7. Jealousy is my strength (12)
After a short battle, I had to greet an unexpected guest while I was having a lazy time.
It was an unidentified party including Shien. At first glance, it looked like there were only two of them, but I knew. Because my heightened sense of humor was catching dozens of signs.
Is it an escort?
They were outstanding not only in numbers but also in skill. There were not many people in power who could always mobilize such talented people throughout the empire.
That’s why my pupils naturally turned to the woman standing next to Sien.
She was a striking beauty with silver-blue hair. It was the first time we had met, but as soon as I saw that sickly complexion, there was a name that suddenly crossed my mind.
The second princess, Iris.
Except for the emperor, he was one of the most powerful people in the empire. Also, he was a big man capable of escorting dozens of talented people.
Even I was worried about how to break through that escort for a moment.
Of course, I didn’t think that I would lose.
How many seconds will it take?
A bitter smile appeared on my lips as I inadvertently devised a plan to subdue the escorts. It seemed that the excitement of the battle had not calmed down yet.
What was the reason to intimidate the likely next heir to the throne?
It was a useless imagination. Above all, if ‘threat’ was the purpose, there was no need to do so anymore.
Princess Iris was staring at me with her body stiffened. There was a fear that could not be hidden from those jewel-like blue eyes.
I looked around with a sigh.
Heck, it wasn’t a sight worth showing to others.
Everywhere you look, there are only corpses, flesh, and bloodstains in an empty lot.
But I also had a story.
“Hey, Sir Ian!”
The person who spoke to the car that was in the midst of frustration was Princess Shien.
An exclamation of both surprise and apprehension erupted, and then a little girl rushed at me.
The princess’ trembling hand rummaged in my arms. And soon, I felt the soft handkerchief caressing my skin.
I didn’t even have a single wound on my body.
Anyway, no fuss.
Even though I laughed bitterly at the princess’s overprotectiveness, I couldn’t resist her touch. He only raised one hand to signify that it was okay.
Even so, Shien couldn’t erase her tears. A voice filled with concern continued.
“Uh, what happened?! How did Sir Ian get here… … .”
“I met Alpenhauser’s twins. I had the information I wanted, so I made a temporary alliance.”
In any case, it was a great opportunity to tell my story.
Princess Iris still couldn’t erase her wary gaze toward me. It was like looking at a maniac killer, but personally, it was an unfair evaluation.
For the sake of the future, I must wash away this bloody first impression.
So I had to tell you the inside story of this horror right away.
About the reason I couldn’t help but see blood.
*
When I arrived at the clearing, a strange woman was reflected in my eyes.
The silent appearance created a dreamy atmosphere. I don’t know if it’s because of my mood, but it was a female student who gave the impression that her skin was a little pale.
It must have been the person I was looking for.
Because it matched the outfit I got from Luna-senpai just a few minutes ago.
He was one of the students who lost contact after going out at night. Her name is ‘Adela’, and after returning a few days ago, did you say that the frequency of going out during the day has drastically decreased?
‘The missing person’.
I didn’t like the ominous connotation the word gave.
Kidnapping and remodeling was a favorite method used by the Dark Church. It’s been a place where I’ve been trying to keep my identity hidden for thousands of years, so there must be plenty of means to hide my nephew.
It’s so hard to notice even if you’re close.
Right now, even if it was just me, there was a time when my younger sister was switched. No, first of all, both of them are my younger sisters, so it might be a silly expression.
My face became depressed after thinking about complicated family affairs.
Looking back, ‘Greed’ also gave a word about upcoming events.
It was a point of no use to ponder now.
Rather, it would be more rational to follow the clues in front of you. After thinking about it, my gait eventually turned toward the unfamiliar female student.
“… … ?”
A questioning gaze returned to me.
It was a natural reaction. Isn’t it like a man I’ve never seen before is approaching me?
So, I deliberately cleared my throat and tried to evoke the awkward atmosphere.
“Hello, is your name Adela?”
“Ah yes… I am Adela.”
Adela then glanced at the color of my cloak.
Mine was red, and Adela’s was brown. This meant that Adela was my junior.
