030. Rescue Request (1)
"Ah~ my shoulders and back feel so much better."
Iliana stretched languidly, reveling in the refreshing sensation as the knots and aches that had plagued her shoulders and lower back vanished completely.
"Can't you do this every day?"
"If I did it every day, you wouldn't get this kind of feeling. I'll do it once a week."
"Hmmm."
She seemed quite pleased with the massage Eunhyeon had given her body last night, her expression tinged with a hint of regret.
"Besides, the best thing is not getting knotted up in the first place. From now on, pay more attention to correcting your posture."
"But it's already a habit."
"That's why you need to fix that habit."
From now on, while handling paperwork, she should avoid slouching to one side in her chair or crossing her legs.
"...You're just nagging now."
Iliana grumbled softly under her breath at Eunhyeon's words before resuming her library duties.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
"Pardon the intrusion. Lady Iliana, you have visitors."
"Visitors? Hmmm, show them in."
Iliana and Eunhyeon, who had been about to have lunch, turned to look at the guests entering the room guided by the secretary.
"Hello."
"...What kind of combination is this?"
"Lady Elenoa? And..."
Eunhyeon frowned at the sight of the daughter from the ducal house deeply involved in the previous Lenion Hersha embezzlement case, visiting the Merbiss Magic Library so soon after it concluded. His gaze fixed on the other person.
Her companion wore a luxurious robe with a hood concealing her face, the fine fabric standing out.
As eyes turned to her, the companion pushed back her hood, revealing herself.
"...I doubt this is a pleasant visit."
The mere fact that this woman was here made Eunhyeon certain it wasn't for anything good.
"Lady Elenoa. You broke your promise."
"Ugh..."
Elenoa flinched at Eunhyeon's disappointed tone.
"Don't blame Elenoa. I insisted on coming."
The other woman stepped forward, shielding the shrinking Elenoa, and faced Eunhyeon directly.
"I'm truly sorry for the intrusion. You're the witch's assistant... right?"
"That's just what others call my job. Call me 'Eunhyeon' or 'Hyeon.' Consort Helena."
"You know me. But I don't know you, so allow me to introduce myself. I am Helena Pernias, consort of the Pernias Kingdom."
The king's second wife, the kingdom's mistress, extended her hand to Eunhyeon for a handshake.
"I have something I'd like to discuss with you, so I asked the lady here to bring me."
Eunhyeon didn't take Helena's hand immediately, instead scrutinizing her closely.
"Not our witch, but me specifically?"
Narrowing his eyes and glancing at Lady Elenoa, she averted her gaze and offered an excuse.
"I had no choice."
"No choice?"
"It's what my brother said."
Elenoa's "older brother" could only mean Ashton or Alex.
There was no way the prideful, inferiority-complex-ridden vice duke would have sent a direct message to her.
Elenoa cautiously stepped forward and pulled a paper from her bosom containing Alex's words, handing it to Eunhyeon.
- If I don't return in three days, immediately ask that person for help.
"How can you be sure the 'that person' written here is me?"
"It was a serious matter. When a problem arose, you were the first person who came to mind for help. I'm sure my brother thought the same."
Eunhyeon smirked at Elenoa speaking with such conviction.
"What's so funny?"
"Isn't it absurd to you too, Lady? In this country, excluding royalty, the highest-ranking ducal house isn't receiving help but requesting it—from me, of all people, not another noble or even a kingdom citizen."
'You want to reveal your circumstances to someone like me and beg for help?'
Eunhyeon found it an utterly unreasonable contradiction.
His status unclear, identity unknown, purposes vague.
No intent to threaten the kingdom, yet no friendly attitude either.
Not one of their own, but too risky to treat as an enemy.
That was Elenoa's impression of Eunhyeon.
Yet she couldn't deny he was the first person who came to mind.
"......"
Elenoa bit her lip hard, unable to retort to Eunhyeon's mocking laced with laughter.
"Really... I had no choice. You were the only one who came to mind."
"I'll explain myself."
"No."
"......"
Consort Helena's eyes narrowed.
Elenoa's face paled in tandem.
No one on this land could treat the kingdom's mother this way.
