Chapter 168

No, look, Mr. Yenika (1)

As news of the Rosstaylor family spread the Cloel imperial family was in an uproar.

Due to the tragedy caused by the head of the Rosstaylor family Crepin Rosstaylor several high-ranking nobles died the Rosstaylor estate and mansion grounds were devastated and if a mistake was made the influence of the evil spirit would have spread to the imperial family.

The fall of the Rosstaylor family and its matriarch Crepin who had been the closest confidants of the Cloel imperial family for a long time.

Members of the Rosstaylor family were already occupying a place in various places in the Cloel imperial family.

Among them they range from middle managers such as Templar officers and servant managers to senior positions such as the Chairman of the Imperial Advisory Council or the Chief Judge the highest protocol official... There were quite a few places where the Ross Taylor family took root.

They had been given positions through Crepin’s influence but when Crepin Rosstaylor’s death and his evil deeds became known they were all temporarily suspended from their duties.

As vacancies occurred simultaneously in various important positions in the imperial family the substitute workers took over the work causing various administrative processes to become creaky... Eventually an emergency meeting was convened.

“There are a lot of empty seats.”

“All the talented people from Rosstaylor have been gathered in the imperial annex.”

An emergency meeting of the imperial family where key members of the imperial family gather to discuss the situation.

The conference seats were spread out in an arch shape in front of Emperor Cloel who sat in the center but there were quite a few empty seats.

The palace official who was in charge of major and minor affairs within the imperial family recited the names of the vacant seats to Emperor Cloel. Most of them had Ross Taylor’s name on them.

In front of Emperor Cloel there were seats prepared for the three princesses who would become the rightful successors to the imperial power and behind them sat a number of people who were at the center of power including the leader of the Imperial Knights the Chief Steward the Admiral and the Prime Minister.

In fact it was a meeting of those who decided the direction of the Cloel Empire.

“I’m sure you all know why we are gathered here today. “This is a place to discuss the tragedy that occurred at Ross Taylor’s estate and the aftermath.”

Emperor Cloel who was presiding over the meeting spoke in a polite tone.

“Everyone probably has a lot of things they want to report to me. We also need to discuss the future direction of the Ross Taylor family. “Those who deserve to be rewarded should be rewarded and those who deserve to be punished should be punished.”

The three princesses sitting closest to Emperor Cloel.

Selaha Persica Fenia. She was sitting in the center of the conference room with different expressions on each person’s face looking at each other.

Emperor Cloel already had a hunch. His own three daughters each have different views on the Ross Taylor family which was at the center of power.

The sight of various imperial power figures lining up around the three legitimate heirs of the imperial family... It seems to be showing a fragmentary picture of the power structure that is as tangled as a spider’s web.

This case will not be concluded easily.

With that in mind Emperor Cloel announced the start of the meeting.

A meeting place so noble and important that ordinary people cannot even come near it.

In the back corner of the seat where the direction of the empire is decided a girl sits wearing a witch’s hat. He was a witness that Selaha secured at the scene and a major contributor to the subjugation of Mebula.

A girl with a small body sitting with her legs crossed almost lying down on a soft chair. The school uniform she is wearing is so baggy that it shows no trace of her dignity and her hat is so big that it covers her entire face.

The girl whose expression I couldn’t even tell sat quietly in the corner of the conference room and listened to what was going on.

* * *

Aken Island dock is not very large.

This is because most traffic is concentrated on the Maxes Bridge.

Usually when talking about islands people often go back and forth by boat but in the case of Aken Island the structure of the traffic flow itself was unique.

There is not a population so large that sailing ships can come and go and most supplies can be received through the bridge.

Since supplies are supplied from the nearby County of Zahoor or the small trading city of Velax there is little incentive to use the sea route. Considering the scale using the wagon at the top is cheaper for logistics.

Therefore the Aken Island dock was not often used except by some students who used the sea route to return home or some merchants who received rare goods from distant lands.

―Squeak squeal.

As the sea level rose and fell the flat-bottomed barge also rocked up and down.

Siggs Eiffelstein who landed on top of him turned back and accepted Elka’s body which was standing on a small passenger ship.

“Ugh... “I thought I was going to die from motion sickness.”

“As expected it would be better to take a carriage next time. “The boat is faster but it has a very negative effect on your condition Elka.”

“I had a lot of luggage this time so there was nothing I could do... .”

Elka Islan grabbed the hem of the semi-robe that covered her shoulders and shook out her hair. She still had some dizziness but compared to her long journey her aftereffects were minor.

