Chapter 46: An Important Turning Point (2)

“Sigh.”

I took a deep breath and hid my nervousness. Emily, who came out from behind, asked.

“Are you very nervous?”

“Yes, I’m a little nervous.”

“You don’t have to worry so much, I’m here.”

Emily carefully takes my hand.

It was soft and warm. If I hold it still, my mind calms down.

“Can I hold it a little longer?”

“Of course.”

I was actually very nervous.

The nickname Iron-Blooded Duke and the fact that my life could be blown away with a flick of a finger. Especially because of the fortune-teller who predicted that I would die some time ago.

Even though I know he won’t do anything to me, I can’t help but tremble.

So, holding her hand, I headed to Delkarmen’s mansion.

This time, we decided to have lunch together, so I entered the dining room.

“Welcome.”

“!”

I flinched for a moment.

I deliberately came 30 minutes early, but Delkarmen was already sitting.

“Father? How long have you been waiting?”

“Not long. I was working upstairs and felt the presence of the two of you, so I came down.”

Delkarmen said kindly.

Then he looked at me with sharp eyes.

“It’s been a while, Rachel.”

“Yes, it’s been a while, Your Excellency.”

“I heard you have something to say to me… Let’s eat first. Our chef is amazing at cooking.”

He clapped twice.

The maids pulled the carts and put the food on them.

This morning, there was roast turkey, salad, and lobster soup.

There were three types, but several were placed according to the sauce.

In an instant, a feast was set.

“Eat.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

“I’ll enjoy the meal.”

So the meal began.

Honestly, I was still nervous.

This is an unavoidable instinct of a prey in front of a predator.

I don’t know if the soup is going into my nose or my mouth.

Then, the hand of Emily, who was sitting next to me, touched.

When I glanced at her, she spoke to me with her eyes.

‘It’s okay.’

I was dumbfounded.

It’s just a hand, just a word, but the tension goes down.

Phew.

I took a breath and nodded. Only then did Emily raise the corners of her lips and smile faintly.

I came to my senses and ate the soup. It was delicious, but the only thing that mattered to me now was how to speak.

While eating, I kept organizing how to speak.

So when I looked up, Delkarmen was looking at me and Emily with satisfaction.

‘Huh? Did I see it wrong?’

For a moment, there was a smile on his lips. It’s back to normal now.

So after a while.

“Then let’s get to the point.”

Delkarmen wiped his mouth with a cloth. I followed suit and watched his words.

“So what do you have to say?”

Gulp.

“Th, that’s. Actually. In this subjugation, Your Excellency’s life may be in danger.”

“My life is in danger… I’m the strongest among the subjugation forces, though?”

“Just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you’re not in danger. I met a fortune-teller some time ago and talked to them, and that’s what they said.”

Delkarmen listened with interest.

As the first button was released well, the trembling stopped.

“He says to be careful of the prince. Muelia has maintained neutrality since ancient times, hasn’t it? Now that the throne is leaning towards the First Prince, you have to be careful of the Second Prince who accompanies you.”

“Ho. You heard in quite detail. I never said that I was accompanying the Second Prince.”

I was a little flustered, but I nodded and moved on naturally.

What I’m saying now is only borrowing the words of a fortune-teller who sees the future.

“I see. I was wary of the prince anyway. I’ll be careful as you say.”

“Do you not doubt the information?”

“Well. I don’t completely believe it’s true yet. But you have no reason to lie either.”

“…”

“I’m still grateful that you saved Yona, and I trust you because you have a good relationship with my two daughters.”

I’m glad.

The trust I’ve built up so far has paid off.

Still, I decided to go one step further.

“The fortune-teller said so. When the red sun rises in the south, a star will fall from the sky.”

It is a roundabout way of saying that the monster that caused the earthquake is Flame Nova. And the falling star means that Delkarmen will die.

I just made it up.

Now, if I go to the Great Forest and see Flame Nova, Delkarmen has no choice but to believe that this prophecy is real.

