111. The Aiperos Family (4)
Polux was taken aback when Carsein offered his hand instead of his fist.
“An imperial… offering me his hand? Impossible.”
There was ikans, would do such a thing.
But that hand wasn’t a fist, nor was it holding anything. It didn’t even have the intention of throwing a punch.
It was just a palm with some calluses and a few scars.
“…Is that the mark of sword training?”
Although it wasn’t as intense as a Yalikan’s, this level of training couldn’t be called lazy.
However, the question still lingered.
“Why are you helping me? Don’t you know I’m a Yalikan?”
“Hmm, I don’t know much about Yalikans.”
“…What do you mean? You can see the tattoos on my face, and you don’t know I’m a Yalikan?”
“Yeah.”
Polux was taken aback for a moment.
“Why are you helping me? To me, it just looks like a bunch of people bullying one person who’s not resisting. It’s frustrating to watch.”
“…You’re a strange guy.”
“Think whatever you want. That’s fine.”
-Tap.
“If we keep lying here, the bottles will start flying.”
Carsein muttered, catching a bottle that was flying towards Polux.
The frustrated imperials at the tavern shouted at Carsein.
“What’s with you, knight? Why are you helping a Yalikan?!”
“Don’t you know, as an imperial, what kind of savages they are?!”
“They’re the ones who summon demons in the Pesseros Empire, and you’re defending them?!”
That’s enough.
The imperials had already said their piece, so this guy would also back off.
Polux turned away, ignoring the offered hand, and said.
“If you’ve heard enough, then leave. Imperial. Even if you help someone like me, you’ll only get burned.”
That’s just how it was.
Yalikans could never get a good word from imperials.
It was better to take a beating from them, become their scapegoat, and leave when the time was right.
He finally withdrew his hand.
Polux had somewhat expected this, but Carsein didn’t back down.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s not right to just take a beating like this.”
Carsein grasped Polux’s hand, and with a swift motion, pulled him up to his feet.
Polux, caught off guard, stumbled up, looking bewildered.
“What’s…?”
“I know how it feels, being in their shoes. Just remember that and don’t talk about it. It’s pointless to stay here, and it’ll only cause trouble for you.”
Calsein said that and walked out of the pub entrance first.
No one dared to approach him after seeing him take down the pub’s rowdy customers with a single glance. Even those who wanted to harm Poluxus only shot him dissatisfied glares.
As Poluxus turned his attention back to Calsein, who had settled the pub disturbance, he noticed a woman with purple hair standing behind him.
Poluxus finally grasped the situation.
“That woman is the one who helped our Yarik people…”
Her name was unmistakable.
It was Harne Terecia.
From the way she was conversing with him, it didn’t seem like she was providing artificial assistance to gain something.
Poluxus, who had been watching Calsein, finally left the pub.
***
I think it was a bit excessive.
Harne only asked me to help that guy, and didn’t request anything more.
He was just getting beaten up, saying it wasn’t his problem, and was about to get attacked by the rowdy customers.
Either way, it was close to my own thoughts.
Seeing him get gang-beaten made me anxious, so I acted that way.
As we left the pub, Harne approached me.
She glanced around the pub interior, then looked at me and confirmed that the situation was resolved.
“The inside of the pub… is done, I suppose.”
“Yes.”
The outside had become quiet by then.
The sounds of shattering bottles and tables, and the screams of the rowdy customers, were still echoing in my ears.
It was probably thanks to Harne’s intervention.
Now was the time for me to ask.
“So, who is that guy, anyway? Why is he just taking the beating?”
He was a strange person in many ways.
He clearly had incredible strength, but he just took the beating without fighting back.
Even when other customers threw bottles, dishes, and glasses at him, he remained unresponsive.
It was as if he had given up, and his attitude towards me, who was trying to help, was difficult to understand.
But Harne would know.
After all, she was the one who asked me to save him.
Harne’s lips trembled as she answered with a sympathetic gaze.
“He’s from the Aiperos family. He’s someone who’s doing a very important job in the Empire.”
“The Aiperos family… you mean the ones from the West?”
