5. A Conflict Named Desire - 06
5. A Conflict Named Desire - 06
"...Engagement?"
For a moment, I couldn't process what Bianca was saying. No—my brain refused to. Engagement? As in, the agreement between a man and a woman to marry in the future? The same kind of engagement I once had with Sarah?
I raised my head. Bianca filled my vision, her ears dyed bright red. Looking at her like that, I caught myself thinking that even this insufferable little witch could be cute.
A moment later, my mind conjured up the idiotic fantasy of actually holding an engagement ceremony with Bianca. Exchanging rings at the altar, sharing soft smiles, and then the highlight of any engagement ceremony—the kiss—
'...Damn it.'
I was utterly ridiculous. Moments ago I'd been cursing Bianca, and the instant I heard the word "engagement," I was daydreaming about romantic antics with her.
I quickly checked Bianca's expression. Fortunately, she wasn't looking at me; her head was hanging low. Her earlobes were so red they looked ready to explode—a clear sign she felt considerable shame over bringing up an "engagement" with me.
'...Hmm.'
It was obvious, then, that what Bianca had proposed wasn't a real engagement. After all, from the start, could something as saccharine as an "engagement" ever happen between the Estel Duchy and House Castana?
Besides, it was safe to assume there was zero chance that Bianca, who regarded me as less than the family dog, actually wanted to be engaged to me. This was clearly one of her vicious schemes to fluster me.
"...You couldn't possibly mean a real engagement. It sounds like you're suggesting we only pretend. Am I wrong?"
My perfectly sound deduction must have struck a nerve, because Bianca's expression hardened for a moment before she fixed me with a terrifying glare. I knew well that people who've been hit right where it hurts tend to react exactly like that.
"...Clever, aren't you? Very clever, Kain. You're right. Yes, I wasn't proposing a real engagement. What an extremely rational and cool-headed judgment you've made, Kain."
"....."
"...Hah, fine. You're right. The reason I suggested you and I put on a false... yes, a false engagement is very simple. It's the same reason you held an engagement ceremony with that fox of a woman under the Emperor's orders."
"....?"
Under the Emperor's orders? Had I ever been that loyal a subject? I'd heard from my father that the Emperor had been involved in my engagement, but wasn't that just a matter of him arranging it, nothing more?
"Kain, would you please stop playing dumb? Don't tell me you're putting on this act because you're worried I'll run to the Emperor and spill everything. Or are you acting like this to confirm exactly what House Castana knows? Now that things have come this far, don't you think you can trust us at least a little?"
...No, I'm acting this way because I genuinely have no idea what you're talking about.
"The reason a historic, prestigious house like the Estel Duchy became engaged to a rootless noble family like House Sernad. Wasn't it to seize the rats hiding behind them, using House Sernad as a front?"
"...Rats?"
"Yes, an anonymous group whose name, identity, and purpose are all unknown. We're well aware of it too. The fact that House Estel spent the past twenty years struggling to uncover their identity. And that you've faithfully played your role to lure them out, all while enduring mockery and disgrace—being called a phantom, or incompetent."
"....."
"And a few months ago, the reason you deliberately caused a scandal to break off the engagement must be because you'd achieved a certain level of success. Indeed, if you'd exposed them more than necessary, there would be a risk of them tracing it back to you."
...There was some unidentified group hiding behind House Sernad? So, to summarize Bianca's words, my engagement to Sarah wasn't a simple engagement but part of a scheme to uncover their identity.
To my ears, Bianca's claim sounded like cheap conspiracy-theory nonsense you'd hear in a marketplace. Normally, the moment I heard something like that, I'd have scoffed and let it go in one ear and out the other.
...Regrettably, I couldn't refute her. Because the moment she spoke, something flashed through my mind.
[Kain, that's impressive. A curse most mages wouldn't even notice.]
[The engagement ring I gave you—it's incredibly precious, so don't you dare lose it.]
Sarah, who had wished to entrust herself to House Estel. The unidentified curse dwelling in her body. And the strange ring she had given me as a so-called gift. All of it combined with what Bianca had just said, forming a single conclusion.
"....."
As I bit down on my lower lip, failing to hide my bewilderment, Bianca looked at my face and, misreading me yet again, gave a soft nod.
"Judging by your expression, I've hit the mark. But you don't need to worry. House Castana wants to uncover those bastards' identity as well. The engagement I just brought up is merely an extension of that."
Only then did I begin to grasp what Bianca was talking about.
"...So, the reason you proposed an engagement with me..."
Was to expose the identity of the goddamn bastards behind House Sernad.
"Right. It's quite a dishonorable affair, but recently we've detected movement indicating that those bastards have infiltrated deep into House Castana. But we haven't figured out who the traitor is, or how far they've penetrated. This is purely speculation, but there may be someone within the family who's colluding with them. So, I've come to feel the clear need to drag those bastards out of their hole."
