Episode 25 – Elizabeth Siora

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“Um… Ed, are you okay?”

“I told you not to call me that outside.”

“Ah, right… Baron-nim.”

Lara, who had her ears and eyes covered by her hood, was acting cautiously, watching my every move.

Lara is watching my every move.

This itself is a very strange situation.

She’s not the type to be conscious of others’ opinions, and we were practically friends without any discomfort between us.

If I were to speculate on the reasons for this strange phenomenon of her watching my every move,

The first reason would be that it’s only been two weeks since I flatly rejected her confession,

And the second reason is that I am currently, at this very moment, extremely angry.

The reason for my anger was the place I was in right now.

“Ha, seriously… I avoided this place as much as possible,”

“I, too, didn’t realize that the meeting place in the letter would be here.”

“Yeah, so I’m not exactly blaming you. It’s just…”

I had entered the largest square in the city.

The square is so large that an equestrian competition is held here once a year, using the square itself as a stadium.

Merchants are strictly prohibited from doing business in the square, so there were many ordinary citizens enjoying leisure and contemplation.

I raised my head and looked up.

From my position, even if I tilted my head back as if trying to pierce the sky with my chin, I couldn’t see the top of this 60-meter-tall statue, the landmark of this square called ‘The Sacrifice of a Noble Hero’.

The model for this statue, holding a dagger in its hand and raising it forward with dignity, was surprisingly me, Ed.

Since entering the capital, Sioland, the thing I had been most careful about was avoiding this goddamn statue.

I hated even the sight of this unnecessarily large monstrosity, so even in the finest room of the White Glass Tower, I didn’t even glance near the windows.

This statue, which Robin made to appease Mela after killing me, was a landmark only to those who didn’t know the truth; to me, it felt like nothing more than mockery.

The final touch of this mockery was what this damn statue was looking at.

This statue was installed to face another statue of the same height, 500 meters away, called “The Courage of a Great Hero,”

And, of course, the model for that statue was that goddamn Robin.

To build a statue of the person he killed and whose lover he stole, facing his own statue,

It really seems like he doesn’t feel even a little bit of guilt towards me.

How can a hero, or even a human, do that?

I know he couldn’t have imagined that I would return, but even more so, he shouldn’t have done something like this.

Has he been sleeping soundly all this time, even after committing such an act of desecration against the dead?

I gritted my teeth and lowered my head.

“Well, this is just fucking awful.”

“…I used to happily wait for this to be completed…”

“Ha,”

“Baron-nim, let’s calm down for now. If it’s really a letter from the Princess’s side as we think, someone will appear here soon.”

“Even if someone appears, how will we recognize them?”

I looked around with Lara.

There were already many people around us.

How can we know who came here to meet us?

Why did they insist on meeting here?

Whether it was because of the crowd or for some other reason, I was starting to lose patience.

The appointed time had already passed.

I was planning to wait just one more minute, and if no one appeared, I would go straight to Robin’s mansion at Mela’s request.

“Are you looking for me?”

“…!”

Just then, I heard a young woman’s voice calling me from behind.

When I turned around, a woman with highly saturated blonde hair was approaching me wearing a mask.

‘Huh, I didn’t expect her to come herself.’

“Hello, Baron Salvier.”

A white blouse that exposed her shoulders, a black vest that tightened like a corset, and a long, baggy brown skirt.

The outfit looks like ordinary citizen’s clothes, but if you look closely, you can tell that the fabric and material are very high-end.

Her bright and clear blonde hair was tied up in a bun, and she was wearing a mask on her face, as if imitating me.

Inside the eyeholes of the butterfly-shaped mask that covered her eyes and the bridge of her nose, jade-colored eyes sparkled like jewels.

Even though she dressed plainly and wore a mask, I never expected her to show up in person.

She sent a letter with the color of her hair and eyes, subtly revealing her identity.

Elizabeth Siora.

Daniel’s former fiancée and the Empire’s Princess appeared before me.

“So, the letter was sent by the Princess-nim.”

“I don’t want to attract attention, so please don’t kneel down to greet me.”

“Should I shake your hand, then?”

