Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Three: Ottilie’s Reason 2
“Because Horst appears so powerless, people will assume there must be another mastermind behind the harm done to the royal capital’s dungeon, and my family, being influential among the former earl’s faction, will be suspected first.”
“That is…”
Ottilie had looked like a central figure even among the young ladies who had gathered while avoiding people’s eyes. To that extent, she was certainly from a powerful family. She clearly understood that her standing allowed her to influence Horst, to the extent that she needed to take the initiative in showing submission. However, the impression Karen had received from actually encountering Horst was not like that.
Karen had felt that those with little magical power, after desperate efforts where blood, sweat, and tears were shed, had managed to reach that situation entirely on their own. Rather, they probably hadn’t borrowed the help of those with magical power precisely because of their pride.
Even Karen, who knew nothing about them, thought so. Yet because of their lack of magical power, they apparently couldn’t even claim the infamy of plotting an evil conspiracy that shook the nation.
“Even if I asked the Ehlertt family for help, they wouldn’t help us. If we come under suspicion, they might even be accused of involvement in this incident as well. But if it’s you, Lady Karen, who was the very person who stopped the dungeon anomaly, you won’t be suspected.”
That’s why only Karen could help the children with almost no magical power. She could be on their side wholeheartedly. Even if someone suspected her of aiding in treason out of sympathy for those without magical power, she could talk her way out of it. Because Karen was the very person who had crushed their hopes. That fact would be guaranteed by none other than this country’s First Princess, Waltride. So if Karen wished to help, she could probably help Ottilie too.
“The Bell family was certainly in the former earl’s faction, but that’s because we hold a small-scale dungeon in our land and therefore believe in strength. Forgive my rudeness, but the current earl appeared to focus solely on Master Sieg, whose health was frail, and neglect the territory. That is why we became disillusioned. We were aligned with the faction, but we never served Horst.”
From Karen’s perspective, she found Helfried—who devoted everything to Sieg—admirable. However, she also understood that, as a noble, as a lord, it wasn’t necessarily praiseworthy, and she understood the feelings of nobles who held resentment.
Karen already knew that they were people who had, to a greater or lesser extent, resolved to protect their country and their territories.
Ottilie bowed her head deeply.
“If you would help me, I will use my power, recognized as equivalent to a B-rank mage in the Mages’ Guild, for your sake, Lady Karen.”
“While I appreciate your offer…”
To Karen, who still seemed reluctant despite all the words, Ottilie asked:
“What am I lacking? What kind of trial must I overcome to be able to serve at your side, Lady Karen? Could you tell me?”
“From your perspective, Lady Ottilie, it’s such a trivial reason that it’s hard to say…”
“Whatever the reason, I will receive it sincerely.”
Ottilie opened her drowsy-looking eyes wide, so desperately earnest. Her desperation made Karen feel apologetic. But Karen had no intention of changing her mind. Still, keeping the reason to herself felt wrong, so Karen murmured almost in a whisper:
“I don’t like having a woman who tried to become Mr. Julius’s wife near me.”
“…Goodness.”
Ottilie put her hand to her mouth and looked dumbfounded. She might be inwardly exasperated and blaming Karen for refusing help over just that much. But Ottilie closed her mouth there and said nothing further.
In other words, Ottilie’s initial move had been completely wrong. The moment she tried to become Julius’s wife, the shutter of Karen’s heart had completely closed.
Certainly, Ottilie had a reason to escape the stigma of treason, and her objective was not Julius. However, no matter what excuses were strung together from there, the past fact that she had first tried to approach Julius wouldn’t disappear.
A lowest-ranking wife was not truly considered a wife. Even so, there were surely some who were undeniably treated as actual wives in reality.
She had tried to become an existence Julius could lay his hands on whenever he felt like it. That was almost a seduction tactic. Whether or not Ottilie intended it, and whether or not Julius desired it. This fact was absolutely unacceptable to Karen.
“You’re refusing not only her proposal to be a lowest-ranking wife, but even her proposal to be an indentured servant—which could be said to be throwing away one’s pride as a noble—over something like that…?”
Instead of Ottilie herself, Petra, who had been listening to the conversation, said with a horrified expression.
“It’s important to me!”
“And yet, you’re fine with me acting as your guide?”
Karen looked at Petra blankly.
Seeing Petra’s awkward face, she finally remembered after a while.
“Oh, Lady Petra, you used to act all giddy around Mr. Julius before too.”
“What do you mean ‘giddy’?!”
“You’re fine, Lady Petra. I can tell that you not only have no interest in Mr. Julius anymore, but you’re even uncomfortable around him.”
Even now, Petra was positioned on the diagonal opposite Julius with Karen in between, like a cat with its fur standing on end.
“Karen, I understand your feelings very well.”
“Mr. Julius.”
Julius placed his hand on Karen’s shoulder and looked down at Ottilie, saying:
“I, too, would find it unpleasant, for whatever reason, to have a man who tried to become Karen’s husband serving at Karen’s side.”
Though his eyes should have been shining gold, Julius spoke with a strangely dark gaze. As if he truly detested it, the hand Julius had placed on Karen’s shoulder tightened.
“Even a man who hasn’t tried to become Karen’s husband, but merely harbors hidden feelings for Karen in his heart—I don’t want to keep him at Karen’s side. I can understand Karen’s feelings of not wanting to keep you at her side, and I intend to respect them to the maximum extent.”
Julius added as if emphasizing:
“I intend to prioritize it over noble principles.”
As if that was the final blow, Ottilie nodded.
“I had hoped to make an offer that would please you, and in return ask for your help… but to trouble you to the point of making you say all that—I feel deeply sorry.”
From Karen’s perspective, something that she’d normally find unpleasant was probably seen by them as a welcome act of devotion. A sad disconnect between nobles and commoners. And what was unpleasant was unpleasant.
“Therefore, I will withdraw.”
Saying that and standing up, Ottilie bowed her head respectfully toward Karen.
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