Episode 81 – Moving
by Afuhfuihgs
*
Evening, after Ellie suddenly came and left.
Mena heard from the White Glass Tower employees that a letter had arrived for the Baron, and she went down to the first floor to receive it.
Lara, who was sitting with me by the bonfire, got up from the sofa to check the letter and approached Mena.
I, leaning back on the living room sofa, asked Lara.
“Who’s it from?”
“Ugh, from that unlucky Princess.”
Lara, having received the letter, came to me, fluttering the envelope in her hand.
A yellow envelope.
Surely, there would be green stationery inside.
Ellie, considering the possibility of the letter being leaked, didn’t write her name. Instead, she indirectly conveyed her identity to the recipient by sending letters with the color of her hair and eyes.
Thanks to that, I was very embarrassed at first, but now, not only I but also Lara were used to it.
I received the letter from Lara and carefully broke the wax that sealed the envelope.
As expected, the stationery was green.
I chuckled and took out the folded letter, quickly scanning it with my eyes.
Lara stood behind me, putting her hand on my shoulder, and asked.
“What does it say?”
“Hold on, I’m still reading. Wait a moment.”
“… Did you finish reading?”
“Yeah, there are two important things, and both are good news.”
With a smile, I placed the envelope on my lap and dropped Lara’s hand that was holding my shoulder.
Lara removed her hand without resistance and sat in the seat facing me.
I took my back off the sofa backrest, straightened my posture, and handed the letter to Lara, saying.
“First of all, she said I can move into the mansion whenever I’m comfortable. She even said it’s already furnished.”
“… That Princess bought a mansion, and it’s already furnished? Something feels uneasy, Ed.”
“Why, you think there might be something weird?”
Lara nodded.
Lara, who didn’t have a good relationship with Ellie, was wary that the clever Ellie might have done something suspicious.
Certainly, if Ellie set her mind to it, it would be easy to take some measures in the mansion without me knowing.
However, I didn’t think Ellie would go that far.
No matter what she did, it would be impossible to kill me, and if she tried to harm me but couldn’t kill me, Ellie would surely know how it would turn against her.
To the point where revenge that deliberately takes a difficult path sometimes feels foolish, I held a power that I couldn’t control or stop.
However, through this method, I was able to uncover the hidden truth about my death, and I wanted to maintain this method because it allowed Robin to have a more painful time without revealing my identity to him.
“Nothing will happen, Lara. Besides, you’ll step in if something happens.”
“… That’s right. Ed. You know me well.”
“We got along the best at the party, didn’t we?”
Lara nodded, reading the letter with her eyes.
I told her the second thing written in the letter.
“Anyway, that’s that, but as you’ll see if you keep reading, the second thing is about a meeting between the Emperor and me.”
“Yeah, I’m reading that part. That Princess used her head quite a bit.”
“The timing was good too.”
In the letter, Ellie wrote that she didn’t want me to meet the Emperor, but the Emperor actually wanted to meet me.
I chuckled slightly, feeling like I could hear Ellie’s sigh from the traces of 고민/gomin (worry) visible in the trembling handwriting.
Ellie’s letter was about the meeting between the Emperor and me.
No, it was written that the meeting with Baron Salvie would take place at a social gathering in the Imperial City a month later.
It was an event to welcome the Inquisitors newly dispatched from the Vatican to Sioland, and it was written that the event would be a smaller scale than expected since the main players of the social gathering were religious people.
The Inquisitors would enter the city in a few days, but the social gathering was pushed back a month because they would start investigating Jennifer as soon as they arrived.
Social gathering.
I don’t know how much Ellie 고민/gomin (worried), but it was probably a trick she came up with after 고민/gomin (worrying) from when she visited here this afternoon until evening.
Thinking that no one would dare harm the Emperor in a place like a social gathering where there are eyes everywhere.
Of course, Ellie’s thought was roughly correct.
No matter how many eyes there were around, if it was just about killing, it would be possible somehow, but I didn’t want to harm the Emperor to the point of giving up my identity as Baron Salvie.
Lara’s gaze was going down towards the bottom edge of the green stationery, as if she had almost finished reading the letter.
Remembering the postscript written at the end of the letter, I said to Lara.
“Oh, right, she’s a Princess who likes to solve several things at once.”
“Originally, guys who think they’re smart want to move as little as possible.”
“Oh, that’s advice that feels the weight of time, Lara?”
“Ed, if you say I’m old one more time, I’m really going to get angry?”
“… Sorry.”
Lara put down the letter, as if she had finished reading it.
