Ch#54
Regardless of his inner thoughts, Elric’s response was already decided.
“……I am grateful for your kindness.”
Too many eyes were watching. A baron from a minor nation could not simply drop formalities with the third son of the Empire’s core family on a whim.
Elric had no choice but to play along with his rhythm.
Meanwhile, Elbus grabbed Elric’s hands in his.
“Oh, why so stiff? Speak comfortably. As I said yesterday, I am not a shallow man who would treat his life’s savior with such coldness.”
Elric’s eyebrow twitched.
“Brothers is a bit much, and lovers is even more skin-crawling, so let’s compromise on friends. You are my dear close friend starting today.”
If one were to describe the feeling of wanting to plant a fist into that beaming face, it would sum up Elric’s mood perfectly.
“……I am overwhelmed by the honor.”
“My goodness, who speaks so formally to a close friend?”
“Haha…….”
“Come now, you should call me Elbus comfortably as well.”
Elbus’s eyes sparkled.
That in itself was creepy enough, but what was even more chilling was the envious gazes of the surrounding nobles.
Simply because Elbus was showing him favor, the looks of blatant disregard had shifted in an instant.
It was so absurd that Elric couldn’t even bring himself to laugh.
‘They’re all fools.’
The nature of aristocratic society truly did not suit Elric.
Regardless, he could clearly sense what Elbus was aiming for.
‘He’s providing me protection.’
Elric wasn’t stupid enough to not know what it meant for the Graham family of the Empire to protect the Portmans.
The interactions with other nobles that Tiria had worried about would likely become much smoother than before.
In fact, observing her aura, he could sense a small flicker of satisfaction amidst her overall disapproval.
That is, if he wasn’t mistaken.
“Now, now, let’s not stay here; let’s go somewhere private for a deeper conversation. The story you briefly told me yesterday about the cultural differences between the continent’s regions was truly fascinating.”
The man certainly had a knack for coming up with excuses.
Elric stole a glance at Tiria.
She contemplated for a moment before nodding with a soft sigh.
“We shall speak later.”
Can we just not speak at all?
The question almost slipped out reflexively.
Elric praised his own patience for holding back the words.
“Then I shall be back after a short conversation.”
“Yes.”
With that, Elric exited the banquet hall.
It was immediately after they walked down the hallway and entered the private lounge assigned to Elbus.
“What on earth were you thinking, doing that?”
Elric asked immediately, making no effort to hide his anger.
While he was grateful for the intention to provide protection, he wasn’t pleased about being thrust into the spotlight for no reason.
If he was going to do something like that, there should have been at least a minimal consultation.
Normally, Elric would have grabbed him by the collar by now.
The only reason he was putting up with it was because the man was Elbus Graham.
He was applying a broader standard of patience to his friend.
Elbus shrugged.
“Calm down. I had no choice.”
“……What?”
“That Nimrud fellow was about to spout nonsense. He blurted out your name during the interrogation.”
Elric flinched, his body tensing.
Anxiety rose within him, only to be extinguished by Elbus’s next words.
“Don’t worry. I killed him before he could cause any more trouble.”
He was smiling, even though it wasn’t a story to be told with a grin.
It wasn’t surprising, though. This was exactly the kind of man Elbus Graham was.
Elbus continued, his characteristic smile remaining fixed.
“Anyway, since that connection was made, I had to come up with an excuse quickly. And you are severely underestimating my protection.”
“……What is that supposed to mean?”
Protection was protection; he didn’t see how he was underestimating anything.
When Elric asked, his momentum dying down out of embarrassment for his outburst, Elbus chuckled and replied.
“I am a Graham. A family among families, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Imperial Household.”
“So what?”
“To be a foreign noble under my protection is effectively the same as being a noble who has been granted permission for all forms of exchange with the Empire.”
Elbus made a circle with his thumb and index finger.
“It means you’ve become a man destined to sit on a mountain of gold. And it means you’ve become the person the nobles of Ferdin must stay on the best terms with.”
Only then did Elric understand his words more clearly.
His eyes widened slightly.
“There, that’s a much better expression.”
Elbus said.
“I wouldn’t exactly call it an investigation…… but I heard a few things during the banquet yesterday. It seems your and your wife’s standing isn’t very good?”
“That is…….”
