Chapter 381 - Side Story 10: Two-Arm Scale (1)

No matter which branch of the Elte Company you visited, there was always a large two-arm scale in the lobby.

It was obvious what the scale, which was precisely level, symbolized.

Fairness

The company was rumored to do whatever it took to maintain its grip on the business districts. It was ridiculous to see such people claim fairness. However, the bigger one grows, the more important the justification becomes.

Hypocrisy was a necessity, not an option.

Some people might be disgusted by the Elte Company's hypocrisy, but those who were able to open their eyes and understand the situation of the company just a bit more could only nod their heads in approval.

At the end of the day, leading such a company meant that a good and legitimate cause was needed for every little decision that was made. Even if it was blatant hypocrisy, they still needed to pretend to be a virtuous group.

Lortel Kehelland knew that fact all too well. She always hid the dark and shady side of herself, all while making sure to put on a smile and emphasizing the value of fairness to the outside world.

"Reason…"

The head of the Elte Company, Slogg Keldricks, quietly spoke with his head lowered. On the desk was a portrait of Lortel Kehelland, the current deputy director of the Elte Company.

Slogg had a large beard on his face, which was covered in wrinkles that showed how much time and experience he had. He wore a merchant's unique leather coat, which was neither luxurious nor particularly modest.

He narrowed his eyes sharply, which was a habit Slogg fell into when he was concentrating deeply on something.

The Commercial City of Oldek.

It was a port city stretching across the western coastlines of the Kroel Empire. It was responsible for nearly half of all of the Empire's logistics and distribution. From the Lamelin Mountain Range, the lawless region of Kohelton, the most southern point of the continent, Acken Island… For any of them to reach the central part of the empire, they all needed to pass through that port city.

It was an area that was filled with both large and small companies and stores. A land of riches where merchants gathered to make just a single coin more.

When walking around the city in the early morning, you could see the various merchants and employees running around under the morning sun. It was a city where everyone was busy trying to put just one more coin in their own pockets.

Those who were born and raised, or spent most of their life, in such a place had a similar mindset. The same went for Lortel Kehelland.

"Expanding the company…"

He read through Lortel's business plan, which suggested entering the trade route that led to Holy Capital, Karpea, more aggressively. Slogg fell into thought.

While Slogg was the head of the Elte Company in name, Lortel Kehelland actually held most of the power. It was only a matter of time before she moved to take his position as head of the company.

It was time to take action.

"Alright. The most important thing is certainly living by the rules." As he said those words, he slowly closed his eyes. "It's been a long time since the Golden King Elte left this world… It's about time to get rid of the name 'the Elte Company'…"

In the spacious office of the head of the Elte Company, only silence filled the room.

* * *

"You went all the way to Pulan? For your research?"

Lortel Kehelland stopped by the Rothstaylor Mansion after the heat of the summer passed. It was still a bit humid to call autumn, but too cool to call it summer.

After graduating from Silvenia Academy, she had been working at the Elte Company in Oldek for the past few months. She decided to expand and build a new business.

Opening a new trade route with a few trustworthy employees was not something a deputy director would normally handle personally. But for now, while Slogg still held the seat of company head and she still had some freedom, she meant to finish as much important fieldwork as she could.

In particular, she was focusing her efforts on opening a new trade route with the Holy Capital, Karpea.

Karpea was an area in which the Telos Religious Group gathered. Thus, it was easy to figure out which items were in demand and the quantity needed.

Providing products for the Telos Cathedral's Holy Weeks of Prayers, the Saint's Religious Ceremonies, the feast, baptism day, and other religious holidays… With those holidays, along with the basic needs of the main group, sales with the Holy Father Building would become tremendous.

Lortel overheard that the Holy Father Building was purchasing materials from various different stores, so she wanted to create an opportunity to talk with the heads. She wanted to try and strike a deal. If the Elte Company was able to become their main supplier, it would also greatly save on costs for the Holy Father Building.

To do so, she needed to meet with Ed Rothstaylor.

"Yes. I went to Pulan to do some research on an Ultimate-rank spirit. While doing so, I got my hands on something rather valuable. I might need help taking care of it."

"That won't be a problem. You can just send me a list of what you need, Ed."

Silvenia Academy was about to start the new semester. Ed Rothstaylor, who was in charge of the new student's placement exam and Class A's students, was bound to become very busy. Not only that, but the school had high expectations for him, as he promised to take care of the most promising students.

He was back at his residence taking care of a few things first, but soon it would become hard for Lortel to see him.

Perhaps because he wanted to enjoy the little bit of break he had left, Ed Rothstaylor wasn't taking on any other major jobs. He was simply resting in the garden of the mansion while organizing a few reports.

The central garden of the Rothstaylor Mansion could only be described as a mix of brilliance and beauty. As it was a large residence that was maintained by a talented head maid, not just the inside of the mansion but even the garden was well-kept, always looking luxurious and beautiful.

Looking at the table of refreshments in the middle, with the two siblings sitting opposite of each other doing their own work… They looked rather similar to each other. They looked like a regular pair of siblings you would find anywhere.

However, one of them was the continent's most famous researcher in Celestial Magic, the youngest person ever to become a professor and a high-ranking elementalist. The other was a girl who held the title of head of the house for the continent's strongest ducal household.

It was imperative to avoid turning the brother and sister duo into your enemy at all costs. Fortunately, thanks to their long relationship, the two of them were close and looked upon Lortel favorably.

"You must be busy these days with the company, Lortel. There have been so many rumors about Oldek these days. Have there been any major issues with the Elte Company?"

"Not particularly. There are always going to be a few problems though. I just keep doing my job of fixing them one by one," Lortel responded with a smile towards Tanya, who was fiddling with her quill.

Even though Tanya had enough authority to be ranked one of the most powerful people on the continent, she still addressed Lortel respectfully. Though, even if she spoke down on Lortel, that wouldn't be an issue. However, given that they had a history of upperclassmen and underclassmen back at Silvenia, she felt it would be uncomfortable to speak casually with her.

Of course, Lortel no longer spoke casually to her and made sure to be respectful. Though, Tanya didn't seem to mind either way. Nevertheless, Lortel was like her usual self. She was always grinning, and never explained anything in detail, as if she was planning something.

However, Tanya no longer moved around according to Lortel's intentions. Compared to how she was when she first entered Silvenia, it was hard to believe that she was the same person.

"Well, if we only talk about business-related matters that wouldn't be any fun so… Ack!"

However, she still looked like her usual clumsy self when she brought her black lips to her mouth, burning the roof of her mouth.

"Brother… The tea is much too hot… It seems that we must have gotten a new maid…"

"Leave them alone. I'm sure Bell already found out and is scolding her."

"Blech. Bleech."

Tanya stuck out her tongue as if she had burnt it. She then put down her quill and closed the papers she was going over in a folder. It seemed that she had finished everything that needed to be dealt with at the moment.

Ed was busy reading over academic papers, his legs crossed and his eyes focused. Since Lortel, a distinguished guest, had come to visit him, he was trying to finish his work as quickly as possible.

The fact that the deputy director of the Elte Company, who was always treated as a highly distinguished guest wherever she went, was being pushed aside for a few documents was an unfamiliar feeling. However, it couldn't be helped. They were in the Rothstaylor Mansion, after all.

Rather, Lortel simply smiled, perfectly at ease.

No matter how long it had been, Ed Rothstaylor always acted like Ed Rothstaylor, a man with a personality that never allowed him to procrastinate. He had a bright and welcoming expression when Lortel had come to visit him, but he made sure to finish his work first.

For the moment, she decided to wait for him to finish. Meanwhile, Tanya lifted the tablecloth slightly, staring at the empty space beneath the table.

"Don't think of doing something useless, Tanya."

"Eek! Th-that's not it… I was just looking. There's nothing wrong with that."

"…Why are you even looking under there in the first place…?"

Lortel had no choice but to tilt her head, observing the slight bickering between siblings.

Finally, Ed put down his quill and gathered his papers, putting them aside.

"Come to think of it, you look great, Lortel. I think you look a lot brighter than back at Silvenia. I guess when you go around as the deputy director of the Elte Company, you need to have an outfit that suits the position. You look great in it."

"Oh my, I agree. Having your reddish-brown hair untied like that looks great, Lortel."

While the two siblings praised Lortel's appearance, they had different intentions.

Ed was being literal, praising Lortel's beautiful appearance. However, Tanya had clearly seen through Lortel's efforts. Was it intuition as a fellow woman?

Normally, she had her hair tied to the side. However, she currently had it loose, with a gorgeous blue rose hairpin, and she was wearing a royal blue skirt. She looked as if she dressed up, but not too much. It was all intentional, and she had put effort into deciding on the perfect outfit.

As for why she had dressed up? As Ed said, it was partially because of her role as the deputy director and because she needed to suit the position… More importantly, it was because she was going to see Ed.

It went without saying, but after hearing Ed innocently compliment her appearance, she couldn't help but be in a better mood.

Being a merchant, she had heard all sorts of compliments that were delivered purely out of courtesy. However, when Ed gave them, she couldn't help but feel strange and somewhat bashful. She thought she was immune to such compliments, yet it seemed that she was still defenseless in front of Ed.

