Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Two Words from One Mouth (2)
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The lavish welcome prepared by Bishop Orchid didn't go as planned.
"Today, we're proud to present veal steak seasoned with the finest herbs supplied to the Imperial Palace. This cut comes from only a handful per animal..."
While the head chef enthusiastically explained the dish, Orchid merely nodded like a doll with a loose head, showing no real reaction. And when the chef urged him to try a bite,
"I'll pass."
He even said that.
This was beyond my expectations. A meal was hardly an extravagant bribe. The chef was so shocked he looked ready to tear off his hat, and I wasn't the only one surprised.
"Th-that can't be!"
The chef, overly passionate and proud of his work, went pale as a ghost, on the verge of fainting. Meanwhile, Cosmo chomped away beside him like a mana beast starved for days.
Throughout the meal, Orchid only drank water. Dessert was the same. Sweet bread and meat pies were brought out especially for the bishop who hadn't eaten, but he refused those too. Everything left over went to Cosmo.
"Human—no, Bishop Orchid—why isn't he eating? Or is it his mouth? I'm fine with it. Can I have that too?"
The baby pig known as Cosmo eyed Orchid's share. Expecting manners from a mana beast toward a guest was ridiculous to begin with.
But Orchid's reaction was the real issue.
"Go ahead."
He handed the food over to Cosmo as if to prove a point.
"Haa..."
At this rate, it felt like Orchid was deliberately sabotaging my efforts to be hospitable.
"Are you uncomfortable in some way?"
My words came out a bit sharp. I was almost certain he was trying to mess with me.
"You skip meals and refuse gifts. Is it because you're supposed to live frugally as a priest? Or is it that you won't touch anything from the Gluttony family?"
"......"
Orchid shook his head, his face ashen. Then, in a hollow murmur,
"Emotions."
"...?"
"Emotions can't be allowed."
His mechanical tone suddenly made me realize—belatedly—that this man had zero favorability toward me. It hadn't gone up or down since earlier. Complete indifference.
And that was because emotions weren't allowed?
"What's the reason for that?"
"Anything from the Gluttony family is new. I can't accept it. New stimuli create new emotions."
"......"
"Emotions move plants. Too much to bear. The Crown Prince's orders. The gardener's duty. All things I must fulfill."
I was racking my brain to understand his words when a commotion leaked through the gap in the parlor door, and an unexpected face popped in.
"Brother."
"Dalia? I told you to stay in your room."
Dalia glanced around at the others before approaching me. Cosmo spotted her and sniffed the air. His pupils narrowed as he set down his fork. A young human like Dalia must be unfamiliar to him.
"Greet him properly. This is Bishop Orchid. You should have changed into proper clothes before meeting him. I'm sorry, my little sister is still too young."
"It's fine."
Dalia bowed politely to Orchid, then whispered something ridiculous in my ear.
"He's the only one not eating snacks. Isn't that too much? I came because I wanted some too."
"......"
Through the open door, I could see Dalia's maids fidgeting outside, anxious not to interrupt and earn any ire.
With no worries in life, Dalia snatched the plate in front of Cosmo and claimed it for herself.
I let out an awkward haha laugh, watching Orchid's reaction. He nodded lightly, as if unbothered. I'd just presented a hyena hunting for stimulation to a man who hated new stimuli.
"That's mine."
Cosmo muttered timidly after losing his snack. I expected him to protest loudly, but this was unexpected.
"Nothing in this castle isn't Dalia's. It's all Dalia's."
"What? No way!"
"But I can share. Nanny said tasty things are for sharing. Right, Brother?"
Dalia declared this boldly and quietly started munching on cookies and cake. She even popped one in my mouth, so I accepted despite the embarrassment. Of course, it was delicious.
Just as I was adjusting to the chaotic scene, Orchid spoke up again.
"I'll get to the main reason for your visit today."
It was time to discuss the mana beast subjugation.
"Duke Sierra Gluttony will officially join as the commander of the subjugation forces. Same as before. However, you may choose your battle position."
"That's good news."
"Right beside Crown Prince Thymus at the vanguard, or in the rear as backup. Those are the only two options His Highness Crown Prince Thymus has given the Duke."
A blatant offer.
Of course, the Crown Prince was that kind of guy.
He must think I'd definitely pick the latter.
To the public, Sierra Gluttony was a duke with mediocre magic skills who hadn't even properly wielded a sword. A total coward who watched others' reactions. No one expected such a spineless duke to fight right next to the Crown Prince in a mana beast subjugation.
Whichever I chose, it played into Thymus's hands.
