The Case of Being Reincarnated as a Noble in a World with a Skewed Gender Ratio - 14-15

Chapter 14: Side Story: First Time Feeling This Way

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I had been feeling strange lately. Because.. El-kun, he… He praised me a lot during my birthday celebration. Just remembering it was enough to make my cheeks grow warm and my heart beat faster. It felt different from when Father praised me. I didn’t know why. 

The day after my birthday celebration, I heard El-kun would be returning to his territory, so I went to Clara-san, the Prime Minister, for advice. I told her that I wanted to see El-kun one more time before he returned to his territory. However, I had a feeling if I expressed this desire of mine to Father, he would definitely say no.

After that, Clara-san prepared the guards to escort me and she even accompanied me to meet El-kun herself.

Clara-san is so kind!

And so, we went to the inn where El-kun was staying. When we arrived there, he was just about to leave. 

“Ah, I’m glad we made it in time… El-kun.”

“Your Highness? Why are you here?!”

El-kun was really surprised. It seemed he didn’t expect I’d come here.

Keep this a secret, but I think El-kun looks really cute when he’s surprised.

That being said, being called ‘Your Highness’ by El-kun felt strange… I didn’t know how to describe it, but it made me feel distant with him. I didn’t like it. Hence why, I closed the distance between us and said to his face. 

“Tia.”

“Hm?”

“I want you to call me Tia.”

“I… I’m afraid that’s not possible…”

“It’s fine, El-dono. Her Highness personally asks you to, so I’m sure it’ll be fine. (Besides, either El-dono or Lance-dono will become Her Highness-…)

Nice assist! Good job, Clara-san! Clara-san is so dependable, just like usual~

“So.. Please?”

“Okay… Tia.”

Thump… Thump thump…

There it was again. My… Heart? My chest? I didn’t know how to describe it, but my heart was beating so fast. The rhythm felt pleasant though, like the ringing of a bell. Just hearing my name coming out of his mouth was enough to make me feel happy.

“So-So… When will you come to the Royal Capital again?”

“Well, the capital is a bit far from my house so… I’m not really sure either?”

Just the mere thought of being unable to meet him for a while was enough to make me cry. 

El-kun gently wiped the tears away with his right index finger and patted my head tenderly. The places he touched felt eerily warm. 

“…I’ll try to come to the capital as often as I can, so don’t cry, Tia.”

“Re-Really?”

“I promise!”

“…Okay then. It’s a promise.”

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And then, El-kun returned to his territory. I couldn’t stop thinking about him after he left. What had gotten into me really? When I asked Clara-san, she said, “That’s something you’ll come to understand in due time… Oh, but it might be best not to mention any of this to His Majesty.”

I miss him… El-kun…

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“Prime Minister…”

“…Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Don’t you think my Tia has been acting strange ever since that boy tried to woo her?”

“Well… I don’t think he was trying to woo her or anything…”

“The way he talked with my Tia… Isn’t that how you flirt with girls at the tavern?”

“Your Majesty… Please keep in mind that perhaps in the future, El-dono or Lance-dono might be the one to…”

“What is it….? What were you trying to say again….???”

“No, it’s nothing. I didn’t say anything. None. Not at all. That being said… Weren’t you the one that has been eagerly waiting for those boys to come to the capital?”

“…Fetch me the spear I used when I was young.”

“If it’s a spear you’re looking for, don’t you already have one between your legs? Albeit that spear is already old and rusty…”

“Prime Minister, don’t you think your words are becoming more venomous with each passing day?”

“I believe that’s just your imagination, Your Majesty.”

“Arghhh!! I’m, like, so annoyed right now!”

“….Your Majesty, is there any meaning to act like that, considering your old age?”

“…Forget it.”

＊＊＊

~Right after Tia arrived at El’s inn~

“..Is that… Her Highness…? And the other person is… Is that El?”

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T/N: Rusty and old spearrr (҂ ꒦ິヮ꒦ິ)

Chapter 15: Side Story: The Girl Rumored to Be From a Family of Vampires

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On our way back home from the capital, we stayed the night in a village governed by an elderly man. The villagers affectionately call this elderly man Mayor Seleen. I listened many stories of Mayor Seleen’s adventure when he was young. It seemed he had traveled to many places and among his story, the one that piqued my interest the most was about spices. Why? Because the world of cuisine in this world was too simplistic. The dishes in the Royal Place were certainly delicious, but there wasn’t many variety in the seasonings. Sure, they had salt and pepper in here, but I had never tasted soy sauce or miso paste since coming to this world. At first, I thought those exotic spices might be available in other regions, but it seemed… Those kind of spices simply didn’t exist in this world. 

“I’m afraid I don’t have much knowledge about it…”

“No, your story has been very informative. Thank you very much!”

“But still, El-kun is really mature for a three year old, huh? You’re totally different from when I was young.”

“No, that’s not true…”

“Well, it seems El-kun is interested in cooking. If I remember something from my past, I will be sure to write you a letter.”

“Thank you!”

