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Chapter 54
“We can make our way back on our own, so you don’t need to concern yourself with us.”
Howell pulled Elysia along while giving a polite bow to Leonard and Finn.
Polite in words, yes—but those cold eyes made it feel less like a farewell and more like a curt, “Mind your own business and get lost.”
He’s always telling me to mind my manners—so why’s he being the rude one now?
Could he really act like that toward the Imperial Palace and the Mage Tower?
Elysia turned her head away in a sulk—only to lock eyes with Finn. He gave a small nod, as though to say he understood, and offered a parting word.
“A shame. Well then, I’ll see you again at the Mage Tower. May I look forward to it?”
Elysia was just about to reply when—
“Well, I don’t think so… You see, Elysia is under a ban on going out, so it likely won’t happen,” Howell cut in smoothly. Polite, but with a crooked undertone.
Elysia jabbed him in the side with her elbow.
“What are you talking about, brother? My ban was lifted!”
“That lift could be reinstated. Especially once Father hears about today.”
“…”
Well… there was no arguing with that.
She couldn’t even imagine what reaction the duke would have when he received the report on what had happened today. Eyes darting about, she accidentally met Leonard’s gaze.
“A pity, Ellie. Does that mean it will be a while before we meet again?”
Oh, please. We both know you’re not the least bit sad.
Would it kill him to just say he’s happy not to run into the bothersome Elysia Sempherion for a while?
Hiding those feelings under a feigned, regretful smile, he gave her a courteous farewell. Elysia, playing along, dipped her head.
“Yes, I hope to see you again, Your Highness. And you as well, Sir Ende… perhaps at the Tower or a banquet.”
Ban or no ban—if she had a window and two legs, she could go anywhere! Howell’s chiding meant nothing. Crossing her arms, Elysia turned to him.
“Brother, I’ll just run home ahead—”
“What are you talking about? You’re taking the carriage.”
He answered flatly, as if the very idea was absurd.
“Don’t even think about slipping away. You might try to sneak off in the middle of the trip, so I have no choice but to accompany you all the way.”
“Tch.”
So much for being her “escort”—it was surveillance all along. Elysia grumbled and took a step—
And froze. Something brushed her ankle.
Meowww! (Humans!) Meow, meowww! (How could you leave me behind!)
“Huh?”
Furry paws clung to her ankle—it was the snow leopard cub. The very one that had guided her here, trembling in fear when the monsters attacked. She had assumed it had wandered off while she was speaking with the priests.
“You’re still here, kitty?”
Meowww. (That’s none of your business.)
The cub answered primly, trembling as it stared toward the departing priests.
Meow, meow. (Why have those people come all the way here again…)
Muttering to itself, it turned back to Elysia.
Meoww. Meow. (Human, you looked pretty strong earlier. Could you take me with you?)
“Huh? I don’t know…”
Meow! Meowww! (Don’t tell me you forgot—you promised earlier!)
“Hmm… what promise was that?”
Meow! Meowww! (You said you wouldn’t sell me and you’d give me lots of tasty food!)
“Oh, right.”
She had said that. But she didn’t have any snacks handy now—and she couldn’t feed it just anything. While she was mulling over the problem, Howell asked,
“What are you two talking about?”
“It wants me to take it home.”
“…What?”
Howell frowned as though she’d just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.
“That’s a monster. You can’t keep it. Just let it go back to the forest.”
Meow! (This human!)
The cub lashed out with invisible paw-swipes from Elysia’s arms, fur bristling in offense.
“I figured as much. Sorry, kitty, I can’t in our house—”
She was about to add, I don’t have much say in our house, when another voice cut in.
“Then how about I take it?”
It was Finn.
“The Mage Tower has plenty of people unafraid of a young creature like this, and we can prepare an ideal space and food for it. The lady could visit anytime she wished.”
Meow? (Really?)
That… was a very good offer. Tempted, Elysia nodded with a bright smile.
“That could work. I could visit it at the Tower!”
A perfect excuse to drop by the Mage Tower—what’s not to love? She started toward Finn to hand over the cub—
When Howell blurted, “Wait, actually—”
“Hm?”
