Chapter 106 - Aiseline and Elente (2)
Aiseline and Elente (2)
Translator: XZY
Chapter 106: Aiseline and Elente (2)
***
By late afternoon, the chaos that had erupted at the Belmeade mansion was more or less settled.
As Elente, who had naturally been delegated control of the situation by the Margrave of Belmeade, commanded the servants, the work proceeded with swift efficiency.
As for the servants, they were all bowing their heads deeply, too ashamed to look at Elente, and there were plenty of high-ranking retainers who even got on their knees, touching their heads to the floor and apologizing.
No matter the circumstances, the loyal retainers who had acted as if they would give their all, liver and gall, had turned their backs with one heart and one mind… there was no way it could be resolved.
Among them, the retainers who felt genuinely ashamed said they would lay down their positions and leave the mansion, or that they would offer all their assets to Elente and even place their lives in her hands.
Towards the retainers who were apologizing with their heads bowed in the central garden, Elente said with a smile.
— ‘Although I was greatly heartbroken by the malice, suspicion, and contempt directed at me… looking at the situation alone, it was a situation where anyone would have no choice but to be suspicious, and I too acted in a way that confused and tested your loyalty, such as admitting to the crime myself… so I will not question each and every one of your sins.’
At the words of the small girl, the person who was certain to inherit all the authority of Belmeade and in effect reign as the lord of this vast territory, the retainers gathered at the scene could not help but widen their eyes.
— ‘Isn’t the sentiment of the people something that follows the heart of the lord? It will be difficult to take back the contempt and heartbreak I received, but still, I will believe that the affection and trust we have built up over the years will not crumble to that extent. Therefore, do not use the guilt and sense of debt you feel to diminish yourselves, but use it to contribute more to Belmeade.’
And Elente added with a difficult smile.
— ‘And then, if you have some strength left over, help me out a bit too.’
Watching Elente, who spoke like that, saying she would make all the scorn and contempt she had received as if it had never happened, the servants and retainers gathered in the mansion began to shed tears.
They had come prepared to offer a part of their bodies or even to lay down all their positions… but Elente had instead embraced them all.
Even the mercy of the Lord Ruelon had not touched their hearts so warmly.
The servants and retainers gathered in the mansion looked at Elente and came to fully realize that she was a lord who reigned as cold as steel, yet was also a person with a perfect character who knew how to warmly care for her own people.
Just like that, they pressed their heads to the floor and cried out Elente’s name endlessly.
Elente smiled awkwardly, told them it was alright, and quietly turned her head to enter the mansion’s main hall.
And as she walked down the corridor, she quietly followed the shadows where the sunlight did not reach.
As she entered the shadowed corridor, her gentle expression was gone, and a coldly set face had taken its place.
‘It’s flowing more or less as I thought.’
Power was a transient thing, and those who followed it could also turn their backs at any time.
Even those who swore that they would believe in and follow only Elente in the world would eventually turn their backs again if she fell to the bottom and began to flounder in the mud.
Therefore, she would embrace them, but she had no intention of giving them her heart.
The sight of Elente, who had become a little colder than before, could be said to be a bit more mature, but it felt as if the human part was a bit more lacking.
Nevertheless, even in this ice-cold woman, a part of her befitting a girl of her age remained.
‘There aren’t that many people in the world worth trusting and giving your heart to.’
Elente walked along the shadowed corridor and thought, her eyes gently closed.
The many people who had passed by as she reigned over power until now pass by and disappear into that shaded gloom.
However, the one person she met at the very end strangely remains around her heart, and she flinches and stops for a moment in the corridor.
“Is something the matter?”
“No.”
She had been busy all morning cleaning up this and that.
Now that she had a little leeway, the face of that man once again blooms like a fragrance in her heart.
“…Come to think of it, where is Derek?”
Elente rested her chin on her hand and was lost in thought for a moment.
Then she suddenly realizes. Come to think of it, aside from the parts related to work, she had been thinking about Derek all day.
She was aware that it was a little dangerous, but originally, the truly dangerous things are those you fall for even when you know.
Elente fiddled with her fingertips and for no particular reason glanced at the window. Her face reflected in the glass was strangely flushed, to the point where she doubted if this was really the Elente who had reigned at the top of Belmeade.
It hurts her pride quite a bit.
Since she was in a position where marriage proposals flew in every other day, it had been quite some time since she had felt disillusioned with the gossips who tried to link everything in the world to a love story between a man and a woman.