“Hehe, that sounds nice.”

The Princess giggled and held out her hand to me.

What is this?

She’s too defenseless for a Princess of an Empire.

Knowing what I might do, why is she trying to make contact with someone who even hinted at her identity in a letter?

Moreover, someone in the position of a Princess must be careful about touching men.

If anyone sees her, rumors might spread, and she has also lost her fiancé.

Of course, I wasn’t going to do anything to her, so I gently took her outstretched hand and shook it.

The Princess took my hand and said, slightly surprised.

“Oh my, your hands are so cold.”

“I’m not very healthy. Your Highness…”

“Abbababba- I snuck out, so could you not call me that?”

The Princess interrupted me with a strange sound.

I tilted my head and asked.

“Then, what should I call you?”

“Um-“

She put her index finger to her chin and pondered.

Her movements are feminine, yet subtly cute and lively.

I was a little taken aback by her appearance, which was completely different from the impression I had of her at the funeral.

When I glanced at Lara, she was crossing her arms and glaring at the Princess as if she was dissatisfied with something.

“Call me Ellie.”

“Okay, nice to meet you, Ellie.”

“Nice to meet you, Baron Salvier.”

She let go of my hand and smiled contentedly.

I went straight to the point.

“You said you wanted to hear my answer, right?”

“Yes, although I don’t think I need to hear it.”

Three days ago, after returning to the capital, I flaunted my wealth from the city gates as if to show off.

The rumors spread quickly, and from that night on, stories about Baron Salvier’s enormous wealth spread throughout the city.

And the next morning, I immediately started providing free meals for the poor.

Unable to find a chef, I hired all the head chefs and cooks from the White Glass Tower.

The hotel manager was furious, saying this was a problem, but nothing could quell his complaints like shiny gold coins.

The food made by the chefs of the Empire’s finest hotel boasted an amount and quality that could not be compared to the free meals provided by Robin’s family.

Not only the poor but also ordinary commoners were eager to use it.

Moreover, unlike Robin’s family, which only provided lunch once a day, I provided free meals twice a day, for breakfast and dinner.

This was partly to excuse that I was not trying to interfere with or compete with Robin’s meals, and partly to induce people who used the free meals to directly feel the difference in the quality of the meals.

People thought this free meal was just a one-day event, but the next morning, the free meal was opened as if it were natural.

The poor, who used to shout thanks for the hero’s mercy, quickly changed in just three days.

They were eating food that seemed like it was for nobles for breakfast and dinner, but when they received a bowl of thin soup for lunch, which they used to eat, they gradually began to express their dissatisfaction.

Of course, they knew how the world worked, so they knew that even the thin soup provided by Robin’s free meals cost a lot of money, but since there was someone who actually provided better meals, even twice a day, it was inevitable that they would be dissatisfied.

Moreover, people who had confirmed Baron Salvier’s wealth through his performance at the city gates were convinced that this crazy quality of free meals would not end in the future.

Even if they expressed dissatisfaction with Robin’s free meals, they had a place to rely on, even if Robin’s family got angry and stopped their support.

The Princess, no, Ellie, said to me with a satisfied smile.

“I didn’t think you would do this well. At this rate, Count Boldiras will definitely be under pressure.”

“…You’re mistaken. I didn’t have any intention of harming the Hero-nim’s family. I’m just doing what I’ve always done, out of gratitude to this country that accepted me.”

“Hmm? I thought you were joining me in my cause?”

“I was invited to Lady Dena’s birthday party at the Boldiras family’s mansion today, so how could I do something that would harm the Boldiras family?”

Ellie smiled at my words.

Why is she smiling? What is it?

“Hehe, you’re amazing.”

“I am a person who is unrelated to the politics of this country, so I hope you will not try to involve me in such matters.”

“Too bad, I wanted Baron Salvier to become my person.”

“Huh… How can you trust me enough to make such a bold statement?”

“Well, you hate Count Boldiras, don’t you, Baron-nim?”

“…”

How does she know?

Did I show any signs at the funeral?

No, if that were the case, Robin, Jennifer, and Mela’s son, who was watching me, wouldn’t have failed to notice.

