Chapter 236: Majestic(1)
Chapter 236: Majestic(1)
The explanation for why Arwen was in my room, and why she was reading my manuscript, goes something like this.
As Arwen mentioned before and I had conveyed to her through letters, we had agreed to meet up if time allowed. However, I was busy in my own right, and Arwen was buried under a mountain of state affairs, so no further explanation was needed on that front.
To give you an idea of how much work she had, even Elves—who could usually go days without sleep—were reportedly collapsing from overwork.
Arwen’s political philosophy felt foreign to the change-averse Elves, making things difficult. Furthermore, the Senate, which had been the symbol of Albenheim, had vanished into the pages of history.
As I’ve mentioned before, Arwen had become far busier than ever due to Piren’s desperate struggles. Somehow, she had become one of the only two links to Xenon, second only to the publisher.
Every day was a relentless cycle of grueling work, but Arwen was only human. She needed personal time and rest.
So, after clearing a massive backlog of documents all at once, she had come to the Academy to meet me as promised.
However, since her face was somewhat well-known due to her speeches, she couldn't just walk in openly. Instead, she teleported to the coordinates of my room, which she had obtained through Siris.
She judged it would be awkward to wander around outside and, more importantly, since she didn't know exactly where I was, she decided it was better to wait.
Teleporting was fine, but it seemed she had been tempted by the manuscript of Xenon’s Life Volume 18 sitting on my desk.
How many people could resist when the next volume was sitting right in front of them? She tried to endure at first, but eventually, she succumbed to the temptation.
Honestly, I’d probably want to sneak a peek too. It’s the next volume that money can’t buy—who wouldn't think, Maybe just a little bit?
The problem was that Arwen had become too deeply absorbed. Normally, she would have sensed someone approaching and put the manuscript back on the desk immediately, but she didn't even have the chance.
I was already in a situation where I had to be careful because of Rain’s manuscript theft, and she just happened to get caught at the worst possible timing.
"At least it’s a relief. She didn't resort to thievery like a certain someone."
"...I am sorry."
Cecile rebuked her with a sarcastic tone, clearly displeased with Arwen’s behavior. Arwen, knowing she was in the wrong, simply bowed her head with an apology.
Deep suspicion and hostility lurked in Cecile’s red eyes as she looked at Arwen. Even if the manuscript theft had been Rain’s independent act, Arwen still bore heavy responsibility for it.
Furthermore, Cecile was a Demon. To the Demon Tribe, Xenon’s Life was a grace bestowed by God and a book equivalent to holy scripture.
To have Rain steal a draft of such a book, and now to have someone sneak in and read the manuscript in secret—it was bound to be unpleasant for Cecile.
As for me, I knew Arwen wasn't that kind of person, so I could let it slide without much thought. She hadn't stolen the manuscript; she had just read it.
Instead, I wondered if she really had to teleport directly into my dormitory. She could have sent word through Siris beforehand, but she seemed to have been a bit too hasty.
"Lift your head, Arwen. You don't have to be so sorry. I can understand."
"O-Oh, my dear..."
As I spoke soothingly, Arwen slowly lifted her head. Her silver-grey eyes, sparkling like the Milky Way, were filled with emotion.
Since I was now more than a head taller than her, she was looking up at me from below.
Her appearance was already youthful and girl-like for her age, and with her eyes moist like that, I felt even more apologetic. Looking up like that was practically cheating.
I barely suppressed the urge to stroke Arwen’s hair and started by resolving my questions.
"I understand why you came to my dorm. But couldn't you have sent word through Siris that you were coming?"
"I could have, but wouldn't that have reduced the time I could spend with you?"
"Hmph?"
At that answer, Cecile, who had her arms crossed, arched an eyebrow and let out a nasal hum. Her expression and reaction were clearly saying, Oh, look at this?
Honestly, it was a statement rife with potential for misunderstanding. Anyone listening would mistake it for Arwen having feelings for me.