“—Actually, I think we can keep it at home.”
Elysia blinked at the sudden reversal.
“Didn’t you just say no because it’s a monster?”
“You can keep one if you get a permit.”
“…Really?”
That was news to her. She was about to nod when a thought struck her.
“Then why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“Just remembered. Why?”
Meow… (Hmm…)
“Don’t worry, kitty—we’ll feed you well.”
Meow! (In that case, I approve!)
Looking down at the delighted cub, Elysia thought privately,
…Hope it’ll be okay with poison in our food at home.
On the carriage ride back, Elysia didn’t get a moment’s rest—Howell started questioning her.
“Alright, now that it’s just us, talk.”
He lowered his voice so the driver couldn’t hear.
“So, who exactly did you have an appointment with?”
“What?”
“His Highness and Sir Ende—both said they came because they wanted to see you.”
“…”
Elysia recalled their earlier words.
‘I wanted to see you. I asked to meet here in secret.’
‘I came because I wanted to see you, too.’
To a third party, it could easily sound like she had made plans with both of them.
In truth, that misunderstanding wasn’t entirely bad—it spread the “blame” around and created a decent alibi. Even if either of them later denied it, she could still claim ignorance, and fend off nosy questions from the temple or elsewhere with, “Oh dear, that concerns both their honors and my privacy—surely you won’t press further?”
But—
Howell, and the duke, wouldn’t let it slide that easily.
They could think she had lied to meet the Crown Prince or Finn behind their backs.
Most of all—
“You already know the truth, brother.”
She met his eyes steadily.
“You saw His Highness question us.”
Before the temple people arrived, the prince hadn’t greeted her warmly—he’d demanded to know why she was there, and Howell had jumped in to explain.
‘No, absolutely not! She just followed a cat!’
“So you know I’m innocent.”
“…”
Howell rested his chin on his hand in thought, then spoke quietly.
“I see. So His Highness didn’t actually call you there. Then the reason he said that earlier was to shield you from the High Priest’s questioning?”
“Exactly.”
Now he should be reassured—
Or not.
“…That’s even stranger.”
His frown deepened, tapping the armrest in irritation.
“Hm. If you’re nothing to him, why go that far?”
“That, I don’t know.”
“And Sir Ende saying almost the same thing?”
“That, I really don’t know.”
Her tone was indignant, but Howell pressed on.
“Don’t play dumb. They’re your previous and next partners, remember?”
He added with distaste, “Sir Ende… seeing him in person, he’s even more—”
Something dawned on him; he froze for a second, then glared at her in betrayal.
“You…!”
In a tone heavy with disappointment, he hissed,
“I taught you from the start not to be swayed by appearances—!”
“What are you talking about?”
Had he ever “taught” her that? Maybe as a child, once?
“Sir Ende did nothing wrong. He even checked to see if I was hurt—he’s a good man.”
“So you have fallen for it.”
“I have not!”
“You never listen to me.”
He stared at her with pure disapproval.
Elysia wondered, Did he really preach that lesson from childhood? Or is this just his usual nagging?
Probably the latter.
While she narrowed her eyes in boredom, Howell asked again,
“So, you didn’t go to the lake because of them? Nothing happened with Sir Ende either?”
“…”
This was the tricky part—if she said no, she’d have to explain why she did go. But if she said she’d gone to meet Finn, that would also be a hassle.
Before she could answer, Howell spoke first.
“…Forget it. If you don’t want to say, don’t.”
“…Huh?”
Dropping the interrogation so easily?
Seeing her puzzled look, Howell added,
“I don’t even know why I asked. You just followed the cat, right?”
Meow… (Not true. She threatened me to guide her.)
The cub mewed under its breath, but Howell couldn’t understand.
“Whether you went to meet Sir Ende or really just to find fireflies—fact is, you saved the Saint and me today.”
“…”
“For that, I’m grateful.”
The moment he finished speaking—
Ding!
Howell’s wariness toward you has decreased.
-30%
Wariness: 240 → 210%
…Huh?
