To Get What You Want (2)

“What… did you just say?”

Mana rose from the elf's skin in thin, sharp threads.

I could scarcely bear the sight of her anger. Ashley, however, faced her without a trace of fear.

“I said I'd pay you. If you need it stated more plainly, shall I call it a prostitution fee?”

“…Young lady. Provoking me will do you no good.”

“Provoking you? You started this quarrel, not I.”

The air grew colder still.

For a while the elf merely stared at her. Then she drew a breath, rose from my bed and put on the shoes she'd taken off. She tapped her heels against the floor and straightened.

“You've misunderstood something.”

Her voice was terribly calm. That was somehow worse.

I sat up, cold sweat spreading across my back. The empty look in her eyes as she watched Ashley filled me with dread.

“I wasn't arguing with you, Lady Ashley. I merely told you the truth.”

“Is that so?”

Ashley sounded perfectly composed. Was I the only person in the room who understood how dangerous this was?

“Then I was only telling you the truth, too. You may deny it if you wish, but that won't change it.”

The elf's fingers twitched. Her teeth clenched as though she'd been dealt an intolerable insult.

“You are going too far, young lady. Even if I am a slave, do you imagine you can speak to me that way merely because you are a nobleman's daughter?”

It was a threat, whatever words she chose to dress it in. If the elf used her power, she could destroy House Pelgaroin and bring Ashley to ruin. For now they were exchanging insults; another step and those threats could become reality.

I have to stop them!

I climbed out of bed and hurried into my slippers, intending to put myself between them.

“My standing?” Ashley repeated with a contemptuous snort.

“If you can, do it. Drag Ashley de Pelgaroin down to the bottom of hell.”

“You sound confident, young lady. Do you think I am incapable of it?”

“No. I know you can. But I won't simply stand by and let you. Bringing down my family would cost you something as well. If you're willing to fight in the mud, then strike first.”

“And I've told you before. There's a secret about you that only I am keeping.”

The elf's shoulders jolted.

What in the world did they discuss while I wasn't there?

Ashley plainly knew something about the elf. But what? Whatever leverage she'd gained seemed powerful enough to force a stalemate, yet not the sort of thing she could simply use to send the elf back to the Great Forest.

Is it information that becomes dangerous only when someone else learns it?

If Ashley could reveal it, perhaps the elf had no choice but to negotiate with her. I couldn't know. I only saw the elf hesitate for the first time.

Her fists tightened. She stood silent so long that I thought she might refuse to speak at all. At last, a small voice escaped her.

“Don't tell Master… If you do, I truly won't be able to endure it.”

Even the mana stirring around her seemed unsteady.

Ashley did not press her advantage. She merely nodded.

“I know when to stop. Sir Theorad.”

She looked toward me and beckoned me over.

I started toward her, still nervous. As I passed, the elf reached out and caught the sleeve of my clothes.

She looked at Ashley with tear-filled eyes.

“…Don't take him. He's my master.”

Ashley's blue eyes hardened.

“Stop being selfish. Sir Theorad doesn't belong to anyone.”

The elf's hand trembled. She looked up at me through the silver hair falling across her face. For a moment her misery was so convincing that I felt an ache of pity.

But Ashley was right. I couldn't deny it.

“Let go.”

My voice came out cold. The elf released my sleeve, and I drew my arm away.

“Go back. Think about what you've done.”

“Think about it…?”

“Yes. Acting without your master's permission is the worst offense a slave can commit.”

She lowered her head, her eyes half-closed. The sorrow on her face hurt to look at. But surely it was another performance. I couldn't afford to waver.

“Didn't you hear me? Go.”

“….”

Only then did she move. She walked past Ashley and left the room.

I waited until her footsteps had faded down the corridor before sinking onto the bed with a long sigh.

Ashley watched me, then folded her hands apologetically.

“…I'm sorry. I never meant to quarrel, but I lost my temper. I behaved rudely in front of you.”

She looked almost like a pupil confessing some minor wrongdoing to her teacher.

