The Shivering Ball (3)

How?

Even through the terror clouding my mind, one question kept rising to the surface.

How in the world had the elf gotten here?

I left her outside the castle and ran away…

No. Now that I thought about it, the elf was a superhuman being with power comparable to an archmage. Crossing a short distance would hardly be beyond her abilities if she put her mind to it.

I'd been shortsighted. In trying to do something for Ashley, I'd put her in danger instead.

Damn it.

I had two choices. I could enter the ball with the elf and expose everyone there to the risk, or I could take the elf away and bear whatever happened on my own.

Who wouldn't choose the second?

I slowly lowered the hand I'd clapped over my mouth.

“Forgive me, but I've just remembered an urgent matter.”

“…Your Excellency the Regent?”

“I'm afraid I must leave. Please go ahead with the welcome party without me.”

“But Lady Ashley will be disappointed if you go straight home. And the other guests would find it discourteous.”

“You're right, of course, but I have to return now. Otherwise, there could be a disas—”

“Master!”

A clear voice sent a chill down my spine.

Creak.

I forced my head around. The elf was running toward me, tears in her eyes.

Don't come over here. Please.

My silent plea did nothing to stop her.

She came to a halt before me, breathing hard, her hands clasped in front of her chest.

“Master, you ordered me to bring refreshments to the annex, but I was so clumsy that I spilled them. I'm sorry, Master…”

What a convincing performance.

The servant beside me looked at her with obvious pity. He seemed to believe every word.

More disturbing was the ease with which the elf played her part. I couldn't find anything to say.

“Once we're inside the annex, I won't make another mistake…”

Her gestures were hesitant and meek. Somehow, they still carried an unmistakable threat.

I see.

She wanted me inside with her. Whether she was punishing me for abandoning her or had planned this from the beginning, I couldn't tell.

Either way, my attempt to leave was over.

Swallowing my tears, I walked past her.

“Worthless trash. Make another mistake inside, and I won't forgive you.”

“Yes, Master…”

She answered timidly and followed me.

The servant hesitated, then fell into step beside us. After stealing a glance at me, he spoke.

“Your Excellency, the slave's clothing is rather dirty. Wouldn't it be better to have her change?”

“There's no need.”

What if I sent her away to change and something worse happened beyond my sight? I couldn't invite a greater disaster merely to avoid an awkward moment.

For now, the safest course was to keep her close.

The servant looked puzzled but had the good sense not to press the matter.

We reached the doors of the annex. He pulled one of the great doors open and announced our arrival in a booming voice.

“His Excellency Theorad Deharem, Regent entrusted with the Count's confidence and seventh head of the distinguished House Deharem, now enters!”

He was so loud I almost suspected him of using sound-amplifying magic.

Whatever the reason, the effect was immediate.

As I entered with the elf beside me, every noble in the ballroom seemed to turn toward us.

Guests sampling the food and desserts along a long table of delicacies from land and sea stopped with their hands in midair. The laughter of noblewomen chatting behind their open fans fell silent. Even the scholars who had been arguing about how the world ought to be governed suspended their competition of opinions.

Thankfully, the silence lasted only a moment.

Conversation returned, and the guests resumed enjoying the party. A few waved and smiled at me. I managed an awkward smile in return.

How uncomfortable.

I'd never been fond of gatherings where everyone put on a pleasant face and pretended to enjoy themselves. But Count Pelgaroin had arranged this reception for me. I could hardly show how little I wanted to be there.

And there was an elf beside me whose thoughts I couldn't begin to guess.

It would be best to stay quiet and avoid drawing anyone into conversation—

“Theorad!”

I flinched at the rough voice and turned.

The man approaching had an ample figure, expensive clothing, and a face that reminded me of a fat toad. There was no mistaking him.

Maldon, the third son of Count Pelgaroin.

I inclined my head and smiled.

“It's been a while, Lord Maldon.”

“Indeed. It must have been quite a journey from the outskirts of the county. But never mind that. I don't think I've seen this slave of yours before.”

Maldon licked his lips as his gaze traveled over the elf.

Thin threads of pure mana began rising around her.

Fuck…!

She wasn't merely displeased with him. She hated the way he was staring at her.

I understood that his gaze was revolting, but did she really need to summon mana over it?

“Those pointed ears… An elf, are you? I don't often get to see an elf slave. Hmm. You've got quite a chest, and those hips aren't bad either. You'd bear healthy children, I imagine. Not that a vulgar slave like you could ever bear a noble child.”

Stop talking, you lunatic! You're going to die!

Not only Maldon—everyone at this ball could be killed if the elf lost her temper.

I screamed inwardly and forced a smile onto my face.

