PR: Ford 53 & Alive Sigh
Despite himself, Elric knew immediately what he was going to say.
“…I am grateful for your mention.”
There were too many eyes on him right now. A baron from a small country would not be so quick as to speak to the third son of one of the core families of the Empire in a rude manner.
Elric had no choice but to play to his strengths.
At this point, Elvus clasped Elric’s hand.
“Ah, why are you talking so stiffly? Speak at ease. As I said yesterday, I’m not so shallow as to treat my lifesaver lightly.”
Elric’s eyebrows trembled.
“Being brothers is creepy, and being lovers is even creepier, so I’ll settle for a compromise, how ‘bout being my friend. From this day forward, you are my best friend.”
The smirk on his face made Elric want to see what would happen if he passed his fist through it.“…I really don’t know what to do.”
“Hey, I don’t know anyone who speaks so stiffly with their friends.”
“Haha…”
“Now, come on, you can call me Elvus, too.”
Elvus’ eyes glowed.
That was creepy enough, but even creepier were the stern stares from the surrounding nobles.
The stares that had been so dismissive of Elvus had been reversed in an instant, simply because he was returning a favor.
It was so ridiculous that he couldn’t help but laugh on the inside.
‘They’re all the same.’
The physiology of aristocratic society did not suit Elric’s self well.
Regardless, he had a clear sense of what Elvus was after.
‘Protection, I suppose.’
Elric wasn’t stupid enough to not know what it meant for the Imperial Grayman to take the little Portman under his wing.
It would probably make his interactions with the other nobles that Tyria had been worried about much smoother than they were now.
In fact, from the look on her face, there was surely a tiny hint of amusement amidst her bitterness.
Unless, of course, he was mistaken.
“Now, come on, let’s talk about this in private. That story I heard you tell yesterday about the cultural differences between the different parts of the continent was fascinating.”
This man was a master at making excuses.
Elric glanced over at Tyria.
She considered it for a moment, then let out a small sigh and nodded.
“Or we can talk about it later.”
How about never?
That question almost slipped out of his mouth.
Elric praised himself for his intrinsic control.
“In that case, let’s go talk for a while.”
“Alright.”
And with that, Elric left the ballroom.
He walked down the hall with Elvus and entered the private quarters assigned to him.
“What the hell was that supposed to be?”
Elric asked, not bothering to hide his anger once they stepped into the room.
‘Of course, I appreciate your intentions to shelter me, but I’m not happy about being the center of attention.’
If he was going to do something like this, he should have at least consulted him.
If it were Kasha’s personality, he would have snapped.
The only reason he’d tolerated it so far was because this man was Elvus Grayman.
He held his friend at a higher breaking point.
Elvus shrugged.
“Relax. I just couldn’t help myself.”
“…What?”
“That Nimrud fellow was up to no good, and he mentioned your name during the interrogation.”
Shiver, Elric’s body shuddered.
An uneasy feeling filled him, but it was quickly ended by Elvus’ words.
“Don’t worry about it. I killed him before he could make a bigger mess.”
He smiled, even though killing a person was no laughing matter.
This wasn’t new though. This was just the kind of man Elvus Grayman was.
Elvus continued with his trademark grin adorning his face.
“Anyway, even though that was a hastily concocted excuse for contact, you think too little of me, don’t you?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
He wanted to know what Elvus meant by Elric belittling him.
Elvus chuckled as he stated, his anger evident in his tone.
“I’m a Grayman, part of one of the most prestigious families in the Empire.”
“So what?”
“To be a noble from a foreign country under my protection means something that is not much different from being a noble granted permission to being the arbiter of all exchanges with the Empire.”
Elvus created a circle with his index finger and thumb.
“Which means you’ve become the one to sit on the money seat, and for the nobles in Ferdinand, it means you’ve become someone they need to be closer to than anyone else.”
Only then did Elric understand his words a little more clearly.
His eyes widened slightly.
“You’re looking better now.”
Elvus said.
