Ch 16.
Elisa immediately recalled the moment she discovered the greyish powder among the gifts Schultz Tugrahan had sent the previous day.
Before Elisa had a chance to examine the greyish powder further, Adrian quickly reached out and snatched the white piece of paper held in her hand.
“It’s gunpowder.”
“Has Schultz Tugrahan lost his mind? He gave gunpowder to me? To the Naval Admiral of another nation?”
When most people thought of Shulid’s military forces, the image of cavalry came to mind first.
While it was the famous cavalry that brought about Shulid’s independence, another core of their strategy was siege warfare.
Schultz Tugrahan had used the cavalry to shatter the Empire’s walls—which no one had been able to breach for the past 500 years—and thus achieved independence.
And he handed such gunpowder to me, the Admiral of another nation?
“It means he needs you that much.”
“…….”
“‘This is the extent of what I can give you now. If you come over to Shulid, I will do more for you.’ That must be what he wanted to say.”
The expression on Adrian Oberon’s face as he said those words was utterly calm. As if he were stating an obvious fact.
That expression of Adrian’s was nothing but unfamiliar to Elisa.
Was that the first and last moment Adrian Oberon purely acknowledged the value of Admiral Elisa?
And now, in the middle of the banquet hall, Schultz Tugrahan personally mentioned
that gunpowder.
The ornaments piled like a mountain inside the box were all a camouflage. Compared to the gunpowder, a diamond necklace worth the price of a mansion was not important at all.
So, Elisa decided to pretend to be ignorant for now.
“I have seen the rare ornaments you sent. However, I did not have time to prepare a dress that would suit the precious jewels Your Majesty sent, so I was unable to wear them. I ask for your understanding with a generous heart.”
However, Schultz Tugrahan was not so easygoing.
“Those were gifts I offered to the Young Lady of the House of Roserica; did Admiral Shooter not receive anything?”
Elisa immediately realized that Tugrahan was referring to the gunpowder.
Schultz Tugrahan’s deep blue pupils were directed only at Elisa without a single flicker of wavering. Elisa felt as if her inner thoughts were entirely reflected in those pupils that resembled the deep sea.
The detour did not work at all. He was not an opponent who would fall for such tricks.
Ultimately, Elisa lifted her head with a deep sigh and met those eyes that resembled the deep abyss.
“No. I received it.”
“That is a relief.”
“However, I do not know if it is an item I am permitted to receive.”
“If not you, then who else can receive it?”
“…….”
“I will not spare any support for the Navy. I wish to see the blueprint you are drawing.”
Elisa unwittingly lifted her head toward Tugrahan. The blue pupils resembling the deep blue sea were so deep that his inner thoughts could not be guessed.
But one thing was certain: his words about wanting to see her blueprint were not a lie.
It took five years to raise the level of the Sepia Navy, which had been broken beyond repair, to this point. Nevertheless, most military support was concentrated on the Northern borders and the Royal Knights.
Still.
Adverbs like ‘perhaps’ and ‘what if’ inevitably began to wander around inside Elisa’s head.
If she headed to Shulid, would she not be able to live without being treated as an illegitimate child who was impure from birth?
Could she not create a Navy in Shulid that would not be ignored by anyone?
If the opportunity to give birth to a Navy as respected as the Crow Knights—no, a Navy that surpasses that level—was right before her eyes?
Elisa looked up at Tugrahan for a long time, consumed by her thoughts, unaware that the music had even ended.
After Elisa stepped onto the floor with Schultz Tugrahan, Adrian could not take his eyes off the floor. Even though the Queen was right in front of him.
That attitude was worthy of a reprimand for disloyalty, but Queen Anne-Marie decided to let it pass generously this time because it was entertaining.
A restless Adrian Oberon—what a truly amusing sight this was.
“Young Duke Oberon, are you anxious?”
“How could that be? Does Your Majesty not also know well how deep Admiral Shooter’s loyalty is?”