But when she came to her senses, she herself was being swayed by a single man like this, to the point where she doubted herself if this could be called the appearance of the heir of Belmeade who would command the world.
Wasn’t she the heir who would succeed the legacy of the Belmeade County, and the powerful figure who would command this entire Belmeade territory?
Since Elente herself was a woman, she had thought that there would of course be times when she would be tempted by a man. She had even planned in advance how she would view and deal with herself when that time came. She was a perfectionist.
However, everyone has a plan. Until they get punched in the face.
Although she was flustered by this feeling of affection that had come as suddenly as a natural disaster, Elente washed her face dryly once and regained the face of a rational and reasonable lord.
‘Private feelings should not intervene in the journey of a lord. For now, I’ve consulted with Father, so he will surely give me his opinion…’
Indeed, she who could completely control even her emotions was a model of a lord.
Just like that, Elente maintained her silence for a moment, and then thought slowly with a rational and reasonable appearance.
‘…So, where is Derek?’
<><><>
“The Margrave of Belmeade is composing his heart. For the time being, he will be having a final conversation with that necromancer in his office.”
“…What will happen to Young Master Leonard?”
“Well… the possibilities are open in many directions. However, none of them will be positive.”
Derek and Rodeia, sitting facing each other in the guest reception room of the Belmeade County, were drinking tea.
When she had first arrived at the mansion, she had been wearing thick silver armor as large as her own body, but after the situation was settled, she was only wearing a form-fitting leather tunic and small bracers.
Seeing her always carrying her armament so that she could train anytime, anywhere, one could not help but be convinced that a hero who commands an era is this kind of person.
Despite her considerable age, Viscountess Rodeia had a lot of fine muscles on her forearms and around her neck.
The fact that she possessed such a firm body at an age when gray hairs were beginning to appear showed how extraordinary her efforts and asceticism were.
Lady Trisha, sitting demurely next to Rodeia, was completely different from the image she had shown at the Rosea Salon.
She was sitting demurely with both hands on her knees, dripping with cold sweat. The tomboyish appearance was not felt at all.
Viscountess Rodeia was widely rumored to be the fiercest tiger of the Renuel Viscounty.
It was not difficult to see how strict she would be with her child’s education.
“Trisha. You went to the Ravencrow Barony on your own without my instructions and spread rumors about the necromancer. I have given you my personal reprimand, but I understand that you have not apologized to the Baron of Ravencrow.”
“…Th-that is…”
“Is it because you don’t know how great a crisis can be caused by carelessly approaching necromancy? Just how much do you plan to smear this mother’s face before you come to your senses?”
“Th-that is… The Baron of Ravencrow is a person who knows how to deal with necromancy, and since he made a great contribution in the tragedy of the Duplein family, I thought it wouldn’t be too much to ask for such a request…”
“Why do you judge that? I believe I said that the decision-making regarding the affairs of Rodentz Island is done by me, Rodeia, the head of this house. This mother is so hale and hearty, are you already showing your ambition to climb to the top of the Renuel Viscounty?”
“Th-that’s not it…!”
“Offer your apologies to the Baron of Ravencrow. Now, bow your head.”
“…”
Those who remembered the arrogant appearance of Lady Trisha at the Rosea Salon and the Ravencrow Barony would find it hard to imagine her obediently bowing her head and apologizing.
To the point of wondering how such a daughter could have come from a person like Rodeia, she was authoritarian, arrogant, easily looked down on her inferiors, and recklessly slighted her superiors.
However, as Rodeia glared at her with eyes that looked like they would eat her up, Trisha’s face turned pale again and she bowed her head.
“S-sorry… my thoughts were too shallow…”
“It’s not just your thoughts that are shallow, but your words as well. How dare the second daughter of a frontier viscounty speak down to a proper landed noble and head of a house? Trisha, do you intend to continue smearing this mother’s face?”
“M-mother… he’s just a nominal noble of the frontier at best, and you, Mother, will soon assume the position of Margrave, and are scheduled to become the head of a proper county. If that happens, we too will not be envious of this Belmeade family…”
“So? Has my position become that of a countess already? Seeing you talk back to the end, it seems your education is still lacking.”
“N-no…! Your Excellency, Baron Ravencrow! I-I am very sorry! Th-this girl’s thoughts were very lacking…”
As soon as she saw Rodeia cracking her knuckles, Trisha broke out in a cold sweat and offered her apologies to Derek.
