Handling the Bomb
Handling the Bomb
The head of the Steinadler Merchant Company, Nibuer, had dropped everything and rushed over the moment she heard the Northern Grand Duchess was summoning her personally.
Yet her heart was filled with nothing but unease. A sudden summons late at night—this could not possibly be for anything good.
And that premonition became certainty the moment she heard the Grand Duchess's brusque tone.
"You came at once."
"Yes. How could I delay when Your Grace calls for me?"
Ah. Whatever's gone wrong, it's bad.
Sensing that something had gone terribly amiss, Nibuer began racking her brain desperately.
First, there was Erengard sitting before her. The Grand Duchess was seated somewhat stiffly, holding an elixir in her hand.
A priceless elixir she had purchased for a pittance from some clueless fool and then personally entrusted to the Fire Magic Tower for appraisal. A gift she had given to Yune.
Erengard held up the elixir and shook it lightly.
"Do you know what this is?"
"It appears to be the Solar Fire Carp's Inner Core that I presented to Young Master Yune. Your Grace."
...So that's the problem.
Judging from the Northern Grand Duchess's reaction, there was clearly something wrong with the elixir.
Yet inwardly, Nibuer protested her innocence.
What happened? Those bastards from the Magic Tower—did they botch the appraisal? If something went wrong, I wouldn't be the only one dying.
There was no way she would have carelessly sent an item meant to be presented to nobility, an elixir no less. The elixir had been certified safe for consumption through appraisal, guaranteed by the Magic Tower—by the highest-ranking appraiser, no less.
And she had never once considered that the Magic Tower's appraisal might have been wrong. Valuable items like this were typically presented to nobles, and if any problem arose, the Magic Tower would face severe consequences. So she had assumed they would have appraised it with every ounce of their ability just to protect themselves. Apparently, that was not the case.
...What's done can't be undone. Fortunately, it looks like she discovered it and called me before anything happened. Then I can still make amends.
But with no immediate information to determine why the Magic Tower had botched the appraisal, Nibuer realized further thinking was pointless and composed herself.
"Your Grace. If there was a problem with that item, I sincerely apologize. There may have been an error in the Magic Tower's appraisal."
"Oh? I haven't said anything yet."
"I, Nibuer, pride myself on my sharp instincts. If you would grant me a chance to make amends..."
If given the opportunity, I will have it thoroughly reappraised and ensure nothing like this ever happens again—Nibuer was about to say.
But,
—Whish. Thump.
"...Your Grace? What is this...?"
The Grand Duchess suddenly threw the inner core at her, cutting off her words.
Nibuer caught it reflexively and stared at it, bewildered.
Erengard's eyes glinted with interest at the sight. And as if quite pleased, the corners of her lips even lifted slightly.
"Oh."
"Ah. Shall I take this and have it reappraised?"
Seeing this, Nibuer thought the matter might resolve more easily than expected.
But contrary to her hopes, Erengard's expression turned cold again.
"No. Eat it. Right here and now."
"..."
"Why do you hesitate? You deemed it safe enough to give to my delicate Yune. Surely there is no reason it should cause you any harm."
Erengard's sudden command to eat the elixir herself. Nibuer's expression clouded.
To Nibuer, who already suspected something was wrong with the elixir, this command felt like punishment. No—like an execution.
But she could not refuse a command from the Grand Duchess. She sighed heavily to herself and spoke.
"Yes. As you command."
I probably won't die, but this is going to be rough.
Surely she hadn't been summoned just to be fed something fatal. Though she was afraid of what side effects it might have, she resolved that as long as she survived, she would recover somehow, and brought the pill to her mouth.
Just as her molars were about to crush it—
—Smack!
"...!?"
An intense impact struck the back of Nibuer's head. The elixir she had been about to bite down on flew from her mouth.
Startled, she spun around to find the Grand Duchess, who had surely been sitting before her just moments ago, pulling her hand away from the back of Nibuer's head.
"Hm. It seems you truly didn't know after all."
"...?"
She had been struck so hard that her head rang and throbbed, leaving her speechless as she stared at the Grand Duchess in astonishment.
And then...
"Nibuer!!"
Yune, who had seemingly appeared from nowhere, came running toward Nibuer.
* * * * * *
After consulting with Mother about the Solar Fire Carp's Inner Core.
Mother, who had been studying the inner core intently, hardened her expression and immediately summoned Nibuer.