The postscript written at the end of Ellie’s letter was that I should finish preparing for the social gathering and etiquette during the month of free time, and that I should think of this social gathering as a preliminary survey for the party I would be hosting.
Well, Salvie had so much money that it was rotting away, but I had no experience with such social gatherings or parties at all, so Ellie’s point was valid.
“Preparation and etiquette… Lara, do you know what’s needed?”
“Roughly, I experienced it a few times before I left this city.”
Before Lara left this city.
My expression, knowing what that meant, suddenly hardened, and Lara also showed an “ah-cha” (oops) expression.
I tried to fix my expression and nodded, saying.
However, I couldn’t organize the emotions felt in my voice, and a very stuffy voice popped out from between my lips.
“… Okay.”
“… Yeah.”
“…”
Feeling the atmosphere getting heavy, I hurriedly turned the topic back to the original.
“So, what do we need to prepare?”
“Ah, yeah. Well, there are several things, but the essentials for a social gathering hosted by the Imperial Family are three things. Invitation. Attire. Partner.”
“Ellie will take care of the invitation, and we can buy the attire, but…”
“…”
Lara looked up at me with an expectant expression.
I shook my head and said in a firm voice.
“… No, you can’t. Lara.”
“Why?”
“Why do you ask? You know too. What would happen if you, the archer of the Hero Party, appeared in an official place?”
“…”
“You understand?”
“… If I, if I disguise myself or something…”
“Say something that makes sense.”
“Why? You’re Baron Salvie just by wearing a mask, aren’t you? If I wear something like a mask too…”
“Since it’s a social gathering held in the Imperial City, Robin might participate too. I don’t want to create a dangerous situation, so absolutely not.”
“… Ugh, I understand.”
Lara sighed, annoyed.
Seeing that, I also felt a surge of annoyance.
Of course, Lara and I were friends who didn’t have much to be careful about with each other, but after her confession, there was a newly created line between us, knowingly or unknowingly.
It was a line drawn by me, who didn’t want to lose her friendship but couldn’t accept her feelings.
Lara would have felt that line too.
However, recently, Lara had been crossing that line little by little.
I had been pretending not to see it until now, but I could see that she was becoming more daring in crossing the line.
Just like this morning.
No matter how much Lily slept in, sleeping next to me naked was way over the line.
Frankly, I doubted whether she really only slept next to me with such boldness.
I felt that it was time to rethink my relationship with her at this point.
“Hey, Lara.”
It was then.
The door to the entrance burst open, and Banata and Lily came in.
“We’re here.”
“Ugh! I’m tired!”
Banata scurried over to the sofa and plopped down, burying herself in the soft backrest.
Lily didn’t show it, but she also looked tired.
For my plan to seduce Piadu using Banata’s succubus abilities, the two of them were on their way back from scouting places where Piadu frequently appeared.
I stopped what I was about to say to Lara and smiled at the two of them, talking to them.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Hehe, we really worked hard.”
“No, it’s okay.”
Banata smiled brightly and 생색/saengsaek (took credit), and Lily nodded slightly, unlike her words.
I asked Banata, who was exhausted.
“Why are you so tired?”
“Ugh, that guy named Piadu. I don’t know why he only goes to such strange places. He’s a complete pervert. My mind is more tired than my body.”
Banata hugged her arms and shuddered, as if she had goosebumps.
I tilted my head.
“What kind of places are they?”
“Basically, bars, restaurants, gambling dens, anywhere where there are women prostituting themselves as a matter of course.”
Lily also sat carefully on the sofa and said.
Ha, that guy named Piadu.
I roughly know what kind of guy he is.
I nodded at Lily’s words.
Banata shook her head and shuddered, wondering what she had seen.
“Ugh, goosebumps.”
“If he’s such a guy who’s faithful to his instincts, he’ll be easily charmed.”
“Ugh, Ed, do I really have to do this?”
“Well, if it’s really difficult, Rose in your head will help you. She’s as talented at seducing men as her mother.”
“Uh… Rose says to go fuck yourself.”
“Rose has no choice but to listen to me.”
“…Huk, Rose. How can you say such a thing?”
“You don’t have to tell me.”
Since all my colleagues were gathered, I postponed the conversation with Lara and called Mena, who was about to prepare tea in the kitchen.
Lara, Lily, Mena, Banata. And even me, everyone was gathered in the living room, so it was more crowded than I thought, and I was convinced that life in the White Glass Tower would no longer be difficult.
With everyone looking at me, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Okay, everyone, listen to me for a moment.”
“What’s wrong?”
“There are a few things to discuss.”
