Chapter 6
We Are Strangers Now
Episode 6
“Can you even get food down your throat right now?”
Erich’s irritable voice echoed through the office.
Dante, appearing over the video communication stone, spoke tentatively.
[Then what, should I starve to death…?]
“Dante Renaud.”
[I’m just grabbing a quick bite because I don’t think I can carry out the mission otherwise. What if I die before I even find Elisha?]
Dante grumbled, putting on a mock-sorrowful face. Instead of answering, Erich pressed a fingertip firmly against his temple.
Watching him, Dante suddenly had a hunch and asked cautiously.
[No way.]
“…….”
[You haven’t been starving yourself this whole time, have you…?]
“I asked if you could even get food down at a time like this.”
[Are you cra—no, have you gone mad, Your Majesty?]
Dante dropped the bread he was eating and asked blankly. Regardless, Erich continued to tap the edge of his desk with a furrowed brow.
It had already been a week since Elisha vanished.
It would be a lie to say he hadn’t eaten at all during that time, but Erich had not picked up his cutlery with a peaceful mind for even a single moment.
To the point where he couldn’t even remember what he had eaten or how it had tasted.
[You are sleeping, right?]
“…….”
[If this disappearance continues, you’re the one who’s going to collapse in the end. You need to manage your stamina at times like this.]
Besides, you’re in a position where you ‘must’ be fine.
Dante Renaud spoke with a slightly hardened voice, unlike his usual self. Erich gave a small nod without saying much.
Dante was absolutely right.
The throne he had just ascended was a position that must not be shaken by anything.
Even if he was anxious, he must not show it; even if he was exhausted, he must not let it be known.
While every position carried its own responsibility, the weight Erich bore was bound to be twice that of anyone else.
In such a situation, if the fact that Elisha had disappeared became known….
“What about Elisha?”
At the mere thought, Erich’s head began to throb. He let out a short sigh and asked.
Dante picked up a new piece of bread and replied.
[Not a trace.]
“…….”
[Honestly, with her looks, she’s hard to forget once you’ve seen her, but not a single witness has come forward. It’s certain she’s not here, at least.]
After finishing, Dante lowered his eyebrows, gauging Erich’s reaction.
It wasn’t as if he was intentionally hiding Elisha’s trail, so he didn’t know why he felt the need to be so cautious, but what could he do?
No matter how close they were as friends, fundamentally, Erich was the high-and-mighty Emperor, and he was the subordinate who had to do as he was told.
‘The problem is that he’s pushing me way too hard.’
Immediately after Elisha disappeared, Dante had left the capital to track her down on behalf of Erich, who could not leave his post.
It was a grueling schedule, even for the Magic Knight Commander, who was considered second only to Elisha.
Constant long-distance teleportation, lack of sleep, and now he was even being scolded for eating.
[Erich.]
Dante, who had been lost in thought for a moment, spoke with an incredibly serious expression.
[When this mission is over, you’re definitely going to take care of the overtime pay and travel expenses, right?]
“Dante Renaud.”
[And I believe that if I manage to persuade Elisha and bring her back, you should give me a bonus as befitting an Emperor.]
Because that’s the hardest mission of all.
Dante finished and lifted his chin as if he wouldn’t back down.
Erich glared at the communication stone for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
“I’ll add a month of paid leave.”
[I shall do my very best.]
As soon as Erich finished speaking, Dante smiled brightly and saluted.
He had to find Elisha no matter what. He would find her and bring her before Erich.
Of course, that required the premise that Elisha would actually show herself to him.
“As long as you bring Elisha back, I’ll give you whatever you want.”
Erich spoke, his dark, sunken eyes fixed on Dante. For a moment, Dante unconsciously swallowed hard.
It was the gaze of a predator on the hunt.
“So, use whatever means necessary to bring her before me.”
Erich spat out the words as he stared at Elisha’s letter occupying a corner of his desk.
Instead of answering, Dante simply bowed his head slightly in a show of obedience.
How long had it been since he had seen Erich like this?
If Elisha had seen it, she probably would have tried to deal with him, saying, ‘That boy isn’t Erich.’
[I’ll contact you again if I find any traces.]
With Dante’s final words, the video stone’s connection was severed.
Erich leaned back against his chair and let out a long breath.
He hadn’t expected to find Elisha easily, but he couldn’t help feeling anxious.
The longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it became for him.
There was the moral responsibility of failing to keep the previous Emperor’s final wish, the pressure that would follow the disappearance of the Grand Mage, and the weakening of military power.
But those weren’t the only reasons he felt so uneasy.
