Chapter 44

༺ The First Letter (44) ༻

Senior Delphine eventually tucked her gown in upon hearing my repeated pleas . She sat across from me as her crimson eyes glowed with inexplicable irritation.

I may have earned a little bit of her hatred. I too was disheartened. As Senior Delphine said, her exposed body was akin to a beautiful piece of art.

However, I couldn’t help it. I just couldn’t stand the current atmosphere.

The sweet fragrance permeating through the room, the romantic atmosphere created by the delicate lighting on top of a half-bare woman with a rare beauty.

This room seemed to be designed to entrap men. I breathed a sigh of relief after Senior Delphine finally tucked in her gown.

Even though she was covered up, Senior Delphine was still beautiful. Her immaculate fair legs that stretched out between the gown caught my eye as they have done numerous times thus far.

Nevertheless, it was fortunate for me that she did not reveal her hidden curves. When she approached me just then, my mind fogged up due to the scent of flowers lingering on her skin.

A proper conversation between two individuals was only possible when both sides were thinking rationally. A man who’s spellbound by a woman wouldn’t have been able to make rational decisions. Perhaps Senior Delphine’s scheme was a honey trap all along.

I pondered such a possibility but quickly burst into laughter inwardly at my own foolishness.

Delphine Yurdina sets a honey trap soley to deal with the second son of a countryside Viscountcy?

It was absurd. She could do whatever I could do, and she had whatever I could hope to have. Delphine was superior to me in every aspect, whether it be ability, wealth, or status.

She didn’t need to set a honey trap for me. When you think about it rationally, she was acting as she normally would.

While I secretly heaved a sigh, Senior Delphine spoke with a seductive voice.

“You were like a beast when you were brandishing a hatchet, but now you are acting like a naive, meek little boy who values chastity. I’m a bit disappointed, Hatchet Lord.

I swallowed my laughter at the sight of Senior Delphine grumbling.

This lady needed to watch her mouth, especially in front of a guest. If she uttered something provocative towards the wrong person, it could escalate into a scandal that would stymie the marriage.

No one valued the image of chastity more than nobles. Regardless of the obscenities they committed behind the scenes, they had to maintain a clean image for the public eye.

Yet this aristocratic woman stood half-bare in a room with just her and a man in the dead of night?

The moment this rumor spread, it was certain that her reputation would be tarnished. But even so, the value of Delphine Yurdina’s image is far too prestigious. It would only leave a scratch on her reputation.

I warily gave Senior Delphine an unrelated advice.

“Senior Delphine, since you are an aristocrat, you should at least value your body more than anything else......”

“I don’t need it.”

Before I could even finish my words, Senior Delphine uttered these words in a determined tone. A short and simple answer, I was rather perplexed.

“......What?”

“I told you I don’t need it, Hatchet Lord. Have you ever pondered why women wrap themselves up in front of men?”

I was left tongue-tied as Delphine asked her question drowsily. Discussing such social institutions in general was not my specialty. If only I was Leto.

At the very least, I was able to provide an answer using my common sense.

I began to speak while thinking back to the Saint’s sermon from a few days ago.

“Well of course it’s to keep their chastity, isn’t it? Unlike the soul, the body was created by the hand of the evil god Omeros, so it is a source of sin......”

I directed my gaze towards Senior Delphine. If what she said is true, does that mean that there is a standard for who can see her half-bare?

Grin, a light smile leaked out of Senior Delphine’s mouth. She soon answered my doubts.

“Only worthy men deserve to see the beautiful.”

“What do you mean by worthy men?”

“Pfft, yes. In other words...I mean ‘Useful human beings’.”

It was an explicit statement, one that some people may find offensive.

I however was not offended by her statement. Such words were not strange if Delphine Yurdina is the one who uttered them. However, I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with Seria the other day.

The words that Senior Delphine threw to Seria when she was young, “If you don’t prove your worth, you might end up like that.”

I sipped my wine in silence. Senior Delphine continued speaking nevertheless.

“I view the people of this world in a particular way, whether they are useful or not. Nothing else regarding the person matters to me. In that sense, you are quite the useful person.”

“Because I defeated Senior Elsie?”

“Besides that, I’ve heard many other stories as well.”

Senior Delphine crossed her legs as she uttered that statement. Her smooth, luscious thighs were revealed at a glance. I endured the temptation of gazing upon her legs.

I couldn’t keep dancing to her tune. I firmly shut my eyes and drank the wine.

Senior Delphine laughed, as if I was cute. She continued her speech in a relaxed voice.

“I heard that you are hanging out with Seria these days.”

“I am grateful for that. Although you have great talents, you don’t seem to have any talent for spiritual relationships... I was concerned that she might never be able to make friends for the rest of her life. Despite being a member of the Yurdina family, she is still my half-sister.”

A faint smile flickered across her lips as she said that. Does she care for Seria in her own way? This may be the case since they grew up together.

Senior Delphine, who had a faint, bitter smile on her face, was silent for a moment.

Tap, tap, her index finger tapped the table. Her crimson eyes, which seemed immersed in thoughts, gazed out the window. The moonlight seeping through her window felt like the lighting put her in the spotlight. A picture-esque view.

Some time passed before she turned towards me again.

“I heard a lot of interesting stories as well. A third-year male student who was only in the intermediate rank has been showing incredible performances recently.”

“I was just lucky.”

In response to my own words of humility, Senior Delphine sneered at me. As if that humble remark was ridiculous.

“There is no need for your words of humility. What matters is the result. If you get lucky once, it’s a coincidence, but if it happens multiple times, it’s skill. And, I like talented people.”

With a sound of ‘tap,’ the wineglass that Senior Delphine was holding was set on the table. There was a reddish blush on her cheeks. She was starting to get drunk.

It felt like a steamy heat was running down my esophagus and stabbing in my head. I was also slowly getting drunk. Senior Delphine gave me an erotic smile and spoke.

“You would know what I want to say, right?”

I gulped instead of responding to her question. Not because I couldn’t understand the intent hidden behind her question, but because it took me by surprise.

Is this really how she’s going to act?