"Yeah," Lortel suddenly swallowed her breath as she spoke, letting out a rough noise as her voice broke.

It was a novice mistake that no one in the business world would ever imagine she would make. Fortunately, she wasn't in the world of business. She was sitting at an outdoor tea table at the Rothstaylor Mansion.

"Ahem… Thank you for the compliment. You are right, I need to start caring about my appearance for my position…"

Ed didn't seem to think much of it, but a woman's intuition said otherwise… Tanya narrowed her eyes slightly. What was with that smile? But how did Tanya become such an observant person? Well, they do say that an environment makes the person.

"You must have been busy, but it's so nice that you came all the way here to visit. There's a lot to talk about, but let's save it for dinner. For now…. How about we talk about business?"

Ed jumped straight to the main point.

That's right. Even after graduating, Lortel Kehelland continued to flirt with Ed and express her affection for him like a sly fox… But first, they needed to take care of business.

In fact, it was easy to determine whether Lortel had come to the Rothstaylor Mansion for business or simply to flirt and play with Ed.

"After we talk about business, there's something else I need to tell you. Uhm… It's about what happened in Pulan…"

"Brother! Now's not the time to talk about that! Work! Work comes first, right?!"

Suddenly, Tanya stood up from the table, raising the tempo of the conversation.

"Actually I was expecting you to come and visit. I've heard what's been happening with the Elte Company recently from various different people, Lortel."

At the end of the day, Tanya Rothstaylor was well-versed in the field. After all, she was the one who would make all of the important decisions of House Rothstaylor.

"You came because you wanted us to help you make contact with the Holy Father Building, right? If possible, with Saint Clarice."

To have realized that much! In fact, given Lortel's track record, it wasn't all that difficult to infer.

Rather than answering, Lortel grinned.

"Creating networks is an asset. So, if you help us so that we can work directly with someone who is at the heart of Telos Religious Group… We will repay you with the most we—"

"You don't need to repay us."

Ed spoke without warning, but Tanya didn't look surprised. They both had an attitude as if such a thing were natural. They continued to sip on their tea and act as if nothing had happened… That was both expected, but also unexpected.

The deputy director of the Elte Company and the head of House Rothstaylor.

When power met power, there was always a certain kind of conversation that followed: money, leverage, negotiation, conflict, contracts, guarantees, confidentiality, deadlines. They would scrutinize every clause with cold precision, trying to squeeze even a single extra coin from the other side's hand.

For Lortel, her entire life was filled with such experiences at the negotiating table. However, the man in front of her just casually said that he would help her.

But that was only natural. The two of them had already come to acknowledge each other.

Ed Rothstaylor was Lortel Kehelland's person.

Lortel Kehelland was Ed Rothstaylor's person.

They were each other's person.

A person who transcended one's personal interest and gain. Ultimately, taking their side until the very end, regardless of the situation… For Lortel Kehelland, Ed Rothstaylor was the first person she could fully entrust everything to.

Even though both of them had been buried in their own work, Ed Rothstaylor seemed not to have forgotten for even a moment the promise they had made to stand on each other's side… Lortel found herself at a loss for words.

Normally, Tanya—who was in charge of House Rothstaylor—would want to use such an opportunity to demand something from the Elte Company.

However, when Ed made such a determined declaration, Tanya didn't say a word. Ed entrusted Tanya with all things related to managing the house and management, as he believed in her judgment… In return, Tanya also fully trusted Ed's judgment. So, she didn't react despite his surprising statement.

That was because he always had a justifiable reason for his actions.

Lortel felt a tingling sensation in her nose. However, she couldn't wipe away her tears and convey her thanks. That was because, just as that was natural for Ed, it was natural for Lortel as well.

When Ed needed help, Lortel would be there. When Lortel needed help, Ed would be there. There was no such thing as calculating one's interest in the process of helping each other.

It had become natural to help each other.

"Alright."

Lortel spoke softly, with her signature foxlike smile. The way she was able to manage her expression was so perfect that even Tanya couldn't discern her true feelings.

"We can talk about the details later in the evening."

Lortel smiled as she spoke to Ed, who nodded his head in agreement.

"Well, since you've finished all your work for now, you should head in and rest, brother! You must be tired since it hasn't been long since you came back from Pulan!"

With talk of business being pushed aside, Tanya then spoke in a bright tone.

"But I'm not all that tired."

"You can gather fatigue without even realizing it. After you took Yennekar with you to Pulan, she came back completely exhausted. She hasn't even gone back to her own residence! Instead, she has just been lying in bed all day."

At those words, Lortel's expression hardened slightly. When she heard 'Pulan,' she started to have a thought…

"…Yennekar…?"

"Oh my, Lortel… I guess you wouldn't have known… Ed went to Yennekar's hometown. Just the two of them." Tanya seemed to slightly exaggerate the way she spoke as if trying to cause a misunderstanding.

Tanya tried to hold back her smile as she whispered to Lortel as if she were hiding something.

"And, well. Since it's so far away, we couldn't send many people to accompany him… So, I was only able to provide a carriage for the two of them to go there alone. With a driver, of course. Well, as you know, those two are rather capable. Naturally, they wouldn't have any issues by themselves. It was just the most efficient to send the two of them. Alone."

The two of them. Alone…

The way she seemed to imply something made it difficult for Lortel to manage her expression. It was difficult for her to ask for the details in such a circumstance.

"I don't know what they did together in Pulan, but I'm sure the two of them were able to take care of whatever they needed to do. The two of them are truly so reliable. My older brother is already so talented, but with someone like Yennekar to protect him, there was nothing to worry about."

Tanya continued to speak with a smile on her face, her invisible tail practically wagging behind her.

"I should just continue to send the two of them off alone!"

"Stop speaking nonsense, Tanya…"

"O-okay…" Tanya responded politely as she sat back down in her chair.

However, the way she raised her chin and spoke so obediently made it seem as if she had other intentions.

Lortel scratched her chin as she let out a small sigh. Really, there was nothing for her to be flustered about. However, she couldn't help but be curious.

The two of them… How far did they go?

* * *

After Ed went back inside to rest for a bit, Lortel walked around the garden.

The main reason she went to the Rothstaylor Mansion was to get help contacting the Holy Father Building, but she couldn't help but be confused after hearing about Yennekar.

Because of her unique characteristics of always remaining calm as a merchant, she didn't let it show. However, she couldn't help but be confused on the inside. The two of them must have stayed together for a long period of time. In a space with just the two of them. No other vassals, servants, or maids of the mansion to bother them.

Knowing Ed's personality, she knew he wouldn't cross the line. However, you could never be certain.

So what if the two of them actually crossed into an unknown world? What if they held hands, side by side, as they crossed over the rainbow into a fairytale-like land?

Dancing along in the garden, where the beautiful flowers bloomed… in other words, what if they somehow ended up sleeping together?

Lortel swallowed harshly.

She heard that Yennekar hadn't gone back to her own residence yet. That meant she was resting at Rothstaylor Mansion.

If Lortel were to run into Yennekar, how would she react?

It wasn't difficult for Lortel to imagine.

While she was busy trying to survive in the world of business, Yennekar was off holding hands with Ed and having fun. That expression on her face…

She could imagine it well.

Was she going to snort and laugh triumphantly at Lortel?

Would she look at Lortel with compassion or pity?

Would she laugh at her and mock her?

Given Yennekar's personality, she would probably be the first case. Since she was able to be alone with Ed for a decent period of time, she would surely try to use that to show psychological superiority.

Lortel had to prepare herself to bear with that proud and snobby expression on Yennekar's usual innocent face.

"Hm…"

In the distance, she saw Yennekar sitting under a small pavilion in the garden. Did she come out to get some fresh air? It was an unwelcome meeting for Lortel, but it was still an ordeal she would have to one day face.

It was impossible for her to completely predict how far Ed and Yennekar had gone, and how Yennekar would react. That was why Lortel could only force a smile on her face as she walked over towards her.

She had thought of all the ways Yennekar might try to show her superiority over her, and had prepared herself to deal with them. Whatever she ended up doing, Lortel had no plans of dropping that smiling mask. After she prepared herself, she gently raised her voice.

"Oh my, Yennekar. You were here?"

Yennekar, who had been observing a flower off to the side, raised her head. She then made eye contact with Lortel.

Whenever Yennekar saw Lortel in the mansion, she would always have a wary expression on her face. Lortel figured that Yennekar would use that chance to turn the tables and act strongly towards her, but…

"Oh my, Lortel! Long time, no see! Have you been busy with the mansion these days?!"

Yennekar greeted Lortel with a smile as innocent as untouched paper. There was not a trace of hesitation or wariness in it.

"These days, the weather has cooled down quite a bit! It's nice that it's no longer so hot… Anyway, I should head back to my room. I've been out for a while, so I'm sure the vassals are worried… I will see you at dinner!"

With a bright smile, Yennekar returned to the mansion, waving her hand cheerfully at her. Even though she walked far away, she continued to wave her hand toward Lortel with a dazzling smile on her face.

