Chapter 45: The First Letter (45)
Chapter 45: The First Letter (45)
It didn't take long for me to find my voice again. Though Senior Delphine’s proposal was unexpected, her words weren't so vague that I couldn't grasp her true intent.
I answered her question cautiously.
"…It’s a recruitment offer of sorts, then."
Senior Delphine gave a satisfied smile at my response. Her pale hand tilted the bottle, and wine soon filled the empty glass—the very one her lips had touched just moments ago.
Instead of picking it up again, she gave it a light tap, sliding it toward me.
With a soft shhh, the glass arrived in front of me. I looked at Senior Delphine, silently asking what she meant by this.
Leaning her chin on her hand, she watched me with languid eyes. A drowsy voice drifted from her lips.
"In the North, we fill a large horn cup to the brim and share it to signify we are one. It’s a ritual between comrades-in-arms. But well, we can’t exactly do that in the middle of the Academy, can we?"
"It would look a bit barbaric, after all," she added, gesturing toward the glass with a flick of her eyes.
"Don't feel too pressured. Just think of it as establishing a more friendly relationship. And then, if you find it to your liking… you know?"
She meant that when the time came, I should officially enter her service.
I fell into deep thought once more. To be honest, I had expected nothing more than a bit of small talk; I never imagined I would receive such a proposal from Senior Delphine.
The pace was simply too fast.
By the time students reached their fourth year at the Academy, high-ranking nobles tended to start gathering their own factions. It was a way to scout talent to work with after graduation. However, this usually happened naturally over a long period, with people gravitating toward a central figure they had known for years.
It wasn't surprising to see nobles constantly forming and breaking alliances as necessity dictated. But the phrase "being together" carried a different weight. it meant becoming comrades, and for that to happen, a process of building trust was essential.
No one in the Academy was stupid enough to leave their back exposed to someone they couldn't trust. Even if such a fool managed to get in, they wouldn't be able to avoid failing out.
Therefore, Senior Delphine’s proposal needed to be interpreted in two ways.
First, it meant she liked me that much.
And second, it meant there was some reason she needed to recruit me right this instant.
Either way, it wasn't a bad offer for me. I was merely a second son, and it was obvious that my older brother would inherit the title. I had to find my own way to survive.
If that path led to one of the Empire's Five Great Noble Families, it was an opportunity beyond reproach. I had even received the offer directly from the heir herself.
I toyed with the glass she gave me, weighing my options. All I had to do was drink. I’d even get an indirect kiss from a woman as beautiful as Senior Delphine—what was there to lose?
However, the reason I couldn't help but hesitate was the suspicion still lodged in a corner of my mind like a stubborn stone.
After a moment of hesitation, I let out a sigh and pulled my hand away from the glass. Senior Delphine looked at me as if surprised. With a soft "Oh," a smile of genuine interest spread across her lips.
"Is it because the terms aren't clear? You're unexpectedly fastidious, Hand Axe Young Master."
"…There is one thing I’m curious about."
Senior Delphine nodded silently, inviting me to speak. I decided not to hesitate any longer.
"Were you aware that Seria has been bullied recently?"
At those words, Senior Delphine let out a short, airy laugh. As if wondering if that was all I was curious about, she straightened her posture and took out a fresh glass.
As the wine filled her glass, she spoke with a hint of boredom.
"Yes, I heard. But I also heard you settled the matter before I could even step in. Heh, you certainly have a knack for things. The story about Seria’s mother… it breaks my heart as well, but…"
"But why did such a story suddenly start circulating?"
Senior Delphine’s hand, which had been about to tilt the glass, froze. Her crimson eyes stared at me intently.
I hoped I wasn't barking up the wrong tree, but I had already committed.
Feeling my lips go dry, I continued my deduction.
"Logically, it doesn't make sense. Seria was given the Yurdina name; she is a high-ranking noble. Even if Seria’s mother is a taboo within the Yurdina family, it’s unnatural for lower nobles to mention a family shame so directly."
"Hmm," Senior Delphine hummed, a strange sound as she slightly averted her gaze. She spoke in a voice devoid of interest.
"The higher the position, the more enemies one has. That is the nature of power. There might have been a high-ranking noble family that envies me—Lainella, for instance?"
