Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: A Friend's Patronage
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Regardless of his inner thoughts, Elric's response was set in stone.
“…Thank you for your kindness.”
There were too many eyes on them. A baron from a minor nation couldn't casually drop formalities with the third son of an imperial core family.
Elric had no choice but to play along.
In the midst of it, Elbus grabbed Elric's hand.
“Hey, why so stiff? Speak freely. Like I said yesterday, I'm not the type to treat my lifesaver so casually.”
Elric's eyebrow twitched.
“Brother feels off, and lover is even creepier, so let's compromise on friends. You're my closest friend starting today.”
If he wanted to punch that beaming face, would that explain it?
“…I don't know where to put myself.”
“Come on, what kind of friends talk so formally?”
“Haha….”
“Come on, call me Elbus comfortably too.”
Elbus's eyes sparkled.
That was creepy enough on its own, but what sent chills down his spine even more were the envious stares from the surrounding nobles.
Just because Elbus had shown him favor, those disdainful looks had flipped in an instant.
It was so absurd he couldn't even muster a hollow laugh.
‘A bunch of vicious snakes, every one of them.’
The ways of noble society still didn't sit well with Elric.
That aside, he could clearly sense what Elbus was after.
‘Protection, obviously.’
Elric wasn't dumb enough to miss what it meant for the empire's Grahams to back the Portmans.
As Tiria had worried, dealings with other nobles would go much smoother now.
In fact, glancing at her, he caught a hint of reluctant pleasure amid her displeasure.
Assuming it wasn't his imagination, of course.
“Come on, enough of this. Let's go talk more deeply, just us. That bit you mentioned yesterday about cultural differences across the continent's regions was fascinating.”
The man had a real talent for excuses.
Elric sneaked a glance at Tiria.
She hesitated a moment, then let out a small sigh and nodded.
“We'll talk later.”
Can't we skip it forever?
The retort nearly slipped out.
Elric praised his own restraint.
“Then I'll step away for a chat.”
“Yes.”
With that, Elric left the banquet hall.
*
It was right after he entered the private lounge assigned to Elbus, walking down the corridor with him.
“What the hell was that?”
Elric didn't hide his anger as he demanded answers.
He appreciated the intent to protect him, but he wasn't thrilled about drawing unnecessary attention.
If you're going to do something like that, at least discuss it first.
By his usual temperament, he'd have grabbed the man by the collar already.
The only reason he held back was because it was Elbus Graham.
He was cutting his friend some slack.
Elbus shrugged.
“Calm down. I had no choice.”
“…What?”
“That Nimrud guy started spouting nonsense. He namedropped you during the interrogation.”
Elric flinched, his body trembling.
Unease welled up, only to be quelled by Elbus's next words.
“No worries. I killed him before he could cause bigger trouble.”
It wasn't something to say with a smile, yet there he was, grinning.
It wasn't new. Elbus Graham was that kind of man.
Elbus continued, smile intact.
“Anyway, that's how the connection came up—I had to improvise an excuse on the spot. And you're underestimating my protection?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Protection was protection—what was there to underestimate?
His outburst suddenly felt embarrassing, so he toned it down as he asked. Elbus chuckled.
“I'm a Graham. One of the empire's premier noble houses, standing shoulder to shoulder with the imperial family.”
“So what?”
“Being a foreign noble under my protection is practically the same as being cleared for all dealings with the empire.”
Elbus formed a circle with his thumb and index finger.
“You're sitting on a goldmine now. And to Ferdin's nobles, you're someone they need to get especially chummy with.”
Only then did Elric grasp his point more fully.
His eyes widened slightly.
“Now your face looks better.”
Elbus said.
“It wasn't exactly a background check… but at yesterday's banquet, I overheard a few things. Your position and your lady's aren't great.”
“That's….”
“Listen, Elric. If you want to live as a noble, don't rely too much on your own strength.”
Elric scowled.
“I've never overestimated it. If anything, I've been racking my brain to avoid solving things with force.”
“No, you are overestimating it.”
Elbus picked up a snack from the table.
“You don't know how cunning they are. How petty they can get. Sure, you won't be swayed by that, but what about your wife and your territory? Can you protect them all alone? Can you guarantee you'll always be able to? You can't cover the sky with your palm. Thinking you can is just mistaking the sky for the inside of your hand.”
Elric fell silent.
He was pointing out cold reality.
“I know you're not heading back to the battlefield right away. If that's your choice, I won't stop you. That's why I'm saying this.”
He popped the snack into his mouth whole.
“If you're staying home, think about what needs protecting. Most people need society in the end. They crave stability in it constantly. Not like you.”
“My wife….”
“Is a noble. Born and raised as one, educated as one. She seems like a good person. But she's still a noble. Her idea of happiness has to include her territory's well-being.”
It was spot on.
Most of Tiria's daily routine revolved around managing the territory, and she took pride in it.
It wasn't a bad thing.
He should respect it.
If that's the happiness she wanted, he needed to consider it too.
Elric looked at Elbus.
He seemed to like the snacks, steadily munching on biscuits.
What a guy—always hitting the mark at odd moments.
“Thanks.”
“No big deal. But these snacks are delicious.”
“Famous patissier, apparently.”
“Really? Mind if I meet him before I go?”
“Don't poach him. My wife loves these. She'd be pretty bummed if they weren't here next year.”
“You're such a devoted husband.”
“Better to regret not being devoted than the opposite.”
“Why regret? Just do better from now on.”
A playful glint crossed his face.
“It's a known fact: doing it wrong nine times and right once leaves a deeper impression than the reverse.”
Elric snorted a laugh.
“Is that why you're always cheating?”
“Chasing romance.”
“Wonder you haven't been killed yet.”
“Airi's merciful. Oh, I still remember. She said something like, 'Breaking his legs won't teach him, so I'll give up.'”
“You're a terrible husband.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
The tension finally eased.
Elric chuckled, catching up on old times.
He picked up some news along the way.
“Oh, right, I got your letter. Handled that matter as you wrote.”
“You did?”
“The money you left with me has grown so much that covering trade costs doesn't even make a dent.”
It was about the funds from his mercenary days.
Never one for investments, Elric had handed it all over to him to invest far and wide.
He didn't know the exact amount, but it wasn't small.
Suddenly, Elric thought.
‘In case of emergency….’
Perfect timing with him here—might as well prepare.
“Hey, Elbus.”
“Hm?”
“About that fortune. Change the beneficiary.”
Elbus froze.
His face twisted in open suspicion.
“…Did someone get dirt on you? Black magic?”
“Why?”
“Suspicious, offering up your liver and gall like that.”
What the hell.
Elric brushed off the nonsense.
“If I die, it goes to you anyway, right? Better to give it to my wife than you.”
“If you actually died, she'd faint.”
“Hm?”
“Nothing.”
Elbus replied, chuckling to himself.
It was just too funny that Elric had no clue how much wealth he had.
‘When will he find out he could buy a kingdom with what's in his vault?’
The fortune he'd amassed raiding four kingdoms' treasuries as Sword Ghost Kasha had more than doubled through successful investments.
‘He never asks, so it's annoying to tell him first.’
Might as well keep quiet for now.
Elbus suddenly looked forward to the day Elric checked his own accounts.