Lortel stood still as she gathered her thoughts.

And then cold sweat ran down her back.

Such a surprising reaction from Yennekar… It was more dangerous than anything she had predicted.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 11: Two-Arm Scale (2)

It was an emergency.

Lortel Kehelland did not know the exact details, but it seemed that Yennekar Palerover had made 'significant' progress with Ed Rothstaylor. Lortel had no way of knowing just how far that went, but one thing was obvious: she could not afford to sit still.

Because of that, it felt like something special had to be done… but there was nothing special that she could do.

Much as she hated to admit it, Ed Rothstaylor was a disgustingly hard worker. He never put off the work in front of him, and he made sure to do it properly. Since he had built his life with his own two hands, he was not the sort to fall for others' temptations or petty tricks.

If that same Ed Rothstaylor somehow ended up falling for Yennekar Palerover, just what kind of trick did she use? Lortel frowned as she fell into deep thought. She then opened her eyes sharply, strengthening her determination.

At the end of the vacation, Ed would leave for Acken Island to teach. Until then, she needed to use the time she had to turn the tide in her favor.

Either way, in the meantime she desperately needed Ed's help.

* * *

"Slogg Keldricks?"

After Ed Rothstaylor and Yennekar Palerover returned from their long journey, they were visited by the valuable guest Lortel.

At Tanya's orders, a rather grand feast was prepared. On both sides of the large dinner table filled with food, House Rothstaylor's vassals and the various business associates Lortel had brought along ate delicious and high-quality food.

Lortel then came over to Ed's side, speaking seriously.

"Yes. He's the current head of the Elte Company. He's served my father, the Golden King Elte, for more than twenty years."

"If you are planning to become the head of the company yourself, you will have to prepare to bring him down soon."

"Yes, that's correct. However, that old man is more ambitious than I expected. The original contract was for him to return the position of head of the company to me, but seeing the current situation, it seems that he has no plans to fulfill his side of the contract," said Lortel casually, as if it weren't a big deal. "He will soon try and betray me."

In the world of business, where personal interests created complicated relationships, betrayal became as natural as breathing.

Lortel wasn't hurt in the slightest when a subordinate, who she had been working with for decades, turned around to stab her in the back.

"Once I become the head of the company, I will be unable to do any practical work. That's why I am trying to take care of such business while I have the chance now. However, it seems while I've been taking care of that, he's been trying to put more coins in his pocket."

She continued, "I told you before when Dune had betrayed me. If an employee I've known for decades suddenly sticks a knife in my back, I won't be able to do anything if I just sit around depressed and sad."

She was wearing a gorgeous dress, her reddish-brown hair neatly combed. She lived a life of splendor, so it was inevitable that some would look towards her with envy.

"This is a mere stepping stone that all merchants must cross over at some point. If he truly plans to try and betray me, there's no need to think of him any differently."

"If that's what you think, there's nothing I can say."

"As long as you never betray me, Ed. Though, that will never happen."

There was a strange sense of weight in those short words that she uttered with a smile.

"The psychology behind betraying another to take their seat is simple. Since it becomes impossible to trust others, you can only betray them yourselves. Living with the doubt that you will be betrayed at any time, you slowly wear yourself out and become engrossed in such fears."

Lortel put her glass down on the table as she smiled lightly. She then quietly said, "Let me answer before you ask. I know from experience."

"I wasn't going to ask."

"I know you're just saying that. But to get to the main point… That sneaky old man Slogg. He's a very difficult person to deal with."

For Lortel to speak so highly of him herself, it was clear just how cunning and clever the man would be.

The fact that he had held a high position for over twenty years in Oldek, where betrayal was a common occurrence, showed just how skilled he was.

"Right now, he's delaying my promotion to head of the company, as I am busy taking care of some practical tasks. However, once I start actively trying to reclaim that seat, he will certainly try and drag me down."

"Specifically how?"

"Justification."

Lortel raised her hand at an angle as she carefully spoke.

"The scales of the Elte Company are always level."

Was it the Elte Company's tendency to say such a hypocritical sentence?

"Thus, to find justification to take me, the deputy director of the Elte Company, down… He needs to find a worthwhile cause."

"Like when you kicked out Elte Kehelland."

The previous head of the Elte Company had been brought down with various allegations, such as lackluster sales and fraud, all at once, leading to his downfall.

But this time, the dagger was being pointed towards Lortel.

"But… we have been fellow merchants for nearly twenty years. At this point, we know each other's tactics and thought processes far too well."

"Even though you've known each other for so long, there's no trust… The life of a merchant seems really exhausting."

"It really is. Rather, things become scarier the longer you know each other. Since he is an enemy that has been close to me all these years, he will understand my plans better than others."

Lortel looked around to make sure no one was listening in. She then lowered her voice.

"Which is why he's going to try and outsmart me. Even if I check every possible thing, he will still somehow find a way to catch me off guard. He isn't going to be an easy opponent to deal with."

"I've never seen you so wary before. You were even more relaxed in front of the princess."

"I cannot make the mistake of thinking I can control every single variable. If I want to survive in this field, all I can do is continue to doubt myself."

The right arm of Deputy Director Lortel. Always faithful, helping her in her goals.

That was the position Slogg used to hold.

"Can't you just take action first and bring him down?"

Even though Ed said that, he was somewhat aware that it was a useless thought.

"He is excellent at his job. His performance is outstanding, and his management is equally impressive. I have not been able to find a single meaningful mistake. So if I want justification to force him out, I would have to do something rather extreme."

"…And that would give Slogg perfect justification to fight back and protest against you."

"…Right. In a fight to find justification like this, the one who acts hastily and forcefully is the one who loses first. Just like how Dune acted hastily and made a mistake that led to his downfall."

Slogg was definitely on offense, and Lortel was on defense. That was how they needed to protect themselves.

"The best thing I can do is purposely create an opportunity, then use it to fight back."

The one who was going to lose first in the fight was the one who made a mistake first.

"Right now, Slogg is being rather passive, not creating any openings. However, he is certainly preparing for the moment he will reveal his true nature. Counterattacking at that moment will be the best option."

"But when he reveals his true colors, that will be when he is certain of his victory… Isn't he a clever veteran merchant?"

"That's right. Which is why I need to carefully prepare a plan that will completely outwit him."

Ed cut up his steak as he gathered his thoughts. He didn't particularly want to join a power struggle between merchants, but with Lortel in trouble, he felt that he needed to help her.

"Ed… I want you to be the 'wedge' when that time comes."

"Wedge?"

"When Slogg has an opening, I want you to be the witness for everything. You have the authority of both the Holy Capital and the Imperial Household behind you. There are only a handful of people throughout the entire empire who are connected to both the Saint and Princess like you."

When Lortel found a good reason to kick Slogg out, she wanted Ed to stand as a witness.

"That's not difficult, but… I'm not sure about my relationship with the Holy Father Building. As for the Imperial Household, it's a bit awkward these days…"

"What? Aren't you in regular contact with the princess?"

"Princess Penia has become quite busy now that she has become the heir to the throne, so we don't talk much. As for Princess Selah… Our relationship is a bit messy."

"Why is that? Ah… Is this a bit too personal to talk about?"

"That's not necessarily the issue… It's just a bit complicated. She'll come to the Rothstaylor Mansion on her own will, create some random excuse to meet with me, and then when she glances my way, she'll suddenly get angry and run back to the Imperial Household… Though, she always makes sure to accept Tanya's invitations for tea parties…"

"…I won't ask for the details.'

"Alright, thanks. Anyway, the point is that my relationship with them is a bit unstable these days."

Lortel scratched her chin, thinking about it. She eventually decided that such a variable wasn't going to be an issue.

"Anyway, what I was trying to say is that I need your help to get rid of Slogg. I don't know when he will reveal his true self, but I'm sure that once I try and reclaim my title as the head of the company, he will do something."

"When will you do that?"

"Soon."

Ed tilted his head as he looked at Lortel. Lortel returned the look with a faintly foxlike smile.

"I know you will get busy once school starts, so I'll make sure to finish things before then."

"Then…"

"When I return to Oldek, I'm going to announce my stance as being the next head. Then, Slogg will surely start taking action."

It was obvious what she meant.

"Ed, will you accompany me back to Oldek this time?"

Not only to bring an end to Slogg, but also to bring Ed with her to Oldek. Ed nodded his head, accepting Lortel's request for him to accompany and assist her.

Ed and Lortel's relationship was stronger than one would think. It was a relationship based on trust, one that wasn't swayed by one's own self-interest.

A tremendous amount of gold and silver, the power and authority of the Elte Company, and various influential contacts.

More than all of that, just seeing Ed nod his head was the most valuable and reassuring thing for her. She then had a thought to herself.

Whatever it takes, I want to keep this man close to me for the rest of my life… She secretly held that thought close to her heart.

* * *

"Young Master Ed said that he would soon be accompanying Lady Lortel back to Oldek to help her."

Crunch.

Yennekar chewed on her salad before suddenly turning stiff. However, after a moment… Like a rabbit, she continued to nibble on her lettuce.

