Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Assassination in the Headlines
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The next day's morning paper featured a front-page story splashed across it in bold letters.
『Count Nimrud Attempts to Assassinate Young Master Elbus Graham.』
It was an article about Count Nimrud's blunder from the day before.
This wasn't just any assassination attempt—it targeted the third son of an imperial duke's family. The ripple effects were enormous.
The shocking news had the entire kingdom in an uproar, and the capital's morning was more chaotic than ever.
Tilia was no exception.
*That was a close call.*
As she read the article through, she came across a passage stating that Elbus's hidden guards had barely thwarted the attempt.
Whoever they were, it was a feat worthy of a kingdom-level reward.
*They stopped a potential war...*
Tilia's gaze darkened.
It was a moment to reflect on how she'd casually assumed the war would stay confined to the west.
She needed to stay vigilant.
If the war spread here...
"Lady, why the grim face first thing in the morning?"
Elric might be in danger too.
Tilia looked up at Elric, who had just entered the dining room.
He was still using a cane due to his injured knee, which needlessly stirred her worries.
What if the enemy's forces pushed all the way to Weibin?
He couldn't even run properly—he'd be dead in an instant, his throat slit.
The thought made her breath catch.
Despair wrapped around her like a shroud.
Tilia suppressed her needless anxiety and held out the newspaper to him.
"...I was reading the morning paper."
When she showed him the front-page story, his eyes widened.
Then he let out a sudden, awkward laugh.
"So that's how it turned out."
"What do you mean...?"
"Eh, it's nothing. The Lees and our family just don't get along that well. Maybe I should count this as a blessing...."
Ah, so he'd been worried about the incident with the Heir.
That made the fact that Count Nimrud was the culprit behind the assassination attempt feel strangely fortunate.
Were humans just selfish creatures by nature?
As the thought crossed her mind, Elric asked,
"So what happens to Count Nimrud?"
"There will probably be a thorough investigation. He went after the Graham family, after all—he can't get away unscathed. Execution might be unavoidable for the count... and if things go well, we might even see the Nimrud title stripped and their lands confiscated."
"Hmm, neat and tidy."
Tilia tilted her head.
She couldn't fathom why he seemed so satisfied.
Noticing her puzzled look, Elric straightened his expression and said,
"W-well, isn't it a good thing we've averted a major crisis? Even setting aside personal feelings."
"I suppose so."
"More importantly, let's get ready. We have to attend the banquet again today."
Tilia shook off her lingering suspicions and nodded.
The royal banquet, as originally planned, lasted three days total.
Whatever happened, attendance was mandatory, so they couldn't skip it under the pretext of the incident.
It wouldn't look good to the royals either.
Politically speaking, this was a chance for the weakened crown to reassert itself, so they might even face pressure.
As newly minted nobles, the Portmans had to mind even these small details.
Their foundations were shaky enough without drawing the royal ire.
"Oh, and one more thing."
"Yes?"
"The people who helped with my preparations yesterday will assist you for this banquet too. Give them a try today, Lady. They're quite skilled."
The image of yesterday's Elric suddenly came to mind.
Whatever the reason—rose-tinted glasses or not—he looked endearing no matter what, but his dressed-up face yesterday had been especially satisfying to behold.
How much of that was due to those attendants?
No, it didn't matter either way.
Tilia was simply pleased that Elric was recommending something to her.
"Understood."
As she rose to wash up,
"Oh my, Lady, you look absolutely stunning~!"
There stood a woman unusually tall for her gender.
Nearly as tall as Elric, she wore heavy makeup and wriggled her body as she waited for Tilia.
A flicker of fear rose in Tilia, but she pushed it down.
These were people Elric had introduced, so they couldn't be shady.
"...I look forward to your work."
Unaware as she sat down that the one handling her makeup was the world's most tragic and suspicious figure.
Danal, the former Moon Shadow assassin now reduced to Elric's lackey, swallowed tears and wondered to himself.
*How did my life come to this?*
What a pitiful fate.
*
The mysterious woman in charge of styling truly was exceptional.
Tilia let out a soft gasp.
*Professionals really are on another level.*
The overall look wasn't much different from yesterday.
The navy dress, the braided updo, the light makeup—all the same in outline.
But the finer details stood out with clear superiority.
