Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: #9 Capital (1)
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The shadows of night had already blanketed the sky by the time they disembarked from the train.
One thing different from Weibin was the streetlamps.
Nights in Weibin were pitch black, so no one ventured outside, but here, with lamps lit at intervals, people were still out and about.
It was a welcome sight for Elric.
The west, where he had made his main stage, wasn't unfamiliar with such streetlamp scenery, so it felt both novel and familiar settling into his body.
"We've arranged a carriage right away. This way, please."
Aldio, who had gotten off late, guided Elric and Tiria.
As they exited the station, sure enough, carriages were lined up waiting for passengers.
Elric boarded the one Aldio introduced and checked Tiria's complexion.
Now that her feet were on solid ground, she looked like the Tiria he knew.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm a bit tired."
Was she recalling what happened on the train?
Embarrassment tinged her voice.
He chuckled softly in response for a moment before the carriage set off, heading toward the capital.
"Have you visited this place every year, my lady?"
"Yes, with the Family Head for the New Year's banquet each time."
"Then it won't be too unfamiliar."
"I've learned the layout to some extent. Still, it's so different from Weibin that it feels awkward."
They chatted idly like that for about twenty minutes until they arrived at the mansion.
Elric let out a hollow laugh.
'Just his style.'
The mansion was small.
It was a two-story brick house prioritizing neatness over extravagance, looking more like a wealthy commoner's home than a noble's residence.
The interior was the same once they entered.
The first floor had a spacious living room, with a dining room and kitchen off to the side. Upstairs were two bedrooms, two dressing rooms, and a study—that was it.
"Let's unpack first. See you at dinner, my lady."
"Yes."
The timing was awkward, so they hadn't eaten dinner on the train.
For that reason, they had a simple meal at the mansion, and Elric entered his room, reminded of that fact.
Click—the moment he opened the door.
"...This must have been Father's bedroom."
"Yes, it seems this house doesn't have any separate empty rooms."
Aldio spoke apologetically.
Elric smiled wryly.
He thought he had let go of all emotions regarding him by now, but seeing his father's traces like this stirred his heart gently.
"You can tell at a glance. 'Ah, this is Father's room.'"
One bed, a small bookshelf, and a coat rack.
Even in a room not too small, those were the only furnishings.
The interior was equally sparse.
Everything was made of black raw wood.
His father liked such tidy items, and entering his room always filled it with the scent of wood.
"We sent word ahead, so the cleaning is done. You can use it right away without issue."
"Got it. I want to change clothes first, so could you step out for a bit?"
"...Yes, I'll wait in the dining room."
Aldio left the room.
Elric glanced around briefly, then opened the window to air it out.
He hung his overcoat haphazardly on the rack.
Only after loosening his necktie did he feel like he could breathe.
'I hope the wood smell has faded a bit.'
Old memories surfaced, leaving him uncomfortable.
-Go away. I don't have time to play.
It felt like those words echoed.
This room layout, this scent and stark setup evoked needless sentiments.
Elric walked to the bookshelf.
'The books are still here.'
The classics his father liked were lined up in the order Elric remembered.
Suddenly, he recalled how obsessively particular the man had been about such things.
Elric rifled through the shelf but soon stopped.
'No diary or anything.'
He had a question.
Why had his father left him all his businesses, liquidated as inheritance?
"You knew I wouldn't come back."
He muttered resentfully, glaring at the bookshelf.
For a solitary delusion, the house's layout said it all.
If he had known Elric would return someday, he would have gotten a bigger place.
Or at least kept a room for him.
He truly hated it, but as blood kin, he knew something.
Just as Elric was stubborn, so was his father.
He surely hadn't held any expectation of Elric returning.
"No need to mess with my head like this."
He could have just left the entire inheritance to Tiria, who had suffered by his side.
Elric touched the dagger that had killed the man, tucked in his breast pocket.
Only then could he calm his mind.
'Conveniently perfect.'
Since he was in the capital, he needed to look into handling the inheritance more.