She then nodded her head, muttering, "I see. I thought it was about time the Elte Company would look towards renewing their contract with Silvenia. Ed must have a hard time always having to represent the school with such business."

"Well, it seems that Young Master Ed is going to take care of his business for Silvenia. However, the main reason why he is going is to personally assist Lady Lortel with her work."

"I see. Ed must be busy. He always has a strong sense of responsibility… Always working hard and giving his best. I wonder if there's anything I can do to help?"

Yennekar continued to hum as she chewed on her food. After she returned from Pulan, she has been acting rather strange, as if she were constantly dreaming. Bell could easily guess what had happened.

As Yennekar continued to eat her breakfast, Bell came over to her side. She then whispered quietly in her ear so the other maids wouldn't overhear.

"Did you sleep with Young Master Ed?"

Yennekar choked, coughing in her shock at the question. She didn't need to answer. That reaction alone was enough to figure out what had happened.

"Wh-what are you saying, Bell?!"

"I just felt that I should tell you something, Lady Yennekar. You shouldn't become negligent just because you think you have him in your arms."

Bell's words always cut straight to the point. Yennekar knew that fact well. She continued to look embarrassed as she listened to Bell.

"Wh-what do you mean by that?"

"There's a saying that all men are wolves, right? Of course, Young Master Ed is a reliable and sincere man. However, you never know what is going to happen if another person starts to use several tricks against him. Especially in the case of Lady Lortel. We both know she isn't one to stand still."

With Bell's position, cheering for a specific person was uncomfortable. However, at the very least, she didn't want to see the good-natured Yennekar sit idly by and lose Ed.

"Y-you don't have to worry about that!" Strangely, Yennekar fought back. "Ed whispered to me! He said that when I'm with him, I give him strength—"

"Lady Yennekar, your voice is too loud."

Yennekar quickly swung her body, looking around her. The other maids blushed as they hurriedly walked away with their cleaning tools. Yennekar fanned her face with her hands, blowing away her cold sweat.

"A-anyway… Ed promised to be with me in the future…"

"Is that so…?"

Bell felt strangely moved by the fact they had made more progress than she had expected. It felt as if Yennekar was finally stepping up to the plate. It was like she was a parent watching her child grow.

However, there were still things that needed to be addressed.

"About that… Are you sure that's what he said?"

"Wh-what?"

"If he really did declare that he wouldn't cross the line with any other women… Then there's no need for me to doubt what you say…"

After hearing that, Yennekar suddenly remembered the conversation she had with Ed. She was so engrossed with an overwhelming sense of happiness, and her mind had grown foggy at just the thought of sleeping together with him.

However, thinking back to exactly what he said… She remained silent for a long while.

"…Lady Yennekar… Why…aren't you saying anything…?"

She had been completely overwhelmed with a sense of happiness and euphoria that night. She had talked with Ed quite a bit, but… As for what he had actually told her…

"Uhm… Bell…"

"…Yes?"

"I… I think I was swept away by the atmosphere…" Yennekar struggled to confess. "Somehow…I think…I told Ed…it was okay for him…to be with other girls…"

There was a moment of silence.

Bell heard what Yennekar had said, but she was too shocked to fully comprehend it. Bell had frozen completely for a moment.

Looking at Yennekar, she finally asked, "…What…do you mean by that…?"

* * *

"Then I will contact you later, Ed."

The next day, after talks about the Holy Father Building were concluded, Lortel got back into her carriage and headed for Oldek.

Lortel had a rather calm expression on her face as she said from the carriage window, "I can't wait to see you in Oldek soon."

"Alright. Take care of yourself, Lortel. It seems that there's a high chance that you're going to be in for a hell of a time."

"Haha… You don't have to worry about that. It would be difficult for Slogg to do anything to physically harm me. Like I told you, this is a fight for us to find justification."

Whoever crossed the line first would lose. With the two of them holding tremendous power, ultimately it would come down to who had a legitimate reason on their side.

"He won't be an easy opponent to handle. Nevertheless, I hope we can celebrate our victory together when you come to Oldek."

I also hoped the same. I waved my hand as I said farewell to Lortel.

Whatever the case, Lortel knew how to protect herself. No matter how tricky Slogg might be, it wouldn't be easy for him to outwit someone like Lortel.

With that thought in mind, I watched Lortel's carriage slowly leave. Once she finished her preparations to some extent, she would call on me to go to Oldek.

And the following week, a letter came from the Elte Company… But it wasn't from Lortel.

It came from her most trusted subordinate, Chief Secretary Lienna. I knew the letter could be trusted, as it was from Lienna herself. However, the contents were written hastily, and it lacked detail. Was she afraid that the contents of the letter might have been leaked?

However, reading the words that were written clearly… I frowned.

I respectfully bow my head before Young Master Ed Rothstaylor of the great and glorious House Rothstaylor.

It was an SOS request.

The deputy director is seriously injured, and there is no other place to ask for help. I sincerely ask for you to protect the deputy director at Rothstaylor Mansion.

Something had happened in Oldek.

I at least knew that much.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 12: Two-Arm Scale (3)

"Here is the total, and this is your change."

"Thanks again! You've got quite a haul this time. Good luck with your sales!"

The Commercial City of Oldek—stretching along the empire's western coast—looked like something out of an age of pirates, with huge ships crowding the piers. The great businesses and storefronts scattered throughout the district carried a different sort of grandeur from anything in the Holy Capital or the imperial capital.

If you want to make money, head to Oldek.

That simple sentence had always been true since the days the empire was first founded.

[Oh my… so this truly is the center of commerce everyone speaks so highly of… It's incredibly lively here, Young Master Ed! This useless Mugg of yours is getting excited just from looking around!]

"There's nothing good about getting excited. We're trying to avoid standing out, after all."

[Y-yes, of course. It's nice to be alone with you like this. It reminds me of our time together back on Acken Island. Kyaaah! The two of us really went through so much back then. I will continue to give everything I have in service to you.]

Mugg flapped his wings in his spirit form, following behind me. He started to reminisce about his past again, talking to himself.

[When I was a low-ranking spirit, I worked through the entire night with no breaks. Once the morning came, I was assigned even more work. Back then, life was so painful. I resented the world. It felt as if life was just hardship and struggles, but it really helped me grow. It is something that I guess everyone needs to go through. This is why, Young Master Ed… I am really happy to have met you. If I were to tell you of the hardships I faced from the beginning… I would have to start when I was just a mere fluid spirit… As for what my motto in life was back then…]

I already knew that, but Mugg really did talk a lot.

As if he had a lot to get off his chest, he sat on my shoulder and continued his long story with tears of emotions trickling down his face.

I covered myself with my hood as I blended into the crowd, traversing through Oldek's streets. Mugg continued to blabber on in one of my ears, but in my head, I was still thinking about the letter I received from Lienna.

Chief Secretary Lienna was Lortel Kehelland's closest subordinate, one who always remained loyal to her.

Even though she had never written to me before, she had alerted me of the situation before Lortel. It seemed that something had happened. After all, Lortel always took care of such things herself. She would never have had Lienna send me a letter on her behalf.

Either way, my schedule was already tight, so I did not have the luxury of waiting around. I needed to check the situation in person as quickly as possible, so I secured a carriage and made the three-day trip to Oldek.

However, you couldn't look down on the knowledge of a merchant. There was nothing good that would come out of the news that Ed Rothstaylor had traveled to Oldek. That was why I made sure to hide my identity and move along, covering my face with my hood.

I continued to walk through the streets, turning several times before entering an alley. Mugg continued to babble on as I left him behind. I then saw a tavern ahead of me that looked rather dark.

There was a mug of beer on a small wooden sign out front. Since there was some noise inside, it was open for business.

I opened the door and entered. Inside, the tavern was full of menacing-looking men. All eyes focused on me for a moment before ignoring me as they went back to their conversations.

"If you walk down Oldek 3rd Street, turning three times at the intersection, you will find a small tavern. The name of the place is 'Song of the Waves.'"

"Please sit as far in the back as possible, alone. Order a draft beer and two fistfuls of peanuts. Make sure to cover yourself with your hood, and don't walk around."

The method was certainly discreet.

I took a seat in the back as instructed, ordered the draft and peanuts, and sat still.

I sat there quietly for about ten minutes, but no one spoke to me. Despite it being a noisy pub, I continued to sit alone, drinking my beer.

After sitting like that for another ten minutes…

"Hey, handsome. Would you like to go on a date?"

As if trying to do business, a woman from the bar spoke to me. A red-haired woman in a glamorous dress looked at me with an alluring gaze. She continued to speak.

"Seeing you come into a pub in broad daylight, sit all the way in the back, order a draft beer and some peanuts, and sit alone for over ten minutes… You look rather miserable."

Her tone seemed to emphasize my actions. It was a signal to make sure that my actions weren't just a mere coincidence.

I nodded and said, "Fine, let's head out then. I'll take the bill."

"What a smart choice. Shall we cross our arms then?"

She smiled rather seductively as she looped her arms with mine. We then walked out of the bar together. Since it was a common sight in such a place, the others paid no attention to us.

