6. Much Ado About Nothing - 07
6. Much Ado About Nothing - 07
"...Wait, an engagement? Lady Castana and Kain, an engagement?"
Aria's expression had been on the verge of tears for a while now, and it peaked the moment I explained that the real reason I'd come to House Castana was my engagement to Bianca. A glimmer appeared in Aria's eyes, and her face looked about to burst, so I wound up stammering an explanation that barely counted as one.
"...Right. I'm sorry I didn't tell you beforehand. But I didn't have a choice. It's a complicated situation. To be more specific..."
Even I thought it was an embarrassingly feeble excuse. But the instant the word "sorry" left my mouth, Aria's eyes went sharp. To put it concretely, it was like the eyes of a gentle puppy transforming into the venomous glare of a wife who had just realized her beloved husband had been running around the red-light district with other women. The chill in Aria's gaze sent a shiver down my spine.
"Kain, what exactly do you have to be sorry to *me* about?"
"...Huh?"
At my blank, half-witted echo of a reply, Aria silently puffed out both cheeks. Not that it made her look scary at all—she's absurdly cute by default.
"I don't think you have a single thing to be sorry about. I'm just a lady's maid, and you're the Young Duke of House Estel, a man with a demanding position. How could a girl as insignificant as me possibly interfere in something as important as your engagement? Don't you agree?"
"......"
Despite her words telling me there was no need, the look Aria gave me was unmistakably the look of someone skewering a social inferior, and for some reason it just made my chest ache.
I don't know why, but a piece of half-baked advice I'd picked up in the past—before the regression, during a drinking bout with the knights of House Estel, from a guy with a face like a gigolo—flashed through my mind. What had that drunk bastard spouted at me again...?
'Your Grace, what do you think is the most difficult part of dealing with women?'
'...I don't know. If I knew, I wouldn't need to listen to you.'
At my answer, the guy had put on an insufferably arrogant expression and said this:
'The answer, I believe, is a woman's jealousy. Women are territorial creatures by nature. They sense it like ghosts when another woman enters their territory.'
Watching that bastard smack his lips and mumble something about knowing from experience after getting caught cheating several times, I had to suppress the sudden urge to carve a few handsome knife scars into his gigolo face.
'Women who think their territory has been invaded are likely to ask the man, who's busy stammering excuses, a question: what exactly is he sorry for, what could he possibly have to be sorry about. And for your reference, you mustn't answer carelessly. Especially, if you say you did something wrong, all hell breaks loose.'
'...Why does that happen?'
I found myself being gradually drawn in by his words. I'd never even properly held a woman's wrist, but his story held a strange fascination.
'Because she'll immediately ask what you did wrong. Whether you answer that you know your mistake or that you don't, it becomes an opening to attack you. In the end, there's only one thing a man can say.'
'And that is?'
'I'm sorry. Do you see, Your Grace? Horrifyingly, the situation loops right back to the start! Truly, it was one of the most dreadful memories of my life. A nightmarish experience, as if time itself repeated over and over.'
The sight of him trembling all over was such a perfect picture of reaping what one sows.
'...So, what's the answer? When women ask what you're sorry for, what are you supposed to say?'
'Huh? I don't really know beyond that myself. If I look into her eyes and whisper "I love you" into her ear, women's anger usually melts right away. Or, just going for it and stealing a kiss works too. Such petty adversities can be overcome with the power of love, can't they?'
'......'
Thinking back on it, that guy was a real dog of a man. The so-called solution he spouted was completely useless in this situation. Well, at least it confirmed one thing: Aria is fiercely unhappy about the current turn of events. Should I call that a win?
'...Still, from an objective standpoint, my actions have been problematic.'
Actually, "problematic" doesn't even begin to cover it. From Aria's point of view, the man she serves—Kain von Estel—had barely broken off his engagement with Sarah Sernad before chatting casually and acting chummy with women like the Imperial Princess of the Empire or Ariel, the prospective Saintess of the Holy See. Not satisfied with chasing after other women, the man was apparently so insatiable he went and got engaged to yet another one—nothing short of a complete dog.
Of course, getting entangled with the Imperial Princess, Ariel, and Bianca wasn't my intention but a cruel trick of fate, but there was no way Aria would understand that.
'...No choice, then.'
I needed to placate Aria at least a little. She wasn't just my personal maid; she was an important talent meant to eventually succeed old man Karl as the Household Mage of House Estel. Moreover, she was a person of interest who might become the Winter Witch in the future. There was no reason to needlessly provoke her temper. And honestly, since Aria might now be stronger than me, I found her somewhat intimidating, too.
"...Nothing for it. Aria, I have a confession to make."
The method I chose to soothe Aria was simple: tell her the whole truth behind this engagement. Once she knew the truth, wouldn't Aria understand the feelings I'd come here with?
"A c-c-confession?"
