Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: 31. Arranged Marriage
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It had only been a few minutes since I called Imir—who'd been swinging a greatsword wildly in the training grounds—and brought her to my room.
Her face was full of dissatisfaction.
"Pack your things. We have somewhere to go."
To the curt command without any further explanation.
She finally spat out her complaint with a heavy frown.
"...What? When I said let's go out, you wouldn't budge. You insisted on staying cooped up in your room."
"Circumstances have changed. We're heading to the Sylvrian Principality."
"..."
Imir's eyes narrowed at my answer.
"I've heard of the Sylvrian Principality. It's the land of the sub-races, right?"
"...You knew about it?"
"Who do you take me for, Master? Even I know that much."
Unlike what I'd expected, she actually seemed to know about the Sylvrian Principality—Elysia's homeland.
'But how?'
I knew from the game's lore, but that was lucky for me.
How the hell would a girl who'd only ever lived in the mountains know about that?
Seeing my puzzled look, Imir shrugged like it was a hassle.
"Don't stare like that. The shaman told me back in the mountains. Said it's where those long-eared freaks who despise humans live."
Ah.
"Then this'll be quick to explain."
"...Your eyes are giving me the creeps. More importantly! Isn't that a place where humans get their heads lopped off just for stepping foot inside? Why the hell are we going there?"
She clearly wasn't moving without a proper explanation.
I locked eyes with Imir for a moment before finally sighing.
"I got an invitation from Miss Elysia. There's some business with her family."
"...Hah?"
I replied flatly to her baffled stare and turned away.
I couldn't exactly spill all the messy details about the arranged marriage and fake-lover act right here.
With her personality, who knows what kind of stunt she'd pull if she heard.
"...An invitation? From that long-eared girl? To you, Master?"
"Yeah. So hurry up and..."
Ha.
Just as I started to tell her to get ready, she snorted and stepped right in front of me.
Before I could even ask what she was doing, Imir's red eyes bored into me, scrutinizing my face relentlessly.
"That bitch has no reason to suddenly invite you, Master. Don't try fooling me. What's really going on?"
Wild instinct or whatever—she had a sixth sense for stuff like this.
I stopped packing and met her gaze head-on.
"...She said she needs some help. That's why we're going."
"Do we have a reason to go? What's in it for us? You aren't seriously trying to score with her, are you...?"
Thud!
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Disgust']
As Imir barreled on like a rampaging bull, I lightly flicked her forehead to calm her excited ass down.
"Ow! Shit! Why'd you hit me, you bastard master?!"
Imir clutched her forehead with both hands and staggered back.
Even with her battle-hardened body, that surprise flick must've stung.
"...Watch your mouth. We're not going for that."
I clicked my tongue and zipped up the bag.
My luggage was just spare clothes, the Dark Grimoire, and a few emergency potions I'd gotten from Hye-ra.
"Get ready. Or should I leave you behind?"
Honestly, going solo sounded way less stressful.
No telling what chaos she'd unleash over there.
Imir chewed her lip for a second, grumbled, and started packing.
"...Fine, I'll go. Can't send Master off alone to get himself in some mess."
Grumbling aside, she wasn't defying the order anymore. Progress for a maid, I guess.
Her mouth was still filthy as ever, though.
"Come out when you're done. I'll wait outside."
"D-Done already! Wait up, Master!"
She threw her stuff together in a rush and followed me out.
We headed down the hall to the dorm lobby, where Elysia was waiting.
"Evan! All ready...?"
She spotted me, lit up with a bright smile, and waved.
But her smile stiffened subtly when she saw Imir standing beside me.
"Ah... The maid's coming along too?"
"Can't miss out where Master's headed. What, am I in the way?"
Imir shot back, arms crossed defiantly.
"Imir. How many times have I told you not to act like that toward Miss Elysia...?"
"I-It's fine, Evan."
Elysia blinked in momentary fluster but soon curved her lips into a gentle smile.
"Of course not. She's Evan's maid, so she should come along. It's just... Sylvria isn't exactly welcoming to humans, so I'm worried."
"Don't sweat it. I've been through hell and back. Just wanna see how hotshot these sub-races really are."
I let out a low sigh at Imir's combative vibe.
Is this really gonna be okay?
'Should I just ditch her after all?'
I was half-seriously rethinking it when...
"Then that's reassuring. Shall we head out? The carriage is waiting outside."
Elysia smiled softly and took the lead.
A lavish carriage from the Arden Ducal House waited in front of the dorm gate.
The white wood body was etched with intricate leaf motifs.
And the wheels glowed faintly with high-grade magic circles to dampen vibrations.
