5.5 Interlude: Gold and Silver(5)
Delphine let out a deep sigh and relaxed.
She could feel the soft backrest, but her heart still felt uncomfortable.
The scene of the half-destroyed office was reflected in the woman’s bloody retinas.
It was a horror created by a workshop that lasted only a few minutes.
It was once a place full of antique furniture, but now it is difficult to find a place in good condition.
That was all I had to do.
Because both Delphine and Seria were sincere.
It wasn’t a babble, it was a clash between two swordsmen who had reached an expert level. It was natural for these results to emerge.
Even so, Delphine couldn’t erase her bitter heart.
It wasn’t for any particular reason.
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Just because of the fact that he had given up his ‘truth’.
I didn’t think so at first.
As previously stated, Delphine had no particular intention of restraining Ian.
Not only was he a man that couldn’t be tamed anyway, but part of it was because the reason Delphine and Ian got together wasn’t fair.
One night’s pity, or one moment’s impulse.
I didn’t know how Ian was going to take that night. However, Delphine was defining her relationship with the man like that.
The one who attacked him who hesitated until the end was himself.
Delphine wasn’t brazen enough to demand a price for her virginity.
Therefore, it didn’t matter what kind of relationship Ian and Seria had.
No, on the contrary, he even had a heart to help Seria.
Yes, but why?
Delphine let out a long breath and recalled the memory.
What flashed through my mind was the conversation we had just had.
In front of the retainers, Delphine leaned over and whispered in Seria’s ear.
“Smile, Seria.”
The wounded beast’s ferocious eyes turned to Delphine.
However, Delphine only raised the corners of her mouth as if laughing.
“By the way, the West has received an imperial mandate. Decide what to do with the Yurdina family… So if your relationship with me is revealed, you will be in a lot of trouble. You don’t want that either, do you?”
There was a gnashing of teeth.
As soon as she heard the word ‘Seobangnim’, Seria’s hands went into strength. A desperate intent to kill emanated from the expression on his face as he glared at Delphine with bloodshot eyes.
He must have wanted to stab Delphine with the knife in his hand.
But it was impossible.
The larger the incident, the more complicated the post-processing that accompanies it.
And in the process, a close investigation to look at the circumstances will also be included.
It meant that Ian and Delphine’s relationship might be exposed.
Although she was resentful and upset, Seria couldn’t bear to put her beloved senior in trouble.
But again, as much as a smile never came out.
Seria decided to keep silent.
Forcibly grabbing Delphine’s outstretched hand, the girl’s body staggered to her feet.
It was not a pleasant atmosphere for anyone to see.
Rather, the temperature inside the room was cold enough to remind me of a blizzard that raged on the snowy field.
Even the vassals who burst into the office in surprise were unable to utter a single word.
Only Delphine had a faint smile.
“I’m sorry, sir. After a long sparring with my younger sister, I got a little excited.”
As if that statement was true, the eyes of the vassals turned to Seria.
Even so, the girl did not say anything negative or positive.
A step taken with a frozen expression is just one step.
A chill emanated from every single movement.
Since it was so bloody, the vassals did not even dare to stop Seria.
But Seria had to stop after a while.
It was because I heard a small voice behind me.
“You have to beg, nothing will change. Seria.”
Seria’s blue eyes glanced back.
There, Delphine with a cold complexion was seated.
“If you want something, put it into action. And fight and win.”
“sister.”
Like swords facing each other, words cross each other.
Seria raised her confession with an extremely expressionless face.
“You should have killed me.”
And a damp whisper follows.
“Soon, I will make you regret it.”
The servant who gave the last advice left like that.
The next time they met, Delphine and Seria might not have a military-vassal relationship anymore.
Maybe not even sisters.
As Delphine reflected on the past, she recalled Seria’s last glance.
Dark blue eyes frozen even with hostility.
There was not even a hint of respect or friendship in his eyes.
Delphine burst into laughter as if it were absurd.
“They said it was useless to raise a daughter… … .”
After being bewitched by a man, he looks like this.
After that, there were complaints that sounded like sighs. If Marquis Yurdina, who was detained underground, heard it, it was something she would have strongly agreed with.
Although Delphine herself was in a situation no different from Seria’s.
The woman’s sigh continued to grow deeper.
There were several reasons why Delphine dared to provoke Seria.
First of all, it was to stimulate Seria, who showed a weak appearance, and also to bring the conflict between Delphine and Seria to the surface.
It was because Ian was deeply involved with the Yurdina family.
It was widely known throughout the academy that he was close not only to Delphine, the head of the household, but also to Seria.
So, the Yurdina family is split in half.