"If that were the case, they would have slandered you, Senior Delphine. There’s no point in slandering Seria. Seria’s mother isn't even a member of the family. She isn't a weakness of the Yurdina family, but a weakness belonging solely to Seria."
Senior Delphine sipped her wine. Her eyes did not turn back toward me. However, her composed attitude only bothered me more.
It was a strange intuition. My voice dropped, becoming more serious.
"The reason they could be so bold despite touching upon the shame of one of the Empire's Five Great Noble Families is likely because they had a powerful backer."
"I suppose so. And?"
"But no matter how much I think about it, only one person comes to mind who fits that description."
Even then, Senior Delphine’s gaze remained fixed out the window. That honey-like, languid gaze—an expression that suggested she had no particular interest in the affairs of the world.
So, at the final moment, I couldn't help but agonize one last time.
Senior Delphine looked perfectly normal. She looked as if she were listening to a story that had absolutely nothing to do with her, her face a mask where even the emotion of 'interest' seemed to have evaporated.
Could a person under suspicion truly make such a face? But it was already too late to stop now.
The reason I had accepted Senior Delphine’s invitation—that single question—was finally given the clothes of language and spat out.
"…Was it you, Senior Delphine?"
Senior Delphine said nothing. She silently sipped her wine, admiring the scenery outside the window. The view of Idalos Hall, with its lights turned on, exuded a cozy atmosphere.
I also maintained my silence. I had said everything I wanted to say.
Whether Senior Delphine affirmed or denied it, there was nothing more for me to discuss. What I had uttered was, after all, nothing more than a clumsy deduction.
If it had been Reto or Celine, they might have constructed a more concrete framework. Thinking about it now, it might have been better to get advice from those two, but if I had actually done that, I wouldn't have escaped being called a 'madman.'
That Delphine Yurdina would use the painful family history of her own sister, even if they were half-siblings?
Even the objective was unclear. Without a motive, even the most brilliant deduction was useless. Furthermore, the person I was accusing was the heir to the Yurdina family.
Suspicion alone was a grave offense. To a noble, honor was more important than life. And such a suspicion was enough to damage Senior Delphine’s honor in itself.
In other words, I had committed another act of madness today. And now, I was waiting for the result like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.
My throat felt parched, so I picked up the glass I had been using from the two on the table. There was a little wine left in it. I drained it in one gulp.
It was only after a long time had passed that Senior Delphine finally spoke.
"…Is there any reason I would do that?"
Her words stabbed at the weak point of my hypothesis. I let out a sigh and replied.
"I wouldn't know that. I was just… a little curious."
Only then did Senior Delphine’s eyes turn toward me. Her eyes were as beautiful as ever. A burning crimson that brought rubies to mind.
A faint arc formed on her lips, which had previously held an indifferent expression.
"You do realize how rude that statement was, don't you?"
Startled, I slightly lowered my eyes to avoid her gaze. Judging by the faint smile on Senior Delphine’s face, the atmosphere didn't seem bad, but there was no telling when she might suddenly change.
However, there was no taking back what had already been said. I slowly nodded my head.
"…Yes, I know."
And in the next moment, a small laugh escaped Senior Delphine’s lips.
It was a clear, bright sound. Unable to understand why she was laughing, I looked at her with bewildered eyes.
After laughing for a while, her eyes locked onto mine. A deep sense of interest now dwelled within those ruby-like pupils.
"How interesting. No matter how I think about it, you have far too much nerve. Not only did you threaten Elsie Lainella with a hand axe, but you even voice such suspicions to my face?"
"I—if I have been disrespectful, I apolo—"
"No, no. Courage should have its reward. As befits a noble of the North, I’ll give you an honest answer."
As she spoke, Senior Delphine didn't lose her smile. Her expression was incredibly serene.
"…You’re right. I did it."
For a moment, I failed to comprehend her words.
Her voice was casual. The discrepancy between her flat tone and the content of her words momentarily scrambled my thought processes. My foolish gaze drifted toward Senior Delphine.
She was wearing a bright smile. Just like the day I first met her.
"I said I did it. Just as you suspected."
Despite it being the same beautiful smile as always, the impression I received was the exact opposite.
Back then, it felt like facing a brilliant sun amidst a northern gale. But now… yes.
It felt as if my blood were freezing solid, as if I were meeting the gaze of a predator.