A journey by carriage from the northern steppes to the western coast of the empire and from there by boat directly to Aken Island. The time was definitely shortened compared to coming by carriage alone.

“I’ll get some luggage from the workers here and then go to the Lorail Pavilion and rest.”

“No that’s enough. “I’ll go up to the dock and rest so let’s go together when work is done.”

Ziggs looked at Elka for a moment with a worried look on his face but Elka encouraged him not to worry too much and then led his dizzy body towards the dock.

However before she could take a few steps Elka saw a familiar face and tilted her head.

“Oh my Senior Yenika.”

Hearing those words Ziggs who was carrying a heavy baggage also turned his head and looked that way.

On the other side of the barge where Elka and Ziggs landed there was Yenika who had come down from another boat carrying a simple luggage.

She was wearing a pure white blouse over a navy blue skirt and appeared to be carrying luggage with her arms rolled up.

what... With Ziggs... It’s Elka... .”

“You got home early from school. Senior Yenika. We always come a few weeks early to visit a conference before school starts... .”

Elka Islan was a scholar who worked as a librarian in charge of the student library and also conducted research at the Magic Book Society.

That’s why I come a little early and finish my research preparations to avoid the high demand for magic books at the beginning of the semester.

Ziggs didn’t really need to come early but he had a habit of returning home early anyway since Elka was coming.

“Didn’t senior Yenika always return home quickly to help with work in her hometown? And she seems to have been coming home from school as late as possible so she’s having a blast this year.”

“Oh that... .”

Yenica couldn’t bear to respond to Ziggs’ words and just froze.

Rumors about Ed had spread for no reason and Yenica’s hometown was already filled with stories about her love story.

Yenika eventually spoke with tears in her eyes a look of liberation on her face.

“It just happened like that... .”

“... “You have a story.”

Ziggs didn’t bother to ask. However while receiving Elka’s luggage from her workers Sri only glanced at Yenica’s notice.

“When I asked what I heard I heard that quite a few students had already returned to school. It is said that there are quite a few students who did not return home during vacation... . “If you return to the Bachelor now you will see quite a few familiar faces.”

Okay... Ed will be back early too... .”

“You mean Senior Ed? I heard a rumor that she returned to her hometown this year... “Have you already returned from school?”

Yenika was speechless for a moment because she wasn’t sure what to say.

The news about the Ross Taylor family is not very pleasant. I was going to know everything anyway but I didn’t want to spread it to those around me.

hmm... .”

Ziggs felt something suspicious as he looked at Yenika like that. She took the last of her luggage and sat down on one of them wiping her sweat.

“Is your relationship with senior Ed not going well?”

“What do you mean by that... !”

“No if you pretend you pretend. Lately whenever I talk about Senior Ed Senior Yenika’s expression doesn’t look very good.”

However Lortel’s villa which has now been completed can be seen behind it.

I am not very happy that a new building has been built in the camp that was entirely Ed and Yenika’s space. He grunted and made his lips stick out but in any case Lortel couldn’t return to Aken Island right now. She was so busy with her top job that when she wasn’t in school she always had to juggle work at Old Deck.

As of now only Ed and Yenika remain in the camp. As this fact felt more highlighted Jenica walked over to the fire and sat down.

“Oh you came early. Yenika... .”

Ed who welcomes Yenika certainly seems to be in better health.

Yenika said ‘Yes yes.’ She smiled and nodded her head. Just by looking at her face she was so happy to see her that I walked up to her like a puppy wagging its tail and just sitting still across from her fire made me feel like her shoulders were shaking.

“Now that I think about it it’s not long until the vacation ends... .”

“Well Ed how are you? I was very worried. “When I saw you at the Ross Taylor mansion you were seriously injured.”

okay... .”

Ed said that and was poking at the bonfire with his head down. Here Yenika felt something strange about her.

“Still I’m glad you had a good rest during the vacation! “Now that the vacation is over and the semester starts I have a lot of schedule left to do so I have to work hard again!”

“Yeah right... .”

After talking up to that point Yenica looked at Ed’s expression.

Strangely he was not making eye contact with Yenika but was looking at the campfire and Yenika alternately as if he was deep in thought.

Ed Rothtaylor often showed this side of himself when he was in deep trouble. While responding appropriately to the surrounding situations a part of one’s thoughts are devoted to those concerns.

It wasn’t anything special but it felt like beads of sweat were running down the back of Ed’s neck.

Yenika who isn’t that perceptive noticed it. Ed’s expression was clearly strange to anyone who saw it.

