Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Dangerous Box
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With Family Head Agram's full backing, Lucas's annex had become so abundantly stocked that it now felt downright excessive.
When he opened his eyes in the morning, warm dishes were already laid out on the table, and steam rose gently from the bath around the clock.
Soft-fragranced shampoo and rinse in a medieval style.
Items so meticulously maintained that simply rinsing your hair made it glide silkily through your fingertips.
And the bed?
The custom-made oversized mattress was so plush that your body sank right into it, and even when all three of them lay down together at night, it never felt cramped.
For Lucas, such pampering must have felt utterly out of place, but it was different for Piel and Aira.
For the past few days, their faces had radiated a constant ease, smiles bubbling up at the smallest things.
To the point where it almost seemed like if heaven really existed, this might be it.
Above all, life was plentiful, yet the annex still barred all other servants—that made the biggest difference.
A space for just the three of them.
Their shared daily life.
Somehow like peeking into a newlywed couple's honeymoon, a subtly sealed-off world.
That must have been why.
They'd thought today would be just another uneventful day.
At least—
"Hmm... What on earth could this be?"
"...Beats me."
Until the master returned from Walter Argent's mansion carrying a 'box'.
The box was wrapped in a pitch-black outer casing.
Unlike the crude wooden crates used for ordinary goods.
Fine-grained wood coated with what seemed like resin mixed with metal powder produced a low, solid tone when tapped, rather than a dull thud.
Much sturdier. Much more refined.
Its size was about the length of Piel or Aira's upper body.
Yet it was strangely light.
As if there was nothing inside at all.
But up close, mysterious talismans adorned every seam of the box.
Patterns etched into thin metal plates—not paper, not cloth.
Lines drawn in mana ink bit into each other, densely sealing the lid to the body.
"Aira, check this out! It's way lighter than it looks!"
Piel couldn't contain her curiosity and hoisted the box up effortlessly.
"Pi, Piel! Master said not to touch it recklessly! Put it down, quick!"
Aira's voice came a beat faster than usual.
"Oh, right... S-sorry..."
Piel carefully set the box down only then.
She had no choice.
Because the master's face when he'd first brought the box back was burned into her mind.
"Piel, Aira. I'm heading out to meet the princess for a bit—so watch over this box while I'm gone."
His tone was the same as always, but his face held anger and anxiety.
And a faint sadness bordering on resignation.
For a mere box, no less.
That silence, that request, that tone—it was proof enough this was no ordinary item.
"I..."
Aira spoke softly.
"I've never seen Master like that before."
The man who always smiled first and had an answer ready, no matter the situation.
The one who brushed off problems with a joke and calculated risks even in danger.
The moment he'd silently set down the box and averted his gaze stuck with Aira, larger than life.
Aira placed her hands neatly on her knees atop the bed, staring at the box.
Her eyes weren't welled with tears, but they looked ready to brim over at any second.
Then.
"...I've seen it once before."
Piel murmured quietly from beside her.
"The day Aira first arrived at this mansion. Master had the same look on his face when he laid you on the bed... just like today."
"He did...?"
"Yeah. I was as shocked as you are now. That's why I still can't forget it."
Lucas standing there, speechless, before Aira—who had no uninjured spot on her face, eyes, or mouth.
Piel still remembered that air with her body.
The brief blank where he knew he had to act, but the severity froze his thoughts.
The silence of a man struck breathless before he could even think like a professional.
"Back then... I couldn't do anything..."
Piel's voice trembled.
"I was right there, but I was so useless... While Master was fixing you up, all I could do was fetch water..."
As she spoke, her tail and ears drooped limply.
Her face looked on the verge of tears.
"...Piel."
Aira called her name softly.
Then stepped forward and pulled Piel into a silent embrace.
"That wasn't uselessness."
Her voice was quiet but firm.
"My condition back then had already surpassed what one person could handle. You know that."
Piel's shoulders twitched.
"Elves have a saying: 'Even where hands cannot reach, sincerity paves the way.'"
Aira lightly patted Piel's back as she continued.
"Master was able to make his judgment, and I was able to hold on because you were there by his side."
"But... the surgery was all done by Master—"
"Enough."
This time, it was the crisp tone of royalty.
"Piel. You're the head maid. There's no reason to judge yourself so lightly."
She met her eyes directly and cut in clearly.
"There are no insignificant roles. That's just a label excuses use for failing their duties."
A brief silence.
"...Got it. Sorry."
Piel hesitated a moment, then nodded.
Only then did she smile a little more softly.
"Yes. So stop on the verge of tears now. You've done more than enough."
At those words, the fox tail lifted just a fraction.
An awkward posture still.
But unlike moments ago, her breathing was steady.
