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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Meow.
The kitty in my arms, or rather Arwen, let out a small meow.
Although I had told her to pretend to be a cat, I wondered if she was getting too immersed in the role of a kitty.
Anyway, by the time we returned to the research lab, the negotiations for the sponsorship contract were all finished.
A sponsorship of 50,000 ducats annually for three years.
I wasn’t well-versed in such complex matters, but I could tell it was a huge sum of money.
Of course, there had been some minor incidents along the way.
On the way to the research lab, Eileen suddenly fell into a bad mood as if she was upset about something, or as soon as we entered the research lab, Sylphia’s face scrunched up and Arwen snarled.
Anyway, I couldn’t see them getting along well at all.
“…So, it seems the contract has been concluded,” Eileen remarked.
“How could it not be, Your Grace the Grand Duchess? Thanks to the generous conditions you offered, we won’t lack funds in the process of pursuing the truth. Haha,” my mentor replied.
“The Imperial Court Mage’s flattery skills have improved too. Since you’re in charge of the imperial affairs anyway, you wouldn’t have lacked money in the first place.”
“Well, as we go through life, it turns out that way. Having more money is good, and there’s nothing bad about it, right?”
My mentor laughed it off like a slippery eel, chuckling and creating a friendly atmosphere.
In fact, what he said was true.
Even when I was in the estate, many things were difficult to obtain, and when I tried to conduct experiments or research, the materials and reagents were too expensive, so there were many things I couldn’t do.
It’s said that the science and engineering field requires a lot of money, but there are too many aspects where money is needed, such as materials that can only be obtained by defeating special magical beasts.
Well, I guess my mentor had his own difficulties.
Although the empire was the sponsor, it must have been stressful to constantly go and beg for money whenever it was needed.
Eileen, who had returned to being the Northern Grand Duchess, showed no trace of the foolish appearance she had displayed while conversing with me just a moment ago.
Looking at her like this, I couldn’t understand why they all changed strangely when they got involved with me, even though they were fine otherwise.
“Then, are you returning to the duchy now?” my mentor asked.
“No. I’m planning to report this victory to His Majesty while I’m here,” Eileen replied.
“Isn’t His Majesty ill this time, making it difficult to have an audience with him?”
“I was told beforehand that I need to coordinate the schedule first. I might stay in the capital for a day or two.”
“I see. Since you’ll need accommodations, I’ll take care of such trivial matters.”
“The Imperial Court Mage himself?”
“Please consider it a gesture of goodwill. Haha.”
In the midst of the friendly conversation, Arwen, who had been obediently nestled in my arms until now, pressed my arm with her front paw.
As I lowered my head to look at Arwen, her voice was transmitted to my mind like telepathy.
– …I have a bad feeling about this. It would be better to leave.
‘Suddenly?’
When I mouthed a reply, Arwen nodded her head.
I didn’t know what she meant by a sudden bad feeling.
For now, I was looking for a way to slip away while reading the situation, as Arwen had suggested.
“…Is that so?”
Eileen’s gaze, who had been trailing off, turned towards me. Naturally, everyone’s attention, including my mentor and the staff members, focused on me.
…Even so, it’s a bit burdensome to have so many people staring at me like this.
As I was rolling my eyes in confusion, Eileen hesitated for a moment and then opened her mouth.
“Then, Imperial Court Mage, may I borrow your disciple for a moment?”
“…Do you mean Rudrick?”
My mentor blinked his eyes as if wondering what she meant all of a sudden. Eileen nodded her head, her face slightly flushed.
And my mentor, whose intuition was uncannily sharp in these matters, soon wore a gentle smile.
“Haha, I see. We might need to hear Rudrick’s opinion on this… But I won’t interfere.”
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
My mentor, as if he understood everything, patted Eileen’s shoulder and dragged Sylphia, who had a dazed expression, out of the room.
Eileen’s adjutant and staff members also quickly vacated the room.
Each of them whistled or gave Eileen subtle glances as they passed by.
No, even if she was the Grand Duchess of a nation, was it okay for her subordinates to be so rude?
…The person in question, Eileen, was too distracted to pay proper attention to it.
Haaah!
As only Eileen, Arwen, and I were left, Arwen snarled.
“…What’s with that attitude?”
“I had a bad feeling about this…”
Arwen, with her claws sharpened, glared at Eileen, and Eileen straightened her posture and confidently retorted.
