Chapter 405: Interlude: Gold and Silver (10)

0% Before meeting Senior Delphine, I had to wait patiently for a few days.

Truthfully, I wanted to see her right away.

Having been entrusted by the Emperor with the authority to decide the fate of the Yurdina Family, I naturally needed to hear their circumstances first hand before making any decisions.

And who would know them better than Senior Delphine herself?

Moreover, after learning about Seria’s feelings, my mind was in turmoil.

Either way, I was in desperate need of Senior Delphine’s advice.

Yet she refused to meet me.

The reason was simple.

“The Emperor’s trust is a valuable asset. As a woman, I can’t afford to jeopardize my husband’s affairs, you know.”

She was determined not to give even the slightest opening to Imperial Intelligence.

And soon enough, it became clear that her decision was the right one.

The proof came from none other than Senior Neris.

“Sir Ian, it seems you’ve had much less contact with the Yurdina Family’s next head lately.”

Though it was a casual remark, the intention behind it was unmistakable.

The Imperial Intelligence was closely monitoring my relationship with Senior Delphine.

Rather than a warning, it was closer to a piece of advice.

She was deliberately letting me know that it would be best to reduce my contact with Senior Delphine.

Letting out a wry smile, I asked.

“Is that really okay?”

For a brief moment, a flicker of hesitation crossed Senior Neris’s usually composed gaze as she stood there with her usual polite posture.

As far as I knew, she didn’t particularly like me.

Frankly, if I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t either.

After all, who could possibly like a superior who swings a hatchet first and asks questions later?

And yet, Senior Neris had given me this crucial piece of information.

If this wasn’t an order from above, then it could only be seen as an act of goodwill on her part.

Even after my question, she hesitated for a long time.

She remained silent for quite some time.

Then, as if finally making up her mind, Senior Neris lifted her chin slightly and asked in return,

“Why did you save me?”

It was a question stripped of many details.

So, I said nothing and simply waited. Before long she continued, her voice laced with emotion.

“That night, when we were ambushed by the elves, there was no real reason for you to save me. Strategically speaking, the right decision would have been to leave me behind and ensure your own survival. But then why…!”

It must have been a question she had buried deep inside for a long time.

Her voice, growing more intense with each word, suddenly came to an abrupt halt.

As her dark green eyes locked onto mine.

Realizing this, Senior Neris’s face turned pale. She then quickly lowered her gaze and began hastily piecing together an excuse.

“I-I wasn’t questioning your decision, Sir Ian. No… I-If it came across that way, I sincerely apolo–”

“Because I wanted to save you.”

At my plain response, she tightly pressed her lips together.

She seemed to be making an effort not to look flustered, but her wavering eyes gave her away.

Seeing her like that, I let out a faint chuckle.

“And looking at you now, I’d say it was the right call.”

There wasn’t even a real basis for my words.

To me, it was nothing more than a passing remark, but Senior Neris seemed to take it differently.

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

Just as it always did whenever she received a compliment.

But today, the shade that tinged Senior Neris’s ears felt… different.

Before, she had simply looked flustered, as if unsure how to react.

But today–

Right, today, she looked as if she was genuinely embarrassed.

It was only then that I realized–that Senior Neris was also a woman.

**

There were still many others I had to meet.

Fortunately, the princess’s desperate persuasion seemed to be working–at least to some extent. I could tell just from the way she lit up every time she saw me.

If there was one thing that concerned me, it was just that–one thing.

It was the princess’s complete and utter lack of tact.

Could it be that she is under the illusion that the negotiations are going well, even though they’re actually at a standstill?

I could only pray that wasn’t the case.

Leto’s plan had been fairly convincing, after all.

Even so, I couldn’t completely shake off a lingering sense of unease. And so, I decided to visit someone who had just come to mind.

A woman untouched by political affairs, a soothing presence like a fresh spring to my weary heart.

My friend, Emma.

It had been a while since we last met and she looked noticeably thinner.

Anyone would say she was in poor health–especially with the faint coughs she was letting out, which made her look every bit the part of someone unwell.

The moment I saw her frail state, I jumped in alarm.

“Emma, are you okay?!”

“Hey, Ian… Cough, sorry. I haven’t been feeling well…”

“If you’re sick, you should have told someone!”

I was about to call for a servant to tend to her, but then I hesitated.

There had to be a reason why Emma hadn’t summoned any attendants despite being in this condition.

I was afraid that, in my thoughtlessness, I might trample on whatever that reason was.

I instead gently supported her in my arms and led her to the bed.

I also took it upon myself to stoke the fireplace, add firewood and boil some water.

