Bathing and Bonding with Elenore
"So, you are the Lurker known as Kim Haeru."
Lady Diana, who appeared to be in her late forties, looked at me with a smile. Beside her, the First Princess, Esmeralda, stood silently with her hands neatly folded over her abdomen, staring at me without a word. Judging by her expression, there was no particular reaction. Her face was blank, almost cold. She looked incredibly calm, with no hint of surprise.
'Does she not remember me?'
She looked at me as if she had no idea who I was. If that was the case, then it worked out well.
"Yes, I am Kim Haeru."
I stood in the center of the room, looking up at the lady on the dais. I tried to appear composed, but my inner thoughts were incredibly complex.
'The child of my enemy is right before my eyes.'
Someday, I would shatter everything that Princess Esmeralda stood for, and she would become one of the greatest victims of it all. And right now, this was an opportunity. I kept contemplating what to do with Princess Esmeralda. Murder? Kidnapping? Blackmail? Ignoring her?
"I heard you helped Elenore."
"Yes, that is correct."
The fortunate thing for Esmeralda was that my mood, which had been tense and sharp, instantly softened at the sight of the large sum of money Lady Diana was handing to Elenore.
"Here, take this, Elenore. It is the 500 gold we promised."
"Thank you. May the blessing of Narcia, the goddess of the High Elves, be upon you, my Lady."
The gold coins clinked inside the sack. My mood improved rapidly.
'Right, that’s it. Princess Esmeralda was a good woman. Even though we only met once, she was very kind to me.'
She didn't hate Earthlings. Besides, to think she was still wearing the ring I gave her. Her hands, folded neatly. The ruby ring on her finger. It was definitely the one I had given her. I was incredibly surprised that she hadn't thrown it away, even after several years had passed. What did it mean?
"Then, you may go now. Thank you for your hard work."
"Goodbye, my Lady."
"Please come find us again if you have another request."
Elenore and I left the mansion, carrying the sack of gold coins.
"Your Highness! That person just now...! He was the spitting image of the man in the portrait you drew, Your Highness! Isn't that him?"
Lady Diana, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, turned to Esmeralda in a hurry.
"Your Highness...?"
"..."
Esmeralda was frozen, as if she had been put under some kind of spell. Her gaze was fixed on the spot where Haeru had been standing just a moment ago. Even though he had left, she continued to stare at the empty space with a vacant look in her eyes.
"Duchess..."
"Yes?"
"Could you please come stand behind me for a moment?"
"Is there something behind me?"
Duchess Diana immediately moved behind her.
"There is nothing here. Is there something?"
"Ah..."
"Oh my!"
Esmeralda collapsed backward and fainted.
"The calculation is finished, so let's part ways now."
I put the 250 gold coins Elenore had handed me into my sack and tied it tightly with a string.
"Thanks for your hard work. Ugh, it's heavy to carry on my shoulder."
"...What are you talking about?"
Elenore stared at me, clearly surprised, as if she hadn't expected this at all.
"Part ways?"
"Why? Do you have more business with me? We were strangers, after all."
"But to suddenly say we should part ways..."
"I had fun, too. But what can I do? You and I are on different paths. I have urgent work to do with this money."
"I want to follow you."
Elenore said with emphasis. But I shook my head, thinking it was absurd.
"If you follow me, you'll die. It's a dangerous place."
"I clearly told you I would serve you!"
Her voice rose.
"I drove the carriage, served you meals, did your laundry, and did everything for you! What is lacking?"
Did she get attached to me while we were together? Already? That’s surprising. I was someone who was disgusted by the very existence of 'colleagues' who formed relationships based on loyalty and affection. If you kept such people around, you’d only end up betrayed. I only kept two subordinates who were clear about transactions and obsessed with money. People obsessed with money were surprisingly good at drawing lines. As long as I paid them properly so they wouldn't complain, they were quiet. If anyone crossed the line, I could just kill them without anyone knowing. That made it very simple. Furthermore, even if I had subordinates, I had no intention of keeping them around forever. I only used them when necessary, like a revolving door. I planned to use this person for one mission and that person for another, operating in a cell-like structure so that my subordinates would never know each other's positions or ranks. So that no one could see the big picture of my plan to attack the Empire. I planned to change people every time. In other words, I wouldn't have any permanent members who shared my room and board. Once a mission ended, it was over. Team disbanded. If I kept permanent members and got stabbed in the back, it was obvious that all my ambitions would be exposed because of that one person. Elenore was hard to use as a subordinate now. Because she had been like my best friend for the past few days, some affection had built up. I couldn't just use her as a subordinate and throw her away like this. Her life would be pathetic.
