Uncomfortable Accompaniment (2)

“…Pardon?”

Marhan blinked at me in utter confusion.

She'd acted out of what she considered kindness, only to be told that she was sentenced to death. Naturally, she couldn't make sense of it.

But unsolicited goodwill could become an insult.

And now, thanks to something I hadn't asked her to do, I was going to have to travel with that elf.

“Um… That's rather sudden…”

Marhan lowered her thick eyebrows and thought for a moment.

Then she snapped her fingers.

“Ah! Is that some fashionable joke among the nobility? I'm sorry I didn't catch on right away. I'm hopeless at that sort of thing.”

She scratched the back of her neck and gave me an embarrassed smile.

Looking at her, I found it difficult to sustain my fury.

Besides, executing someone for bringing along an elven slave was absurd, even by my standards. Of course a person who didn't know the elf's true nature would take the threat as a joke.

“A joke…”

I lowered my trembling hands and struggled to compose myself.

“Yes. It was a joke. But remember one thing.”

“Yes, Your Excellency?”

“From now on, don't decide matters on your own authority. Especially while I'm serving as the Count's deputy.”

“Ah, understood. I'll remember that.”

Marhan bowed respectfully with a hand against her chest.

I acknowledged the gesture and stepped into the carriage.

“I'll close the door, Your Excellency.”

Creak.

The door swung shut.

“Then we're off!”

At Marhan's booming command, the horses began to run.

The scenery flew past the small side window. We were traveling at a considerable speed.

…Can't we go faster?

Ordinarily I would have found the pace more than satisfactory.

Today it was nowhere near enough.

An insane elf who might possess the power of an archmage was sitting right beside me, pretending to be a slave.

We were alone together in an enclosed space. My mouth had gone dry.

There was no way to escape.

Even that simple fact put an almost unbearable pressure on me.

Don't let it show.

I glanced toward the elf as casually as I could.

“…”

She was wearing a neat, frilled maid's uniform.

Her silver hair had been carefully arranged, and a red ribbon was tied on the right side of her head. Anyone seeing her for the first time might have mistaken her for a maid cherished by the master of the house rather than a slave.

She looked nothing like the ragged creature who usually crawled around my mansion.

…She really is beautiful.

When she was dressed in tatters and behaving indecently, it was hard to appreciate her appearance.

But with even a little care, she was lovely enough to stir the desire for possession in many a man.

If only her personality were gentler.

I sighed, straightened my own clothes, and leaned back against the seat.

Havid must have dressed and groomed her before sending her away with Marhan. He was always anxious to preserve the dignity of House Deharem.

A chill breeze slipped through the window.

I closed it, then cleared my throat to draw the elf's attention.

“The journey to the castle will take some time. You may as well sleep.”

“Master? You needn't concern yourself with me…”

“This isn't about your comfort. It's about mine. We're going to Count Pelgaroin's residence. What would become of my reputation if you arrived looking worn out?”

One of her eyebrows twitched.

She would understand the meaning behind my words.

I was telling her there would be no verbal abuse in this carriage.

She might resent that.

Nevertheless, I had no intention of giving in.

The Count had entrusted me with the duties of regent. At the very least, while I served as his representative, I would not allow myself to be dragged about by the elf's whims.

“Your reputation…”

The elf repeated the words softly.

Then, to my surprise, she nodded.

“I understand, Master.”

Really?

I'd been preparing for an argument. Instead, she'd agreed almost immediately.

What a relief.

At last I felt able to relax.

I closed my eyes.

As I'd said, it would take a while to reach the castle.

I might as well sleep, too.

---

The rumble of voices beyond the closed window slowly drew me out of sleep.

The carriage had stopped rocking.

We must have reached the castle.

I yawned quietly and raised my hands to rub my eyes.

Or tried to.

My shoulder jerked when I discovered that one of my hands wouldn't move.

…What?

An unpleasant feeling crept over me.

I turned to the side, still thick with sleep.

The elf had hold of my wrist.

She was keeping it firmly in place.

“Ah… M-Master… In a place like this, all of a sudden…”

There was a much greater problem.

My hand was inside her underwear.

Huh? What…?

I'd only just woken up. I couldn't understand what I was seeing.

Why was my hand there?

And why was she holding it so tightly?

“Ah, Master… Please, don't tease me…”

Under her unbreakable grip, my hand moved back and forth against her. It was as though she were using it for her own amusement.

My fingers brushed something small and raised amid the slippery warmth.

A dreadful realization flickered at the edge of my mind.

…Her clitoris?

I'd come across the word in The Obscene Hobgoblin Maid.

According to that book, it was an organ in a woman's body comparable in some respects to a man's penis and particularly sensitive to pleasure.

