"That filthy monster dares to do that?!" She blurted out, overwhelmed by surging anger and shame, the moment she stepped into her room.
She had only intended to drive that talking monster out of Ladia, how could things have turned out like this? She never imagined that monster possessed such an ability… Although she had heard rumors of them carrying people, she had been careless, thinking that the speed of monsters carrying people was nothing special. But… even more… while moving at that speed, riding on its back, she felt a strange comfort… even forgetting that she was riding a monster, subconsciously marveling at it…
"It's utterly shameful!" No, none of that mattered for now.
The most troublesome thing now was that her plan to drive away that monster had completely collapsed.
How could that monster… even if it was incredibly fast, how could it find Albert in that vast land…? They forcibly expelled him without Albert's knowledge, and even made thorough preparations for the aftermath…!
Now it's all gone!
Just like that…!
Is this land that Albert and I protected meant to allow that disgusting monster to exist?!
"Huff…! Ugh…!" I feel so suffocated…!
I can almost smell the monster's stench; it's impossible to breathe…!
Ha… Albert… the look in your eyes when you looked at me in the carriage today was full of disappointment… but why can't you understand?
Albert… you clearly… know very well what monsters are… As the hero who saved me, why are you now getting close to such monsters?
Beasts called monsters are a calamity that cannot coexist with humans.
No matter what you call divine beasts or anything like that, this fact won't change… why can't you understand…? "…Huff."
…Calm down, think about what to do next.
…Albert… although your eyes showed disappointment, you didn't fly into a rage… which means you still understand my feelings, right?
I must have a serious talk with Albert.
As for that monster… while it's regrettable that I couldn't drive her out of Radhia, there are ways.
As long as I make her life in Radhia miserable, I have plenty of ways to keep her there.
Albert and my home. My hometown, Radhia… I will never let that monster defile this place.
…But before that, Albert clearly stated that the detention order must be revoked and a formal apology must be made… I can't bear to disappoint my husband again… though I'm unwilling, for now… I can only endure it. "…That monster. How dare she…"
…Make me apologize? Fine. I'll apologize however I want now.
A mere monster dares to dream of being an adventurer… then I'll give it a gift that will make adventurers envious.
Kneeling or anything like that is impossible from a noble's perspective… that monster probably doesn't want to be an enemy of nobles either… hmm.
Fine.
Give it a valuable gift that ordinary adventurers can hardly obtain, and it should know when to back down.
Enjoy yourself. Disgusting monster.
But in exchange… I will banish you from this city of Ladia.
......
"Oh dear~ for gracing my humble abode. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Lady Celestia." Too lazy to delay any longer, she went straight to the building where the monster was, without even having breakfast, accompanied by two servants.
Because she didn't even want to make eye contact, she had planned to just deliver the gift and leave… really, how did she know I was outside?
This monster?
"Considering that it would be noisy if others saw me, I deliberately chose this time to come. Please be grateful."
"Ah, yes~ Haha. Thank you very much, Lady Celestia." Ha… that unpleasant smile and expression… why can someone be so ugly…? Looking at her figure alone, it's not bad, but that dark skin is… truly, utterly disgusting.
"I need to finish this quickly and get back..." Thinking this, I gave the servants a wink. They, already prepared, placed the items before the monster. "...What is this?"
"These are gifts to apologize for yesterday's events. You said you were an adventurer, right? These are all rare items; please accept them."
Just as I was about to quickly board the carriage and leave... the disgusting monster called out to me in an incredulous tone.
"Please wait. Where are you going?"
"...I'm going back now that I've finished my business. The stench of wild beasts here is unbearable; I just wanted to leave quickly."
"Your business isn't finished yet, is it? Shouldn't you kneel down and apologize?"
"...Tsk."
Ha...what is this monster saying now...? A noblewoman, and the lord's wife at that, expects a monster like you to kneel before me? "...Do you think the kingdom's nobles would kneel so easily? With just that little gift..."
"What gift? Noble, you're changing your address so casually! It seems all the kingdom's nobles are like this." "..." "Oh dear, such an old man who can't even apologize properly is a noble from the Kingdom of Reinhard? Utterly disappointing. If the kingdom's nobles are like this, the kingdom's future is predictable."