Aria's face went bright red the moment the word "confession" left my mouth.
"....?"
Somewhat bewildered, I nonetheless calmly explained. The engagement to Bianca wasn't real—it was the result of a sophisticated political negotiation stemming from mutual interest.
"......"
And I don't know why, but after hearing my full explanation, Aria looked like the sky had fallen. But that was only for a moment. Soon, her expression turned more serious than I'd ever seen, and she composed her voice.
"...Kain, this may be quite presumptuous of me, but if it's not too forward, might I offer a word?"
"...Ah, yeah. Go ahead."
Overwhelmed by Aria's solemn, almost grave demeanor, I nodded before I knew it.
"I'll speak frankly, not as your personal maid, but as Aria—the Household Mage of House Estel, and Karl's disciple. Kain. House Castana, as it currently stands, is dangerous."
"...Isn't that obvious? House Castana is practically enemy territory for House Estel. I haven't let my guard down for a moment since I arrived."
"No, that's not what I mean."
Saying so, Aria gave a light flick of her hand.
Wooong—
Along the trajectory of Aria's fingertips, Magic Power itself—the Primal Element of this world—manifested before my eyes. And—
"...This, is..."
And I saw it, clear as day. The strange flow of magic enveloping this room we're staying in. No—enveloping all of House Castana. As ignorant as I am of magic, even I could easily tell this flow was not normal.
"I sensed it the moment I set foot inside the main castle. There's a strange current of magic running through House Castana, one whose true form I can't easily discern with my current skill. The flow itself is so intricate I can't know the details, but I'm certain it's something that stirs a person's specific emotions."
"...Stirs specific emotions?"
I don't get it. What possible reason could there be for spreading that kind of useless magic across the entirety of House Castana?
"I have only one thing to say. While you remain in House Castana, you may find yourself unable to control your emotions. Even the smallest feeling might blow out of proportion without you realizing it. So—so—"
As she spoke, Aria bit down hard on her lip.
"Bianca del Castana. You must not genuinely fall in love with her—your fake fiancée. Absolutely not."
"......"
At Aria's advice, I couldn't help but let out a laugh. As far as I could tell, that frankly spoken worry was likely quite useless.
"...I think you don't need to worry about that. Why, you ask?"
Yes, it's really very simple. It was safe to say she and I would never fall in love. Because—
"There's no way a woman like Bianca could ever truly love a guy like me, right?"
Bianca was a woman who had it all: the cherished daughter of a powerful, influential house, a beautiful face, and on top of that she was an Archmage herself. I am certain that in the eyes of such a woman, a leftover from a ruined Ducal House would never register as a man.
Decisively, she already had a man she'd promised her future to. The conversation we shared before the regression, when we were huddled together in the Expedition Force, flashes through my mind.
— Kain, what if—purely hypothetically—you subjugate the witch that appeared in your territory, and your Duke rank is restored? What's the first thing you'd want to do?
— ...Why are you phrasing it as a hypothetical? That's ominous...
— Ah, anyway! Just answer me! Don't keep a person in suspense!
— ...Let me think. At my age, I'd have to hold a wedding. I can't bear the dishonor of the Estel Ducal bloodline ending in my generation.
— Hmm, and is there a woman you'd marry?
— ...Well, my reputation has hit rock bottom, but there's bound to be at least one blind woman out there, don't you think?
— Hmph, well now. Bianca, I judge this is not something you need to worry about. Since when were you so interested in other people's life plans?
— ...Why are you butting into my conversation with Kain? Is it an elf thing, not understanding human manners?
— I couldn't help but listen, and it's not something I can simply let slide. Bianca, as I recall, aren't you well past marriageable age yourself?
— You're several times older than us!
— ...Lady Kirie, and Bianca. Both of you, please calm down. And Saintess, instead of just watching, could you say something to them?
— Fufu, compared to their usual selves, this is quite mild. I don't think I need to step in. Good work, Kain.
— ...Hmph, talking about people, always interrupting. And Kirie, you don't know what you're talking about, but I happen to have a man I've promised my future to. I'm on a whole different level from a centuries-old spinster like you.
— Hoh. That's quite an interesting story. Surely it must be a political marriage? I've heard human nobles often end up in unwanted marriages for political reasons.
— It's nothing like that. When I was young, I made a promise with a certain man. A promise that once we became adults, we'd be together. It's a sentiment someone who's just old like you would never understand.
— ...So I'm not alone. Absolutely not.
Yes, that's what Bianca said. That she had a man to whom she'd promised her future. That she had made that promise with him when she was very young.
So Bianca doesn't love me. Our whole relationship is a single act of theater from start to finish. It was safe to say there was no chance of love budding between us.
Everything that constitutes "us" is nothing but lies. Love can't exist in such a thing. So Aria's worries are likely just needless concern.
...Yes, probably.