31 – Am I Going Mad?

“Is she not completely out of her mind.”

You wouldn’t think to say something like that in a loud place.

But spoken so plainly in the reception room, with so few people, it seemed Dale’s curse reached Elysia’s ears.

“…”

The moment she heard those words, Elysia stilled her expression and fixed Dale with a stare.

But judging it would derail the subject if she reacted to Dale, she said nothing of it and calmly continued.

“Seeing as Dale tried to kill you… it stands to reason your position, Damian, would become considerably more precarious if Dale became the hero.”

She spoke those words to me with an expression of such earnest concern, as if truly worried about me.

The performance was so natural, it felt as though she meant it.

But knowing the motivations behind Elysia’s actions, I felt little in the way of emotion.

“So, what’s the reason for saying that?”

“There is no reason. It’s simply that I regret the sin I committed against you, and I’m telling you.”

A hollow laugh nearly escaped my lips, but I forced myself to suppress it and continued.

“Of course you would.”

I deliberately baited her, trying to provoke her, but.

It seemed Elysia intended to continue to push forward with her attempts to undo the engagement, feigning regret.

She simply smiled apologetically, placed a hand over her heart, and spoke earnestly.

“Like the countless things you have done for me, I intend to return what little I can to help you.”

“…”

“So if, even a little, I am able to help, could you turn to me, just once?”

Whether intentional or not, it was remarkably similar to something I had said to Elysia in the past.

The moment I heard those words, I wanted to retort, ‘Have you ever once turned to me?’

‘But with Dale now on my side…’

I judged that proceeding further with this matter could bring about even greater gains.

So I worked to suppress my rising emotions and nodded.

“I’ll consider it.”

“Thank you. Then… I’ll visit you again tomorrow.”

As I watched Elysia leave the reception room directly after saying those words, a hollow laugh escaped me.

Behind me, Dale… no, Daesoon, gritted her teeth and repeated what she had said earlier.

“Is she not truly mad?”

*

Dale, appearing genuinely wronged by something he’d overheard, relayed Alicia’s words to me.

“That crazy b*tch kept goading me, saying everything was Damian’s fault, that I had to kill him. And now what? Ha!”

Perhaps fueled by the storm raging in his head, Dale continued to spew a torrent of colorful curses.

I let Dale, who was currently invoking the offspring of every animal known to man, carry on as I wrestled with my thoughts.

I realized the time had come to finally tie off all the loose ends.

As I pondered how to resolve things, Dale took a deep breath and turned to me.

“…So what the hell is going on? Explain it to me.”

I hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to tell him.

But since he was bound to me by a soul contract, betrayal was impossible. I decided to give him a simplified version of the situation.

“Alicia’s goal is to drag me back north and regain her…warmth.”

“What? Warmth? You don’t mean the Solar Spirit? Why is that with you?”

“I came across it, by chance.”

“…?”

I chuckled at Dale’s bewildered expression and continued.

“Anyway, Alicia intends to turn you, who holds a grudge against me, into a hero and throw you at me.”

I explained how she’d cooperated with me, gained my trust, and was now subtly trying to undo our broken engagement.

Dale, realizing he’d been played, covered his face with his hands.

“…Ha. This is… different from what I expected.”

‘Expected’ probably referred to the original story.

I smiled faintly at Dale, who no longer seemed to bother hiding his knowledge, and addressed Liana, who was nearby, savoring her tea.

“So, Alicia’s trying to manipulate me somehow, and the northern delegation is drawing out the settlement negotiations for as long as possible. Right?”

“Correct. Dragging it out allows for the hero initiation ceremony and creates a common enemy that Damian will perceive as a threat. Delaying is considered strategically advantageous, so they’ll prolong the process as much as possible.”

Upon hearing her words, I paused, considering, then stated concisely.

“So, to stick it to Alicia, we need to force them to finalize the divorce proceedings quickly, then?”

Liana startled at my words, then glanced at me, blinking.

Her expression seemed to say, ‘What are you implying, Damian?’ I gave her a gentle smile.

