Ch.731Suspicious, so suspicious

Eleonora seemed reluctant, but Leopold either didn’t notice or chose to ignore her reaction as he continued his persuasion.

Perhaps he noticed but simply didn’t care.

“You must understand after experiencing recent events. Extrashafel is no longer a safe place. It’s burned down twice in just one year. At this rate, a ‘third time’ wouldn’t be surprising at all. I don’t want to keep you confined in such a place.”

His persuasion centered on her safety.

“…I…um…I see.”

Bewilderment clouded Eleonora’s face.

“Um, this is purely hypothetical, but what if I were to refuse?”

She carefully hinted at rejection. Though she prefaced it as hypothetical, people who speak that way usually reveal their true intentions through such “hypotheticals.”

“Is there any reason to refuse?”

Leopold tilted his head slightly as he asked.

“You showed such great interest in the Baroness of Median’s achievements, yet now you’re turning down the opportunity to become her close aide. Is it because you find it burdensome?”

…She showed interest in my achievements?

So he’s not a Ka’har discriminator… but why is she so uncomfortable around me? To the point of fear?

Did she research my history and become frightened by my reputation as a killer?

No, she should understand I have no reason to harm her. There’s no need to be this afraid…

It was utterly perplexing.

“No, it’s not that it’s burdensome, more that it’s so sudden… I’ve only just reunited with my brother, and now you’re asking me to leave so abruptly. It’s rather surprising.”

“Haha. So that’s it.”

Leopold let out a light laugh. Perhaps he interpreted her words as simply wanting to spend more time with her brother?

For Leopold, who had struggled with how to interact with his sister and found conversations with her difficult, this must have been an incredibly pleasing response.

“Don’t worry. Though I mentioned establishing a kingdom, we won’t begin immediately. At the very least, we must wait until the Nidhogg matter is resolved. I’ll visit you often until then.”

But he clearly had no intention of changing his mind.

As I observed their conversation, I realized something.

Although Leopold had said he would ask for Eleonora’s opinion, he never meant he would respect her wishes and abandon his plans if she refused.

Quite the opposite.

He meant that even if Eleonora refused, he would persuade her, so there was no problem. It was typical Leopold behavior.

This man, for all his politeness and apparent compliance, has an underlying stubbornness and self-righteousness.

—-

The tedious conversation continued for another twenty minutes.

“…Very well. If you’re so certain, brother… I have no choice but to trust the Baroness of Median and place myself in her care.”

Eventually, Eleonora seemed to realize that no matter what she said, she couldn’t overcome Leopold’s persuasion, and reluctantly nodded.

“…That’s the best option… Yes, I understand.”

Though her fingertips trembled noticeably.

Goodness, anyone would think she was being led to the guillotine. Is coming under my command really so frightening?

Well, from her perspective as a woman raised as typical royalty, a military officer who rose to power through killing and subjugation might be intimidating… but there’s no need to be this terrified.

…Sigh.

Perhaps I should reassure her as her future superior.

“Please be at ease, Your Highness Eleonora. I’ll protect you to the best of my ability. Even if the Ghost Sword were to revive and target you, it would be torn to pieces before its blade could touch you.”

I gave her a reassuring smile and slightly bowed my head.

“Oh… is that so. Yes, that’s… very reassuring. Thank you in advance.”

…I didn’t seem to have provided much comfort. If anything, her complexion grew even paler. Using the Ghost Sword as an example was apparently not the best choice.

—-

Having achieved his goal of placing Eleonora under me, Leopold rose from his seat after another ten minutes of casual conversation.

“I should be heading back now. I’d like to talk more, but I have many urgent matters to attend to…”

Leopold announced his departure with a voice full of regret. Eleonora smiled brightly and lifted the hem of her dress slightly to see him off.

“Take care, brother. I hope you remain well until we meet again.”

“Thank you. You get some rest too, Eleonora.”

“Yes. I hope you fare well too, Baroness of Median.”

“Thank you for your concern. I look forward to seeing you again, Your Highness Eleonora.”

Leopold and I bid her farewell before boarding the carriage waiting in front of the mansion.

“Back to the palace.”

“Yes, sir.”

The coachman, who had been waiting for us, answered concisely and cracked the reins.

Inside the moving carriage, I shared my impressions of Eleonora with Leopold.

“She was different from what I’d heard.”

“Was she?”

“Yes. She seemed excessively cautious… Though she tried to hide it, I think she fears me. Is this really alright?”

An advisor who fears the king—it’s laughable when you think about it.

It might be better than an advisor who looks down on and subtly disrespects the king… but neither situation seems conducive to good governance.

“Fear… Did it seem that way? Well, Eleonora has lived her entire life in the inner palace, so she might find you intimidating.”

Leopold defended Eleonora.

“Knights and soldiers may praise your military exploits and admire you… but for those who have lived far from war and subjugation, such stories are nothing but gruesome tales of bloodshed.”

His tone suggested it was only natural for a noble lady to be uncomfortable around the Empire’s foremost human butcher.

“I understand, but… isn’t this problematic?”

I sighed lightly while scratching the back of my head.

“Having a princess who’s uncomfortable around me as my advisor—won’t that complicate matters that could otherwise go smoothly?”

“It will improve with time. The difference between your first impression and how people see you once they get to know you is as vast as heaven and earth.”

…Is he saying my first impression is terribly fierce?

Well, to be fair, I can’t deny that.

After all, the first thing she saw me do was interrogate and pressure her lady-in-waiting, so it’s understandable she wouldn’t feel favorably toward me.

In any case, Leopold seemed to attribute Eleonora’s reaction simply to my fearsome reputation. Were my suspicions and anxieties merely groundless concerns?

“Hmm… if Your Majesty says so… then that must be right.”

I shrugged lightly, agreeing with Leopold’s opinion.

Well, perhaps as Leopold said, she was just uncomfortable around me, and things would improve once she got used to me.

Maybe the strange sense of discomfort I felt from her and that woman Belnessia was all just my imagination and needless worry.

[Do you truly believe that?]

‘Of course not.’

Just because Leopold thought so didn’t make it true.

Like me, this man’s confident assertions have been wrong more than half the time in the past.

[Then why?]

‘It’s an offer I can’t refuse anyway.’

Leopold’s determination was firm.

Though he claimed to respect both my and Eleonora’s wishes… whenever we expressed negative opinions, he countered with endless persuasion, suggesting that asking for our opinions was merely a formality.

In reality, he intended to push through his will no matter what. He was determined to place Eleonora under my protection, deliberately ignoring the uneasiness he must have felt too.

The Nidhogg’s rampage through the islands must have shocked him deeply.

‘Since Leopold won’t change his mind, opposing him would just waste time. Rather…’

It would be better to keep her under my command and supervision.

If Leopold was right and she was just intimidated by me, things would naturally improve over time. If not…

‘I’ll order Hush to monitor both of them.’

If her fear stemmed from something other than my blood-soaked reputation, she would eventually reveal her true intentions. Hush could discover and report this to me.

That half-black, half-demon excels at concealment like no other.

[Hmm… well, you’ve grown somewhat.]

Even Hersella reluctantly praised my approach, suggesting it wasn’t a bad response.

Though I’m not sure if choosing suspicion over trust can really be called growth.