Derek, for his part, was in an awkward position, so he waved his hand moderately and told her it was alright.
“If Lady Trisha had not given me information about the necromancer, it would have been difficult to properly handle the events that took place in this Belmeade mansion. Please do not worry about it too much.”
“H-he says so, Mother!”
“Is that so… even so, that does not change the fact that your hasty judgment, Trisha, was somewhat rude.”
Rodeia let out a deep sigh, leaned back against the back of the sofa, and spoke.
“When we return to the mansion, let’s do some physical training together all night tonight. It’s in place of a punishment.”
“M-mother… I have to return to Ebelstein’s high society within today…! The servants of my private mansion will be waiting…!”
“I will send word. Don’t worry too much.”
“Heut…!”
Trisha pressed down on her knees with an expression as if she had been stabbed with a knife. However, perhaps thinking that she would only lose more if she talked back any further, Trisha just bit her lips, holding back her tears.
For some reason, Trisha seemed a little pitiful, so Derek awkwardly averted his gaze.
“Well, anyway. Baron Ravencrow, your skill in dealing with necromancy was outstanding. Personally, your skill was impressive enough to make me want to take you in as a second-in-command, but judging by the atmosphere, you don’t seem like a person who would accept such an offer.”
“I have left many things behind in the Ravencrow territory. Isn’t it a blessing to have a place to return to?”
“Right. I’ll just express my regret to that extent. Still, since I’ve been told about the necromancers of Rodentz Island, I have no choice but to say a few more things.”
Viscountess Rodeia crossed her arms, let out a deep sigh, and spoke. Her tone suggested she hadn’t expected to talk this far.
“I killed numerous necromancers in the subjugation operation on Rodentz Island. Let me tell you, I may seem like a person who can be reasoned with now, but my appearance on the battlefield is very different from what you imagine.”
It was Lady Trisha, sitting next to her, who trembled at those words.
Her daughter, Trisha, as if she remembered something, began to tremble her arms again as soon as the appearance on the battlefield was mentioned.
“I hate necromancers. They killed my parents, they killed my most cherished best friend, and they also kidnapped and killed my first son, Veloper, whom I first held in my heart. They ruined my life, so now it’s their turn to have their lives ruined.”
Even a rotten fish is still a sea bream, and even if he had gone down the wrong path, Leonard was also the youngest son of a county.
The sight of her pointing her blade without mercy even at a person of such a precious status seemed to show well what kind of person she was.
“They say the massacre against the necromancers on Rodentz Island was a veritable hellscape. But, sadly, I felt the greatest thrill on that battlefield. I raised the corners of my mouth in the midst of the gushing fountains of blood as I took the necks of those atrocious necromancer bastards. I chewed and severed their intestines with my own teeth, and I built a fire with their severed limbs as firewood and roasted and ate wild boar meat. Indeed, it was a taste worthy of being called a heavenly delicacy.”
He could tell from Lady Trisha’s expression that there was not a single exaggeration in those words.
This hero of Rodentz Island, who seemed dignified, elegant, upright, graceful, and even sublime, was by no means an ordinary human.
Only by being able to become more cruel than anyone in front of one’s enemies could one finally possess the qualities of a warrior.
Now, Rodeia was considered a demon from hell by all necromancers.
He could even understand why Leonard had gritted his teeth and tried to run away as soon as he heard her name.
She was an envoy from the underworld who harvested the lives of necromancers, and a specter who roamed the world for revenge.
“But you know, as I was investigating Rodentz Island, a clue about the spiritual leader of those necromancer bastards came up. I’m looking for a mage named ‘Synia’, the author of a high-level necromancy grimoire that was said to be of a higher level than anything else, a necromancer who wanders in the shadows.”
“…I heard that the high-ranking necromancers who were called the spiritual leaders of Rodentz Island… were all killed by Viscountess Rodeia.”
“You mean those three idiots? They were quite troublesome bastards, but there was a higher-level being that even those bastards revered. I have to find out who that faceless author is. I think that bastard is probably the headquarters of the necromancy in the southwest.”
The author of the necromancy grimoire that roamed the world. ‘Synia’ was a pseudonym to anyone who saw it.
As if Rodeia knew that fact well, she didn’t seem to place much meaning on the name.