Because the brown cloak was the symbol of the second year.
It was the reason why Adela was polite to me despite my flattering words.
I stopped at a certain distance to give the impression of being as innocuous as possible. Of course, my sense of humor had already reached its limit.
Adela’s whole body was thoroughly scanned, but there were no signs of abnormality yet.
That was natural. If it was such a clumsy camouflage, people around you would have noticed it long ago.
However, I heard that Adela’s acquaintances did not notice any change. That is why even Alpenhauser’s twins were dubious and inconclusive.
Whether the ‘missing people’ are related to the unusual heat wave or not.
And this conundrum is now mine.
What should I do?
After thinking about it for a long time, I couldn’t come up with the right answer. In the end, I had no choice but to throw out a common greeting.
“Why are you alone?”
“… … Yeah?”
Adela tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
It was a naive face that stimulated my guilt. Looking back, I sometimes regretted that this was not the typical tone of a playboy trying to seduce a woman.
But it was already my friend.
I continued the question and answer with the iron plate on my face.
“Because he has a lonely-looking face somewhere… I was alone too, so I wanted to know what you were doing.”
“Ahahahaha… … .”
Then, the emotions on Adela’s face slowly began to change.
At first I was wary, but now I am curious.
He seemed to wonder what the hell this man would say.
Although the corners of my mouth were quivering at the fact that I was trying something for the first time in my life.
I decided to live up to Adela’s expectations as much as possible.
“First of all, are you lonely?”
“Well, maybe it’s up to the seniors to do it.”
Adela’s eyebrows curled gently.
It meant passing. I thanked Adela from the bottom of my heart for giving in to the poor quality of work, and carefully sat down next to her.
The tree stump was surprisingly wide. Enough for two people to sit side by side.
After that it was simple.
It was because Adela, who had slightly broken down the wall in her heart, joined the conversation. Whenever there was an unfamiliar silence, Adela led the conversation without fail.
“Are you Ian Perkus?”
“yes? Oh, it’s not like that.”
I replied with an awkward smile.
It was a situation I couldn’t get used to no matter how many times I went through it. It was also because it hadn’t been a few months since he started to become famous in earnest.
Adela will also be attending the academy, so of course she will recognize me.
Thinking like that made me feel a bit ashamed. It’s as if he seduced Adela by using the value of his name.
It wasn’t my intention, though.
Adela was surprisingly mischievous.
“I heard that he is a famous prostitute, is that true?”
“Well, that’s a bit misleading… … .”
“Ah, looking at it today, it seems right.”
Now it was my turn to smile awkwardly.
There was a sin I had committed, so I had nothing to say. Saying he’s not a flirt and flirting with a junior he’s seeing for the first time.
Can there be a more convincing sound than this?
Adela smiled and kept teasing me.
“Does each country have one woman? Holy Lady in the Holy Land, Senior Rainella in the Empire… Then who are the Southern Ten Kingdoms?”
“Well.”
I laughed bitterly and trembled.
“So what about you?”
“Yeah?”
“You had a sad face. Aren’t you worried about something? Maybe it’s a love problem.”
At my question, Adela burst into laughter. As if he had seen something cute.
“Isn’t it too classic? Pretending to comfort, grabbing a wounded woman… … .”
“I want to help you.”
That one word was a signal.
Adela stared blankly at me, her mouth tightly shut.
“Really, everything has been fine lately? Something, unbearably sticky feelings boil.”
“… … What are you talking about?”
“You may see an illusion of a strange woman. At that time, you can’t answer carelessly, because your soul will pass over.”
“Ahahahaha, senior Ian… You suddenly make strange noises. Why would I?”
Even so, I just turned my gaze while making a strange sound.
Adela had a dumbfounded expression on her face. It seems you didn’t understand the intent of my question.
Adela’s image formed on my retina again.
“Adela, you mean… … .”
And my upper body tilted slightly. As the man’s hand brushed her cheek, Adela trembled and shrugged her shoulders.
A few strands of her hair were caught in my hand.
A color that stands out among brown hair.
“… … Was your hair originally gray?”
And Adela’s breathing stopped.