Chapter 111
TN: Please read my translations only on my website nyx-translation.com since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi and Patreon to read several chapters ahead!
Sponsored chapter by our Patreon. Enjoy~
ED: LonelyMatter
Chapter 111 – Heim at That Time
——One day in Heim.
Elena was working hard at the castle as usual when she thought it was time for her to take a lunch break.
“Elena-sama. His Highness the Third Prince would like to see you.”
“Ara… by the way, can you tell me what is going on?”
“Probably about Ishtalika…”
It happened the other day.
There was a development in the correspondence with Ishtalika via Euro. Elena was the first to check the letter that arrived.
As for the content of the letter, their request was rejected, of course.
As an alternative, a neutral place was chosen, a small island off the coast, although according to the nautical chart, it was closer to Heim. It was written that they should develop and use the island.
If the proposal was not accepted, the meeting would be canceled. Moreover, the King of Ishtalika was coming, and he would have a large fleet. He implied, “If we meet at Heim, we can destroy it at any time.” She had a feeling he was going to say that.
“I understand. So where is His Highness?”
“He said he would wait for you in the courtyard. I think he is already on his way.”
“In that case, I’ll take my leave. Thank you for your report.”
Just in case Tigre requested it, she had prepared a letter for Ishtalika that she could retrieve at any moment.
After freshening up quickly in front of the mirror, she hurried out of her office.
——The castle of Heim was very large.
This was due to the pride and determination of Heim, who claimed to be the supreme ruler of the continent, not to be inferior to other countries. It was also a way to show off their great wealth.
She would like to see the castle in Ishtalika one day. Elena’s little dream was to see how it differed from the castle in Heim.
“Well… what is it, Elena-dono, what’s the hurry?”
As she hurried down the corridor, she b.u.mped into a boy.
His name was Grint Roundheart. He was the next in line of the Roundheart family and went in and out of the castle as a guard for the third prince, Tigre.
He used to have a face that made him look mischievous, but now his mouth resembled that of his father, Logas, and he had become much more dignified.
His well-groomed blond hair, dignified face, and position as Tigre’s bodyguard.
There was no reason why Grint should not be a topic of conversation in social circles. However, since Grint himself only sees Anon, his fiancée, he has not yet been the subject of conversation.
“Ara, Grint-dono. I’m sorry to show you my unsightly appearance… Actually, I was on my way to meet His Highness the Third Prince…”
“Oh, what a coincidence. I’m on my way to see His Highness. May I join you?”
“Yes, of course.”
Elena thought in her mind.
He was the younger brother of the Crown Prince of Ishtalika, Ain. And he was an excellent talent, born as a holy knight, whose future has been eagerly awaited since childhood.
To tell the truth, there was a time when she thought about letting him meet Krone. She thought that “that” Krone might like him if he was a reputable holy knight.
She once compiled a personal profile she had researched about Grint and left it on the desk in Krone’s room. She put it in an envelope and wrote Grint’s name and the words “Holy Knight” on the envelope.
When she asked the servant the next day, excited to see what had happened, Krone had done something Elena had not expected.
“…It was still sealed and in the trash.”
When she heard that, she couldn’t stop opening her mouth.
Neither royalty nor a holy knight. …Her mother, Elena, had no idea who in the world she would like.
“(…I had a really hard time with it at that time. But there was a part of me that was convinced.)”
——But it was sometime later.
The unveiling of the n.o.bles at Augusto’s mansion.
That night, Elena heard that Krone might have fallen in love.
Elena, as usual, would have doubted it, but it was Graff, the head of the Augusto family at the time, who had mentioned it. But if he was the one who mentioned it, it was a different story.
Who on earth was the other party? Unable to contain her excitement, she stormed over to her father-in-law.
He opened his heavy mouth and told her that his name was Ain. “Ain…?” She thought for a moment but could not figure out what family he was a child of. Seeing Elena’s condition, Graff continued his explanation with a tired expression.
The child of Olivia and the great general Logas. That’s what Graff said.
Hearing this, everything made sense. Both Olivia and Graff are so famous that there was no one who did not know them. She felt ashamed that she did not understand right away.
A child who worked hard but didn’t have much talent. And he couldn’t beat his brother… That’s how Ain was viewed in social circles.
His bloodline was excellent, but Elena still couldn’t figure out what Krone liked about him.
But now she understood. The hero who killed the sea dragon, the man who became the hero of the great nation of Ishtalika, was this Ain. When she thought about it, she could really feel how great Krone’s eye for men was. She was really made aware of it.
“Elena-dono? Are you thinking about something?”
“…Yes. It’s about Ishtalika.”
She was not lying. But about Krone in Ishtalika.
“It is indeed a cause for concern. His Highness is also very concerned about Miss Krone, and I would like to help her immediately.”
“Well, that is rea.s.suring. Thank you for all your help.”
But now she must continue to lie like this. This secret must go to the grave to protect Harley, Krone’s brother Riel, and everyone who works for the Augusto family.
