Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Butterfly Effect
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Around the time spring flowers began to reveal themselves one by one, Nadezhda's training came to an end, and it was time to bid farewell to the steppe elves.
Unlike Stefan, who seemed a bit oblivious, Nadezhda had gotten along well with the other staff and even Caterina, which made me wonder for a moment if something might be there. But no, that was wishful thinking.
It was never easy for someone to abandon their home and relationships on a whim.
Still, it hadn't been a bad experience.
Now that we'd built this connection, who knew if someone from the steppes might take an interest in us because of it?
"It was only a short time, but I owe you so much."
"Exactly. If I weren't so embarrassed, I'd want to come back."
"I wonder if I'll ever be able to repay you all."
It was a bit early for the sun to rise.
As Nadezhda, mounted on her reindeer and unable to hide her slight fatigue, greeted me and the head butler, the elves chimed in one by one, expressing their gratitude for the hospitality over the past two weeks or so.
"A few days' stay? No need to feel indebted. It wasn't any trouble at all, so please don't worry about it."
"Haha!"
I didn't feel like I'd done anything worthy of such thanks, so I chuckled lightly and brushed it off modestly. But the elves glanced at the bundles the size of a person's torso tied to the reindeer and burst into hearty laughter, as if I'd told some amusing joke.
"You put us up for a few days at your home and sent us off with all sorts of things. How could we not be grateful?"
"It was really nothing to me. But I'm flattered you feel that way."
The bundles were large, but packed only with daily necessities that didn't even total a single gold coin.
Even if it had been a gold, it wouldn't have made a dent—staying as guests didn't cost me anything, so it felt like giving pocket money to a nephew at Thanksgiving.
"Ha! This is why you gotta befriend rich folks!"
I smiled and downplayed it, and Stefan grinned so wide his eyes practically disappeared.
"Swing by the Imperial Capital sometime when you're free. I'll give you some leather as a gift. They say reindeer hide is used for decorations here, right?"
"That's right. Personally, I prefer deer or horse leather, but if you're offering, I'll gladly accept."
"Deer and horse... Got it. That shouldn't be too hard."
Stefan muttered it like he was committing it to memory, then nodded lightly.
He glanced at the eastern sky, which was starting to lighten with a purple hue as dawn broke, and gently turned the reindeer's head sideways.
"We should get going now. If we wait until full daylight, we'll attract too much attention."
"Yes, safe travels."
"Take care, Master William. Life's short—you gotta show off a pretty wife and some kids before it's over."
"Right, at least make sure the baby doesn't starve..."
"Enough of that nonsense. Time to head out for real."
I hurriedly cut off the elves, who were still clinging to the casual deflection I'd thrown out earlier, and stepped aside, giving off vibes that urged them back to the steppes.
"Wife...?"
The head butler, who'd been listening quietly, stared at me like I'd spouted utter nonsense, but I gritted my teeth, ignored him, and waved lightly at the elves.
"So shy. A man needs to be bold to be popular, Master William."
"Just go already!"
"Ahaha! Alright, we're really off now! See ya!"
Blushing furiously, I yelled as if kicking the reindeer into gear, and the elves laughed delightedly before spurring their mounts' flanks.
"Haa..."
I sighed as I watched the elves and their reindeer trot lightly away into the distance.
Now, how to deal with the head butler shooting me those piercing glances left behind by those damn elves...
I'm exhausted.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Like the flap of a butterfly's wings stirring a typhoon.
My small white lie, thrown out casually to dodge a momentary annoyance, had grown into a storm and come back to bite me.
Explaining it to the head butler wasn't hard, just tedious, so I laid it all out in detail from beginning to end, emphasizing it was all a misunderstanding.
He was confused at first but eventually nodded, saying he understood completely.
The problem was that the story hadn't stayed contained to just the head butler.
"Young Master, is it true that Emily claimed to be your wife?"
It started with the butlers approaching cautiously, asking in hushed tones like we were trading secrets.
"What nonsense is that?"
"I heard it from another butler. It seemed so bizarre, so I thought I'd check just in case."
"Emily would never do something like that, so tell them to quit spreading that garbage."
"I see. Of course, sweet Emily wouldn't do anything crazy like that."
