Chapter 264: Sign it! The World Tree is... (2)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 264: Sign it! The World Tree is... (2)[R-18]
“...So, while I’ll definitely give him a piece of my mind when he gets back, I won’t stop him from charging ahead.”
Helen shrugged at Evelyn’s answer.
The Marigold family was a branch that had split off from the Yellow Pansy family, so it wasn't as if they had no connection at all.
Whether that connection would actually be effective remained to be seen...
But at the very least, clinging to the thin thread of blood relations was better than being total strangers.
“Well, if that’s what you think, then fine. I understand. ...Then, shall I go have a dance with the wolves of Blue Tulip?”
“The conclusion is set, then. We’ll leave the persuasion of Yellow Pansy to Evelyn, and Blue Tulip to you, Helen. In the meantime, I will finish persuading the internal factions of the Imperial Palace and plan to ‘coincidentally’ head toward the border.”
With Laplace’s declaration, everyone’s roles were finalized.
“Yes, let’s do that. Oh, by the way, how much support can we expect from the Imperial family? As I mentioned, the merchant guild’s funds have run dry. It’ll be a bit difficult without any support...”
“...Send an official request if there is something you need. I will discuss it with my sister and send a reply.”
“Ugh, how stingy... Fine, I get it.”
Helen replied, pouting her lips.
Squeeze—
“Will you be okay, Evelyn?”
Estelle asked cautiously, clutching Evelyn’s sleeve.
“The Yellow Pansy family... they’re famous for being closed off to outsiders.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t say I’d go without thinking it through. And if they don’t open the door...”
Evelyn clenched her fist and grinned.
“I’ll just keep pounding on it until they do. If they still won’t open it, I’ll just break the door down. ...Ian is out there risking his life; I can’t exactly turn back just because a door is shut, can I? I have to meet them and persuade them somehow.”
“Pfft!”
Helen burst into laughter upon hearing Evelyn’s grim determination.
“...That’s so like you. Fine. I’ll be generous. If you actually end up breaking the Yellow Pansy family’s front gate, let me know. Red Rose Commerce will at least cover the repair costs.”
“Shut up! Who asked you for money?”
“My, how fierce. I’m just trying to help, why the anger? Honestly~.”
“Evelyn, Helen. We don’t have time for games. There isn’t much time left until the ‘100-Man Council’ convenes. We must finish all preparations before then.”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
Slide—
“Well, I’ll be off first. I need to pick out some bait to throw to the wolves.”
With those words, Helen stood up and left the room without a second thought.
“I’m going too. Sigh... It’ll take forever just to travel back and forth to the Yellow Pansy estate.”
“...Be careful, Evelyn.”
“Yeah, don’t worry.”
Evelyn also gave Estelle’s shoulder a light pat before standing up and walking toward the door.
With the two of them gone, only Laplace and Estelle remained in the room.
“Then, Estelle, you should head out as well. You haven’t been given a specific role, but try to find anything that might be of help.”
“No, Your Highness. I have already decided on my role.”
“...Is that so? Estelle, what is your role?”
Estelle moved her wheelchair closer to Laplace’s side.
“If the worst-case scenario occurs, I will be the one to make the final decision. So... please focus on the things that only you, the Imperial Princess, can do.”
“....!!”
Laplace’s red eyes widened at Estelle’s words, which seemed to pierce through her heart.
The reason Laplace had been exceptionally cold today...
Was because she was bracing herself to personally ‘dispose’ of Hayangi if the worst came to pass.
“...Will you... be alright?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine.”
“....”
“...Because this is the only thing I can do for everyone’s sake.”
With that short answer, Estelle quietly left the room.
*
Inside the carriage heading toward Elvenheim.
Elfriede was giggling to herself as she looked down at the ring on her left ring finger.
‘...Hehehe♥’
Even though she tried to hold it back, the laughter kept leaking out.
After all, this wasn't just any ordinary ring...
It was an engagement ring from Ian!!
Elfriede stole a glance at Ian, who was sitting next to her.
Naturally, an identical ring was on Ian’s left ring finger as well.
‘For now, Senior, let’s get engaged.’
The thrill of having Ian personally put the ring on her finger before anyone else, right in front of all those other women...
‘It felt so refreshing!’
Of course, she wasn't putting on this act purely for personal feelings.
Well, since they would eventually get engaged and married for real anyway, it wasn't 100% an act...
But being engaged to Ian was the perfect excuse for Elfriede to return to Elvenheim without raising suspicion.
After all, the reasons Elfriede had left Elvenheim in the first place were for ‘Academy experience’ and ‘finding a groom.’
‘The Academy... well, the Elders probably didn't expect me to learn much there anyway.’
Of course, the Sacred Academy was a place where the Empire’s best professors gathered...
But even so, they were bound to be insufficient to teach Elfriede.
‘I can just say there was nothing left to learn and that I’ve finished my search for a groom, so I’ve returned.’
If she brought back a handsome groom like Ian, even the suspicious Elders would soften up a bit.
