In a World of Reversed Chastity, I Strive to Become an Honorable Male Knight, but Lustful Women Keep Targeting My Body - 268

Chapter 268: The Kukkoro Male Knight and the Widow Elf 2

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Elves liked drinking one-on-one. This rule apparently applied to Lady Vanka as well. She agreed to a private meeting more readily than I’d expected, which honestly came as a relief. That said, this was a settlement of barbarian elves, and my counterpart was considered the ringleader of the hardliners. Naturally, there was no way we could shut ourselves away in a private room, just the two of us. With no other choice, we set up a makeshift venue behind the Senate, bringing out a field command table and folding chairs.

“So, if he favored Rema Wine… might your husband have been from Liseben?”

As I watched the flickering flame of the oil lamp set atop the command table, I opened with that question. There were countless things I wanted to ask Lady Vanka, but I decided to start with what felt most essential. According to what Lady Dalaiya had told me, Lady Vanka had originally been a neutral faction, but after her husband’s death she had begun to repeat increasingly radical rhetoric. Still, that was only hearsay. I needed to directly confirm whether her driving motivation truly was revenge.

“…Yes. That’s right.”

Holding a ceramic wine bottle, Lady Vanka nodded. I had given her three bottles of Rema Wine. It was a typical mass-market wine, not something nobles usually drank (though I personally had no issue guzzling it) but it seemed to be more precious to her than anything else. Ever since I handed it over, she hadn’t let go of the bottles.

“If you don’t mind, may I ask how the two of you met?”

This was a prime opportunity for information gathering. Leaning forward, I asked. That Lady Vanka was the leader of the hardliners was almost beyond doubt. For accurate analysis, I wanted even the smallest details.

“…Long before you ever came to Liseben, we committed outrages in that land. Plundering food and abducting men. He, too, was one of the victims.”

After thinking for a moment, Lady Vanka spoke with eyes fixed on the distance. Apparently, when settlement in Liseben first began, things were practically a state of war. No doubt there had been many horrific incidents. Still, a victim, huh. That was a surprisingly sympathetic way of framing it. Given that she was said to be the head of the hardliners, I’d imagined a far more rigid elven nationalist mindset.

“Given those circumstances, naturally… when I first met him, he was in truly terrible shape. He had been abused by multiple elven soldiers, left hollow, like an empty shell.”

“……”

Yeah. That was an all-too-familiar story. The enemy were barbarian elves. It wasn’t hard to imagine how those brutal people treated captured men. He must have suffered terribly.

“I had seen similar scenes many times before. But that time alone… I simply couldn’t endure it. Almost reflexively, I cut down those wretches and took him under my protection.”

Wow, some extremely dangerous words just came out so casually. Even if she appeared refined—no, ladylike—Lady Vanka was still very much a fearsome elven warrior. A truly terrifying woman. And sitting beside me, Sonia was nodding along with an expression that practically said “I know exactly what you mean.” Lady Vanka was one thing, but Sonia too?

Why are all the women around me like this? Well, whatever. I guess it’s fine.

“At the time, he was in dreadful condition, but as I cared for him, he gradually recovered. Eventually, we were married…”

After saying that much, she drained the wine from her cup. Incidentally, it wasn’t Rema Wine, but a different brand. It seemed Lady Vanka intended to offer the Rema Wine at her husband’s grave, as she hadn’t touched the bottles I’d given her at all.

“Hypocrisy. Deceit. Self-satisfaction. If I had truly cared for him, I should have sent him back to Liseben. He said so many times that he wanted to return to his homeland and yet, because I refused to let him go, it all ended like this…!”

Her grip tightened around the wine cup. I let out a quiet breath and drank some hot water. I couldn’t afford to get any more drunk in enemy territory, so I’d prepared hot water instead but for swallowing a story like this, hot water was woefully inadequate. I found myself wanting strong distilled spirits.

“From your perspective, I must look utterly foolish. I lost the man I loved most through my own actions, then surrendered myself to petty revenge. On top of that, I’ve brought trouble upon Liseben once again.”

“As a public official, I cannot condone your actions. Our goal is to bring peace, stability, and prosperity to Liseben. And you are gathering lawless elements and worsening Liseben’s security. That is unforgivable.”

Those words came from Sonia. She let her gaze wander with an unreadable expression, then released a small sigh.

“…However, speaking as a private individual, I do feel like cheering you on. If I were placed in your position, I’m sure I would go mad in much the same way.”

Those words carried an intense sense of sincerity. This was probably Sonia’s true feelings. At the end of the day, she was someone with a very deep well of compassion.

Honestly, the man who ends up marrying Sonia will be a lucky one.

“…I see. Hearing that does lighten my heart, just a little.”

After replying with a smile that looked painfully tight, Lady Vanka poured herself another cup of wine by hand.

“However, that is precisely why I must apologize. Since your goal is to bring peace to this land, I cannot help but stand as your enemy.”

“Is a resolution through dialogue truly impossible?”

“It is impossible. My reason for existing now is solely to uphold his dying wish. That alone gives meaning to the shameful life I continue to live. I cannot allow food to be given to those people…”

“…That is deeply regrettable.”

Lady Vanka’s resolve seemed unshakable. Persuasion was impossible. I sighed and rummaged through my pouch, uncorking the liquor flask I found and pouring its contents down my throat. The harsh sting of alcohol and the raw, grassy bite peculiar to young whiskey shook my brain like a stimulant.

“This is my final warning, Blondin-dono. Do not involve yourself with the elves. I will settle this matter myself. It will not take long. After everything is over, you may calmly take possession of this peninsula.”

“So you intend to burn the elven people themselves to ash as fuel for your revenge…”

I muttered that under my breath. Wearing a ghastly smile, Lady Vanka nodded. No matter the circumstances, that was not an acceptable way of thinking. Perhaps it would be better to kill her here and now. But if I did that, we would undoubtedly plunge straight into war with the “New.” That was unacceptable. Even if we coordinated with the “Legitimate” side, we might manage to defeat the “New,” but there would be no small amount of damage on our side as well. My goal was the development of Liseben. From a strategic standpoint, the moment a full-scale war broke out, it would already be a loss.

“…I’ve had a bit too much to drink. Let’s call it a night here.”

Saying that, I stood up. Any further deep discussion would only widen the rift between us. For today, this was a withdrawal. As long as our interests fundamentally conflicted, hostility with Lady Vanka was unavoidable. But even meaningless talks could buy time. No matter how stubborn the opponent, I couldn’t afford to close off the path of dialogue.

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