“Judging by the level, it seems they have accumulated vast knowledge and experience that even 5-Star mages cannot fathom. It seems they have been active for quite a long time too… so perhaps their realm might be beyond imagination.”
The meaning of those words was clear.
There was a 6-Star necromancer somewhere on the continent. This hero seemed to be convinced of it.
It was a fact Derek already knew.
However, he could not nod his head there. If he showed that he knew of that existence here, the question of ‘how did you know’ would inevitably follow.
It was impossible to give a reasonable answer to that question. On the contrary, it would surely buy various impure suspicions.
Therefore, Derek quietly kept his mouth shut.
“It’s not easy to catch their tail. If it really is a 6-Star necromancer… right, the 6-Star necromancies that only appear in myths… they could have used something like ‘Reincarnation’ or ‘Soul Seizure’ to move to another body.”
“Is such a thing possible?”
“As you know, magics that have reached that level of realm transcend common sense and even rewrite the laws of the human world.”
Of course, no matter how much of a mage who had reached the 6-Star realm they were, it was impossible to use magic of that level just like that.
Even Drest, a world-renowned master of exploration magic, takes more than a few months to use the 6-Star exploration magic ‘Foresight’ once.
Using the greatest magic that can be realized in the human domain was that difficult.
“At this point, tearing that bastard to death is my life’s goal.”
Just like that, Rodeia spoke with her piercing eyes straight ahead.
This was what she wanted to tell Derek.
“If you find any clues or traces of the bastard, anytime is fine, so send a letter to the Renuel family. I’ll come running right away like today. Even if it’s on the other side of the map, even if my two legs crumble, I must find them and pierce their entrails.”
That legendary being that all necromancers followed was the sworn enemy that Rodeia had resolved to kill.
In Rodeia’s eyes as she said that, a sharp, ghostly energy, as if she would be cut at any moment, was settled.
She was a demon who reaped the lives of necromancers.
That fact could not help but be felt vividly.
<><><>
Creek—
“I was wondering where you were, so you were having a conversation with Lady Rodeia?”
Derek had finished his conversation with Rodeia and was about to go out to the garden to catch his breath.
As soon as Elente, who had been pacing the corridor with a somewhat restless appearance, saw Derek, she showed a bright expression like a child.
After smiling like that, she suddenly returned to a blank expression as if startled, and coughed a few times, as if she had realized that there were many eyes watching.
“Lady Elente. You must be having a hard time with all the work inside and outside the mansion.”
“No, this is nothing much. The servants are working even harder, and Father hasn’t given any other instructions, so I was just able to catch my breath.”
“I see. That’s a relief. I was very worried because it seemed you were very cornered when you were under confinement.”
“W-worry. Did you really worry about me?”
“…? Yes. Isn’t that a matter of course?”
Elente, while walking across the corridor with Derek, spoke while glancing out the window for no particular reason.
“Why, why were you worried?”
“Yes? Well, I don’t think it’s something that needs to be explained with words…”
“T-try to explain it with words.”
“Well, isn’t it obvious? You are someone I once taught, and in many ways, you are someone who has suffered a lot emotionally… so of course, from my perspective, I couldn’t help but be very worried.”
“Mm… hmm…”
“?”
“I see. Right.”
Her attitude of strangely mulling over Derek’s words was not very refreshing, but anyway, Derek shook his head and spoke.
“Since you said you have some leeway, I’ll take this opportunity to tell you that we are planning to open an academy at our Ravencrow Barony soon.”
“I’ve already heard about that. Come to think of it, you’re a busy person too, but you’ve lost too much time because of my personal affairs.”
“Not at all. In fact, I came here because I have a favor to ask. I was wondering if you could visit the academy sometime soon.”
“Certainly, if the next head of Belmeade makes a personal visit, it will greatly help its authority and prestige. Since I have received something from you, I should at least do that much.”
Elente readily accepted Derek’s request. In fact, Derek also hadn’t thought he would be refused.
Derek politely expressed his gratitude for her sincerity.
“C-come to think of it, if it’s the Ravencrow Academy, many noble young ladies will be visiting.”
“Yes. That’s likely the case. Since Lady Aiseline is also planning to personally give etiquette lectures, it is more popular than I thought.”
“Is that so? Along with all the precious young ladies from all over the continent… even Lady Aiseline…”
Elente was resting her chin on her hand again, and then, with her half-moon eyes open, she looked at Derek with a meaningful expression.
