Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Friend - [1]
The gardens of the Imperial Palace were as peaceful as ever.
Warm sunlight, flower petals swaying in the breeze, the aroma of black tea brewed from the finest leaves, and so on.
Of course, that was just the scenery.
"Give me your report, Anna."
Princess Elise set down her teacup and spoke to Anna.
Her voice carried a subtle sharpness laced with personal emotion.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Anna unfolded the report she had prepared in advance.
"This is information on the Eastern Witch who's been stirring up the capital lately. Her real name is 'Hwarin.' She's believed to hail from a shaman family on the Eastern Continent."
Anna displayed a blurry photo of the witch captured by a magic imaging orb.
"She possesses the ability to interfere with causality through shamanism and is currently classified as a high-risk individual, imprisoned in the underground dungeons of the Imperial Academy. Notable details include..."
Anna paused for a moment before continuing her report.
"The witch is strongly demanding a meeting with Aiman."
"Hmm..."
Princess Elise rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
"Manipulating fortune, huh? What an absurd ability... It'd be great if we could put it to use for the Empire."
"It'd be far too dangerous."
"Exactly what I was thinking."
Princess Elise's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Torture or interrogation won't work on a being like that."
"Yes. If it did, she'd have spilled everything by now."
Princess Elise tapped the table thoughtfully, as if pondering.
"Anna."
Then she spoke up.
"The only option might be to have him play the piano, huh?"
"That's how it seems for now."
"But actually making contact would be quite risky. Sending a proxy probably wouldn't work either."
"Of course not."
Princess Elise sighed after some deliberation. Anna watched her and then spoke.
"The Empire has always found a way."
"True enough."
"They might have already obtained the elixir."
"I hope so. Sincerely."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A similar atmosphere hung over a scene utterly unlike the Imperial Palace.
Haruna's workshop, filled with the smells of oil and sawdust.
Haruna sat on her workbench, gripping the newspaper tightly.
Black oil stains from her hands soiled the paper, but she paid it no mind.
Her gaze was fixed solely on one article.
"Elixir..."
Haruna's eyes widened. She read the article, then read it again.
She recalled the recipe she'd seen at the Imperial research lab for curing the mana curse.
There had definitely been something called the witch's elixir. This must be it.
"If this is it..."
To Haruna, money and fame meant little.
What mattered was the life of Aiman, her first friend and the one who understood her.
She shot to her feet.
Haruna grabbed the small mana stone terminal from the corner of her workbench.
It was a device she'd installed when modifying the piano.
Officially, it was for 'humidity control and anti-theft.' Well... it actually was. Definitely.
Beep.
A red dot blinked on the terminal's screen. She checked the location and opened the map.
Haruna knew exactly where it was.
The Bellua Family estate, where Rozina—whom she'd met before—resided.
"So that's where you are."
Haruna threw on an outer coat haphazardly and left the workshop. Then she hesitated.
What was she going to do by going there now?
'...'
The thought crossed her mind, but she quickly shook it off.
She figured she should at least talk it out. With that, Haruna headed outside.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I was lounging on the sofa, enjoying a leisurely afternoon. Ever since the 'waltz incident' with Rozina,
she'd been even more proactively showering me with favors.
Honestly, it was a bit burdensome, but undeniably convenient.
Knock knock.
A knock came at the door.
"Aiman, are you in?"
It was Rozina.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Rozina entered. Her expression was elegantly composed as always, but her eyes held a hint of curiosity.
"You have a visitor."
"A visitor? For me?"
"Miss Haruna came looking for you urgently. She seemed... quite desperate."
"Haruna, you say."
We hadn't seen each other since then—it had been awkwardly tense. Had something happened?
Rozina looked just as puzzled, clearly in the dark about it.
"Please send her in."
Moments later, the parlor door burst open, and Haruna stormed in.
"Huff... huff..."
She was panting hard. Sweat beaded on her forehead.
Her face was flushed from the rush, which was striking.
"Haruna. What happened?"