Bianca giggled as if the very thought of what was to come was delightful. Watching her, I was freshly reminded that this woman's personality was seriously rotten.
"If there's one thing I know well, it's the habits of rats. They go mad for their own gain. Those bastards who try to nibble away at our house—they're not the type to sit back and quietly spectate an engagement between you and me, don't you think?"
"...Especially with twenty percent of the net profit from Kitelen Ore—a colossal sum—flowing straight into House Estel?"
"That's right. Exactly. You catch on fast, Kain."
"....."
It was hard to think of a better method to drag the rats out of their holes. The union of two houses that had been at odds for a thousand years, and the massive financial interests secretly passing between them. If the bastards had stealthily infiltrated House Castana as Bianca claimed, they were bound to react in some way to this unforeseen turn of events.
I quickly did the math in my head. If I could resolve the questions surrounding Sarah in exchange for a bit of theater, it didn't seem like a losing deal. If I could get House Castana to owe me a favor, it was an even better trade.
"...Bianca. Before that, there's something I want to ask."
"Something you want to ask? What?"
"If I enter into an engagement with you, then, you know, that..."
"...That, what?"
"Would we have to put on an act to look like lovers to everyone around us? No matter how I think about it, that's..."
I suspect it might be impossible. Because no matter how hard I tried to think kind and gentle thoughts, the moment I saw Bianca's face, all the 'beautiful' memories I'd built with her in the past would come vividly flooding back.
"Well, that's true, but... can you stop worrying about such trivial things? I'll handle everything. You just need to show up. Got it?"
"....."
Anxiety surged over whether I could convincingly play the role of this little witch's fiancé. Then again, I was the one who'd created a situation where I had to accept her proposal and be alone with her. It was my own karma, so there was no room to complain—I could only lament my reality.
"...Fine. Before I give you my answer, there's one more thing I'd like to ask."
"You're full of questions today. Fine, go ahead."
Looking at Bianca's expression, which seemed to say she'd answer anything within her power, I posed the question about the sense of wrongness that had filled my head ever since I first saw the letter from House Castana.
"The Kitelen Ore, supposedly discovered in the Fault Zone—is it real?"
Yes. That rare ore that had abruptly been found on the border between the two houses. No matter how hard I thought about it, I simply could not explain the ore's existence. Did it make any sense that an ore undiscovered before my regression would suddenly pop up in this life?
"Hmm. You're sharp, Kain."
At my question, Bianca smiled as if she were genuinely amused and gave me her answer.
"Your guess is correct. It's fake. But I can't say it's completely fake. Because there really is Kitelen Ore buried in the Fault Zone. The only problem is that the purity is so low it's not worth mining."
"....."
...I knew it. In that case, everything from House Castana—sending a delegation, discussing the profitability of the ore, all that bullshit—had been nothing more than a piece of theater to lure the bastards out.
"Then, all that talk about giving us twenty percent of the profits was just lip service?"
"Honestly. Were you worried we'd swindle you out of the money? I have absolutely no intention of doing that."
Having said that, Bianca held up two fingers and waved them in front of me.
"I'll give you twenty percent of the net profit House Castana earns this year from artifact sales. How about that?"
"In exchange for acting as your fiancé?"
"Exactly. I think it's a deal where you have nothing to lose. House Castana is making this offer prepared for considerable financial bleeding on our side."
...Indeed, getting paid that much for a few acts was good business.
"Hm, you seem dead set on catching those bastards. What kind of damage did they inflict for you to come out swinging this hard?"
It was just a simple question, tossed out without much thought. But I didn't miss the sharp gleam that flashed in Bianca's eyes.
"Do you call that a question? Those rats, to you..."
"...To me?"
At my counter-question, Bianca momentarily wore an "uh-oh" expression.
"...No, forget it. It's nothing. It's just a personal matter. So, are you going to accept my proposal or not?"
...What was that? The unfinished words Bianca had barely held back gnawed at me, but I felt I shouldn't press the question rashly. As Bianca said, it seemed clear some personal matter was involved.
"Very well. I'll accept your proposal. So, what exactly do I need to do?"
At my question, Bianca answered as if she had been waiting.
"Two weeks from now, you just need to visit House Castana. The official reason will be the engagement ceremony. We'll handle the detailed preparations on this end, so you don't need to worry about a thing."
"Nice and simple. I like that."
"Right? It's a very simple matter. We'll manage just fine. I've known the person called 'you' since we were children. Playing the part of your lovely fiancée, tailored to you, is hardly a chore."
Having said that, Bianca spun her body away from me.
"Then, I'll see you in two weeks. My one and only fiancé in this world, Kain von Estel. And..."
"My dear."