Chapter 88: 'Holy' Ellis's Day (9)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 88: 'Holy' Ellis's Day (9)[R-18]
“...This is absurd.”
“Oh? What are you dissatisfied with? It’s a bit awkward saying this myself, but I believe I’m a woman who lacks for nothing.”
Helen truly believed that.
While they say no one in the world is perfect, she considered ‘Helen Redrose’ to be the closest thing to it.
“Ha... Let’s say, as you claim, Estelle likes me, and you use those feelings to actually become the top student.”
“Exactly.”
“...But why should I help you? What reason do I have to help you at the cost of making Estelle suffer?”
“Hahat!! Right. I haven't explained the most important part yet.”
Flutter—
A slip of paper swayed between Helen’s fingers.
“It’s a check for 200 million Eris. Consider it the down payment.”
“....”
“Three years until I graduate. During that time, 100 million Eris at the start of every semester. And an additional 300 million Eris upon graduation. A total of 1.3 billion Eris. How does that sound? Extraordinary, isn't it? There’s only one condition. Officially become my lover.”
“....”
As Helen placed the check on the desk, Ian’s expression shifted.
‘Ha, I knew it.’
She wasn't particularly mocking Ian.
There was no need to mock the obvious.
No matter how much a person prattled on about friendship and loyalty, the moment a massive sum of money was placed before their eyes, such trivial things were forgotten in an instant.
“I don't need it.”
“Right. A wise deci—wait, what?”
“I said I don't need it.”
“...Ha... Hahahaha! You have more guts than I thought! This isn't enough? You dare try to negotiate with a Redrose? Fine!”
Scribble!
Helen crossed out the '2' written on the check, replaced it with a '5', and stamped it.
“A down payment of 500 million Eris. Of course, the other conditions remain the same. Let me be clear, this is my final offer. I absolutely cannot give you more than this.”
“....”
Reach—
As Ian picked up the check, the corners of Helen’s mouth curled upward.
‘As expected... there’s no way he could refuse.’
It was likely far too much money to turn down.
She had done a brief background check on Ian before coming here, but there was nothing special.
—An orphan picked up and raised by the Marigold family. Origins prior to that are unknown.
—Became independent about five years ago and lives alone.
—Grades are average; handsome with a good physique.
‘He seems to be putting that face to use, seducing big shots like the second-place student, the Mad Dog, the Saintess Candidate, and the Second Princess... but in the end, it’s just a midsummer night’s dream. The moment they graduate, they’ll all realize how cold reality is.’
Goddess Ellis guaranteed equality only within the walls of the Sacred Academy.
Those foolish women seemed to believe this moment would last forever, blinded by love, but the moment they graduated and realized the gap in status, Ian would be discarded in a heartbeat.
‘In comparison, this man has a sense of reality, perhaps because he’s an orphan.’
After graduation, when he has nothing left, 1.3 billion Eris would be an immense help.
‘Well... with looks like that, he wouldn't be bad to keep around as an ornament.’
Of course, she had no intention of spending 1.3 billion on a mere ornament.
From this moment on, she would use Ian as a tool to drive a wedge between the Princess and the Saintess.
Rip—! Riiip—!
“...Eh? Y-You!!... Right now!! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“I told you. I don't need the money.”
“Ha...!!..You don't... need the money? Then, do you need something else? What is it? Connections with the nobility? A position in Red Rose Commerce? What on earth do you want?!”
Helen screamed.
Even for Helen, she couldn't spend more money than this.
Of course, as the heiress of the Redrose family, the amount of money she could actually use was much higher, but this had to remain a ‘personal affair.’
Bribing Ian with her private funds would just make her look like a foolish girl trying to buy love if she were caught...
But if she touched the funds of Red Rose Commerce, she wouldn't be able to get away with it so easily.
“...You don't understand. What I need isn't something like that.”
“Ha!! Don't make me laugh!! You don't need money or power? Where in this world is there a person who hates money? People who talk like you are usually the ones most obsessed with it.”
Sitting in her chair, Helen spoke as she handed over a newly written check.
Scribble—!
“As I said, 500 million Eris was the final offer. The down payment I’m offering this time is 400 million! If you refuse again, it will only keep decreasing!”
“....”
Rip—! Riiip—!
“No! Are you actually insane?! It’s 400 million Eris! Do you have any idea how much money that is? Or what? Do you really think you can end up with Estelle? Wake up! No matter how much the Black Dahlia family has fallen, they aren't at a level where they’d pair up with a commoner who has nothing!”
“...Wow, you really have a talent.”
When Ian, who had been expressionless until now, spoke with a slight smirk, Helen twirled her hair around her finger.
‘...S-Suddenly? A compliment...? Ah~. So this is how he lured them in. The bad boy act, but warm to his own woman. Too bad for you, though. Your opponent is Helen Redrose.’
The honey trap.
It was the thing a merchant had to be most wary of.
Helen was not a woman easy enough to be swayed by a mere compliment.
“...It’s useless to suddenly complim—”
“You have a talent for making people really pissed off.”
Flinch—!
Seeing Ian’s face, Helen’s body trembled.
‘...W-What is this? I... was startled?... By that man?’
She couldn't believe it.
The position of Redrose heiress wasn't won in a card game.
It was purely based on results.