It’s foolish to ask how she knows.

In this case, it’s best to play dumb.

“I don’t know how you came to have such a misunderstanding, but that’s not true.”

“Hmm, if you want to keep it a secret, I’ll go along with it.”

What is this Princess trying to do?

Where and how did I get caught?

The only time I’ve been emotionally shaken recently was at the funeral when I met Mela.

I met Elizabeth there too, so she must have seen something in me that day.

I’m flustered.

If I weren’t an undead, I might be sweating right now.

But fortunately, this body doesn’t have any physical reactions due to emotional turmoil, so I should be able to deceive her calmly.

I touched my forehead and said.

“You’re really mistaken, Ellie.”

“Let’s just say that.”

“At least, I’d like you to tell me why you think so.”

“Hmm…”

She put her finger to her chin again and tilted her head, lost in thought.

That gesture seems to be a habit of the Princess.

Unlike her, who was full of composure, I became anxious at the thought that my hidden feelings had been exposed.

I looked around to see if anyone was listening to our conversation.

If she were to tell Robin to be careful of Baron Salvier, everything would be in vain.

Elizabeth.

Should I kill the Princess here?

Lara was also looking around, trying to figure out how many guards the Princess had.

Elizabeth, who had been pondering, smiled and answered.

“I don’t know, I can only say it’s a feeling.”

This bitch…

“Haha, is the Princess-nim’s feeling usually accurate?”

“It’s always right.”

[If she doesn’t know she could die here, her senses aren’t that good]

[No way! Ed, you’re not going to do something like that in the middle of so many people, are you?]

‘Why are you guys crawling out again? It’s distracting.’

I shook my head slightly and replied.

“I think you’re wrong this time. I’m not interested in politics at all, and I don’t know much about it.”

“Okay, I understand.”

“I don’t even know what Ellie-nim’s intentions are. I just like this Empire and want to help the poor.”

“It’s a shame, but that’s enough. On behalf of the Imperial Family, I thank you, Baron-nim, for your service and love.”

“You flatter me.”

Elizabeth took a step closer to me.

Lara, wary of her, placed her index finger on the dagger she had tucked into her waist.

Elizabeth smiled at Lara and said.

“Baron-nim, I’ll give you some advice.”

“Yes, I’ll listen gratefully.”

“If you’re going to be active in the city, it’s better to have a maid who is a little less perceptive. A maid who is unnecessarily used to seeing blood might commit a faux pas. Especially in front of royalty.”

Lara was startled by those words and took her hand off the dagger.

Well, I was thinking of hiring a new maid.

It’s not that I don’t like Lara or Lily, but I was worried that Robin, Mela, or Jennifer might recognize them.

I looked at Ellie and replied.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And one more thing.”

“…?”

“This year is a very special year. I know you came here as a castaway, so it might be a rash statement, but you can say you’re lucky to have come to Sionisia this year.”

“…Why is that?”

“In a few months, the Victory Day anniversary will be back. It’s the day the Hero-nim and his companions defeated the Demon King.”

“I see.”

Victory Day anniversary.

The day the Hero’s party defeated the Demon King and the day I died is said to have become one of the country’s biggest holidays since the kingdom became an empire.

But why is she bringing that up all of a sudden?

“This year is the 20th anniversary of Victory Day. So there are many bigger and more magnificent events being prepared.”

“The Boldiras family will have a lot of power.”

“At the same time, they may have to spend a lot of money.”

“…?”

“Hehe, why are you so curious? Baron Salvier, who isn’t interested in politics.”

This bitch is really…

“No. I was just listening because you said you would give me advice.”

“You’re a good listener, Baron-nim.”

I feel like I’m constantly being played by her.

I’m pretty good at arguing, so I decided to try a small counterattack.

“If you were so afraid of the Boldiras family’s growth, why did you get engaged to that family? The Count’s power will only grow stronger.”

“Hmm, why would a Baron-nim who is unrelated to politics and has no interest in it ask such a question?”

“I’m not interested in politics, but I’m very interested in love stories.”

