Chapter 322: Bread and Dagger (20)
Chapter 322: Bread and Dagger (20)
At Senior Elsie’s provocation, Emma bowed her head without a moment's hesitation.
It was a polite gesture—the proper etiquette a commoner was expected to show a noble.
Nevertheless, watching it made my stomach churn.
Emma was a precious friend of mine.
Though a wall of status existed between nobles and commoners, we had spent a long time together as classmates at the Academy. I had never once considered Emma to be beneath me.
Furthermore, the principle of the Academy was that all students were to be treated equally, regardless of their social standing.
This meant that even outside the Academy, there was no reason to establish such a hierarchy.
Just as I was about to snap, unable to endure it any longer, Emma shot me a subtle glance.
She was telling me to hold back for a moment.
Unable to ignore her silent plea, I had to swallow an uncomfortable groan and look away.
Then again, I understood Emma’s position.
If I blindly took her side, it would only fuel Senior Elsie’s resentment.
Lately, Senior Elsie had been expressing her affection for me quite aggressively.
It wouldn't be surprising if she did something reckless, blinded by jealousy. If it were anyone else, perhaps, but when it came to 'Elsie Lainella,' nothing was impossible.
That was why I decided to pretend I wasn't paying attention.
Of course, it was a mere facade.
My eyes were still stealing glances at Senior Elsie and Emma.
Just enough so they wouldn't feel pressured—secretly.
With her arms crossed in a look of blatant disapproval, Senior Elsie continued to provoke Emma.
"Why do you keep fluttering around my Master? It’s so annoying. Oh, that’s right… you’re that one. The commoner girl Master spent 10,000 Gold to save."
With a snort, Senior Elsie stepped closer to Emma.
Her blue eyes held a murderous glint. A cold voice leaked through her clenched teeth.
"Don't get the wrong idea. The only reason Master gives a commoner girl like you special treatment is because he’s kind. It’s nothing more and nothing less than pity and compassion. Do you understand?"
An annoyed sigh escaped my lips. The Saintess and the Princess were already watching my reaction intently.
Only Senior Elsie, blinded by her urge to keep Emma in check, remained oblivious.
I couldn't listen to this anymore.
Senior Elsie was just as precious to me as Emma. I wanted the two of them to build a healthy relationship.
Just as I was about to give Senior Elsie a piece of my mind—
"Lady Lainella……."
With a somewhat sorrowful look in her eyes, Emma leaned in and whispered into the ear of Senior Elsie, who was standing on her tiptoes.
It was a soft, ringing whisper.
"I’m satisfied even as a concubine, anyway."
Did I hear that right?
Even though I knew my heightened senses couldn't be wrong, I tapped my ear. It was such a sudden statement that my brain couldn't keep up.
Senior Elsie seemed to be in the same boat.
She stood there, dumbfounded, and could only offer a dazed question in return.
"……H-huh? What did you say?"
"There’s no need for you to be so wary of me, Lady Lainella. I know my place better than anyone."
Emma wore a bittersweet smile.
"I’m from a commoner background, and my only talent is making a few potions… How could I dare to be greedy? So please, just let me stay by Ian’s side… I’ll do my best to serve you well too, Lady Lainella."
Since she took such a humble stance, it was Senior Elsie who ended up flustered.
The Saintess and the Princess looked at Senior Elsie as if they were looking at trash. Senior Elsie immediately jumped and turned red.
Her reaction was one of pure indignation.
"W-what! Why! Y-you guys felt the same way as me, didn't you?!"
However, the Saintess merely clicked her tongue and shook her head, while the Princess cleared her throat and looked away.
No one took Senior Elsie’s side.
Even I was dazed by Emma’s successive declarations.
In the end, Senior Elsie had no choice but to admit defeat with a tearful face.
When public opinion was this stacked against you, the standard move was to retreat.
Still, wanting to keep her pride until the very end, Senior Elsie spoke while pretending to be magnanimous.
"Y-yeah! Well… I-I guess you know your place. Don't forget that mindset… A-and don't take what I said to heart too much. I wasn't saying you couldn't be near him at all……."
With that, Senior Elsie patted Emma’s shoulder a couple of times, looking awkward.
Perhaps it was her way of acknowledging Emma’s existence.
Considering noble culture, it was somewhat understandable. In noble society, it was considered shameful for a primary wife to be wary of a commoner concubine.
The logic was that since they weren't on the same level to begin with, one should show noble generosity by embracing them with a broad heart.
It had long been one of the requirements for being a 'great wife.'
While it was an incredibly disadvantageous ethic for women, noble traditions possessed that kind of power.
It was evident even now, seeing the ill-tempered Senior Elsie accepting Emma.
Senior Elsie had already confessed to me. Naturally, she would want to show off that she was excellent bride material.
Therefore, it was difficult for Senior Elsie to recklessly mess with Emma, who had volunteered to be a 'concubine.'
For a noble to fight a commoner over a man was ridiculous enough, but if the commoner bowed first, there was nothing left to say.
Either become a narrow-minded woman or accept it.
Only those two choices remained.
Emma seemed to have realized all of this. And she had brought up the word 'concubine'—which she didn't even mean—just to exploit the situation.
The resolve to volunteer as a concubine for a man she didn't even love was astonishing.
