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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Lady's Judgment
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* * *
The next day arrived.
But that didn't mean Zeke's cold attitude had changed in the slightest.
No, it had changed, just in a very, very subtle way.
'Ah, this. It's… a little cute, maybe?'
On the way to Ramieli, Serena found herself completely absorbed in the delightful game of discovering his small, thoughtful gestures.
Observing him was so interesting that even the arduous carriage ride became bearable.
Somehow, during meals, if she glanced away for a moment, the amount of food on her plate would increase slightly.
When she briefly stepped out of the carriage, she would return to find another layer of clothing cushioning her seat.
When she woke up, the bandage wrapped around her arm was a little cleaner.
'He must really be a man who isn't used to dealing with people. With that grim face of his.'
A small laugh escaped her lips at the thought of him bustling about when she wasn't looking.
"What is it?"
"Ahaha. It's nothing."
Zeke furrowed his brow, then glanced out the window and spoke.
"We'll be arriving soon."
"Ah! Are we?"
"Yes."
Serena looked at Zeke.
Still the same cold aura and rigid face.
But he no longer seemed as difficult or frightening as he did at first.
'Have I gotten a little used to him? Maybe now…? Hmm, is there a way?'
Serena still wanted to somehow convince Zeke to stay at her estate.
"Um…"
"Hm?"
Zeke, who had been staring blankly out the window, turned his head.
"I know you refused last time, saying you didn't need it… but I'd like to ask again."
Serena began to speak.
Zeke's eyes widened slightly.
"I really don't want to just give you the money and send you on your way, Instructor."
"..."
"The Johaidens are a family that never forgets a debt of gratitude. That's why my heart simply won't allow it."
"Hmm."
In truth, Zeke no longer felt so wary of Serena.
He could feel the silver-haired girl's warmth seeping through the small cracks in his guard.
He was just a bit reluctant to let such a pure soul be tainted by him.
"But if I were to just offer you money or demand you stay at the estate, you would surely refuse."
'Ah, well, that's not quite true anymore. I was planning on taking the money if you offered…'
Zeke felt a pang of embarrassment.
"So I'll make you a promise. If you are not satisfied with your treatment at the estate, you are free to leave at any time."
Ummm. W-Well…
"No matter when you decide to leave the estate, Instructor, I will not try to stop you."
*Hey, you stray. Being that kind will only get you betrayed.*
"And I will give you one of the best rooms in the estate, and I will also provide proper compensation. The meals, of course, will be of the highest quality."
Her earnest eyes made Zeke's resolve waver.
A warm, helping hand—something no one had offered when he had craved it so desperately.
Only now, after he had given up on everything…
Is it… too late now? Is it…?
"I swear on my family's name that you may stay for as long as you wish, and we will not force any demands upon you."
'Hmm. W-Well, if you're going to go that far…'
Though he thought it was too late, a sliver of hope peeked out once more.
"Should we draw up a contract?"
Now Serena was even willing to put her seal on it.
It was clear that the girl from a great house had laid all her cards on the table.
'Ha. Really. Who am I to deserve this…? To this extent. Jeez. No, I am something special, aren't I? Right…?'
Zeke felt a pleasant warmth spread through him.
To be honest, it wasn't as if he had any better alternatives after arriving.
He could survive just fine living in the mountains and eating grass, after all.
If not that, he had planned to go to Ramieli Academy and find a way to secure room and board.
But it went without saying that a life of ease in a comfortable bed was better than that dark fantasy-style existence.
'Hm. Alright! I'll just impose for a little while!! Just a tiny bit. Serena starter pack! Thank you!!!!'
It was a picture-perfect change of heart.
But contrary to his inner thoughts, Zeke merely nodded his head.
"Oh! R-Really!? What a relief!! I was so worried about what I'd do if I had to just send you away!!!"
Haa. Serena let out a sigh of relief and beamed.
"When we get to the estate, I'll introduce you to everyone! I'm sure they'll all like you!"
"We'll see about that."
For now, the only person in this world Zeke could trust was Serena Johaiden, whose soul he had seen.
*
Finally, he could physically feel they were drawing closer to the heart of the empire, the capital city of Ramieli.
The carriage, which had been bouncing like it was on a trampoline, gradually settled into a smooth ride on a well-paved road.
The sounds of people began to mix into a landscape that had previously been filled only with the neighing of horses and the voice of Serena Johaiden.
Twitch.
'Don't go messing with my starter pack.'
Zeke was displeased and uncomfortable with his own body.
The language of this world was automatically translated.
He had a reasonably trained body and looks similar to what he'd had on Earth, so he thought the hardware was decent enough.
But it had a fatal flaw.
Namely, a compulsion.
His body would frequently grind to a halt like a rusty piece of junk.
Actions he was allowed to take and actions he wasn't,
Words he was allowed to say and words he wasn't.
He still didn't know the criteria, but it was incredibly picky.
'Ha, it's a pain even when I'm eating.'
Just now, he had wanted to at least properly thank Serena,
but only cold, indifferent words came out of his mouth.
On top of that, his speech had the tone of someone from a historical drama.
'But wrapping the bandage worked just fine back then, and I even managed to thank her properly. What the hell are the standards?'
In truth, the emotional turmoil Zeke was feeling was quite significant.
