That day, Senior Elsi appeared somewhat unstable.
It was the day after the battle with the Lady Virgin Saint. I had no choice but to move forward with a perplexed heart.
In fact, there were no incorrect parts in the Lady Virgin Saint’s logic.
Enduring small sacrifices to avoid greater ones. I had said I could not accept even that, but a mere swordsman and a politician carrying the fate of a nation would inevitably have differing judgments.
The words “I will manage somehow” were nothing more than an unreasonably optimistic outlook.
A politician had to make rational judgments. They couldn’t rely solely on sheer willpower like I did. I knew that fact, but I couldn’t shake off the growing melancholy in my heart.
Still, I thought the Lady Virgin Saint would understand.
Surely, she would sympathize and support the desire to save the child. I had such shallow expectations, but the burden the Lady Virgin Saint carried was beyond imagination. I still could not forget the vacant expression on her face.
It must be because the secret entangled with this orphanage had such a far-reaching impact.
Even as I fully considered the Lady Virgin Saint’s feelings, I had no way to calm my overwhelming sense of helplessness. If I could not receive assistance from the Holy Kingdom, whose help was I supposed to seek?
Should I borrow the authority of the Imperial Court?
This was an attractive option, but soon I had to dismiss such blasphemous thoughts. To misuse the name of the Imperial Court while touching upon the Holy Kingdom’s flaws?
The potential for it to escalate into a diplomatic issue was high. No matter how I might exploit the authority of the court, it was out of the question to cause that much trouble.
Now, what should I do?
At that moment, the person I encountered was none other than Senior Elsi.
In the middle of an open area, a small girl shivering visibly caught my attention. I couldn’t help but approach her, tilting my head.
In Senior Elsi’s hands was a small booklet.
Though the title was not visible, a glance at its content suggested it introduced the unique cultures of various countries. It particularly seemed to contain many stories about the Southern Kingdoms. Perhaps that was because it was a union of multiple nations and tribes.
According to rumors, some tribes still practiced human sacrifices.
In many ways, the Southern Kingdoms were a peculiar place, just as those I had met from there had said.
Not to mention the rascal Tean, who was quite a piece of work, and our class’s top student from the Swordsmanship Department.
How strange was the culture that Senior Elsi was experiencing to make her tremble so?
A soft call escaped my lips.
“…Senior Elsi?”
“Hiik?!”
Senior Elsi seemed to spring up in a startled reaction to my voice.
With eyes full of caution, she glared at me and began to look around.
By now, I became even more curious about the contents of the book she held tightly.
My finger subtly pointed to the booklet in Senior Elsi’s embrace.
“What are you doing? What book are you reading…?”
Senior Elsi broke into a cold sweat, her expression intensifying.
“Ah! M-Master… Th-This is, well…”
The girl’s shoulders slumped. After a moment of glancing at me, Senior Elsi soon revealed the book’s content.
“It’s a book about very barbaric cultures!”
“Barbaric cultures?”
This time, my hesitation was short. Deciding to change tactics, Senior Elsi suddenly stomped her feet, indignant.
“According to one barbaric tribe, they eat dogs! Even in the summer, to nourish themselves! How is that possible? Puppies are long-time friends of humanity!”
At her earnest plea, I couldn’t help but let out a strange sound.
My gaze subtly scanned Senior Elsi’s body. She was trying hard to feign anger, but the stiffness of her muscles revealed her true feelings.
“It’s a betrayal of loyalty?! How could they do that! Puppies only love humans…!”
‘To eat.’
That was the literal meaning, but the fact that the person in front of me was Senior Elsi complicated things. Naturally, I couldn’t help but think of the metaphorical implications that “to eat” carried.
In the context of human relationships, there was only one meaning for “to eat.”
I unconsciously reflected on past memories. The soft sensation conveyed from Senior Elsi’s skin, her body sufficiently developed despite her petite stature.
Was it because of my excessive indulgence yesterday? My thoughts flowed directly down my spine without passing through my brain.
“…That might be nice.”
“Hiik?!”
At my brief impression, tears began to well in Senior Elsi’s eyes.
Dropping the booklet to the ground, she shivered and hugged herself tightly.
“Please save me, don’t put me in water… I promise I’ll be good from now on. I’ll listen to you, Master! I won’t bother anyone else, and I’ll only speak pretty words… And, and…”
It was a sight I hadn’t seen in a long time. I couldn’t understand why she was so frightened, but suddenly one particular phrase from her murmuring struck me.
“You’re going to listen to me from now on?”
“Yes, yes… I’ll do everything you say. So please don’t eat Elsi…”
Looking down at my friend shedding tears and clutching at my pant legs, I responded with a bright smile.
“Then let’s think of a way to persuade the Lady Virgin Saint together.”
“Yes, yes… Whatever it takes… Huh?”
At that moment, Senior Elsi’s crying stopped abruptly.
As she gazed up at me blankly, she soon began to frown, sulking slightly.
“Why do I have to talk to that woman…?”
“Pretty words.”
“…Can I ask why I need to talk to her? Hehe.”