At Lily’s question, I pointed to the letter from Ellie with my finger and said.
“A month later, I’m going to attend a social gathering in the Imperial City. Of course, as Baron Salvie.”
“Oho, I see.”
“Even if I do the related etiquette or something later, the important thing is that I need someone to attend as my partner.”
“Partner?”
“Yeah, Lara is too famous, so she can’t, and Lily can’t either because she looks too similar to Lara. Then it has to be one of Banata or Mena,”
“Um?”
Banata tilted her head as if something was wrong after hearing my words.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, that’s… It’s just a simple social gathering, right?”
“Yeah, I heard it’s going to be quite informal.”
“Then you don’t need a partner, do you?”
“What?”
I looked at Lara.
Lara avoided my eyes and turned her head, pretending not to notice.
Banata continued to speak.
“Of course, there are many cases where people take a partner to avoid people approaching and talking to them, but if it’s just a normal social gathering, you don’t necessarily need a partner.”
“Is that really true? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I read a book about the Empire’s etiquette. I wasn’t the Aureo Academy librarian for show.”
At Banata’s confident attitude, I called Lara with a dumbfounded expression.
“… Lara.”
“I, I was confused because it was a long time ago.”
“…Ha, anyway, that’s that. Let’s move on,”
“Uh… Did I do something wrong?”
Banata looked at Lara with an uneasy expression.
Lara glared fiercely at Banata.
Banata even hiccuped, overwhelmed by the momentum.
I ignored such Lara and continued.
“The second issue is that the mansion where we will live in the future is ready.”
“Wow! A mansion!”
“We just have to move in whenever we want.”
“Oh, that’s good news!”
“I agree.”
Banata enthusiastically agreed with my words, pretending not to notice Lara glaring at her.
Lily quietly added an exclamation to Banata’s words, as if her efforts were too commendable.
I nodded and said.
“Of course, a mansion is better than these rooms in many ways, but there won’t be any employees guarding the entrance, and since it’s Baron Salvie’s mansion, the gazes of the surrounding neighbors and people on the street will always be focused on it. In other words, you have to be really careful when you come out of or enter the mansion. Everyone understand?”
Lily and Mena answered briefly that they understood, and Banata jumped up and down, just excited about the thought of living in a mansion.
Lara just nodded and didn’t say anything.
Lily spoke to me.
“Then when are you planning to go to the mansion?”
I smiled and answered.
“Now.”
*
Like the saying, “Strike while the iron is hot,” I left the hotel wearing a mask.
It was a choice I could make because I didn’t have many things to pack separately anyway.
The employees were flustered by my sudden news of checking out, but they quickly came to their senses, and all the employees bowed and saw me off.
I gave them a generous tip and approached the carriage I had taken when I first came to this hotel.
The carriage was polished so well that it shone, and the horse also looked muscular and lively, as if it had eaten well in the meantime.
Even though I had only stayed at this hotel for a month, I slowly stroked the unfamiliar carriage and horse, which I hadn’t seen in a long time for some reason, and I was momentarily lost in the afterglow.
Ha,
I was surprised that it had only been a month.
The many things that had happened during that month flashed through my head.
I met Mela and Robin again, gained Mena and Banata as new colleagues, and gained Ellie and Deborah as reliable collaborators.
I gained the Holy Sword along with the ability to temporarily become a human, and I also obtained the Demon King’s horn along with the fact that there is a way to turn people into monsters.
And I repaid Jennifer for my first revenge.
“Hoo,”
I turned around.
Like me, who was wearing a mask, Lara and Lily were wearing deep hoods to cover their faces, and Banata was also wearing a baggy robe to hide her tail.
Only Mena, whom I had officially hired, was wearing ordinary clothes.
I opened the door of the carriage for them and waited until they were all inside.
I gave a tip in advance to the coachman that the hotel employee had prepared, and then got into the carriage.
“It felt long for some reason.”
Lara said to me, looking at the White Glass Tower through the window.
I nodded.
“But it’s only been a month. I’ve been spending the month too 정신없이/jeongsineopsi (hectic).”
“That’s true. Will things continue to happen so 숨 가쁘게/sum gappeuge (breathlessly) in the future?”
“Well… For now, I’m going to think about the social gathering that will be held in a month. At least for a month, it might be a little more relaxed except for preparing this and that.”
“Really?”
“Banata will be a little busy though,”
“Ugh, Rose’s fiancé. The person is too 별로/byeollo (lousy)…”
“Birds of a feather flock together,”
“Ed…”
“What,”
“Rose… No, I won’t say it.”
The carriage slowly started to move.
.
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