Honestly, I was a little cringed even after saying it.

“I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Thank you.”

Fortunately, Delkarmen didn’t dismiss it as nonsense.

“By the way, have the two of you gotten a lot closer?”

“Uh…”

Delkarmen suddenly changed the subject and asked. I was confused for a moment about what to say.

Emily and I are much closer than when we first met.

We hold hands freely, and talk openly, sharing our innermost thoughts.

Since we drink coffee and chat together every day, it’s only natural.

But Emily’s status is the eldest daughter of the Duke’s family, and the person asking is the head of the Duke’s family.

In this case, Emily should answer first, not me.

But.

“….”

Emily was blushing with her head slightly lowered.

‘Why is she blushing?’

Oh right. She did say it was her first time making friends.

She didn’t say it directly, but the original work depicts it that way.

That is probably the reason.

There’s no other reason for that expression.

I turned my head and looked at Delkarmen, and Delkarmen still seemed to want an answer.

Even though he knew the answer from Emily’s expression.

I had no choice but to answer.

“Yes. We are very close.”

“Is that so? Then why don’t you drop the formalities now?”

“Yes?”

“Father?”

“Friends are supposed to drop formalities.”

So saying, he grinned.

He’s teasing.

“Rachel. What do you think?”

“I…”

Emily glanced at me.

“I also prefer to speak comfortably.”

“See. Emily. So why don’t you speak comfortably too? Like you do with Yona.”

“…Ugh.”

Emily’s face began to turn red.

“Father? Really?”

“Rachel. You set the example.”

“Ah. Yes.”

To simply drop the formality, he asks for an example.

It’s a bit absurd, and I understand Delkarmen’s feelings.

As a father seeing his daughter, who has worked for the family since childhood and has no close friends because of it. It must not feel very comfortable.

So I decided to help.

“Emily?”

“Ugh.”

“Are you sick?”

Emily’s face turned even redder.

Well. She uses honorifics even when talking to herself, so it’s only natural.

“Emily?”

“Yes. Uh.”

Her reaction is more fun than I thought.

Delkarmen also urged Emily to speak informally, watching her.

“It’s your turn now, Emily.”

“Father.”

Emily glared at Delkarmen with a pout.

“A, are you really going to?”

“Of course. A friend mustered courage, you can’t do that. Rachel must have taken considerable courage from her perspective, too. Right?”

“Th, that’s right.”

Delkarmen continued to push Emily. He has a surprisingly playful side.

So I decided to add the final touch, and give her some leeway.

“If I’m uncomfortable, that’s okay. It might just be my own misunderstanding that we’re close. If we get closer, we can drop the formality, or even now, I can…”

“N, no. It’s not that… Ugh.”

She worried about this and that, and finally dropped the formality.

“Alright. Thank you for the meal, Father.”

After saying a short sentence, she left the dining room.

I looked at Rachel and Delkarmen alternately.

I was invited to his meal, but Emily left like that, so I think I should go with her.

But Delkarmen shook his head.

“As you can see, Emily has no experience because she has been working for the family since she was a child.

She has no friends, and she hasn’t been able to experience the experiences and emotions that she can have when she’s young. As a father, I just feel very sorry.”

A sudden confession. I listened silently.

“Then, by chance, Emily met you and started to make various expressions. The child who always stayed only in the library, now goes to your house to play, right?”

“Yes. We talk about books, drink coffee, and do this and that.”

“No matter how strong a sword is, if it continues to be struck, it will rust and break. I thought Emily might be like that, but fortunately, she’s been lively these days.”

Delkarmen’s expression was full of bitterness.

It seems that there is a story that I don’t know. But he didn’t tell me directly yet. There’s nothing that stands out in the original work. What is it?

“Please take good care of Emily. Heir of the Medicine King. I hope you will remain as her friend for a long time.”
“Don’t worry. Your Excellency. I will never leave Emily first.”

Delkarmen nodded as if my answer was satisfactory.

Saying that I can go now, I bowed deeply and left the place.