"Uh...! This, this monster...!"
"Ah~ When will the lord return~"
This, this insolent monster dares to...!
What an utterly audacious beast!?
A noble has come to visit in person with gifts; shouldn't you be the one kneeling and bowing!?
"Are you trying to humiliate me?"
"Humiliate me? I'm just doing my duty. It's your casual attempt to brush me off with a gift that's more shameful, isn't it?"
"You, you…! You can't even speak properly…!"
"Alright, alright, don't blush with your joke. We'll be seeing each other often in the future, it would be too impolite to part like this. Please have a cup of tea before you go."
What's the point of saying all this now… Why should I drink tea with a monster like you…
"My companion and the Saintess are brewing tea. Since we're going to see the Saintess, why not take this opportunity to chat? If we continue to hold grudges, it will be very awkward in front of the Lord, won't it?"
Ha… that Saintess… Well, as long as this monster is still in Ladia, I'll inevitably have to see that Saintess.
I have to put Albert at ease… Alright. Hiding my true feelings while having a cup of tea... "...Haa. I'll be right there, please wait a moment."
"Understood. Lady Celestia."
......
"Oh my. You've arrived. Count Celestia."
"Yes. I'm bothering you so early in the morning. Saintess." After boarding the magic elevator with the monster, enduring the suffocating smell of the beast, and reaching the 8th floor... a saintess in light clothing greeted me in front of the elevator.
While it was attire suitable for going out, it was far too casual for a saintess... Could it be...? "...Could it be that you, Saintess, also live here?"
"Yes, yes. It's more convenient to move around this way."
...What?! Living with such a beast... I really can't understand it. This generation's Saintess.
"You've arrived. Countess~ Please come this way~ Master~ Everything is ready
♡" A woman dressed in utterly vulgar clothes appeared at the entrance, beckoning me over.
I saw it yesterday too. Doesn't that woman have any shame...? But could it be... that woman lives here too...?
...These two women, could it be...? Impossible...?
"I wonder if it suits your taste, Earl? Since you haven't had breakfast yet, I made it a little stronger."
Although tidy, the spacious living room, with its sparse furniture, felt somewhat empty.
The saintess and the woman who led me to the table placed a cup of cloudy tea in front of me.
This cloudy brown color, mixed with grayish-white... is it some kind of milk tea...? ...I feel like something's floating around... "...Ah, okay. Thank you."
"You're welcome~ Here, Claire. And this is for you, Master."
♡
The saintess and the red-haired woman who guided me had the same tea as me, while the monster sitting opposite me had a cup of clear, crimson tea.
Am I the only one drinking different tea? That's really impolite... Oh well, I won't be spending much time with that monster anyway, getting angry about everything will only hurt me.
"Thank you for your hospitality. I can't stay long; I'll leave as soon as I finish this tea. The gift will stay; you can open it and look at it at your leisure. I think you'll like it."
"Haha. Actually, there was no need to prepare a gift. Thank you very much, Lady Celestia."
Heh. Yes. If only you had been this obedient from the beginning.
However.
Of course, even so, I didn't intend to keep you with Radia... I should hurry up and finish my tea and get up...!? "...!? What, what kind of tea is this...!?"
"Oh dear, what's wrong, Earl? Is it not to your liking?"
"Why is it so thick? Is this really tea?"
"Hehe...
♡This is a tea that's recently become popular
♡Isn't the taste quite nice?"
"Taste...?"
"...Well, although I was somewhat surprised by its unexpected thickness... Surprisingly, the taste, how should I put it, isn't bad... Upon tasting it, a certain... An indescribable, intense aroma instantly spread… The aroma wasn't subtly unpleasant… Coupled with a strange, thick sensation that seemed to stick to my mouth… It felt familiar, a bizarre taste spreading across my tongue… a taste I couldn't quite remember, as if hundreds of times more concentrated… an indescribable, wondrous flavor, but strangely… it had an irresistible allure.
