Chosen by the Northern Grand Duke Chapter 57 : Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Upset (2)

For the past week.

Elaine ca by at the drop of a hat.

Literally, it was really ‘at the drop of a hat.’

As if to prove her words that she would live however she damn well pleased, Elaine followed around.

“Unfortunately, I didn't have a dream last night. Let's go get so breakfast.”

Elaine would visit the annex in the morning.

“Kubel’s skill is astounding no matter how many tis I experience it. Let's go get so lunch.”

She ca for lunch, and she ca for dinner.

“Let's have a drink. I think it helps with dreaming. Ah, ask Kubel for so late-night snacks.”

She even ca at night.

Or she was with from morning until night.

For , it was a daily routine that hadn't changed much.

Elaine or Ellen, they were the sa person in the end.

There was no reason to refuse.

It ant that much trust had been built.

It also reminded of my past life.

‘What’s the problem?’

Across the table, Ellen’s eyes were blazing with anger.

I could not understand that fury.

“Why on earth are you angry?”

“I told you. I’m asking why you didn’t co out.”

Asking why I didn't co out for a drink.

Elaine had emptied five bottles by herself just last night.

I had waited until she finished them all.

“I drank with the Grand Heir. For the entire past week.”

“Exactly. You didn’t drink with .”

Ah.

‘So that’s the concept.’

Only then did I start to get a grasp of it.

It was only from my perspective that they were one and the sa; for Ellen, it wasn't.

She had to get angry like this, even if it was just for show.

Whatever the truth, from Ellen's perspective, she hadn't t for a week.

“You have to understand. How could I refuse when the Grand Heir asked to drink?”

“Why can’t you. You even talk back to His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“……?”

“You should have refused and co out.”

It was definitely a concept, yet the emotion I felt from her was strangely intense.

‘Wasn’t giving in once supposed to be the end of it?’

Ellen was acting not like she was playing a role, but like soone who was genuinely angry.

“Ah, it must be because of this.”

I pointed to Patern, tucked into my belt.

Co to think of it, we hadn't properly settled the score yet.

It was because the person I had been eting was Elaine, not Ellen.

“What are you talking about. That’s your share. What have you been listening to all this ti?”

Ellen was straightforward. And at the sa ti, persistent.

I stroked my chin.

“Alright. Let's sort this out. You're angry because I didn't drink with you. Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Is that really all?”

“What else is there.”

Ellen’s eyes narrowed.

“Nothing. I understand.”

In truth, I didn't.

‘Why that?’

I turned my head and t Kubel’s eyes.

Apologize, apologize. Kubel mouthed the words.

“Sorry?”

“Kubel, you can leave.”

As I recited the word, Ellen kicked Kubel out.

It was the first ti I realized that large fra could walk without a sound.

“We agreed to et regularly. Every day, if possible.”

“Didn’t you say you didn't want every day?”

“That was only at the beginning.”

The main reason was that I could distinguish Mages.

With , Ellen didn't have to suspect if there were Mages around.

“Do you know how irritated I was?”

It ant she was tired of suspecting her surroundings for the past week.

To my ears, it was a clear lie.

I could guarantee Elaine didn't have the ti for that.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re only saying that because Kubel told you to.”

“……”

“It’s true, isn’t it?”

Ellen’s gaze beca even more nacing.

I avoided her gaze and sank into thought.

First, I had to humor her.

In this relationship, I was the one with more to lose.

It had been that way since I regressed.

‘Why was she irritated?’

Suspecting her surroundings was a lie, but the irritation was real.

Ellen was showing her irritation right in front of .

‘To avoid suspicion that they’re the sa person?’

If that was the case, she had achieved it long ago.

I stubbornly refused to try and connect Elaine and Ellen.

In front of Elaine, I didn't even bring up Ellen.

‘What is the right answer.’

There must be an answer she wanted.

‘She said it wasn't Patern. The apology was wrong too. Ah, does she an we should stop eting when she's Elaine?’

But Elaine was the one who had been visiting.

“Must be nice for you, now that the Grand Heir is cozying up to you.”

“That may be true, but you’re better.”

“What are you talking about.”

“I’m serious.”

I was more comfortable with Ellen than Elaine.

I wasn't yet on terms with Elaine to speak so freely.

‘Ah.’

Only then did I realize.

It was for the sa reason as mine.

The point wasn't the alcohol, but the eting.