“Didn’t you already throw away your pride as a True Ancestor and pretend to be a pet? I don’t think there’s any particular problem with my actions.”
“…Are they the same?”
“There’s no difference.”
Eileen nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders and approached me, then extended her hand.
“Rudrick. It seems I’ll have quite a bit of free time today… Would you like to take a stroll with me?”
“……”
Even if I was insensitive, I could tell by this point.
Was this what they called a date invitation or something in this world where gender roles were reversed?
And although I didn’t particularly feel like it or dislike it, it would be strange to refuse after she had set the stage like this.
“…Alright.”
Shaking my head, I took her hand.
And Arwen pressed my arm with her paw, as if expressing her dissatisfaction.
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“…Hmm.”
Rudrick pondered.
Somehow, it had turned into an impromptu date.
There was no better way to describe Rudrick and Eileen’s current situation.
The previous date-like outing with Sylphia had been during the festival season, but now there was no special occasion.
It just so happened that as soon as they descended the walking path outside the Imperial Palace and entered the bustling streets of the capital, a passing man’s conversation with his companions made Rudrick feel even more awkward.
“…That man, I definitely saw him during the festival last time.”
“And?”
“This time, the woman has changed.”
In his heart, Rudrick wanted to shout that it wasn’t like that, but if he yelled like that in the middle of the capital, he wouldn’t be surprised if he was treated as a madman, so he passed.
Honestly, Rudrick felt a bit wronged.
It wasn’t something he had intended, and things just turned out this way, but he was being treated as a fickle playboy who frequently changed women.
Who wouldn’t feel wronged in this situation?
Moreover, in this world where gender roles were reversed compared to Rudrick’s previous life, it was especially the case.
Regardless, Eileen, who had changed into casual noble attire instead of her conspicuous uniform, held Rudrick’s hand tightly as if afraid to lose him and wore a faint smile.
It was unlike Eileen, who was known for her expressionless face.
To the point where someone else might have considered it an expression with a grin from ear to ear.
“Rudrick. Let’s go over there.”
Eileen pointed to a stall with an outstretched hand.
It was a street vendor selling simple snacks that could be carried and eaten.
According to the common sense of this world, it would be normal for Rudrick to show such a reaction, but it was Eileen who seemed more excited than Rudrick.
“Are you that excited?”
“…Ahem. It’s because I rarely have the opportunity to wander the streets like this.”
In response to Rudrick’s lukewarm question, Eileen, who belatedly felt embarrassed, made an excuse while clearing her throat.
The North was rich in resources but barren.
Even in summer, it was only slightly cool, and in winter, it was so bitterly cold.
Naturally, it had to fundamentally differ from the capital built on the most fertile land within the empire.
Moreover, how often would Eileen, who had grown up as the heir to the Nord Duchy since birth, have had the chance to walk the prosperous streets of the capital, which were different from the duchy?
Thinking about it that way, Rudrick even felt a bit of pity.
Shaking his head, Rudrick took Eileen’s hand and led her to the street vendor.
“What do you want to eat first?”
“…Rudrick?”
Perhaps Rudrick’s more proactive demeanor, which was different from before, felt unfamiliar to her.
Eileen, who had become the one being led, tilted her head in confusion, but soon pointed to the toast with a slightly flushed face.
In reality, Rudrick just felt sorry for her after hearing her answer and thinking about it.
As the saying goes, reality is better than dreams.
In Eileen’s mind, a rosy imagination slowly began to bloom.
To be honest, it wasn’t an experience she hadn’t had even in the past before the regression, but at least in the current situation, she was ahead of the other rivals in terms of progress.
“Then, please give us two toasts. How much is it?”
“Just give me four coins. By the way, my, you two are really pretty and handsome. You look great together.”
The merchant running the stall took the coins and handed over the toasts, speaking with a cheeky tone.
It was a customary remark that a merchant would usually make to a customer, but upon hearing those words, Eileen’s face turned even redder.
‘We look good together… We look good together…’
The merchant’s words lingered in her mind, playing repeatedly like a broken record.
Both of them are pretty.
They look good together.
A well-matched couple.
“…Um, Eileen?”
Rudrick, who had received the toasts from the merchant and was about to hand them over, called out to Eileen in puzzlement, but his words no longer reached her ears.
Although her face was slightly flushed, she had been maintaining her expressionless façade.
Eileen had to put in a lot of effort to keep the corners of her mouth from curling into a smile.
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