Ch.186Time Flows On #7

Though Nick had a certain cleverness that seemed beyond his years, he mostly lived innocently as befitted his age. To think he would commit such an act.

I tapped my arm with my crossed fingers, reflecting on the time I had accompanied the merchant group organized by the Altram Guild, and how Nick had encountered the Imperial Guild there.

It was late at night with everyone asleep, so I couldn’t make much noise. The three women who always accompanied me were sleeping soundly in their beds, making it uncomfortable to move around.

However, the discomfort wasn’t necessarily unpleasant. Rather, I felt somewhat proud that I still had as much strength as before despite my age.

“…This isn’t right.”

I deliberately averted my eyes from the skin touching my shoulder and tried to imagine how Nick would act from now on.

Thanks to Helena’s measures, the Imperial Guild had already been dissolved, and those who worked under it had been provided with new workplaces, which was good… but what came next was the problem.

It seemed like Nick had fallen in love at first sight with the daughter of the Imperial Guild, of all people.

I didn’t mind him loving the daughter of someone we weren’t on good terms with, or even someone who could be considered an enemy. I thought it was possible since you never know when, where, or with whom you might fall in love.

The problem lay with Nick, who had begun to treat that girl in a way that resembled Helena. If he started to become as obsessive as Helena, I naturally wondered if anyone with a normal mentality could handle it.

Helena seemed to have considered this point and told me to talk to her anytime, but I couldn’t just stand back and watch either.

I know that emotional issues should be resolved between the parties involved without outside interference, but when the person in question is far from ordinary, how can I just leave it alone?

.

“Haaah…”

In a room of a fairly spacious two-story house, a young girl with long red hair threw herself onto the bed with her eyes closed.

The girl’s name was Selen, the only daughter of Leonard, who had been the owner of the now-ruined Imperial Guild.

Though not as luxurious as the bed she used before, it was clean and soft, and since she wasn’t afraid of sleeping alone, it could be considered quite comfortable.

However, even in the past, there hadn’t been much difference in quality from when the Imperial Guild was at its peak.

Moreover, she felt grateful that her clothes weren’t shabby like those worn by servants.

Though only ten years old, she had a broader perspective and more knowledge than ordinary children thanks to the harsh education she had received from Leonard.

However, Selen wasn’t particularly grateful for that education.

Her mother, who had enjoyed a good life, had long since departed when the child was around five years old, and her father, Leonard, had become even more bitter and taught his daughter harshly.

From basic arithmetic to negotiation methods, etiquette, and culture.

Because of this, she barely had time to breathe properly and couldn’t indulge in the vanity of being the daughter of the Imperial Guild.

Luxury during a decline was literally just that—luxury—and even if there had been room for it, the main reason was that there was no time.

Although her parents hadn’t been indifferent to her, that was all there was to it, so she resented her father and, by extension, the Kingdom of Sothern that had made him that way.

Before judging right from wrong, she simply thought of them with hatred.

But when she actually came to the duchy of the Kingdom of Sothern that she had resented, she experienced a situation she had never imagined, which left her confused.

She thought she would die for the crime of kidnapping a child of the ducal family for profit, but most people looked at her with sympathetic eyes, and far from treating her like a slave, they even gave her fairly good treatment.

For Selen, all of this was confusing enough, but the real confusion was just beginning.

“Are you in your room?”

“Ah, uh? Y-Yes…!”

Thanks to the education Leonard had drilled into her, instead of doing menial work like a maid, she was able to assist merchants at the Altram Guild, and that work ended as the sun began to set.

After that, with no one coming to visit, she could enjoy time that was entirely her own, but an unexpected voice from outside the door startled her.

It was none other than the voice of the head of the Altram merchant group.

“P-Please come in.”

After hurriedly fixing her hair and clothes and sitting on the bed, the guild master entered with a creaking sound as if he had been waiting.

“Fortunately, it seems you haven’t gone to bed yet.”

“Yes. That’s true… but has something happened? Seeing you visit at this hour…”

“Hmm. That’s right. As it happens, something concerning you has come up, so I came to inform you personally.”

At this late hour? For a moment, an image flashed through Selen’s mind of herself wearing tattered clothes, with heavy shackles on her hands, being dragged away in chains.

It was too quick, but at the same time so vivid that she involuntarily felt a chill run down her spine.

“Um… am I finally being sold as a slave?”

Though she had a mature side, she was still only ten years old, and with her surroundings having changed so drastically not long ago, the added anxiety and now the imagination of becoming a slave…

For young Selen, it was such a huge shock that she forgot all about etiquette.

The guild master, seeming to understand this, continued speaking calmly despite his inner surprise.

“Calm down. You’re not being sold as a slave.”

“Really? Truly?”

“Yes. What would be the point of me lying? However, it is true that you must leave the guild tomorrow and go to a new place.”

“A new place… where exactly am I going?”

Selen was a bit anxious about having to go to a new place, but for now, she was relieved to hear that she wouldn’t be sold as a slave.

At least from what Selen had seen and heard, the life of a slave was too harsh to endure, so she was grateful that wouldn’t be her fate.

Nevertheless, the anxiety of heading to an unfamiliar place made her blurt out a question, and the guild master, thinking it natural, opened his mouth.

Even if she didn’t like it, he thought she might become a valuable guest in the future.

“You will go to the mansion where the Duke resides. We will depart after breakfast tomorrow, so keep that in mind.”

The ducal family! Upon hearing this unexpected destination, Selen momentarily had the absurd thought that being a slave might be better.

She was afraid of going to the residence of a noble who ruled this vast territory, one of only three in the kingdom, and above all, where the infamous Swordmaster from the Empire stayed.