Thus, the plan formed was the ‘Lady Virgin Saint Jealousy Inducing Operation.’
For the record, it wasn’t my idea. No matter how much of a scoundrel I may be, I wouldn’t do such a thing to a girl who had confessed to me.
Of course, Senior Elsi didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic about it either.
Nonetheless, the reason Senior Elsi decided to take on this role was that the matter wasn’t unrelated to Mr. Raymond.
Since it was a problem involving my uncle, she had no choice but to actively participate.
Still, I was grateful to have Senior Elsi’s assistance.
This way, I could stroll through the city with the Lady Virgin Saint.
However, we couldn’t reveal our faces. We were public figures, and the moment our identities were exposed, it would be hard to have our private time. That’s why we both wore deeply pulled hoods.
In fact, it might have been more fortunate this way.
My and the Lady Virgin Saint’s hands were tenuously connected. It was a minimal precaution to avoid losing each other amidst the crowd. Looking back now, it might have been nothing more than an excuse.
Even while walking through the city, the Lady Virgin Saint remained silent.
Was she perhaps recalling our conversation from last night?
She was not someone who would readily accept a sudden invitation for a date. Somehow, she must have understood long before that it was a form of reconciliation, and she likely sensed the underlying intentions as well.
I wanted to persuade the Lady Virgin Saint during this opportunity.
Even so, my lips found it hard to part. I needed to speak, but my thoughts were so tangled that my expressions were unrefined. Instead, it was the Lady Virgin Saint who spoke up first.
“…Are you surprised?”
At her low joke, a wry smile appeared on my lips.
It was a painfully accurate observation. In fact, my body had become overly stiff.
The cause was when I first met the Lady Virgin Saint before putting on the hood today.
In the morning, she had casually grasped my hand while wearing a fatigued expression. When I went to see her in the afternoon, it was the goddess of beauty who awaited me.
I had forgotten that for a while.
The places I and the Lady Virgin Saint had frequented were always filled with blood and illness. There was no room for vanity or shame. But if I had to go out alone with someone I was interested in, that was a different story.
Even a slight touch of makeup could enhance a woman’s beauty.
Today I couldn’t help but keenly feel that truth. Just the smile of the woman shaded by the hood made it difficult to meet her gaze.
The Lady Virgin Saint seemed to appreciate that aspect.
“Did you just realize? Who you are walking alongside?”
“No, well…”
As I fumbled for my response, a small laugh escaped the Lady Virgin Saint’s lips.
The woman who was looking at me with a cute expression suddenly began to poke me in the side with her finger.
“Ugh! No, what are you doing… Ack, ack!”
The pressure from her pokes, more than enough to train her skills, made it impossible for me to moan anything but a weak scream.
Honestly, I could have endured it, but I thought that doing so would be better for the Lady Virgin Saint’s mood.
Fortunately, it seemed my expectations were not mistaken.
The Lady Virgin Saint soon bore a satisfied smile.
“Then behave yourself. Don’t let your eyes wander unnecessarily.”
She then stood on her tiptoes and whispered something even more meaningful.
“…Don’t do anything to spoil my mood.”
I could only let out a faint laugh in response.
Truly, how Lady Virgin Saint-like she was. Since we were out on a date today, this meant I shouldn’t say anything to provoke her mood.
Of course, I wasn’t the type to give up easily.
“As long as you don’t spoil your mood, are there still possibilities left?”
“Do as you please.”
With a huff, the Lady Virgin Saint said just that.
It meant she had no intention of changing her mind. Though she seemed outwardly calm, my worries were only deepening.
I could not think of any ingredients to persuade the Lady Virgin Saint.
The only method that came to mind was to, well, push her into a private room. Command her in a strong tone while adding some sexual harassment to it.
That was a ridiculously trashy idea. But considering the Lady Virgin Saint’s preferences, it might be the only method available.
That was when I sensed something unusual.
I turned my gaze toward a corner of the bustling street, noticing a familiar face among the crowd. The Lady Virgin Saint’s eyes narrowed as she followed my gaze.
“…Huh?”
There was a familiar face. It was Perry Kuars, the merchant who had collapsed and bled out last night. Alongside him were Lia and a few others.
Though their atmosphere seemed lively, their attire revealed otherwise.
It was clear they were a gathering of merchants. That cheerful mood was merely superficial.
At that moment, I felt two questions forming in my mind.
“Did Perry regain consciousness?”
“Yes, this morning… But they must have firmly advised him to take a break for a while.”
That was a predictable response. Silently, I nodded a couple of times.
However, my true question was different.
The second question, that was…
“Should we follow them?”
The Lady Virgin Saint hesitated for a while. Her feelings were plainly reflected on her face.
Discontent, disappointment, anxiety, and worry.
Eventually, a long sigh escaped her beautiful lips.
“…If it’s nothing serious, you better not expect it to go well.”
It was a warning, though I couldn’t tell if it was directed at me or Perry.
It didn’t matter which way it went.
Thus began the tailing of the hooded duo.
As expected, it would have looked suspicious to anyone observing.