Displaying refusal before even hearing the circumstances was rudeness bordering on capital offense, especially against royalty.
But this wasn't the palace, and Iliana, the owner of this house, showed no intention of rebuking Eunhyeon's impoliteness.
Helena had no position or situation to force the issue just because Eunhyeon was being obstinate.
"Hey! Even if we came unannounced, being so rude to the consort of this nation...!"
"Rude?"
Iliana cut off Elenoa, glaring at her.
"...Ugh."
Elenoa had cried out in shock at Eunhyeon's rudeness, but he remained unfazed, speaking calmly instead.
"Shall I explain why I can't accept the consort's request?"
"...Let's hear it."
Helena's face showed neither anger nor suppressed humiliation.
"First, there's no merit for me. Even if I resolve the consort's request, there's no benefit coming my way."
"What do you want? Wealth, power, or honor—I can make it happen."
"Does the lady who introduced me and brought me here not know what deal I made with the Armitas ducal house?"
Helena understood the implication.
She already knew from Elenoa that Eunhyeon had delivered 600 platinum coins to the ducal house.
Helena had planned to offer relief from major expenditures as negotiation leverage, but realized it was a misjudgment.
Eunhyeon had given 600 platinum coins to the ducal house for the sole request of Erin's protection.
Pathetically meager compared to the reward.
It even felt like he'd fabricated a reason just to hand over the money.
The message was clear: '600 platinum coins are pocket change to me.'
'What in the world is this man's true identity...?'
She'd seen him merely as a capable young man to enlist for help, but the more they spoke, the more doubts and mysteries piled up.
"Second, I dislike my name being mentioned in kingdom affairs. The previous Hersha baronet case was only because Bernard the marquis earnestly implored me—I arranged a fake scenario with much help to keep my name out. But a matter requiring direct royal request... it's a hassle."
"I'll cooperate to keep it as secret as possible. Your name absolutely won't be—"
"I can't trust that promise. The fact that the consort came to me already proves why."
Eunhyeon glanced at Elenoa as he spoke, making her tremble.
The reason Helena knew of Eunhyeon and came was obviously because Elenoa had told her everything about the Hersha baronet incident.
Repeating the same promise on broken trust wouldn't convince Eunhyeon—Elenoa knew that too.
In her desperation, she'd thought of him first and rushed to the library without considering it.
"Ugh..."
As Abros had said, Eunhyeon was distant from desires like honor, wealth, or power.
Yet he wasn't one who valued life, righted wrongs, or pursued justice and goodness.
She couldn't grasp what drove Eunhyeon or what he valued.
Her father Abros's words—"A disagreeable fellow I don't want as an enemy"—resurfaced, and she understood a bit.
His thoughts were inscrutable; excluding noble power like intellect and martial prowess, he was perfect in every way, always exceeding expectations.
Imagining him turning enemy against the ducal house was terrifying.
Such a man had no reason to bind himself to the kingdom for a high figure's request.
Others might succumb to ambition or righteousness, but not him.
'Brother... what should I do now...?'
"That's why, at this point, I want to set one condition."
"...?"
Helena and Elenoa scowled at Eunhyeon's sudden shift, glaring at him.
"Iliana. Is it okay?"
"Do as you like."
Eunhyeon's casual address to his "superior," the witch, and Iliana's dismissive wave without interfering clearly didn't fit a boss-subordinate dynamic.
Both women felt an odd dissonance from his familiar tone with the hero, but urgent matters took precedence, so they didn't probe.
"I'll hear the consort's request. But the reward I want from the royals and the lady will be a bit unusual."
Child. If you planned to hear her out anyway, why refuse at first?
'Negotiation basics start with playing hard to get to raise your value.'
Sigh. I've always wondered why my child has such a twisted, troublesome personality.
Eunhyeon gave a wry smile at Verdandi's concerned sigh.
With Helena's royal status, she naturally held the advantage at the start.
But through deliberate rudeness, he'd shown that royal authority and pressure didn't faze him.
It wasn't just venting frustration over Elenoa breaking her promise and bringing more trouble.
"Well then, shall we hear what Alex has been up to?"