Elsi felt good. She had felt that way since she stepped out of Ian’s hospital room.
It was the first time in her life that she had developed affection for someone other than her younger brother and had been proven that someone was worth risking their life to save.
If malice and resentment were flames that gnawed at her, then kindness was like the spring sun, making life more exciting.
The heart muscle that had been tightly tensed relaxed, and Elsi’s expression softened and became more tender.
She even let out a silly “Heh.” Moreover, it was usual for her to hum a tune she had never sung in her life.
Elsi felt Ian was dependable. He was a stronger human than Elsi, both in strength and character.
Whenever she stood before him, Elsi would revert to the weak and cunning girl of her childhood.
It was a shabby nature that she herself had denied. A façade she had wrapped around herself, desperately trying to conceal.
However, Ian embraced even that Elsi. He acknowledged her and protected her.
The joy of being recognized was finally engraved in Elsi’s heart.
Everyone desires recognition from those superior to them. Elsi had not received proper love from her parents simply because she was small. In high aristocratic families, children were generally viewed as such.
A tool to continue the family line, or a bargaining chip for a political marriage.
Her affection for parents who had neglected the bullying by siblings was not that great. It was just that they maintained a relationship resembling love-hate, supposedly the natural bond between parent and child.
Rather, Ian’s acknowledgment was more important to Elsi recently. At some point, she had become fascinated by him, and since the day of the Hunting Festival, she had steadily lingered around Ian’s side.
Then she heard the words.
He wanted to save her “just” because he wanted to, without weighing benefits or losses. That made him all the more reliable.
Before she knew it, Elsi had become someone of significance to Ian.
Of course, it might not be to the extent that she occupied his heart, but Elsi had started to take a place in one corner of his heart. If that was the case, she could gradually expand that space.
In time, the unidentified emotions she held in her heart would reveal their colors.
Elsi’s change, once cold and threatening, was dramatic. Naturally, there were more than a few who noticed this.
First of all, it was the children who were always keeping an eye on the adults.
Until recently, they had been growling, then moaned for a couple of days, and now they were merrily humming along.
It was an inexplicable matter, but at the very least, it was obvious that Elsi looked happy.
She even passed off the mischievous pranks of the children, which she would normally never entertain. Soon the kids erupted into boisterous laughter and gathered around Elsi.
She was the one who seemed the closest to them physically.
As a high-ranking noble of the Empire, she was someone they couldn’t even meet eyes with when out in public, but children did not understand the complex world of adults. Their eyes were pure.
They believed only what they could see and hear. And among those who appeared before them now, the most familiar figure was Elsi.
She was small and looked young. Her cute and lovely appearance made her popular with young and old alike. The only flaw was her finicky personality, but since meeting Ian and feeling so good, Elsi’s demeanor had become amiable.
That day, Elsi had to lead the small children around, handling all the chores.
She cleaned and washed dishes too. Even Guildford and Yulen were surprised by her cooperative attitude.
When someone asked why, Elsi would merely respond with a proud look.
“Just!”
And among those who noticed Elsi’s blatant transformation was a woman.
Delphine Yuridina.
She was the heir of the Yuridina Clan and was well-known as Elsi’s rival.
The reason the two women hated each other so much was not known. There was no resentment between their families, nor was there any particular incident that had triggered it.
From some moment onwards, Delphine and Elsi began to keep their distance from each other as if it were only natural. In fact, even the parties involved did not quite understand why.
They just didn’t like each other. That led to their relationship becoming strained, and now they were each other’s foremost rivals at the Academy.
Both women undoubtedly had stubborn personalities, and the fact that they were both unable to bend contributed to their rivalry. However, hate is merely another form of interest, so Delphine had been watching Elsi closely.
That’s why she quickly realized it.
That Elsi looked very happy.
Just now, look.
Elsi had her eyes closed and was smiling broadly. It seemed like she was recalling someone, with a faint blush on her cheeks. She looked incredibly happy.
And the more her enemy felt this way, the worse Delphine’s mood became, as was inevitable.
After staring at Elsi with an unpleasant expression for a while, Delphine soon thought of a wonderful solution.
If Elsi was feeling good, she could just stomp all over her herself.
That would surely make her feel better. As soon as Delphine made that judgment, she moved without hesitation.
This had been repeated since long ago.
Whenever Delphine felt good, Elsi would pick a fight, and if Elsi felt good, Delphine would pick a fight too. This was a cause-and-effect relationship that was so accepted at the Academy.
So even when Delphine and Elsi were in good spirits, they would still distance themselves from each other. When they happened to meet, they would frown at each other first.
First, as usual, Delphine stood confidently in front of Elsi.
This would cause Elsi, who was carrying a glass of water, to look confused, and upon seeing Delphine’s face, she would likely scowl in annoyance.
Yes, that was how it should be.
But Elsi merely glanced at Delphine briefly before taking a path to avoid her. The tune she hummed was cheerful. Delphine felt perplexed.
Just a moment ago, a smirk seemed to have lingered on Elsi’s lips while glancing at Delphine.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand why. The red hue of Delphine’s eyes darkened.
“…Elsi Rainelle.”
“Yeah, what?”
