Chapter 229: The Straight-Laced Viscountess and a Serious Discussion

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“Do you have a moment, Gilberto?”

As I, Gilberto Prevost, was leaving my lord’s office, Sonia-sama suddenly called out to me as she hurried after me. Lately, Sonia-sama had started calling me by my name without honorifics. It wasn’t that she was treating me disrespectfully. Rather, her attitude felt casual, almost like that of a friend, so it wasn’t necessarily unpleasant… Though still somewhat awkward.

“What is it, Sonia-sama?”

“No, it’s nothing serious… I was thinking we could have lunch together. Just the two of us.”

“…”

I couldn’t help but pull a sour expression. I didn’t mind having lunch together, but the phrase “just the two of us” was the problem. That meant she wanted to talk about something that couldn’t be discussed where others might overhear. If it were a matter of military secrecy, that would be one thing but in reality, it was nothing more than lewd talk.

Ever since that incident with the photos… Well, since that happened, Sonia-sama had me completely at her mercy. It wasn’t like she was blackmailing me or anything, but… When she brought up obscene topics, it was hard to refuse.

“…Very well. I understand.”

“Honestly, you should just be honest with yourself already.”

“…”

Faced with Sonia-sama’s sly grin, I let out a deep sigh.

“…Well then, before we get to the frivolous talk, shall we have a serious discussion?”

Ten minutes later, the two of us were in a small reception room inside the lord’s mansion. If we were eating, it would normally make sense to go to the dining hall, but that place was always crowded. Lately, even those Elfenia people had been wandering around. It was hardly suitable for confidential discussions.

“When you say a serious discussion, do you mean the elves?”

At present, that was the biggest concern among the Liseben leadership. I immediately understood.

“Yes. The elves are no longer in a position where they can recover on their own. Since we can’t simply ignore them, we’ll have to get involved to some extent, but…”

Sonia-sama spoke with a troubled expression, then poked at the food on the table with her fork. Today’s lunch was roast chicken, far more lavish than usual. Apparently it was Al-sama’s request, though I didn’t know why. Was it some kind of anniversary…?

“Even if we do get involved, finding the right balance is difficult. Right now we’re moving toward absorbing the ‘Legitimate’ faction into ours but… We still don’t really know whether those people can be trusted.”

“To us, the elves are almost entirely unknown. Even though they’re a dangerous group, the people of the Holy Empire—whose capabilities we understand to some degree—are much easier to deal with.”

In fact, the first time I ever met an elf directly was when a liaison from the so-called New Elfenia Empire appeared. As for their rival, the Legitimate Elfenia Empire, I had only met crow and sparrow-type birdfolk so far. Trusting elves wholeheartedly under these circumstances was simply impossible.

That said, it did seem to be true that elves and birdfolk were exceptionally capable warriors. I could understand Al-sama’s policy of avoiding combat whenever possible. After all, if it came to fighting, the ones placed directly in harm’s way would be my former subordinates. I couldn’t bring myself to actively wish for war.

“That’s true. Things are much better than they were for a time, but we still can’t deny the lack of information. Whether we make friends with them or oppose them, we need to learn far more about elves and birdfolk.”

Having said that, Sonia-sama brought the roast chicken to her mouth. As expected of a direct descendant of a high-ranking noble, her movements were exceptionally refined. Even though I was from a branch of a ducal house, she was in a completely different league from someone like me, a mere viscountess.

“Depending on how the next negotiations with the ‘New’ go… There will likely be a second meeting with Lady Orphan of the ‘Legitimate’ before long. When that happens, I want you to attend Al-sama in my stead. You should see an elven village with your own eyes at least once. As they say, ‘Know the enemy and know yourself, and you need not fear a hundred battles.’”

The saying about a hundred battles was familiar to me. It was a phrase our lord often used in his regular military studies lectures.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity, but… Is it really all right? To entrust such an important matter to someone like me?”

“It’s precisely because it’s you that I want to entrust it to you. You’re the only one who could take my place if something were to happen to me. I trust you, my friend.”

“…Understood.”

This was the part I thought was truly unfair. Both Al-sama and Sonia-sama were masters at winning people’s hearts.

“Anyway, let’s work together and bring this elf issue to a close as soon as possible. I hate to burden Al-sama any further.”

“Yes, I agree.”

Lately, our lord had seemed extremely busy—sending letters everywhere, meeting with influential figures inside and outside Liseben, interrogating prisoners… While Al-sama was certainly an outstanding knight, he was still only hume. I couldn’t help but worry that he might overwork himself and fall ill.

“These days, Al-sama doesn’t even have time to personally train the soldiers.”

“…I don’t quite understand… What’s the problem with that? I mean, I do agree that training directly under our lord would certainly be an invaluable experience for the soldiers.”

“There’s no subject more enticing than Al-sama training the troops while drenched in sweat. The photo opportunities are just…”

Sonia-sama sighed wistfully, but I couldn’t help feeling exasperated. At a time like this, and she was talking about photo opportunities. I had told her countless times to stop taking secret photographs, but she showed no sign of changing.

“Sonia-sama, I’ve told you again and again…”

“What’s wrong with it? It’s just a candid daily shot!”

Sonia-sama protested indignantly.

“Daily or not, every single photo you take somehow ends up obscene!”

“That’s wrong! My photos aren’t obscene! Al-sama himself is obscene!”

“It’s not our lord who’s obscene! It’s your eyes and your mind.”

“You’re just as bad, you closet pervert!”

“I don’t want to hear that from someone who’s openly perverted whenever Al-sama isn’t around!”

…We were supposed to be having a serious discussion, and yet it always ended up like this. That was exactly why I hated being alone with her.

“There’s no way Al-sama isn’t obscene! Just the other day, he was wandering around the mansion after a bath wearing nothing but his undergarments! If that’s not obscene, what is!?”

“T-that was definitely obscene, yes, but…”

“By the way, I still have the photos I took then… Do you want them?”

“………………I-I do.”

Well, even when we fought, we always made up quickly. Lately, I felt like Sonia-sama’s lewdness was rubbing off on me. 

They say you become like the company you keep… Perhaps that applies to perversion as well…

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