The voice flowing out in a smooth bass was as peaceful as that face, but in the eyes of the Queen who knew everything, he simply appeared anxious because the woman he liked was dancing with another man.
His gaze showed no sign of falling away from Elisa, who was with Schultz
Tugrahan.
The ruby-like red eyes that the entire Empire praised would burn like fire whenever he looked at Schultz Tugrahan.
And, when Elisa showed no intention of leaving Schultz Tugrahan’s arms even after the waltz had ended and continued to maintain eye contact with him, Adrian clenched his fists so hard that his veins bulged.
Then, unable to endure it any longer, he spat out words as if chewing them.
“Your Majesty, please excuse me for a moment. Forgive my disloyalty.”
Adrian Oberon left his seat as if springing away after saying that. Daringly, without even hearing the Queen’s reply.
However, far from being offended by Adrian Oberon’s rudeness, Queen Anne-Marie began to laugh heartily.
Look, just look at that state.
That sight of him rushing out with his eyes turned over just because Elisa Shooter looked at the King of Shulid for a few seconds was truly a scene too good to watch alone.
While looking into Schultz Tugrahan’s sea-like eyes, Elisa suddenly felt a force pulling her body back. In an instant, the gap between Schultz Tugrahan and Elisa widened significantly, and Elisa’s back ended up tucked into someone’s solid body.
She didn’t need to look back to know. Elisa knew all too well who possessed that scent that stung the nose, resembling the snowflakes of the North.
Furthermore, there was only one person who would dare to make such blatant contact with her in a place with so many people.
Due to the unpleasant body heat already entwined with her, Elisa shook her arm slightly, telling him to let go of her hand this instant. Her teeth ground together because she couldn’t shake him off for fear that the fake engagement would be discovered by Schultz Tugrahan.
However, Adrian wrapped his arm and held Elisa firmly as if to say, ‘Stay still.’
“Your Majesty, the dance music has already ended. May I now spend time with my fiancée?”
“If Admiral Shooter wishes.”
At Schultz Tugrahan’s words, the eyes of the two men turned toward Elisa simultaneously.
Elisa replied with a forced smile.
“How could I not be happy to spend time with my fiancé?”
Then Adrian swung her body around very lightly.
“Will you be my partner?”
The moment she heard those words, Elisa’s body froze.
Everything was exactly the same as back then.
The dance, the damn ball. And even the spectators ridiculing her. Adrian Oberon could dig a pit and drop her into the depths whenever he made up his mind.
Elisa knew better than anyone how easy it was for the Young Duke of Oberon to scheme such a thing. After dragging Elisa Shooter’s honor to the floor, he would stand alone as if he were noble, laughing as he watched her soiled state after falling into the trap.
Because that was how he was during their academy days. Elisa had done her best to identify those who had brought down her honor. And unlike them, she had expelled them all from the military academy through legitimate means.
A mere illegitimate child had blocked the path to success for the children of renowned noble families.
However, she could not ruin the future of Adrian Oberon, who had been the mastermind behind it all. No one believed her words that the Young Duke of Oberon was the start of everything.
The professors at the academy all repeated the same words like parrots: that there was no evidence.
So, Elisa Shooter, get your head straight.
Can you really be certain it isn’t the case this time?
Are you sure Adrian Oberon isn’t playing with you?
At this, Adrian extended his arm, raising an eyebrow as if telling her to answer quickly.
That eye signal seemed to say, ‘Anyway, this is the only choice you have, isn’t it?’
Get a grip, Elisa Shooter.
How long are you going to act like a dazed child?
Look at this. He, for one, is perfectly fine.
With a perfectly handsome face, he has forgotten about the old days and is making a brazen dance request.
Why can’t you do the same?
Elisa wrapped herself in defiance while mulling over those thoughts. And then she flashed a very radiant smile.
“Yes, of course.”
Just like the smiling face Adrian wore.
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