‘...However.’
Elfriede’s brow furrowed slightly.
Squeeze—
Looking at Ian’s face, it was clear he was incredibly nervous.
“Senior, relax your expression. You don’t really need to do anything. In fact, you shouldn't.”
Burning the World Tree was an unthinkable act in itself, but if Ian, a human, were to get directly involved...
Then a war between Elves and Humans would truly be inevitable.
“You just need to act all lovey-dovey with me as my fiancé... and then find a good time to make a run for it when the mood is right. I’ll handle everything else.”
“...Yeah, I know.”
It was frustrating, but he was well aware of the gap in strength between himself and Elfriede.
Setting aside political issues, it was better to stay back so as not to hinder Elfriede from using her full power, rather than trying to help and getting in the way.
“If you know, then why the long face? This is me we’re talking about, Elfriede! The Genius Beauty High Elf!! Contractor of the Spirit King!! The Miracle of the Elves!! I won’t lose, but... even if I did, they couldn't do anything to me. Why? Because I’m Elfriede. At most, they’d just lock me in a solitary cell and lecture me like they did a hundred years ago.”
“...A hundred years ago?”
“I meant ten years ago. A slip of the tongue. Forget it.”
Snap!
Elfriede, who had been grinning all day since putting on the engagement ring, suddenly turned serious.
“More importantly, you really have to act lovey-dovey with me. Even if I, who once threw away the title of ‘Grand Elder,’ say I want to become the Grand Elder now, those suspicious old fogies won’t believe me easily. So, while staying with you, we need to show them a side that makes them think, ‘Our Elfriede has changed since she got engaged!’ ...Well, what can they do? They’ll have to accept it eventually. I’m the only one with the qualifications to be the Grand Elder anyway.”
Once that happened, Elfriede would enter the place where the ‘World Tree’s Essence’ was kept, accompanied by the Elders, to be recognized as the Grand Elder by the World Tree once again.
“At that exact moment, I’ll suppress the Elders and burn the ‘World Tree’s Essence.’ Clean and simple, right?”
“...Yeah. I get it.”
“I mean, look at your face even after I’ve explained it all... Senior!! I appreciate the concern, but I’m telling you, it’s really not necessary!!”
Whoosh—
A flame flickered to life on Elfriede’s palm.
“I won even when all the Elders attacked me at once before I left for the Academy. And this time, the conditions are even more in my favor!”
The ‘Heart of the World Tree,’ where the ‘World Tree’s Essence’ was located, was actually a place where it was easier for Elfriede to fight.
“The Elders are all old farts obsessed with rank and privilege, so they’ve made it so no one can enter the ‘Heart of the World Tree’ unless they are an Elder. Not even the ‘Wild Hunters.’”
“Wild Hunters?”
“Ah, it’s a direct unit under the Elders consisting of thirty-three members. I called it a unit, but it’s a bit different from the regular Elvenheim army... Skill is important, but they’re primarily chosen for their absolute loyalty to the Elders.”
From simple errands for the Elders to dark deeds like assassinations.
They were a group that acted as the literal hands and feet of the Elders.
“...Then, if the Wild Hunters join in, will you lose, Elfriede?”
“I’ll win.”
However, even for Elfriede, it would become ‘annoying’ if the Wild Hunters intervened during a battle with the Elders.
If it were anyone else, she could just scare them off, but...
The ‘Wild Hunters,’ with their near-maniacal loyalty, would throw their lives away without hesitation if the Elders commanded it.
‘...The best-case scenario is that no one outside notices anything while I suppress the Elders.’
In that case, Ian would just be treated as an honored guest by the Elves before escaping with Elfriede after she burns the ‘World Tree’s Essence.’
Conversely, the worst-case scenario was...
“There’s only one thing I’m worried about. ...That you might get caught before I can suppress the Elders.”
The problem was Ian being taken hostage while left alone during Elfriede’s succession ceremony.
In that case, honestly, even Elfriede didn't know how she would act.
“Don’t worry, I’ll run like my life depends on it. That’s what we prepared for, right?”
Pat, pat—
Ian said, tapping his chest.
Tucked away there was a magic tool for escaping (Crafted by: Poporing) that Chloe had specially prepared.
“Don’t forget to time your escape carefully. It would be a shame to get caught and raise suspicion by running away when you could have just been treated as a guest.”
Thump—
Elfriede leaned her head on Ian’s shoulder and continued.
“...Lastly, just in case, if you do get caught, don’t even think about resisting and just surrender quietly. I’ll save you somehow when that happens.”
The reason why Elves, who are few in number compared to humans, beastkin, or demons, are considered a great power.
It was because of the blessing of the World Tree and their long lifespans...
And their individual martial prowess, which was incomparable to other races.
“Yeah. Elfriede. I’ll trust you.”
Rustle, rustle—
As Ian stroked Elfriede’s hair...
Clatter—!
Finally, the carriage crossed the border into Elvenheim.