Regardless of his inner thoughts, the answer Elric would give was predetermined.
“… “Thank you for your kindness.”
There were too many eyes. Wouldn’t it be impossible for a baron from a Korean-American country to speak hastily to the third son of a key empire family?
As an Elric, I have no choice but to match his style.
In the meantime, Elbers held Elric’s hand.
“Hey, why are you talking so harshly? Please feel free to speak. As I said yesterday, I am not so shallow that I treat my lifesaver roughly.”
Elric’s eyebrows twitched.
“Brothers are a bit like that and lovers are even more creepy, so let’s be friends as a compromise. “From today onwards, you are my best friend.”
Can you explain it if you feel like you want to put your fist in that smiling face?
“… “I don’t know what to do with myself.”
“Hey man, who has ever spoken so harshly between close friends?”
“haha… .”
“Now, please feel free to call me Elbus.”
Elbus’ eyes lit up.
That was creepy enough, but what gave me more goosebumps was the jealous gaze of the surrounding nobles.
The disdainful gaze changed in an instant just because Elbers had sent him a favor.
It was so absurd that I couldn’t even help but laugh.
‘They are all cruel people.’
The physiology of aristocratic society did not suit Elric’s body.
Aside from that, I could clearly feel what Elbers was aiming for.
‘It must be protection.’
Elric wasn’t so stupid that he didn’t know what it meant for the Empire’s Graham to protect Portman.
Perhaps interactions with other nobles, which Tyria was worried about, would become much smoother than now.
When I actually looked at her expression, I could sense a little joy amidst the disapproval.
Unless, of course, it is an illusion.
“Come on, let’s stop like this and have a more in-depth conversation among ourselves. “The story I briefly heard from you yesterday about the cultural differences between regions of the continent was really interesting.”
Another person’s knack for making excuses is amazing.
Elric secretly noticed Tyria’s gaze.
She thought for a moment, then sighed softly and nodded.
“We’ll talk later.”
You can’t do it forever, right?
A question like that almost popped out without thinking.
Elric praised his patience for holding back his words.
“Then we will talk for a while.”
“yes.”
Elric then left the banquet hall.
*
It was right after I walked down the hallway with Elbers and entered the private lounge assigned to him.
“What on earth are you doing that for?”
Elric immediately asked without hiding his anger.
Of course, I appreciate his intention to protect you, but there is no way he would be happy to attract the attention of others.
If you were going to do something like this, you needed at least some consultation.
If it were Elric’s original personality, he would have been grabbed by the collar right away.
The only reason I tolerated him until now was because he was Elbus Graham.
A slightly more lenient standard was applied to close friends.
He shrugged.
“Calm down. “I couldn’t help it.”
“… what?”
“Isn’t that guy Nimrud trying to tell nonsense? “Your name was revealed during the interrogation.”
Suddenly, Elric’s body trembled.
Anxiety welled up, and it ended immediately with Elbers’ words.
“Don’t worry. “I killed him before he could cause further trouble.”
Even though it wasn’t something to laugh about, he was smiling.
It wasn’t new. Elbus Graham was originally this kind of man.
Elbers continued speaking without erasing his unique smile.
“Anyway, it’s an excuse I made hastily because such a point of contact arose. And you think too little of my protection?”
“… “What does that mean?”
If you’re Biho, why are you belittling Bihoji?
Feeling embarrassed for getting so angry, Elbers laughed and answered the question.
“I’m Graham. “A prestigious family that stands shoulder to shoulder with the imperial family.”
“What does that mean?”
“Being a noble from a foreign country under my protection is not much different from being a noble who is allowed to have all interactions with the empire.”
Elbers made a circle with his index finger and thumb.
“It means that you have become the person who will sit on the money cushion. And it means that he became a person whom Ferdin’s nobles had to be friends with more than anyone else.”
Only then did Elric understand his words a little more clearly.
My eyes widened slightly.
“Your expression looks better now.”
Elbers said:
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“Background investigation… There is no need to even say that. There were a few stories I heard during the banquet yesterday. “You and your wife aren’t in a very good position, are you?”
“that… .”
