69 – The Great Forest Inspection Team
And so, I realized that my trip to the Great Forest
was confirmed regardless of my own will.
As I was packing my bags to go to the Great Forest,
a new visitor arrived.
A knock on the door of my dormitory room.
At first, he tried to ignore it,
but the sound persisted, unrelenting.
Weary of the incessant ringing, he opened the door,
and a woman he’d never seen before stood on the stoop.
Dressed in a maid’s uniform much like Ella’s,
a maid with long, flowing black hair.
And behind her, stood a man,
obviously a young master from a wealthy family.
A likeable face, a shock of green hair,
a handsome fellow who approached him,
while the maid who had been knocking
moved to his side, hands clasped politely.
“You are the, uh… Jennison who
captured the heart of the Elf Princess, yes?”
“I am not.”
Seeing him utter such an absurd denial,
he went to close the door,
but, “Please, hold a moment.”
Before he could react, the maid had slipped her hand
inside, preventing him.
He tried to shut it with a little more force,
but, “If I have been a bother,
I apologize. My mistake.”
“..It’s nothing.”
Faced with such a direct apology,
he couldn’t simply ignore it and retreat inside.
The man gave an awkward smile,
continuously stroking his chin.
“Well, no need for drawn-out introductions, I suppose.
I am Robert, leading the delegation for this Great Forest inspection.”
“….”
“For your information, I am not one of the Four Great Houses…
but I *am* the eldest son of the Blen Duchy.”
“..Is that so.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
He extended a hand with that, and
reluctantly, Jennison had to take it.
Even if not one of the Four Great Houses,
one could not simply dismiss a Duke’s family.
“..Jennison.”
“Haha, weren’t you saying no just a moment ago?”
“….”
“Acceptable. Coming here was merely a formality, you see.”
“A form…ality?”
The fellow spoke with that smile fixed on his face,
Then tightened his grip on my hand.
Enough that a weaker soul
Would have, perhaps, let out a quiet whimper.
“Yes, a greeting.”
“…”
“I don’t know *why* someone like the Elven Queen
Would endorse you…”
“…”
“But we have no desire to provoke any issues
Within the Great Forest.”
“..Is that…so.”
“And, you, from our perspective, represent
Quite an unforeseen variable.”
“….”
“You see, your record is… somewhat
Less than stellar, shall we say…”
He said this while once more,
Clenching his fist even tighter around my hand – Robert.
This time, definitively,
Enough to make anyone cry out in pain and wrench their hand away.
Despite the perpetual smile plastered on his face,
The grip was almost brutally forceful,
Yet still, I didn’t so much as utter a sound, which seemed to vex him so he keeps trying.
The strength of his grip grew steadily,
And then I felt him drawing on his mana, as if that would help.
But no matter how hard these whelps try,
They can’t make me cry out in agony.
How long had he been gripping my hand like that?
Finally, it seemed something dawned on him,
As he released my hand himself, shaking his own a few times.
“Ahem…well, I believe you understand
What I’m trying to convey.”
“..In short, you’re reluctantly accepting me, but
I’m to keep quiet and not cause any trouble, is that it?”
“Well, I didn’t quite phrase it that way…
But that’s what it amounts to, I suppose.”
“I shall bear that in mind…”
“..Unlike the rumors, you’re quick to grasp things. I appreciate you listening to my briefing.”
With such a look of surprise,
Robert turned as if the delivery was complete,
Then spoke again.
“Ah, once the inspection preparations are finalized,
I’ll have her inform you.”
“…?”
“There, the woman before you.
Her name is Arno.”
“It’s a pleasure.”
As he spoke, the person he indicated
Was a maid, still expressionless as she stood by his side,
And together they walked leisurely down the hallway.
Left alone, I slammed the dormitory door shut.
Originally, I’d intended to remain in my room
For the entire inspection, so long as I could obtain the Spirit Stone.
Thinking this time I wouldn’t need to get involved,
I leisurely passed the time.
It wasn’t long before the maid I’d just encountered
Knocked on the door again.
*
“Please, consider the well-being of the Empire and the Great Forest in your actions.
I trust in you, Robert Blen.”
“Of course, I won’t tarnish the family’s honor.”
Only after the far from insignificant welcoming ceremony concluded,
Were we able to depart for the Great Forest.
Countless flower petals fell towards Robert.
And a luxurious carriage, quite unfitting for an expedition
To inspect the Great Forest.
Silver-armored knights spread out as if to escort the carriage.
I wondered if it was worth investing so much
In an event that was merely an inspection.
But I quickly suppressed the thought.
There was no need to bring it up.