By kingdom law, inheritance fully vested in the designated heir, so changing that required various legal procedures.
It would be good to find someone to help.
Entrusting it to Aldio or the other servants felt sorry, as it would mean conveying his intent to leave again.
Elric rose, leaning on his cane.
The moment he opened the door, he ran into Tiria stepping out of her room.
She had a shawl over her thin dress.
Her delicate figure stood out more than usual, leaving Elric unsure where to look.
It wasn't the first time seeing her like this, but the setting made it feel unfamiliar.
"...You're here. Let's go."
"Yes."
In the dining room, bread, soup, eggs, and water were set out.
Extremely simple fare, perfect for finishing quickly.
Elric took a bite of bread and asked Tiria.
"What's tomorrow's schedule?"
"The banquet is in three days, so I plan to prepare until then. We should buy clothes first."
"Clothes?"
"Yes, the Family Head has nothing to wear to the banquet."
Ah, come to think of it, she was right.
Elric's wardrobe held only off-the-rack suits for wandering nearby.
They clearly wouldn't suit a banquet.
Even Elbus Graham had been picky about attire at the one imperial banquet he'd attended.
-Nobles' banquets are gatherings of people itching to find fault. Better not give them gossip fodder.
To avoid embarrassing Tiria, he should pay attention to his outfit.
"Sounds good. I have some eye for banquet attire. I'll make sure it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I'll choose them."
"Hm?"
"I'll choose them."
She suddenly showed stubbornness.
Her gaze stayed on her food. No room for negotiation—her firmness was clear.
Wondering why, Elric then recalled the past.
The outfit he'd worn on their first outing back in Weibin. Tiria and Aldio's reactions then.
'...It won't be like that now.'
Elric now knew that outfit was fit for a clown.
But what use was such an excuse?
Making excuses at all seemed pathetic.
Elric meekly nodded in agreement.
"...I'll leave it to you."
No more words followed.
They finished eating quickly, and Elric returned to his room to prepare for bed.
Tomorrow would be busy again.
He felt antsy doing something so against his nature.
Once the banquet ended, he'd head straight back to Weibin.
Thinking that, he flopped onto the bed.
Crash!
"Ugh!"
The bed collapsed.
Elric tumbled off, staring at it in bewilderment.
At that moment, Aldio flung open the door, rushing in urgently.
"Y-Young Master! What in the world...!"
"...One of the bed legs was broken."
Elric pointed to the leg.
Now exposed, hidden by the bedding before.
The cleanly snapped leg had been crudely tied with string to hold it up.
Aldio's face flushed red.
"Th-Those bastards...!"
He'd said they'd hired an external service for cleaning.
"I'll go confront them tomorrow! Charging that much for such shoddy work!"
Elric smiled awkwardly.
It had been ages since he'd seen Aldio this angry.
"Yes, could you clear this away first? Can't sleep on a collapsed bed."
As he spoke, Tiria appeared from behind the door.
Her brows were furrowed.
"...The bed's broken."
"Ah, don't worry about it. Might as well buy a new one tomorrow."
"Then where will you sleep tonight?"
"What else? On the floor."
"On the floor?"
She looked at him as if she couldn't comprehend.
Only then did Elric realize his mistake.
From her noble birth, it was a natural reaction.
"I-It's something I've done many times during my wandering days. So no need to worry..."
"That's a wanderer's affair."
Tiria sighed deeply.
She looked thoroughly displeased.
"Butler, come see me before going to the company. I'll write a letter myself to send."
"...Yes, my lady."
Aldio swallowed dryly.
Elric did the same.
It was the first time seeing her angry, and her presence was quite intimidating.
"And Family Head."
"Y-Yes?"
Their eyes met.
Her lips moved briefly.
A moment's hesitation, then slowly.
"...Sleep in my room tonight."
"...?"
Elric's face went blank at her words.
Tiria turned.
"Come on."
Elric looked at Aldio.
Aldio looked at Elric.
"?"
"?"
Both their heads tilted simultaneously.
Both wore equally dumbfounded expressions.