Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Summer Break (4)
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After that, Elena and Eri continued wandering around various places, starting with the Adventurer's Guild.
And at some point, Hadi and I began quietly following them like we were tailing the pair.
"Your Highness, if I may speak now."
"What is it?"
"Will you no longer pursue the investigation into Count Marstern as ordered by His Majesty the King?"
"……."
It couldn't be helped that he was thinking this way. I hadn't told Hadi about the future knowledge Elena spoke of.
The achievements I'd racked up so far with her help all seemed like they were the result of my own insight, at least on the surface.
"I've already grasped the general outline. Count Marstern's recent suspicious movements seem connected to the mysterious disappearances in Delrona Village, so it shouldn't be too late to handle that first and then investigate him afterward."
"Understood, Your Highness."
It felt like I was stealing Elena's credit again, but no one else could take her words at face value except me.
She probably didn't even care about me taking the credit. If anything, she'd be relieved as long as no troublesome achievements got attached to her name, making it harder to break off our engagement.
After that, they roamed several more places as if investigating, and this time they entered a clothing store.
"Welcome. Are you looking for something in particular?"
"……Um, somewhere……."
"Pardon?"
"……, don't have it?"
"Ah……."
The voice was so soft that even the listening crystal attached to Eri could barely pick it up.
And though I couldn't be sure, it carried a strangely shy tone. Whether she was deliberately acting that way for some purpose, I had no idea.
"Ah, yes. Then, the second floor…."
"Eri, wait here for a bit. I'll be right back."
"…Understood."
Eri obediently agreed to wait, probably considering that tagging along might arouse suspicion.
After that, only faint snippets of the shop assistant's voice came through. Things like compliments on how well something suited her or suggestions about styles.
‘…She's just picking out clothes, I guess.’
I couldn't see why she'd go so far as to act embarrassed over something as simple as choosing clothes.
About an hour later, Elena and Eri quietly emerged from the store.
Eri held a paper bag that I assumed contained Elena's purchase. Still, I couldn't make out the contents.
"If it's not too rude, may I ask what you bought, Lady Elena?"
"…Well. Even for you, Eri, it's a bit embarrassing to say."
"I absolutely won't tell a soul, Lady Elena."
"…Not even to Prince Cedric?"
"No, Lady Elena."
Thinking how Eri was acting like a capable maid trying to extract info from Elena, I watched quietly as Elena whispered something into Eri's ear.
"……that's what it is."
"Pardon?"
"You absolutely can't tell Prince Cedric! I-I mean it—if you tell him before I do, I'll hate you forever!"
"……Understood."
…Sorry, Elena, but Eri was my maid who followed my orders anyway.
For now, I'd pretend I hadn't heard, at least in front of Elena.
"I can't tell you."
"……What?"
"I can't discuss what Lady Elena bought, Your Highness Prince Cedric."
…This was a bit unexpected.
I never imagined Eri would say something like 'I can't tell you.'
Especially since she'd reported every single word and action of Elena's up until now.
"I'm not in the mood for jokes, Eri."
"I'm not joking either."
"Is it because of what Elena said about hating you forever? If so, I'll pretend I didn't hear it…."
"No. It's not just because of Lady Elena's words."
"…Then what is it?"
"It's for your sake, Your Highness Prince Cedric."
How keeping a secret with Elena was supposed to be for my sake, I couldn't fathom.
Nor could I understand what problem there'd be if I learned what she was hiding.
"You're really not going to tell me?"
"…I'm sorry. But you'll find out soon enough, Your Highness, so please don't worry too much."
"……Fine, I get it."
It didn't sit well with me, but right now, there was no other maid to assign to watch Elena besides Eri.
She'd done a fine job so far, so if she was hiding something now… there must be a good reason.
And since she said I'd learn soon, it might mean Elena would tell me herself.
‘No way she's preparing a surprise gift or something.’
Rationally, I knew 'that Elena' wouldn't bother with surprises, but…
Still, with Eri insisting like this, I couldn't help feeling a strange anticipation. If that was the case, it'd be far better not to know ahead of time, just as she said.
"Alright, then. Anything else unusual?"
"Nothing special aside from her briefly imitating a commoner girl before meeting those thugs in the park. She was her usual self while visiting the guild and shops."
"Good. You did well on surveillance. You're dismissed."
