Chapter 146
Chapter 146
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Joint Attack #6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
〈 Chapter 145 〉 Joint Attack # 6
146 ? Joint Attack # 6
Mirna Draco shot a fierce glare at Elga's face before sitting down at the table.
"Lady Lioness. Calling someone over on the weekend and arbitrarily planning a meeting like this. What on earth is your scheme? How rude."
Her tone was as chilling as if it could freeze a midsummer puddle. It was so far removed from the usual gentle warmth Mirna showed me that I flinched.
When a beauty like Mirna directed such a scornful expression and contemptuous words at someone, anyone else might shrink back like a frightened mouse.
But the woman facing her, Elga, was no ordinary person.
Zzzt.
For a moment, their eyes toward each other seemed to spark like electricity. Then Elga was the first to open her mouth with a soft tone.
"If you're confident, have a seat here."
Drag.
Elga pulled out one chair.
Mirna snorted "Hmph" and sat down alone on the opposite side of the chair Elga had pulled out. With that, the staring contest entered a brief ceasefire.
"……."
"……."
The two sipped their tea in silence.
Caught in the middle, I felt like a page from the Angmar history book I'd read before was fluttering past my eyes.
The feud between the Lioness and Draco families had dragged on through long history, or so it went.
At least a century of making each other bleed and toppling one another for their interests and convictions.
They had pointed spears and blades at each other like mortal enemies.
But even they, like others, had once sat at the same table and extended hands to one another.
According to the records in the Angmar palace history book, exactly twice.
The first was when they built the kingdom alongside the founding king, David Angmar.
The second was when they rose up to subdue the demon king Solomon.
Without some grand cause or common goal like that, they mixed no better than water and oil.
And now, such people were sitting at one table right before my eyes.
A triangular relationship where each kept equal distance from the others.
"I can't fathom what the intent behind this is."
Mirna scanned our faces with a dissatisfied expression, while Elga relatively calmly sipped her tea.
"Wait. I'll talk after finishing this."
And me, frantically racking my brain to figure out what this situation was about.
"……."
What in the world is this gathering?
The most immediate deduction was that Elga had planned this beforehand.
She must have contacted Mirna at some point I didn't know about and unilaterally set the appointment for 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The process was probably a one-sided notice from Elga.
That's why Mirna was angry at Elga for creating this arbitrary meeting.
「Calm Situation Assessment!
Gain experience via Talent 《Calm Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
Good, I get it up to here.
Now, I need to figure out why Elga created this gathering.
One thing that comes to mind is it might be related to her mentioning whether she'd help advance my relationship with Mirna.
Even I couldn't grasp what story Elga would tell after gathering us like this.
I knew she was more a person of action than thought, but I hadn't expected such a sudden move.
"Theo Gospel. What on earth is going on here? Are you colluding with Lady Lioness to disconcert me, Mirna Draco?"
At that moment, Mirna addressed me.
I glanced once at Elga's face, wearing a leisurely and relaxed expression, before I could only answer honestly.
"I don't know about this either. Let's wait for Elga to speak."
"Then stop beating around the bush and get on with it. If it's some pointless talk, I'll really get angry."
Clack.
At Mirna's urging, Elga finally set her teacup down on the table.
"Mirna, why are you so lacking in composure?"
"If you think I'm as idle as you, you're mistaken."
"Fine, then. I don't want to drag this out with a busy person either. Shall we get straight to the point?"
"……."
At Elga's direct approach, Mirna swallowed ever so slightly. It was a split-second moment. But countless thoughts must have raced through Mirna's mind.
"Do so."
"Good. Then let me ask. Mirna Draco. When do you plan to hold the wedding?"
"The wedding?"
"Yeah. Theo Gospel's your fiancé, right? Then you two must talk about marriage. Haven't set a date yet?"
"…Why are you curious about that?"
Instead of answering, Mirna cleverly turned the arrow back at Elga. But Elga dodged it leisurely.
"Because I'm interested in this guy too."
"……!"
Mirna Draco shot up from her seat like someone caught off guard. She looked just like a cobra rearing up rigidly to strike at its opponent.
I was just as startled.
I looked at Elga in genuine shock.
But Elga continued speaking.
"What? Did I say something I can't? You're not married yet. Legally, there's no issue, right?"
* * *
To be honest, I can say it.
Mirna disliked Elga.
Had she seen her just once at a ball in the Angmar palace in her very young childhood?
—The Lioness of the Golden Legion is here—! All bow your heads—!