― ‘Something like not making eye contact or trying to break the flow of conversation by forcefully giving a short answer... . They make an expression that is so blatantly burdened... . Anyway the red signal that the guy sends is clearly visible that way.’

Suddenly the words Ziggs had spoken passed through Yenika’s mind.

Anyone can see that Ed Rosstaylor is clearly feeling the pressure right now.

In fact isn’t it strange that now I feel burdened against Yenika? How much time have you lived with her unit so far?

However changes in perception of people always happen in an instant.

Yenika swallowed dry saliva and opened her eyes.

‘I really... Are you a burdensome person? ?!’

In fact it is not that there is no awareness.

Although he lived with Ed for the sole reason of love wasn’t he also the one who used polite words or tried to increase the distance in the name of reestablishing the relationship?

From the objective perspective of a third party she is just a girl of that age stamping her feet and making a fuss due to useless worries. But when it comes to who she is she is more serious than anyone else.

I wouldn’t be able to take the lead in a relationship for the rest of my life if I was this excited about Ed’s every little reaction.

But there is no way. The girl named Yenica Palover was originally like this. Who is to blame for being born such a natural girl?

“Yenika. “I have something to tell you.”

yes! what?!

“... Why is this a polite word all of a sudden? ?”

huh! What?!

Yenika almost chewed her tongue at Ed’s words which suddenly broke the silence as if poking into her blind spot.

Ed’s expression seen through the campfire is quite serious. Yenika swallowed dry saliva and listened to Ed.

that... This may seem a bit strange. But first of all... Because there is an inside story... . Please listen first... . Actually it may not be a very difficult request... In some cases it may be difficult... .”

huh... ?”

“Well I could explain the situation in detail but that would be too... Should I say it’s cowardly... . Because it’s not polite to you in the first place... just... I’ll tell you without hesitation... .”

“What is it... ?”

Has Ed Rosstaylor ever laid the groundwork this far before saying something?

Feeling nervous for some reason Yenika straightened her back and opened her eyes.

“You know... .”

Yes... .”

“... .”

“... .”

Then Ed finally spoke while pressing the poker on the dirt floor.

“... no.

What! What!

“No it’s okay. Lately I feel like I’ve been asking too many unreasonable favors from you Yenika and it’s really not polite to do this... Okay I’ll look for another direction... . that... Forget it... .”

“No just say it! What! what!

Yenika pressed her thighs and rubbed Ed. Ed spoke with a perplexed expression on his face and breaking into a cold sweat.

“No it really happened. I also have a conscience so I feel a bit uncomfortable when it feels like I’m taking advantage of you in this way... .”

“It’s not time for us to discuss things like manners. Ed said don’t worry he’ll do anything you ask him to do. So tell me what it is first okay?!”

“I don’t mean to say things like I will grant any request or anything... . Yenika... not good... . really... not good... .”

“What on earth is that?!”

After coming this far Yenica couldn’t bear it anymore. Jenica made a fuss as she stomped on the dirt floor.

Then suddenly Ed’s expression caught my eye again. It looked like something was really perplexing and was difficult to explain.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been close to Ed but this was the first time I saw his expression.

At that moment a drop of sweat ran down Jenica’s spine.

“Ed.”

Ed Rothtaylor is quite close with Yenica Palover. The wall between the two was broken down and they communicated to the point where they could freely exchange even somewhat unreasonable requests.

Yenica is probably not alone in thinking this way.

Although both parties were well aware of this fact Ed was particularly embarrassed.

Ed relies on Yenika so much that he even accompanied her to the disaster that occurred at the Ross Taylor mansion.

If this is a concern that even Ed is reluctant to talk about how much more serious and serious can it be?

Suddenly it occurred to me that it might not be something to make a fuss about and laugh about.

Yenica has never seen Ed look so troubled and embarrassed. He is the kind of man who would calmly organize what needs to be done now even if the world were to end tomorrow. Even Ed couldn’t figure out what such an embarrassing problem could be.

In that case isn’t what Yenika should do now be to instill confidence in Ed?

Confidence that no matter what trials come I will be by your side. That’s why I say it’s okay to trust me and talk to me. That firm trust must be confirmed.

Suddenly seriousness appeared on Yenika’s face. She expresses firm trust and firm determination and seems to say that she will carry any heavy burden with her.

The serious expression reflected a strong will. It is an expression of the will to risk even one’s life.

It is like the spirit of a general who strengthens his determination to die before going to battle.

“I’m ready for anything Ed. therefore... . It’s okay if you ask me anything. “No matter how serious it is I’m on Ed’s side.”

For Ed it felt like death.