With my arms locked with hers, the two of us walked out towards the street. Then, she finally moved her lips to my ear, whispering, "Since there are a lot of eyes, let's mix in with the crowd some more. Let's try to walk to 2nd Street, where it gets crowded. If it seems like no one is following us, we'll then make our way to a more remote location."

"Alright."

We continued to walk together for about thirty more minutes. We walked back and forth down the streets of Oldek, constantly looking around us. In the process, I had time to look at all of the different stores and buildings there. It was quite a sight to see so many famous businesses and large buildings stretch along the road.

After walking around for some time, we were finally convinced that we were not being followed. The woman took my arm, dragging me into a rather dark alleyway nearby. Walking down the alleyway and turning a few corners, we were able to find a place between two buildings where no one would pass by.

"I apologize for acting so disrespectful, Young Master Ed."

"No, don't worry about that. But you look much different than before…"

She had used a device to create a disguise. Deactivating it, the woman's red hair changed back.

And that appearance… It was what I was used to seeing back in the Elte Company's Silvenia Branch.

Lortel Kehelland's chief secretary, Lienna Clemson.

"I'm…not used to doing things like this… So, I have to use tools like these…"

The seductive girl from the bar was gone. She had turned back to her usual indecisive and shy secretary self, which I was familiar with.

Lienna Clemson was the only subordinate of Lortel's that took her side when Dune had tried to take over the Elte Company. Because of her actions, she was able to rise in position, effectively becoming Lortel's right hand.

She still had her indecisive and timid temperament, so seeing her suddenly act confident while dragging me away toward an empty place felt rather refreshing.

"Acting like such a woman… It didn't suit me in the slightest. I was sweating so much that my makeup almost came off…"

"I see. But why did you send me such a strange letter?"

Lienna looked around once more. She then tied her hair back and put on her glasses. She then slowly lowered her voice and spoke.

"Deputy Director Lortel has fallen under a curse that Slogg Keldricks prepared."

"…What?"

I frowned as I responded.

"He used such violent means?"

"Whether it was violent or not… That's rather hard to say. It depends on who you're asking…but if you ask me, yes…it was rather violent…"

"But I don't think Lortel would so easily fall victim to such an attack. I know that Slogg is an impressive person, but this is Lortel we are talking about. Her skills in magic are superior to most magicians."

"That's right. But…the circumstances were a bit special…"

"Still, no matter how unusual the circumstances were… does he really think he can take the top seat of the Elte Company in such a ruthless way…?"

Slogg Keldricks may look like an innocent and sincere merchant, but I heard rumors about him being one of the trickiest and devious of them all.

Still, it didn't suit his image for him to use such a means to take Lortel down. On the contrary, it seemed like the opposite.

"Curse magic? What type of curse was it? It wasn't instant death, obstruction of breathing, or prevention of blood flow, right…?"

"Nothing like that… In fact, she currently has no health problems right now… However, she has been rather incapacitated…"

"Then…is it a suppressing type?"

"Uhm…it's similar…"

Secretary Lienna didn't know how to explain it as she muttered her response.

"For now, it'll be easier if you see her in person…"

* * *

After that, we had to walk back down the market streets for some time.

What I was about to see was something that was even being kept secret from the executives of the Elte Company. She had repeatedly explained the importance of that fact to me on the way there.

It made sense. The fact that an important person of Lortel's status was incapacitated was, in and of itself, confusing.

Lienna then told me how, at that moment, I was the only one capable of safely taking Lortel out of Oldek and protecting her.

It seemed that Lortel told Lienna about me whenever she had the chance. I didn't know what she had said, but it seemed that Lortel had told her to contact me if there was any kind of danger or a crisis, as I would surely lend a hand without asking for anything in return.

And she was right. After all, I was confident that Lortel would do the same for me if I was in trouble. It only made sense that I would do the same for her.

A two-arm scale should always be level. If I received something, I needed to give something back in return.

"We have to go underground again."

"Again? This is already the 3rd time."

"It was necessary."

After entering, exiting, entering, and exiting the sewer several times down a sketchy back road, we eventually reached the back door of a brick building.

Lienna knocked on the door a couple of times as she said something in an unfamiliar foreign language to the person on the other side. It seemed to be a password of sorts.

After saying it, the door slowly opened. Inside was dark, with a counter facing the door. On the other side of it was a big man sitting down. Looking at the pattern on the side of his cloak, he appeared to be a merchant of the Elte Company.

He bowed his head to greet Lienna, then bowed his head politely to me as well.

"It is an honor to meet you."

After bowing to me, he began to guide me further inside. However, Lienna suddenly raised her arm, stopping the man. She then ordered him to turn around and look the other way. Lienna planned to guide me herself, so she asked him to keep guarding the entrance.

The man nodded as he closed the door. Lienna then led me down into a dark hallway.

"This used to be an old inn that we had remodeled, and now we use it secretly. In the farthest room, Deputy Director Lortel is there."

"I see… This place is kept rather secret."

After reaching the door of the farthest room, Secretary Lienna turned her head towards me once more as she asked, "I've already told you this before, but this has to remain a secret. But I also wanted to say…uhm…try…not be too surprised…"

"Surprised…?"

"N-Never mind… Let's go inside."

After saying that, Secretary Lienna opened the door.

The room was in rather poor shape. It truly was like an abandoned inn. There were old, shabby pieces of wooden furniture all over. It was dark but on the round table in the middle… There was a girl with reddish-brown hair sitting with her back towards us.

Lortel Kehelland. It was unmistakably the back of the famous merchant I knew so well. And yet something about her felt strangely different.

"Deputy Director Lortel."

The moment Lienna said her name as she entered, Lortel quickly turned around. Seeing such a bright movement, I felt a momentary sense of incongruity… I could tell that something wasn't right.

"Lienna!"

Lortel jumped out of the chair with a bright expression on her face. She then ran to the door as if she were going to embrace Lienna.

It felt completely unnatural to see her act so bright.

While I was left speechless, Lortel began to speak unnaturally.

"I didn't go anywhere, just like you told me to! I made sure to stay right here! I was so bored, but since you said you would compliment me, I made sure to bear with it! I was doing my best to read through the diaries to try and regain my memory as well, but, hmmm… I don't really remember anything."

"Ahhh… D-Deputy Director…good…job…"

"Yeah! Then, can you stroke my hair?!"

Lortel spoke lively as she grabbed Lienna's hand, putting it on her head with a bright smile on her face.

For some reason… it almost felt as though she had gotten shorter. As that thought crossed my mind, Secretary Lienna finally spoke.

"So…here is…uhm… Young Master…Ed Rothstaylor…"

"Ahheeek!"

Lortel was startled, quickly hiding behind Lienna's back. She only stuck her head out. She looked at me nervously, covering her face. She then spoke with a ridiculously quiet voice.

"Uhm…. Th-the young master…that was written about…in the journal… I didn't…expect to see you…so soon…"

"Come out now, Deputy Director. It isn't polite to hide behind me like this."

"Ah, umm, wait…no. I don't want to…"

The way she hid her face in embarrassment wasn't appropriate for her age.

I then stared at Lienna for a moment with a hardened expression on my face. Was this a 'hidden camera' prank or something…? But that wouldn't make any sense…

There had to be some sort of rational explanation for what was going on.

"…She didn't shrink in height that much, but…her mental age…is…as you can see…" Lienna struggled to finish her sentence. "Now…things…are like this…"

I was frozen. I then stepped toward the center of the room, grabbing a wooden chair to sit down. I kept wiping the area around my mouth with my hand… I couldn't help but sit there with such a troubled expression on my face.

The reason I was in a cold sweat was because…it was something I never even imagined would happen.

"Wh-why isn't anyone saying anything…? Y-you're making me scared…"

Lortel trembled as she grabbed Lienna's sleeve, hiding behind her.

For a while, the only sound in the room was the rustle of Lienna's sleeve.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 13: Two-Arm Scale (4)

There was no time to waste.

You could never underestimate a merchant's intelligence or caution. It was only a matter of time before people realized that Lortel was no longer in her right state of mind, and once that happened, the news would spread.

I could fully understand why Lienna was so concerned about information security. Not only that, but in the current situation there were enemies on the inside as well. At the moment, we had to be most careful of Slogg Keldricks, who was a part of the same company.

Since he was also a part of the Elte Company, he would immediately notice something was wrong if Lortel's actions became strange.

"The deputy director already visits Rothstaylor Mansion for no official reason. She only goes to visit you, Young Master Ed, which is why if she suddenly goes to the Rothstaylor Mansion now, no one will think it's suspicious."

Since Lortel's condition wasn't good, we had to urgently hide it.

If it were revealed that Lortel was now like that, it would be impossible to know just how much change would occur in the Elte Company's power structure.

"A place where Deputy Director Lortel can go without raising any suspicions, as well as a place with the authority and power to protect her, if need be."

Rothstaylor Mansion was the only place. Lienna had made a wise judgment.

Rattle, rattle.

In the end, Lortel and I sat across from each other in a carriage bound for Rothstaylor Mansion. Until Lortel recovered, Lienna said she would do her best to cover for her absence. She truly was the ideal subordinate to have.

