Chapter 259: Eventful(1)
Chapter 259: Eventful(1)
In my previous life, drunk driving was a felony bordering on attempted murder, but in this world, there weren't even proper traffic laws, let alone regulations for driving under the influence.
Carriages, the sole means of transportation, were subject to taxes, but a coachman being drunk was never considered an issue. In fact, people would often remark on how "leisurely" a coachman was for having the composure to drink while driving, so it was no surprise that proper laws were non-existent.
Furthermore, society's view on alcohol was simultaneously lenient and strict, and the same applied to crimes committed while intoxicated. Even if someone committed a crime while drunk, the law focused solely on the crime itself, not the act of drinking.
For instance, suppose a heavily intoxicated person assaulted someone in a fit of rage. The law would only discuss the assault; the drinking would be treated as an irrelevant side matter. Perhaps that's why the joke about "waking up in a prison cell once the buzz wears off" was so common.
In short, punishing someone for drunk driving was a complicated affair, and the most appropriate penalty was usually just paying for damages.
Eins seemed to realize his mistake and accepted the situation readily, but the problem was that he was severely short on funds. The other dwarves were in the same boat. While this presented a bit of a dilemma, the solution turned out to be quite simple.
The three dwarves, Eins included, were put to work at the construction site. We happened to be short-handed, and since dwarves were reliable workers, the matter was settled smoothly.
In exchange, our family took custody of the automobile until the exhibition was over. To prevent anyone from stealing it, I had it moved into the mansion's courtyard.
And so, a day filled with various ups and downs passed, and the morning sun of the next day rose.
"Isaac!"
"Ah. Cecile."
As the morning sun climbed, Cecile arrived at our mansion. As always, she was accompanied by her guard knight, Gartz. The moment Gartz saw me, he gave a silent, respectful nod.
Gartz was dressed in his usual formal uniform, but Cecile, as expected, did not disappoint.
She was wearing the black dress I had seen back in Helium—the one that exposed her shoulders and about half of her ample cleavage, adorned with intricate frills. It was an outfit that perfectly balanced sexiness and sensuality, fully showcasing Cecile's captivating allure.
Even though we had already shared a bed, every time I saw Cecile in such a provocative dress, it felt like I was meeting her for the first time. That was how difficult it was to know where to look.
It was a stark contrast to Marie, who had chosen a modest, understated dress with almost no skin showing for this exhibition. This didn't mean Marie was any less beautiful than Cecile; rather, they both had distinct, vivid charms.
If Cecile stood out for her sexiness and sensuality, Marie embodied elegance and a purity that matched the color of her hair.
In reality, both Marie and Cecile were usually busy showering me with affection, but let's move past that.
"You're here later than I expected. Did something happen?"
"Yeah. I was refining the typewriter, and there was someone I had to meet."
"Someone you had to meet?"
I tilted my head. If the Princess of Helium had someone she needed to meet, it had to be someone significant.
And the person Cecile mentioned was enough to give me a slight shock.
"Yeah. Do you happen to know Skal? The director of the Matrix Theater Troupe."
"Of course I do. You met with him?"
"Actually, the state has been supporting them since the last exhibition. And we've been preparing a massive project for this one. You'll probably be shocked when you see it."
I wondered what kind of project it was for Cecile to be so confident. Coming from anyone else, I might have brushed it off, but since it was Cecile, my curiosity doubled.
She wasn't the type to be easily impressed by ordinary magic, so a truly spectacular performance had to be in the works.
"If you want, Isaac, I can show you right now. As the original author, you're more than entitled."
"No, it's fine. It's no fun if I see it beforehand. Unless it's a trailer."
I still remembered it vividly—the scene where a massive scythe suddenly appeared behind a Demon who was transforming and snatched them away in an instant.
The Matrix Theater Troupe had shown extraordinary directing skills even back then, delivering a performance that lived up to their reputation. Combined with the atmospheric music of the Lirus Orchestra, it had been nothing short of a masterpiece.
"We'll show the trailer on the day of the exhibition. Just like last time."
"I'm looking forward to it. Can you tell me what the story is this time? Is it Sacran again?"
At my question, Cecile gave a playful smile and shook her head. Sacran's story must have left the deepest impression on the Demon Clan, so it was somewhat surprising.
