Bitter Cup, Sweet Cup (1)
Up until now, the issues we'd glossed over had finally caught up to us. It wasn't like we'd intentionally put them off—from the moment Mina and I signed our contract, we'd both steeled ourselves and prepared for this. But with Gilford's duel fiasco and the trip to Phoenix County, we'd kept delaying, and now it was happening for real.
Far from being too late, this was the perfect chance to settle things once and for all. So I walked behind Professor Reina alongside Mina.
"If it's a contract matter, maybe we should sit this one out since we're not involved," Noel said apologetically, though she clearly wanted to join us.
With Noel's and Erica's statuses, just their presence could be intimidating. Depending on how you looked at it, it might even suggest the Nexia Ducal House and Phoenix County were pulling strings behind the contract.
Erica didn't care about the political risks, but since the other side had specifically requested it, she backed off with Noel.
After that, we simply followed the visibly tense Professor Reina to the reception room.
"Not nervous?"
"Not really?"
I answered Mina's question and glanced her way. She looked utterly relaxed, eyes half-lidded.
If she's that confident, there won't be any problems.
Professor Reina, who was actually more tense, shot us an incredulous look.
"Are you two just that fearless, or am I overly timid?"
"Neither, I think. Why are you so nervous, Professor?"
"Because depending on how it's interpreted, it could look like the academy pushed you into this contract."
I blinked—what was this about? Apparently, when Mina had snuck into my dorm room, an academy staffer had helped her out.
"I bribed them."
"Money, huh. Figures."
It was such an obvious reason there wasn't much to say. In the end, that had let the Cyclops come out way faster than expected.
The staffer's corruption was the issue, so the academy was on edge. But with us acting so casual, Professor Reina seemed genuinely scared.
"Please, just handle this smoothly."
"You're the type who'd flip a desk over, Professor. It's kinda surprising."
"I've felt the backlash from flipping conference tables with my own body one too many times."
She'd apparently learned her lesson after her hot temper caused all sorts of headaches. Professor Reina must have mellowed out and become more sensible over her years teaching here.
Positions shape people, huh...
"We're here."
Professor Reina opened the door to the academy's reception room and ushered us inside.
Seated within was a middle-aged man with distinctive white hair.
"...Hoo."
Mina narrowed her eyes. Unless she knew someone well, she wore a mask tailored to them—but right now, it was open hostility.
The man stood.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Hephaestus Abatus of the Abatus Count family, here as a proxy since the palace is tied up. I come on the recommendation of Queen Lien Abatus Vespa and my brother, Count Gaster Abatus. Looking forward to working with you."
The middle-aged man bowed politely, a soft smile on his face.
The academy reception room was stocked with all sorts of fine tea sets. It was a place where noble students entertained outsiders or discussed family business, so brewing tea was routine—and usually done by the students.
You couldn't exactly ask a guest who'd traveled far to do it, and nobles needed to learn hospitality anyway. But above all, it was etiquette: treat the academy's students like the hosts when dealing with visitors.
"But none of these leaves suit my taste, it seems. If you don't mind, I'll brew my own."
Hephaestus was handling the tea himself. Professor Reina, standing a bit back, radiated killing intent for a split second.
"Please, have some. I need to relay the palace's words clearly, after all."
He was slyly invoking the palace. No matter his affiliation, he was here as their proxy. Any rudeness was rudeness to the crown—a warning.
I sipped the tea and winced slightly.
Bitter as hell.
No poison, that much was clear. But it felt like he'd brewed it just to mess with us. Even Mina faltered for a moment.
I set the cup down, and Hephaestus smiled softly.
"Impressive. Some people spit it right out."
"It's drinkable. But I won't go out of my way for it."
"It's good for your health—try it occasionally. It's medicinal tea. Shall we get to the point?"
Hephaestus's smile stayed gentle as he spoke quietly.
"Aizen Arclight. Why did you breach your contract with the palace and make a unilateral deal with an outsider—the saintess of the Saras Church? Depending on your answer, we may confiscate your golems and related tech, and imprison you for fraud. Choose your words carefully."
He put on his stern palace spokesman voice. Coming out swinging from the start.
I thought for a moment, then asked quietly.
"Abatus... sorry, what should I call you?"
"Haha. Hephaestus is fine. Call me Hephaestus casually."
"Hephaestus. Can you tell me about my contract with the palace?"
Hephaestus smiled. Of course he knew the details.
"I won't quote the full text, but I'll recite what I've memorized. First: Produce a rideable golem and deliver the completed blueprints and mass-production rights to the palace."
"Second: Production rights thereafter belong to the palace. Aizen Arclight may not produce or sell them himself—to preserve military secrets."
I recited the terms, and Hephaestus smiled quietly.
"Third: Upon full delivery, you receive a barony and territory. A new Arclight territory, eh?"
"Fourth: The contract is confidential. Don't blab the details to outsiders."
Hephaestus smiled. I smiled back.
"Do you know what crime you've committed?"
"No idea—haven't broken any."
Hephaestus smiled and pointed at Mina.
"Strange. I heard the saintess over there independently produced and sold Cyclops. The palace holds production rights—how is she building factories and handling sales?"
His smile and soft tone persisted, but his words sped up a tad.
Thinks he's cornered me and got excited?
I listened silently as Hephaestus continued smoothly.
"And why drag a supposedly confidential Cyclops to the duel arena? How did the saintess even know to support you? Aizen, you're deceiving the palace."
"Explaining would be easy, but..."
I looked at Hephaestus and asked quietly.
"...You've been beating around the bush. Got something to say?"
"I'm the palace proxy, Aizen."
That's what he said. Then he touched my teacup again, swapping the contents. Now it carried a sweet, cloying aroma—unlike before.
"Bitter needs sweet to wash it down. Care for some?"
"I'd rather hear what you have to say, Hephaestus."
He smiled.
"This is my personal opinion, not the palace's, Aizen."
Hephaestus leaned toward me slightly.
"The Abatus family sees your talent."
"Join us?"
"There's a young lady in our house around your age—slightly older."
Pretty forward. And there it was—his real intent.
"Cyclops is a shame, but you'll have to scrap it. You've breached the contract; the law demands judgment. But talent like yours shouldn't rot in prison."
Hephaestus slid the sweet cup my way.
"Admit your guilt. We'll take you as a son-in-law and back you. The queen will give you a chance. You can start over under the Abatus Count family."
"Wai—"
Reina stepped forward to intervene.
Hephaestus smiled at her.
"I'm the palace proxy, Lady Reina."
"How is that..."
"The queen is of the royal family too."
Reina's face darkened. Hephaestus smiled and spoke.
"What do you say? Join hands with us."
My answer? I raised the cup and downed the original bitter tea, grinning.
"Obviously, I refuse."
Of course.
"We haven't breached the contract even once."
I'd accounted for this from the start.
"Let me ask, Hephaestus."
"Is the 'completed rideable golem' in the contract the current Cyclops?"