Emma, however, turned red the moment I lightly wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“I-I’m fine! I’m not that sick! H-Here look! I can stand just fine!”

“Still, when you’re unwell, rest is important. Just wait a moment–I’ll make you some warm tea.”

The roles were reversed, with me, the guest, taking care of Emma, the host–but I paid it no mind.

Because nothing mattered more than Emma right now.

In the end, despite her face flushing bright red, she had no choice but to sit on the edge of the bed and endure my fussing.

It was while I was still caught up in my overprotectiveness that–

“…You’re still the same.”

Her faintly murmured words dissipated like a wisp of breath.

My gaze flickered toward her, just as I had been considering what to do next.

There she was, sitting with a wry smile on her lips.

The flickering light, the dancing shadows cast by the hearth, the feverish warmth of illness–

Or it was perhaps some other emotion that flushed her cheeks red–

It all created an almost dreamlike scene.

Was this the magic of a snowy night?

Emma looked especially beautiful today.

She had always been beautiful, but now–even more so.

“You’ve been busy lately, haven’t you? I heard the Yurdina family is walking on eggshells around you.”

“It’s nothing, really…”

I scoffed as I replied.

In truth, it was a serious matter, but I didn’t want to burden Emma with it.

Decisions must always be made in solitude.

It was a noble’s obligation–one that had been drilled into me since childhood.

I had no intention of whining to Emma about it.

But she was even more perceptive than I was.

“It’s obviously not ‘nothing’… Even the mighty Yurdina family is paying close attention to you.”

“Well, I do tend to draw attention. I’m just that handsome after all.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

It was a response to what I meant as a joke.

Even though I assumed she was joking too, I couldn’t help but tense up for a moment.

Emma merely feigned ignorance, tapping her lips lightly with her index finger.

She had the look of an alchemist faced with an unsolvable riddle.

“You know, I still can’t quite believe it. I somehow ended up here, but it still feels strange having people so similar to me serving me. And also the fact that I can light a fire without worrying about firewood, or that I don’t have to stress over my next meal…it all feels unfamiliar.”

I parted my lips to say something–but stopped.

Only now did I realize.

Why Emma hadn’t called for a servant.

It was simply that having servants felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable to her. Already feeling unwell, she likely didn’t want to deal with any additional stress.

So I chose to remain silent.

Not long ago, I might have forced her to summon a servant.

Because that was what I had always considered normal.

But not anymore.

Sometimes, listening silently is the best answer.

“But do you know what feels the strangest to me? It’s you…”

At that, I let out a chuckle.

“But didn’t you just say I am still the same?”

“Yes, and that’s what confuses me even more. You treat someone like me–just a mere commoner girl–so kindly… but I’ve recently come to realize that’s not how the world really works.”

As she said that, Emma’s eyes curved into a sorrowful arc.

Her confession continued.

“Why didn’t I realize it sooner? To me, even this bedroom feels like a whole different world, yet you….you deal with people who own hundreds of rooms like this without even batting an eye.”

“Emma…”

Even as I murmured her name with concern, she didn’t stop.

Perhaps this had been the dilemma that had tormented her all along.

A barrier of status that couldn’t be erased no matter how much she wished to.

Truthfully, I had known this for a long time.

“Mm, I know. You’re incredible. Unlike me… You’ve already saved the world more than once.”

“I could never have done it alone.”

“And I heard something. I don’t know all the details, but… the Emperor personally entrusted you with an important mission, right? Even the Sword Duke himself came to see you… Well, that’s great news–”

Thump. My hands landed firmly on Emma’s shoulders.

She flinched at the sudden contact, holding her breath as her eyes met mine.

At some point, I had turned to face Emma and was kneeling in front of her.

The reason was simple.

To take her hands in mine and meet her at eye level.

With a wry smile, I started making my confession.

“Emma, honestly, I’m not as great as you think I am. If it weren’t for my friends, I wouldn’t even know how to handle the situations I’m facing now.”

And so, casting aside my pride, I laid everything bare.

How I lacked talent and had to cut back on sleep just to train.

How I only survived certain crises thanks to Leto.

How, by sheer luck, I managed to improve–and how, in exchange, I had to throw myself into battles, terrified yet forced to fight for my life.

In the end, I even told her about my recent troubles.

About Senior Delphine, about Seria and about the Yurdina family.

I could only reveal so much because I trusted her that much.

But her reaction far exceeded my expectations.

“…Ian.”

It was just as I finished speaking about Seria.

Up until that moment, Emma had worn a sulky expression.

Then, all at once, she closed the distance between us.

Her sweet breath tickled the tip of my nose.

Her light green eyes reflected my own.

“I… like you.”

It was the third confession I ever received in my life.