I approached in surprise.
"What could make you rush over like this...?"
"No... huff, it's nothing."
She caught her breath and looked up at me. Her eyes were resolute, somehow.
Rozina bowed as if to excuse herself. I returned the gesture and said,
"Come to think of it, Lady Rozina, you're spending the day with Serika, right?"
"Yes. I might actually get close to her today. For real."
"Have a good time."
Rozina departed with her usual grace. Shortly after, Haruna took an uneasy breath and spoke.
"...Did you see the newspaper?"
"Newspaper?"
"The witch... offering the elixir."
"Oh, that."
I nodded.
"Yeah, I saw it. It was splashed across the front page."
Haruna squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them. I had no idea what she was getting at.
"That... elixir. I need it."
The elixir? Did she even know what it was?
Or was it just curiosity? How should I put this...?
As I hesitated, Haruna seemed to interpret it as reluctance.
Her face turned beet red, and she mumbled in a tiny voice.
"And... if."
It was the moment she started. I was curious too—what would she say?
She was hesitating this much—what could it be?
"If you help me get that elixir..."
"Help you how?"
"I'll... again."
"Again?"
"Wear the maid outfit... maybe."
I flinched.
"I... I could do the lap pillow one more time?"
Haruna hung her head, her ears burning crimson.
Frankly, I nearly blurted out 'Thank you!'
'Get a grip.'
How mad had she been back then? Wait... thinking about it now, was she really angry?
Maybe she liked it too? My thoughts were veering off again.
Get a grip, Aiman.
I gulped down some cold water and steadied my breath.
"First off, Haruna."
"Yeah."
"Let me ask this."
"Go ahead."
"What do you plan to use that elixir for? Do you even know what it is?"
Haruna pondered my words, then spoke earnestly.
"I don't know what it is."
"But...?"
"I don't know, but I promise. I'll use it for you, Aiman."
"??"
For me? Without knowing what it does? That made no sense.
"I'm serious. I can prove it."
"No need."
"If you want, I can swear on my mana...!"
"I already believe you. No need for that."
I waved my hands to stop her.
"Who else would I trust if not my friend?"
"...!"
Haruna's eyes went wide at my words. Her already big eyes looked enormous rounded like that.
"And that elixir? I've already got it."
"You... got it? From who?"
"Who else? The witch."
"How...?"
"I'll explain that later."
Haruna sighed in relief, but I caught a strange hint of disappointment.
"Haruna. Looks like you won't have to wear the maid outfit again. Lucky you?"
"Yeah? Lucky... yeah, really."
Anyone could hear the disappointment in her tone. Definitely.
"I'm really relieved. I thought you might have to go to some dangerous place and play."
"Haruna."
"Yeah. What?"
Her eyes sparkled, like she was hanging on my words.
"You seem kinda disappointed."
"Huh?"
"You wanted to wear it, didn't you? The maid outfit."
"N-No, I didn't!!"
Haruna yelled and jumped up.
"Who said I was disappointed! Pervert! Am I crazy? Want to wear something like that?!"
She covered her face and stomped around, but her red ears confirmed it.
"Hmm..."
"Hmm? Hmm? Ha!"
Haruna crossed her arms in disbelief, which only accentuated her chest more.
"See? You do want to wear it."
"What are you talking about! Seriously!"
Time to stop. I'd teased her enough.
"Sorry. I'll quit."
"Haa... seriously. You... really..."
Haruna approached and weakly poked me. I caught her and sat her on the sofa.
"Rest up first. We'll talk when you're recovered. What made you use up all your energy like this?"
"You're the worst... really..."
"Oppa."
"Yeah, yeah, sorry."
"Oppa?"
Haruna blinked sleepily, exhausted.
I laid her down on the sofa and stood, feeling a chill in the air.
"Oppa?"
I turned with a start. Serika was staring at me—glaring at Haruna.
"Rozina said a friend came to see you, so I came to say hi too."
"... "
"Doesn't look like just friends to me."