An indefinable meticulousness permeated every inch.
It sparked an unwarranted sense of anticipation in Tilia.
Would Elric praise her like he had yesterday?
Imagining it lifted her mood even more.
"You've done well. I'll tell the Family Head you were a great help."
"No need to go that far..."
"Nonsense. Work deserves proper pay."
The woman's face twisted oddly.
Wondering at it, Tilia soon came up with a plausible explanation.
*Some nobles look down on them and cheat them out of pay.*
She was probably relieved not to face that treatment.
Tilia stood and said,
"No need to worry. It's only right."
"Haha..."
"Then attend to your duties."
As she left the manor, Elric was waiting at the entrance.
Their eyes met, and his widened.
Tilia watched his reaction closely, harboring faint hopes.
She noticed his eyes trembling faintly, the veins bulging on the back of his cane-gripping hand.
It embarrassed her.
"...Their skills are impressive."
Tilia hurried over and looked up at Elric.
He licked his lips once, then stammered,
"You're even more beautiful today."
He flinched after saying it, his body tensing.
Tilia felt her heart pounding wildly.
Happiness bubbled up, pricking at her mind like tiny sparks.
"...The Family Head looks dashing as well."
She reached out her hand.
Elric, still awkward at it, offered his arm in escort.
In that moment, Tilia felt all other worries vanish from her head.
They'd probably just kill time in a corner at the banquet, but so what?
It seemed they wouldn't forge ties with other noble houses this year either, but again, so what?
As long as she could spend the day wholly with him, wasn't that enough?
In the carriage, Tilia's pinky finger still hooked around Elric's fingertip.
Thank goodness for the cramped space.
*
He couldn't fathom why he felt so feverish.
Elric felt all his nerves concentrated on Tilia's pinky finger hooked around his own.
It was so slender it seemed it might snap off if he gripped too hard.
Terrified of that happening, he couldn't hold her hand properly.
He felt like a fool for it, yet he couldn't stop. Why was that?
Probably because she'd started occupying his thoughts more and more.
Elric kept stealing glances at Tilia gazing out the window.
All he could see was her jawline, earlobe, and nape.
No—her neatly fanned lashes were faintly visible too.
It oddly tickled his nerves.
With her face hidden, his imagination ran wild.
What expression was Tilia wearing as she looked outside?
Was it her usual stoic mask?
Most likely.
Yet here he was, endlessly projecting meaning onto this pinky finger.
Elric imagined her blushing shyly.
No time for self-loathing over his creepy behavior.
His whirring mind was fully devoted to fleshing out the fantasy.
But it wouldn't come into focus.
He'd never seen her wear any other expression.
No reference points made it impossible.
The carriage arrived at the palace amid his deepening frustration.
"Shall we?"
Tilia finally turned her face to him.
Her impassive look was disappointing.
Hiding his feelings, he escorted her into the banquet hall.
"It's rowdy today."
No wonder.
There had been that incident with Count Nimrud yesterday.
And then,
"Thank you all for your concern. But I'm fine. There've been plenty of assassination attempts since I arrived here—I'm used to it."
The very victim showed up at the banquet as if nothing had happened.
Elric nearly gasped in admiration.
Elbus Graham.
A friend, but no ordinary one.
*He just brushes it off.*
In public settings like this, everyone had their roles.
Elric had no desire to draw the kingdom nobles' attention.
He already knew what position Elric Portman held in noble society.
Worsening the Portman family's reputation further would burden Tilia, who had held the house together alone.
"Let's head over there."
"Yes."
As he led Tilia toward the corner where they'd spent yesterday,
"Ah! There you are! Hey, Baron Portman!"
Elric froze.
He turned creakily toward the voice's owner—Elbus.
Grinning with teeth bared white, he shouted,
"Baron Portman saved my life yesterday! He tripped and shoved me aside, and right then the assassin's dagger flew straight to where I'd been!"
*Is he insane?*
As Elric's thoughts stalled, a calm voice came from beside him.
"...Didn't you say you were going to the restroom?"
Tilia's tone was quite stiff.
Elric lacked the courage to look at her face.
Instead—call it that—there was another target.
"Hey, Baron! Come here!"
Elbus Graham.
If dying was his wish, Elric could help.
*Sure, as a friend, he could do that much.*