my previous life flashed through my mind—an event where democracy almost crumbled, only for the citizens to rise up and drag the president down themselves.
I worried that someone might find out I had ghostwritten Arwen's speech, but she was a genius who could memorize anything after seeing it once. She would likely glance over the draft I gave her and then burn it immediately.
All I had to do was pray in my heart that Arwen would deliver the speech well. In truth, helping her with the speech was a massive act of political interference.
Perhaps I was so nonchalant about it because Arwen felt more like a friend than a Queen to me. I also liked her sense of responsibility—the way she had bowed her head in apology when she was in the wrong.
'I wonder if I can watch the speech if I ask Siris?'
Albenheim's entry procedures were notoriously complicated, but once you were inside, there were no further inspections. I had heard rumors that many people attempted to enter illegally because of this.
Even teleportation coordinates were restricted to outside the borders for all but a select few. Gartz had mentioned that a type of barrier magic was in effect, and no one even knew the method to bypass it unless they had the King's direct permission.
'Well, she'll probably come back to pick up the speech anyway.'
I walked back to my dormitory, looking forward to next week.
*
The next day arrived. As Mari had mentioned, I had a meal with Lina, and the conversation was truly mundane. Naturally, Cecile was sitting by Lina's side.
I was used to the four of us sitting together like this, so I didn't have much to say, but the other three were busy chatting away. The old saying that three women together could break a plate wasn't just for show.
However, once the meal was over and we were enjoying dessert, Lina suddenly made an interesting proposal.
"Have you guys thought about visiting Albenheim?"
"Huh?"
It was a suggestion to visit the land of the elves. It was so out of the blue that both I and Mari, who was sitting next to me, couldn't help but widen our eyes.
Lina wasn't the type to make pointless jokes. Looking at her characteristic expressionless face, she was being serious.
"Why Albenheim all of a sudden?"
Mari asked the question for both of us, her voice full of doubt. Lina's suggestion felt like it was missing a lot of context.
Lectures were still ongoing, and it took a long time to get to Albenheim. By carriage, it would take at least several days.
Of course, Lina was royalty and Mari was the daughter of a Duke, so they could use teleportation. But I couldn't.
Meanwhile, Lina looked at us and quietly set down her teacup. A faint clink echoed.
"You might have heard the news, but the Queen of Albenheim is scheduled to give a national address in six days. Since it's Albenheim, eyes from all over are on them. Moreover, it's the current Queen's first speech, so interest is peaking."
"I know that. But what does that have to do with us?"
"I thought it would be good to see it in person. It's a bit much for an Emperor or a King to attend such an event personally, right? So, children like you and me go instead. Ministers and envoys from other countries will probably be there too."
"If that's the case, shouldn't you and Lord Leort go?"
I agreed with Mari's point. Usually, it would be Leort and Lina who attended such events, not Mari.
Reading our expressions, Lina gave a sheepish smile and began to explain the current situation.
"My brother is currently busy with engagement issues. The Kingdom of Ters is pushing for a marriage."
"The Kingdom of Ters? Why so suddenly?"
"It's not sudden. They've been at it ever since the exhibition. Thanks to Xenon—I mean, Isaac—revealing his hometown, our Empire has seized a great opportunity. You both know what it means for a world-renowned master's birthplace to be within our borders."
As everyone knew, my hometown, the Maishal Territory, was gradually developing into a city of culture. Even though the exhibition had ended, the number of tourists coming to see the displayed works was constantly increasing, and merchant groups were visiting frequently.
Furthermore, the Maishal Territory was already a place the Imperial Family had their eye on. They had only delayed development because they were busy elsewhere, but after the exhibition, they were pushing forward like a bulldozer.
Above all, since I had gained a massive cultural advantage by confessing that my hometown was the Maishal Territory, the Kingdom of Ters was naturally feeling the heat.
"That's probably why there are rumors about the Second Princess transferring to our Academy. You don't need to worry about it, though. The Second Princess is the same age as my brother and is a martial studies major."
"What's her name?"
"Hiriya Ducard von Kerchers. She's a woman with sky-blue hair and eyes."
"... ..."
Was she that stoic-looking woman from the exhibition? I remembered her standing out because she was wearing a uniform.
However, I couldn't say I liked her at all. She was one of the primary reasons Adelia had been driven to tears. She had even ordered her younger brother not to approach Adelia.
'Adel-noona is going to have a hard time...'
I wished Leort would just transfer to the Ters Academy instead, but the Minerva Empire held all the cards. The Kingdom of Ters knew this, which was likely why they were sending Hiriya.
I felt a bitter taste in my mouth. I wondered if Lina knew—that Adelia was the illegitimate child of the King of Ters, and that she suffered from deep trauma after being abandoned by her family.
"Anyway, my brother is too busy with personal matters to go. But it would be awkward for me to go alone, wouldn't it? That's why I want to go with you guys."
"I understand me, but why Isaac? Only we know Isaac's true identity."
Mari was right. If he were known as the author of the Xenon Biography, it would be one thing, but on the surface, he was just the son of a Baron. Compared to an Imperial Princess and a Duke's daughter, his status was severely lacking.