‘She's also more comfortable as Ellen.’

Words she couldn't say as Elaine, she could say indirectly as Ellen.

That must have been what was frustrating Ellen.

“You say you like better, but then why didn’t you co to see ?”

“I was going to.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I was afraid the Grand Heir would harm .”

“What kind of bullshit is that.”

Ellen furrowed her brow.

Just now, that Ellen was Elaine.

‘This is difficult.’

But I had a hunch.

I realized why the earlier apology was rejected. It was because of Kubel. There was no sincerity in it.

“I’m sorry.”

Ellen's gaze turned peculiar.

She looked flustered herself.

Now that she received an apology, she looked as if she didn't know why she should be the one receiving it in the first place.

Or maybe she didn't know why she was angry to begin with.

“I made a mistake. Please let it slide just this once.”

“……”

“I won’t do it again.”

“……The Grand Heir will probably ask you to drink tonight too, you know?”

“I’ll refuse.”

Ellen’s arms uncrossed.

“You’ll get hurt if you do that.”

“I’ll take the hit, I guess.”

Ellen’s expression twitched.

She seed happy to be able to hit legally.

“Just tell her to hit lightly.”

“……I’ll try to tell her.”

It was clear her anger had subsided.

Her defiant posture had relaxed and was now turned toward .

“I’m thinking of following the smoke from the Watchtower. Not all the way, just a few steps.”

“……Ha, is that why you ca to see ?”

Ellen crossed her arms again.

“You were going to tell that to the Grand Heir too, right? Since you were looking for the Grand Heir at first?”

Ellen seed to have overheard what I said to Kubel outside. She had good ears.

“Ah, that’s not it.”

I said with confidence.

“I was planning to tell this to you.”

“Why. Go with the Grand Heir you like so much.”

“I told you, I like you better.”

“……”

“I’m not that close with the Grand Heir. How could I trust her with my front or my back?”

It was a mistake, I realized as I said it.

Just before, when I blad Elaine, Ellen had furrowed her brow.

It was because they were the sa person.

I had to side with both Ellen and Elaine at the sa ti.

“Ah, it’s not that I don’t trust the Grand Heir……”

“You trust more?”

“Exactly.”

Contrary to my expectation, Ellen’s response was soft.

She had been angry just a mont ago.

‘What’s different?’

In the North, trust was important.

And violence was a daily routine.

‘I would think saying we’re not close would be worse than saying I’m afraid she’ll harm .’

I decided to let it be.

It seed like a problem I couldn't solve.

“But you can’t.”

“Why?”

“You said you used up the bead.”

I now had no way to heal.

“It was sothing I didn't have in the first place.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“The one who cherishes my body the most is . I have no intention of overdoing it.”

“……”

At those words, Ellen stared at intently.

Her expression was peculiar. It looked like she was displeased, but also happy.

‘It must be because it’s dangerous. But she wants to go.’

The smoke from the Watchtower was connected to the second wall.

It was the most dangerous place in the Boundary.

One wrong move and Serzila would lose its only heir.

“Just a few steps. If I think it’s not right, I’ll turn back imdiately.”

Of course, that wouldn't happen.

Even if it did, I would make it not happen. The most important thing to was Elaine.

“……When are we going.”

“Let’s go tomorrow, we need to have a drink today.”

“Okay.”

As if she had never been angry, the corners of Ellen’s mouth twitched into a smile.

‘Easy, yet difficult.’

Then and now, Elaine was that kind of person.

* * *

As I was manifesting fire in the annex, Kubel ca to visit.

It was around the ti the sun had set.

“Did you sort things out?”

Kubel’s face was bright as he said so.

It was likely thanks to Ellen’s anger having subsided.

“Where is Ellen?”

“She went to pick up Shura.”

In the afternoons, Shura would go to play in the alley where Ellen was the boss.

Ellen was responsible for her coming and going.

“Thanks to you, it was sorted out well.”

Kubel looked at silently.

He seed to want to hear the details.

“It was nothing much. She seed to be upset that we couldn't et for a while.”

Kubel nodded.

Co to think of it, Kubel already knew the answer. That's why he had told to apologize.

“……Is that all?”

“Is there more?”

I tilted my head.

“Ah, she must have been irritated too. Since Ellen had to constantly suspect her surroundings while I was gone.”

I added, matching Kubel’s perspective.