“Lord Maldon, perhaps we could leave the subject of slaves behind and discuss something more constructive?”

“This is constructive enough for me. Don't be so stiff. I'll just see how big your slave's breasts are for myself.”

His short, thick hand reached toward her.

I couldn't watch any longer.

I shot out a hand and seized Maldon's wrist.

“What…?”

He frowned at me.

“Are you stopping me?”

“I am.”

“Why?”

Because I just saved your life, you idiot!

“She is my slave, not yours. It's discourteous to touch another person's slave without the owner's permission.”

“Courtesy? Are you really going to lecture me about courtesy?”

“Lord Maldon. Watch your words.”

I narrowed my eyes and fixed him with a stern stare. I couldn't afford to back down now.

“I'm here as the Count's appointed deputy and regent. If you wish to argue about rank, I suggest you consider your own position carefully.”

“What? You—!”

He tried to wrench his hand free. I kept my grip.

After several futile attempts, Maldon ground his teeth.

“Let go.”

“Swear that you won't lay a hand on my slave.”

“…Fine! I won't touch her. Now let go!”

I nodded and released him.

Maldon clutched his wrist, glared murderously at me, muttered something under his breath, and stalked away.

At the same moment, the mana gathering around the elf subsided.

Thank goodness.

I straightened my collar, trying to collect myself.

The elf was looking up at me with an expression of deep emotion.

“I'm sorry, Master. Because of me…”

“Shut up. This happened because you don't know your place and insist on clinging to me.”

“Ah…”

“Hmph. I'm sick of looking at you. Get away from me.”

I looked down at her coldly. She hesitated, then nodded.

At last, I had managed to put some distance between us.

I sighed and made for the center of the hall, only to stop at the sight of a familiar woman.

Ashley?

Her silky blond hair and clear blue eyes were unmistakable.

She wore an elegant dress that revealed a little of her thigh, along with antique jewelry that she seldom wore. The effect was strikingly different from her usual simple appearance.

For a moment, I could only stare.

Ashley approached with a wineglass in her hand. The look she gave me was distinctly displeased.

“Lord Theorad. What on earth were you thinking, coming to the ball like this?”

What?

“Isn't this supposed to be a welcome party for me? Why wouldn't I come?”

“How shameless. Just because someone says you should come, does that mean you actually have to? Can't you tell when someone is joking?”

“Ashley, I was only—”

“If you've got something to say, sit down and say it. My legs are tired from standing.”

Without waiting for a reply, she crossed to a table beside the window and sat.

I followed, still at a loss, and took the chair opposite her.

From there I could see the elf standing near the entrance to the annex, beyond Ashley's shoulder.

She was watching us.

“Lord Theorad,” Ashley said. “Do you have any idea what a terrible man you are?”

Why was she being so cruel?

The words hurt enough that I couldn't think of an answer.

Then Ashley discreetly lifted the hem of her dress.

“W-what are you doing…?”

She pressed her index finger to her lips and looked straight at me.

Be quiet, that gesture said.

I nodded and lowered my gaze.

Resting against her exposed thigh was a small roll of papers tied together with string.

I took the papers as naturally as I could and unfolded the first sheet. Elegant handwriting covered its surface.

Theorad, I want to believe you. I wrote down these questions so that the elf won't hear them, no matter how sharp her hearing is. From now on, answer what's written here, rather than what I say aloud. Can you do that?

Oh.

So that was why she'd sat with her back toward the elf and spoken as though she despised me.

She wanted the elf to see only a quarrel, while we spoke by means of the papers.

I nodded to show that I understood.

“Don't just sit there in silence,” Ashley snapped. “Do you realize how awful you are?”

She turned to the next sheet.

Is the elf watching you? Lord Theorad, are you hiding something you can't tell anyone—not even me?

“Yes.”

“You fool… You really are trash.”

Another sheet unfolded.

Was it a lie when you said the elf was twenty-five years old? Were you behaving cruelly in front of me that day because the elf was watching you?

“That's right.”

Ashley went still.

She had guessed correctly, but there was no joy in her face. Instead, she seemed to be imagining what I must have endured, and how many misunderstandings I had suffered in silence.

Her hands trembled as she opened the final sheet.

Then you are still the Theorad I know.

But we couldn't let the elf suspect that we understood one another.

Ashley bit her lip and managed a strained smile.

“You really are… a terrible man.”

Moonlight from the window illuminated her smile, which seemed full of guilt and regret.

I nearly cried.

Someone had doubted the ugly things she saw me do, and had tried to understand. More than that, the person who believed in me was Ashley.

But neither of us could say what we truly felt.

“So it would seem.”

I managed a crooked smile of my own as I looked at her.