Chapter 293: Suspicion(3)
Chapter 293: Suspicion(3)
I had a hunch it was Hiriya’s doing the moment I received the letter, but the news Cherry brought me immediately afterward confirmed it.
Hiriya currently suspects that I am Xenon. According to Cherry’s explanation, there is a woman digging into my background—a beauty with brown hair and brown eyes.
She wore a pair of unbecoming glasses to hide her features to some extent, and her attire was as ordinary as could be. However, I saw through her disguise as Hiriya instantly.
Given the mountain of circumstantial evidence so far, there was no other suspect likely to go as far as sending me a letter.
No matter how clumsy or airheaded I might seem on the surface, my true nature doesn't reveal itself easily until someone digs deep.
Aside from Mari, those who have realized my identity only did so because they delved into my business; otherwise, most people remain oblivious.
Unlike some, I wasn't a social butterfly. I preferred forming deep relationships with a few people rather than maintaining a vast network of acquaintances.
For a nobleman, for whom networking is more important than anything else, I had many flaws—but since I possessed the 'ability' to compensate for them, it didn't matter.
In any case, the fact that Hiriya has begun to take an interest in me in a different sense is neither good nor bad. To be honest, I don't have much of an opinion on it.
If she sees through my identity, she’ll naturally start groveling. Conversely, if she decides on her own that I’m not the one, she’ll continue acting the same way.
Both the former and the latter have their pros and cons.
In the former case, Hiriya as an individual wouldn't be able to do anything, but it would be a different story if the state got involved.
They would undoubtedly start poking at the Minerva Empire, or a high-ranking official would step forward personally. The thorn in my side, Adelia, might be a bit of a nuisance, but they would endure it for the sake of national interest.
After all, those people would likely view Adelia as a concubine or a trophy of war. The variable would be the existence of my fiancée, Mari of the Rekilis Ducal House.
Even now, there is fierce checking and balancing going on; if they were to discover my identity, the Ters Kingdom would likely become even more aggressive.
Of course, I would reject everything they proposed, but it wouldn't just be annoying—the situation would become complicated. That was the former case.
The latter case would proceed much more smoothly than expected. As the saying goes, if you know your enemy and know yourself, you will never be defeated; it would play out similarly to the Senate incident.
Given Hiriya’s personality, if she realizes I have no backing, she’ll clearly harass me more persistently than before. It might even affect Adelia.
Instead, just like with the Senate, I could use that to my advantage and give the Ters Kingdom a proper taste of their own medicine.
However, this carries the prerequisite that I must reveal my identity in front of everyone. Everyone knows what would happen after that.
Either way, it was the same in that things would become troublesome once Hiriya started doubting me. Perhaps this was the choice Mora had mentioned.
Should I let Hiriya realize I am Xenon, or should I use my acting skills to show her a daily life that is no different from usual?
Furthermore, since I had Cherry’s testimony that I was being stalked, it was difficult even to meet Lina to coordinate our opinions.
To make matters worse, Lina was currently away due to the aftermath of Cecile’s speech, Arwen’s announcement, and the subsequent impersonation issues.
In particular, the movements of Helium, which has been growing rapidly recently, and Albenheim, which is trying to keep it in check, are unusual, so she is busy fulfilling her duties as the Imperial Princess.
In other words, Mari was virtually the only person I could talk to face-to-face. On top of that, Hiriya believed her stalking hadn't been discovered.
'This is a headache.'
Trying to exploit this to the fullest was a headache, but ignoring it might lead Hiriya to catch on.
Since I didn't know when, where, or how she was stalking me, I had to be careful at every moment.
For the time being, it seemed best to focus on my studies while feigning ignorance and acting in a way that would keep her confused.
"Munch, munch, munch."
"Is it good?"
"Yeah!"
For now, I decided to take care of my pet... no, Leona, who would be serving as a teaching assistant alongside me.
I hadn't seen her much since the exhibition, so I had intended to meet her at least once.
And sure enough, as soon as I invited her to the restaurant, she familiarly ordered a T-bone steak and began devouring it with great relish.
If she had been born on Earth, she probably would have been an amazing mukbang star. She ate so well it made me feel full just watching her.
