Absolutely Do Not Touch Eldmia Egga – Chapter 78

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“Would you like to try this as well? It’s one of the cakes that’s been well-received for its refreshing taste. The chocolate and fruit combination prevents the sweetness from lingering too long.”

“Sh-should I? But haven’t I eaten too much already…?”

“Esmée.”

“Hmm?”

After calling out to Esmée, who was causing tremors over the menu, with a confident and strong voice, I looked straight into her eyes and persuaded her.

“Don’t you think that occasionally having days like this allows both body and mind, sharpened by work, to rest and move forward? Even tools break when overworked daily, let alone the human body.”

“I-I suppose you’re right? Eldmia, you’re quite persuasive. And remarkably reasonable too.”

My name was Eldmia Egga.

A man who always achieved his goals.

And this time was no exception.

The guard of the girl who only identified herself as Esmée was quite solid, but I managed to shatter it and recreate her into an adorable creature eating cake like a hamster.

Wow.

Goodness.

This was healing incarnate.

Was this how parents felt when feeding their children?

How could she eat so cutely?

How frustrating must it have been to maintain such formality while eating when she could eat like this?

If I had filmed a mukbang content with her on Earth, it would surely have gotten over a million views.

Fearing she might come to her senses if she saw the pile of cake plates, I had already cleared away more than 10 plates.

Meanwhile, Esmée, who had unknowingly started speaking more comfortably, spoke first while waiting for the next cake, still like a child eating cake for the first time.

“This is incredibly enjoyable! I never expected we’d get along so well. When I heard you killed Rudra’s young lion for honor, I was quite alarmed. Honestly, judging by actions alone, you could be called a model knight, but such people are always stubbornly fixed in their ways.”

Was that why she had been so tense when we first met?

I suppressed the instinct that had raised alarms about her, stuffed it in a corner, and replied with a smile.

“I thought the issue could have been resolved without death, but the problem was that he placed an absurdly high value on his pride and honor. It’s a pity.”

“Indeed it is. No matter how much one is recognized as the next candidate for Rudra’s Magic Knight Commander, one cannot ignore and trample on others’ honor. Such actions are only possible when one considers the other beneath them and has the misguided confidence that they pose no threat to one’s well-being. Not anticipating this outcome is incompetence, and even if death was expected, if one’s own death wasn’t included in that calculation, then it was a deliberate insult thrown to bring down the opponent. Rudra couldn’t reproach you even if they had ten mouths!”

How eloquent she was.

If I had met her on the street, I might have gone crazy wanting to pat her head and pinch her cheeks because of how adorable she was.

But I hadn’t heard Esmée’s age yet, so I composed myself to avoid getting too carried away.

“Honestly, considering Gwillo’s character, I was worried in many ways, but hearing you say that puts my mind at ease.”

“Mm. Even I could hardly believe my eyes when I first received the report. It was shocking to learn only today about such a person who far exceeded expectations in many ways.”

Esmée, whose every expression was incredibly cute even when she wrinkled her nose in disgust, smiled happily at the cake the waiter had set down, arriving much faster than I had expected.

“Come to think of it, I’m late in asking, but what were you doing here? Were you waiting for Margrave Levien who was in class?”

“In the Empire, when someone is drinking tea alone, it’s considered that they’re in contemplation, so people don’t approach. I was taking a breather, hiding from those following me.”

“Hmm… A blind spot created by the Academy’s free-spirited atmosphere. But since it’s also part of what the Empire pursues, I hope you understand that we can’t really regulate it.”

She spoke as if it were her own fault.

Could she be a direct descendant of someone like the Academy’s chairman?

Just as I was thinking how fortunate it was that she was still eating the cake well, Esmée suddenly stood up as if she had just remembered something.

“Ah! This was my purpose all along!”

“Pardon?”

“I was so engrossed in our natural conversation that I forgot my original purpose!”

Original purpose…?

Making Esmée eat cake like a hamster wasn’t the… oh, that was my purpose.

“I came to apologize and give you a definitive answer! But I forgot because I was distracted by the cake. What an unacceptable mistake!”

Seemingly quite embarrassed, Esmée flustered about, quickly finished the remaining cake, and sat down again, straightening her posture.