*

Having resolved to expedite the divorce, I immediately rose to my feet and headed towards Damian’s mother, Eleanor Carsaril.

Although the head butler was handling the divorce negotiations, I would make sure.

Since all decision-making power rested with Damian’s mother, I sought out Eleanor Carsaril, not the head butler.

“Damian, since you’re here, have a meal before you leave. Seeing your cheeks so hollowed from the broken engagement, it truly tugs at the heart.”

Damian’s mother greeted me with remarkable warmth, launching into various topics.

“I heard there were… issues during the initial meeting.”

“Yes.”

“Your mother has rectified everything that occurred then. There’s absolutely no need to worry, so don’t trouble your mind over it.”

At those words, I offered a self-conscious smile.

Whether it was the favor directed at Damian, not me, or simply that the kindness of others still felt foreign, I couldn’t say.

Whatever the reason, finding it difficult to adjust, I awkwardly smiled. Damian’s mother then inquired about the reason for my visit.

“So, won’t you tell this old mother the reason you came to see me?”

It seemed discourteous to be so blunt.

Initially, I softened the blow, saying I had simply come to inquire after her well-being.

“Huhu, it seems you’ve learned some amusing things from your time in the North. No need to beat around the bush, speak freely, without feeling burdened.”

Her words implied I should stop with the nonsense and get to the point. I had no choice but to state my true purpose.

“I wish to conclude the annulment ceremony as swiftly as possible.”

Unlike engagements between families of unknown lineage, those between so-called prestigious houses involved contracts entwined with all sorts of vested interests.

Ordinarily, the annulment ceremony was said to drag on for a considerable length of time.

‘Therefore, even if I request a swift conclusion, it might be impossible.’

Nevertheless, I asked for two reasons: to understand what problems, if any, were causing the delay, and to ascertain a rough timeline for its completion.

And so, posing the question with entirely different intentions.

“So be it.”

Damian’s mother nodded, seemingly unconcerned, and placed food onto my plate.

“…?”

“The agreements can be pursued after the annulment is concluded, so there shouldn’t be a significant issue. Therefore, we shall proceed with the annulment ceremony first, and then continue with the remaining agreements.”

Caught off guard by her unexpected response, a moment of bewilderment washed over me.

But sensing I could unravel the tangled thread entirely if I seized this opportunity, I nodded.

“… Thank you.”

“Huhu, this much is hardly difficult. In about a week, everything should be resolved, and the annulment ceremony can be completed. Wait just a little longer.”

“Yes.”

“That’s right, now eat this as well.”

I chewed, cramming another mouthful of food into my mouth, lost in thought about how to use this situation to give Elysia a grand middle finger before departing.

*

To be honest, when I declared the engagement broken and left the North, I felt more weariness than a thirst for revenge.

The emotion that eclipsed all others was the desire to never be entangled again.

But then Elysia, having deliberately approached me for the sake of the North, had ‘commissioned Dale to have me killed’.

And the constant act of feigning sympathy, while secretly only thinking of using me, now filled me with more irritation than resignation.

So, I figured it was time to return the favor in kind.

I told my companions the story I had heard earlier.

Riana, who was still clinging to my lodgings, asked me a question in a slightly perplexed voice.

“Does that mean you plan to return to your family home immediately?”

She was probably wondering if I would leave and make it difficult to help the Saintess.

I shook my head lightly in response, reassuring Riana.

“No. I plan to stay here for a while since I need to help the Saintess.”

“That’s a relief.”

Even if I managed to shake off Elysia, the Order and the Black Magician would have their sights set on the Carsaril family and me, so it was best to cherish my relationships with the Saintess and Riana.

And above all, I had received favors, so it was only right to repay them in kind.

Anyway, with the determination to finish what I needed to do and then leave, I spoke to Riana.

“So, there’s something I want to do.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

Riana, still sipping her tea, nodded, and I asked her a somewhat serious question.

“What if, the moment Dale is appointed as a hero, we declare that Elysia conspired with the Black Magician and caused the rift?”

Hearing those words, Riana smiled brightly and replied.

“Are you insane?”