Ch.7171. Strange Elf (3)

“…What?”

As if not fully awake yet, Ainel was looking at me with rather gentle eyes instead of her usual sharp gaze.

Her relaxed demeanor immediately returned to her normal self at my confession.

The fog of drowsiness that had thinly spread over her blue eyes cleared.

Then, her dumbfounded expression filled with disbelief and confusion greeted me.

“I hope I didn’t mishear. Ray, what you just said, say it once more.”

“…I was discovered by someone else to possess the power of spirits.”

“Are you being serious?”

As if a mere slave like me could so boldly tell such a lie.

I could only nod in response to Ainel’s question.

“Haah…”

Seeing my reaction, she shook her head.

As if things had become troublesome, she even let out a deep sigh.

To think that Ainel Sianella would show such an expression before me.

Although it wasn’t a positive reaction, it was somewhat meaningful to see Ainel so openly displaying her emotions for the first time.

Well, meaningful is meaningful.

“Come in and let’s talk.”

“Excuse me.”

Regardless, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with having another private conversation with Ainel.

Unlike being alone with Sione, being alone with her created a suffocating atmosphere.

Well, Ainel Sianella had once pointed a sharply honed sword at my neck—even if it was just for show—after I had saved her daughter by capturing an Arachne.

I stroked my neck as I entered her room.

“Yes, sit here.”

I sat in the chair Ainel pointed to.

The soft leather chair supported my body, but I didn’t feel comfortable.

“Hmm—”

Because Ainel sat directly across from me, her legs elegantly crossed, which didn’t match her disheveled blue nightgown.

With me seated before her, Ainel closed her eyes and slowly tidied her messy hair.

Then her rose-pink lips opened.

“Given yesterday’s events, those who attended the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony and saw your performance must be strengthening their suspicions that you can handle Mana, whispering among themselves. You’re already drawing a lot of attention.”

“…Given the situation, I had no choice.”

“I’m not interrogating you about this, so don’t be so intimidated. I also know well that the skills you displayed were to protect Her Highness and Sione.”

Saying this, Ainel tilted her head and opened her eyes.

By now, the head of the Sianella family’s blue eyes, containing the chill of the North Sea, were staring at me.

“Regarding this matter, most will just have suspicions, so you can simply deny it. For those who have definitely noticed your abilities, you can coordinate your story with Her Highness.”

“Coordinate with Her Highness?”

“Exactly.”

As Ainel folded her arms, her figure was emphasized beneath her loose nightgown.

“As expected of someone with royal blood. Her Highness has already somewhat grasped your Mana and abilities. Her Highness highly values your bravery and promised to help you avoid trouble yesterday.”

“Ah.”

Perhaps she’s helping because I almost got stabbed in the back.

Even though she was so suspicious when she first saw me.

Now it seems she thinks quite well of me.

As I was thinking about my relationship with Adelheid, Ainel unfolded her arms.

She stroked her dry lips with her right hand and continued.

“In return, after this commotion settles, Her Highness wishes to have a private audience with you.”

A private audience—

Surely she’ll bring up that royal eye thing, asking about my Mana and swordsmanship.

Or perhaps she’ll bombard me with relentless questions to dig deeper into my other secrets.

Just then,

Clap!

As my thoughts drifted to the private audience with Adelheid, Ainel brought my attention back with a clap.

“Well, anyway… we might be able to get past the Mana issue.”

Sharp.

The knight’s piercing gaze began to stab at my skin.

“The important thing is that you were discovered using spirit magic, isn’t it? If rumors spread that you can handle not just ordinary Mana but Mana imbued with spirit energy, it would be quite troublesome.”

Saying this, she nervously brushed her bangs back and said:

“Servant Ray… what on earth did you do this morning to get discovered using spirit power and come looking for me?”

“Well—”

“Don’t stall and speak quickly.”

“…I encountered an elf.”

“An elf.”

When the word “elf” came out of my mouth instead of some flimsy excuse, Ainel nodded slightly.