If I went to the front, my lackluster performance would highlight the Crown Prince's feats. If I hung back, it would fuel my reputation as a coward.
With the fierce Duchess dead, the Crown Prince had nothing to lose. It was a plan to shove the naive Sierra—who didn't know how to wield power or wealth—off the political stage. I was almost impressed by how openly he showed his hand.
Of course, I had no intention of following his script.
"I have only one choice."
I'd outshine the Crown Prince. I had to.
"I'll serve right at His Highness's side. I've just recruited an excellent guardian knight. I trust he'll protect both me and His Highness without fail."
Orchid nodded without a hint of surprise.
"I'll take on only the role of supporting the battle as a healer. Right beside Crown Prince Thymus as well. As a bishop, I must avoid war, but I must obey orders. Crown Prince Thymus Sequoya has always made a place for me."
"You're supporting the battle...? Understood. I look forward to working with you."
I greeted him with a friendly smile, but inside, my mind was full of question marks.
His job was healer?
It fit a bishop well enough. But what was this 'gardener' job in his status window? Was he actually a spy?
No, probably not. Look at the spy locked in our basement. It straight-up said 'spy' as the job.
As I pondered, oblivious Dalia thrust a piece of cookie right at Orchid—the same one he'd refused earlier.
"Want some?"
"......"
Dalia! I grabbed her hand and pulled it down. My face must have drained of color because she looked startled. But how could she be so rude! And she's a duke's lady!
Sure, she's still young, but...
"It's rude to hand a bishop a cookie with your bare hand. Apologize now."
"...But..."
"Now."
"Eeeeng..."
"Now!"
Maybe because I was stricter than usual, Dalia made a pouty face.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"Apologize looking at the bishop properly!"
"I'm sorry, so-sorreeee..."
She finally burst into tears.
"Stop! Dalia! No crying! Not now! Stop it right now!"
"I'm soooorryyyy!"
Yelling at her while she sobbed during the apology was pointless. As I tried to hand her off to her maids, a tap-tap-tap came from the window.
"Oh, no."
Bishop Orchid let out a sharp sigh. Unlike before, his face showed agitation. And from the window he stared at, a tree branch writhed unnaturally.
"...Was there a plant that big in our garden?"
"Waaaahhh!"
Dalia wailed fully now, and Bishop Orchid's face went stark white. At the same time, the branch knocking on the window thickened. It lunged at the glass like it would tear it apart, finally shattering the pane.
"I'm sorry."
"No way, that was you...?"
Orchid bowed his head like a criminal, hands clasped together.
"Miss Dalia was crying, and I got too startled..."
Still sobbing, Dalia steadied herself on the parlor table and grabbed a cookie. She shoved it at me in protest, then offered it to Orchid again.
"I just wanted to share because it's yummy! I hate Brother! Waaah! I hate you... I hate everyone, waaah!"
Watching the aggrieved Dalia, Orchid seemed to steel himself and took the cookie.
"Perhaps this was necessary after all."
It was a very solemn statement for accepting a single cookie. He met my eyes, then bit into it with a resolute expression.
Crunch! The sound of the cookie breaking stopped Dalia's tears dead.
Everyone stared at Orchid intensely. He chewed slowly like a herbivore, then looked up with a beaming smile.
'He looks like a completely different person when he smiles.'
Much brighter and happier.
Though, there was a slight... odd feeling. Like something suspicious lurked behind that smile.
Probably just my imagination.
"Mmm. Delicious."
"......"
"It's really delicious! Thank you, Dalia!"
Dalia, still sniffling, grinned widely. Feeling better, she toddled over to Orchid. Even adding, "I hate Brother."
Watching Orchid carefully, I ventured cautiously,
"It suits your taste, I see."
"It's yummy! So yummy! I should've eaten it sooner."
"Ah, haha. I'm thrilled you think so."
Cosmo, who'd been eating and watching, sidled up to me carefully.
"Why are you like this too?"
"M-Master... I'm a little tense..."
Before I could focus on Cosmo's weird comment, Orchid spoke in a completely different voice and manner.
"I'm so excited for the mana beast subjugation! You too, right, Duke Sierra? This subjugation starts by crushing the oceanic mana beasts from the Susuri Strait. I hate the coast. But that's why they told me not to stand out this time and just stay put. Thymus wants all the fun for himself. Duke Sierra, are you excited for the subjugation? It'll be way more fun with me there. Can't you convince Crown Prince Thymus?"
"Pardon?"
His words dripped with disappointment, and they were completely different from before. Not just different—
It felt like talking to another person entirely.
Was the man I was speaking to really Bishop Orchid Libido?