“That’s right. Poluxus is from the West.”
“But the people at the pub were calling him Yarik, weren’t they?”
“That’s… because the Empire still sees us as the Yarik tribe, and doesn’t recognize us as fellow citizens.”
Instead of Harneil, who was holding back, Polux spoke up at the tavern.
“Don’t you think we’re not treated as equals in the same empire?”
“It’s exactly that. The Yaric tribe is treated as barbarians, so even if the title of Aifelos Marquis is bestowed upon them, they won’t recognize us as equals in the empire.”
-Thud, thud.
Blood-stained fragments fell off.
They were the shards of a broken bottle that had pierced Polux’s skin just a moment ago.
“Why do you think I’m not one of those empire people, and yet you’re reaching out to me, a Yaric… Ah, you really didn’t know, did you? Flecia, the head of the household.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“…”
Polux chuckled and asked me again.
“Boy, what’s your name?”
“Karsein. Karsein Bagrand.”
“Huh? Could it be… the Bagrand Duke’s?”
“That’s right.”
“Haha! It’s amazing. The Bagrand Duke, the leader of the nobles, helped me out. Flecia, the head of the household, brought you along?”
“Oh, wow… really…”
Polux laughed out loud and extended his hand to me once more.
“I’m Polux Tutulorum, the chief of the Yaric tribe. And… it’s strange to say, but I’m also the Aifelos Marquis himself.”
My eyes widened at his words.
‘Is this person… the Aifelos Marquis?’
In the game, his true identity wasn’t revealed. Even when trading with other nobles, he wore noble attire, so there was no information about him. His real name was unknown as well.
‘I was supposed to meet him eventually, but I never thought I’d meet him like this.’
The tension was palpable.
This giant of a man…
A man whose numerous battle scars were evident all over his body.
A character I was supposed to meet in a somewhat rough way, according to the episode.
He was right in front of me.
“You have a good gaze. But if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll get embarrassed, boy.”
Instinctively, I knew.
This was a signal that he wanted a proper introduction.
Yes. I didn’t meet him to progress through the episode.
“Karsein Bagrand. I’m the adopted son of the Bagrand Duke’s household.”
“Adopted son?”
“I mentioned it briefly at the tavern. I know how it feels, having been in your shoes.”
Since the other party had laid all their cards on the table, I did the same.
Polux grasped my hand and chuckled once more.
“Ah, I see. You’ve also received a lot of hatred in various ways.”
“What can I say? That’s why I met Harneil, too.”
While everyone’s circumstances are different, this time, even I couldn’t help but furrow my brow.
Despite being a noble, he wasn’t recognized as one, and on top of that, he wasn’t even recognized as a fellow citizen of the empire.
Even here, I’m being bullied by a group. I’ve even been treated violently by someone who simply bought me a drink at a pub.
However, Polux seemed to accept this as normal. It was just annoying.
“Carcein Bagrand. Yeah. Remember that. But there’s something I want to ask, can you answer?”
“What’s up?”
“…Carcein, you said you were Bagrand’s adopted child.”
“That’s right.”
I didn’t want to hear it, but it was true.
“So, were you a citizen of the Wederos Kingdom?”
“What?”
“If you weren’t a citizen of the Wederos Kingdom, you wouldn’t be able to wear this ring. But you’re wearing it without any side effects.”
From noble mtl dot com
I’ve heard this before.
It’s like what an old man in Rusmaier said…
“The problem is that I can’t give a clear answer either.”
Before entering the game, I tried to gather information about him, but I couldn’t find out about Carcein’s origins.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find a single clue, and even looking at his memorial didn’t reveal where he was from.
The most I could find was that he was from a slum.
It can’t be helped.
In situations like this, it’s best to dodge the question.
But before I could open my mouth,
Harnie answered the question first.
“I know what you’re thinking, Polux, but that’s a misfire.”
“Why? Harnie, you also know about the Wederos Kingdom’s legend, don’t you?”
“Of course. That’s why it’s even more unlikely. This could be a fake.”
“A fake?”
Polux looked puzzled, and Harnie let out a faint sigh.
