5.5 Interlude: Gold and Silver (10)
Before meeting Delphine, I had to wait patiently for several days.
I wanted to see Delphine sunbaenim right away.
I was entrusted with the disposition of the Yurdina family by the emperor. Of course, it was necessary to listen to the Yurdina family’s situation before that.
And the one who knows this best is Delphine.
In addition, it was a version of Seria’s love affair, so it was inevitable that my head would be complicated.
Either way, Delphine’s advice was desperate.
Even though Delphine didn’t meet me.
The reason was simple.
“The emperor’s trust is a precious asset. You can’t ruin your husband’s work by becoming a woman.”
It meant that he would not give even the slightest excuse to the Imperial Intelligence Service.
And the fact that the choice was right was soon proved.
It was none other than Neris-senpai.
“Ian-sama, it seems that your contact with the next head of the Yurdina family has decreased a lot recently.”
It was a hint, but the intention was clear.
It meant that the Imperial Intelligence Service was paying attention to my relationship with Delphine.
It was more of an advice than a warning.
He deliberately told me that it was better to reduce contact with Delphine-senpai.
I asked with a wry smile.
“Is that okay?”
There was a brief commotion in the eyes of senior Neris, who was standing in a respectful attitude as always.
As far as I know, Neris-senpai didn’t particularly like me.
Even if I was Neris-senpai right now, that would have been the case.
Who can like a boss who wields an ax without questioning and answering questions?
Even so, senior Neris handed over the necessary information to me.
If it wasn’t for the instructions from the higher up, it should have been seen as purely courtesy from senior Neris.
Even at my question, the woman only showed a sign of hesitation for a while.
long time to do that.
As if he had made up his mind soon, Neris-senpai raised his head slightly and asked a question.
“Why did you save me?”
It was a question that left out many elements.
So I waited without saying anything. Senior Neris added a desperate tone shortly after.
“The day I was attacked by the elves at night, there was no reason to save me. Rather, giving up on me and allowing Ian to survive was the strategically correct decision. But why… … !”
It must have been a question that had been buried for a long time.
The voice, which grew hotter as it continued, stopped abruptly only at the end.
Dark green eyes were staring straight at me.
Realizing that fact, senior Neris’ face turned blue. Then he quickly lowered his head and began to make excuses for me.
“I, I didn’t question Ian’s decision. Yeah… Ho, apologies if it looked like that… … .”
“I want to save it.”
At my plain reply, Neris-senpai’s lips were tightly shut.
It seemed that he didn’t want to show embarrassment. I couldn’t hide the shaking eyes.
Seeing this, I let out a small smile.
“And you did a good job saving it, now that I see it.”
It was a statement that was not even grounded.
As for me, I was just reciting a simple sentiment, but Neris-senpai’s feelings when he accepted it seemed a little different.
The woman’s cheeks turned slightly red.
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Just like I did every time I received a compliment.
However, the color that colored Neris-senpai’s ears today was something different.
If in the past I felt embarrassed and at a loss, today.
Yeah, it looked really embarrassing.
It was only then that I realized that Neris-senpai was also a woman.
**
Besides that, there were many people to meet.
Fortunately, the princess’s desperate persuasion seemed to be working quite well. I could tell just by looking at the princess who looked at me with disapproval every time she saw me.
If there was one thing I was insecure about, it was only one.
It was the princess’ devastating gaze.
Could it be that the princess misunderstood that the negotiations were going well even though they were sluggish?
I had no choice but to pray that such a result would not come out.
The number Leto told me was quite convincing.
Even so, I couldn’t erase a handful of anxiety, so I decided to go see someone I just remembered.
She is a person who has nothing to do with any political influence, and a woman like a spring that heals my heart.
It was my friend Emma.
I hadn’t seen her in a long time, and she was pretty thin.
Anyone could see that he had lost his energy. He was even coughing, so it was safe to say he was a patient.
As soon as I saw Emma’s miserable appearance, I jumped up.
“Emma, are you okay?!”
“Hi, Ian… . Coke, sorry. Because I’m not feeling well… … .”
“If it hurts, tell me it hurts!”
I immediately called the servant to take care of Emma, but gave up.
There must have been a reason why Emma hadn’t called a servant until this point.
I was afraid that I might hurt that heart without notice.
Instead, I took Emma in my arms as if to support her, and led her to bed.