“Come to think of it, Derek, you are truly blessed with women. Just how many of the rare beauties, whom they say you would live with as a memory in your heart if you met just one in your lifetime, are you teaching…”
“If you call that a blessing, it might be a blessing… but it’s not something you can say is unconditionally good.”
“Is that so? What part?”
“The more outstanding their background and the nobler their birth, the more you cannot treat them carelessly. Isn’t the floor of high society a place where a single small gesture, a single minor point of etiquette, can give a bad impression and make a person seem insignificant? Lady Elente would know better.”
Derek maintained a polite tone and conveyed his opinion to Elente in a well-reasoned manner.
“It is a natural principle that one cannot become comfortable with such lofty people. And since I am also human, it can’t be helped that I become more comfortable in front of people with whom I have no barriers, who are comfortable, and whom I can treat casually.”
“I-is that so…”
Elente, while listening to Derek’s words, suddenly thought of Baroness Felinne, who was said to be a wife in name only.
Indeed, between Felinne and Derek, there was truly no such thing as a barrier.
The problem was that there were too few barriers, but in any case, it was true that there was a kind of bond between the two that high nobles could not intervene in.
Weren’t they comrades-in-arms who were born and raised at the bottom together, and who went through the battlefields of various life-threatening subjugation requests together?
In fact, the reason such a relationship could be formed was solely because it was Felinne.
Elente held her breath for a moment, and then finally asked with difficulty.
“Derek. D-do you find me uncomfortable?”
“…”
The fact that the answer was slightly delayed was already a failure. Elente could not help but hold her breath.
In fact, from Derek’s perspective, he couldn’t answer no, you’re comfortable, you’re like a friend. That in itself would be a great discourtesy to a high noble.
Therefore, Derek gave the answer that he thought was closest to the correct one.
“Although I have received a noble title, how could a mere nominal lower noble of the frontier dare to be on equal terms with Lady Elente? You don’t have to think so highly of me.”
It was a social skill that was close to an art form, but Elente held back her lips from pouting at those words.
However, she couldn’t get angry either. If she did, she would be nothing more than a difficult woman throwing a tantrum.
Then, from Derek’s perspective, he would think of her as a troublesome or annoying woman. She hated that too.
Her own appearance, unable to do this or that, was quite unfamiliar. How could the person who was the next master of Belmeade be at a loss with a mere baron riffraff from the frontier?
Elente pressed her temples and let out a deep sigh.
“Anyway, thank you for your concern in many ways. I have finished my business, so I should return to my barony for now.”
“Y-you’re leaving?”
“Yes. Is there anything else you would like to say?”
“N-no… for now, to Father… no… that’s not it…”
“It seems the Margrave of Belmeade needs time to compose his emotions right now, so I should be considerate. I will just leave a separate letter.”
“N-no… still… for now, don’t go…”
Elente suddenly made a troubled expression and spoke.
“I-I mean… um… I don’t know what reason to give…”
“…??”
“F-for now, don’t you have any thoughts of staying at the mansion for a few more days? I-I mean… please stay a little longer…”
Elente wanted to hold Derek back for now. It was because she felt that if she let him go to the Ravencrow Barony like this, it would take a considerable amount of time to see his face again.
<><><>
“Hmm… I think I’ll have to go and see Derek-ssi’s condition myself.”
Aiseline, who was tapping her quill pen while sitting in the office of the Ravencrow Barony, finally declared to the head butler, Delbritten.
Now, the scheduled construction work was almost at its final stage, and the important tasks were almost finished.
All that was left was to get the final approval from Derek, the master of this Ravencrow Barony. The other tasks were almost all finished, and most of them had been stopped, leaving only Derek’s approval.
Her plan was to have everything confirmed and finished when Derek came… but Derek was later than she thought.
She even began to worry that he might have been caught up in some other matter at the Belmeade family.
Since it would only be troublesome if the work was delayed any further, Aiseline decided to pack all the documents that needed to be confirmed into a leather backpack and head to the Belmeade family where Derek would be.
Go there, get the documents confirmed, check the work progress, and bring him back to the Ravencrow Barony.
After making that decision, Aiseline stood up from her office desk.
‘Come to think of it… I haven’t been able to go back to the Duplein Ducal House much recently. While I’m on the move, I should stop by the main house too.’
Aiseline began to hum and throw the documents piled up on her desk into her backpack as they came.