Let the Whales Fight, This Shrimp is Leaving! - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 20
No matter how severe the border tensions were, Joaquin Perez had backed down far too easily.
‘After laying such an intricate trap.’
Joaquin Perez did not just mind Deyan; he utterly loathed him.
He must have devised that scheme with the deliberate intent of tearing Deyan down. It simply didn’t fit his nature to retreat just because they had crossed the border.
Deyan’s own judgment was also somewhat suspicious.
‘If he had just taken care of him, a war might have broken out, but he wouldn’t have sustained such a severe injury.’
If not for that wound, he would never have fallen into my hands.
Besides, Deyan possessed a perfectly justifiable pretext.
If he had gathered evidence of the plot Joaquin Perez hatched, he could have used it as leverage to eliminate him, or at least to force a negotiation.
Even if Deyan lacked political acumen and failed to see that far.
I glanced toward Glay Holdin.
‘There is no way this crafty man didn’t think of that.’
Holdin would have stepped in and put his wits to work.
It was suspicious. No matter how much I pondered it, no satisfying answer emerged.
Yet, the story held no obvious flaws to dismiss Holdin’s words as outright lies.
‘There’s another hidden reason.’
It was likely something he could never tell me, so neither threats nor torture would work.
‘It can’t be helped.’
I had to find out myself.
There was nothing left to discuss with Holdin.
At least not for now.
I could hear the rest of the story from Deyan’s own mouth.
Rather than dealing with a man whose mind whirled with uselessly sharp schemes, it was far more comfortable to target an unexpectedly naive man whose nature didn’t match his massive build.
I set down my teacup and nodded with my usual smile.
“Fortunately, we’ve avoided an immediate war.”
“Indeed. Shall I offer my congratulations?”
“Sarcasm will get your tongue pulled out.”
The moment I spoke with a beaming smile, Holdin’s posture turned respectful once more.
It seemed that insolent streak of his was a deeply ingrained habit.
Considering how it kept slipping out whenever he lowered his guard.
‘Should I fix it?’
If I set Giselle on him, it wouldn’t be difficult to correct, but I felt no need to waste the energy.
“Let us end our conversation here. I have afternoon duties to attend to.”
As I rose from my seat, Beval, who had been snoring soundly on the bed, opened his eyes.
[Idir, where are you going?]
“I am heading out to handle official affairs. Please keep sleeping, Beval.”
Don’t follow me because it’s a hassle.
That was the underlying meaning, but Beval didn’t seem to catch the hint.
[No. I’m coming along.]
Letting out a long yawn, he stumbled over and stuck right to my side.
[Take me with you, even if it’s a bother.]
Or did he? Did he actually catch on?
I glanced at Beval, whose eyes were half-closed, and kept walking.
“Beval. Walk properly.”
[It’s because I’m sleepy. It’s broad daylight right now. This is normally my bedtime.]
Then go get some sleep.
Good grief.
Suppressing a heavy sigh, I nudged the swaying Beval aside.
For someone completely invisible to others, his presence felt remarkably solid.
He was so heavy he wouldn’t even budge.
Ultimately, I decided to change my strategy and coax him instead.
“Beval.”
[Huh?]
“From now on, I must attend to official duties in the Office. I’ll just be doing tedious paperwork anyway, so would you rather sleep comfortably in a bed?”
[I don’t want to. Lying in the beds of musty bastards is…]
“Sleep in my room, then.”
[…Really?]
“Yes. You may sleep in my bed. I won’t return until after dinner.”
[You’re the one who suggested it first, right? Ah, wait. That little pigeon is in your room right now.]
“I will ask for him to be moved to the Tea Room.”
As I soothed him by promising my request would be granted, Beval fell for it completely.
“Sariel.”
Upon returning to the room, it was exactly as expected.
Sariel sat at the tea table sipping his brew, looking precisely as he had when I first left.
Just how much had he drunk? The teapots lined up beside him easily exceeded five.
“You truly enjoy tea. Shall I show you around the Tea Room?”
[…That is not a bad offer, Idir.]
Sariel, who had been gracefully drinking his tea with half-lidded eyes, stood up.
When his cold gaze swept over Beval, Beval reacted instantly.