Afterward, she wrapped me in something like a cloak and held me in her arms, then began speaking with Nibuer as soon as she entered. And thanks to the cloak's effect, Nibuer didn't notice my presence at all.
But then.
"Eat it. Right here and now."
"Mother?!"
After a few words, Mother tried to make Nibuer eat the inner core.
I shouted, asking what she was doing, but Mother paid me no mind. Nibuer also seemed unable to hear me, bringing the inner core to her mouth.
"If she chews that, it'll explode! Mother! Mother!!"
I struggled wildly because it was obvious something terrible would happen if she bit down on it.
—Whoosh.
"...!?"
My view shifted abruptly. Mother had scooped me up and moved behind Nibuer.
Before I could even grasp what was happening, Mother struck the back of Nibuer's head. The inner core flew from her mouth and went rolling across the floor.
Mother then loosened her hold on me slightly—as if to say everything was fine now.
Sensing that, I immediately threw off the cloak and ran to Nibuer.
"Nibuer!!"
"Y-Young Master?"
"Nibuer, are you okay? You didn't bite it, right? You absolutely cannot let even a grain of that stuff in. Should I get you water just in case? Do you want to rinse your mouth?"
"Young Mafther, I'm f-fine."
I was fussing, sticking my fingers into her mouth to check if she had bitten it, to see if any residue remained, when Mother scooped me up again.
"What is this unsightly display, Yune. ...In any case. It seems the Merchant Company Head had nothing to do with this matter."
"...?"
Mother then began explaining to Nibuer while holding me, still in a daze. Slightly embellishing the information I had given her.
To summarize, Mother had suspected Nibuer. That perhaps she had plotted my assassination. Or at the very least, colluded in it.
But the fact that she caught the potentially explosive inner core instead of dodging it, that she genuinely tried to eat it on Mother's orders despite not knowing what it was—and above all, that she had no reason to do such a thing and had responded to the summons without fleeing—these points cleared her of suspicion.
"So that is how it is. However... had I not noticed beforehand, Yune would have eaten that and died. The explosion would have started from his mouth and blown his head apart."
"Good heavens. That..."
Nibuer's face went deathly pale. Understandably so—if I had actually eaten that, it would have been catastrophic.
She had nearly assassinated the youngest son of the Grand Ducal House, so her terror was perfectly understandable.
Nibuer immediately pressed her forehead to the floor.
...Huh?
—Thud!
"I have committed a sin worthy of a hundred deaths. Grand Duchess Erengard. Young Master Yunes."
"Yes. So you do understand."
She suddenly began apologizing to Mother and me. ...Wait, it's fine since she didn't actually eat it, isn't it? Why such a severe apology?
Nibuer clearly hadn't known. It was obviously the Magic Tower's faulty appraisal that was to blame.
Yet Nibuer prostrated herself and apologized without a single word of protest about how unfair this was.
She diligently answered Mother's subsequent questions. Where she had obtained it, which Magic Tower she had commissioned for the appraisal—she left nothing out.
The atmosphere between them was so solemn that I couldn't bring myself to interrupt, and I was still bewildered when Mother picked up a letter opener and tossed it onto the floor beside Nibuer.
—Clang.
"I'll let you off with one finger. Cut it off yourself outside the door, out of Yune's sight. Reattachment will not be permitted."
"...!?"
"I am truly grateful for your merciful judgment."
I was horrified by the gruesome words, but Nibuer, far from refusing, actually expressed thanks.
What do you mean, cut off a finger? It would be one thing if something had actually happened, but nothing did!
"What are you talking about?!"
"Yune. Be quiet."
I freaked out and struggled against the command to cut off a finger with a blunt letter opener, but Mother held me tight. Nibuer collected the fallen knife and the inner core and rose to her feet.
"Then, I shall take my leave. Once more, I sincerely apologize, and my Steinadler Merchant Company will also exert every effort to find the culprit behind this incident."
"As you should. You may go."
"Mother! Nibuer didn't do anything wrong! Nibuer! Wait!"
"Those in high positions must bear responsibility. Whether the fault is their own or not."
"Young Master, I am truly sorry. I wish you a good night."
Nibuer, head deeply bowed, made to leave the Head of House's Office. I tried to stop her, but neither Mother nor Nibuer paid me any heed.
...Hah. I really didn't want to use this. I have no choice.
"Mother. If you don't forgive Nibuer."
"...?"
"I won't eat anymore!!!"
"!!!!"