“Ha! Don’t talk about love, ugh, it gives me goosebumps.”

She grabbed her shoulders and shuddered.

I shouldn’t be saying this since I killed him, but Daniel was a pretty good groom, but Elizabeth really hated him.

“That dirty incest… Ah, no, let’s skip this.”

“…”

Ah, so she knew too.

Then it makes sense that she hates him.

“In the first place, the engagement with the Count’s family was initiated by the Emperor’s side to strengthen relations before they joined hands with the Villard family. I couldn’t have imagined that the commoner-born moron Count-nim would do something crazy like arranging an engagement between Rose-yang and the Villard side’s thug.”

“…Ellie-nim? Your language is a bit…”

“Oops, I’m sorry. Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”

Elizabeth’s intense reaction.

She really seems to hate the Boldiras family.

Thinking about it, it makes sense.

The Emperor, who was checking the Villard family, reached out and even arranged an engagement, but wasn’t he also trying to get a foot in the Villard family?

Whether it was because Robin lacked political sense or because he was simply too greedy for power and tried to play the role of a bat, it must have been absurd for the Princess.

Moreover, she found out that her fiancé was having an incestuous relationship with his sister.

There’s no way she could have had good feelings for Daniel and Robin.

And currently, Robin’s Boldiras family can be considered to have sided with the Villard family, which is virtually providing them with money.

For the Siora Imperial Family, it was no different than having a knife to their throat.

“Hmm, it’s the 20th anniversary, so I’m really looking forward to this year’s Victory Day anniversary.”

“Hehe, there will be a huge ball at the Boldiras mansion on that day.”

“Is that why they’ll have to spend a lot of money?”

“That’s right, and I personally hope that you, Baron-nim, will attend and grace this Empire’s ball.”

“I don’t know if I’m qualified to do that.”

“I doubt you need any greater qualification than my desire for you to be there.”

“I’m still unfamiliar with the etiquette of this foreign country, so that might be a little difficult.”

Haha, this woman is no joke.

What is she aiming for? What is she trying to say?

Elizabeth smiled and continued.

“Have you heard the saying that there’s no practice like the real thing? It’s the same with balls and social gatherings.”

“…?”

“And the best experience is to host one yourself.”

“I should host a ball or a social gathering?”

“Oh my, if the famous Baron Salvier-nim were to host an event, everyone would be clamoring to attend, wouldn’t they? And it might also be a place for many young ladies who are eagerly awaiting the largest ball in history on this year’s Victory Day anniversary to practice.”

Ah.

That’s what it is, I finally realized her intention.

Wow, this sly woman.

Robin, as a hero, is in a position where he has to hold the largest ball in history to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Victory Day.

For Robin, who is strapped for cash, that alone would be a huge burden.

But what if I were to hold an unprecedentedly large ball or social gathering before Victory Day?

The rumor that the ball hosted by the Hero’s family was inferior to that of a mere foreigner would be devastating to him.

But it would be burdensome to invest even more money.

Just by hosting a large-scale event, I would be a huge headache for Robin.

I read the Princess’s intentions and let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re a scary person, Ellie-nim.”

“…You read my intentions so quickly, and you say you’re not interested in politics, Baron-nim-“

We had a light conversation for about 10 minutes after that.

After the tension was relieved and we exchanged words, she was a comfortable conversational partner, unlike her status as a Princess.

She also paid lip service, saying that she was having a pleasant conversation for the first time in a while.

“I should get going now.”

“Yes, I enjoyed our conversation today. Your High… Ellie-nim.”

“Hehe, next time we meet, just call me Ellie. You can even drop the honorifics.”

“Ah, no, how could I…”

“I’ll drop them too, let’s drop the honorifics, then goodbye-“

Elizabeth waved her hand and ran to the carriage parked in the alley next door.

She peeked her face out of the window of the slowly moving carriage and waved her hand until the carriage disappeared into the distance.

“…Ha, what is she…”

She’s a really strange woman.

As I was blankly looking in the direction the carriage had disappeared, Lara, who was behind me, tapped me on the shoulder.

“Mela’s invitation time is getting closer, should I go with you