Poisoned Chalice (6)
“I already have a rough idea of what kind of man he is.”
At this point, I’m starting to wonder if Ed’s Cabin Camp is actually Sylvania Academy’s most important facility.
Lortel Kecheln sat by the fire, sipping tea and gathering his thoughts. Since it was a long-awaited day of free work, I was tempted to pester Ed and go out to the festival with him, but I never imagined that Princess Selaha would show up at the camp.
As a result, most VIPs in Sylvania feel like they have been to Ed’s Cabin Camp at least once.
It’s not a VIP accommodation like the Ofilis Hall, so it’s really funny when you think about it.
“I thought that if it was more politically meaningful to appease than to be hostile, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to involve them. But….”
“….”
“I didn’t expect you to show up in a place like this.”
Princess Selaha sat by the bonfire, raised her eyes and looked at Lortel.
Lortel Kecheln is the one who took Princess Selaha’s side in the tragedy at the Rothtaylor Mansion. He was also the one who coaxed Princess Selaha into saying that he would actively help her steal Ed Ross Taylor and use him politically.
Such a person appears to have taken up residence in Ed Rosstaylor’s camp.
Princess Selaha smiled and spoke as if it was fun.
“I guess everything you said to me at the mansion back then was meant to trick me?”
Lortel was wondering what to say, but for now he didn’t reply.
Lortel also understands the general character of Princess Selaha.
“It was a ploy by the Elte Company to protect Ed Rosstaylor, who had lost his mind in the first place.”
It was revealed that he was trying to deceive the princess.
That opponent is Princess Selaha, who condemns without hesitation anyone who is hostile.
If you’re like a normal person, it’s not surprising that you break out in a cold sweat just by being faced with a crisis like this. Being caught lying to a member of the royal family is a serious crime that could easily be punished by the death penalty, depending on the other person’s mood.
But Lortel never panics. Rather, it was already understood that within Selaha, the evaluation of Ed Rothtaylor had changed completely.
As long as you remember that fact, it wasn’t that difficult to get out of this situation like a snake.
“that’s right. Actually, I am a person who belongs to senior Ed. “I have been assisting him for a long time.”
Ultimately, the key to managing one’s life is whose side one is on at that time.
If you pretended to be on Selaha’s side to save Ed at the Ross Taylor mansion, all you have to do is pretend to be ‘subordinate’ to Ed in front of Selaha who came to placate Ed.
Selaha is a person who attaches great importance to status and status when evaluating others.
By reducing himself to the role of Ed’s stooge, he falls outside of Selaha’s gaze.
No one gets angry at each of the chess pieces their opponent handles.
If Selaha’s gaze is directed at the human nature of Ed, all she has to do is hide beneath that gaze like a shadow. The evaluation that even Lortel is a human being under my control will be added as a bonus. It’s not a bad thing for Ed either.
“After the disaster at Ross Taylor Mansion, they dispatched me in advance to prevent things from happening in a strange way. “You can think of me as a tool that follows Senior Ed’s instructions, Princess Selaha.”
“…Seeing as they share a residence, it seems like they are treated quite closely.”
Lortel smiled softly and naturally accepted Selaha’s words.
Since we are here to placate Ed, there is no need to complicate things by messing with Lortel.
Lortel, who understands all of Selaha’s positions, casually escapes the crime of insulting the royal family. She is a girl who shows a surprisingly delicate side, at least when it comes to dealing with people.
“There are more personal reasons for sharing a residence.”
“Well, there’s no need for me to worry about that man’s personal life. Because we just need that man’s position and ability. But…”
Princess Selaha rested her chin for a moment, then slowly closed and opened her sharp eyes and continued her story.
“Are you saying that the real power of Elte Company is under your control? “I heard that Persica tried several tricks to take control of the Elte Company, but now that I see it, it seems like it was all in vain.”
“I will leave the judgment to Princess Selaha. “I, a person of lowly status, cannot dare to argue with the princess’s judgment.”
“You are definitely a sly fox-like person.”
Princess Selaha laughed and immediately defined the person named Lortel.
“He may be useful as an advisor, but you never know when he will strike. A person who once sat on the throne through betrayal will eventually be dethroned through betrayal. “Isn’t that right?”
Princess Selaha maintains a noble appearance and speaks clearly to the girl merchant whose social status is far apart.
People like Balberon Elphelan are small-minded and greedy, so it is easy to judge their actions.