To him, Elaine and Ellen were different people.

“I don’t think that’s it.”

But Kubel let out a sigh.

“Lady Ellen was probably upset about the fact that Harad didn't look for her.”

“Isn't that what I just said?”

“It’s different.”

Kubel spoke as if guessing.

It wasn't because he was unsure, but as a courtesy to .

“Not because you couldn't et, but because you didn't look for her.”

The two were similar, yet different.

“Did you perhaps also talk about the Grand Heir and Lady Ellen?”

“No. I didn’t.”

I didn't bother to ntion it.

Because if I touched upon it, Elaine might beco cautious.

“She was probably upset about that too.”

I didn't refute it.

It was a reason I couldn't explain to Kubel.

“It wouldn't have mattered that you couldn't et. If only you had looked for Lady Ellen.”

I thought from Kubel's perspective.

The perspective of soone who doesn't know Elaine and Ellen are the sa person.

“Indeed. That could be it. It would look like I was friendly with the collateral branch, then jumped at the direct heir when she approached.”

It might have looked that way in Kubel’s eyes.

“In your eyes, I must have looked like an opportunist.”

“……”

Kubel’s eyes grew cold.

“Am I wrong?”

“Yes. You are not. I know well that Harad is not that kind of person.”

“Then why are you looking at with those eyes?”

“Lady Ellen…… Ah.”

Kubel suddenly turned his head.

The smoke spread around the annex was reacting. It ant Ellen and Shura had arrived.

“You should go. I understand enough.”

“……”

* * *

‘The Grand Heir will probably ask you to drink tonight too, you know?’

It was just as Ellen had predicted.

As soon as the sun set, Elaine burst open the door of the annex.

The hinges scread, but they didn't break. It ant her anger had completely subsided.

“Why have you co.”

As Ellen had warned, I was waiting for Elaine on the first floor.

Elaine, who spotted , smiled brightly.

“I ca for a drink. A rare one.”

Elaine shook a liquor bottle bigger than her head.

“I’m sorry, but I have a prior engagent.”

“A prior engagent? With whom?”

Elaine slightly knitted her brows.

The expression was incredibly natural.

“I have arranged to drink with Ellen.”

“Cancel it.”

Elaine said in a feigned, resolute tone.

“If I say I ca to see you, Ellen will understand.”

I couldn't fall for this.

That was a trap.

“I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

“……”

Elaine’s face stiffened.

I prepared to be hit.

Since I had told her beforehand, she would hit lightly.

Still, Innate Strength was Innate Strength…

“I understand.”

A fist didn't fly at .

Elaine imdiately turned around and left the annex area with quick steps.

“……?”

I waited for a mont before leaving the annex.

The drinking appointnt was at the Snow Leopard’s Footprint.

Ellen had decided so at so point.

Ellen was the type of person who had to smoke when she drank.

It was sothing that shouldn't be done in Kubel's annex where Shura was.

“You’re late.”

“I’m sorry.”

I had deliberately given her ti to disguise herself, but Ellen was already waiting inside.

Not at the bar, but at a table in the corner.

“It’s unusual for you not to be at the bar.”

“Because I brought a rare liquor.”

Ellen said, and then placed the liquor bottle she had hidden on the floor onto the table.

It was a different liquor from the one Elaine had brought earlier.

“A rare liquor?”

“Yes. It's a liquor only Serzila can drink.”

The Serzila family had enjoyed liquor for generations.

There was a liquor that only Serzila could drink.

“Is it okay for you to give sothing like that to ?”

“Of course, it's a secret. I'm specially giving it only to you.”

Ellen pulled out the cork with her pincer-like fingers.

“Consider it an honor.”

Ellen smiled like a rascal and poured the liquor.

The aroma of the liquor was extrely strong. Yet it was also sweet.

It was a liquor I rembered.

-I am specially giving this only to you. Consider it an honor.

It was the liquor we drank together when Elaine ascended to the position of Grand Duke.

-This is the liquor I love the most.

I looked at Ellen.

Ellen, who had downed a glass, was grinning. I looked at that face a little longer.

It was the sa face as the Elaine I saw before I died, but the smile it held was still different.

“Is this a liquor you love?”

“What? Not to that extent.”

For so reason, that made feel upset.

I paused with the glass at my lips.

The fragrance that had been swirling in my mouth lingered heavily.

‘Upset?’

Why?