However, one had to consider Arwen’s situation. Regrettably, she had no one she could truly call a friend.
When she lived in Albenheim, there was no one she could trust because of the Senate, and now she had no opportunity to build friendships due to her grueling workload.
She was on friendly terms with a few Elves, but her position as Queen made it difficult to be close.
In other words, I was practically the only person she could interact with comfortably without the weight of her title. Even Rain, her former guardian, was living quietly under probation.
I understood Arwen’s words through the appropriate filter and nodded.
"Then it can't be helped. But..."
I trailed off for a moment, looking down past Arwen’s face. Because of our height difference, only her face was visible at first, but as I lowered my gaze, her rather provocative outfit caught my eye.
Arwen usually wore silver-grey dresses that matched her hair color. They were often made of a form-fitting material, like a knit dress.
She was wearing a similar style of one-piece dress now, but the problem was the sides. It was as if the sides had been completely cut out, leaving them quite boldly exposed.
Arwen already boasted a superior hip line, and wearing a dress that emphasized it made it impossible not to look.
I wasn't sure if she was playing to her strengths or if she had truly put it on without a second thought.
Knowing Arwen’s personality, it was likely the latter. She probably just wore whatever was given to her.
"My dear? Where are you looking?"
Sensing my gaze, Arwen tilted her head and asked. Seeing that expression, it was certain she really didn't realize what kind of clothes she was wearing.
If this was all an act, she must have a few snakes hidden in her heart. I replied with a slightly awkward tone.
"Uh... aren't you cold?"
"Ah. This dress? It is a gift I received from a Great Family recently. Does it suit me?"
Was she really unaware? Arwen placed both hands on her exposed sides and slid them down to her hips.
That action alone was more than enough to stir a man’s impure thoughts, so I had no choice but to squeeze my eyes shut.
Usually, hips are most noticeable when someone is standing still, but Arwen also had a thin waist. To top it off, she was wearing a tight knit dress, making her curves vividly clear.
Most importantly, while her hips were her strength, her other features were also well above average. Her height was a bit on the short side, but her proportions were excellent, so it wasn't an issue from a distance.
'I don't know who gave it to her, but...'
I sincerely wanted to praise them. It was truly a custom-made dress for Arwen, magnifying her strengths several times over.
Design-wise, it suited her status as Queen and evoked the nobility unique to Elves.
I wanted to stare, but it could lead to an embarrassing situation, and Cecile was standing right there watching.
She had the mindset that it didn't matter if more women gathered around me, but the moment this news reached Marina or Nicole’s ears, it would go beyond a mere disaster.
Thus, after offering a silent prayer to Luminous, I opened my eyes and looked at Arwen.
Arwen was looking up at me with innocent silver-grey eyes, as if she had no idea what she had just done.
Truly, looking only at her face, she was the definition of purity, exuding the nobility of an Elf—like an angel descended from heaven.
"I-It suits you well. They say clothes are wings, and you really look like an angel."
"T-That is a very 'you' comparison."
At my sincere compliment, Arwen blushed shyly. Yet, she subtly touched her sides; it seemed she really was cold.
Meanwhile, there was one person who was not pleased with this situation. It was Cecile, who for some reason had a grumpy expression.
Watching our conversation with her arms crossed, she spoke up with a sharp, stinging voice.
"So, what do you plan to do now?"
"Huh?"
Only then did the shy Arwen turn her head toward Cecile. Dissatisfied red eyes met innocent silver-grey eyes.
Perhaps because of the height difference, Arwen’s gaze kept moving up and down. The same was true for Cecile.
At a glance, it looked like they were sizing each other up, but I thought differently. They were probably scanning each other’s bodies, just as I had done moments ago.
They each possessed magnificent strengths—breasts and hips. Furthermore, those were just their greatest assets; their other parts were also far above average.