However, it is not easy to handle someone like Lortel under your command.
They are the ones who bite when they see a weakness and turn the game over as soon as there is no reason to follow them.
If you are going to have someone like this as your confidant, you must always be intelligent and never give them a chance.
“You live with a wild beast in your arms. “That man.”
“I don’t know what to do with myself since people are criticizing me as being as good as a beast.”
Normally, Lortel would finish the topic at this point and go to call Ed.
For Lortel, who always acts cool and calm, it is impossible for him to act emotionally in a situation like this where the princess of a country is in front of him.
Lortel Kecheln is a man of monstrous reason who can maintain his composure with just one swallow of dry saliva even while Sylvania Academy is being destroyed.
However, there are always exceptions to things in this world.
Also, everyone has something that should not be touched.
There is only one case where Lortel Kecheln, who is always cool and calm, loses his temper. When Ed Rosstaylor is involved in work.
And should we say it was a coincidence or an inevitability… Princess Selaha stepped on that mine exactly.
To put it bluntly, that is what Princess Selaha said to Lortel.
You are a beast who, if given the opportunity, would try to take the throne by stabbing Ed Ross Taylor in the back.
Ed is also the kind of person who considers you to be nothing more than a stepping stone to your career. There is not a single trace of solidarity to be found.
Selaha’s words and actions, which defined the person named Lortel Kecheln in that way, were very unpleasant to Lortel himself.
This is an evaluation based on looking at Lortel as he is, not because he is acting for a purpose.
Lortel smiled when he heard that. However, criss-crossed veins appeared on his temples.
“Princess Selaha.”
His voice is as calm as always.
“I don’t know how it will sound, but I hope you at least know that I won’t come after you, Ed.”
“Hoo. This is the first time I have seen such a romantic bond between merchants. “I think the story about eagles eating grass is more believable.”
“What do you think? Princess Selaha. “You shouldn’t underestimate a man named Ed Rosstaylor.”
There was no way he would do something stupid like start a war of nerves with the royal family.
The overwhelming gap in status and authority leads to differences in position. In the end, there is nothing Lortel can do other than subtly scratching Princess Selaha.
But that was Lortel’s specialty.
“Underestimated? Haha… On the contrary, they are evaluating it quite generously. He is certainly not an easy person to look at, seeing as he is on the verge of taking over even the Elte Chamber of Commerce… But how can I become the emperor of a country if I can’t make even one duke Saennim submit?”
“Giving in… I’m sure one side may have to give in. “Because it involves the imperial authority.”
“Which one? “You’re telling an interesting story.”
Princess Selaha raises her sassy nose and smiles arrogantly.
“Am I giving in? “I’m sorry, but I’ve always been the one to give in.”
Self-esteem soaring through the sky. Power and lineage to match.
As Lortel quietly looks up at Princess Selaha, a bitter sense of repulsion and immorality blooms in him.
A person who has never clung to someone or knelt down on someone even once in his long life.
Anyway, I became needlessly emotional.
This is a characteristic of people who have never once desperately needed something. I mistakenly believe that I can get my hands on anything right away. It is the illusion that any lofty beliefs can be destroyed.
“Then I will call senior Ed. “Please sit by the campfire for a while.”
But Lortel Kecheln knows.
Ed Rosstaylor’s answer to Princess Selaha’s appeasement had already been decided.
* * *
“I’m sorry, but I plan to continue assisting Princess Fenia.”
It never occurred to me that as soon as we met each other, he would immediately get down on his knees and show all the courtesy of a subject with an apologetic look on his face.
He is not a commoner wandering around anywhere, but a noble who was part of the greatest ducal family on the continent.
I thought it would be a line of being polite and maintaining the minimum level of courtesy.
However, Ed, who had come to the campfire in response to Lortel’s call… had rolled up his sweaty shirt and was gulping down cold water.
There is absolutely no trace of courtesy towards the royal family.
Of course, you can give a reason.
Not the imperial family, but this Aken Island on the outskirts of the continent and Sylvania Academy within it.
It is far from central power and is a place that values the virtue of learning itself as much as the gap in social status.
As it is an environment where nobles and commoners receive education together, it is also a place where class consciousness is greatly weakened.
However, if you are a princess or a saint, you will receive more preferential treatment, even considering that this is Aken Island. It is a position with that level of authority.