Seeing my questioning look, Cecile filled me in on the plot.
"No. It's the story of Kair and Elisha. To be precise, it's centered around Volume 11."
"Ah. Did they depict Kair's death?"
This was also unexpected. Kair's death was a legendary scene that was talked about long after the fact, a poignant illustration of the tragedy caused by the difference in lifespans.
The Demon Clan, having long lifespans like the Elves, had empathized deeply with it, but since it was a story between a Human and an Elf, it hadn't garnered as much attention from them.
Furthermore, since Skal was a Demon, turning their story into a play was quite a surprise.
"Yeah. For the record, I've only seen the trailer myself. But even that was incredible. I realized what kind of results you get when you give a master craftsman enough time and budget."
"Hearing you say that makes me even more curious."
"You can look forward to this exhibition. I guarantee it."
With such a guarantee, my expectations soared. I chatted with Cecile as we moved toward the guest room. She didn't have much luggage, but it was only polite to show her the way.
"Marie arrived first, right?"
"Yeah. She went to see Lily."
"Oh, right. My sister-in-law must be born by now. I can't wait to see her."
Lily was only two months old, but she was already incredibly popular. Marie had squealed the moment she saw her, gushing about how cute she was.
At the same time, she had been giving me these suggestive looks that felt a bit ominous. It felt like seeing Lily had flipped some kind of switch in her.
I was a little afraid Cecile might be the same. Especially since she had been quite open about her intentions since Volume 19, making her even more likely to be affected than Marie.
As if sensing my gaze, Cecile turned to me with a beautiful smile.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you're so beautiful."
"Hehe."
Cecile let out a soft giggle, clearly pleased by the compliment. Her cheeks flushed slightly, suggesting she was in a good mood.
After showing Cecile to her guest room, I asked Gartz to take the typewriter to my bedroom—specifically, to the safe he had gifted me during the last exhibition.
Since Gartz was someone I could trust, I allowed him access to my bedroom. After settling Cecile in, I headed to the lounge.
"We're going to sleep in the same bed anyway, so can't I just stay in your room?"
"Sorry. Marie has already claimed it. And Marie and I are officially engaged, after all."
"Hmm."
Cecile seemed dissatisfied with my answer. She stared at me blankly for a moment before lowering her gaze. Then, she gently placed her hand on her flat stomach and muttered just loud enough for me to hear.
"Maybe I should just cut in line for real. Every time I hear that, I get so jealous."
"Now, now."
It sounded more like a sincere declaration than a joke, so I hurried to chide her. Cecile's jealousy toward Marie was growing by the day.
To be precise, it was a greed for my child. She seemed willing to concede on everything else, but not when it came to having a child.
This was an issue Marie wouldn't back down on either, making it a massive headache for me. I would have to do my best to mediate.
*
"Kyaa~ She's so cute!"
"She really is, isn't she?"
"Yes. She's absolutely lovely."
Of course, those worries only lasted until they saw Lily. Just like Marie, Cecile's reaction upon seeing Lily squirming in her cradle was one of pure adoration.
My mother looked on with a satisfied expression, while Marie nodded in fervent agreement.
As if responding to Cecile's intense reaction, Lily opened her eyes wide and stared intently at her. She even started sucking on her thumb for good measure.
Normally she would be asleep, but luckily, Cecile had arrived just as Lily woke up. Thanks to that, Lily got to meet both of her sisters-in-law at once.
"Ooh, ooh."
Lily, seemingly fascinated by the horns on Cecile's head, flailed her arms and reached out. Cecile complied with her request, leaning her head closer.
Then, Lily grabbed Cecile's horn with her tiny hand. Allowing someone to touch one's horns was a sign of love, but it was also used as an expression of deep affection.
When I grabbed her horns, they fit in one hand, but seeing Lily hold them made the difference in size starkly apparent.
Lily, seemingly confirming Cecile's affection, burst into a bright, toothless grin. It was a killer smile that melted away all the fatigue I'd accumulated.
"Yaaaawn..."
But a baby is a baby; before long, she let out a massive yawn and her eyes began to droop. Her hand naturally slipped away from Cecile's horn.
