Chapter 21
He had to silence the Imperial supply officer at all costs.
Despite being saddled with such a paramount mission, it was obvious that he couldn’t act rashly.
First of all, there were too many witnesses.
He couldn’t interrogate the man in front of the supply officers from Armin and Disha, nor could he do so where the mansion’s staff were present.
The key was to create a situation where they were alone, away from prying eyes.
To do that, there was one person he had to deal with first.
「I am Tiria Portman. It is an honor to meet the heroes of the West.」
It was Tiria.
Ever since they arrived, she had been the soul of propriety, not only bestowing the title of ‘heroes’ upon the supply officers but also gathering the entire household at the entrance to welcome them.
Her slight bow was elegant, even in the midst of this tension.
「My Lord, could I ask you to introduce these gentlemen?」
「Ah, right.」
He hoped his expression didn’t look too awkward.
Standing beside Tiria, Elric addressed the supply officers.
「This is my wife. She is the one who practically manages this manor. Wife, these gentlemen are…」
It is human nature that the more one tries not to be awkward, the more awkward one becomes. Elric was no exception.
In his attempt to feign composure, his actions became exaggerated, and his smile too forced as he spoke.
Elric’s hand rested on Tiria’s waist.
He addressed her as ‘Wife.’
Elric didn’t realize it, but these small gestures stirred a deep sense of flustered excitement within Tiria.
Immediately after, a man as thin as a scarecrow smirked and stepped forward to offer his greetings.
「Ahem, I am the supply officer for Armin.」
His eyes swept over Tiria from head to toe.
In that instant, Elric felt a surge of white-hot anger.
Perhaps it was because his nerves were already frayed due to Polo, but every little action from this man was grating on him.
「If the Madam is the one handling the negotiations…」
The Armin supply officer looked at Elric with a condescending gaze.
Elric felt a vein throb in his forehead as he replied.
「Haha, I have absolutely no talent for such matters. I rely entirely on my wife’s wisdom.」
「I suppose so…」
The Armin supply officer gave a crooked smile.
It was then.
「W-Well then, let us head inside first! We can’t stand at the entrance forever!」
Polo spoke up urgently.
It was an act intended to save the Armin supply officer, and it was remarkably effective.
At the very least, it prevented Elric from exploding right then and there.
「Yes, this way please.」
Tiria led the supply officers into the manor.
Their luggage had already been taken by the servants, and they were headed for the dining hall.
This was a problem for Elric.
‘I need to create an opening…!’
A walking time bomb of a mouth that could go off at any second was right there, but if they started dinner, there would be no chance to shut it.
According to his plan, he should have sought the man out while they were unpacking and being shown to their rooms, but Tiria’s thoroughness had thwarted that.
For a moment, he actually felt resentful of her competence.
「I have heard that the meals available on the trains can be rather dry. I have prepared a selection of fresh foods instead; I hope they are to your liking.」
「We appreciate the hospitality.」
Tiria handled the guests with her characteristic grace, showing no sign of awkwardness in entertaining them.
It was a multi-course meal.
This meant the conversation would last for at least an hour.
「Now, then… shall we begin the meal?」
Elric threw out the suggestion, hoping they would focus on the food, but his wish went ungranted.
Once again, it was the Armin supply officer who spoke up.
The man’s tongue was so loose it seemed to be flying about of its own accord.
「By the way, this is quite a quiet town. Don’t you find it stifling to live in a place like this?」
「I was born and raised here, so I’ve never really thought of it that way. The countryside has its own charm.」
「Hmm, is that so? From what I’ve heard, the Lord here…」
As the arrow turned toward him, Elric felt his sanity wavering.
His ten-year absence was like a sore spot for Elric.
He began to doubt the intentions of this man who was bringing it up, and in front of Tiria of all people.
「I had only heard that the Madam was guarding the manor alone, so I was quite surprised to find the Lord had returned.」
「…It hasn’t been long.」
「I suppose that’s why I didn’t know.」
The man’s beaming smile made it clear.
It was a provocation.
Elric’s hand instinctively tightened.
Crr-ack—
The knife in his hand began to bend.
It was then.
「…Experiencing the wider world and broadening one’s horizons is an important endeavor.」
Tiria’s hand touched Elric’s thigh.
Elric flinched, his body trembling slightly.
His gaze snapped to her.
Tiria was looking at the Armin supply officer with an expressionless face.
「We exchanged letters even while we were apart. My Lord did not neglect his studies abroad for the sake of the territory’s development. I focus on internal affairs, while the Lord focuses on external matters.」
It was a lie.