A gesture telling me to continue.

Before continuing the story as she wished, I recalled that damn elf from just a few dozen minutes ago.

Yes, that pointy-eared one’s name was…

‘Friel Arielt.’

Yes, Friel. Friel Arielt.

At first, she approached pretending to be innocent.

Then suddenly she muttered something about wanting me to become hers.

After storming through everything she wanted to say, I can still vividly see her face, her eyes shining brightly with greed for me.

She was pretty, but that’s all.

Because an elf is an elf.

Rather than getting involved with an elf,

I’d much rather have been involved with Sione back when she was chubby.

I refuse elves who hide snakes in their hearts, even if they were handed to me on a leash.

After organizing my thoughts, I began to tell the story of what had just happened.

“While heading to Sione’s quarters, I encountered an elf, and though I tried to hide it… the elf smelled the spirit’s scent on me.”

“She smelled the scent you tried to hide— Can you tell me this elf’s name?”

“I heard her introduce herself as Friel Arielt.”

“Arielt… if it’s Arielt.”

Ainel repeated the elf’s family name several times.

Her tense expression gradually began to relax.

Though I might not know Friel, it seems there’s some connection with the Arielt family.

Apparently, Arielt is one of the elf families with which the Sianella family has ties.

“You’re lucky.”

“…Lucky?”

“Among the many elf families under the High Elves, the Arielt family is known as the most honest and loyal family of foresters.”

I barely managed to hold back a scoff at Ainel’s words.

However, I couldn’t prevent my expression from gradually hardening.

The most honest and loyal family?

For honesty, that Arielt elf brat showed her greed for me without hiding it from our first meeting.

For loyalty, that pointy-eared one said she could snatch me away from the family I’ve been connected to all this time if I wished.

To think that the family to which that elf belongs would have such a nonsensical title.

It’s surprising. No, I’m astounded.

‘This is truly absurd.’

Those elf bastards.

Especially those forester bastards of the Arielt family.

How well they must have managed their image to earn enough credit to bring about Ainel’s relief.

Truly remarkable, I’d say.

“If it’s the Arielt family, they’ll certainly need an explanation about the power you possess… but if asked, they’ll gladly keep it a secret.”

“…Yes.”

Yes, they’ll gladly keep it a secret.

But not out of the honesty and loyalty Ainel thinks,

But out of greed, not wanting to create any possibility of showing me to or losing me to other elves.

The knowledge Ainel and I hold about elves.

The gap between our knowledge was too great.

So great that I wanted to smack the back of Ainel’s head and tell her to wake up.

“Ray, I’d like to hear what conversation you had with the daughter of the Arielt family.”

“You mean…”

“What happened with her, what conversation you had. Tell me everything without omission right here.”

Since our head of the family is asking to know the true nature of elves first,

As a servant of the family, I can only faithfully answer.

I slightly raised the corners of my mouth at the thought that I could finally reveal the reality of those pointy-eared ones to our frustratingly naive head of family.

When all of Ainel’s senses were focused on me, I opened my mouth with a small smile.

“Lady Friel Arielt said this to me.”

I can’t miss this opportunity.

I intend to clearly reveal the truth about elves.

So I began to recite Friel’s lines one by one.

“How interesting.”

“…What?”

“I said you as a human are interesting.”

“……”

“In that sense, would you like to become mine?”

Realizing that all of this was what Friel had said to me, Ainel furrowed her brow and listened to my continuing words.

In response, I continued without hesitation.

“You can’t be mine? Do you really think so?”

“Ray. Whether you’re a slave or servant belonging to the Count’s family doesn’t matter. What matters… is your will.”

“If you wish, I’m confident I can get you from your family. After all… they’re just a Count’s family in a kingdom created by short-lived species, right?”

Due to distorted memories over time, there might be some reinterpretation and exaggeration mixed in.

“…Are those words all true?”

I calmly nodded to her question.

“Of course.”

As long as the meaning gets across, that’s all that matters.