Chapter 11

Elphie was somewhat taken aback. As far as she knew, they had never met before, so it was surprising that he knew who she was. Of course, perhaps he had studied the nobles in the capital and gotten to know them in the meantime.

“Your Highness.” Since the Duke knew who she was, she decided to not pretend she didn’t know who he was.

“You know who I am?” The Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if scrutinizing her.

“Of course. I attended your welcome banquet.”

“If I remember clearly, you were in the garden with your friend at the time I gave my speech.”

This man is rather good at making someone speechless… Elphie criticized him inwardly but put on a smile outwardly, “That didn’t seem to stop the Northern Duke from recognizing me either.”

The Duke seemed to let out a small laugh at her quip. Elphie corrected her words, “The Northern Duke’s red eyes are rather recognizable.”

It seemed that he accepted the explanation, although his next words left Elphie speechless once more, “Quite observant, though I would’ve been suspicious of your intellect had you not been able to identify me.”

“…”

This time, the Duke didn’t leave her hanging in silence and brought up the main topic, “Were you the one who helped?”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“Then let me change my wording. You were the one who assisted the Crown Prince at the banquet.”

Elphie couldn’t fumble her way through with such a direct statement. She frowned and asked, “I wonder why the Duke is so certain?”

Had the Duke been in the banquet hall at the time? But if that was the case, it was strange that nobody reacted to his presence.

After all, the Northern Duke was the focus of the night. The elusive Duke who held the entire northern region in his grasp… there was no noble who wouldn’t be rushing to butter him up.

“Based on where you were standing at the time.” The answer soon came.

So the Duke had estimated it from her position in the crowd and the angle of the attack. Elphie contrarily relaxed and commented, “If you saw, why didn’t you step in?”

The Duke scoffed, “And help that sanctimonious bastard?”

Elphie raised an eyebrow, but didn’t make any other display of outward emotion. She was surprised that the Northern Duke’s relationship with the Crown Prince was strained enough for him to blatantly criticize the other. However, though the Duke was shielded from the harm of his statements, she did not share the same privilege.

It was rather funny to hear the smiling tiger’s facade get torn down and reduced to a mere “sanctimonious bastard” though.

“My, that saddens me to hear.”

Elphie jolted in shock, her eyes widening. She turned back and saw a figure clad in a white suit walking towards them. Golden hair sparkled under the sun, casting a halo around an almost perfect face.

Crown Prince Troy smiled gently and raised a gloved hand, “Milady Elraba, I’m here to escort you back.”

A golden smiling tiger to her left, a frosty black wolf to her right. In this circular clearing with the fountain serving as background music, Elphie found herself at a loss. She could almost see the shura field that would begin to rise in just a moment.

Sure enough, the Northern Duke was the first to snort and ask, “What are you doing here?”

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t be in my own backyard?”

“If I remember clearly, you should be entertaining the young lady’s family.”

“Despite your long absence, it seems that you’re quite aware of what’s happening with the royal family.” Prince Troy’s words were laced with insinuations.

Elphie wanted to cringe, but managed to soothe her expressions and merely took several steps back towards the garden, allowing these two to bicker face to face.

Back in the novel, they were always at each other’s throats. In the end, Prince Troy plotted to kill the Duke through another’s hand. Now, all of them had gathered other than Ariadne: the plotter, killer, and the dead.

Perhaps that would make Ariadne the enabler, Elphie mocked to herself.

Seeing that the two weren’t likely to finish their verbal spar anytime soon, Elphie cleared her throat and spoke up: “Your Highness, are my parents waiting for me?”

Prince Troy turned his gaze back to Elphie, who had somehow retreated quite a distance. He smiled apologetically, “I’m sorry for making you see such a foolish scene.”

The Northern Duke snorted. His eyes seemed to be mocking back, but speaking now would be quite childish.

Saving the prince some face, Elphie smiled and nodded: “Thank you for coming to notify me.”

“Of course. Allow me to escort you back then.” Prince Troy extended a hand and bowed his head slightly.

Elphie glanced back and noticed that the Duke had already disappeared. She slowly raised a hand and placed it in the Prince’s palm, saying, “Then it’s an honor.”

The Prince elegantly led her up the short flight of stairs, maintaining an impeccable gentlemanly demeanor. At the top, Elphie switched to holding his elbow as they walked through the garden.

Sunlight bounced off of the green leaves, making the garden appear even more vibrant and brighter. Birds chirped hidden away in trees, and the occasional butterfly danced by.

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

Elphie was distracted by the scenery when Prince Troy struck up some small talk. She smiled politely and agreed.

Not paying mind to being brushed off, Prince Troy continued saying, “One of my favorite pastimes is strolling through the gardens. It helps take your mind off many things.”

“Is something bothering you, Your Highness?” Elphie responded.

“There are a great many things. But most recently, it’d be a certain young lady’s avoidance.”

Though the Prince spoke nonchalantly, his red eyes remained focused on Elphie’s face. Elphie was a bit uncomfortable staring at those smiling eyes which held not a trace of warmth. In the end, she chose to probe: “Please speak frankly, Your Highness.”