“It really is a troubled country. They have no sense of civility and just rely on the strength of their huge country.”
“…Yes. Really.”
The way Logas, and by extension Roundheart, treated Olivia. She was tempted to criticize him about this, but she managed to push it to the back of her mind.
“It’s a country I really don’t understand since they made that man the crown prince.”
Seeing Grint mumbling so quietly, Elena remembered the question she has been wanting to ask for a long time. It’s a bit rude, but since she’s from the Archduke’s family, she wanted to be forgiven. She apologized in her heart.
“…I know this is very difficult to ask, but may I ask you a question?”
“Yes, please. How can I help you?”
“I heard that the person who defeated Grint-dono at the Euro was the bodyguard of the Crown Prince of Ishtalika. And the royal knight who escorted them said that the crown prince was stronger than him… What do you think about that, Grint-dono?”
“Ha-haha… this is a very difficult question again.”
It’s a bittersweet story for Grint, but it certainly happened.
He was treated like a child, and there was nothing he could do about it. His name was Dill, a man Grint was determined to humiliate. This was the man Grint was determined to do.
“But let me be clear: I think that’s an exaggeration. Yes, this Dill was strong. But to think that he could be even stronger is really just a fantasy.”
“I see. I’m sorry, that was something that was difficult for you to answer.”
“No, don’t worry about it.”
He said that, but Grint’s expression was bitter.
The past at the Roundheart mansion, that’s the only way to judge the current situation. The amount of growth was a matter of personal difference, and there was no material to judge how much one had grown.
However, she didn’t believe that Krone would lie, so he really must have defeated a monster bigger than a ship all by himself.
The more she thought about it, the more she worried about this man named Ain.
＊＊＊
“Oh, there you are, you two! I’ve been waiting for you!”
A little talk, a lot of thinking. In the meantime, they reached the courtyard where Tigre was waiting for them.
He was surrounded and attended to by several servants. The luxurious appearance of the Heim royal family was a familiar sight to Elena, so she had nothing to think about.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Your Highness. I heard you wanted to talk to me about something…”
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Your Highness.”
After Elena, Grint spoke up and moved behind Tigre.
Elena, on the other hand, moved closer to Tigre and bowed deeply to him as a va.s.sal.
“Good, good. Well, first of all, please sit down.”
“Then please excuse me.”
The cheerful Tigre said, and Elena sat down on the front seat. A beautiful servant approached and offered Elena a cup of tea.
“You probably know this, it’s about the letter from Ishtalika the other day.”
“As I thought.”
The reason for the call was, as she imagined, the matter with Ishtalika. Elena took out her bag and pulled out a letter from Ishtalika.
“Right. This letter… is a letter that says a lot of things that I don’t like. Don’t you think so?”
“Yes. I can see that they look down on Heim.”
“Yes, that’s right. I don’t like it. It’s just a big country, after all.”
Tigre opened the letter and read the contents. He looked elegant as he held the letter in one hand and occasionally raised a cup of tea to his lips.
“Umu… It is still the same insensitive handwriting as before. You think it is enough to just write plainly… so to speak, which is what those who can only do so much do.”
The handwriting is very beautiful indeed. It is well-balanced, and the contrast between the thick and thin parts even gives the impression of artistry.
“Who wrote this letter?”
“As stated at the end of the letter, the Crown Prince of Ishtalika… It was the Crown Prince’s a.s.sistant.”
“Umu. That is what it says.”
Under the name of Sylvird, it was mentioned as the Crown Prince’s a.s.sistant. The subst.i.tute writer’s name was usually not written, so it was just written as the Crown Prince’s a.s.sistant.
“Such a rude man, such an a.s.sistant is a trivial thing! That’s why I don’t like the handwriting!”
With these words, he handed the letter to Elena as if to throw it away.
“But he is a member of the Royal Family of Ishtalika. Aren’t they chosen after a rigorous examination…”
“Hmm! Then he should have chosen an a.s.sistant who could do the job better!”
Elena suspected that this was just an attempt to be stingy… From Elena’s point of view, the letter’s handwriting was very polite and pleasant.
Unlike Heim’s, Ishtalika’s writing had a slight quirkiness to it. It was also finished in a way that made it beautiful, and the letter was something to look at and admire.
Behind the complaining Tigre, Grint nodded softly.
“Well then, Your Highness? What do you want to tell me?”
“Oh yes, yes! …You remember the spy named Lili, don’t you?”
It was a bitter memory. She was a woman who had worked at the castle for several years and was a competent official who also helped Elena.
She had been spying on Elena for years until Elena found out, and the information had already been pa.s.sed on to Tigre.
“My lack of skills has caused Heim a lot of trouble…”
“Ah, that’s okay. The person who recruited her was also to blame, and moreover, everyone in the castle was unaware of it. So Elena is innocent, could you please raise your head?”
Elena, who had bowed her head, looked up at Tigre’s words.
