Ch.49The Farming Elven Race #4

“Um… I’m truly sorry about this.”

Ellen was busy bowing her head repeatedly while seated on the reception room sofa.

Facing her, Helena was clearly glaring with dagger-like eyes, causing Ellen to visibly shrink back.

From the office to the reception room, and now to this face-to-face confrontation.

As someone who had witnessed it all, I had to suppress the sigh that nearly escaped my lips.

It was only because I had managed to calm her down and suppress her anger that things had stopped at this level. Had she brought her reaction from the office unchanged, it might have caused a major incident.

“…Sigh. It can’t be helped. I’ll let it go for today, but next time, please make an appointment in advance. I’d like to avoid situations where we both end up red-faced like today.”

“I’ll certainly do that. Well then, I’ll return to my post now.”

Though Ellen was clearly bewildered by the situation, I had no choice but to let her go without saying much.

It was only natural that I couldn’t read what she was thinking right now, and for me, this seemed like the easiest path.

“Oh, by the way. When are you two planning to get married?”

Suddenly, Ellen turned around at the doorway and asked casually.

For her, it was probably just an innocent question out of curiosity, but Helena’s eyes began to sparkle dazzlingly.

She must have really liked the word “marriage.”

“Mar… Ahem! Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

Moreover, her voice was warm as a spring day, without a trace of her previous coldness.

The change was too drastic, like flipping a hand.

“Hmm? No particular reason. I was just curious when you two, who have helped me so much, would start a family. It might not be my place to say, but wouldn’t establishing a family make things more stable and better?”

“As someone who has been through thick and thin, you have excellent insight. Of course that’s true, but we plan to marry when the time is right. Although I’m of marriageable age, Jion is still young.”

It’s easy to forget, but I’m fifteen.

Of course, early marriages weren’t particularly unusual in olden times or even in this continent now, but I was simply putting it off because it made me uncomfortable.

The reason was really nothing special. I just felt uneasy about becoming a husband at fifteen.

Marriage to Helena was a foregone conclusion, but I had subtle reservations about going through with it right away.

“Ah… Come to think of it, the heir of Altram is only fifteen now. I momentarily forgot your age because of your conduct.”

“Hehe. That’s understandable. Jion has always been so mature…”

Helena began chattering enthusiastically like a wife proud of her child.

Ellen showed signs of discomfort, sweating nervously, but unfortunately, there was no escape route.

Knowing this, she probably exhaled a short sigh as she closed the reception room door.

However, she wasn’t completely uninterested, as she soon appeared deeply engrossed in Helena’s stories.

“Oh, is that so? It seems the heir has been thoughtful since childhood. Considering the favor he’s shown us, it must mean he has an excellent innate character. Truly admirable.”

“Yes. Jion is truly wonderful. And also…”

I maintained my composure amid the shower of blatant praise.

Even when Helena suddenly blushed while staring at my lower abdomen, I pretended to be unaffected and kept my back straight.

It was thanks to my iron-clad mental fortitude that never failed to work.

“My, it’s gotten quite late. I truly apologize for the intrusion.”

“Not at all. I’m glad to have found someone to talk to pleasantly after so long. Please take care on your way back.”

After a rather lengthy chat, Ellen left the reception room with slumped shoulders, looking drained.

Judging by Helena’s blooming face and the atmosphere, it was incomparably warmer than before.

Ellen had probably tried to break the awkward atmosphere using me as an excuse… but what a terrible price to pay.

◎◎◎

“Come on, everyone! Let’s hurry! You’re all doing great, but please put in a little more effort!”

“Yes!”

On the day of the banquet gathering the nobles.

I had come to the kitchen alone after a long time, busy cooking while mingling with others.

Andy was in charge of overall supervision, but he was responsible for the entire banquet preparation, making it difficult for him to show his face in the kitchen.

That’s not to say the kitchen lacked a person in charge. There was Bart. So all I had to do was prepare my share of dishes or occasionally help others.

The preliminary preparation of ingredients had been completed long ago, but cooking needed to start on time to maintain warmth as much as possible.

That’s why the kitchen now resembled a battlefield.

“Hey! Cook those onions more! They’re not colored enough yet!”

“We’re short on salad dressing! Make some more quickly!”

The kitchen staff, known for their good relationships, raised their voices, pushing each other.

Some were shaking pots over hot fires, while others were garnishing plates or adding final touches—no one had idle hands.

I, as one of them, observed the surroundings while cooking.

Helena was busy greeting and attending to the main guests, but since my only duty was to stay by her side, I had deliberately come down to the kitchen to help.

As one might expect from Helena’s usual demeanor, she initially opposed this. However, she believed my excuse that I wanted to delay spending time among the nobles, so she allowed me to stay in the kitchen.

Additionally, there was my purely selfish desire not to give up on my cooking…

“Oh well.”

After finishing my last dish, I wiped away a drop of sweat from my forehead.

