Ch.48The Farming Elven Race #3

At first, the wine maker thought it was an honor.

He was proud to be summoned by the renowned House Krauser, and felt motivated by the opportunity to focus on his specialty of wine production. He was also reassured by the rumors that even slaves were treated well by these people known for their tolerance.

Next, when he set foot in the place where he would work, the vintner was disappointed. Of all things, he had to work with dark elves, a race despised across the continent. Moreover, it was a mercenary band led by the infamous Redhood, known for their wartime atrocities, so he couldn’t even openly show his disgust. He feared his head might be cut off if he did.

However, in the end, he had no choice but to completely reverse his opinion. The sweetness and savory taste of the grapes he reluctantly put in his mouth for survival, along with an indescribably refreshing sensation, completely captivated him.

Such excellent grapes were a first in his life, and he expressed great respect for being able to craft wine with them. What could he possibly say against those who had provided him with materials of such incomparable quality?

With this mindset, the vintner devoted himself wholeheartedly to wine production, not hesitating to enlist the help of the dark elves. Each of their labor was worth a hundred, no, a thousand ordinary workers.

“I’m realizing it again, but this is truly remarkable.”

He gazed admiringly at the wines in oak barrels, the collaborative creation between himself and the dark elves. Though he had received help, everything was impressive—from the deep underground cave dug for wine storage to the shelves for keeping the wine… all the facilities were excellent.

“Is that so?”

“You might not fully appreciate it, but I can only say it’s extraordinary. The very idea of recruiting elves, who are so difficult to find, for grape cultivation is exceptional in itself, but…”

The vintner responded enthusiastically to Ellen’s casual question. It was natural for him to be excited, as he was on the verge of completing one of the finest works of his career. Ellen, not understanding his passion, was merely humoring him.

“I see.”

Will they actually drink wine made from grapes we’ve grown ourselves?

Ellen smiled faintly, recalling Zion’s face as he spoke of rather grand plans. Though she still thought things wouldn’t go smoothly, she enjoyed the confidence that was gradually building up like layers of fat. At least they were being recognized by those who acknowledged dark elves.

So it felt like a dream, thought Ellen and the other dark elves. For those who had lived their entire lives walking on eggshells, this was the most peaceful time they had ever known.

◎◎◎

It’s the season of sex.

I stared blankly at the snowy scene outside, recalling old memories. When Christmas—the day Jesus was born—came around, people would rush to motels, claiming they wanted to make a child like Jesus. The image was vivid in my mind, especially since I had once worked part-time cleaning at a motel, giving me a firsthand experience.

Sometimes there were couples so loud that their moans could be heard outside the door, and I would furrow my brow as I cleaned the hallway. But now, I had become someone who made others make such sounds…

“Ah… I’m tired.”

Helena, who had been diligently attending to her duties, let out a groan. She had been quite busy lately—writing invitations for nobles of the same faction and those claiming neutrality who would soon visit the Krauser mansion, and preparing for the party.

While some people could remain relaxed during the end of the year, others like her were inevitably busy.

I passed the time with idle thoughts while helping Helena with her miscellaneous tasks. As her assistant, I didn’t have to make major decisions—that burden fell squarely on Helena’s shoulders.

“Good work.”

In return, though it wasn’t much, I offered Helena a freshly brewed cup of tea. The tea, still steaming gently with warmth, seemed perfectly suited for the cold winter day.

“Thank you… At least we’ve put out the urgent fires, so now we can take things at a more leisurely pace.”

Helena took a sip of tea and let out a long sigh. To me, she looked like someone deeply savoring a rare moment of leisure that she had barely managed to grasp.

“It’s already winter… Time flies so fast, doesn’t it?”

“Especially this year, with so much happening. They say when you’re busy, you don’t notice time passing.”

I nodded in agreement with Helena’s musing. The beginning of the year had seemed as relaxed as any other, but starting with Helena’s succession to the title of Duchess, we had experienced one major event after another.

From the confrontation at the royal palace to the duel with Duke Killinear, and now we needed to explore market channels for the wine that was just beginning to awaken. This was due to the wine the vintner had delivered a few days ago.

I wasn’t much of a drinker, and since the wine was just starting to be produced, I didn’t have high expectations. I simply thought that since the grapes were delicious, the wine would probably be tasty too—a rather vague assumption.

However, after tasting the wine the vintner brought, I realized how wrong I had been. Whether it was because the grapes were cultivated with such care or for some other reason, I could taste a deep and complex flavor quite different from the grapes themselves.

“Moreover, the biggest challenge is still ahead. I don’t blame Zion, but… parties are such a hassle.”

“I understand.”

Ever since her debut in high society, Helena had shown aversion at the mere mention of social gatherings. Despite knowing she needed to attend out of necessity, she seemed particularly concerned about me potentially getting involved with certain women.

Of course, her dislike didn’t mean she avoided these gatherings entirely. Whether she liked it or not, as a duchess, she understood the need to build and maintain connections through such meetings. Living in noble isolation might be an option, but the influence wielded by House Krauser was too significant for that.