Emma was apparently a master of social maneuvering, far beyond my imagination.
Unable to contain my admiration, I secretly whispered my deduction to Yuren. However, rather than being impressed, Yuren looked at me as if he were looking at a moron.
Rarely, a contemptuous criticism leaked from his mouth.
“……Are you an idiot?”
It was a sudden insult.
I shut my mouth with a dejected expression. Calling me an 'idiot' was a bit harsh for someone from the Holy Kingdom.
If I had known it would be like this, I would have brought Reto.
He would have surely given me more practical advice.
But regret always comes too late. Reto had already flatly refused my request to accompany us.
He said he didn't particularly want to go to a dangerous place.
It was such a rational reason that I had no room for rebuttal.
Nevertheless, I resolved to send a letter to Reto in the near future. While conducting the investigation in the North, there would surely be a time when I needed Reto’s brain.
Reto, who had mastered all sorts of books in the library, was incredibly knowledgeable.
He would likely know something about the relationship between the North and the Elves.
As we headed toward the Warp Gate, a certain transaction was taking place among the women.
Senior Elsie had been strangely friendly toward Emma since their previous conversation. Between the two women walking side-by-side, a constant stream of whispering could be heard.
Mostly, it was Senior Elsie trying to persuade Emma.
"Hey, commoner. Do you have any idea how important it is to pick the right side?"
"……W-well, I'm not sure?"
Every time, Emma would just break into a cold sweat with a troubled expression. However, Emma’s feelings didn't seem to be of much concern to Senior Elsie.
Senior Elsie didn't give up and pressed Emma again.
"You'll realize once you enter noble society—how important it is to hold onto the right line… So, do well."
Emma subtly looked away, seemingly burdened by Senior Elsie’s veiled suggestion. Regardless, Senior Elsie poked Emma’s side with a boastful expression.
"I'm the one furthest ahead right now. The others haven't even made it to the starting line."
"……I've heard enough of this pet dog's rude yapping."
It was then that the Saintess suddenly joined the fray.
Perhaps unable to hold back her surging emotions, she spoke her true mind, forgetting to even act demure.
Of course, no one was surprised.
Not only Yuren and I, but Senior Elsie and the Princess had all seen the Saintess’s true colors at least once. There was no reason to be surprised now.
Only Emma stood there with wide eyes, unable to understand the situation.
The Saintess snapped at Senior Elsie as if she were letting it all out.
"Will you please stop talking nonsense? I-I asked Ian about what you said last time, and he said it was nothing! Do you like being so despicable?!"
She seemed incredibly resentful about being tricked by Senior Elsie last time.
According to Yuren’s testimony, the Saintess had even cried, so it would be strange if she weren't angry.
The unfortunate fact was that Senior Elsie was not the type of person to blink an eye at such things.
Instead, Senior Elsie even showed an even more triumphant smile.
"Yeah, I liked it a lot. Who told you to be a step late? Oh, that’s right… You’re the Heavenly God’s most beloved virgin, so you have to be a 'virgin,' don't you?"
Those words seemed to hit the mark, as the Saintess’s body trembled.
Seeing as no rebuttal came back, she apparently couldn't think of a proper counterargument. Her position as the Saintess of the Heavenly God Religion was that heavy.
She was someone who had even abandoned her life as an orphan to live as the Saintess.
She couldn't just throw away her duties as the Saintess recklessly.
Senior Elsie was intoxicated by the one-sided victory she hadn't tasted in a while.
"But looking at the way you act, you seem less like a virgin and more like a 'nympho,' don't you? Hmm?"
"B-be quiet……."
As always, I shook my head while watching the two of them bicker.
I had forgotten for a moment, but Senior Delphine was the original when it came to having a bad relationship with Senior Elsie. My head was already starting to ache thinking about what kind of battlefronts would form once we reached the North.
To make matters worse, taking advantage of the gap while the Saintess and Senior Elsie were arguing, the Princess slunk over to Emma.
"Um, Senior Emma?"
"Y-yes?!"
Following the young lady of the Lainella family and the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, even the Princess of the Empire had joined in.
Emma, who was just a commoner, now looked like she had lost her soul.
After fidgeting with her fingers for a while, the Princess finally spoke.
"I-I have a lot of money!"
"……?"
Emma’s eyes went blank at the sudden declaration.
Regardless, the oblivious Princess just kept her eyes tightly shut and her fists clenched.
"A-and I have power too… Please keep that in mind. About, um… picking a side……."
With those words, the Princess turned around and hurried away, seemingly embarrassed.
What was it about the declaration of becoming my concubine that made them fight like this?
I found it absurd, but since I had long ago given up on understanding the ecology of women, I decided to stop thinking about it.
At least listening to the bickering made the time go by quickly.
And so time passed, and immediately after passing through the Warp Gate—
I welcomed the chilly climate of the North, which I had only heard about, with my whole body.
A razor-sharp wind blew, feeling as if it would slice my skin. Every time I inhaled the dry air, it sent a stinging pain through my lungs.
And beyond that, a woman with hair that shone like the sun was standing there.
"It's been a while, Master… no, Ian."
With her usual confident smile.
It was a reunion with Senior Delphine.
Though she looked a bit more haggard than before.