[What are you glaring at, you bastard?]
[Shouldn’t someone with the intellect of a child go take a nap?]
[What? Did you just insult my intelligence?]
[Oh. My apologies. A child bears no guilt, after all.]
[Why you! You damn bastard! I’ll—!]
Thud!
The moment Beval rolled up his sleeves to lunged forward, Sariel extended his hand.
A brilliant white light flashed across the back of his hand before shooting out in a straight line like lightning.
[Let us go, Idir.]
[Hey! Aren’t you going to take this off? Hey, you bastard!]
By the time I snapped out of it, Beval was flailing against the wall.
Seeing how a white chain bound his body tightly, it seemed he wouldn’t be breaking free on his own anytime soon.
[Demons grow exceptionally weak when it is bright. It is because the source of their power lies in the darkness.]
Sariel advised me to keep that in mind, as it might prove useful when dealing with demons in the future.
I safely escorted the angel—who uttered such harsh remarks with a noble countenance as if it were nothing—to the Tea Room and told him to enjoy himself to his heart’s content.
‘I already set aside a separate batch of tea leaves for guests, so it should be fine.’
With a much lighter heart and quieter ears, I stepped into the Office.
I lost track of time as I focused entirely on my work, until a sudden knock broke my concentration.
“Come in.”
“You look beautiful today as well, Lady Hubert.”
“Save the pleasantries. How did the matter I requested go?”
I received the guest while remaining seated at my desk.
The gentleman strode inside, stopped directly in front of me, and offered a document bearing the seal of the United States.
“I have brought their reply.”
He was the Foreign Minister of this nation.
He had departed for the Agavni United States a few months ago and appeared to have returned today.
Using a knife, I sliced open the seal of the document and examined its contents.
—May the blessing and protection of the Lemen Mountains bring tranquility to Your Highness’s fiefdom and people.
We have carefully reviewed the proposal regarding the Mutual Defense Pact sent by your esteemed nation.
The true intent contained within, and amid the turbulent political climate…
I skipped past the unnecessarily verbose introduction.
—However, the Agavni Alliance has maintained a single principle since its founding.
We have resolved to remain an entity that preserves balance at the borders where differing interests clash.
‘In the end, they’re saying they’ll stay out of it.’
Why did they have to write a whole paragraph just to say that bullshit?
Cowardly bystanders.
Crinkle.
Without realizing it, my grip tightened.
“…Lady Hubert.”
“It is not the answer we wanted. Regrettably.”
Realizing my mistake, I quickly relaxed my hand, but the official document had long since been crumpled.
I awkwardly rubbed the spot with my thumb.
Yet, the creases that had already formed failed to smooth out.
The sight seemed to mirror my current situation, so I stared at it for a long moment before raising my head.
The Foreign Minister, wearing a worried expression, faintly curled the corners of his mouth.
I hastened to offer him a smile.
“It is a response I already anticipated.”
“Regarding trade, I believe we could arrange another negotiation. Looking at the Alliance’s recent movements, their trade with Adorif has become remarkably active…”
“No.”
I cut off whatever else the Foreign Minister intended to say.
Normally, I would have listened to him until the end before sharing my thoughts, but I had no intention of doing so today.
‘Since I already hold another card, there is no need to waste energy discussing useless matters.’
I neatly filed away the letter from the Alliance brought by the Foreign Minister into the bottom drawer, then sorted only the agendas that required the Grand Ducal Seal.
“We will temporarily shelve the plan to cooperate with the United States. Let us seek a different method.”
“If you have something in mind, may I ask what it is?”
“Not yet. I simply intend to broaden our horizons a bit more.”
“I see. Understood.”
Looking relieved, the Foreign Minister bowed politely and withdrew.
The door closed, and I quietly counted the passing time.
Tick. Tick.
The faint ticking of the secondhand filled the gaps of silence.
Whenever I counted the time like this, unnecessary sentimentality rushed in as if it had been waiting.
My father’s office. My father’s desk. My father’s chair.
The reality that the loudest place in the Grand Ducal Castle, where so many people used to frequent, was now this quiet.
Every bit of it felt painfully unfamiliar.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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