Elena is good at her job, but there is another reason why Tigre likes Elena. It was about Krone, of course, and for that reason, Elena and Harley also used a clause.
“Well, because of this Lili. I thought we could do the same.”
＊＊＊
Sometimes… no, often, she thought they should be a little more careful. Especially the att.i.tude of underestimating the other party was not a good idea.
“I don’t want to put it in words, but…”
After finishing the conversation with Tigre, she was on her way back to her office.
But somehow, she thought it was a good story that had caught her interest in the end.
“What am I going to tell him? Well, I’ll tell him somehow.”
Thinking of her husband, who was not here, Elena was optimistic that she would manage.
Now, when she got back to her office, she had to go to work. Just as she thought,
“Oh, Elena! It’s Elena! What are you doing here?”
“This is… Your Highness. What a coincidence that we meet in a place like this.”
He has a large figure and sweat beads on his forehead just from walking. The hair on his head is beginning to thin, and he has a strange body odor.
Only his clothes are luxurious and splendidly made, unique. He is flanked on either side by a well-dressed woman wrapped in a thin cloth.
His name was Layfon. He was the first prince and, of course, the first in line to the throne.
“Oh, what a coincidence! Perfect, what about you, Elena?”
“What do you mean…?”
“We’re going to play in my bedroom now, will you join us? It will be fun and pleasant, won’t it?”
With that, he hugged the women lined up on either side of him.
Layfon was tall and large. The women besides him looked so small in his embrace.
“I am sorry. I have a husband and I am honored by your invitation, but…”
“I told you before, don’t worry! I’ll tell Harley, now come with me.”
Her hands were pulled so tightly that she couldn’t resist. “This is not good…” She tried to think of what to do, but it seemed like she was really being taken out of the situation.
“…Brother, what are you doing?”
“Hmm? Oh, isn’t that Tigre, but what am I doing, you ask… I wanted to have some fun with the girls in the bedroom! That’s why I’m taking Elena with me. Elena is also very pretty and very nice, and I’ve been trying to get her to come to my bedroom for a while now, but it just hasn’t been possible!”
His words, spoken with a distinctive inflection, echoed through the wide corridor. Tigre, hearing and understanding, looked at Elena once, then returned his gaze to Layfon and opened his mouth.
“It’s your choice to have fun with the woman you like, but I don’t think you should force her.”
“I’m not forcing her! Elena is happy too!”
“I see. But even if she was happy, I don’t think Elena would agree.”
For once, she was grateful to Tigre. If he hadn’t come, things would have been a bit more troublesome and difficult.
“Why? Isn’t it okay with me?”
“Father… no, His Majesty will scold you. Marriages of the higher n.o.bility are conducted with His Majesty’s approval. If you do anything to dispute it, His Majesty will surely scold you.”
“M… Huh! This is not good! I must not offend our father…”
Layfon did not want King Heim’s anger to affect his position. Therefore, he honestly backed away when he heard those words.
“I don’t want the throne, but this life is important to me… Sorry Elena, so I’m leaving!”
“Yes. Have a good time.”
He probably brought prost.i.tutes. The cost of his prost.i.tutes, which increased year after year, was a headache, but it was a small price to pay compared to the cost of his meddling with the daughters of n.o.bles and others.
And so Layfon left the place. He would probably have a good time in the bedroom from now on.
“…Your Highness. Thank you very much.”
“No, don’t worry about it. I’m more sorry that you almost had to do what a wh.o.r.e would do.”
‘I wish he would just shut up and only touch prost.i.tutes, but he causes this trouble from time to time, so it is discouraging.’
It is appreciated that he is not interested in the throne, but one always wonders if he could be a little more mature about it.
“By the way, Your Highness. Is there anything else?”
“Oh, yes, yes. There’s a reason I’m after Elena.”
“How can I help you?”
“About what you said before. There will be a meeting to discuss the selection of the person, and I would like you to consider the date. That’s all.”
“Well, is that what this is about? I would have come to you myself if I had been summoned, but I am sorry you had to come all the way here.”
Tigre was sometimes very proactive. A good example was the case of the Euro, where he suddenly wanted to do things on his own like he did back then.
When he had an idea, he acted on it immediately. Tigre had such a character, and it was a fact that he was appreciated for it. That was one of the reasons why he was so popular in Heim.
“I understand. Then would it be better in the near future?”
“Yes! Even though there is still more than half a year to go, it is a matter of course. We should decide as many things as carefully as possible.”
“I think you are right. Then let’s make adjustments as soon as possible.”
“Yes! I’m counting on you, Elena! ——I’ll go back to the courtyard. I’ve left Grint behind too, hahaha!”
Elena exhaled deeply when she saw him return in a good mood.
The same happened with Layfon, but today was a tiring day anyway. There was a lot to think about and a new schedule to adjust.
“I wonder what they are doing in Ishtalika.”
She wondered how Graff was doing. And what kind of woman Krone had become?
Thinking about them was Elena’s most recent pleasure.