Chapter 21 - Murderous Intent and the Court Mage
The fish were cheap.
Elenoa had found the 'Recommendation of the Day' at her usual fishmonger on the right side of the main street.
Crushed ice was packed into a wooden crate beneath a conspicuous sign, with horse mackerel buried within.
She dropped by casually to take a look, and indeed, they were cheap.
In this world, this variety of horse mackerel could usually be bought for about one hundred and fifty clams per fish. Today, however, they were ninety-nine clams, seemingly at a loss. It seemed the condition was that one had to buy two or more.
—I'll change the menu. I'll simmer them.
A voice called out to her from the side.
"Elenoa-chan. It's been a while."
The woman had bluish-black hair held back with a barrette and wore no makeup. She was the fishmonger's wife. She wore easy-to-move-in pants and an apron.
The faint wrinkles etched into her face clearly showed her age, but her expression was lively and bright.
She was on familiar terms with Elenoa, a regular customer, and they often exchanged casual chatter.
"It has been a while. The horse mackerel seems cheap today?"
"It is! How about it? These fresh ones just came in at this price! If I sold bad goods just because they're cheap, my signboard would lose its reputation!"
"Yes, well then, I suppose I'll buy some."
"Thank you! Three will do, right? Wait a moment."
The woman selected the horse mackerel and placed them into a shallow, small bamboo basket.
She wrapped them together in paper and handed them to Elenoa with a "here you go." Then, waving her hand with a "well, see you later," she left Elenoa, who had been taking out her wallet, tilting her head in confusion.
"Um, the payment..."
"It's fine, it's fine, just take them. This ice was a gift from Louis-sama!"
"Louis? He provided ice?"
Elenoa was surprised as she looked at the mountain of ice where a few horse mackerel still slept.
She hadn't heard such talk before, so she wondered if something had happened.
Sensing her confusion, the woman lowered her business voice and spoke gently.
"It's still an unstable season for buying ice, isn't it? We usually rely on the Water Mage-sama until winter comes, but since the usual person went as an escort, we couldn't catch them for a bit."
"I see, that must be difficult."
"Difficult indeed. We can't procure fish without ice. ...So, I spoke to Louis-sama, who had come to look at the streetlights there a while ago, and he said he would provide ice until the usual mage returns. He said not to worry about the cost and to give a discount if Elenoa-chan came. Men like that are nice, aren't they?"
"Ah, so it was an exchange condition."
"Magic is truly amazing. With a 'shururu,' ice appears in an instant, shatters on its own, and voilà, it's done."
Through Elenoa, she seemed to be looking at Louis, and she was genuinely grateful.
However, her eyes darkened ominously for a moment. The woman glanced around lightly, turned back to Elenoa, and lowered her voice even further. Beckoning with her fingers, Elenoa obediently leaned in closer.
"Elenoa-chan. Haven't you been told strange things lately?"
"Strange things?"
"People who say strange things just because you're forever young and cute. If you have any idea what I mean, don't let it bother you too much."
It was likely about the rumors.
Although Elenoa herself had suffered no actual harm, was it severe enough to warrant such concern?
"I think it's caused by women driven mad by jealousy."
"Do I possess something worth being jealous of? Perhaps only those siblings."
"Those siblings are more than enough. Besides, you have a face that doesn't lack for male attention."
"Haa..."
"From my perspective, if staying young forever means you're not human, then what about the mages? They casually do things we can't. All of that is just part of their individuality, isn't it?"
Elenoa could only offer a wry smile.
Since she was not actually human, she felt uncomfortable, as if she were deceiving those who believed in her purely.
When another customer arrived at the fishmonger, the two parted ways.
Before she knew it, she had passed through the market and walked until she was near the grounds of the Royal Palace. It was in front of the main gate, which she always slipped through when delivering Louis's lunch.
Today, the atmosphere was different; there were many people. Most of the people keeping their distance from the main gate were housewives, and while they all seemed like ordinary citizens, what were they doing here?