And… when swallowing, that sticky feeling in my throat… it was strangely addictive… "…Hehe♡ Want another cup?" "…Ah… um. Please." Oh dear, without realizing it… um. Am I thirsty? I was about to get up, but involuntarily… well, this tea… isn't bad…
…And so, I was inexplicably drawn to the thick tea, drinking as much as it was given… When I came to my senses, I realized I'd unknowingly drunk 12 cups.
I was just about to get up… how did I end up drinking like this…? Even though I only filled my stomach with tea, my body felt strangely satisfied… and then…
…sometimes before my eyes, wild beasts appeared, along with women smiling at me…
and they started chatting and laughing… That's not why I came along…? "...This tea. It's really quite good. What's it called?"
"Hehe
♡I'm sorry, Earl. Actually, this isn't for sale; I made it myself.
♡I was thinking of developing it as a new business for our guild in the future.
♡What do you think?"
"Oh...is that so? Miss Lisbeth. You're truly talented. This will definitely sell very well, won't it?"
"Thank you for your praise, Earl~"
As expected...she made it herself.
Although I don't know how she mixed it, if it's this, it'll definitely be very popular among the nobles.
Hmm...she's a mage like me; it's a shame that a guild created by such a monster would take her in.
If she just changed the taste in her clothes, her appearance...surprisingly, she's quite a pretty girl...
"Speaking of which,
♡Earl
♡"
"There's something I'd like to ask you..."
Just as I was sighing, the saintess and the mage approached me.
The two women, seemingly with a certain intimacy, dragged their chairs closer to me, watching me intently… The woman named Lisbeth asked me:
"Count, isn't a promise important?"
"…? Hmm. It should be important, shouldn't it…?"
"Of course, it's the same for nobles. Right?"
"That's natural…" The saintess then moved closer, continuing the red-haired girl's train of thought.
"Count, didn't you make a promise with our master?"
"…That…"
"As a noble count, you should be well aware of the importance of promises… Even so, isn't it a bit unreasonable to try and deceive them?"
…I felt a ticklish sensation from these two women's words, like they were tickling my ears.
Hmm…yes. Since a promise has been made, it should be kept… This monster before me, is called Shimo again. I already said I'd kneel and apologize... Hmm... The thought of kneeling before that monster... Shimo-kun... For some reason, my mood... I thought it would be terrible... Strangely, deep in my chest, it feels like something's being stirred... Yes.
Even though it's a monster... a promise... should still be kept, right...? "...You're right. A promise... must be kept."
"Heh. Indeed... a wise choice, Count."
"Come, please come this way with your master."
"After entering the room they led me to, a spacious room appeared, containing an unusually large bed.
Sitting on that bed, legs spread wide, looking this way... at that repulsive monster.
That monster was staring at me... For some reason, I had a strange feeling, as if it wanted to pierce through my body... Why, now... it seems I have to kneel... "...Aren't you going to apologize? Count?" Strange... why has it turned out like this? I was just planning to have a cup of tea and head back immediately… but why did it turn out like this…? "…Kneel down and apologize to me. Celestia."
"Eek…!" Huh?
What?
This is…why…am I kneeling?
Why…am I…kneeling before this monster I hate so much…!?
"God, Divine Beast Lord…! I, Radil Neve Celestia…have used my noble status to cause trouble for God, God, Lord…!"
Wait, wait. Stop.
What are you saying? Me.
Why am I apologizing to a monster…! !! !!
"Because of my personal reasons, I caused this trouble…! Haa, waaa…! I, really…really…!"
Ah, no. Stop.
That…! That's the only thing I shouldn't do!
"Really…! I'm so sorry! God, God!!!" Despite my inner screams, my head touched the ground, and I kowtowed to the monster before me.
I respectfully clasped my hands together, forehead pressed to the ground, offering a subservient apology, almost like a fawning gesture.
Somehow… I could almost hear the beasts mocking me.
Meanwhile, from somewhere… strangely enough, I felt my shameful apology being recorded on something… On this day, as a noblewoman of the kingdom and the Lady of Ladia…
I, Ladir Nebu Celestia… bear the indelible mark of shame, etched into my body and mind.