At the very least, a Count or higher should go, or it would be better for just Lina and Mari to go together.
In response to the question, Lina gave a playful smile and said something that tickled Mari's heart.
"That's true, but there's no problem if you're engaged. Even if it's not official yet, you're going to be, right?"
"Do you need a favor later or something?"
She truly was a Princess. I couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and bewilderment at an answer that made Mari's doubt seem trivial.
Jokes aside, in this world, being engaged was practically the same as being married. Mari and I hadn't officially entered an engagement yet, but since both our families were pushing for it, it was essentially a settled matter.
Therefore, there was no problem with Mari going as a Duke's daughter and me going as her fiancé.
However, one issue remained.
"Then are we going to use teleportation? It'll take too long by carriage."
"Of course we'll use teleportation. And we'll leave two days before the speech. Albenheim has very strict entry procedures for other races. It could take all day if things go wrong, so it's better to go early."
In human society, teleportation was a magic that only nobles of Count rank or higher could use. Usually, teleportation facilities were installed in each mansion, and for Emperors or Kings, they were advanced enough to cross national borders.
Of course, that was the current state of things, but there were signs that teleportation facilities were beginning to develop into a form of public transportation. Albenheim, which was pursuing an open-door policy under Arwen's leadership, was one example, and even the demons were gradually reaching out to the world.
Dwarves were a race that would do anything for the right price, so they didn't matter. The remaining question was whether magic would be passed down to the general public or not.
'Seeing as there are no Magic Towers yet, we still have a long way to go.'
It was around the time I was thinking that. Mari, having heard the precautions from Lina, began to ask detailed questions as if she had more she was curious about.
"Is there anything I should be careful about in Albenheim? It's my first time going there too."
"First, you have to be careful about who you talk to. There are elves who hate humans because of the Race War. Plus, it's hard to tell their age just by looking at them, so it's best to avoid starting conversations if possible."
"I see. Then where do we sit during the speech? Is there a separate VIP section?"
"No. The VIP seats are naturally for the Albenheim nobility—the prestigious families. We'll be sitting right behind them."
If that was the case, I wondered if Cecile was coming too. I shifted my gaze to Cecile, who was sitting next to Lina.
She had been sitting there silently while we talked.
Then, as if sensing my gaze, our eyes met, and I spoke up immediately.
"Are you going too, Cecile-noona?"
"I'd like to, but I wonder if Albenheim would accept a demon. Unless the Queen herself gives permission."
Is she asking me to handle it? I gave a wry smile as Cecile answered with a grin.
Indeed, even if the elves were pursuing open policies, an elf was still an elf. It would surely take a long time for them to accept demons, the descendants of devils.
Perhaps someone would scream about why a child of the devil had come to the sacred land of Albenheim. If they were already making a fuss over the half-blood issue, how much worse would it be for a demon?
"Oh, right. Cecile."
"Yes?"
"I'm curious—are there no half-bloods between demons and humans?"
It was Mari's question. Not just her, but both I and Lina were curious as well, and the three of us showed our interest simultaneously.
Amidst such attention, Cecile seemed a bit flustered. She blinked her crimson eyes a couple of times and tapped her cheek with her finger—a characteristic habit she had whenever she was thinking.
After a moment of thought, she answered in a somewhat ambiguous voice.
"Well... unlike elves, demons haven't been treated well until now, so I haven't heard of any half-bloods being born. If there were, we in Helium would have stepped in to protect them ourselves."
"...Sorry."
"No, there's no need to apologize."
When Mari apologized, Cecile waved her hand to say it was fine, then shifted her gaze to me. Her lips curled into a deeper smirk as she spoke in a suggestive voice.
"I feel like we might hear news of a half-blood being born soon. Don't you think?"
"... ..."
Why are you looking at me while saying that? Of course, since the popularity of demons was soaring by the day, news of a half-blood being born really might come out.
I tried to act nonchalant and lifted my teacup.
'Come to think of it, her horns...'
Cecile's horns were beginning to take on a reddish glow, just like they had during the last exhibition.
*
A brief moment while Isaac left to use the restroom.
Once Isaac was gone, Lina cautiously called out to Mari, who was sitting across from her.
"...Mari?"
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Um... you said we'd be staying in Albenheim for about a day."
"And?"
"Do you... happen to need a place with thorough soundproofing?"
Lina asked indirectly, but Mari instantly grasped the meaning. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, and she answered with an embarrassed expression.
"C-Could I ask that of you? Otherwise, it might get a bit noisy... Since it's Albenheim, they should have that much, right?"
"Y-Yes. Of course."
Lina spoke with a face that had turned red for some reason.
"...Probably."
The last part was so quiet that even Mari couldn't hear it.
"Hmm..."
And Cecile, sitting right next to her, could hear everything. she looked at Lina's face with a subtle glint in her eyes.
Lina's face was already beet-red, as if she were already indulging in lewd fantasies, and she couldn't even lift her head.
She was even fidgeting and crossing her legs as if she felt an itch somewhere. She looked like an innocent maiden seeing something suggestive for the first time.
'How cute.'
Cecile chuckled inwardly at Lina's hidden perversion.