My mother, who had been watching with a warm smile, immediately wheeled the cradle out of the room once she saw Lily rubbing her eyes.
The brief healing time came to a regretful end, but there was still a mountain of things to discuss. The women and I sat on the sofas and began to chat.
Mother had thoughtfully prepared refreshments in advance, so there was no chance of our mouths being bored.
"By the way, where did Adelia go?"
"She's currently undergoing maid training. You can see her this evening if you want."
"Then when does her official duty start?"
"I heard she'll start working once the exhibition begins."
A custom-made maid uniform had already been prepared for Adelia. However, the nanny explained that she wouldn't be wearing it everywhere.
She would wear the maid uniform inside the mansion, but for outings, she would wear a neat formal attire—the kind of outfit casino dealers might wear.
If Adelia were an ordinary maid, she would wear the uniform everywhere, but she also served as a guard knight. If she accompanied me as a guard knight, people wouldn't be able to mess with her easily.
Furthermore, an exclusive maid indirectly reflects the dignity of the family, so the nanny insisted she wear formal attire for outings.
It was a bit of a shame, but I had to be satisfied with Adelia wearing the maid uniform at all.
Oh, and as a side note, I was the one who requested the design for the maid uniform. I vividly remember the nanny looking at me with a peculiar glint in her eyes after seeing the sketches.
It was an expression that basically said, 'I guess you're a red-blooded male after all.' I was looking forward to seeing Adelia in it soon.
"I guess I can talk to her then."
"Hmm? Talk about what?"
"Marie and I coordinated some things for the break. Right?"
"As expected of Cecile. You're quick on the uptake."
When Cecile sought agreement, Marie nodded with a satisfied look. Between Marie's earlier comment and this, it seemed some kind of secret conversation had taken place between the two.
The focus of that conversation was undoubtedly Adelia. I was curious, but I figured they wouldn't give me a straight answer even if I asked, so I let it go.
What mattered now was the exhibition, which was right around the corner. Since Cecile had arrived, it was the perfect time to bring it up.
"You asked me to guide you too, right?"
"Yeah. Lina asked me before. I heard some strange woman has been clinging to you?"
"It was pathetic. How could she do that to a man who clearly has a fiancée?"
Marie grumbled, her voice uncharacteristically full of hostility.
Those close to me knew what had happened between me, Adelia, and Hiriya. It was only natural for Marie to react that way.
Unlike the women who showed me their true hearts, Hiriya was using me as a tool for revenge. Because of this, it was impossible not to dislike her.
Furthermore, she had used her power to put me in a difficult position, and I was now officially engaged to Marie. Setting aside the fact that I was Xenon, it was practically a major diplomatic insult.
Dirty politics might be common among nobles, but a country should at least protect its own. If they just let it happen without any response, what would the domestic nobility think?
In reality, Hiriya had overplayed her hand just to spite Adelia. If my fiancée hadn't been Marie of the Rekilis family but the daughter of some ordinary noble house, she might have tried to force her way.
But now that the state had begun to intervene, all her efforts were in vain. Since there was a proper justification, the chances of the Kingdom of Ters doing anything strange were very low.
"I should take this opportunity to make it clear. That I am Isaac's official fiancée. In that sense, it's okay if we go together, right?"
"You're my fiancée, so of course. But you'll lose your free time and have to play politics. Are you okay with that?"
"I just have to keep the Kingdom of Ters in check. The rest is just hanging out with friends. Right, Cecile?"
Marie leaned forward, seeking agreement from Cecile, who was sitting on my right. She looked full of conviction.
However, Cecile seemed a bit hesitant after hearing the question. As Marie tilted her head in confusion, Cecile spoke up.
"That's true, but... I'm a little concerned about Albenheim."
"The Elf Queen? You mean Queen Arwen?"
"Yeah."
"What about her? Did she ask Isaac for a tour too?"
"Ah."
Come to think of it, I hadn't told Marie about that. Albenheim had announced they would attend the exhibition, but the request for a guide had been made privately.
So it wasn't strange that Marie didn't know, but Cecile seemed to have guessed it. She was the person who had faced Arwen the most after me, after all.
"I forgot to mention it. Arwen also asked me to guide her."