"…Uhhh…"

The once-always seductive and sneaky woman was now looking at me with complete innocence and purity.

Her body moved back and forth from the rattling carriage. In her arms, she was holding something like an old notebook of sorts. It was strange to see her holding it as if it were some treasure.

"Uhm, where are we going? Wh-what about Lienna? W-will I not be able to see her anymore…?"

She had a sad expression on her face as she held the old notebook tightly. It was rather terrifying to see. It was the complete opposite of her usual appearance, and I couldn't help but lose my breath.

"Lienna…she said…that she would compliment me if I was kind and quiet… She said…that she would take me to the beach…"

The way she sniffled in between her words left me in shock. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

"You really…don't remember anything…?"

Lortel buried her face in her notebook as she nodded. I let out a sigh. I then tried to speak to her as calmly as possible.

"Then… can you tell me as much as you remember?"

"O-Okay… But I don't really remember much…"

It wasn't strange to see her act awkward and embarrassed like that, as she must have not been comfortable with me yet.

"When I came to my senses… I was lying down in a carriage that had fallen over… I was very scared. However, Lienna had come to find me and calmed me down. She told me that it would be fine, and that I should wait. As long as I stayed still, someone would come and save me…"

It seemed she barely remembered anything.

I opened the document Lienna gave me to read. It was a detailed description of what had happened, but to summarize the key points, it was as follows:

There was a meeting at the Elte Company's Central Branch to review the overall status of the company. Lortel had gotten attacked while on her way to attend the meeting. It was a simple story.

As she was traveling down a remote road, the entire carriage was directly struck by a curse. Fortunately, Secretary Lienna heard the news quickly and went to rescue Lortel. That seemed to be the end of the story.

I read the letter, scratching my chin and frowning.

There were too many things that seemed unnatural. The fact that Lortel allowed herself to be attacked so easily. The fact that Slogg, who was supposed to be wise and cautious, would use such a violent means to bring her down. Additionally, curse magic… It was such a strange method to use.

If he wanted to neutralize her, he could have easily captured her or locked her up after attacking her. Or, in an even more extreme situation, he would have tried to assassinate her.

Of course, the risk in doing so would be high, but it would certainly be more effective in taking Lortel down than using a curse.

While I hadn't personally met the merchant named Slogg Keldricks yet, I was sure he wasn't the type to do that. Since Lortel herself was being so cautious of him, I had a hard time understanding the current situation.

"…As you may have heard, you are the leader of a very large company."

"Y-Yes… I know…"

"Did Lienna tell you?"

"Y-yes, she did, but…here…it's all written down…"

The notebook she held onto as if it were a precious treasure. It seemed to be a notebook she had used before she had lost her memory. The current version of Lortel could only read through it, trying to remember what kind of person she used to be.

What type of work did she do? How did she use other people? How did she make money? What type of life did she live?

Most likely, all sorts of information about her way of thinking were written down.

I thought it would be a good idea to check it out myself. So, I held out my hand and asked, "Can I see that notebook for a second?"

When I said that, Lortel was startled. She then began to hug the notebook even tighter.

"N-no!"

"No…?"

"Y-you can't… Never…"

Maybe she was not aware of the seriousness of the situation.

"Lortel… you are a very precious person. Depending on your situation, many other people's lives are at risk. So, if there's any sort of clue into what happened, I need to check into it."

"W-well…. I-I know that, too, but… Um… Even though I'm confused, I know something for certain. Th-that I can never show you what is written here in this notebook… Never…"

Wasn't she in a state where she couldn't remember anything? Nevertheless, she seemed to unconsciously have a feeling that she had to cherish that notebook. Lortel was determined to hold onto it forever, and never let it go.

After thinking about it for a while, I finally told her that it was alright. There might be a clue in her notebook, so I wanted to check it, but… I didn't have to do it right away.

More than that, I didn't want to terrify Lortel or make her uncomfortable. After all, her mental state wasn't normal. Once we returned to Rothstaylor Mansion, I would find a way to look at it. She definitely wouldn't be able to hold onto the notebook twenty-four hours a day, so when there was a chance, I'd ask one of the servants to bring it to me.

I looked at Lortel quietly as I sighed in resignation.

"Okay… For now, let's go back to the mansion and talk some more."

At the moment, I needed to be considerate towards her condition. From Lortel's point of view, it must have felt as if she had just lost all of her memories and was being kidnapped to a Duke's household.

"Anyway, I'm on your side. Just remember that. Though, I'm sure you must feel rather hesitant, as you just lost your memory and I'm suddenly asking you to trust in me…"

"Th-that's not it… I trust you… Though, I'm scared."

Lortel was speaking what was on her mind, despite hesitating a bit. Even though she was like a child, in a way she certainly was like her usual self.

"I know that you are on my side. But…you're a little different from what I imagined…so it's a little scary…"

"…What you imagined?"

"N-never mind… It's just…nothing important."

She then looked down and sweat profusely.

I watched her quietly as I nodded my head. I didn't really want to ask anything more about it either.

* * *

"And this…is the situation."

The meal prepared by the mansion's chef was excellent. That was only natural, given that the chef had been personally recruited from the Imperial Household's kitchens.

Even with that being the case, Lortel stuffed the soufflés and vegetables into her mouth with her fork… For anyone who knew what Lortel was normally like, it was an unbelievable scene.

Yennekar felt the same as she looked towards Lortel in astonishment.

"Th-that's…Lortel…?"

Yennekar was bewildered as she watched Lortel sit at the end of the large table, full of energy as she devoured her meal. Since Yennekar was normally not on good terms with her, she wasn't sure how to talk to her.

"She became like this after getting involved in a struggle for power with other merchants?"

"Yes. From what I learned, this is a curse-type magic called 'Regression.' It's not high-ranking magic, and it isn't all that practical, as the conditions to use it are strict. The efficiency isn't great either."

"I think I heard of it in magic class as well. It wasn't talked about much as it requires many magic-related materials and environmental requirements to cast… Was there any reason for them to use such difficult magic?"

"I'm not sure… What is certain is that Lortel has been completely incapacitated. She's acting completely unlike her usual self, and I barely feel any magic power from her. I'm certain that she was attacked by a curse."

Since it was just a curse, the effects wouldn't be permanent. The issue was that it was impossible to know when she would return to her original state.

"I didn't hear the exact details. All I heard was that she was attacked in her carriage."

"I see… Lortel must have been having a hard time… I've heard many stories of merchants quarreling with each other, but I didn't know they could end up like this…"

"Delicious!" shouted Lortel suddenly, the most innocent expression in the world on her face. Her face had become completely bright as she spoke.

I couldn't believe that such a girl could have such an honest expression on her face.

"This is so delicious! I'm so happy…" Lortel cut off with a cough.

"P-please eat slowly."

Lortel had been devouring her food in pure bliss. Yennekar poured some cold water and handed it to her.

Lortel took it and quickly drank it. She then had a large smile on her face as she let out a refreshing noise.

"Thank you! Sister!"

Yennekar fell silent for a moment.

"It's okay if I call you sister, right? You're so kind!"

It was such a bright smile.

After knowing that she always smiled like a snake, deviously planning something… Seeing her now, you could tell just how innocent and pure her smile was.

The difference was terrifying.

Since Yennekar was well aware of how Lortel normally behaved, seeing Lortel act so pure and innocent was like a fatal blow to her.

Lortel suddenly realized she made a mistake, acting anxious and nervous, like a small puppy whimpering when it got into trouble. Seeing that, Yennekar's strange protective instincts started to take over.

"Ahh, I-I apologize…Baroness… I was rude… I-I apologize…for what I said…"

Lortel put down her fork as she lowered her head in shame. Yennekar was silent as she held her chest as if she had been shot.

No matter how she felt, at that moment Lortel's appearance was undeniably cute and innocent. Seeing such a young child look sad ate away at her heart.

Yennekar took a deep breath and slowly stood up from her seat, holding Lortel's hands.

"I-it's alright…" Her pupils trembled as she tried to speak to her calmly. "I-it's okay… You…can call me sister…"

Is that really okay, Yennekar…?

Is that…really okay…?

* * *

"Yeah, it looks like she was struck by curse magic. More than anything, her magic power itself has clearly weakened, and traces of forced regression due to external factors are evident."

There were quite a few people I could consult with about magic, but the one closest to me happened to be an expert.

At the moment, because of the recoil of Professor Glast's Phoenix Ring, she couldn't use magic much herself. Still, compared to even professors, she was somehow who held an incredible amount of knowledge in the field.

After asking where Lucy was, I found her resting in the garden of Rothstaylor Mansion. She looked as if she had run out to the bench after being harassed by the maids.

Since it had been a while since we had last seen each other, her face visibly brightened the moment our eyes met. I walked over to her as she kicked her feet in the air. It was a relief to see that she was in good health.

"If it really is the 'Regression' curse, the best thing to do is just wait. I don't think it will take all that long. The issue is what the other person's intentions are…"

"That's what I'm also worried about."

If Slogg's plan was to neutralize Lortel, it worked. However, if that were the case, it was clear that he would take drastic action now that Lortel was unable to do anything.