There, barking orders at people like servants, she looked like a kitten doused in cold water, wrinkling her nose.
Does Lady Lioness know?
That those who praised Elga von Lioness as the dark lion of Borga behind her back demeaned her as a vulgar cat.
Probably not.
—What can one say about Lady Lioness? She's a real spitfire. Compared to her, Lady Mirna is so composed and elegant in her actions.
When people around Mirna flattered her by comparing her to Elga, the Lady Lioness, half of it went in one ear and out the other, but the other half she took to heart.
It wasn't pleasant being compared to Elga, who knew nothing of noble duties or responsibilities, just because she too was a lady of a great house.
That only intensified with age.
The Lady Lioness she reunited with in Ark had grown into a truly unrestrained young lady. Bearing no burdens, just enjoying a comfortable life in her massive father's embrace—a flower in a greenhouse.
That's how she seemed.
And it was true.
"What did you just say?"
Mirna doubted her own ears. But asking again was also an act of mercy, giving Elga a chance to retract her outrageous statement.
However, the foolish Lady Lioness, either not grasping the implication or doubling down, spoke even more clearly and deliberately.
"Didn't hear? I like this guy too."
Elga's eyes, saying that, turned toward the half-fairy. The half-fairy was visibly trembling, clearly flustered by the situation.
Seeing that made Mirna feel as if spit had soured something that was hers.
"What nonsense is that? You can't pretend not to know Theo Gospel is my fiancé."
"Yeah, I know. But you're not actually married, right? Until it's legally binding, you're nothing to each other, no?"
"That's…"
That's true.
Strictly speaking, Mirna and Theo weren't legally husband and wife yet. So Elga liking Theo or not was just personal freedom.
Morally questionable, but legally no problem.
However, that was only on the surface.
Mirna and the half-fairy were already inseparably bound.
Because Mirna had given that man her most precious and important chastity. In a way, she'd already made a massive investment.
For this oblivious woman to start spouting off made killing intent boil inside Mirna.
But Mirna knew how to hold back.
What if this was Lioness deliberately provoking her anger?
Perhaps it was a dirty Draco family ploy to induce a mistake. Thinking that, her rising fury subsided a bit.
Yes.
On second thought, this was blatant provocation.
With the Draco family in dire crisis, a vile scheme to crush their last breath.
Maybe Elga, far from cultured or studious, entered Ark precisely to bide her time for an attack on Draco.
In fact, since coming to Ark, Elga hadn't attended classes properly. Skipped lectures too.
Click click.
Piece by piece, the puzzle fell into place.
Of course. The crude Lioness ploy wouldn't ensnare the wise her.
With the opponent's game seen through, Mirna's anger quickly faded. A merciful smile even graced her lips for the pitiable foe.
Swish.
To hide her smile, Mirna unfurled the fan the man had gifted her.
Come to think of it, even if Elga took interest in a man utterly enamored with her charms, nothing would happen.
Mirna and Elga.
If choosing one, all men would pick Mirna. The only redeemable trait in the ill-tempered, arrogant Lady Lioness was her chest.
Honestly, even that was too big to be pretty.
Besides, she and the half-fairy had already become one.
Recalling that sense of unity, Mirna couldn't imagine him choosing any other woman.
From any angle, Elga the Lioness lady had no chance.
Mirna found Elga laughable—unaware they'd been intimate, clueless how smitten he was with her, babbling nonsense.
She doesn't know men at all.
Lack of experience?
Surely.
Men who like fierce, violent women like Elga would only be sleazy con artists flashing charming smiles and feigning niceness.
Pampered by those around her, she must think she's all that and attractive.
Yet Elga, oblivious, continued with a confident, relaxed expression.
"So, you think it's fine for me to take an interest in him too?"
For a moment, Mirna pictured Elga clinging to the man, only to be coldly rejected.
—Don't approach me. I have Mirna.
—I'm inferior to Mirna…!?
Imagining Elga, trampled as a woman and gnashing a handkerchief, was quite amusing.
Unaware, Elga pressed on confidently.
"Or are you scared I'll steal your fiancé? Mirna Draco."
Chilly blue eyes fixed on her.
How many had died to those icicle-blue eyes? This was a declaration of war and provocation against Draco.
Theo Gospel was just a tool to pick a fight with her.
This is war.
With that thought, Mirna decided to give the insolent Lady Lioness invading her life a harsh lesson.
"Then let's set one condition."