"Whoa, southerners' carriages are wild every damn time."
Imir circled it in awe.
Definitely not your average ride—those magic circles on every wheel screamed top-tier.
"Everyone, hop on."
Following Elysia's lead inside, the interior was way roomier and cozier than expected.
The plush leather seats came with a faint forest scent that tickled the nose.
"Sorry, Evan. Because of me, dragging Miss Imir into this hassle too..."
Elysia bowed her head apologetically.
Her perky ears drooping sadly tugged at me a bit, but I waved it off lightly.
"It's fine. She was getting antsy from being cooped up inside anyway."
True story.
She'd been badgering me every day to go out while I lounged around.
More importantly, though.
"You sure this is okay? Us setting foot in ducal territory."
"Yes. I already sent word to Father, so it should be fine. Don't worry about it, Evan."
Elysia replied with resolute determination.
But the faint tremble in her clasped hands betrayed how rough her situation really was.
Arranged marriage, huh. Guess elven society isn't all that different from humans' after all.
"I'll repay this debt, no matter what it takes..."
...You don't have to go that far.
Elysia whispered it across from me, her face flushed as she gazed intently into my eyes.
"...Hmph."
I felt the prickly stare from Imir beside me—slouched and chomping potato chips like nobody's business.
I ignored it and answered Elysia, who was still looking my way.
"If I can be of help, then I'm glad."
That was when it happened.
Clack.
The ivory-lacquered carriage door swung open, revealing another figure with long, slender ears just like Elysia's.
The man was dressed in a crisp uniform embroidered with silver thread, like fine filigree.
He carefully opened the carriage door and bowed sharply toward Elysia.
"All preparations are complete, Miss."
"Thank you, Loran. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Elysia smiled softly in reply.
But Loran's gaze didn't linger on her long.
His head turned slowly, those sharp eyes locking onto me—and Imir next to me.
"..."
The air suddenly grew heavy.
His eyes twitched, raw disgust spilling out.
'...Look at this prick.'
That arrogant vibe, like he was rejecting the very existence of humans—I let out a low chuckle.
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Shock']
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Displeasure']
"Miss. But..."
Loran forced out the words in a stiff, strained voice.
"You're really bringing humans along?"
His eyes raked over me again, laced with even more blatant revulsion.
"Loran. I told you—they're my guests."
"Even so, letting humans into Sylvria's sacred grounds is..."
This wasn't wrapping up quick.
Sensing it'd drag on, I spoke up slowly.
"Loran, right?"
I felt his gaze snap back to me from Elysia.
"When the master's made his call, what's a dog's yapping gonna change? Your job's saddling horses, not running your mouth."
The carriage air froze solid in an instant.
The man's face went beet-red with fury, his hand twitching toward the sword hilt at his waist.
"You scum! A filthy human daring to mouth off to an Arden knight...!"
"Enough!"
Elysia's shout sliced through the tension. Power from the spirits rippled in her eyes.
"Evan is as good as my fiancé. One more act of rudeness, and I won't forgive you."
Silence.
The thick air in the carriage turned to ice at those words.
Even Imir stopped crunching her chips. Loran's eyes spasmed past shock into convulsions.
"M-Miss? Did you just say... fiancé?"
His voice cracked.
He gawked at Elysia like he couldn't—no, wouldn't—believe it.
The highborn daughter of the Arden Ducal House calling a human male her fiancé?
In Sylvrian terms, that was apocalypse-level insanity.
"Yes. So show some respect, Loran."
Loran swallowed hard, glimpsing the faint spirits shimmering behind her.
"B-But Miss... If the family head finds out...!"
"I'll handle Father myself. You stick to your duties."
Her icy shutdown brooked no argument. Loran bit his lip.
He shot me a look that could kill, then finally bowed grudgingly and shut the door.
The carriage lurched into motion again.
Quiet settled back into the cramped space. Only then did Elysia let her rigid shoulders slump with a deep sigh.
"Haa... Sorry, Evan. You must've been shocked by that out of nowhere."
Her face flushed red as a ripe apple in seconds.
The poised ducal heiress was gone—replaced by a shy girl with her eartips twitching nervously.
"I was, yeah. Fiancé? That's a big word."
I replied coolly.
Though honestly, it wasn't a bad play.
A solid 'fiancé' label made for a way better shield in this clannish elf society than some half-assed 'lover' bit.
Least for me. Her side of things? Not so great.
"I figured it'd keep Loran—and the rest of the house—from getting too bold... Sorry if it was too much."
"No apologies needed. Situation's what it is."
I watched the academy shrink into the distance outside the window and sank deep into the backrest.