“Look, Elric, if you want to live as a noble, don’t be too overconfident in your own strength.”
Elric’s frown frowned.
“I have never been overconfident. “On the contrary, I am trying very hard not to resolve the matter by force.”
“No, you are overconfident.”
Elbus picked up a snack that was on the table.
“You don’t know how cunning they are. You don’t know how petty you can be. You won’t be affected by such things, but what about your wife and estate? Can you protect them all alone? Can you guarantee that it will always be like that? You can’t cover the sky with your palm. “If you think that’s possible, you’re just deluding yourself into believing that the sky is in the palm of your hand.”
Elric was speechless.
What he was exposing was reality.
“I know you have no intention of returning to the battlefield any time soon. If that’s your choice, I won’t stop you. That’s why I’m saying it.”
He swallowed the refreshment in one bite.
“If you want to stay in your hometown, think about the things you must protect. Most humans ultimately need society. We constantly seek stability in that society. “It’s different from you.”
“Madam… .”
“A nobleman. She was born as a noblewoman and educated as a noblewoman. He seemed like a good person. However, he is a noble after all. Her thoughts of happiness cannot be without the well-being of her estate.”
It was indeed correct.
Most of Tyria’s daily work was devoted to the operation and management of the estate, and she was proud of that work.
It’s not that it’s bad.
On the contrary, it is something that should be respected.
If that was the type of happiness she wanted, she needed to care about him, too.
Elric looked at Elbus.
He seemed to like the refreshments so much that he started picking up biscuits with his hands and eating them.
Anyway, I am a person whose blind spots are struck at strange moments.
“Thank you.”
“Why to this extent? But the refreshments are really delicious.”
“He said he was a famous pastry chef.”
“okay? “I’d like to meet you briefly before I go.”
“Recruiting is difficult. Her wife likes the refreshments. “She’ll be quite sad if she doesn’t get to eat when she comes next year.”
“You are such a pathetic person.”
“I’ll at least regret not being pathetic.”
“What regrets do you have? “I will do better in the future.”
A mischievous look appeared on his face.
“In the first place, being nice to someone nine times and then being bad at it once will leave a deeper impression on the other person than the other way around.”
Elric smiled and answered.
“So you always go around having affairs?”
“It’s about chasing romance.”
“I wonder if he’s still alive.”
“It’s thanks to Aili that she’s generous. Well, I still remember. “You said you were going to give up because you were a human and there was no point in breaking your leg.”
“You are a truly terrible husband.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Only then did the atmosphere relax.
Elric burst out laughing and resolved his thoughts.
There was some news I heard along the way.
“Oh, I did receive the letter you sent. “The matter was handled as written in the letter.”
“Is that so?”
“The money you entrusted to me has grown so much that I can’t even afford to pay for trade expenses.”
It was a story about money earned through mercenary work.
Elric, who did not have the talent to make money in the first place, entrusted all the money he earned to him and invested it in various places.
I don’t know how much it actually costs, but it won’t be a small amount of money.
Suddenly Elric thought.
‘In case you don’t know… .’
Since he is here, it would be a good idea to be prepared.
“Hey Elbus.”
“hmm?”
“I mean that property. Please change the heir.”
At that moment, Elbus’ body shook.
The expression on his face came to mind, and it was a form that clearly revealed his slovenliness.
“… Have you discovered any weaknesses? Or black magic?”
“Why but?”
“I doubt you’re trying to give me everything, including your liver and gallbladder.”
What on earth are you talking about?
Elric dismissed his nonsense.
“If I die anyway, won’t the money go to you? “It’s better to give it to your wife than to you.”
“If you really die, your wife will be upset.”
“hmm?”
“It’s nothing.”
In response, Elbus burst out in laughter.
That’s why it was so funny that Elric didn’t know how much wealth he had.
‘When will you learn that you can buy a country with the money in your coffers?’
The wealth he had accumulated through the treasury of the four kingdoms while living as the Sword Demon Kasha had more than doubled due to the success of his investments.
‘You never ask, so it’s rude to even tell you how much it is.’
Let’s just keep quiet for now.
Elbers began to look forward to the day when he would find out his fortune.
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