"Really? Did you know too, Cecile?"
"I predicted it the moment Albenheim announced they were attending. That woman has feelings for Isaac too."
"What?"
"......?"
At the sudden bombshell, both Marie and I were stunned, staring at Cecile. I, in particular, wore a bewildered expression, as if asking what on earth she was talking about.
Cecile, on the other hand, tilted her head as if she was the one who couldn't understand our reaction. Then, she casually dropped a whole cluster of bombs.
"Don't tell me you didn't know? She was making it so obvious."
"...Isaac?"
At Cecile's question, Marie called my name in a chilling voice. At the same time, she began to radiate a cold aura.
But I was the one who felt wronged. It was true that Arwen usually showed me goodwill, but it wasn't clear if it was romantic interest.
Even when she had that grand debate with Cecile, she had just blurted out some Elven Communist remarks and then been deathly embarrassed afterward.
...I say that, but it wasn't entirely implausible. During the manuscript theft incident, I had shown her mercy as a compromise, and I had even gone as far as dismantling the cancerous Senate.
Thinking back on it one by one, there was plenty of reason for Arwen to harbor romantic feelings for me. The problem was that there wasn't a clear, definitive moment.
To say she fell for me as a person, like Marie or Adelia, we hadn't seen each other that often. And it wasn't because I was Xenon, like Cecile or Kate.
It wasn't even a misunderstanding arising from cultural differences, like in Leona's case. In Arwen's case, I couldn't even begin to guess where it started.
"Why?"
Because of all these reasons, "Why?" was the only question I could ask. In my current state of mind, that was all that came out.
Cecile seemed to have grasped my thoughts; she blinked her red eyes and looked upward. It seemed she was also retracing her steps after hearing my question.
I really wished she would tell me soon. Marie was glaring at me as if she were about to kill me, and the atmosphere was suffocating.
After thinking for a long time, Cecile shared the reason she suspected.
"Hmm... there's only one likely thing. The fact that you're Xenon."
"...Just that?"
"And the question the Queen asked you before she left that time?"
The question she asked me... she probably meant the one about being a reincarnated person. But I had zero clue how that was related.
I couldn't fathom what kind of misunderstanding Arwen was under to harbor such feelings, nor could I guess what direction the exhibition would take.
Still, one thing was for certain.
"Ha. Honestly. Our Isaac is just too popular for his own good, isn't he?"
"......"
"Nicole was right. She said you'd even seduce the Elf Queen, and to think it was actually true. Maybe the real prophet wasn't Isaac, but Nicole?"
I was going to be squeezed dry by Marie for the time being.
Even now, she was speaking clearly with simmering rage while gripping my thigh tightly.
To appease her anger, I figured it would be best to just give up on my lower body.
"Oh my. Can I join in? Isaac is being quite naughty. I know Queen Arwen just misunderstood things on her own, but it's still true that he seduced her, right?"
"Cecile?"
"Shh. You're a sinner right now, Isaac. So keep your mouth shut and just wait for nightfall. If you're that scared, I'll personally take you to Lady Mora's temple."
"......"
Mr. Musk, please set up the publishing house as soon as possible. At this rate, I'm going to be sucked to death.
And so, I was subjected to the joint attack of Marie and Cecile until the exhibition began.
"Hello, Saint Isaac. Lord Luminous has instructed me to find you and bestow a blessing upon you."
"...Thank you."
Whether it was a joke or a sincere gesture, Luminous had sent Kate to give me a blessing.
Still, thanks to the divine power I'd received and my physical training, I was only a little tired, not actually on the verge of death.
As I felt the divine power permeating my body and let out a long yawn, Kate, who had been piously offering the blessing with her hands clasped, spoke up.
"Come to think of it, the energy of Lady Marie and Lady Cecile has grown stronger lately. Have you perhaps bestowed the seed upon them?"
"...Yes. I suppose so."
"As expected. You are magnificent. Please continue to spread the Seed of Light far and wide. If you wish, you may even use my body. O Light who shall save the world."
"......"
Is this woman trying to get me killed?
The exhibition was showing ominous signs from the very start. And then...
"Hello..."
"Ah. You're here."
Right on cue, just before the exhibition was set to begin, Cherry visited the mansion.