However, it was a response very much like her.
A social grace that allowed her to deflect rudeness without being rude or aggressive herself was something impossible for Elric.
Suddenly, Elric felt a wave of shame.
What would have happened if he hadn’t controlled his anger just now?
Not only the deal, but his original goal of hiding his identity as Kasha would have ended in failure.
Setting aside the fact that his emotions were shaken by anxiety and unease, such an attitude would not have benefited Wibin.
Reflection stirred within Elric.
Meanwhile, Polo stepped in.
「W-Whatever happened in the past, what does it matter now! Seeing the two of you so harmonious makes me feel good! You truly suit each other!」
Tiria’s fingertips trembled.
「…Thank you for your kind words.」
As she offered her thanks with a slight bow, Polo felt a wave of relief inside.
‘K-Kasha doesn’t seem to hate the idea either…’
Was the situation settled now?
Polo glared at the Armin supply officer with eyes full of fury.
If he had just stayed quiet, he would have been halfway there, but the man just had to poke the hornet’s nest. Like someone obsessed with chasing skirts, his inability to read the room was making Polo’s blood pressure spike.
The Armin supply officer muttered.
「Tsk, how boring.」
‘Shut up!’
Polo screamed inwardly.
Polo had seen clearly what the Armin supply officer, distracted by Tiria, and the Disha supply officer, distracted by the food, had missed.
In that brief moment, though Elric had quickly hidden it, the knife in his hand had been folded exactly in half, rendered useless.
It was a terrifying display of grip strength.
‘Your mouth is quite loose. What a pity. If we had met on the battlefield, I would have twisted your head off.’
Why did those words suddenly come to mind?
No, Polo knew.
If anyone slipped up with their words, either he or the Armin supply officer would have their neck snapped just like that knife.
Polo trembled with fear.
The meal concluded without further incident.
Detailed negotiations were set to begin after a period of rest, and Elric had followed Tiria back to the office.
He had intended to find Polo immediately, but she had called for him.
「My Lord.」
Tiria spoke.
「You did well to endure it.」
She was looking out the window.
Elric’s head was bowed.
Though he had managed to endure it with her help, the behavior of the Armin supply officer was still churning in his gut.
He couldn’t even understand why he was this angry.
「…That man insulted you. Are you alright?」
More than anything else, that was the question that burst out.
Tiria’s gaze turned toward Elric.
Elric met her eyes.
「I know it is wrong for someone who came to strike a deal to use such insulting language toward the seller. He was disrespectful. If you wish, I can have him removed from this territory.」
He was just a supply officer from another country anyway.
If there were concerns about the fallout, he could deal with the man with the help of Elbus Graham.
Elric found it unbearable that she had to endure such insults.
No, to be precise.
‘Have you been enduring things like this all this time?’
Thinking about how much more of this she must have faced during the year after his father passed away made a sense of guilt surge within him.
It was pathetic that he could only fully empathize with the situation by inserting his own emotions.
Because his anger was not purely for her, but layered with resentment toward his own pathetic sins, restraining his temper was no easy task.
It was then.
「If things can pass peacefully, then it is fine. However, considering that such an action could become a seed of discord, must we not eliminate even the smallest possibility?」
Tiria said this as she approached.
Her hand reached out and covered the back of Elric’s hand, which was gripping his cane.
「I do not think you are unaware, but I speak these presumptuous words just in case.」
Her hand was so thin and soft it felt as if it might break at a touch.
Yet, to Elric, that hand felt incredibly firm.
「A noble’s words and deeds must carry weight. It is because every word and every action carries the weight of the entire territory.」
In that moment, Elric realized.
How strong a person she was, and how rational.
And that she was a person worthy of praise.
「I cannot allow the territory to come to harm because of the insults I feel. At the very least, a leader must not do so.」
Knowing how to set oneself aside for the sake of others was truly a great thing.
Perhaps, even if something like this happened again, she would suggest a solution that suppressed her own emotions, just as she did today.
Elric could not do as she did.
He could not be a person like her, and because of that, his thoughts ultimately branched out toward the same path.
Tiria’s grip tightened.
She looked him straight in the eye and spoke.
「But thank you for your concern. That is enough for me.」
Her face was expressionless, and her words were somewhat formal.
Yet, the moment he heard those words and saw her eyes, a thought snagged in his mind like a thorn.
‘If I…’
If he left again, would she have to live her whole life enduring things like today?
For some reason, that thought felt painful, planting an emotion in Elric’s heart that he could not yet define.
The Wife Waited in the Wheat Field (Serial)