Rather than just saying 'misunderstanding,' it was phrased as 'Emily claimed it herself'—a horrific rumor that could get her kicked out of the household if mishandled. I corrected them sternly, and that cleared up the butlers' confusion.
Thankfully, they hadn't taken it seriously anyway, so I thought it would die quickly.
"Young Master! Young Master, did you hear Emily's getting married?"
Next, the maids came by with bright smiles, asking about a slightly twisted version of the rumor.
"To who?"
I nearly retreated into seclusion, feeling hurt and down that she'd found someone without telling me.
"To you!"
"Me?"
Turns out, the partner was me.
"Who the hell said that?"
"The elf guests from before were going on about 'Lady Emily this and that...' and spread it around! The butlers are buzzing about you and Emily too. Emily's embarrassed and keeps denying it, so we came to ask you."
That's how I learned those damn elves had gleefully spread the tale of Emily being a married woman, and the rumor was mutating on its own into a chimera across various quarters.
"It's all nonsense..."
It was tamer than before, so I calmly explained and sent them off, but by then I started fearing what monstrous variations the elves, butlers, and maids might concoct independently.
"Son."
Right after, Father came by with a grave expression, calling me, and my heart nearly dropped out.
"Emily's a really good girl, so even if you don't welcome it, I wouldn't oppose it."
"That's..."
"Yes, it's just a false rumor. If something had happened, it would've by now. But please, be careful not to let this spread further. I don't want to face His Majesty summoning me to the audience chamber over 'Did you toy with his daughter?'..."
"I'm sorry..."
"It was the elves' fault. No need for you to apologize. Just be more careful next time."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind and be cautious."
Realizing it was Father who'd nearly given me a heart attack, I could only bang my head on the desk and stammer apologies.
At least with Father past it too, I could relax—no more issues would arise.
Butlers, maids, Father—that covered everyone who needed clarifying.
Brother?
He hadn't believed it from the start.
He'd bellowed, 'If that coward touched Emily, I'd bet my own wrist!' which helped quiet the rumors even faster.
It was a bit sad that the whole family saw me as too spineless to touch a laid-out meal, but it was such an undeniable fact that I couldn't argue.
I just felt sorry for Emily, who nodded along sympathetically.
A few days later, with the rumors settled and days passing peacefully as I awaited His Majesty's coronation anniversary calmly...
The true butterfly effect hit on a weekday, two days before the ceremony.
"William, it's been so long."
That day, big sis Evelyn—who'd left for the Holy Kingdom to become a priestess—returned after years, wearing a gentle, benevolent smile.
"Eh, Big Sis? Weren't you in the Holy Kingdom?"
"I got some long-overdue vacation time. Approval took a while, but..."
"Glad you made it. It's a long way from here to the Holy Kingdom—hope it wasn't too tough."
"Nah, just a carriage ride on well-paved roads. What's hard about that?"
I was amazed that big sis, who took after Mother and was said to suit a heretic inquisitor better, could wear such benevolence on her face. Seeing her after so long lifted my spirits immensely.
"Ufufu, you've grown so much. It feels like yesterday you barely reached my chest, and now you're taller than me."
"Puberty, y'know."
It was a nostalgic day, fresh memories bubbling up as she patted my head and gauged our height difference.
"But, William."
"Yes?"
Suddenly, strength crept into the hand stroking my hair.
"I heard a rather amusing rumor at the townhouse just now. Want to hear it?"
"What... kind?"
"That you've been harassing Emily like some playboy."
"...Huh?"
"And earlier this year, you got tangled in a heresy inquiry... even paid a fine, didn't you?"
Big sis's face slowly reverted to Mother's, her cold gaze looking up at me.
"William."
"Y-Yes...!"
"We need a deep talk after so long. Got time? Emily too."
The moment the secondary heresy trial opened its Chamber of Truth in the townhouse.
"O-Of course, Big Miss."
"Y-Yeah, if Big Sis wants time, of course."
"Follow me."
Rather than explain on the spot, Emily and I inwardly cursed the elves who'd successfully crafted this horrific bomb.
We could only follow quietly to big sis's Chamber of Truth, like lambs led to slaughter.