She's using my hand!

The elf seemed to have taken hold of my hand while I slept, using it for her own gratification. How much of the movement had been hers, I couldn't even tell.

And of all times to do this, she'd chosen the moment the carriage came to a stop.

That wicked elf!

It had to be revenge for making her sleep through the journey instead of giving her the humiliation she wanted.

The intention was so obvious that it sent a chill down my spine.

I tried to pull away.

I couldn't.

Her grip on my wrist was far too strong.

Trapped between panic and helplessness, I screamed silently.

Knock, knock.

The sound made every nerve in my body tighten.

“Your Excellency? There was a short delay at the drawbridge. I think you should come and—”

Marhan opened the carriage door.

Her face went rigid.

From where she stood, it must have looked as though I were a nobleman who couldn't even wait to reach his destination before putting his hand inside a slave's underwear.

No! It's not what you think!

I opened my mouth to explain.

Before a word came out, the elf let out a breathy moan.

“Ah… Master… If you keep doing that to your sow…”

Marhan's already strained expression hardened into disgust.

She looked from me to the elf and back again.

“Well, I understand that you have certain needs, but couldn't you wait just a little? Surely it would be better to do that somewhere private, at night rather than in broad daylight…”

“It's a misunderstanding! I'm not doing this because I want to!”

“Don't worry. I'm very discreet. I won't say a word.”

Those words were the worst of all.

Her look told me she had already decided exactly what sort of shameless nobleman I was.

I couldn't think of a single explanation she would believe.

As I sat there dumbfounded, Marhan stepped back.

“Please get out first, Your Excellency. Someone is waiting to greet you.”

“Ah… I see.”

I glanced toward the elf.

Apparently satisfied, she finally released my wrist.

The mischievous smile on her lips made the whole scheme obvious.

Damn it.

My chest hurt with frustration, but there was nothing more I could do.

I withdrew my hand and used a handkerchief to wipe the moisture from my fingers. Then I put it back in my coat and stepped out of the carriage.

A handsome young man on horseback greeted me.

“Brother-in-law!”

He wore a loose tunic, and his blond hair was as unruly as ever.

It was Fred, Ashley's older brother and the second son of the Count of Pelgaroin.

He'd written to me a few days earlier.

Delighted to see him, I walked over and greeted him respectfully.

“Lord Fred! It's been too long.”

“Haha! What's with all that formality? Just call me Brother. You're going to marry my sister soon, aren't you?”

“I'm grateful, but until the wedding ceremony, I wouldn't want to show disrespect to the Countess or your family.”

“Still as stiff as ever. That's one of the things I like about you.”

His cheerful smile drew a smile from me as well.

“But what brings you out here, my lord?”

“I was out getting some air, and when I heard you were coming, I thought I'd stop by. There's a message I wanted to pass along.”

“A message?”

“We're holding a small welcome gathering in the annex this evening. After all, it's a memorable occasion—your first time serving as regent.”

A welcome party?

That seemed excessive.

“You really needn't go to such trouble. I'll only be here for a week or so.”

“Don't be modest. Father told me to treat his future son-in-law with all due respect. My father and I both know what a heavy responsibility you're taking on at such a young age, and we're behind you all the way. If you need help, ask at any time.”

Then Fred looked around, bent toward me in the saddle, and lowered his voice.

“That includes matters of the heart. I've been alive a little longer than you, so perhaps I can offer some advice. Don't feel burdened. Understand?”

“Ah. Yes, thank you.”

“Good. Truth be told, I like my future brother-in-law so much I could almost take your side over my own sister's. In fact, sometimes I feel sorrier for you.”

Fred chuckled.

“Just don't tell Ashley I said that. When she gets angry, she can hold on to it longer than you'd think.”

I had always liked his easygoing manner.

“I'll remember that. But about Ashley—”

Before I could finish, a white horse came galloping toward us from behind.

A white mane streamed in the wind.

The rider, seated side-saddle, was Ashley.

Her radiant blond hair fluttered behind her. At the sight of her, my worries about our relationship seemed to soften for a moment.

She pulled back on the reins as she approached, fixing Fred with a sulky glare.

“Brother! You said you'd teach me to ride, then galloped off on your own! You vanished so suddenly that I had to search everywhere!”

“I didn't mean to. Come on, don't be so angry.”

“Do I look as if I'm not angry? If you wanted to race, you could have taken some of the other knights—”

Only then did she notice me.

Her words trailed off.

Those sea-blue eyes widened, and her lips parted in surprise.

“Lord Theorad?”

The reaction was so endearing that I couldn't help smiling.

But I couldn't afford to lose my composure.

“…”

I could feel the elf's gaze fixed on my back.