Let the Whales Fight, This Shrimp is Leaving! - Chapter 35

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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 35
Joaquin was now reacting to my every single word with a sensitivity that was almost pitiful.
“By the way, how did such scoundrels like pirates come to frequent the strait?”
Wasn’t it the Cordi Kingdom that first claimed to be the guardian of the sea? Have you really been oblivious to mere pirates until now?
“I see. It was my oversight.”
“Have you been devoting your mind and spirit elsewhere recently?”
Are you up to something else?
As I repeatedly poked his sore spots with a beaming smile, even the great Joaquin seemed to grow exhausted.
Eventually, he rubbed his fatigued face several times with a dry hand and spoke tentatively.
“I am sorry, Lady Hubert. It seems I am not feeling quite well today.”
“Oh my, dear me. Since you were so glad to see me, I stayed because I thought you would be disappointed if I left too quickly. Was I being insensitive?”
Even though I was openly sarcastic, Joaquin’s thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.
“Seeing that your complexion is truly poor, you should get some rest.”
Your face looks terrible.
I rang the small bell at the edge of the table to summon a servant.
“Yes, My Lady.”
“Clear the table and escort His Highness to the Annex.”
“The Annex?”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you have a guest room prepared for me in the Main Building? I recall always staying in the Main Building until now.”
As Joaquin made excuses in a flustered tone, I pretended to be surprised.
This was to point out that deciding a guest’s quarters is the host’s prerogative, and talking back to that was an immense rudeness.
‘Since when was that place meant for you?’
It was just a place I gave you because you were so stubborn and it was too bothersome to argue.
Instead of correcting Joaquin’s words, I replied to him with a troubled expression as his eyes widened.
“We have an earlier guest.”
When I answered with an expression completely devoid of malice, Joaquin’s eyelids trembled violently again.
Even though he was a guest himself, he couldn’t bring himself to kick out an earlier guest, nor did he have the justification or position to do so.
He was likely just throwing a fit because something he considered his exclusive privilege had been stripped away.
“Since Your Highness is not in good health, it would be best to postpone the dinner banquet until two days from now. If you need anything, please feel free to ask.”
I brushed Joaquin away to the Annex like a greedy child stripped of his candy and walked off with a refreshed stride.
My destination, of course, was the room where Deyan was staying.
I had something to confirm with him.
And while I was at it, I could upset Joaquin’s stomach even further.
Deyan had originally been staying in the Main Building, but just before Joaquin arrived, he moved his quarters to a room close to the central Corridor on the third floor.
It was the very room I used to give Joaquin whenever he visited Plene as he pleased.
Since he always acted as if he held me in the palm of his hand with a sense of entitlement, I desperately wanted to remind him of his place just this once.
Admirably, Deyan provided that perfect opportunity.
I headed straight for Deyan’s room, pretending not to notice the presence stealthily tailing me.
When I knocked, a response came immediately from within.
Instead of granting permission to enter, Deyan opened the door himself to greet me.
“Don’t come out.”
Right before he could step into the Corridor, I pushed his chest to prevent him from showing himself.
“Joaquin’s subordinate is tailing me.”
“……Shall I take care of them?”
Perhaps Deyan had sensed the presence as well, for he stared intently in the direction where the suspicious tail would be.
Looking at Deyan, who resembled a loyal guard dog, I inwardly praised his sharpness.
“It’s fine. I brought them along on purpose to show them.”
That was the exact reason I was standing in the Corridor.
Nodding as if he understood, Deyan asked.
“How was your conversation with him?”
“It was absolute garbage.”
“…….”
Silenced as if shocked by my harsh language, he soon nodded his head.
“I understand.”
“I’m glad to meet someone who shares my thoughts.”
I intended to brush it off casually.
However, Deyan offered a bizarre critique with a deadpan expression.
“His breath is foul. Your nose must have suffered greatly.”
“Pfft!”
His incredibly solemn expression seemed so genuine that I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
I quickly covered my mouth with my hand and tried to manage the laughter bursting out.
“So, whenever I deal with him, I hold my breath for as long as possible.”
But this time, it was a complete failure.
It would have been less funny if he had at least worn a playful smirk so I could tell it was a joke.
Deyan’s expression was beyond serious; it was downright grave.