Nevertheless, Ed Rosstaylor sat down across from the campfire and set down a cup of cold water without even pretending to take the courtesy of a subject.
It looked like he had come up from the river after working hard.
I could tell to some extent from his attitude.
Her attitude showed that she had no intention of responding to Princess Selaha’s appeasement from the beginning.
Selaha first snorted at that sight.
“You said with your own mouth that I am the one who deserves to be emperor. In fact, even after the sparring was over, my name was raised high.”
“Yes that’s right.”
“That person is giving you a chance. “If you watch closely, you will know that Fenia is not qualified to become an emperor, right?”
Lortel made an expression of surprise at this point.
I thought Ed Rosstaylor would get angry when he expressed his refusal.
But surprisingly, Selaha calmly spoke about her superiority.
“A lot of power within the imperial family has already shifted to my side. “Except for that annoying knight commander who is on the Persica side, it is safe to say that most of the key figures actually support me.”
“It is an achievement commensurate with one’s abilities. “With Princess Selaha’s kindness, it wouldn’t have been that difficult.”
Although he was praising Selaha, Ed’s face showed no trace of loyalty at all.
That fact did not please Selaha.
“Do you not know what I mean? “I am saying that I will remove all the doubts I have had about you so far and stop attacking you at the imperial meeting.”
“If you would do so, I would be truly honored.”
“Do you think it’s free?”
“If you want something in return, I will repay you as much as possible, but I have no intention of taking someone else’s side in the struggle for imperial power.”
“It’s a strange thing.”
Selaha spoke with his arms crossed and his eyes raised.
“Isn’t supporting someone in the struggle for imperial authority because you think that person is worthy of being emperor? “If you truly think that I am a person worthy of becoming emperor, then you should take my side.”
“Isn’t it human that we can’t always think rationally? “I know that it will be difficult for Princess Fenia to become emperor, but I still plan to support Princess Fenia.”
“Give me a reason.”
“Politics that always looks downward and shows mercy is beautiful on the outside… but the path is thorny.”
Only then did the whole picture begin to fully form in Princess Selaha’s mind.
Fenia is a pathetic idealist. At least that’s what Selaha thinks.
Idealists who do not know reality die while pursuing ideals.
It is a world of power in which survival is achieved only by encouraging betrayal, repeating secret tactics, killing and stealing when necessary, and actively suppressing the opponent. This is not something that can be done by resorting to tricks only when it is absolutely necessary.
This is a world where you have to become as evil as possible, rather than trying to be as good a person as possible, to survive for a long time.
“I intend to stay the course. “Someone has to do it.”
The reason why Fenia is still able to hold on is because this man, who is infinitely calm and realistic, is still around.
A person who knows reality and knows how to devise secret tactics and schemes when necessary. At the same time, he is a person who will accept and understand Fenia’s ideals and compromise little by little with reality.
If you only pursue ideals, you will only end up wandering around and becoming disconnected from reality. Therefore, I needed someone who could at least hold that romance in this reality as much as possible.
At first, I thought this man was not loyal to Fenia and was just using her as a stepping stone to power, but…
this man understood Fenia more deeply than I thought and was trying to support her.
Fenia Elias is a man who is nothing short of a pillar holding up the foundation of Cloel’s ideology. Only because of this man is Fenia able to become an idealist who pursues her own ideals, rather than a childish child who catches random clouds.
Anyone who simply wants to use the blood of the royal family for power is likely to be exploited by Selaha.
However, a man who accepts Fenia so deeply cannot be easily appeased.
Then it ends there.
If what you are pursuing is different, just follow a different path.
Even if Selaha thinks he is worthy of being emperor, if he continues to support Fenia, he can be allowed to do so.
But for some reason, Selaha’s eyes began to shine.
Lortel, who was watching the situation, was secretly embarrassed.
A man who protects his interests with tenacity and integrity. A man who, despite his outstanding ability and connections, remains by Fenia’s side until the end.
I think I understand why Fenia did not speak so kindly of this man when eating at the royal residence. Fenia probably wanted to hide her relationship with this man.
Because I knew what Selaha was thinking when she saw the bottom of this man.
Lortel could easily read the emotions visible in Selaha’s sparkling eyes.
“I think it would be best for you to leave now. It’s not a good idea to stay at the camp for too long. “There are a lot of bugs, and the smell of dirt that doesn’t suit your social status permeates your body.”
There are people in the world who find joy in plundering others.