"Chief Secretary Lienna said she would somehow manage things, but I don't think she can take on that old veteran merchant alone. Even Lortel herself is wary of him…"

"Then shouldn't you do something yourself? As for me… I can't even use magic, so there's nothing I can do to help…"

"I didn't come to ask you for help. I just want you to keep taking care of yourself and working hard to restore your magic power."

Lucy smiled as she looked over the garden. Lortel was running around with the dogs the servants were raising. She really looked like a young, innocent child. Like Yennekar, Lucy broke out in a cold sweat seeing such an unusual sight.

"It's shocking to see it in person."

"Yeah… Do you know anything more about the 'Regression' curse? Whether it's a way to speed up the process or any potential after-effects…?"

"Ummm… To be honest, it's not an efficient sort of magic. There are too many things to prepare, and there are many conditions to use it… Though, I'm sure you know such basic details already…"

Lucy yawned as she rubbed her eyes and buried her head in my lap. She waved her feet in the air, telling me that there was nothing we could do at the moment.

"The good news is that with time, she will return to normal. She's thankfully only acting strangely kind. In any case, it doesn't seem like her life is in any danger."

"I also only feel that she's acting strange."

"Anyway, once she returns to normal, all of her memories will come back. Also, all of the memories she's experiencing now won't disappear, so there won't be any major issues…"

What she had just said… I couldn't take it lightly.

Whatever Lortel was experiencing at the moment would be imprinted in her memory even after the curse was lifted.

I watched that bright girl run around the garden with the dogs, only to leap into Bell's arms whenever the woman came near…

Even after she returned to normal, she would remember every single thing she did…

"Right now… She's building up a dark history…"

Lortel ran around with a bright smile on her face. She then looked my way, waving her arms and greeting me warmly.

When we were in the carriage earlier, she struggled to even look at me. However, now she was smiling, openly waving my way. I could clearly see the unique characteristic of being an innocent child.

Then she suddenly fell down on the grass, looking up with tears in her eyes…

Lortel…

What are you going to do after returning to normal…?

I really… don't know what you're going to do…

"When she gets her memories back… If I were her… I would just want to die."

I couldn't say anything to Lucy's blunt response.

* * *

Time continued to pass. In the first place, there wasn't much I could do anyway.

I wasn't capable of going to Oldek and taking care of her business myself, and if I suddenly intervened, it would only raise more suspicion.

Because of that fact, I decided to leave Oldek to Lienna. Of course, that didn't mean I didn't worry. Once things were finished, I felt that I should go and visit Oldek once more.

However, my priority at that moment was to protect Lortel until she recovered… So I asked Bell to look after her as well as she could.

As a result, for five days or so, Lortel continued to spend her time running around Rothstaylor Mansion. Sometimes, I would find her playing with the dogs, rolling around in the garden, or taking a nap under a zelkova tree with Lucy…

Sometimes I even saw Yennekar bathe her, dress her up, and feed her.

She quickly became close with everyone inside the mansion. Even when she was running around the hallways, she always made sure to greet them with a cheerful smile. At some point, it all started to feel natural. She was like a mascot of the mansion with her innocent appearance and bright smile.

"You are a really nice person, Sister Yennekar! When I grow up, I want to become a nice and beautiful person just like you!"

However, the reason I would break out into a cold sweat was because…of the dark history that Lortel continued to build. It was getting to the point where she wouldn't be able to handle it…

"You too, Sister Lucy! I heard that when you were strong, you even fought against the giant Holy Blue Dragon! I want to be a cold and incredible magician just like you!"

Lortel…

Please… stop…

I don't know why… But I can't help but worry about how you're going to handle all of this in the future…

"Me, too! When I grow up… I want to be a princess! A princess who wears nice dresses and lives happily in a palace with a prince!"

Please…

Please…stop…

I really…don't know how you're going to handle this…

* * *

The situation changed around the end of the fifth day.

As I was walking around the mansion, inspecting the working conditions of the servants… Bell rushed over to me and gave me a report.

She pulled out a letter from her pocket and presented it to me with a serious expression on her face.

"A distinguished guest has asked for permission to visit Rothstaylor Mansion. He said that he would like to personally meet with the head of the house, Tanya Rothstaylor, and her older brother, Ed Rothstaylor."

"Who is it?"

Bell looked around before she lowered her voice.

"Slogg Keldricks."

Did he smell something?

The old veteran snake, and current head of the Elte Company, was coming to visit the Rothstaylor Mansion personally.

-x-X-x-

Side Story 14: Two-Arm Scale (5)

"With the head of the Elte Company personally visiting the Rothstaylor Mansion, should I be happy or worried?"

It was often forgotten, but Tanya was actually the head of the house and owner of the grand estate.

If someone with no connection to Tanya wished to meet her, they were expected to request an 'audience' rather than simply setting a time or asking to meet.

However, there were also times when someone held enough authority to brush such pleasantries aside.

As was the case of Slogg Keldricks, who had come to visit Rothstaylor Mansion despite not having any connection with the house beforehand.

Seated on the sofa with his legs crossed and a hand on his chin, he certainly looked like an arrogant and powerful aristocrat.

However, when Tanya was serious, she could also act the same. The way she played with her blonde braid with one hand showed her disinterest in Slogg.

Though, in truth, she had to actually be quite curious as to why Slogg had come to visit.

"It is an honor to meet these two rulers of House Rothstaylor."

Slogg Keldricks bowed his head politely. A number of upper-level employees who came with him knelt down and bowed their heads in unison.

Watching Slogg acting so politely, Tanya was about to say something when…

"Achoo."

…She sneezed.

Silence filled the room for a moment. I quickly glanced over at Slogg. I could tell why Lortel always called him an old fox. Even just from his features, I could tell he was a veteran who had been through it all.

Surviving for decades in Oldek deserved a medal on its own. Even though Oldek had undergone drastic changes over the past years, one thing never changed.

It was a place you could only survive if you stabbed someone in the back before they could do it to you.

The man was a stubborn, cruel, and heartless person, even willing to sell his own family, friends, and lover if necessary.

I leaned back against the wall with my arms crossed. From my standpoint, I didn't need to be polite. Tanya held the highest authority in the room, and I was her older brother.

"I simply came all the way to Rothstaylor Mansion to give you my thanks."

Merchants of Oldek never wasted time. No one believed for a second that he simply came all the way to the mansion for such a reason.

"Oh, my. You're telling quite a funny story, Slogg Celldricks."

"It's Keldricks, Master Tanya."

"Slogg Keldricks."

Bell naturally spoke up to help her.

However, Tanya…could she really retain the highest authority…?

"Was there something for us to be thanked for?"

"One of our key members of the Elte Company, Lortel Kehelland. She is a faithful employee of ours who has helped us in many ways. We heard that she was greatly indebted to House Rothstaylor. Considering the people you introduced her to and the authority you lent her, it's safe to say that in turn, the Elte Company was able to make an astronomical amount of profit."

"I'm glad that merchants of Oldek know the virtue of being grateful, but did you really come all this way just to say that?"

Tanya sat with her legs crossed, arrogantly waving her toes. She had a cold smile on her face, her eyes cold.

"You didn't actually think that I would believe that story now, did you? So, what is the real reason you came here?"

"I heard that a fox was hiding in the mansion."

Slogg had an eerie smile on his face. Tanya responded with a wide smile of her own. Slogg then continued to speak.

"A fox that escapes its cage must be put back inside. Don't you agree?"

"Well, in my eyes you look like an old and sick fox."

"Normally, people like me who make money the way I do have a fox or two. However, it's important to make sure they never run out of their cage."

Slogg straightened his back as he spoke bluntly to Tanya, who continued to look down at him arrogantly.

"If you allow me to put a leash on my fox that ran away, I will repay you tenfold. I will make sure you know just how valuable your assistance was."

"You speak arrogantly, Slogg Kel… Kel… Slogg Keldricks."

It was kind of a strange name.

"Do you think that we, House Rothstaylor, are a mere shelter that protects stray animals?"

"I've heard stories."

"Then you've heard wrong."

"I wish that was the case, but that seems unlikely."

I frowned while listening to the conversation, my arms still crossed.

The fact that he brought so many escorts with him to Rothstaylor Mansion meant that Slogg was already convinced. The whereabouts of Lortel should have been kept strictly secret. The fact that Slogg knew…raised a possibility that I didn't even want to begin to consider.

"I heard about it directly from a capable employee of our company. Chief Secretary Lienna."

Was it from torture or betrayal?

Whatever the case, it didn't leave a good taste in my mouth. The former was more likely than the latter.

Compared to Lortel, who held authority and influence, Lienna was just a mere employee. For someone like Slogg, it must have been much easier to deal with her instead. But how was he going to deal with the aftermath? After all, Secretary Lienna was a rather key member of personnel for the Elte Company.

I stared at Slogg quietly all this time. Then I spoke up.

"You are acting as if you don't care what happens after you become the real head of the company."

"The real head of the company? Young Master Ed Rothstaylor. It seems that you're implying something."

How could such a bright smile seem so evil and eerie? There was certainly something ominous about Slogg's smile. Enough to make me worried.