"I take my leave, Your Highness Prince Cedric."
Something still felt off, but for now, I'd trust Eri's judgment.
I wanted to uncover what Elena was hiding, but I didn't want to risk her hating me over it.
A week had passed since Elena and I arrived at Count Marstern's estate.
For a monster she predicted would cause the string of disappearances, it had been a surprisingly uneventful week.
I'd subtly probed her, wondering if her prophecy had missed the mark this time, but her response was exactly as expected.
"When are you going to subjugate that monster, Elena?"
"The timing to lure it out isn't right yet…. No, I'll handle it myself, okay? Just stay out of it."
She remained firm, refusing to share any details about the monster.
Still, I gleaned a bit from that short exchange. She said we had to 'lure it out,' meaning she knew the conditions for summoning that mysterious monster.
And mentioning 'timing' suggested there was a set period related to luring it.
Of course, that alone didn't reveal the monster's identity or traits. Elena, who should explain it, had clamped her mouth shut and was controlling all info.
‘Looking at the disappearances alone, the victims were mostly 'young women' like Elena.’
Maybe her idea of 'luring it out' meant using herself as bait.
For now, I'd have to intensify surveillance, even using both Eri and Hadi.
I absolutely couldn't let her get into danger right in front of me, no matter what.
The tenth night since arriving at Count Marstern's estate.
"Your Highness, please wake up."
"…Hadi?"
"Lady Elena just slipped out of the estate."
"……What?"
Hadi's voice waking me in the dead of night made me think for a moment I was dreaming.
When I opened my eyes and saw Elena wasn't beside me, I wished it really was a dream.
"Where'd she go?"
"Eri is tailing her now. She's heading toward the beach near Delrona Village."
"……Damn it."
Heading out at this hour without even her exclusive maid. It screamed suspicion, so I hurriedly prepared to leave.
And just in case of a monster fight, I grabbed my sword too.
‘Elena's sword… looks like she already took it.’
My certainty jumped from 90% to 99% as Hadi and I left the estate.
"Lady Elena has reached the southern beach. She's wearing a black robe…."
Following Eri's voice through the listening crystal, we caught up to Elena without too much delay.
-Rustle, rustle.
"……."
"……."
"……."
Elena walked silently along the sandy beach, cloaked in a black robe that hid her figure.
Hadi, Eri, and I—who had linked up with Eri—watched her tensely in silence.
"Good thing we weren't too late."
"Do you know why Lady Elena went out so suddenly, Your Highness?"
"…No idea. For now, Hadi, keep watch for anyone else approaching."
"Yes, Your Highness."
To avoid spoiling Elena's secret, I sent Hadi to scout elsewhere and asked Eri for a sitrep.
"When did Elena leave?"
"Around 2 a.m. by the time stone when she left the room."
"Got it. She didn't tell you either?"
"No, she didn't."
Then it had to be that monster hunt.
I was ready to support from outside her line of sight, but I wouldn't rush in the moment the monster appeared.
I needed to confirm if she could subjugate it 'alone,' as she claimed. She was so confident about not needing my help, so she must have some means.
I might even ruin her plan by interfering.
‘She'd definitely get mad if she found out I didn't trust her enough to put surveillance on her.’
The best outcome was Elena handling the monster her way and wrapping up this investigation.
As I watched her silently on the beach with those thoughts, the black robe draped over her body slid quietly downward.
…And the glimpse of Elena's bare skin beneath nearly made me gasp aloud.
-Swish.
"……Hngh!"
For a split second, I thought she was naked under the robe.
Looking closer, she wore thin white fabric like underwear clinging to her body.
It was my first time seeing a 'swimsuit' in person, but I knew what it was for. In coastal villages like this, swimming in such attire was the local custom.
"Eri."
"…Yes, Your Highness."
"Is the outfit Elena's wearing now the one she bought on our first day here?"
"……Yes."
Eri bowed her head deeply with that answer.
She must have assumed it was something Elena wanted to show me and held back. Elena had deliberately muddied the waters too.
Maybe she'd even planned for this to reach my ears through Eri from the start.
"We'll deal with your failure to report properly later. But why would Elena wear a swimsuit…."
Right then, a chilling wind blew from the seaside, carrying an eerie aura.
-Whiiiiiish….
"……."
My mouth fell quietly shut as I faced the female-shaped 'monster' that appeared before Elena.