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Chapter 57
“…What are you doing?”
“I told you to take it.”
For a moment, Nerhi’s mask of composure broke, then returned.
“Haha. So you’re a foreigner, yet your Imperial is still lacking. Seems His Highness hasn’t been paying attention to you.”
Clemens scowled, clutching the bread tightly in her hands. The bread had done nothing wrong—it was innocent. Besides, this was a perfect chance to check if there was poison or anything hidden inside.
However, every time Nerhi mentioned Zephyrus while speaking, it irritated her. It was painfully obvious that he wanted to disparage Zephyrus, and Clemens didn’t appreciate it.
“The master doesn’t care about that. Even if your Imperial isn’t perfect, he accepts you. He’s a good person.”
Of course, he also taught her. As Clemens spoke, Nerhi suddenly shifted the conversation’s direction.
“My goodness, calling someone ‘master’! Are you perhaps being mistreated?”
Clemens snorted at the absurdity.
How many people call him master? What kind of mistreatment could he possibly imagine?
“There’s a saying in the Empire: you see only what your eyes allow you to see.”
“Consider it a cautionary concern from someone who’s been through the world a little more,” Nerhi said.
A cautionary concern? Clemens tilted her head. Nerhi raised one corner of his mouth.
“You don’t know what cautionary concern means? Let me explain—”
“Oh, no need. I’ve always been told that you can understand foreign languages from context.”
Clemens lifted her chin proudly, curling her lips higher than Nerhi’s.
“I have no interest in learning anything from a scoundrel trying to steal my uncle’s position.”
Nerhi’s expression immediately changed. Though begrudging, it was clear he accepted the accusation as truthful.
“Steal? You speak oddly. I only came to help the poor villagers.”
Even Clemens, knowing the truth, paused at the sincerity in his expression. In that short moment, Nerhi continued.
“Of course, I admit it might appear that way. But can one leave suffering villagers to their fate? Lives are at stake here.”
“Exactly. So why tell the guild not to sell anything?”
“That’s a mistake of the Grand Ducal family, causing friction with the guild. I barely persuaded the master of the guild to bring it. To speak that way is unfair.”
Nerhi feigned grievance and glanced around. All eyes were on him. He raised his voice.
“Of course, as an outsider, you’ve only heard what His Highness says. Let me show you the truth. Come with me!”
The villagers murmured quietly.
“What’s happening?”
“Is he planning to take that woman away?”
“Didn’t they say the curse on this woman must be lifted, and if cursed, the grand duchy could be in danger? And now he says come along?”
Nerhi’s speech, masked as a conversation, fed their curiosity perfectly.
“Do you know that false rumors about you are spreading in the system? I don’t believe them, but as long as you stay with His Highness, the rumors will continue. His Highness won’t appear outside. If he remains inside the mansion, people will let their imaginations run wild.”
If you dislike such rumors, stay away from Zephyrus.
“Of course, you don’t have to stay with me. But…”
Nerhi extended his stinging hand again.
“If you come with me, those rumors won’t spread. And if any arise, I’ll extinguish them immediately. Your warmth… is clearly the power of a fire fairy, not a curse.”
He countered the fake curse he himself had invented. His eyes shone with greed. His desire flared as his hands reddened.
Since he had caused her pain, he would make her scream even more—no, even beyond that.
“Your power is needed in the north. Come with me.”
One of the villagers, arriving from another nearby village to receive food, looked at Clemens.
She had arrived in a place far warmer than her own village, surprised—but the reason was the woman with hair flowing like fire.
A fire fairy, no less?
If this strange warmth really was the power of a fire fairy…
Then surely being with her was the better choice. She had brought food and water and helped the villagers. Much more helpful than Grand Duke Zephyrus himself!
“Yes! Guardian of the North, the fire fairy! Please choose the better person!”
“That’s right! For the North!”
Once one person shouted, many voices joined. The knights’ attempts to calm the people the previous day had failed. What mattered to them most was the one who brought food.
Nerhi smiled, as if victory were already his.
The public sentiment and rumors he had carefully planted were now exerting unseen power.
‘There’s nothing a barbarian from the desert can do in this situation.’
Clemens glanced around calmly, quietly opened a bottle of water, and—
“U-uh bubp!”
She poured it into the mouth of the person in front of her.
He swallowed instinctively and was about to protest—but a fragrant aroma filled his senses.
“Wh-what…! Why does it taste good?”
Unconsciously, he licked his lips, and soon sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Nerhi interjected.
“Why are you forcing him to drink that bad stuff? What instructions did His Highness give you?”
“How is it? Feel a bit lighter?”
The man checked himself unconsciously. The headache that usually troubled him was gone. His eyes felt less strained.
Finally, he spoke.
“…I think I’ll need to drink another bottle to know for sure.”
“Hahaha, oh no! Sir, that was cute, but it won’t work. That’s enough.”
Clemens collected the empty bottle and shook a fresh one.
“Who wants to try?”
“I-I’ll drink it!”
“Me too! Give me some!”
The villagers, noticing, crowded around Clemens.
“Yes, yes, line up, line!”
“Hey! Don’t cut in line!”
Even Lesible shouted due to the sudden rush of people.
While handling the villagers, Clemens glanced at Nerhi.
Capturing him was important, but her main task was to distribute Aistas water to the villagers.
‘If I do this, I might even get him later.’
Seeing cracks in his previously perfect expression, she became confident.
She was doing well.
So while distributing Laha, Clemens deliberately praised Zephyrus.
“This is water the master—or rather, His Highness—worked hard to find for us.”
“His Highness truly cares about the people.”
“Even though someone’s malice caused this situation…”
Saying “malice,” Clemens glanced at Nerhi, and continued.
“Even so, he considers the lord’s responsibilities and tries to care for our health.”
Nerhi gritted his teeth. The corner of his mouth trembled.
‘How satisfying, how satisfying.’
A single bottle of water.
That one bottle seemed to erase the rumors Nerhi had spread overnight.
The villagers’ previously worried and distrustful faces began to glow.
Their bodies warmed by the water, their ailments soothed, they finally felt some relief.
They remembered the grace of the previous Grand Duke.
And now, simply by distributing this delicious, miraculous water, the current Grand Duke earned their favor.
Of course, Clemens’ cheerful presence and warm words had a huge impact.
“Is… the fire fairy going the same path as His Highness?”
“I follow my own path. And I walk it with the best person for it.”
“Then… that noble person can’t go with you, fairy?”
But even Nerhi, who had distributed food, could not ignore her.
For them, whoever fed and warmed them was enough.
He had filled their stomachs, after all.
Even now, food was stacked like a mountain behind him.
“Of course they can go with me! Though they wear human skin, the fire fairy is more suited for your welfare than His Highness you’ve never met.”
Nerhi answered. Clemens crossed her arms, watching, curious how far he would go.
Seeing the twitch in his eyes, she found it rather amusing.