There were also many people inside the main gate, but they were not ordinary citizens. The heavy sound of hooves could be heard. The clop-clop sound, which would be evenly spaced for a single horse, became like noise when dozens overlapped.
It was a group of knights. Though they were not necessarily heading to a battlefield, those on horseback were clad in armor.
The horses were neatly lined up at equal intervals just before crossing the gate.
Then, the riders dismounted, gathered in small groups, and conducted final checks inside the gate.
Many novice knights were visible. They seemed to be organized into groups of several, each led by a single senior knight.
And there was a petite woman who drew particular attention. Shaking her red hair lightly, she led them with an insolent smile—Claire Weavy, who raised her voice while still mounted on her horse.
"Listen well!"
Her voice, accustomed to giving orders, rang out sharply.
"We will begin moving shortly. Anyone feeling unwell at this point, report to your Platoon Leader immediately after this. Honestly! We will not stop if you vomit or get diarrhea on the way!"
All the knights responded with a salute. The sound of armor joints rubbing and clashing together overlapped without a single disturbance.
—As expected of a high-ranking knight. Or rather, she really was the Corps Commander...?
Leading a large number of people with that small body must require considerable resolve and ability.
Had people gathered here to see their triumphal return?
Wondering if it had something to do with the training camp Louis had mentioned, Elenoa remained there without any particular reason. She intended to blend in with the crowd.
However, her presence seemed to stand out after all.
"Oh, look at that."
"Is that Stylus-san's?"
"Ah, that's him."
"He's cute, though."
"I can't imagine Louis-sama being easily deceived."
Such voices could be heard.
There were also those who blamed her with curious gazes, even without speaking aloud.
"...Haa."
Let's go home. I should have him buy me a hat or something to hide my head soon.
Just as she thought there was no point in staying there and turned on her heel,
"Claire."
There was a voice calling out to Claire. It was a voice that could not be mistaken, even from a distance.
—Louis?
Elenoa turned toward the voice. The surrounding citizens also simultaneously searched for the source of the voice and seemed to have found it. "Kyaa!" "Oh my..." The women raised various cries of joy.
Claire looked to her left, her cheeks flushing red.
Louis was there. He was wearing his usual black robe.
"As I mentioned before, please do not involve my subordinates in reckless training, okay?"
"How many times must I say there is no need to worry?"
"Since I am lending out valuable personnel, I must be cautious."
"Why don't you trust me a little?"
Claire suddenly looked back toward the Royal Palace.
"Speaking of caution, I am worried about His Highness. Although there are other knights, I cannot bear to leave his side."
"Ah, that's right. It was a slight cold, wasn't it?"
"It must be hard for one so young. It seems to be lingering."
From their relaxed manner, it was clear they were on good terms.
Even the stern soldiers watching over them had warm gazes, as if looking at their grandchildren.
"They really are close, aren't they." "They are both still young." "They are like siblings." "Idiot, the story is that the Knight Corps Commander is in love with Louis-sama." "Louis-sama is obsessed with a female monster."
The Knight Corps Commander and the Chief Court Mage. Both were key figures in their respective organizations. Could there be a more ideal relationship?
The two were viewed favorably from the outside, while behind the scenes, Elenoa had begun to be called a monster. At best, she was the Housekeeper of the House of Stylus. A 'Servant-chan.'
What was the reason for this disparity?
Why did she wish so earnestly not to see the figures of those two?
She remembered her hunger.
It had already been a month since her last meal.
There was a man watching Elenoa, who stood still, from within the group of knights. He—Gilrem—glanced at his superior and quietly left the spot.
"Elenoa...-san."
"Ah,"
Elenoa was at a loss for words.
She should have known the man who had woven through the crowd to approach her, but she could not recall his name.
"Um, you know, that... hey?"
"It's Gilrem."
"Right, it was Gilrem-san! I couldn't properly attend to you before."
"It was more drinkable than the tea the Corps Commander brewed. Do not worry about it."
"The Corps Commander? Ah..."
When Elenoa looked at the gate again, Louis was still there, chatting and laughing with Claire.
"Does it still bother you?"
"It doesn't bother me at all."