At a young age, Helen had competed with her brothers, winning the succession after repeated battles of deception and betrayal.
In that process, she had met countless merchants and nobles, and there were times she was startled by the pressure they exuded, but...
This was the first time she had felt this way from someone her own age.
‘...Don't make me laugh!’
Though she was slightly startled, this was the Sacred Academy, and she was ‘Helen Redrose.’
Unexpectedly, Ian was a man who lived up to his looks, but the situation was still overwhelmingly in her favor.
“Whew... I’ll admit it. Honestly, I underestimated you a little. But you were underestimating me too. When it dropped from 500 to 400 million, you probably thought this: that if you pushed a little harder, I’d raise it again... No, you’re wrong. This time, it’s 350 million.”
“Hey, since you keep talking nonsense, let me tell you straight... I don't want money. I want this.”
“Pardon...?”
Slide—
Ian extended his finger.
Following the tip of his finger, there was the ‘Rose Brooch.’
“...Are you in your right mind? Do you even know what this ‘Rose Brooch’ signifies?”
The ‘Rose Brooch’ Ian pointed to was no ordinary brooch.
It was the ‘Symbol of the Redrose Heiress,’ something that couldn't even be priced.
“That was an unfunny joke. And if it wasn't a joke, I have nothing to say except that you’re insane. This is just a piece of advice, but you should know that excessive greed ruins a person.”
“Don't misunderstand. I wasn't pointing at the brooch. I was pointing at you.”
“...Ha? What does that mean?”
“I want a night with you.”
Hearing Ian’s words, Helen tilted her head for a moment before frowning again.
“What... are you perhaps aiming to be a son-in-law of the Redrose family? I’m sorry, but that will never happen in a million years. The only thing about you worth looking at is your face...”
“No, it’s a purely physical relationship. And just for one night. Isn't that a fair deal?”
“...Are you serious?”
She couldn't understand.
With 1.3 billion Eris, he could live like an emperor for months even in the highest-class brothels.
‘You’d throw away 1.3 billion Eris just to get one night with me?’
Helen wasn't someone who placed a special meaning on purity.
However, the reason she had remained a virgin until now was simply because her ‘appetite’ was much higher than her ‘sexual desire,’ and she judged that her value as a product would be higher if ‘Helen Redrose’ remained a virgin.
But...
‘...The profit from driving a wedge between the Imperial Family and the Church... and 1.3 billion Eris....’
No matter how she thought about it, this price was more than enough to sell her purity.
‘Well, it’s something I’d have to experience eventually.... And he’s not bad as a first partner.’
In terms of looks alone, a man like Ian would be hard to find even if one searched the entire Empire.
“Fine. Let’s do that.”
“I haven't finished the conditions yet. You don't actually think your one night is worth 1.3 billion Eris, do you?”
“Ha! Tsk... How obnoxious... Then what is it? Hurry up and say it.”
“Let’s make a bet. Whether or not I can make you submit to pleasure in a single night. Of course, using only my body, without any tools or drugs.”
“W-What...? Ple... Pleasure? Submit...? Pfft... Ha? Hah! Hahahahahaha! Hahahaha! Hahahahahaha!!”
“....”
Helen burst into loud laughter, clutching her stomach.
“Hahaha!... Ah... I’m sorry. It was so funny that I accidentally laughed out loud quite vulgarly. Please forget that.”
She had laughed so hard that a few tears even escaped.
Making her submit to pleasure in a single night...!!
He was talking utter nonsense.
‘...He must have heard some sweet talk somewhere.’
Helen might not have sexual experience, but she wasn't lacking in knowledge.
Unless drugs were used, it was impossible to make someone submit through pleasure.
In particular, she knew well that for a first experience, one was more likely to feel pain rather than pleasure.
“...So, are you going to do it or not? For your information, if you lose, you’ll have to cough up even more than what I mentioned before.”
“Ha!!... Fine, okay. Let’s bet. If I don't submit... well, how much money could I even get from you? Instead, until graduation, I won't treat you as a lover, but as a dog. A dog that barks when I tell it to.”
“Fine. Then, we have a contract on those terms?”
Reach—
Ian reached out his hand as if requesting a handshake.
“I’m fine with that too. The contract is sealed.”
Helen twisted the corners of her mouth and shook his hand.
“Now then, shall we set a date? Consider it an honor. I’ll book the finest room at the Red Rose Hotel, a place a commoner like you could never stay in for a lifetim—eh?”
At that moment, Ian, still holding her hand, pulled Helen into the space between the bookshelves.
“Y-You? What are you doing right now? Let go of me!”
“Just come. We don't have time.”
“I’m asking what you mean by that!!”
“We’re doing it right now.”
“...Huh??? What??”
“Sex.”
“?????”
What kind of insane nonsense was this man spouting?
This was the library of the Sacred Academy.
In a place like this where anyone could come, a place with no atmosphere...
He was going to take ‘Helen Redrose’s’ first time right here?
“Turn around.”
“N-No! Wait a minute! This is... the l-library!!”
“...I said turn around.”
“...Hieee!!... W-Where... are you touching!... Stop... right now.. Hngh!”
“There’s someone over there. If you don't want to be caught, hold your breath.”
“Hngh!?... P-People?!... Wh-Where... No... Ngh... Wait a!”
“....”
“......Ah!♥”
“....”
“......!!♥♥”