It ought to have been endearing. Yet I couldn't laugh. I kept remembering the elf's sorrowful face, and this time I couldn't dismiss it as easily as before.

What's the matter with me?

Had something gone wrong with my mind? The elf had threatened me again and again. Why was I beginning to feel sorry for her?

I shook the thought away and turned back to Ashley. She'd rescued me from a dangerous situation, and now she was looking down as if her own raised voice had been the worst part of it. I couldn't help feeling fond of her.

“It's all right.”

My smile was less steady than I'd have liked.

“More importantly, why did you come to see me so early? Was there something you needed?”

“Ah.”

Ashley seemed to remember her original purpose all at once. She swallowed, suddenly grave.

Has something happened? Another war?

I held my breath.

“I… I wanted to go to the lake with you… Before Her Highness the Princess…”

Her voice grew softer until I could barely hear it.

I thought I understood. With the princess preparing to depart, I would probably have to return to Deharem Manor soon. Ashley wanted us to take a walk beside the lake before that happened.

A date, then.

She'd faced the elf without the slightest hesitation, but now she could scarcely put her feelings into words. I smiled despite myself.

Still, I couldn't immediately grant her request.

“I understand. But could you leave the room for a moment?”

“…I'm sorry. That was presumptuous of me.”

“No, that's not it. Look at what I'm wearing.”

I'd only just woken up. I was still in my nightclothes, and my hair was a disaster. If I went out looking like this, someone might beat me for making a public spectacle of myself.

Only then did Ashley seem to notice.

“Oh…!”

Her face flushed bright red. She took an awkward step backward, then hurried for the door.

“I'm sorry!”

The door thudded shut behind her.

I burst out laughing. For all her intelligence and courage, Ashley could be wonderfully clumsy at times.

---

Some time later, properly dressed, Theorad set off with Ashley toward the castle entrance.

She insisted they should ride to the lake on a horse already prepared by the stablekeeper near the drawbridge. Theorad raised no objection.

An elderly guard at the gate smiled when he recognized them and moved his spear aside.

“Viscount Theorad! Going somewhere with Lady Ashley? If His Excellency asks, I'll need to tell him where you've gone.”

“Of course. We're taking a walk by the nearby lake.”

“The lake? Lovely place! I used to go there with the woman who became my wife. You two make a fine pair, you know. You ought to hurry up and get married.”

Both of them blushed. The guard's remark was embarrassing, though neither particularly disliked hearing it.

The old man smiled knowingly and stepped aside to let them pass.

“Thank you,” Theorad said, clearing his throat as he walked ahead.

Ashley lingered just long enough to slip a gold coin into the guard's hand.

“Th-thank you, too.”

“My lady…?”

She hurried after Theorad, leaving the bewildered guard behind.

Outside, a horse stood tethered to a tree. The stablekeeper had indeed prepared it in advance.

There was only one problem.

Only one horse.

Theorad stroked his chin and turned toward Ashley.

“That's odd. There are two of us. Why would he prepare just one horse?”

“I-is it odd?”

“We'll have to share a saddle, I suppose. Won't that be uncomfortable for you?”

Ashley couldn't quite meet his eyes.

“It… it might be inconvenient…”

“I thought so. Perhaps I should ask the stablekeeper to bring another—”

“N-no!”

She interrupted so sharply that even she seemed surprised.

“That horse is the largest in the stable! And it's fitted with a saddle made for two people. We won't be uncomfortable at all!”

She stopped, realizing too late how much she had revealed.

“I see.”

Theorad nodded with exaggerated gravity.

“Ashley, your powers of observation are remarkable. You can tell it's the largest horse in the stable without even inspecting it closely.”

“Sir Theorad…”

“And by some happy coincidence, it has a two-person saddle. Almost as though someone specifically requested it beforehand—”

Ashley pinched his side.

Theorad started, turned, and burst out laughing. She looked ready to cry from embarrassment, her cheeks bright red.