Absolutely Do Not Touch Eldmia Egga – Chapter 96

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“Eldemia? Are you alright?”

To my surprise, Lagnis gently took my hand, as if checking my complexion.

“No, are you alright? You’re not angry?”

I thought it would be understandable if she felt that Sieg had neglected his duties as a hero during his long stay in Ogwen, even though he wasn’t the reason she lost her territory and family.

However, Lagnis’ expression remained completely indifferent.

I wanted to gauge Esmée’s reaction, wondering if I was being strange, but I couldn’t bring myself to look away from Lagnis.

“Huh? No, why would I be?”

While we were both flustered by her genuinely confused response, Esmée suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! That’s it! I understand now! You had no expectations for Siegfried from the beginning, Lagnis!”

Huh?

What?

Unlike me, who was struggling to understand the situation and Esmée’s sudden laughter by looking back and forth between the two, Lagnis, upon hearing Esmée’s words, suddenly made a surprised expression, as if she had realized something and turned her head, blushing.

wasn’t it a bit strange to have no expectations of a hero?

No, even if that were the case, it shouldn’t have been something to be ashamed of, but her reaction was a bit odd.

“What are you worried about, Eldemia?”

“No, I mean, he’s the hero, isn’t he? How can you have no expectations of a hero?”

“Tsk, tsk. Even if you forcibly try to be insightful, it seems application is a different matter. This is the result of your doing.”

“What? My doing? What did I do?”

“The reason Lagnis doesn’t expect anything from the hero. The reason she is determined to reclaim her territory from the demons and restore her father’s glory with her own strength and the help of those around her, without relying on the hero’s help. That reason is you.”

While receiving Esmée’s gaze, which seemed to find me pitiful and amusing, I still couldn’t understand.

I could only recognize that Esmée’s words were true, judging from Lagnis’ reaction.

“For, for me… Eldemia is the hero.”

Only after hearing those words, stuttered out by a blushing Lagnis, did I feel like I could grasp the situation.

Thinking about it, she had already faced five turning points in her life despite being only 16 years old.

First, was when her genius was recognized and she became Radnelbands’ disciple.

Second, was when she lost everything to the demon invasion.

Third, was when we met while she was wandering the back alleys of Ogwen.

Fourth, was when she was almost kidnapped by the Noble faction.

And right now, as she was receiving what was practically an alliance proposal from the First Princess of the Empire, was her fifth turning point.

And I was with her during three of these turning points.

If such huge waves kept crashing into my life, I would consider anyone who helped me as a savior.

Asirye became my savior just by intervening once in my life.

Of course, that one time was quite long, but anyway, that’s beside the point.

“The hero… Sieg, honestly, I don’t like him. But the fact that you are unfazed after hearing what Esmée just told me… means you must have grasped some kind of clue to understanding him while talking to him. Just think back to the conversation and your reaction in the room before we came to the Empire. It’s a completely contradictory situation.”

I could tell she was referring to the day I heard the news about Lagnis going to the Empire, when I couldn’t contain my anger and made negative assumptions.

“So I’m not angry about the truth Esmée told me. The fact that you, of all people, can understand him means that there must have been a reason why he didn’t want to cooperate with the Empire for three years.”

Lagnis’ hand, as she held mine, and her smile were so warm that I couldn’t help but feel touched.

It meant that she was accepting my opinion as the basis for making an important decision in her life.

No matter how much you understand and empathize with others, your own experiences are the toughest in the end, so no one can blame you for making judgments and decisions based on your own feelings.

Yet, she believed in me.

“Hmph. This one is petty and doesn’t want to see a rival looking at her beloved with such affectionate eyes. I wish we could return to the main topic.”

“I don’t think I need to correct you, but since this is an important topic, I’ll accept it. However, I would like to correct the term ‘beloved’.”

“There is no need for correction.”

The atmosphere was good, you two…

Please don’t do this…

I suddenly felt anxious, as if lightning was flashing between their gazes, but thankfully, the confrontation didn’t last long.

“Anyway. For that reason, The Empire and I wish to maintain and establish a close relationship with you. And if you accept this, it will bring many benefits to both sides.”

“…You make it sound like I have a choice, but do I really?”