Just as I was having these incredibly lewd thoughts, Cecile spoke to Arwen, still sounding displeased.
"For your information, Isaac and I were in the middle of enjoying a long-awaited date. It is very troublesome for the Queen to intrude like this."
She spoke with courtesy, but her words had a sharp edge. We were having a sweet date, so why were you butting in?
Moreover, Arwen had entered my room and even peeked at the manuscript, so Cecile couldn't possibly view her kindly.
"I... am truly sorry. I only wished for some rest..."
Arwen, well aware of that point, bowed her head and replied with apology. Seeing her slumped shoulders made me feel pity.
She had been carrying the heavy responsibility of a Queen on her shoulders and had finally found a moment of liberation. But even that rest had become a nuisance to others.
She seemed to deliberate for a while before slowly lifting her head to look Cecile straight in the eye. Cecile’s expression remained unchanged.
"...Would it not be possible?"
"Pardon?"
"I am truly sorry, and I know it sounds shameless... but for just ten minutes, even just ten minutes, I wish to speak with Isaac."
Arwen pleaded with her hands clasped together and her eyes sparkling. Given her appearance, even Cecile couldn't help but hesitate.
Who wouldn't be moved when a cute girl pleads while holding your hands? And she wasn't just a normal human, but an Elf.
While Cecile wavered, Arwen pleaded once more with a desperate voice.
"I know well what kind of relationship you and Isaac share. But I wish to ask this of you. I will grant whatever you desire, so could you not allow me ten minutes of his time?"
"..."
Even if Arwen had been the one to commit a discourtesy, Cecile found herself flustered when she took such a humble stance. Arwen wasn't just some noble; she was the Queen of Albenheim.
Cecile was also a Princess of Helium, but there was a clear difference in their ranks. When someone of that status acted so humbly, it put Cecile in a difficult position.
Crucially, Arwen was appealing with total sincerity. Just how difficult must her state affairs be for her to look like she was about to kneel for ten minutes with me?
'...Does she really have to go that far?'
I suddenly wondered what Arwen thought of me to act like this. It could be that she cherished me more because she had no one to call a friend, but I felt there was something more to it.
While I was feeling puzzled, Cecile seemed to have grasped the nature of that 'something' as she pressed her lips together and stared intently at Arwen.
When a strange silence settled between them with no words exchanged, Cecile let out a deep sigh and spoke quietly.
"Sigh... Fine. I suppose Isaac is the sinner here..."
"T-Thank you! Truly, thank you!"
Setting aside Arwen’s joy, why was I being treated like a sinner? Did they exchange words via telepathy or something?
I tilted my head as the situation became increasingly mysterious. Cecile looked at me with a complex, subtle gaze before turning back to Arwen.
Then, she spoke in a firm voice to Arwen, who was hopping around like a happy child.
"However! There are conditions."
"What are they? I will grant anything."
Arwen agreed to the demands with a happy smile, like a child who had gotten what they wanted.
At that, Cecile smirked and voiced a proposal that made Arwen hesitate.
"The conversation must take place here, in this room. And I will be right beside you."
"...What? That wouldn't be a conversation between just the two of us."
"Since you've ruined our date, shouldn't I get something out of this too? You can't expect to get a free ride, after all."
"Ugh..."
At Cecile’s firm point, Arwen’s face filled with disappointment.
Well, it wasn't the worst-case scenario, so she was likely satisfied in her own way.
'But what does she mean by a free ride?'
Just what kind of secret talk had the two of them shared?
*
Thirty minutes later.
"I don't know. Wouldn't the Demon Tribe be superior? Even if your 'depth' is great, you can't keep up with the Demons in terms of diversity."
"Ha. How foolish. Diversity is just another word for being a jack of all trades and master of none. We Elves are the very definition of versatility."
"Are you quite finished?"
"Are you quite finished?"
I ended up witnessing a clash between the strongest beings in the world.
In more ways than one.