The ultimate move: the hunger strike tantrum.
* * * * * *
After a somewhat less-than-manly passage of time.
"Fine. Fine, so stop that. What if you get even thinner—how could you say something so terrifying..."
"Hehe. Thank you, Mother!"
'Isn't telling someone to cut off their finger a hundred times more terrifying...?'
Even as I mentally snarked, I clung to Mother and acted cute. Just as you need a carrot after the stick, you need some cuteness after throwing a tantrum.
Mother, who had seemed a little displeased, knowing I hadn't thrown that tantrum for my own sake, soon softened.
"You heard. I will show leniency, so leave at once. Be grateful to Yune."
"...I am sincerely grateful."
Mother told Nibuer to leave. Nibuer, who had remained on her knees, bowed deeply to me before taking the inner core and departing.
Having succeeded in protecting her pretty fingers, I smiled, feeling proud of myself.
"Honestly. I cannot overcome your stubbornness. I had intended to make an example of her through punishment."
"Aww, it's fine. I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"
"...I am truly grateful for that. Truly."
Mother pulled me close and stroked my hair. She soon looked outside—at the now completely dark night.
"It's gotten late. ...Yune. Would you sleep with me tonight? There is much to discuss."
'Oh my god. Mother's asking to sleep together first?!'
"Yes! I'd love to!!"
* * * * * *
Nibuer slowly made her way out of the estate, leaving behind the Head of House's Office that had suddenly turned so noisy.
She had nearly lost a finger just moments ago, yet her mind was filled with thoughts of Yune alone.
...Just what I'd expect from Young Master Yune. So very kind.
Whatever the circumstances, it was Nibuer herself who had given him a dangerous item that could have killed him if consumed, all under the pretense of a gift. Even if he weren't nobility, anyone in that situation would have been rightfully angry.
What if Yune had been a typical noble child? Nibuer, who had personally dealt with other noble houses numerous times, knew all too well.
They would have immediately screamed for her to be torn apart and killed. No, it would not have ended with her alone—her family and relatives would have been rounded up, the men turned into sex slaves and the women into common slaves. Nearly killing the Grand Duchess's child was a crime of that magnitude.
But Yune, far from getting angry, had cast aside his usual act of acting tough with talk of being a manly man and had thrown a tantrum to shield her.
A character befitting his extraordinary abilities.
Moreover, he was not only kind but also possessed marvelous abilities.
Whenever he opened his mouth, hidden mysteries were revealed, and all sorts of treasures spilled forth. In the past year, it was difficult to even calculate the profit the merchant company had gained thanks to Yune.
Of course, he maintained a modest stance, crediting it all to the Northern Grand Duchess, but Nibuer had vaguely sensed this was untrue. She simply had no reason to pry and so kept silent.
A kind nature. Abilities to match it. The ideal noble she had long envisioned.
Only now did she understand why she had given him such a valuable gift as the Solar Fire Carp's Inner Core.
When she had prepared the gift, she had thought she was simply bribing him to curry favor with someone who would hold great power as a future member of the Empire's high society...
'I... wanted him to think well of me.'
Watching that endearing sight of him working hard on her behalf. And now, sorting through her thoughts like this.
She was finally able to recognize her own feelings.
She had personally acquired and gifted the inner core, hoping he would like it. She had wrapped the present herself, anticipating his joy. She had been happy when he bounced around thanking her after receiving the inner core.
Nibuer decided to define this unfamiliar emotion as 'reverence.'
Reverence for the ideal lord she envisioned. A lord whose character would sympathize with her ideals and whose ability could realize them.
Having recognized her true feelings, she spun around in front of the estate's main gate. And she bowed toward the Head of House's Office, where Yune likely still was.
'I, Nibuer, pledge my loyalty to Young Master Yune. For the world I envision. For the Young Master's happiness.'
And so, as the surrounding guards looked on strangely, she privately swore her loyalty to Yune.
And then.
—Grind.
'...Then first. I will kill every last one of the bitches who dared mess with my lord.'
Now that her emotions were sorted, the delayed fury came crashing in. She ground her teeth at whoever had tried to harm the one who would be her future lord.
After returning to the merchant company, she urgently requested an appraisal of the inner core from another Magic Tower. Meanwhile, she mobilized all her resources and ordered an investigation into the seller of the inner core and the appraiser at the Magic Tower who had examined it.
In order to find and kill the insolent wretches who had dared harm her merchant company and the one who would soon be her lord.