"I don't need friends. I'm going to live alone."
"Who asked you to make me a friend? If you don't like friends, just treat me as a subordinate and use me!"
"I don't want a subordinate, either."
"If you don't want me as a subordinate, a maid is fine too! At the very least, let me take on the role of a dog or a cat that comforts you!"
She shouted with a tearful face. Why was she so desperate... It was obvious she would get hurt if she stayed with me.
"This is the first time I've seen an elf cling to a human. Go your own way before anyone sees. I'm leaving now. It was fun. Stay healthy."
As I passed her and walked away without hesitation, she screamed.
"Stop right there!"
She continued to chatter in a tearful, resentful voice.
"This is really annoying! 'Stay healthy'? How could I possibly live alone in this state? If you saved my life and helped me with my revenge, and captured an elf's heart, you should take responsibility until the end! I'm going to cling to you!"
The sight of her suddenly tearing up and shouting was somehow cute, so I couldn't help but chuckle.
She really didn't want to part ways. What did she feel from me? Anyway, she's a cute woman. She's cute when she cries and holds onto me. I turned around and walked slowly back toward her.
"If you come with me, you might have to live in fear every night from now on. What you've been through with me so far was nothing."
"So what if I have to live in fear! I'm scared to be alone now! I'm afraid of being betrayed again after being with strange humans! I don't want to die alone in the mountains! I don't want to be alone!"
"It seems you're also quite lonely."
"Of course! I've lived my whole life being cursed as an elf of disaster, so how could I have any independence?"
"But the path I'm going to take might be even harder than the life you've lived so far."
I stopped dead in front of her.
"I guarantee you, that path is hell. Can you still stay with me, no matter what?"
She sniffled and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Her hands were trembling slightly. That sight was so... delicate and beautiful.
"I have no choice. It's a life you saved. I should be with you even when I die."
Because she was an elf with red hair, she had lived her whole life being despised and criticized. She ran away from the elf village and lived in the human world. Living alone in a strange land was harder than she had thought. She spent many days being wary and cautious, acting passively so as not to attract attention, and crying herself to sleep, exhausted and sensitive. Then, she met Kim Haeru by chance. He saved her when she was dying, found the traitors, and retrieved her belongings, instantly building trust. Based on the trust that had built up in a corner of her heart, Elenore broke down her walls and grew close to him. The actions he showed by her side and the kindness he bestowed upon her. They were never lies. It was fun every day while they were together. It was an experience she had never had before, having lived without knowing anyone other than her late parents. She trusted him from the moment he saved her life, and being with him made her feel relieved and comfortable.
'I want to act cute for Haeru. And I want to do everything for him.'
Yes. This person could be trusted. He was absolutely, absolutely not someone who would use her. Once that thought became firm, Elenore decided to live for him.
I took Elenore to an inn. I paid the owner and entered the room. I hadn't decided to be with Elenore yet. Before making a final decision, she had to pass a major test.
'Elenore. If you want to be with me that much, we should have no secrets from each other.'
Honestly, I felt comfortable having Elenore with me, as she served as someone to talk to. And thinking about it, to proceed with my future plans, I needed an assistant who had an intimate relationship with me. Someone who would never change their mind. According to some story, a husband gave one key to his wife's chastity belt to himself and the other to a maid with whom he had a physical relationship. To the person he could trust the most. I planned to recreate Elenore as that kind of maid from now on.
"I've brought the hot bath water you ordered!"
"Come in."
The inn maids worked hard, carrying water in buckets to fill a large oak barrel. "Have a pleasant time!" I sent them out and locked the door. Click. I turned around from the door. I looked at Elenore, who was standing nervously in the corner of the room.
"Take off your clothes."
"Ha, Haeru-nim..."
"Why? Can't you do it?"
"No, I, I can do it. It's just... I'm embarrassed..."
"Then I should set an example."
I immediately took off my clothes in front of her. As I let my penis hang loose, without a thread of clothing on, she flinched and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Your turn."
"Yes..."
She hesitated before turning around and starting to undress. I stroked my chin and leisurely enjoyed the view of her back.
'Her back is smooth without a single blemish, and her pelvis is excellent. Today... would it be good to even have sex? Her body is much better than I thought. To think an elf like that is clinging to me.'