Chapter 341
Chapter 341
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 341
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"……."
I was currently riding in a four-horse carriage heading toward the royal capital alongside Elaine, the second wife of Count Prucus and my second mother.
Including myself, there were six people inside the carriage.
Two maids attending to me—Yuria and Melissa—were seated on either side of me. With their striking beauty and refined poise, anyone would mistake them for nobles if not for their maid uniforms.
'To an outsider, they might even seem like fallen nobles forced into service.'
Sitting across from me were Elaine and her two attendants. One attendant was elderly, the other a woman around Elaine's age. They were above average in looks, but they didn't quite meet my standards, so they held no real interest for me.
'I'd rather embrace Yuria or Melissa on either side of me than that attendant.'
Of course, wanting to embrace someone didn't mean I could just do it. As Elaine's personal attendant, her status was likely noble.
"……."
The carriage interior was quiet.
At first, there had been some casual conversation, but that only lasted a few hours. House Prucus was located in a remote border region of the kingdom, and it took ten full days to reach the capital. That included stops in villages and nights spent camping along the way.
I subtly glanced at Elaine in front of me. I knew she had recently entered her forties, yet she looked no older than her mid-to-late twenties.
Her auburn hair was elegantly pinned up, revealing a pristine white neckline. Her face always appeared cold, but I knew she was surprisingly warm-hearted.
The bodice of her lavish light-purple dress was as full and voluptuous as if it were stuffed with balloons, while her waist was so slender it seemed it might snap if gripped too tightly. The long, thick skirt hid her lower body, but it undoubtedly matched her stunning upper figure.
'Mmm….'
For a very long time, I had tried every possible approach to seduce Elaine. Whenever I had free time at the estate, I'd visit her for chats. Even after becoming Lord of Tevra, I never forgot to send letters or gifts.
Since the count's estate was relatively close, I visited her about once a month—both to pursue her and to win over the house's vassals.
Yet Elaine never yielded. Whenever I tried to cross the line, she sensed it like a ghost and firmly held her boundaries.
I had to admit that ordinary methods wouldn't work on her.
'Force myself on her? No. That's a last resort. Using aphrodisiacs is the same. Resorting to force would be admitting defeat.'
Ordinary tactics were out. That meant I needed something dramatic. But even dramatic methods had limits. The carriage was escorted by knights and soldiers, and Elaine herself was a mid-level mage capable of defending her body.
Thud!
The carriage jolted violently to a halt. A furrow formed between Elaine's brows as she sat primly. Her elderly attendant, gauging her mood, flung open the carriage door.
A man in armor approached—a fortysomething with faded blond hair. It was Gowung Duvicel, captain of the Medel Knights.
"Sir Duvicel. What is it?"
"My apologies, Madam. A pack of orcs has appeared ahead. We'll clear them out shortly. Please wait just five minutes."
This was a perfect chance to show off my skills to the knights. I shot to my feet.
"Sir Duvicel! Let me assist!"
Before Duvicel could respond, Elaine spoke to me.
"Sit down, Eugene. There's no need for you to step in."
"If I help, we can eliminate the monsters faster!"
"Eugene. You're a noble, and Sir Duvicel is the knight tasked with protecting us. Does it make sense for the one under protection to rush into danger? Think of Sir Duvicel's position."
"My lord, trust in us. Orcs are no challenge for us."
In the face of their words, I had no choice but to sit back down. I had been too hasty.
"……My apologies. My short-sightedness led me to disrespect you, Sir Duvicel."
"Not at all, my lord. How could we not appreciate your intent to aid us? But such matters only soil your eyes and hands. Leave it to us."
True to his word, the Medel Knights dispatched the orc pack and cleared the bodies in just five minutes. The carriage resumed its journey.
'This is the problem. Status. Elaine is too bound by her position as countess. To seduce her, I need to strip away that countess facade first… Damn. Easier said than done.'
I racked my brain for ideas, but nothing solid came to mind.
A few possibilities surfaced, but iron-willed Elaine wouldn't fall for them easily. She might even see through my schemes.
'There has to be some way….'
???
Day six of carriage life.
I still hadn't figured out how to seduce Elaine.
Around noon, with the sun high in the sky, the carriage arrived at a village in the plains. It was too large to be a mere village, too small to be a city—an in-between settlement.
The villagers didn't dare look at us, instead dropping their gazes to the ground and trembling.
"We've arrived at Erenchir Village ahead of schedule, Madam. It would be best to rest here today and shake off the accumulated fatigue. The horses and soldiers need it."
Duvicel suggested politely to Elaine. She stepped out, surveyed the village, and nodded.
"As you say. We'll rest here today and depart for the capital tomorrow morning. The schedule has some flexibility, so no issue."
The knights, soldiers, and servants couldn't hide their delight. For us, it was just boredom, but for them, it was an exhausting trek.