There really was no need to split. Just by showing the fact that there is a conflict within the family, Ian’s maneuvering becomes much easier.
Even without Delphine, you can borrow Yurdina’s power through Seria.
The imperial family didn’t seem to have any intention of erasing the Yurdina family anyway.
If that was the case, I wouldn’t have deferred judgment to Ian in the first place.
Clearing Yurdina’s name was such an arduous process.
It was a grand task that even the imperial family had no choice but to be cautious about.
There was no way they would make the mistake of leaking information in advance.
In the end, what the imperial family wanted was to save face.
To completely break with the Dark Church, to give unwavering loyalty to the Empire, and to stand at the forefront of the war to come.
If I promise you this, I will let go of your hand.
Therefore, the punishment for Yurdina had no choice but to stop within an appropriate line.
It was because Yurdina was still useful as the 5th largest noble family in the empire.
So, the person Delphine was considering as one of the compromises was Seria.
Although born from birth, he was born with Yurdina’s blood, and his talent was undoubtedly real.
Isn’t it really an appropriate appointment as a force that can keep the family head in check?
It was enough to warn the family head, who must wield unbridled power.
It was also an opportunity to strengthen the imperial family’s influence over the Yurdina family.
Moreover, what I liked was that Seria could not definitively threaten the authority of the family head.
In fact, she had a bloodline of vampires.
As long as this weakness existed, there was no worry that Seria would take over the position of head of the household.
All that was left was patience.
I just hope Ian notices this and makes the right decision.
Now Delphine’s work is done.
Seria harbored a crush on Delphine.
The retainers are suspicious of Delphine and Seria.
I achieved my goal like this, but why is my heart so stuffy?
Delphine inadvertently chewed on her lips.
Yes, actually provoked Seria more than necessary.
Is your timid little sister pathetic?
Or, because I can’t control my heart that has grown bigger at some point.
“Stupid bitch… … .”
Is it Seria, or is it myself?
Without knowing who she was talking to, Delphine sighed for a long time.
**
“Why are you alive?”
It was a question full of sincerity.
It wasn’t something I would say in front of a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. Even if we rely on telecommunication magic to communicate.
My complexion instantly darkened.
“Then he must have died?”
“It wouldn’t be strange if I died… Let’s be honest, who’s telling you to pick up a sword and bet your entire fortune? Then I’ll bet you’re dead.”
“I’m glad.”
“Pick,” I added with a laugh.
“The bigger the stake, the more you lose.”
“Uh huh.”
My friend Leto, a handsome man with curly brown hair, imitated a solemn voice.
“I am just waiting for the final victory. You know, you have to lose a lot to gain something.”
“That’s typical gambler logic.”
“I kind of like to gamble.”
So I chatted with Leto for a while while giggling.
Of course, it didn’t take long for me to get to the point.
It was because communication magic required more mana than expected.
Because of that, I had to explain my situation as briefly as possible. To the point where it feels like a lie the time we spent talking about useless things earlier.
Leto swallowed his saliva as he listened to my short story.
For a while, the light green eyes slightly turned to the side.
My most trusted friend, as always, had a grumpy smile.
“Not bad? Maybe your backcountry will help.”
“… … Are you remote?”
At my stupid question, Leto clicked his tongue with a tsk tsk.
In those pathetic eyes, there was a deep inside that could not be hidden.
‘Anyway, the Faculty of Swordsmanship… … .’
I secretly clenched my fists and trembled.
This insult will be repaid with interest upon returning to the academy.
But Leto was indeed Leto.
Every time his trick continued, I could only nod my head politely.
It was fortunate. Because the future where my fist will be stained with the blood of a friend has disappeared.
I was able to leave the communication room with a satisfied expression only after writing down the contents of the consultation with him.
It wasn’t quite the plan yet.
However, if you behave like this for a while, there shouldn’t be a big problem.
I was able to move on with a more relaxed mind.
At least until someone came running to me in a fit of gasp.
It was a familiar girl with dark blue hair and silver gray eyes.
The 5th Princess of the Empire, Shien.
She shouted, flapping her arms unbefitting her noble status.
“Oh, that’s a big deal. Sir Ian!”
I had no choice but to stop right there.
It was because the way he closed his eyes and raised his voice seemed quite urgent.
The urgent message delivered by the princess, who had worked so hard, was as follows.
“Yurdina… That, that is to say, Seria-senpai has become strange!”
The news that something is wrong with my good junior.
My body, which had been stunned for a moment, immediately kicked off the ground and was shot.
Please, Seria.
I hope I’m not late.
Delphine was playing 10D chess