“Listen, Elric. If you intend to live as a noble, do not over-rely on your personal martial prowess.”
Elric frowned.
“I’ve never over-relied on it. On the contrary, I’m agonizing over how to solve things without using force.”
“No, you are over-relying on it.”
Elbus picked up a refreshment from the table.
“You don’t know how cunning they are. You don’t know how petty they can be. You might not be affected by such things, but what about your wife and your territory? Can you protect them all by yourself? Can you guarantee you’ll be able to do so forever? You cannot cover the sky with a single palm. If you think that’s possible, you’re merely deluding yourself into thinking the sky is within your hand.”
Elric was speechless.
What Elbus was pushing forward was reality.
“I know you have no intention of returning to the battlefield right now. If that is your choice, I won’t stop you. That is why I’m telling you this.”
He swallowed the refreshment in one bite.
“If you’re going to stay in your hometown, think about the things you must protect. Most humans ultimately need society. They constantly crave stability within that society. They aren’t like you.”
“My wife is……”
“A noble. She is a woman born as a noble and educated as a noble. She seems like a good person. But in the end, she is an aristocrat. The well-being of the territory cannot be absent from her definition of happiness.”
It was undeniably true.
Most of Tiria’s daily routine was dedicated to the operation and management of the territory, and she was the type to take pride in that work.
It wasn’t a bad thing.
In fact, it was something that deserved respect.
If that was the form of happiness she desired, then he needed to care about it as well.
Elric looked at Elbus.
The man seemed to have taken a liking to the refreshments, as he kept reaching out to munch on biscuits.
He was a man who always managed to strike at a blind spot at the strangest moments.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. By the way, these snacks are truly delicious.”
“I heard they have a famous patissier.”
“Really? Maybe I should meet them before I leave.”
“Recruiting them would be a problem. My wife likes those snacks. She’d be quite sad if she couldn’t eat them when we come back next year.”
“Quite the devoted husband, aren’t you?”
“Let’s just say I’m the type who regrets not being devoted enough.”
“Why regret? You just have to do well from now on.”
A playful look crossed his face.
“They say that rather than a person who does well nine times and fails once, the opposite creates a much deeper impression on the other person.”
Elric smirked as he replied.
“Is that why you’re always out having affairs?”
“I am merely pursuing romance.”
“It’s a mystery how you’re still alive.”
“It’s thanks to Ailee being generous. Hmm, I still remember. She said she’d give up on me because there was no point in even breaking my legs.”
“You really are a terrible husband.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Only then did the atmosphere soften.
Elric let out a chuckle and shared stories from their time apart.
Among the news, there were a few specific items.
“Oh, right. I received the letter you sent. I handled that matter exactly as written.”
“Is that so?”
“The money you left with me has grown so much that using it to cover trade costs didn’t even leave a scratch.”
It was a story about the money he had amassed while working as a mercenary.
Since Elric had no talent for managing money to begin with, he had entrusted all his earnings to Elbus to be invested in various places.
He didn’t know the exact amount, but it surely wasn’t a small sum.
Suddenly, Elric thought.
‘Just in case something happens……’
Since he was here anyway, it would be good to be prepared.
“Listen, Elbus.”
“Hmm?”
“About those assets. Change the beneficiary.”
Elbus’s body jolted for a moment.
A grimace appeared on his face, one that openly expressed blatant discomfort.
“……Did someone catch you in a weakness? Or is it black magic?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s suspicious that you’re trying to give up everything, even your very liver and gallbladder.”
What on earth was he saying?
Elric dismissed his nonsense.
“Won’t that money go to you anyway if I die? It’s only right to give it to my wife instead of you.”
“If you actually died, your wife would probably faint from the shock.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s nothing.”
As he replied, Elbus let out a series of chuckles.
It was because it was so hilarious that Elric had no idea just how vast his own fortune was.
‘I wonder when you’ll realize you could buy an entire country with the money in your vault?’
The wealth he had gathered by plundering the treasuries of four kingdoms during his time as the Sword Demon Kasha had more than doubled as his investments proved successful.
‘Since he never asks, it feels a bit petty to tell him the amount first.’
For now, he decided to keep his mouth shut.
Elbus began to look forward to the day Elric would finally check his own assets.
The Wife Waited in the Wheat Field (Serial)