At Delphine’s quiet call, Elsi, who had been placing the water cup on the table, responded lazily. Her tone carried not even a hint of animosity.
It made Delphine even more upset. It was as if it meant she didn’t care about her at all, making her feel dismissed.
“You seem especially cheerful today?”
“Do I? Well, I guess that’s how it is.”
Normally, at this moment, she would have retorted with a sharp voice to pick at Delphine. However, Elsi’s demeanor remained completely unfazed. Delphine narrowed her eyes with interest.
It was a sudden change. There must be a reason for it. With half curiosity and half malice, Delphine decided to test Elsi’s reaction.
“Have you gotten used to doing menial tasks? You look like a maid.”
“A maid serves depending on whom they serve.”
“A maid serving commoners? How noble.”
With that, Delphine scoffed. This was something she truly meant.
Elsi, once considered the prodigy of the Rainelle Clan, was now claiming to be a maid. To say that it didn’t amuse her would be a lie.
Delphine thought that her last shreds of dignity had been shattered.
Elsi had a strong sense of pride as a high-ranking noble. She could hardly be expected to tolerate such provocation.
Nevertheless, Elsi showed no significant reaction. She looked slightly displeased, but that was all.
For a moment, her blue sapphire-like eyes stared silently at Delphine. Elsi soon turned her gaze back to the table, where she started arranging the cups again.
“…If it’s something I genuinely want to serve, what difference does it make? Broadly speaking, aren’t we nobles just mere servants who serve for His Majesty the Emperor?”
It was an important clue. If the mischievous talent of the Rainelle Clan had suddenly woken to a sense of altruism, it would be the prosperity of the Rainelle Clan. However, judging from her words, that possibility was slim.
It was because of the reference to “His Majesty the Emperor.”
This expression referred to a singular, clear superior. The fact that she used such words, even unconsciously, meant that her self-identification as a “maid” was also related to it.
Delphine would not miss this. The blood-red hue of her eyes sparkled for an instant.
“So, who is Elsi Rainelle’s ‘His Majesty the Emperor’?”
Elsi’s movements halted abruptly. It was just a moment, but she couldn’t escape Delphine’s gaze. A smile spread across Delphine’s lips.
Yes, it must be. You can’t change alone.
“…Hmph, what are you talking about? The Rainelle Clan has always been loyal vassals to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Just a metaphor, but you know that well, don’t you? I’m just a bit curious since the change is so dramatic.”
Elsi glared at Delphine for a moment with a displeased expression before abruptly turning her head away.
It seemed she was upset. Given that, one could consider her goal achieved, but Delphine had already become fascinated by a new possibility.
She pondered for a moment. Who could Elsi Rainelle possibly follow so devotedly?
If one were not a fool, they could easily guess.
Someone she had incurred a significant debt to recently, and who had shown an unusually submissive attitude before that.
The name of the monster that had carved defeat into Delphine’s being and shattered her pride immediately came to mind.
“…Ian Fercurus.”
As Elsi’s arm, which had been wiping the table, paused, her sharp, hostile gaze turned to Delphine.
Only then did Delphine feel joy. Yes, this is how it should be. Elsi Rainelle should be just like this.
“Surely that can’t be, can it, Rainelle? You’d do well to come to your senses… that man is merciless and the perpetrator who assaulted and threatened you.”
“…At that time, I was the one who was wrong first.”
Hearing that, Delphine could only wear a wry smile.
Silly Elsi, not even realizing that was like an admission.
And it was even more ridiculous. Whether she was in the wrong or not, what did it matter? That’s what being a high-ranking noble was all about.
Doing as they pleased, just as they wanted.
In return, they had to endure even greater burdens. Because the moment of defeat means the end, one had to live desperately.
Wasn’t Elsi Rainelle the one who knew this better than anyone?
Her current demeanor was indistinguishable from a fall. Delphine shook her head in pity.
“Well, that’s just the logic of the victor; if you trace back the origins of responsibility like that, who would be free of blame? Wasn’t it him who first assaulted your beloved younger brother?”
Elsi said nothing. By now, she was merely glaring at Delphine with cold eyes.
Delphine couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Mockery spilled out of her lips spontaneously.
“Ha! Hahaha… Giving up on taking revenge for your dear younger brother and now claiming to be a maid to that murder maniac? I can’t wait to see what your brother Rufin would say if he saw this…”
At that moment.
With a loud splash, water was sprayed everywhere. Delphine’s eyes momentarily went blank as she was unexpectedly splashed with water.
Elsi had picked up a cup from the table and sprayed it directly at Delphine’s face. It was the first humiliation she had faced in her life.
Delphine could not comprehend this situation at all. Thus, she couldn’t even feel angry.
She simply stood there, water dripping from her, her lips flapping a few times.
However, nothing came out of Delphine’s mouth. This was because Elsi, with a fierce expression in her eyes, was growling threateningly.
“…Who do you think you are, daring to speak ill of Ian?”
With Delphine in a daze, Elsi gritted her teeth and took off her hooded hat. Her small hands brushed her bangs back.
Then she exhaled a hot breath, “You filthy bitch.”
It was clear as day that she was genuinely angry.