Even setting all of that aside.
‘……Elisha.’
She was someone who had never left the imperial palace on her own.
He didn’t know what kind of life she had lived before coming to the palace, but it was certain that her entire lifestyle was now tailored to it.
A person who had never even changed her own clothes, someone who only ate food prepared by the palace’s head chef.
‘There’s no way she can adapt to a changed environment overnight.’
Erich covered his eyes with the back of his hand and let out another deep sigh.
Was she sleeping properly? Was she perhaps going hungry?
Surely she wouldn’t get caught up in anything dangerous…. No, probably not. She was a Grand Mage, after all.
In fact, the ones he should really be worried about were the people who might try to pick a fight with her.
“Elisha.”
But what can I do?
The one I’m truly worried about isn’t the people who can’t even lay a finger on you, it’s just you.
He ran a hand through his hair, imagining the white hair flickering behind his eyelids.
“……Eli.”
If I can’t find you, I’d rather you suffer enough to come back to the palace on your own feet.
‘Because you don’t have to keep a shitty promise like that.’
“Is the food to your liking?”
The man sitting at Elisha’s table, resting his chin on his hand, asked with eyes sparkling.
Elisha pointedly avoided his gaze and gave a slight nod.
Was his name Jonathan?
The owner of this inn, and the person who had tried to kick her out on the first day because she had no money.
“I’ve changed all the bedding to fresh ones. The steak was made from lamb I picked out myself this morning, so if it smells or is too tough, I’ll make it again for you.”
That man was now acting with an incredibly kind smile. Although, even with the smile, his impression remained just as fierce.
Elisha simply nodded again without much of a reply.
Even the maids at the imperial palace hadn’t been this attentive to her every move.
‘Is the value of an artifact this high in the market?’
If so, it seemed she wouldn’t have much trouble living in the future.
Elisha put down her fork and organized her thoughts.
She was staying here for now since she hadn’t decided on a destination yet, but once she chose a place, she would have to purchase a new residence immediately.
She couldn’t live a wandering life forever.
“By the way.”
Elisha spoke up lightly. At the same time, Jonathan leaned his upper body toward her and nodded.
It was quite a burdensome attitude.
“Is there a place fit for a person to live in Cardion?”
“Aren’t there plenty of places to live? This is the Cardion Empire, after all.”
Wherever you settle down is your home.
Jonathan chuckled, tugging at the end of his mustache.
“I don’t think you’re asking a question with an obvious answer. If you tell me your exact conditions, I’ll give you a recommendation.”
An innkeeper’s information network is as good as any information guild, you know.
Jonathan spoke with a shrug. Elisha pursed her lips for a moment before speaking slowly.
Exact conditions.
“First, a quiet place.”
Because she hated noise.
“Then it’s definitely not around here.”
“Also, I’d like it if there aren’t many people.”
It was better to prevent any chance of meeting someone who might recognize her.
“Then you’ll have to leave the capital first.”
“And above all, a place that is out of the Emperor’s sight, but where I can immediately find out if something happens at the palace.”
Erich wouldn’t actively come looking for her, but it was better to stay as inconspicuous as possible just in case.
As someone who had to uphold the previous Emperor’s will, Erich wouldn’t be able to ignore a fiancée who appeared before his eyes.
But if she were too far away, she wouldn’t be able to respond in time if Cardion fell into danger….
“You, by any chance.”
It was while Elisha was lost in various thoughts.
Jonathan pulled his upper body back from Elisha and spoke.
“Are you on bad terms with the Imperial Family?”
Elisha blinked slowly and replied lightly.
“The Emperor doesn’t like me.”
It had been quite a while since she had heard a proper answer from Erich, but it was likely the same now.
Given that he had been intentionally delaying the national wedding ever since Bernhardt’s funeral ended.
“……Did you offend His Majesty the Emperor?”
Jonathan asked again, his face growing slightly pale.
Elisha tilted her head slightly with an expressionless face.
Whether she had offended Erich.
“Quite often?”
“If it’s often, how much?”
“More times than I can count.”
Their very first meeting must have been like a nightmare to Erich, after all.
At Elisha’s words, which were spoken calmly as if merely relaying facts, Jonathan clutched his head with both hands.
Then, he seemed to contemplate seriously for a moment.
“Well, since I’ve already received the item—no, accepted it—there’s nothing I can do.”
“…….”
“An innkeeper’s life needs an incident like this at least once.”
“……?”
“I’ll hide you while you’re staying here.”
Because that’s what loyalty is.
He nodded his head with a remarkably determined look in his eyes.