I’d heard that chefs who spend most of their days in front of heat naturally stop sweating as much, which made me both envious and concerned.

Not all chefs are like that, but it’s clear that many suffer due to the incredibly high intensity of labor.

“Lord Jion. Thank you for your hard work.”

Bart, who was in charge of Krauser’s kitchen, approached with slumped shoulders.

Even for someone accustomed to kitchen work like him, it would be strange not to be tired after such a battle.

“You’ve worked hard too, Bart. It would have been nice to prepare the dishes in advance, but then complaints about cold food would likely arise…”

“Indeed. Perhaps no one would dare express such dissatisfaction in front of the Duchess, but the dissatisfaction itself wouldn’t disappear. That would essentially tarnish our master’s reputation.”

When guests aren’t properly served, naturally the host of the banquet gets blamed.

As Bart said, even if no one would complain directly to her face, they could use it as gossip material for a long time.

And when such rumors spread, one’s face is naturally lost. Simply put, it’s embarrassing.

“Anyway, with just the cleanup remaining… wouldn’t it be better for you to head upstairs now, Lord Jion?”

“Well. I think I preferred being busy working in the kitchen. Even though it’s a gathering of the same faction, I feel uneasy about showing my face as a troublemaker.”

“A troublemaker? What are you saying! That incident happened because Lady Helena is such a deeply caring person, and no one in the Krauser mansion thinks of you that way.”

Bart praised me so lavishly that it was embarrassing to hear.

It made me wonder if the kitchen, which had long since cooled down, might still be operating.

“I’m embarrassed by your excessive praise.”

“Not at all. Originally, the only person who makes the young lady… the Duchess comfortable is you, Lord Jion.”

It almost sounds like he’s calling me a gigolo who lives well by leeching off her, but Bart isn’t the type to speak with such twisted thoughts.

So I could take his praise at face value. Otherwise, I would have been slightly uncomfortable.

“That led to a big mistake, but… anyway, let’s end this conversation here. I need to sneak upstairs, wash up quickly, and go. It wouldn’t be right to stand by Helena’s side covered in sweat.”

“Oh, of course. Without a doubt. Please go up quickly.”

I headed upstairs secretly, accompanied by the send-off from Bart and the kitchen staff.

There were many shortcuts to go up without using the main staircase.

“…I understand you might feel uncomfortable with wine made from grapes grown by Dark Elves. I understand that well.”

My steps, which were rushing toward my room, suddenly froze as if bound by something.

It wasn’t actually happening, but it was because of the words of a woman who was the center of attention in the banquet hall.

“As you all know, they were of great help in my duel with Duke Killinear. That doesn’t mean we can immediately shed the thought of them as filth. I understand that well.”

That woman, Helena, was boldly addressing those with sour expressions while holding a wine glass.

From the situation, it seemed she had just revealed that the wine was made from Dark Elf grapes.

I paused on my way to my room and carefully observed the situation from an inconspicuous railing.

While Helena might go overboard when it comes to me, in other matters, she fully embodied the grand title of Duchess.

“But think about it. Does filth breathe? Can filth speak and express emotions like us?”

When her pointed question echoed through the hall, all the nobles collectively swallowed.

It felt strange seeing the same faces I had seen at the royal palace again, but it was also surprising to see them so intimidated by one woman’s words.

“Just as you are all speechless now, I too don’t think that way. I know well that Dark Elves are just one of the many Ain living in this world. Regardless of how difficult it is for you to accept, that’s the reality.”

Gulp.

The sound of someone swallowing dryly was heard.

It could have been the sound of me swallowing, but I was certain it was someone else.

It might just be my delusion, but it definitely seemed that way.

Helena’s voice was deep and beautiful in its resonance, and her gesture of bringing the wine glass to her lips was both dignified and elegant.

It was the elegance that could only be displayed by someone who was confident in themselves.

“And as you know, the Krauser family never judges people solely by appearances.”

Right now, when everyone was lost in thought, she mentioned the meritocracy that represented Krauser.

Krauser’s meritocracy was an ideology aimed more at middle management and future heirs who would lead the family, rather than the lower-ranking people they managed.

It was different from discarding those at the bottom for lacking ability.

I unconsciously held my breath at Helena’s piercing words.

Though my breathing couldn’t possibly reach there, in such a quiet atmosphere, even that might seem like a disturbance.

“Yes! It’s about ability. If someone has ability, or if they have the right mindset and character, we gladly employ them. This is a deep-rooted tradition and pride of Krauser passed down through generations. So…”

Good heavens!

Someone exclaimed as if witnessing an unbelievable sight.

Moreover, it wasn’t just one or two people, but most of the attendees at this banquet, indicating it was truly a shocking scene.

It might seem strange to react this way when she wasn’t drinking poison, but on the other hand, it was understandable.

It was indeed shocking to see Helena take the initiative and empty her wine glass so boldly.

Even if it was just to create an impact, drinking wine like water was a remarkably surprising sight in many ways.