Before entering the village's finest inn, I felt a nagging unease.
'Erenchir… Erenchir… I've heard that name before. Not just a coincidence… Ah!'
It hit me.
In one episode of the original story, there was a village called Erenchir. It was a stop on the protagonist Kyle's way to the capital. An insignificant episode, so it took me a moment to recall.
'The episode's content… Oh god!'
A shiver ran down my spine. If I played this right, I might just seduce Elaine.
"Yuria!"
I hurriedly called for Yuria.
???
Yuria slipped unnoticed into a house at the entrance of Erenchir Village. It was abandoned, thick with dust—no one had lived there for a year or two. Only worn-out junk remained.
The owner had likely died in an accident, and the villagers had taken anything valuable or useful.
Yuria picked up an old wooden toy doll lying haphazardly on the floor. Just as Eugene had described—a farmer figure wielding a pitchfork.
She quietly exited the village. No one spotted her movements.
???
After finishing lunch, I proposed to Elaine.
"Mother. Shall we take a walk to digest our meal?"
"A walk…? You think there's anything worth seeing in this village?"
"It's a village in a different territory from ours. And I heard there's no ruling noble here. I'd like to look around once."
"……."
The usual Elaine would refuse. She knew staying put at the inn was better for the knights and soldiers.
But after days cooped up in the carriage, even she felt a bit stifled.
"…Very well. A short stroll wouldn't hurt."
There was nothing to see in the village. Houses were dilapidated, roads filthy. Villagers fled at the sight of us. The vigilantes meant to guard the place were the same. The market was the only mildly interesting spot, but we only viewed it from afar.
"That's enough. Let's head back."
"Yes. …Huh?!"
As I replied, I feigned surprise and pointed toward the village outskirts. A massive wild boar was charging madly toward us. Black energy seeped from its body, wounds oozing red blood everywhere. A wooden doll was embedded in its forehead.
"Danger!"
"Leave it to us!"
The three knights guarding Elaine and me drew their swords and stepped forward. Aura flickered along their blades.
Screeeeech!
The enraged boar accelerated, slamming into the knights with its bulk. Their swings inflicted only shallow cuts; the knights were sent flying, crashing to the ground.
Elaine calmly eyed the boar and cast a spell.
"Ice Wedge."
Thick ice spikes erupted from the earth, stabbing at the boar. But it ignored the impalements, charging relentlessly.
"Mother! Get away!"
I swept Elaine into my arms. My left hand slyly wrapped around her waist, my right gripping her breast.
The boar stumbled just before reaching us, tumbling upward into the air. Its massive body soared skyward.
Of course, I knew this secret. The entire situation was my design, executed by Yuria.
Boom!
The boar crashed headfirst to the ground. The wooden farmer doll in its forehead shattered, emitting a blinding light that engulfed Elaine, me, and those nearby.
???
I regained consciousness first.
I was in a cramped, foul-smelling wooden shack. The stench of filth assaulted me with every breath, giving me a headache.
Cool dawn air and blue light filtered through cracks in the shuttered wooden window. Hearing a rooster crow nearby, I felt an urge to turn it into fried chicken as I rose from the hard bed.
The rag covering me slipped down. I was completely naked. Instinctively reaching for my smartphone, I spotted Elaine lying right beside me.
"Oh……."
I couldn't tear my eyes from Elaine. She appeared naked too. Her auburn hair was disheveled, but her exposed face, arms, and legs were transparently pale.
Instead of waking her, I lifted the blanket and let it slide to the floor. Fortunately, she just stirred without rising.
Her E-cup breasts ended in pale pink nipples, the areolas dotted with tiny bumps. I was reminded anew that she was a married mother.
'She looks so young, I forgot for a moment.'
My gaze traveled lower. Below her full breasts was a slim abdomen, not an ounce of excess fat. Her hips were perfectly shaped for easy childbirth. A thick patch of auburn pubic hair covered her intimate area, and beneath it, her folds matched her nipples in pale pink.
I restrained the urge to fondle her breasts and pussy. I couldn't ruin things now.
I gently shook her shoulder.
"Mother! Mother! Wake up!"
"……."
Elaine's eyes snapped open. Feeling the chill, she huddled, then realized she was naked and hastily covered her breasts and groin with her hands. She glanced at my nudity but showed no great embarrassment.
"……Where are we? Weren't we attacked by that wild boar?"
"I don't know. I just woke up too. And we were naked."
I stepped down from the bed, deliberately letting my groin sway. Elaine's eyes flicked there unconsciously before snapping back.
"We should dress before figuring out the situation. Is there clothing nearby?"
"There is."
I pointed to clothes hanging on the wall. Not our original fine garments, but shabby, peasant rags.
"…No choice. We'll have to make do."
"Can you manage alone? Shall I help?"
"You're underestimating me. I can dress myself."