“There were some stories I heard at the banquet yesterday. You and your wife don’t come off too well, do you?”
“That’s…”
“Look, Elric, if you want to live as a noble, don’t put too much faith in your own strength.”
Elric frowned.
“I’ve never been overconfident. On the contrary, I struggle quite a bit trying not to use force to settle things.”
“No, you are overconfident.”
Elvus picked up one of the refreshments on the table.
“You don’t realize how cunning they are. You may be immune to such things, but what about your wife and your estate? Can you protect them all by yourself, and can you guarantee that you will always be there? You can’t hold the sky in the palm of your hand and if you did think so, then you really are overconfident.”
Elric was speechless.
What he was thrusting at him was reality.
“I know you have no immediate intention of returning to the battlefield. If that’s your choice, I won’t stop you, which is why I’m telling you this.”
He swallowed his refreshment in one gulp.
“If you choose to remain in your homeland, think of the things you must protect. Most humans need society, they crave the security of it. Only you are different.”
“My wife…”
“Is a part of the nobility. She was born as a noblewoman and educated as a noblewoman. She may seem like a good person, but she is a noblewoman. Her happiness cannot be there without the well-being of her estate.”
He was indeed right.
Much of Tyria’s day was spent running and managing the estate, and she tended to take pride in it.
Not that it was a bad thing.
On the contrary, it was something to be respected.
If that was the kind of happiness she wanted, then he needed to take care of himself, too.
Elric looked at Elvus.
He seemed to be enjoying the refreshments, teasingly picking up a biscuit and munching on it.
Humans really did end up stabbing at their friend’s vulnerable spots at the strangest of times.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. They’ve got some really good refreshments.”
“I hear they have a famous pastry chef.”
“Really? I’d like to meet him before I go.”
“Please don’t recruit him. My wife loves the refreshments, and she’ll be quite sad if she can’t have them when she comes back next year.”
“You’re being pathetic.”
“Let’s just say I regret not being more pathetic.”
“No need to regret it, just do better in the future.”
A mischievous look crossed his face.
“After all, making a mistake once after doing well nine times makes more of an impression on others than the opposite.”
Elric smirked.
“Is that why you’re always embroiled in an affair?”
“I’m just chasing romance.”
“I’m surprised you’re still alive.”
“It’s all thanks to Ilya’s generosity. Well, I still remember her telling me to give it up because I’m not worth burning bridges for.”
“You are a terrible husband.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
The tense mood broke.
Elric let out a chuckle, letting off some steam.
There was some news, too.
“By the way, I received your letter. The matter was handled as was written.”
“Was it?”
“The money you entrusted to me has grown so large that I’m not even wanting enough to pay for the trade.”
He was talking about the money Elric had made as a mercenary.
Elric, who never had a knack for rolling the dice, had entrusted all of his earnings to him, to invest in various ways.
He didn’t know how much it had been, but it wasn’t much.
Suddenly, Elric thought.
‘Just in case…’
Now that he was here, he might as well be prepared.
“Hey, Elvus.”
“What?”
“My money. I want you to change the heir.”
For a moment, Elvus’ body twitched.
A scowl appeared on his face, a blatant expression of disgust.
“…Do you have some kind of weakness, or is it black magic?”
“Huh?”
“I suspect you’re about to give me your liver and gallbladder.”
He wanted to know what the hell he was talking about.
Elric dismissed his bullshit.
“It’s money that’s going to you when I die anyway, and I’d rather give it to my wife than to you.”
“If you really do die, your wife is going to be pissed.”
“Hmm?”
“Nothing.”
And with that, Elvus let out a smirk.
It was so funny to him that Elric didn’t realize the extent of his own wealth.
‘When will he ever learn that the money in his vault could buy a country?’
The wealth he had amassed as the swordsman Kasha from the treasuries of the four kingdoms had more than doubled due to the successful investments Elvus had made.
‘You won’t ask, so I won’t even tell you how much.’
He’d keep his mouth shut for now.
Elvus was beginning to look forward to the day when Elric could see the fortune for himself.
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