Chapter 56
Chapter 56
“You just lied moments ago, so it’s only natural that the elves cannot trust us.”
First, I acknowledged our fault clearly.
“That said, I have no intention of becoming a hostage. I am the administrator of Belheim, not Nubiar. I merely received a request from His Excellency Marquis Smith to resolve the flooding of the Raed River.”
At my words, Marquis Howell Smith’s face darkened noticeably, while Calix Krauvel smiled with satisfaction.
“However, it is also true that I participated in that lie. So to take responsibility, I will remain in Nubiar until the relocation work is completed.”
The moment I finished speaking, Calix Krauvel grabbed my shoulder tightly.
It was a warning not to say something so absurd.
But I had already spoken, and no better solution came to mind.
“And I would also like the elf seated in the center to remain as well.”
So I ignored Calix Krauvel’s warning and continued speaking.
“Stay here with me and personally verify with your own eyes whether His Excellency Marquis Smith is properly carrying out the relocation work. Wouldn’t that give both sides peace of mind?”
“That…”
The elf seated on the left frowned and tried to object, but the elf in the center stopped him.
“Very well. Let us do that.”
Then he nodded.
The two elves beside him frowned in dissatisfaction at the decision but said nothing.
So the elf in the center must hold the highest rank.
He looked the youngest at first glance, which made it even more surprising.
“I hope that this time, your promise will be kept.”
The elf seated in the center spoke again, looking not at me but at Calix Krauvel.
His words sounded less like a request and more like a warning.
What? Do those two know each other?
I glanced back and forth between Calix Krauvel and the elf.
Marquis Smith and the others seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“….”
Perhaps annoyed by the attention, deep lines formed between Calix Krauvel’s brows.
He clicked his tongue and grabbed my arm.
“Get up.”
The rough pull dragged me to my feet before I could properly resist, and he pulled me out of the conference room.
Calix Krauvel dragged me into a room near the conference hall.
“Why did you step forward?”
The moment the door closed, he demanded an answer.
“I clearly told you not to step forward. And you said you understood.”
He was still gripping my arm tightly, and it hurt so much my eyes watered.
“Then why did you step in? Did you lie to me?”
“F-First, let go of my hand before you talk!”
I shook the arm he was holding and shouted.
Calix Krauvel narrowed his eyes but released my arm without protest.
Ah, it bruised.
I had realized it when he lifted that barn pillar before—his strength was absurd.
As I rubbed my bruised wrist, his gaze naturally followed to it.
“….”
The moment he saw the bruise, the fierce pressure he had been exerting noticeably faltered.
A mix of confusion and an unpleasant emotion flickered in his eyes.
But he quickly frowned again and turned his head away.
So he does have a conscience after all.
“I didn’t break my promise.”
I snorted inwardly and continued speaking.
“When I said I would do as you said, I was referring to answering that I didn’t know if Marquis Smith or the elves asked whether there was a solution. And I did say I didn’t know.”
I hadn’t answered that thoughtlessly.
“And even if I’m not the person officially responsible for the project, I was the one who proposed building the retention basin and the sluice gates. I believed I couldn’t completely avoid responsibility.”
As I spoke, the heart that had been racing in fear gradually calmed.
“I simply tried to fulfill my responsibility. Was that wrong?”
Calix Krauvel looked at my bruised wrist and clicked his tongue.
“I’ve thought this before, but you really do have a stubborn personality. It would be better if you were a bit more obedient.”
What a perfect self-introduction.
“Do you really intend to remain in Nubiar? What about preparations for the summer monsoon?”
“I’ve already completed the designs and the basic groundwork. Team Leader Anton Brown and the other employees of the Urban Development Department should be able to handle it. They’ve already done similar work during the autumn monsoon.”
“I don’t know. I don’t trust anyone except you.”
It should have sounded like a touching statement.
But coming from him, it was unsettling.
It sounded as though he was saying he would never let me go.
“Well, I suppose I can give you about a week. Think of it as a vacation.”
One week.
There was no way everything would be finished within that time.
“I’ll make sure to extract a proper price from Marquis Smith for what happened today.”
“Please include my share as well.”
I quickly added.
He tilted his head slightly.
“I thought you were on Marquis Smith’s side.”
“No.”
I shrugged lightly.
“I was only trying to fulfill my responsibility. I wasn’t trying to take anyone’s side.”
“Then you’re on my side?”
Wait, how did the conversation go in that direction?
“Of course.”
Though startled, I smiled naturally.
“I am an administrator of Belheim, so naturally I’m on my lord’s side.”
Saying things you didn’t truly mean to your workplace superior was basic survival for any employee.
Perhaps satisfied with my answer, he nodded with a pleased smile.
“I hope that sentiment never changes.”
It won’t.
Forever.
After warning Marquis Howell Smith to return me within a week, Calix Krauvel departed for Belheim.
As the lord of Belheim, he could not remain away from his territory for long.
Instead, Noah Roheim crossed over to Nubiar.
“Aren’t you busy serving His Lordship as well, Assistant?”
Sitting on a terrace overlooking the garden that Marquis Smith proudly showed off, I asked Noah Roheim.
“That is true, but a week is manageable.”
Noah Roheim answered gracefully, setting down his teacup filled with black tea.
“There are other aides besides me.”
“Oh? There are other aides?”
I had been working in the Urban Development Department for more than half a year, but I had never seen any aides other than Noah Roheim.
“Of course. There are two more besides me.”
“Really? I’ve never seen them before.”
“That’s probably because they mainly work in the office. I’m usually the one who reports to His Lordship and handles external matters.”
Ah, that explained it.
“When we return to Belheim, I’ll introduce you to them. Both of them have heard about your achievements and keep saying they want to see what kind of person Miss Aileen is.”
Hearing that somehow made meeting them feel burdensome.
While chatting with Noah Roheim, I noticed people running busily around beyond the garden.
They were specialists in flora and fauna brought from Nubiar and nearby cities to assist with the relocation work.
Since everything had to be completed within a week, they worked day and night.
Meanwhile, I had nothing particular to do here.
I was essentially being kept as a hostage and under observation.
Besides, I didn’t know anything about ecological relocation.
Even if I did, I had no intention of getting involved.
I wonder what that elf is doing right now.
The elf who said he would remain to closely monitor whether Marquis Smith kept his promise had not shown his face even once since the day of the meeting.
“Ah, during the meeting it seemed like the elves were a little afraid of His Lordship. Do you know why?”
“Well…”
Noah Roheim thought for a moment before continuing.
“I’m not entirely certain, but it’s probably because of the Monster Subjugation.”
“The Monster Subjugation?”
“Yes. You know that when His Lordship first inherited the Archducal title and became the ruler of Belheim, he drove out all the magical beasts around the city.”
It was the first time I had heard about it, but I nodded as if I already knew.
“Apparently the magical beasts that were driven away went to the Canabel Mountain Range and began causing trouble there.”
Noah Roheim took a sip of tea and continued.
“So the elves living in that mountain range asked for help. But His Lordship immediately drove them away, telling them to solve their own problems.”
Judging from the elves’ reaction, it sounded like more had happened than simply driving them away.
“Still, the elves kept insisting that he also bore responsibility. They kept pressing the matter repeatedly.”
Noah Roheim paused briefly before finishing.
“I heard that in the end, he cut off the head of the elf who came as their representative.”