“Is Young Miss Elraba admitting it then?”

After a moment of thought, Elphie relented, “I don’t quite understand everyone’s insistence on the matter.”

Prince Troy suddenly laughed, and Elphie looked at him in confusion. Under the sunlight, the blonde young man’s hair shone like rays of light. He looked like an angel stepping into the mortal realm.

“My apologies for making you uncomfortable.” Prince Troy chuckled, “I just wished to sincerely thank you for your timely assistance that night.”

Elphie shifted her gaze away, a little flustered at the handsome visage.

The two had arrived at the main entrance, and she could see her parents waiting by the carriage for her.

She curtsied, “Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness.”

Prince Troy continued to smile warmly, “I hope that the young miss will be a bit more familiar with me next time.”

While Elphie was still confused, Prince Troy lifted her gloved hand and lightly pressed a kiss to the back. His eyelashes fluttered as he looked up.

Suddenly, Elphie understood as her pulse raced from a mixture of the sudden proximity and the warning signs her mind was sending her. This was a claim and a warning. She hurriedly stammered a goodbye, rushing the short distance to her parents. Even as the carriage drove away, Elphie saw Prince Troy’s gaze following them.

She sank slightly in her seat, thinking to herself. Her parents were lightly discussing their meeting with the Crown Prince. Elphie listened in quietly, and it appeared that Prince Troy didn’t mention a word of his suspicions to them.

Just what does he want…?

· ─ ·✶· ─ ·

The following week was a busy one. Elphie kept her promise to Ariadne, showing up twice to volunteer, although many residents seemed to be wary of her presence.

Besides volunteering, Elphie also trained in magic under her mother’s guidance. Diana was a wood-element mage, a very rare type of magic. She could control plants and influence them to grow or shrink.

After magic training came afternoon tea breaks and then studying this world’s culture and history. As time passed hectically like this, the news she had been waiting for finally arrived.

Countess Frieda’s letter, asking to meet once more.

Elphie rode in the carriage to the cafe they last met in. This time around, she could see a striking red-haired woman as soon as she entered. The lady was impatiently tapping a finger against her crossed arms, one leg propped on the other as she leaned back in her seat.

“You appear to be the same as ever, Countess Frieda.”

Countess Frieda turned her head at Elphie’s greeting, snarking, “What took you so long?!”

Elphie unhurriedly sat opposite her, lightly picking up the teapot and filling the empty teacup.

Seeing the other so at ease, Countess Frieda first looked like she was about to fly into a rage when she abruptly calmed down, staring silently at her. Her eyes were rather inscrutable.

Finally, she asked: “You said I won’t regret it?”

“Mm.”

“Why do you want me to divorce in the first place?”

Elphie brought the teacup to her lips, staring into the cup as she lowered it halfway. “I believe the Countess returned home?”

She had indeed returned to visit her family. After marrying, she had never looked back. More exactly, she did not have the courage to.

Her last impression of her family was their impoverished manner. Against a gray backdrop, her parents were crying and her brothers were clenching their fists.

Though she had sent financial aid through the Count afterwards, she always believed that they would at most return to a mediocre lifestyle.

At least, that was what she thought until she went back.

Her family mansion stood proud and dignified in the city, the gates guarded and gardens well-maintained. It was a far cry from when she had left.

When she arrived at the gate, the guards looked at her suspiciously for a moment before one of them quickly ran inside. Soon after, her entire family came running out, eyes tearing up as they reunited.

Countess Frieda took a sip from her own teacup. She spoke as if making a statement, “My family’s no longer the way it was when I left.”

“Yes.” Elphie looked at her, “There’s no need for you to hold onto that marriage anymore.”

Her parents had recovered the business with the money she sent them, and her brothers had since inherited it, bringing it to new heights. Now, they could even be considered ahead of Count Frieda in terms of wealth.

“Hah! And I suppose I should thank you?”

“If you must, then I shall duly accept.” Elphie nonchalantly replied as Countess Frieda looked like she would tear the table apart with her bare hands.

As the Countess calmed down, Elphie suddenly continued, “I would like to ask you for a favor in the future.”

“A favor? So that’s why you’re doing this?” Countess Frieda thought for a moment before saying, “What can I possibly do for you? I’m about to be a widower!”

“Count Frieda’s not dead…”

“Bah, same thing! There’s nothing that’s particularly noteworthy about me.”

“Perhaps, and perhaps not. It depends on what you can make of yourself.” Elphie recalled a subtle detail from the novel.

There was rumored to be an intelligence network running underground. Their boss was never seen in person, but the few that have claimed she had a long scar running down her face.

Although there was a possibility she was wrong, Elphie decided to take a chance. After all, she had nothing to lose while on the other hand, she could save a person from a lot of misery.

“I don’t want to hear a twerp like you telling me what I can and can’t do!” Countess Frieda stood up, grabbing her bag and making her way towards the door. Just as she was about to step out, she paused: “See ya.”

Elphie’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, but she quickly returned a smile at the wisp of red hair floating away. Soon after that, she also rose and left the store.