6. Are you trying to play me?
As outsiders, especially as humans—“unrelated parties”—Kephiel and I didn’t press Adéle about the specific conflicts between the Kingdom of Prulus and the beastmen of the Austro-Hungarian tribe. Instead, after being reminded by the inexplicably smitten elven spy, Miss Nia, we used the excuse of “Adéle, you seem busy, so we’ll take our leave” to exit.
It’s not that I didn’t want to help Adéle, the elven girl who, even after I “ran away from marriage,” still thought to send someone to warn me about Ludwig’s danger. It’s just that… rather than asking aimlessly in the moment and causing Adéle, who was clearly holding back, to fall silent, I preferred to save this “help” for the most opportune time.
And the opportunity came soon.
In a foreign land, as visiting “guests,” Kephiel and I had our itinerary well arranged by the elves. But what was called a “well-arranged” plan felt more like Adéle’s “conspiracy,” as she completely separated us, regardless of our relationship.
As a legitimate fiancée from a prestigious family, how could Kephiel endure being intercepted by some unknown elven little brat?
She could.
After all, I had already informed Kephiel about Adéle’s personality and her attitude towards me during our journey. Although it was a bit lonely to be separated under Adéle’s special instructions, it… also created an opportunity for us, as it was just right.
While I was lost in thought, sounds began to emerge. It was now the night when I was about to rest, and this was the residence Adéle had arranged for me. Naturally… the only person who could appear at this moment was one.
[Click]
After opening the door, Adéle deliberately turned her head to look behind her, confirming that no one had noticed before she tiptoed in. Fortunately, in the script, no one would see her at this moment; otherwise, just this action alone would likely lead to some inexplicable “scandal” for me.
Upon seeing that I hadn’t rested and was instead in a posture of “waiting for you,” Adéle, thinking of her “failed night raid,” quickly found an excuse for her appearance.
“Ah… ah! I’m so tired~ I finally managed to temporarily resolve the mess those beastmen next door stirred up~ and then I thought I hadn’t properly entertained you, so I came right over! Really, I have no other intentions, Ogier~”
—
Let’s just drop it, Miss Adelfe. Your tone while reading just makes your original intention seem even less pure.
I saw Adelfe come up with a stiff and awkward excuse, quickly closing the door and entering the room. After taking off her hat and black military uniform, the little elf midget in a white shirt revealed a “childlike face with large breasts” that could only be seen in elves. However, it should have been me, as a male, who needed to calm down after seeing Adelfe’s appearance, but instead, Adelfe was the one who was most tense!
Looking at the script, I was even more confused. Uncle Zerola’s words weren’t wrong; elves really can wait! Although I hadn’t seen Adelfe since the meeting of nations, this period of waiting hadn’t diminished her original attitude towards me in the slightest.
[Elf Adelfe has a crush on Eukleides!]
[Elf Adelfe wants to steal the bride from Kefir!]
At this moment, Adelfe’s thoughts were all about this. How should I put it? It’s really fitting for her identity, really… tyrannical. However…
“Is that all?”
My tone was slightly lowered, and Adelfe immediately became flustered and trembled.
However… who would have thought that the usually bold and decisive Adelfe would, as a normal elf, have some quirks? For example, right now: Adelfe seemed to enjoy being treated with a strict attitude, simply put, she was a masochist.
“W-what are you talking about?”
This time, Adelfe was even more tense due to her original nervousness, and even her long ears were trembling. Realizing something was off, she tried to escape, no longer caring about “night raiding” me.
“I-I just came to apologize, this morning’s incident with the Prussia Kingdom made you laugh, so… so I’ll just…”
However, I wouldn’t let this rare opportunity slip away.
I reached out and grabbed Adelfe’s arm, watching as the elf’s breathing became rapid.
“Before, when facing conflicts between beasts and elves, you wouldn’t be as cautious as you are now. Instead, you would emphasize how evil the beasts are. But this time, when facing the beasts’ provocation, saying that you might have ‘won over their tribesmen,’ you chose to have the elves investigate in a pretentious manner. Adelfe, I didn’t speak up earlier due to the circumstances, but now I’ll take a bold guess.”
I paused, looking at Adelfe’s face, which had already turned red from panic. “You actually know the inside story, but you don’t dare to tell the other elves, right?”
After all, if the king of the Prussia Kingdom, who has always advocated for opposing beasts, personally met with a beast, this news would be detrimental to Adelfe’s rule, which already has some opposition.
That’s why I didn’t press the issue earlier, but instead waited until now. I knew that Adelfe had intentionally kept me and Kefir apart, so it’s not surprising that she would try to get close to me. Hehe, trying to scheme against me? Bad kids will get spanked. No, no, how did my thoughts become so aggressive just by being with Adelfe?
But it’s not my fault; it’s all because Adelfe’s reaction was too strange!
“A-are you going to use this to threaten me?”
“I won’t! Why would I threaten an ally?”
I quickly pressed down on Adelfe’s small face, erasing her “expectant” expression, which didn’t match her words. I had prepared this opportunity to meet with Adelfe alone, not to threaten her with her secrets and play a game of cat and mouse.
Adelfe showed a “happy” yet “unhappy” expression.
“I-it’s not a problem, I just really did have contact with some ‘beasts.’ As the king of the Prussia Kingdom, especially after dealing with some troublesome elf natives, it’s not suitable for me to be involved with beasts right now.”
It was as I expected; Adelfe was indeed the “person in question.” Her concerns weren’t foolish, just cautious.
“However, the Austro-Hungarian side is making a big fuss about the beasts coming to our side, and I’m hesitating about what to do… that’s all.”
At the same time, the script appeared.
[Adelfe is hesitating about how to handle the Austro-Hungarian tribe’s conflict.]
This content also matched my earlier suspicions. I didn’t want to see the Austro-Hungarian tribe and the Prussia Kingdom clash, affecting the peace and delaying my search for
“Adéfu, how about I help you solve this?”
In the next moment, I spoke up, “You reminded me once before, so it’s only right that I help you this time. Besides, I happen to know the two orcs over there, and my human identity can provide various conveniences without involving your elven status.”
“My only request is: I might need to investigate some information about the Kingdom of Prulus, so I hope you won’t mind. After all, I need to understand the reasons behind the conflict in order to resolve it.”
“What do you think, Your Majesty Adéfu~”
“…”
Adéfu was momentarily taken aback, then looked at me with surprise.
Just when I thought she would happily agree…
This little elven girl stuttered, her voice laced with an obvious hint of expectation.
“Do you… do you want me to repay you in some other way?”
“Of course not!”
Your Majesty Adéfu, can you please stop filling your head with those little plotlines from light novels?!
—