Judging by how she had suddenly eaten the cake that had just arrived without savoring it, she appeared to be quite flustered.

Thanks to that, though, I got to see Esmée munching on the cake in her mouth like a hamster, so I was extremely satisfied.

After chewing for a while and finally finishing the cake, Esmée looked as cool and collected as when I first saw her, but her face was still red from embarrassment.

Perhaps aware of this herself, she hesitated for a while, catching her breath, before finally speaking.

“The Empire expresses deep regret for the actions of Rudra’s young lion who insulted both Margrave Levien, who visited as an envoy, and yourself. This has been officially documented and directly delivered to Rudra through a diplomat. While we cannot promise specific compensation immediately, we assure you it will not be taken lightly. The Empire had no involvement in this incident and will certainly not overlook it. I stake my name on this.”

“Ah… yes… I understand. More importantly, you seemed to eat rather hastily. Would you like another cup of tea, Esmée?”

“I-I’m staking my name and making a promise, yet your reaction is quite extraordinary, Eldmia.”

Seeing Esmée’s dumbfounded expression, as if she had seen an incredibly strange creature, I felt I needed to address this.

“Um… Esmée? I’d like to preface this by saying that through our brief encounter, I’ve developed no ill feelings towards you, and in fact, I rather like you.”

“U-uh?”

“I’m saying this out of friendship, so please don’t misunderstand or take it negatively. I know people’s words can be interpreted differently, but…”

“O-of course! After conversing with you like this, there’s no room for misunderstanding. What are you trying to say?”

“Esmée. As I said at the beginning, I don’t know who you are or what your position is.”

“….Huh?”

“Although your status may feel natural and obvious to you, when others don’t know this fact, their thoughts upon hearing promises like the one you just made will inevitably be different.”

I spoke clearly, with utmost seriousness and gravity, without a hint of a smile.

No matter how ideologically desirable and enlightened one’s thinking might be, such an attitude was not good.

If it went wrong, it could lead to becoming a terrible person like Gwillo.

It would be no different from the dreadful result of a daughter, thought to be growing up kind and proper, turning into a rebellious child.

Regardless of one’s position, it was necessary to firmly establish that it was courteous to properly introduce oneself to the other person first.

And one needed to become an adult who could calmly accept reactions different from what they expected.

Whether one of her parents was the Academy’s chairman or whatever else, that didn’t change.

“I… I didn’t even properly introduce myself to you… did I…”

Esmée’s face turned bright red as she finally fully realized her mistake, but I didn’t laugh.

It wasn’t good for education to laugh at a child who properly acknowledged and tried to correct their mistake.

Rather, it deserved praise.

“That’s right. Although we’ve had an enjoyable time sharing refreshments without reservations, if you intend to convey something you consider important, it would be appropriate to remind me of that aspect.”

“In-indeed, you’re right. I feel like I want to hide in a mouse hole. I’ve never made such a mistake in my entire life…”

I almost laughed and said, “Well, it hasn’t been that many years.”

This little one’s way of speaking was truly like an old soul.

Perhaps this was how Asirye felt when she first saw me?

I’ve never found a child cute in my previous life, but this was too adorable.

“I-I’ll introduce myself properly again!”

“Excellent! Although you might feel embarrassed due to the previous mistake, everyone makes mistakes! Isn’t true growth about overcoming those mistakes and moving forward?”

“Indeed that’s… but. Ugh. Even though I’ve done this countless times, I’m incredibly embarrassed.”

As Esmée hesitated, taking deep breaths, I didn’t rush her at all and just waited with a faint smile.

As if watching a child’s school performance.

I waited facing her directly with an infinitely relaxed and benevolent attitude until she was ready.

And then she opened her mouth to begin her self-introduction.

“I am the first child of the great 13th Emperor Pan Krasi Bistim Tel Noa who rules the Empire, and the White Star of the Empire who governs the people by his side according to his will, Esmée Bistim Tel Noa.”

While maintaining a relaxed smile, I had to feel the cold sweat beginning to pour down my back like a waterfall.

I was screwed!!

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[If Eldmia was akive today he would be making mukbang videos of women LMAOOOOOO bro knows his worth]