"Crunch. Snap."
Leona chewed through not just the meat but the bones as well. Seeing her happy face as her ears atop her head twitched made me smile involuntarily.
However, looking at the plates stacked neatly on the table, even that smile turned into an awkward one.
It was a relief that I was the only one watching; I couldn't even imagine how the waiter would react if they saw this.
Regardless, Leona didn't care and was busy wagging her tail behind her.
"Phew. That was a good meal."
Having polished off her fifth plate of steak, Leona leaned back in her chair with a look of pure satisfaction.
Seeing as she didn't even think to wipe the steak sauce from around her mouth, she really seemed to be full.
I chuckled at the sight, then stood up and wiped it for her with a napkin.
"You should wipe your mouth with a napkin when you're done eating."
"Oh. Sorry."
As I wiped it for her, Leona submissively followed my touch. At times like this, she really felt like a pet.
It had been months since she declared in front of Mari that she would become my wife, but Mari didn't consider Leona a 'rival.'
Unlike Cecile and Adelia, it was more like looking at a cute pet in many ways.
I shouldn't think this way, but she really felt like a trophy, which made me wonder if this was right.
'Leona’s mother didn't look too happy either.'
As I wiped Leona’s mouth, I recalled her mother, who had visited the mansion during the exhibition.
Leona’s mother looked so much like her that they could have been sisters; she was simply Leona without the ears and tail.
However, unlike Leona, who could be cynical one moment and flighty the next, her mother exuded a very benevolent and elegant aura.
She had such a virtuous image that one could immediately tell why Leona’s father, the former Grand Chieftain, had taken her in.
'Her daughter, whom she raised like a precious jewel, said she was going to some nobleman...'
The wife of a Grand Chieftain only has authority as a wife; all power is concentrated in the Grand Chieftain.
Of course, as the saying goes, men rule the world and women rule men, so if one has excellent political skills, they can certainly wield great influence.
This was true for Leona’s mother as well. Even though she was human, she was said to have been recognized even among the beastkin through her outstanding wisdom.
Conversely, if she hadn't even had wisdom, she would have lived a quite miserable life. Because of the beastkin massacres that occurred during the Race War, beastkin did not view humans very favorably.
Having raised Leona with such care, her heart must be complicated to hear that she would be entering a household not as a primary wife, but as a concubine.
Since she herself had been a concubine rather than a primary wife, she probably felt uneasy about it.
'When should I tell her that I'm Xenon?'
Returning to my seat, I met the eyes of Leona, who was waiting quietly with her golden eyes sparkling.
With her tail wagging behind the chair and her animal ears standing tall, she was radiating the unique charm of her kind without reservation.
Originally, I had intended to tell Leona that I was Xenon as well, but after meeting her mother, I had to put it on hold for a moment.
No matter how much of a misunderstanding it was arising from cultural differences, proceeding as if everything was fine felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Mari, Cecile, and Adelia were all with me because they liked me for who I am, but Leona had merely acquiesced to 'culture.'
"Why are you staring like that?"
After we had been staring at each other for a while, Leona blinked and spoke.
It was her characteristic cynical tone, but in her own way, she was genuinely asking why I was staring. That was just how she talked.
However, the moment I reached out my hand, she would rub her face against it like a 'dog-cat' and act cute—that was Leona’s charm.
I looked at her, whose animal ears were truly charming as a beastkin, and replied with a faint smile.
"Leona."
"Yeah?"
"This might be a bit annoying, but I'll ask you one more time. Do you really not regret becoming my wife?"
"Again, again, again with that question. I told you, this is beastkin culture..."
"Even considering your mother?"
"..."
The moment I mentioned her mother, Leona froze. She stayed exactly as she was, her mouth open as if to say something.
As everyone knows, Leona is a very filial daughter. The reason she wants to graduate from the Academy even while hiding her identity is to make her mother happy.
However, there was strangely almost no mention of her father. This likely meant she had little affection for her biological father.
In beastkin culture, it is taken for granted that males dominate females, and they even view their own children as rewards.
In many ways, they display behavioral patterns and a culture befitting 'beasts,' which is why humans, including myself, find them difficult to understand.