“Of course you do. Choice always exists in life. Some may think there’s no choice because the result is divided into profit and loss, but that’s wrong.”

Esmée, who had been continuing the meal with a faint smile until just now, put down her silverware and continued speaking while gazing intently at Lagnis with an utterly serious expression.

“Leaving aside material gains and losses, aren’t you agonizing over intangible gains and losses, such as pride and self-respect? I don’t like stories of people bending to someone else’s will and making choices they don’t want because the other party is superior.”

One might consider those arrogant words coming from someone already superior to most, but somehow, I was certain she would have made the same judgment even if she and Lagnis’ positions were reversed.

Just as I was feeling overwhelmed by her aura, despite her small stature and adorable appearance, Esmée shrugged and finished speaking, returning to her faint smile.

“Well, this proposal isn’t that extreme. Besides, I’m already in a position where I can’t coldly turn you away.”

“…Why is that?”

“It’s quite impudent of you to ask a question you already know the answer to. If I cast you aside, Eldemia would be quite displeased.”

If it weren’t for table manners, her gaze felt like she would have pointed the fork or knife she was holding at me.

“Even so, I would never be swayed by personal feelings and neglect the greater good. My judgment is the Empire’s judgment. With a single decision, I can save thousands of lives or kill tens of thousands.”

“That’s true. I accept your proposal.”

“Hmm. You accepted surprisingly readily.”

“I, too, have no intention of jeopardizing the greater good for personal feelings. And honestly, it’s not such a grand matter, as there’s no loss for me in this.”

“Even though you could be isolated from both the royal family and the Senate?”

“I had a hunch just by seeing my master busying herself as soon as we arrived in the Empire. You’ve already spoken with the royal family, haven’t you?”

Esmée smiled as she watched Lagnis, who resumed her meal with a smug reply.

“It’s good to have a bright one by your side. I’d like to keep you close and teach you a few things, nurture you into a talent I can use.”

“…I’ll have to decline.”

With a sullen expression, Lagnis finished speaking and silently continued her meal.

The rest of the meal continued as a normal one, with nothing special happening.

As the atmosphere seemed to have softened, I cautiously asked how my non-participation in the academy event from tomorrow was related to having this conversation today.

Esmée answered while scratching her cheek, as if a bit apologetic.

“Even though I am fond of you, I must separate you from my plans.”

I couldn’t disagree since she had been emphasizing that point consistently, but I asked for a more detailed explanation because I wasn’t smart enough to figure out the specific reason.

Hesitantly, Esmée continued her explanation.

“The reason I haven’t brought this up until now is because I didn’t know if Lagnis would agree to my plan. If she had refused, and furthermore, tried to hinder my plans for whatever reason… I believed that you would be more likely to follow Lagnis’s will than mine. And if you were to actively help Lagnis in that situation, the resulting variable would have become too large for even Siegfried and I to handle at this time.”

I couldn’t express it outwardly, but after hearing her answer, the Eldemias in my heart simultaneously stood up and started a standing ovation.

Definitely.

Even if Lagnis had refused the offer today and started a rebellion tomorrow, there was a limit to what I could do since I couldn’t participate in the practical training and wreak havoc.

With my options limited or nonexistent, Esmée would have been able to secure most of the advantages she sought from this Hero Festival, and end it stably.

But what truly impressed me wasn’t her preparedness in considering such situations, but the fact that Esmée didn’t hide her true feelings and clearly stated, “I couldn’t trust you two completely yet.”

If it were me, I would’ve been afraid of saying something like, “You didn’t trust us? Well, we don’t trust you either!” and chosen to keep my mouth shut.

But she came prepared to accept such a reaction and take further actions to earn our trust.

To think she would put this much effort into being rational and act responsibly.

Even her cute appearance seemed charismatic and cool.

“Thank you for telling me, Esmée. If it were me, I would have thought it’s better to hide it and I wouldn’t have been able to say anything.”

If I actually clapped, I would’ve been branded as being no different from Sieg, so I just answered with all my sincerity.

“I’m glad you understand.”

Thankfully, Esmée understood my intentions perfectly.

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[The tension between esmee and lagnis is so high, i wonder when eldmia will have to choose a side]