"Am I not already the real head of the Elte Company?"

* * *

"Brother, this feeling… I might become addicted to it…"

After Slogg said all of that, he simply left. If he was so busy, why did he come and put on such a grand show?

I felt that something was wrong, but there wasn't enough evidence to come to any conclusions yet.

"Wh-what do you think? When I look down, a little bit like this, coldly… Does it feel intimidating? Does it feel harsh?"

"Master. Trying to act in such an arrogant way with such a small figure feels counterproductive."

I quietly applauded Bell, who had managed to say something so harsh and truthful that it almost sounded like an insult.

Tanya sat down on a chair, stretching her legs out and relaxing. She continued to stretch back and forth, letting out strange grunting noises. She then took a deep breath, burying herself in her seat.

"Did he just come here to provoke us? Why did he come all the way here? He could have just written to us…?"

"I'm not sure… Anyway, it seems he knows that we're hiding Lortel."

"But we won't just give her up. Slogg should know that as well, so why did he come so far…"

"…Maybe he just came to check?"

Bell, who listened to our conversation, spoke up and stated her opinion.

As usual, she was behind Tanya with her hands held together politely, standing up straight. The way she spoke politely, with her eyes closed, seemed as if she was worried that her remarks might be out of place.

"Given Lortel's personality, Slogg Keldricks must have assumed that he could find out something if he came here himself. He must have wanted to try to negotiate with her directly, strike a deal, or at least talk with her."

Lortel was the type who always did work herself. If Slogg had something to discuss, she definitely wouldn't send someone else to hear him out in her place.

"However, since Lortel never stepped forward in the end… Slogg must have been able to confirm it."

"…The fact that right now, Lortel is unable to properly do anything… Right?"

"Yes. Otherwise, wouldn't it be difficult to explain why someone as important and busy as him made the time to come here?"

Bell's opinion definitely made sense. Whether he had tortured Lienna or persuaded her… Slogg definitely heard information about Lortel.

However, it would have been difficult for him to do anything without being certain that the information she gave was accurate. If she really was struck by a curse, what the effects of it were, how long she would be incapacitated for…

He wanted to confirm those things with his own eyes because he was someone that was cautious and would only move when he was certain.

Regardless, since Lortel stayed in hiding until the very end, he must have been convinced that Lortel was in critical condition.

"Once he goes back to Oldek, he'll do something right away…"

"I think so as well, brother. From Slogg's point of view… His last shred of worry had now disappeared."

"With things like this, I can't stand still and do nothing. Not only that, but I'm also worried about Secretary Lienna, who I left behind in Oldek."

It was unusual that she, who was Lortel's closest aide, had opened her mouth. She had supported Lortel until the very end, even in the extreme situation where Dune had betrayed her.

Because of that, I knew that Lienna wasn't the type who would so easily open her mouth. Something had definitely happened.

"I think I need to quickly head back to Oldek."

"I know you are strong, but please be careful to not get hurt, brother."

"I won't leave right away… I have a few things to prepare first."

I scratched my chin and thought it over for a minute. Then I said to Tanya, "If we send a letter to the Holy Capital Karpea now, how long do you think it will take to arrive?"

* * *

After coming to a conclusion, I returned to my room. It was difficult to formulate a specific plan, as I had no idea what Slogg was planning.

I wanted to go to Oldek as quickly as possible to figure things out, but I decided it would be better to prepare as much as I could beforehand. So, I went to the storage area and gathered a few different magic engineering devices.

While I was thinking about making something in my private room using the tools I had, I suddenly felt as if something was in my closet.

It seemed Tanya's weird habit wasn't going to be fixed anytime soon.

Though, recently she'd been hiding in the attic or wine cellar instead… She was getting quite unique with her hiding spots. It felt as if hiding in my closet was rather tame for her.

At that point, I felt that her habit had gone past the point of no return, so I started to get accustomed to it… Whatever the case, she was hiding somewhere rather simple this time.

I sighed as I opened the closet door.

"What are you so busy with that you ran away all the way to my…"

However, before I could finish my sentence, I realized that the person in the closet wasn't Tanya.

"Zzzz…"

Lortel was asleep, holding onto her notebook tightly. Now that she was smaller, she could easily hide inside a closet. I knew that she would sometimes play hide and seek with Lucy while running around the mansion.

It must have been hell for Lucy to play with her. However, since there was no one as talented as Lucy when it came to monitoring magic, I had to ask her to watch over Lortel.

Of course, watching such an energetic child was not easy. Without her magic powers, she was dragged around by Lortel every day. At that point, she must have given up trying to find where she was hiding.

It wasn't difficult to imagine Lucy tiredly running down the hallways of the mansion, being dragged by Lortel's hand…. Poor Lucy… It must have been exhausting for her.

Suddenly, I looked down at the large notebook she was holding onto.

Lortel had carried around the notebook even before she had lost her memory. It was natural, as she had a job that required taking lots of notes. Her secretaries could manage her schedule, but there were things she needed to keep track of herself.

Since there were surely many secrets being kept at the top of the company, that made sense.

However, even the new Lortel carried the notebook with her at all times. As if it were a precious treasure, she hid it from others and always read it alone off in a corner.

I wasn't sure if she was struggling to read the characters, as she seemed to be a rather slow reader… Still, the way she stared intently at the book as if she was going to eventually read the whole thing was impressive.

I could have forcefully taken the notebook and read it, but it felt like tearing apart a child's heart. That was why I had left her alone.

However, at that point… I couldn't wait any longer to see what was written inside. There might be an important clue, so I needed to take a quick look while she's sleeping.

However, the moment I reached out my hand to grab the notebook…

"Hnggg?!"

Lortel suddenly woke up the moment I was about to take the notebook. As if her sixth sense had activated. She wiped the saliva from the corners of her mouth. She clasped the notebook tightly with her opposite hand, crawling further into the closet.

Behind the shirts and coats hanging in the closet, I could see Lortel's blushing face.

"No! No!"

She looked like a kitten that was showing her claws, holding the notebook tightly like that. She growled for a bit. However, upon suddenly remembering who I was, she took a deep breath.

"Ahh! I-I apologize! I-I fell asleep!"

"Yeah. Are you awake now?"

"Y-Yeah… I… I thought I was playing hide-and-seek with Lucy…"

"Yeah, I figured as much. For now, why don't you get out of the closet?"

I was already having a hard time with Tanya, I didn't need Lortel to become a regular visitor to my closet as well.

I reached out my hand towards her. She lowered her gaze, embarrassed, as she slowly put her hand on mine.

I then pulled her out of the closet. I sat her over by the table in my room, then decided it would be good to make a cup of tea. I started to use magic to warm the teapot. Lortel had her hands on her knees, pressing down strongly.

She then struggled to say, "I-I'm sorry… I-I know I wasn't supposed to enter your room without permission… But… While I was running away… I accidentally came in here…"

"I'm not going to scold you, so there's no need to be worried. Have a cup of tea before leaving. I'll keep it a secret from the maids."

"R-really?! Thank you!"

I finished brewing some black tea, and served it to her. I poured a cup for myself as well, sitting on the other side of her.

"Is there anything bothering you while living in this mansion?"

"No! I love it here! Bell, Yennekar, and Lucy! I love them all! Tanya is a bit…scary, though…"

That was surprising.

"But the servants and maids play with me every day, so I never get bored! I'm glad I came here to Rothstaylor Mansion, hehe!"

It felt like Lortel had become a part of our house, always running around the mansion with a smile on her face. Whether she was exploring the mansion by herself with dirt all over her, playing hide and seek with Lucy, or taking a nap on Yennekar's lap…

It felt as if she had already completely become a part of our family in the mansion.

Things had already gone too far to worry about what she would do when she recovered… I was just praying that she would be able to find peace.

"Wow…! Young Master Ed is so good at making tea… It's so yummy… Just like I heard, you really are incredible in everything you do…"

"Like you heard?"

"Uhmm. Hahaha. The servants… Yeah, what the servants often say…!"

Lortel picked up the teacup with her small hands and took a sip.

"Warm tea helps calm the mind and relax the body. I made this for you because I think I frightened you earlier. So, please relax and enjoy the drink."

"A-ah… Thank you…"

When I felt things had become much more comfortable and at ease, I slowly closed my eyes and gathered my magic power.

In her current state, Lortel was unable to feel any sort of magic power, nor would she be able to resist. Not only that, it wasn't regular magic power… It was Celestial Magic power, which was even more special and hard to resist.

"Maybe because the tea made me relaxed… I'm feeling tired…" Lortel yawned.

As if possessed, Lortel slowly fell asleep at the table. Beside her lay the notebook she had been carrying so dearly.

Looking at Lortel's sleeping face, I slowly reached out and grabbed the notebook. The notebook she carried with her so dearly… Opening it was a matter of necessity, rather than curiosity.

The last note Lortel had written before losing her memory… I needed to check what it was.

Honestly, it wasn't some form of self-justification. It was a real and acceptable reason…

The notebook was worn out after being kept so close and cherished for so long… Looking at it, I had a strange feeling rising in me.It felt… As if I were about to do something really bad.

Still, it couldn't be helped.