To begin with, consider that 'beast-like bastard' is an insult. That's how difficult it is for each side to understand the other.
"...Can I be honest?"
Leona showed signs of hesitation after hearing my question, then spoke in a cautious tone.
I nodded and gestured for her to speak. Her lack of her usual confident and cynical tone made me even more interested.
Then, she let out a deep sigh filled with complex emotions and began to talk about what had happened.
"...During the exhibition, Mother told me. She said I don't necessarily have to follow beastkin culture. She said it wouldn't matter if I lived my life as neither beastkin nor human, but at least Mother seems to prefer living a human life."
"Why is that?"
"Because Mother is human."
An answer that was immediately understandable without the need for a long, rambling explanation. Even if beastkin and humans can mix, their cultures can never truly blend.
To a beastkin, human culture would seem like fussing over every little thing, while humans would consider beastkin culture barbaric.
Culture forms a simple yet complex web of interests, and in the worst-case scenario, it can even lead to war.
Even I consider beastkin culture barbaric, so how much more so for other humans?
I can at least 'understand' it because my memories of my past life are clearly etched in my mind, but other humans would find even understanding difficult.
"Besides, my father... I can't call him a good father, even as a white lie. He was a capable ruler, but he had almost no interest in his children. Especially since I'm a half-blood and ugly."
"What are you talking about? You're gorgeous."
"I-I meant by beastkin standards!"
When I complimented her looks matter-of-factly, Leona shouted hurriedly, her face turning red. She’s cute when she does that, too.
"...Anyway, Mother asked me to reconsider. She might even visit the Academy soon. During the exhibition, she was too busy hanging out with me."
"Hmm... what do you think?"
"...Honestly, I don't really know. I want to follow Mother's words, but I like you. Seeing as you have several females, not just one or two, it's not like you lack strength or ability. But I don't think that's what Mother wants."
She probably doesn't. Even if it's a concubine, it's a different story if it's a nobleman's concubine.
Not only would she lack for nothing materially, but she also wouldn't have to worry about dying in some ditch. What her mother likely worries about is 'politics.'
Strictly speaking, you could call it a battle of affections. She likely experienced such things herself.
Naturally, parents want their children to live a better life than they did. So, for her only daughter, she would want her to marry a man she truly loves, without any worries.
A problem that was both complex and simple at the same time. It seemed I would have to meet and talk with her mother, not Leona.
"I understand for now. Then it can't be helped."
"Then..."
"I think it's best to put things on hold for a while. Meeting your mother should come first."
"Ah..."
Leona looked truly disappointed at my decision. Not only did her ears droop, but even her wagging tail fell limp.
Seeing her react like that, it seemed certain that she liked me. But this was a necessary step to reassure her mother.
Even if only out of consideration for her filial piety, it couldn't be helped. If I wasn't careful, the harmonious relationship between mother and daughter could be ruined.
"...I understand. I'll also try my best to persuade Mother."
Fortunately, Leona also accepted it readily and nodded. She really was a filial daughter; she seemed to follow along whenever it concerned her mother.
"Thank you. I'm telling you this in case you misunderstand, but it's definitely not because I dislike you. Quite the opposite, actually."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Honestly, there are very few men who could reject a woman as beautiful as you."
"Heehee."
When I praised her beauty, her drooping ears perked up and her tail began to wag again.
I made up my mind that I must persuade her mother, if only to be able to touch those ears and tail to my heart's content.
"Oh, by the way, Leona."
"Yeah?"
"You said you're coming as a teaching assistant for the History Department after this semester ends, right?"
"Yeah."
"Is that because of me, by any chance?"
At my question, Leona nodded and replied with a bright smile.
"Yeah! That way, I can spend more time with you."
"..."
"Um... do you not like it?"
Her ears and tail began to droop again. I immediately denied it.
"No. I actually like it. I'll be in your care."
"Yeah!"
How could she be so cute? I definitely have to persuade her mother.
*
Meanwhile, at the same time, in a different location.
"So, why did you call for me?"
Mari, Isaac’s lover and fiancée, asked bluntly as she looked at the woman sitting across from her.
In response, the woman sitting opposite her, Hiriya, spoke in her characteristic blunt voice.
"There's something I want to ask."