"Haven't you been told that you're easy to read?"
"You understood that well. Mostly by that boy... Louis says it."
"That boy? You called him that before as well. He looks to be the same age as you."
Pointed out, Elenoa finally realized it.
Indeed, that way of addressing him might be unnatural.
"There are various reasons. That child is like my adopted child... no, rather, I am supported by Louis's salary, hmm, it's complicated."
"If it is difficult to explain, it does not matter. It seems complex."
"Yes, it is complex."
"So, are you lovers?"
"No."
"...You answered immediately."
Gilrem flinched slightly at her serious denial.
"Louis is too good for someone like me."
"...I see."
"Is that something to laugh at?"
"The fact that things don't go smoothly is interesting."
As Gilrem's voice trembled with amusement, Elenoa glared at him with half-closed eyes. He apologized with a "my apologies" that lacked any sincerity.
"If you're going to dump him, do it quickly. It would help me."
"Why?"
"Because I am of the 'House of Fanaria.'"
"...Huh?"
—What does that mean?
What did the family name signify? Elenoa, who had no interest in the affairs of humans other than those of the House of Stylus, only knew of stories discussed at home or rumors heard from women like the fishmonger.
Seeing her puzzled expression,
"It seems you do not know. Ignorance is not good."
"...I apologize."
But Elenoa could not say that she had no intention of trying to understand humans.
"It is a lineage that serves the House of Weavy. Attendants are mainly those who wag their tails, and in my case, for Claire."
"Haa."
"If he looks at anyone other than you, Claire will be happy."
"...Eh?"
She was not foolish enough to ask why. Hearing Claire's feelings from someone else made her feel subtle discomfort.
Gilrem, who had been observing Elenoa as she frowned in confusion, said, "May I try something?" His words rarely took the form of questions.
"Try? What?"
"Yo...t."
As her arm was pulled, Elenoa,
"Wah!"
fell into Gilrem's chest. Panicking, she placed her hands on his chest plate and awkwardly created distance.
His sword contained silver, the natural enemy of fairies. Being at a distance where it might touch her, she could not remain calm. The silver cage at home was a different matter.
"What are you doing!" she glared, but Gil only smiled meaningfully.
However, that smile would freeze.
Gilrem, who had turned around vigorously, stiffened sharply.
"Did something happen? ...Ah."
When Elenoa looked inside the main gate, the person in question was looking in their direction.
When she waved modestly, he responded with a supremely sweet smile that seemed to melt. It was so sweet that several ladies blushed.
And the one breaking out in a cold sweat was Gilrem, standing beside Elenoa.
For a moment, he had nearly drawn his sword. Taking the heavy murderous intent head-on, as if a block of ice had been smashed into his head, he had even touched the hilt.
"How terrifying."
It felt as if he were about to be cowardly slashed from behind in the midst of close-quarters combat.
To think he would recall the chill and tension he had experienced on past battlefields in the middle of a town like this.
*
After returning home and preparing dinner, unwanted memories came back to mind whether she liked it or not.
The scene of Louis and Claire smiling at each other was burned into Elenoa's mind.
Because she had always been by his side, she knew. The smile he directed at Claire was special in a way. It felt closer to the affection he showed Lumina than the one he showed Elenoa.
But Claire liked Louis in that sense.
The surroundings favored the Knight Corps Commander over an unknown woman. Eventually, the two who would likely stand at the top—the Mage Corps Commander and the Commander-in-Chief—would love each other and support the country.
As a story, it was ideal.
—But Louis chose me.
She hated herself for thinking so.
In the end, what did she want to do? Her desires. The answer. Everything. It was all decided in her heart.
Even so, reason held her back, questioning whether it was alright to respond to Louis's feelings.
It was a mess.
Elenoa turned off the fire heating the pot.
She tore a noticeable newspaper largely with her hands and slid her pen across the margins of the article.
Even with her thoughts swirling, she summarized what she wanted to convey to the bare minimum.
'Dinner is ready, so warm it up and eat. I won't do anything dangerous, so don't worry.'