Selaha’s alluring eyes were blinking as if she was looking at a treasure she wanted to possess.
What was blooming in my heart was a vulgar but infinitely powerful emotion called predatory love.
* * *
“Ever since she was young, Selaha was a person who found pleasure in taking things from others.”
Sitting on the terrace of the royal residence, Fenia received tea poured by Claire.
Since I was born and raised in the same place since I was young, I know Selaha and Persica better than anyone else.
In particular, the arrogant yet noble Princess Selaha’s arrogant pride… Fenia knew better than anyone else.
The teddy bear that Fenia had cherished and carried around as a child was torn here and there and the design had been changed, lying in her arms.
Selaha said in a kind voice that this look was cuter in my eyes, and then she giggled and held the teddy bear in her arms.
The grimoire that Persica considered a treasure had to go to Selaha’s study, and her favorite maid also became Selaha’s servant.
Selaha reigned like a tyrant among her sisters. She always had the loudest voice, controlled people, and everything she wanted came into her hands.
And once you get your hands on it, you immediately get sick of it and throw it away, repeating the process.
Boredom quickly sets in with ‘what you get’. Princess Selaha always longs for more of what she cannot obtain. If it’s someone else’s precious thing, it’s all the better. Because the joy that comes from looting cannot be replaced by anything else.
― ‘At least during the festival when Sister Selaha is here, we have to look like we are maintaining a loyal and trusting relationship.’
– ‘Then what should I do?’
– ‘Actually, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s okay if it’s just acting… Please stay as someone who believes in me and supports me until the end. I don’t ask for much. At least during the festival.’
A blonde man exchanging tea cups on this terrace. I remember him nodding.
With Yenika, who had just been given the title of baron and was dumbfounded, sitting next to him, the man pondered for a moment with his chin resting on his head before nodding.
― ‘It’s not difficult. And in the first place…’
“A letter arrived from the Elphelan family. Would you like me to bring it to you now?”
“Your reaction is faster than I expected. Please.”
Next to where Princess Fenia put down her teacup, there was a pile of various academic records and information about Ed Rosstaylor.
At least during this festival, Ed and Fenia were supposed to have a relationship of vassal and vassal in which they deeply understand and support each other.
As someone who believes and trusts Ed more than anyone else, only when he is in front of Selaha will Selaha take the bait.
Therefore, I looked up his academic information, which I normally wouldn’t do, and read his biography again and listened to his thoughts several more times. Most of the content was familiar, but there were many unexpected aspects, so it felt quite refreshing for Fenia.
When you look towards the bachelor’s degree, you can hear the sound of the orchestra’s music coming from afar.
The days of the festival are ripening. Fenia herself did not often go out of the royal residence, but she definitely got the feeling that her daily life was stopping for a while and a departure was beginning.
Princess Fenia was lost in thought as she brought the teacup to her mouth once again.
– ‘And from the beginning… I have supported Princess Fenia from the beginning. I had no doubt that Princess Fenia would become emperor. The reason is complicated to explain.’
― ‘….’
― ‘So don’t worry too much. Princess Fenia will be a good emperor. Don’t worry too much about what they did to me.’
“A person who is good at saying things that are not in his heart without even changing his facial expression.”
really.
I purse my lips and repeat the man’s name. Ed Rosstaylor. The smooth pronunciation, without any sharp parts, had suddenly become natural.
I turned my attention again to the distant scenery of Bachelor.
The excitement of the festival was still growing.
* * *
“You want to read the wise man’s seal?”
“yes. “I want to see with my own eyes the records left by Great Sage Sylvania herself.”
“Well, that’s fine. I don’t think it will be accepted even if the student requests it. Well, I don’t know if the principal or vice-principal gives special permission…”
Entrance to the Trix Building.
Ayla Triss pulled the collar of Professor Kalide, who was lying on the bench and smoking a cigarette, and continued speaking with a stern expression on his face.
“So, all I have to do is convince the principal or vice principal?”
“It was an item that had been stolen once in the first place. Because the management is so strict, they will not give permission easily. “Grandma Rachel will definitely say no, and Principal Obel might not know… but since he hasn’t been seen recently, it won’t be easy to meet him.”
Kaleid was already half drunk. It could be due to the heat of the festival, but it was still pathetic in broad daylight with the sun high in the sky.
“…all right.”
Ayla left the half-asleep Kaleid on the bench, rolled up her sleeves, and headed toward the Trix building.