And besides, I had many other
Things to worry about, for example…
“Young Master, are you feeling unwell?”
“…No, not at all.”
I’m referring to Ella, standing before me, her hands clasped demurely.
Perhaps weary of waiting for me all this time,
this time she insisted on accompanying me, and
I couldn’t shake off Ella as she seized my hand.
It wasn’t as if something terrible would happen in the Great Forest,
and no one would reprimand me for bringing a single attendant.
I permitted it then, but
now I wonder if it was the right decision.
What if, by chance, something did happen?
But as if my worries were unfounded, the carriage headed for the Great Forest
and journeyed comfortably without stopping midway.
Ella did succumb to motion sickness, but
otherwise, truly nothing occurred.
We drove and drove until,
before we knew it, we were approaching the border of the Great Forest,
and from there,
we had to disembark as the carriage could no longer proceed.
Apparently, the wheels would crush the grass and branches.
Someone grumbled in protest,
but there was nothing to be done.
We were the guests, and they were the masters of the Great Forest.
So we descended and walked for quite some time,
and then, accompanied by the presence of others, elves appeared before us.
Among the elves who appeared was, a short while ago,
the woman who had left an unforgettable impression.
“May the blessings of the Great Forest be upon you, I am Silvia, entrusted to guide you,
as you know, the princess of the Elves.”
“Haha, greetings!
I am Robert, representative of the Empire.”
The one approaching her, still expressionless and coldly sharp,
was none other than Robert.
Robert, smiling broadly with an affable grin,
extended his hand for a handshake, but
she did not reciprocate the greeting.
She merely looked around, repeatedly.
“Haha, this is a bit awkward—”
“Where is he?”
“..Pardon?”
Perhaps, for Robert, it was to be an unforgettable
first impression.
*
The eldest son of Duke Blen,
Robert was presently in exceedingly poor spirits.
To be sure, when first selected as the Empire’s representative,
he had been quite pleased.
Even if the four Great Houses all demurred, leaving him
to reluctantly take on the role, so what?
He was still representing the Empire.
Even the addition of an uninvited guest to his entourage,
he could endure.
After all, the fellow was now a vermin, stripped of house and home.
Indeed, he inwardly looked down upon him.
Even though he, a Duke, had to dismount from the carriage
and personally trek through a forest teeming with insects,
he could still bear it.
For upon his return to the Empire, sweet accolades awaited him.
Just as he was beginning to tire of walking,
beauties that could topple kingdoms greeted him.
Watching the elves descend, their long, elaborate hair
cascading down, he caught himself involuntarily swallowing.
And among them, one woman in particular caught his eye –
the princess who had arrived at the academy not long ago.
Having initially heard only rumors of her appearance,
he had assumed them to be exaggerated.
But the rumors, it turned out, did not do her justice;
her mere sight stirred the basest desires.
Her modest breasts ignited a possessive urge within him,
and her frigid demeanor stoked a desire for conquest.
Her refined figure inspired artistic passion,
and even her slender, delicate hands added to her allure.
However, whether she had somehow sensed the lewd
fantasies he was enacting in his mind,
his efforts to make a favorable first impression
were met only with her sharp reticence.
She dismissed him with an air of haughty indifference,
as if his offer of a handshake was of no consequence to her.
And was that all? Sylvia cut off his words, as if
searching for someone else entirely.
The knights behind her shifted uncomfortably, finding
her behavior excessively rude, and he himself
was likewise not pleased. Never before had he
endured such a slight.
But he couldn’t show it.
He was, at best, ‘merely’ of a Ducal house.
She was, in the Empire’s terms, of royal blood, and
a Ducal house could hardly wield power against royalty.
Knowing this better than anyone, Robert
hid his displeasure and smoothly continued.
Besides, he found such haughty demeanor
rather to his liking.
“Haha… you are certainly a very direct person.
Fear not, the one you requested is quite well…”
Once more, striving to make himself agreeable to his listeners,
he approached her with an exceedingly pleasant and affable tone, but
“I asked, where is he?”
“….”
Alas, Sylvia was no ordinary woman.
She continued to coldly ignore him,
still searching for someone.
At this, Robert’s expression soured again, but he
once more forced himself to bear it.
He reminded himself, again and again, that
he represented the Empire.
Undeterred, he wore a smile,
and tried once more to approach her, but
she finally found whatever she was searching for,
and strode directly toward it.
“I’m glad you arrived safely, Jenison.”
“..Lady Sylvia?”
Coming to his senses, he realized
bitter blood trickled from his lip.
He failed to notice the blossoming inferiority.