'What? A pretty little stray? Who's the bastard who spewed that nonsense! Bring him here!'
To receive such pure goodwill, something he had never experienced in the dark fantasy world, made him think that this really must be a romance fantasy world for such people to exist.
Unexpectedly, for someone who couldn't trust people, he seemed to have a weakness for kindness with no strings attached.
*"Mister!"*
The voice of a young girl suddenly surfaced in his mind, but Zeke shook his head to clear it.
***
"Is this the place?"
"Yes, Instructor. It's a bit shabby, but I'll make sure your stay is comfortable."
"..."
Zeke's eyes shook as he stared at the estate Serena had led him to.
A massive gate.
The white walls encircling the grounds like a protective guard were embedded with silver bars,
and peeking over them was a classic grand mansion, dressed in a variety of flowers.
Zeke had never seen a house this large, except for the Demon King's castle.
He had held some expectations since she spoke as if she came from a great family,
but reality far surpassed them.
Gulp.
'A-A queen?'
Clang.
She rang the bell on the gate, and after a short wait, the door opened.
A neatly dressed man emerged.
He appeared to be the estate's butler.
He came out with a worried expression, which turned to wide-eyed shock upon seeing Serena's face.
He rushed forward and took both of Serena's hands.
"Lady Serena!"
"Alfred."
"H-How… I heard you were abducted by bandits! A-Are you alright!?"
The butler fretted, his eyes scanning the cloth wrapped around Serena's body.
He then glanced sideways at Zeke, but judging by Serena's calm demeanor, he didn't seem to be a bandit.
"Yes, I'm fine… By the way, bandits?"
"Yes, they…"
Zeke, who was watching with his arms crossed, raised one corner of his mouth.
'Aha. So the bastards who abandoned Serena and ran away filed a false report saying she was abducted by bandits.'
Serena seemed to have reached the same conclusion, her face hardening.
"Alfred, where are they?"
"Them… They arrived yesterday and have been locked in the dungeon."
"Bring them to the courtyard."
"Y-Yes, of course. But first… we must have the physician check on your condition, my lady…"
"No, dealing with them comes first. Call the knights as well."
Seeing Serena's stern face, the butler guessed that something was terribly wrong.
He nodded.
The courtyard they entered through the main gate was vast enough to serve as a training ground.
Thump. Thump. As Serena strode in,
the servants and maids, summoned by the butler, rushed out, bowing their heads and lining up on either side.
And before them, a large chair decorated with pure gold and jewels was placed.
Serena sat down naturally, crossing her legs.
She carried herself with the natural authority of her station.
Unlike her meek self in the carriage, she now exuded the grace of a continental ruler.
'Wow, is this the same Serena who was so timid?'
Feeling awkward, Zeke wondered if he should also line up with the servants.
"Sir Zeke, this way."
"Mm."
Serena indicated where Zeke should stand.
Zeke stood right beside her, his face set like stone.
Soon, men and women bound in ropes were dragged out by the knights.
"L-Lady Serena!!!"
"We're sorry!! We have committed a crime worthy of death!!"
"That's not what we meant to do!!"
"We came here to request reinforcements!!!"
They shouted, their faces grimy.
Serena's head grew hot with rage.
She took in their faces, one by one.
At this, the ones who had been shrieking in terror gradually fell silent.
Finally, Serena spoke, her voice trembling with betrayal.
"It wasn't enough for you to abandon me while I was unconscious. You even filed a false report."
"That's—!"
"Why did you do it? You should have just not come here at all. Why come all this way… just to file a false report saying I was abducted by bandits!?"
It was a side of Serena's anger that no one in the estate had ever seen.
Serena felt a surge of emotion, as if tears were about to spill.
If Zeke hadn't been there,
the knights might have been deceived by their lies and searched for the bandits, never finding her.
"Why on earth did you do it! Why! Was I not good to you?"
At those words, a maid with sharp, slanted eyes spoke up.
"No!!! I've been wronged! Lady Serena! You have to believe me!"
"Ciella…"
Ciella was her personal maid, the one who had served her the longest.
They were sometimes like sisters, sometimes like friends.
Of course, she had a tendency to look out for her own interests,
but that was a line Serena was more than willing to allow.
Serena felt the deepest sense of betrayal from Ciella.
"Ciella, I may not have trusted the others, but I trusted you. How could you do this!"
"N-No! I didn't run away! He did! He forced me to flee with him! How could I ever leave you, Lady Serena!"
Ciella glared with venomous eyes at a large, bald man among the bound.
"He's the one who said you were abducted by bandits!"
The man, in turn, shrieked.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ciella! When did I say that! You're the one who told me to say it! You were the one who suggested we run!"
"Lady Serena, please believe me! It's the truth! I even arranged to meet with the butler later today, telling him I had something to say! It was to confess everything!"
At that, Serena looked at the butler, who was standing beside her with his head bowed.
"Alfred, is that… true?"
"Yes… She did tell me she had something to discuss with me privately."
"Is that so…? Ciella… I…"
Serena wanted to believe Ciella until the very end.
She didn't want to admit that all the time they had spent together had been for nothing.
If she had been forcibly dragged here by that man and was planning to confess everything…
'Ciella…'
Just then, Zeke, who had been watching the situation unfold from the side, stepped forward.
"Hold on."
At that, questioning eyes turned towards him.
* * *