“This is just a ring my fiancé got as a prize at the Snowflake Festival. It’s unlikely to be real.”
“…That’s right. It’s not something that would be passed around among merchants at a festival.”
“Not only that, but it seems to be reacting to my fiancé, and if it were real, it would have reacted to me too. But my ring…”
“There’s no reaction. It’s like an empty wagon.”
“That’s right.”
Polux’s serious eyes were filled with boredom, like a child’s prank.
“Hmph. Legends are just legends, after all. I was foolish to expect anything.”
“Ahahah…”
“Hey, can we talk about something only the two of us know?”
It feels like I’m just listening, so I’ll ask bluntly.
“Don’t you think we should discuss this logically and make a judgment? This is right, isn’t it?”
Then Polux opened his mouth.
“Hmm. I think I’ve made a huge mistake. I was meddling in a real couple’s relationship.”
“Yes, yes? What’s going on suddenly…”
“It’s ridiculous to think that you’d have the same reaction as me, but somehow, it feels like we’re giving off a similar vibe. I’m ruining the mood of a young couple on a date. I’m so sorry.”
“Polux!”
Harnie let out the sound she hated the most.
…It seems like she should just pretend not to have heard it.
***
After parting ways with Polux, Harnie returned to ride the horse she had prepared with Carcsein.
But for some reason, she couldn’t help but think of that horse and couldn’t bring herself to talk to Carcsein about it.
-Hmm. I think I made a huge mistake. I shouldn’t have interfered with their romantic relationship like this.
Although she had met Polux as the CEO of Plecia, they hadn’t discussed the engagement that came with the contract.
So, a huge misunderstanding arose.
-I think they’re a great match personally. They’re a perfect couple. Haha!
But after hearing Polux’s enthusiastic response, she couldn’t find a way to resolve this awkwardness.
“Harnie.”
“Yes, what?”
“Aren’t you going to ride the horse?”
“Ah…”
Her awkwardness had deepened, and she didn’t even notice they had arrived at the horse.
“I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a bit…”
Harnie took Carcsein’s hand and got on the horse.
She thought that riding the horse would help her feel a little better.
But.
Carcsein got on the horse as well.
“What’s going on? Why are we riding together?”
“Of course, we’re going to ride together, aren’t we?”
“Yes?! No, I…!”
She had planned to ride separately.
She tried to say so.
But Carcsein’s logical argument followed.
“The cost of one horse is more expensive. Besides, how are you going to ride a horse in that dress?”
“…Ah.”
It just so happened that she wasn’t wearing riding clothes.
The dress the Marquis had given her as a gift for finding a new fiancé was not suitable for riding a horse.
“What, are you uncomfortable? I understand, but please be considerate. It’s not easy to borrow a horse at this hour.”
She knew what he meant.
But. Her heart was racing too much. That was the problem.
Even when she told herself to calm down, her heart wouldn’t slow down.
“I think we’ve given each other enough time. Have you relaxed a bit?”
“Yes?! Yes, yes!”
“Then, could you please lean in a bit towards me?”
She couldn’t help it.
Karsein’s awkwardness made my heart race, but I had to get into his arms for now.
-Hehe!
My heart was racing like crazy. Harnein kept fanning herself to cool down the heat rising to her face.
‘Why… why…! Why did you have to say that there!’
-You’re a decent guy, aren’t you? You have to hold on tight.
Polux’s words were also to blame.
Why did he have to say things that would lead to this misunderstanding!
Glimpse.
Karsein glanced at me with a hint of curiosity.
But his expression remained stern.
It didn’t seem like the situation was going to improve anytime soon.
Harnein had no choice but to lean against Karsein’s chest and try to avert her gaze.
This was all because of Polux.
I wished my racing heart would calm down a bit faster.
──────
I apologize for not preparing an April Fool’s prank.
To be honest, I’m not a funny person, and my attempts at humor are quite lame…
I tried to play a prank like other authors, but it didn’t work out…
I tried something for about five minutes, but it didn’t seem right, so I went back to the original plan.
I apologize for not preparing an April Fool’s prank.
I love this writer he is so sincere