Moreover, at this upcoming party, they planned to serve wine made from grapes handled by dark elves, and it was impossible to predict the reaction. While there was a chance things might unexpectedly go well, that seemed too optimistic.

“Just thinking about how the party might turn out makes my stomach churn. If I had known, should I have rejected Zion’s suggestion…?”

Helena glanced at me reproachfully, as if suddenly regretting her decision. She seemed to find it increasingly difficult to bear the racing heart and tense neck that came with the approaching day of reckoning. I too was constantly on edge, albeit to a lesser degree.

So, in my position with nothing to say, I could only bow my head and apologize.

“Really? Then massage my shoulders a bit.”

“Yes, of course.”

Was her intention in dragging out the conversation simply to indulge in a bit of spoiling?

I inwardly smiled wryly while pretending not to notice, moving behind Helena and placing my hands on her shoulders. Having already touched every inch of her body, it wasn’t awkward at all, but rather felt completely natural.

“Mmm…!”

As I kneaded her shoulders, which felt heavy with tension, I naturally applied more pressure. Helena closed her eyes and let out heated breaths due to the pain in her shoulders. While sitting at a desk for long periods might have contributed to her stiff shoulders, there seemed to be a more fundamental reason.

“Ah, there…! Press a little harder…”

Her voice grew increasingly deeper as the tension seemed to melt away. She was making sounds that she would never reveal or even want to make in front of others. Simply because we were alone.

“I’m sorry.”

While continuing to move my hands steadily, I spoke in a deflated voice. If things went well, it could elevate Helena’s status even further, but if not, I could envision a future where she would face various criticisms. Regardless of whether I took responsibility or not, such criticism seemed likely.

“Sorry? Why is Zion sorry? While it’s true that I cherish you, I was the one who made the decision. Of course, I can’t claim there were no personal feelings involved, but it wasn’t based solely on personal feelings either.”

Helena answered decisively, lifting her head. Her response was so firm that there seemed to be no room for argument.

“…You’re right. I think I was mistaken. I feel like I’ve been thinking too arrogantly, to the point of being obnoxious.”

“I’m fine with Zion even if he’s obnoxious.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m not fine with it. Anyway, thank you for comforting me. It’s quite luxurious for a servant to be comforted by his master…”

Setting aside how special we were to each other, from a simple perspective, it was a case of a master comforting a servant. While not particularly rare within the Krauser mansion, it was still somewhat burdensome.

The people I encountered in the corridors, those I met in the kitchen, and I myself felt this way.

“Well, this won’t do.”

I didn’t even have time to ask “What?”

Helena had suddenly stood up in front of me and subtly pushed me into a corner of the wall.

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“Since Zion is drooping like a wet puppy, as your master, I want to dry you off a bit. Is that okay?”

“Helena, it’s still working hours…”

Here she goes again. I sighed and tried to gently push Helena’s shoulders away, but instead, I found myself backed against the wall. From the beginning, it was impossible to physically contend with a Swordmaster, so this outcome was expected.

“Shh. I’m Krauser, and if I decide it’s break time, then it’s break time. Right?”

It’s easy to forget because she knows how to be considerate like an ordinary person, but her words had merit. Helena Krauser was undeniably a duchess of this country, and even if she lived a life of arrogance and exploitation, it would be difficult for anyone to voice complaints.

This was especially true given that she wasn’t just a duchess, but a Swordmaster who held the title. Fortunately, Helena had a good character; if she had possessed even the arrogance of an ordinary noble, it would have been extremely difficult to manage. I would certainly have needed to use harsher training methods, which would have more than doubled my fatigue.

“That may be true, but…”

“Then that settles it. Take it off. No, I’ll undress you.”

Helena narrowed her eyes and ran her tongue over her lips. Since awakening to pleasure that day, she had unconsciously begun to display gestures and expressions that showed her at her most alluring, and this was one such moment.

I was just resigning myself, looking at the eyes of a beast burning with lust, when Helena’s movement as she was about to crouch in front of me suddenly stopped. Her half-crouched posture looked quite peculiar.

“…You didn’t come here deliberately, did you?”

Suddenly, Helena’s gaze turned toward the door. Speaking in a voice colder than the winter wind, she glared fiercely as if recognizing someone beyond the door.

Fortunate or unfortunate?

I watched Helena’s back as she approached the door, biting my lip, and discreetly positioned myself beside the desk in the office. I was inwardly grateful for the presence sensed from outside that seemed to have saved me.

“Who is it?”

Helena, apparently not having lost her final shred of reason, opened the door roughly while speaking in a cold voice. Judging by how she acted without giving the other person a chance to respond, she seemed quite intent on confrontation.

“Uh, well… I think I should come back later…”

And the target, the owner of the presence felt beyond the door, Ellen, seemed to have noticed Helena’s displeasure and stammered her words.