For a moment she thought about running away, but realizing it would be absolutely impossible, she resigned herself in fear.

To leave the duchy, she would have to pass through one of the gates in any direction, which seemed impossible for the daughter of the Imperial Guild whose face was so well-known.

Thus, when morning came the next day, Selen tidied herself up and boarded the carriage heading to the mansion, wearing a red dress prepared by the guild master.

The material and fabric were clearly high-quality items that nobles or wealthy people would wear, which made her very uncomfortable, and that discomfort was slightly visible in her expression.

“Hmm. We’ve arrived.”

When the guild master’s deep voice, who was accompanying her as an escort, resonated, Selen’s gaze naturally turned to the window.

A well-maintained garden on a spacious property. The large mansion surrounded by high, solid walls clearly revealed that a high-ranking noble lived there.

It was as if the mansion itself was boasting like a noble.

“It would be uncomfortable to get down alone in that dress. Here, take my hand.”

“Ah… thank you.”

When they reached the garage and stable where the carriage stopped, the guild master, who had stepped out of the carriage first, extended his hand to Selen, who was hesitating at the carriage entrance.

Thanks to this, Selen was able to step onto the ground slowly and without anxiety, holding the guild master’s hand.

I’ve really entered the ducal residence.

While Selen unconsciously swallowed dry saliva and scanned her surroundings, the guild master engaged in casual conversation with Andy, who had come out to greet them.

Since they had surprisingly many occasions to meet face to face, their chatting appeared quite friendly and natural.

“…Is that young lady over there the one?”

“That’s right. Selen, greet him. This is Andy, the butler who oversees all the servants here.”

“Ah, y-yes! Pleased to meet you. I am Selen Mercator.”

As Selen bowed with a straight and proper posture despite her fluster, Andy also slightly bowed his head with a smile on his lips.

It was natural for him to show courtesy, knowing well why Selen had been summoned, unlike if she were just a servant working in the mansion.

He didn’t know what would happen later, but right now, and with a high probability, she was likely to become an honored guest.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Butler Andy. From now on, you will meet the Duke. Have you heard anything about this?”

“Yes. The guild master gave me a hint beforehand…”

“Then that’s fortunate. From now on, just follow me, and don’t worry too much.”

Selen couldn’t help but worry, but unable to show her thoughts outwardly, she passed by the guild master and quietly followed Andy.

How curious.

Even while nervous, Andy thought it curious that she was admiring the mansion’s interior, which had a heavy dignity that was luxurious but not frivolous like the nouveau riche.

However, that thought didn’t last long, as they had arrived at the study where Helena stayed.

Knock knock. As Andy knocked on the door and spoke, a response came from inside as if it had been waiting. The one who answered was, of course, Helena.

“My Lord. I’ve brought the child you mentioned.”

“Have you? Show her in.”

As soon as Helena’s permission was given, Andy opened the study door and stepped aside to make it easier for Selen to enter.

Thanks to this, Helena, sitting at the study table, and Selen’s eyes met almost directly through the wide-open door.

I heard she was over forty, but she’s more beautiful than any noble lady, and there’s a youthful freshness about her that’s surprising.

Selen stared blankly at Helena, who seemed even more intensely beautiful than before, then quickly came to her senses and hastily bowed her head in greeting.

“Ah! Um… Pleased to meet you. I am Selen Mercator.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Helena Krauser.”

Helena rose with a gentle smile like a monastery priest, approached Selen, and personally lifted her head.

Selen was startled and tried to bow her head again, but Helena gently prevented it with a continued smile, causing Selen to freeze. It was completely different from the image of the ferocious duke she had only heard about.

“Come. Let’s sit over there, shall we? Standing will make your legs hurt.”

“Th-Thank you for your consideration.”

While Helena lightly embraced Selen’s shoulders and led her to the study sofa, Andy also bowed his head perceptively and slowly closed the study door.

Thanks to this, only Helena and Selen remained in the study, creating an atmosphere conducive to calm conversation.

“Do you like tea? I still find the bitter taste uncomfortable, so I add sugar.”

“Ah… Actually, I also like tea with sugar. Tea without it has a nice aroma, but the bitter taste lingers too long on the tongue…”

“Hehe. You’re just like me. Here, have some.”

Seated on the sofa, Selen watched in amazement as Helena personally brewed a crimson-colored tea.

It was difficult to adapt not only to the fact that she was brewing the tea herself rather than having a butler or servant bring it, but also to the way she naturally accommodated Selen’s taste.

High-ranking nobles made others adapt to them, never the other way around.

“Wow…”

A delicate sweetness that carefully maintained balance, with an aroma that only the finest quality tea leaves could produce.

Through the refinement that Leonard had pressured her to cultivate, Selen could tell the quality of the tea, immediately recognizing that what she was drinking now was not just for ordinary guests.

And that made her afraid.

She couldn’t even imagine what reason there could be for giving tea of this quality to a mere guest, especially a child like herself who was of little importance.

“Thank you. It’s really delicious.”

“I’m glad you like it. Then, if you don’t mind, may I get straight to the point?”

Clack. As Helena put down her teacup with a sound and opened her mouth, Selen straightened her posture and stiffened.

The thought that she could no longer escape once the main point was raised flashed through her mind.

“Yes. Please tell me.”

Might as well hear what she has to say since I’m going to die anyway.

As Selen steeled herself and spoke briefly, Helena nodded with satisfaction and parted her lips.

“My child has taken a liking to you. So I’m thinking of having you stay in this mansion.”

What…?

After tensing up and preparing herself for death, this was not what she expected to hear.

Selen unconsciously opened her mouth slightly and tilted her head in confusion, not understanding what was going on.