It was also my job to stuff firewood into the fireplace and boil water.
Even though Emma blushed as soon as I gently hugged her shoulders.
“Gwa, it’s okay! I’m not that sick! look, look! You are standing right!”
“Still, when you are sick, stability is important. Wait, I will serve you some hot tea.”
The composition of me, the guest, and Emma, the host, was drawn, but I didn’t care.
Because Emma was more important than that.
Emma eventually had to endure my fuss while sitting on the bed, blushing red.
That was around the time I was in the middle of being overprotective.
“… … It’s still the same.”
The voice that he spat out vaguely, was scattered like breath.
My gaze glanced behind my back. I was just thinking about what to do next.
There was Emma with a wry smile.
The flickering lights, the shadows of the fire in the fireplace, and the heat from illness.
No, or the face reddened by some emotion gave off a somewhat dreamy feeling.
Is it the magic of the snowy night?
Emma looked particularly pretty today.
It was originally pretty, but even more so.
“Are you busy these days? I heard, the people of Yurdina pay a lot of attention to you.”
“It’s nothing, what… … .”
I replied with a snort.
In fact, I was right on a serious matter, but I didn’t want to share my burden with Emma.
The decision must always be solitary.
It was the duty of an aristocrat who had been listening to it since childhood.
I had no desire to whine at Emma.
But she was a smarter woman than me.
“It can’t be anything… Are you saying that the world’s Yurdina is paying attention to your every move?”
“I do get some attention. Because you are handsome.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
It was a response to what he said as a joke.
I thought it was a joke, but I couldn’t help but stiffen my body.
Emma pretended not to know and just tapped her lips with her index finger.
It was the face of an alchemist who had met a difficult problem.
“I mean, I’m still confused. I came here by chance, but it’s strange that people like me wait on me. And a stove where you can smoke without worrying about firewood, and not having to worry about food every day.”
I tried to lick my lips and stopped.
I just realized
Why didn’t Emma call the attendant?
Rather, it was because the user was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. My body hurts, but I don’t think I wanted to create something to worry about.
So I decided to remain silent.
Not too long ago, he might have been forced to call the servant.
Because that was my common sense.
But not anymore.
Sometimes, silent listening is the best answer.
“By the way, do you know what I am the stranger to? It is you.”
I peeked at those words and burst into laughter.
“You said it was still the same as before?”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m more confused. You treat me so well when I’m just a commoner girl… It wasn’t true.”
At the same time, the corners of Emma’s eyes draw sad arcs.
The woman’s confession continued.
“Why didn’t you know? Even this bedroom feels like another world to me, but you’re someone who even has hundreds of rooms like this.”
“Emma… … .”
Even though she let out a pitiful sound, Emma did not stop.
Perhaps this was the dilemma that had been troubling Emma all along.
The limits of identity that cannot be erased no matter how much one wants to erase them.
Actually, I knew it for a long time.
“Yeah, I know. you are amazing unlike me… You’ve already saved the world several times.”
“I couldn’t have done it alone.”
“And I heard. I’m not sure, but I heard you received an important mission from His Majesty the Emperor? The swordsman personally came to visit me… Yep, that’s fine… … .”
My hands thumped and placed on Emma’s shoulders.
Perhaps startled by the sudden contact, Emma held her breath and looked me in the eyes.
Before I knew it, I turned around and was on my knees in front of Emma.
The reason was simple.
To hold Emma’s hand and meet eye level.
I confessed with a wry smile.
“Emma, I’m actually not as great a person as you think. The problem I am facing right now would not have been possible without my friends.”
And I risked shame and told all kinds of stories.
A story about training while reducing sleep due to lack of talent.
A story of overcoming a crisis thanks to Leto.
A story about how my skills improved due to luck, and in return, I had to risk my life to fight even though I was terrified.
In the end, he even revealed his latest circumstances.
This and that about Delphine-senpai, Seria, and the Yurdina family.
That statement was only possible because I believed in Emma.
But Emma’s reaction far exceeded my expectations.
“… … Ian.”
It was around the time I finished talking about Seria.
Until then, Emma, who had been putting on a sullen face, suddenly closed the distance with me.
Sweet breath tickles the tip of your nose.
Light green eyes were shining into mine.
“I love you.”
It was the third confession I heard in my life.
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