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After I finished talking with Mayor Seleen, I returned to the inn while enjoying the tranquil mood of the village. Rural villages like this had a nostalgic charm that I really liked and the scenery was really beautiful too..

“El-sama, are you interested in cooking-aru?”

The one that asked me was our maid, Rinrin. She had her hair styled into two space buns. This kind of hairstyle really suited her. If she were to wear a cheongsam, she’d look just like a character from a certain fighting game. 

“I’m just curious about a lot of things. That’s all.”

“Even though El-sama is only 3 years old… How impressive-aru…”

I’m already a high school boy on the inside though… 

And so, while I was talking about trivial stuff with Rinrin…

“Move it already!”

An angry shout shattered the peaceful feeling, reaching into my ears. I turned my gaze toward the direction of the voice and there, I saw a well-dressed woman and a pale, slender girl with white hair in tattered clothes. The pale girl looked like she was around my age.

“Good grief… I came here to buy stuff, only to end up with this kind of goods… Come on! Hurry up or the sun will set soon!”

“…Yes.”

“That’s…”

“…A slave-aru… El-sama, I think we shouldn’t linger here-aru.”

Right. Of course the slave system existed in this kind of world. Slaves in this world wore iron collars around their neck. In fact, I had seen them occasionally in the capital.

“That woman is probably a slave trader-aru. El-sama, we need to leave this place quickly…”

“…Ah, ye-yeah…”

Grabbing my hand, Rinrin tried to lead me away, but…

“Arghh! Damn it! Do I need to whip you again for you to understand?!”

I slowly pulled my hand from Rinrin’s grasp and dashed toward the slave trader. 

“Huh? El-sama?!”

“Wait a minute!”

“…What is it? Is there something you need from us?”

The woman’s gaze lingered all over me, like she was appraising me. 

“You must be the child of a noble… But you know, a child like you should stay away from this kind of thing.”

“….Who is that child?”

“I don’t think there’s no point in asking that question, but… This child is my merchandise.”

Merchandise… Indeed. Her words were normal in this world. After all, in a world with a slave system like this, there was no way I could save every slave. I read in the book that slavery was necessary for the industry, mainly for labor, especially in a developing territory like this. I knew… I knew why they needed to have a slave. I knew this was just how this world was, but…

“I want to buy that child.”

The moment I locked eyes with that girl, I knew. I knew I couldn’t possibly leave her be. 

“You want to buy her..? You…?”

“El-sama?!”

“…El… El… Don’t tell me, you’re Duchess Altair’s-?!”

“Do you know about me and my mother?”

“Of course… Information is the lifeline of merchants like us… But, are you really going to buy this girl? Pardon me for asking, but El-sama… Do you have the money to buy her?”

“…How much?”

“This little one comes with an interesting backstory, so there will be an extra price for her…”

Interesting backstory?”

“El-sama, let’s go back-aru…”

“…What do you mean by an interesting backstory?”

“Her family is known as the vampire family. People find her background to be unsettling and refuse to buy her. That’s why I decided to buy her. She was cheap after all. We’re on our way back now, but… Including the commission fees and miscellaneous expenses, the total will be about this much, I suppose?”

The slave trader extended her palm to us and raised three fingers. 

“El-sama, she’s ripping us off! Sure, that girl is cheaper than a normal slave, but to ask for that price with that ominous background…”

“Please don’t misunderstand… I’m only asking you three times the usual price because I’m being extra generous, you know? It’s a service since you’re a first time customer.”

“Not 3 golds but three times than the normal price-aru?! El-sama, let’s go back now! I feel sorry for that child, but…”

“I will buy her.”

“”What?!””

Rinrin was so surprised that her voice ended up harmonizing with the female slave trader. 

No, but, why is the slave trader also surprised?

“…Really?”

“Yeah. Rinrin, I’m sorry but can you please contact my mother to ask her for money? I will definitely pay the money back. Don’t worry. I already have a business plan in mind.”

“Bu-But…”

“I see… Then how about this. You don’t need to pay me any money, but…El-sama, I would like to hear about this plan of yours. In fact, I’d love to do business with you.”

To make the plan I had come to fruition, I required manpower and as a slave trader, she definitely had the connections and could easily solve my labor shortage issue.

“Are you really okay with just that? Just for your information, I need someone with both influence and manpower..”

“Yes. I take it we have an agreement then? I’m sorry for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Wuxian. As you can see, I have a slave trading business. It’s a pleasure to meet you, El-sama.”

“Then, Wuxian-san, pleased to work with you.”

“Please, you can just call me Wuxian.”

“….Wuxian then. Wuxian, are you going back home after this?”

“Yes. There’s a town called Kanrinsen beyond the capital. I have a shop in that town…”

“Then, once you’re more prepared, I want you to come meet me. I need someone dexterous and good at cooking…”

“Understood. I will start preparing right away. Now then, I shall take my leave now. Leile, this boy here will be your new master. Understand?”

“Understood.”

“Well then, El-sama, until we meet again…”

After that, Wuxian quickly left. And so, I took in a slave for the first time since coming to this world.

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