A wordless warmth settled between them for a moment.
But.
That peace didn't last.
It was then.
Aira's gaze unintentionally slid toward the bed.
To the black box sitting atop it.
'...Wait a minute.'
Moments like this—where the ever-smirking master wore that expression—were rare enough to count on one hand, as she'd just heard.
So why had he made that face just from bringing back that box?
The moment that fact crystallized in her mind... slowly, but unmistakably, hypotheses that absolutely should not be entertained began rising in Aira's thoughts.
And right then.
Creak!
The door burst open.
"Ah, Princess Evelyn!?"
"Greetings, Princess."
At the sudden visit, Piel hastily bowed, and Aira reflexively dipped her head.
"Piel, Aira. Long time no see. I hope you've been well?"
The familiar voice.
Soft, leisurely as always.
But before the two could properly respond to the greeting, their eyes were drawn past her.
Behind the princess.
Another shadow entering the room.
"You two... have been guarding the box properly, right?"
"Mas—"
"Master Lucas?!"
The words cut off.
To be precise, mouths opened but no sound came out.
Bruises blooming dark across his face.
Gashes like tears in his skin.
Traces of bandages hastily wrapped.
He wasn't even standing straight.
His body tilted to one side, each step heavy and dragging.
Less a man than a battered sack propped up by force.
Their Master Lucas.
"......"
"......"
In that instant, the air in the annex shifted.
Faces drained white.
Pupils frozen.
And after a very brief silence, something inside them flipped.
"...Who."
Piel's fangs slowly bared. They clacked together with a short sound.
"Who the hell did this to Master."
Her voice was low, but edged like a blade.
"Just say the word, and I'll bring back their corpse."
Aira stepped forward.
Force entered her feet, the floor vibrating faintly. Her whole body aligned for combat.
The sadness and agitation from moments ago were gone from her eyes without a trace.
Only one thing remained.
'Enemy.'
Just as their killing intent began to fill the room—
"I did it."
"...Pardon?"
"Princess Evelyn, you...?"
An unexpected reply.
The air froze once more.
This time, even the killing intent lost direction, hanging motionless in the void.
Evelyn lifted her chin nonchalantly.
"Lucas Argent's state? That's my handiwork, so you two don't need to worry."
A smug huff escaped at the end.
As if declaring, 'This is my territory.'
Meanwhile, the man in question said nothing, shoulders slumped halfway.
That silence was more terrifying.
Piel and Aira exchanged a brief glance.
And in the end, they had to ask.
"M-Master. What... what happened?"
"Did you two... fight?"
Even with split lips, Lucas managed an awkward smile.
"Fight? Well... sort of. Remember last time when Family Head Alain mentioned me and Princess Evelyn... you know, that 'special relationship' stuff?"
Piel's ears perked up instantly.
"Don't tell me it was because of that rumor...?"
Their gazes shifted to Evelyn.
She'd tamped down her anger, but it was obvious she was still holding it in.
"Princess."
Then Aira spoke very softly, but clearly.
"I know it might be presumptuous, but... there's no need to beat someone like this over something like that!"
Piel bared her fangs a touch too.
"Yeah. Even so... that's too much!"
But Evelyn merely turned to face Aira and Piel.
Her eyes smiled, but it wasn't a smile.
"Princess Aira. And Piel. Do you really think I'd reduce someone to that over a mere rumor?"
"Yes?"
"Then...?"
"At first, I tried to laugh it off."
Evelyn took a step forward.
A chill layered into her gaze at Lucas.
"He's a business partner, after all. I figured I'd at least save some 'face'."
Then, as if grinding her teeth, she added,
"At least until that next remark."
"Next remark...?"
Even back when Lucas first entered the Ashen Hand's hideout, Evelyn had planned to let it slide within reason.
There was the debt from the Alain family head incident, and above all, she knew Lucas Argent wasn't the type to spread such absurd rumors on purpose.
It'd be a lie to say the recent gossip didn't irk her, but she wasn't petty enough to rage over it like this.
At least, not until she heard that.
"Don't worry. I'm not interested in 'little girl figures' either."
"......Huh?"
In this world, a noble lady's body wasn't her own.
Once she had her first period, it became a bargaining chip between families, marriage turned political, and flesh equaled face.
For royalty, the weight was indescribable.
In this medieval code—and right in front of the princess herself—that remark evaluating her body was no mere rudeness.
A body as a vessel for bearing children.
And trampling the family honor overlaid upon it in one go.
The basest, most direct insult.
That was why.
The smile vanishing completely from Evelyn's face in the next instant.
Slap!
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
"Ma, Master..."
"You said something you deserved to get hit for..."
"Why?!"