Whether it was because I had been suppressing my rising anger due to Joaquin all along, or because I had no immunity to this kind of humor.
I helplessly buried my face in both hands and laughed until my shoulders shook.
“I am serious. I have never resented my sensitive sense of smell so much……”
“Stop, stop it.”
I waved my hand to cut him off and finally caught my breath.
Stepping aside to let me enter the room, he shut the door tightly.
“Do you feel a bit better?”
“Sigh, yes. Out of that man’s countless flaws, Sir Deyan is the first person to point out his bad breath.”
Deyan offered a glass of water to me as I took a deep breath.
I did not refuse, accepting it to briefly wet my throat.
Meanwhile, Deyan stood silently before me, waiting.
He seemed to have guessed that I hadn’t come for no reason.
‘How loyal.’
It made sense why the Emperor treasured him.
Whether that disposition was forced upon him by external factors or it was his innate nature, I realized he must have been a rather convenient man from the perspective of the one holding his leash.
‘Conversely, he would have been quite troublesome if he were this man’s enemy.’
“I found out one thing, so I came to let you know. I also have something to ask you, Sir Deyan.”
“Shall we speak standing up like this?”
“Hmm. Shall we sit down first?”
Normally, I would have just stood there, quickly stated my business, and left.
But today, I was quite pleased with him, so I didn’t feel like rushing.
“Sure. Ah, then could you also bring me a pen and paper?”
At my request, Deyan fetched a pen and paper from the desk situated in the corner of the room.
“Here it is.”
He held them out to me, but I pushed them back toward him.
“Do you remember the appearance of the weapon Joaquin Perez used to attack you?”
“I do not remember every single detail, but if it is the general characteristics…… Yes. I remember.”
After carefully scanning his memory, he gave a simple nod.
“Then sketch it.”
“Pardon?”
“Sketch it. I need to check what that weapon looks like.”
“May I ask the reason?”
An unnecessary question attached itself, but I didn’t particularly feel like getting annoyed.
Instead of scolding Deyan to hurry up and draw, I readily gave him the reason.
“Joaquin Perez might be in collusion with the Temple. It’s still just circumstantial, so I need to find more definitive evidence.”
“Is that the weapon used to attack me?”
“Yes. I want to cross-reference it to see if it’s a Holy Artifact publicly declared to be owned by the Temple.”
“It seems a conversation took place that gave you sufficient reason to be suspicious, My Lady.”
“Joaquin Perez knew about the contents of the Mutual Defense Pact I proposed to the Agavni United States.”
As I explained my reasons for suspecting the collusion between Joaquin and the Temple, Deyan nodded slowly.
“If it is not the Temple, we will have to consider various possibilities again.”
“Yes. So hurry up and draw it.”
“……Well.”
However, despite his understanding expression, he hesitated.
Seeing that he didn’t voice any objections, he clearly agreed, so why was he suddenly acting so frustratingly?
Just as a sliver of annoyance was about to flare up, he timidly glanced at me.
‘What is it? Why are you making a face like a kicked puppy?’
As I glared at him suspiciously, he spoke as if confessing a crime.
“The thing is, my drawing skills are not very good.”
“It doesn’t matter, so just draw it for now.”
“It will not be of any help. It might be better to find another method instead.”
“This is the fastest and most certain way. If you sketch a rough outline, Sir Deyan, I can hire an artist to refine it.”
“Understood.”
Deyan reluctantly picked up the pen.
And a moment later.
“Do not laugh.”
I buried my face in a cushion on the sofa, laughing so hard I couldn’t even breathe.
What Deyan had drawn with utmost concentration was an unidentifiable triangle with something crooked attached to it.
To think such a bizarre weapon existed in the world.
Rather than a Holy Artifact, I suspected it was something cursed.
“W-What on earth is this? Pfft.”
I was laughing so hard that tears were practically coming out.
Deyan’s forehead turned red, though he had remained completely unbothered even when I suggested the possibility of collusion between Joaquin Perez and the Temple.
Seeing that made it even funnier, and my laughter showed no signs of stopping.
“Ah, aha, cough. This is really, truly useless.”
“Did I not tell you that I would be of no help?”
He countered in an aggrieved tone.
“I didn’t know it would be this atrocious.”
I casually chided Deyan, finished laughing, and crumpled the drawing he had worked so hard on without a shred of regret.

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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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