—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Elisha’s initial surprise quickly turned to suspicion, her eyes narrowing, her expression hardening, a possessive glint in her eyes as she looked at Melina.
“Why did you come out of Arnold’s room?”
Her voice was laced with suspicion and hostility. It wasn’t a simple question but a demand for the truth.
“Don’t tell me… you were planning to do something… indecent with him?”
Elisha took a step closer, her words laced with accusation. But Melina’s eyes also flashed, her expression hardening at the unexpected visitor’s provocative question.
“What’s it to you? And what are you doing here looking for Arnold~?”
Melina’s voice was as cold as ice, tinged with annoyance.
“Hmph, I’m here to see my fiancé. Is there a problem with that?”
“I just came to visit a friend on his day off. What’s the big deal?”
Elisha retorted, as if she had done nothing wrong, and Melina countered with equal sharpness.
Their words became increasingly barbed, their gazes like daggers aimed at each other.
Melina’s unwavering stare signaled the start of a conflict, while Elisha simply scoffed, a condescending smile on her face.
“Anyway, excuse me.”
“Hold on, who said you could just barge in?!”
Melina blocked Elisha’s path, the air between them crackling with tension. Elisha pushed past her without hesitation, stepping into the room.
“Normally, I would ask for the host’s permission, but since you’re here, I have to go in.”
Elisha entered the room, her steps firm and resolute.
The silent battle between the two continued, their shoulders bumping against each other as they moved, like wild animals sizing each other up, sparks flying with each small collision, a chilling tension filling the air.
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”
Melina’s voice held a warning, but Elisha remained unfazed. She turned her head slightly and replied with a condescending smile,
“And what’s it to you? It’s not like this is your room.”
Her words dripped with sarcasm, the distance between them widening.
“Ugh! You…!”
The peaceful weekend had been shattered by Elisha’s arrival. The tension between them showed no signs of abating.
◇ ◇ ◇
What was going on?
“Um, Elisha?”
He returned to the living room with the tea and froze, taking in the scene before him.
The atmosphere in the room was tense, like the calm before a storm. Melina stood on one side, her expression elegant yet cold, while Elisha glared at her with a sharp gaze.
An invisible blade seemed to hang in the air between them.
“Hmph……”
Melina placed a hand on her hip, her head held high, and scoffed, a condescending smirk playing on her lips.
Elisha, on the other hand, stood with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on Melina, her expression icy, her eyes burning with anger.
“What brings you here? Wait… were you two fighting?”
When had Elisha arrived? But that wasn’t important right now.
He tried to defuse the situation with an awkward smile, but their gazes remained locked on each other.
“I just came by to see how you were doing since I had some free time, but Melina greeted me at the door… I couldn’t just ignore how suspicious she looked.”
“I just don’t like how she keeps approaching you.”
Elisha spoke first, her voice soft but laced with a sharp edge.
Melina smirked.
“Suspicious? I could say the same about you. You’re the one who keeps interfering, using your title as fiancée as a convenient excuse.”
Melina’s tone was equally sharp, and Elisha’s expression faltered at her retort. The tension between them continued to escalate.
He placed the teapot on the table and sat down between them, a headache already forming.
“Elisha, Melina, please stop—”
““Wait a minute, Arnold!””
They both turned to him and spoke simultaneously, their voices filled with a determination to settle the score.
“I can’t let that last comment slide.”
This wasn’t a simple argument. It felt like a fierce battle over him.
“What? The pretend Fiancee has something to say?”
Elisha’s face flushed with anger at Melina’s words, her teeth bared like a wolf ready to pounce on its prey.
“…….”
But then, Elisha stood up and walked towards him with graceful steps, placing her hand gently on his arm.
“Arnold, you know who’s closer to you.”
Her touch was soft and warm, her head tilted slightly as she looked up at him.
Her voice was sweet, but there was a hint of desperation in her tone. The faint scent of her perfume tickled his nose.
But the sweet moment didn’t last.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Melina quickly stepped forward and grabbed his other arm, her grip firm and strong, unlike Elisha’s gentle touch.
Her green eyes flashed like flames. He also felt a rather… substantial pressure against his arm, but he decided to ignore it.
“Stop being so pushy. Do you think you can just get away with pretending nothing happened?”
“Elisha, no matter how much you try to dress it up, Arnold won’t be fooled by your flimsy words.”
Melina’s voice was firm, her gaze fixed on Elisha’s hand. She turned to him and said,
“Arnold, as I’ve always said, you’re my destined savior. It’s a divine revelation. You don’t think that’s wrong, do you?”
He was caught between their intense gazes, unsure how to resolve this situation.
Elisha’s soft touch on one arm and Melina’s burning intensity on the other, neither willing to let go.
“Elisha, Melina, please calm down.”
But his plea fell on deaf ears. They continued to glare at each other, their rivalry intensifying.
“Hmph. Why does the likes of an elf like you keep trying to get involved?”
“The likes of an elf? You’re not even worthy of uttering that word”
They continued their argument, their words sharp and cutting, and he felt trapped between them.
““Arnold.””
They both called his name simultaneously, their gazes locked on each other, sharp as blades, like warriors about to duel.
“Who will you choose, Arnold?”
It seemed they couldn’t settle this on their own. They turned to him, their eyes filled with a desperate plea, like abandoned kittens vying for his attention.
“…….”
So, the decision fell to him…
He couldn’t run away, nor could he give them an answer. But he knew what he had to say.
“Please, both of you, let go of my arms.”
But his words had no effect.
“…I’m the one who’s right for Arnold!”
“…No?! I’m the one who’s more suited for him!”
They both paused, their expressions momentarily contorted, and then, as if on cue, resumed their bickering, their eyes still filled with suspicion and rivalry.
He sighed inwardly. Was this hell, or was it a situation some men would consider heaven?
For him, it was definitely the former.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Mother, it’s been a while.”
Meanwhile, at the Stenman mansion, Eilly, dressed in her formal maid uniform, bowed her head respectfully to her mother, Arina.
Her voice was filled with both the warmth of a daughter reunited with her mother and the professional courtesy of a maid.
It was a testament to how much she had changed from her previously clumsy self.
“Oh, Eilly. It has been a while. How are you?”
Arina responded with equal grace, her warm gaze belying her words, as if she wanted to embrace her daughter.
“I’m well, Mother. I’ve been diligently performing my duties and am in good health.”
Eilly replied in a calm, composed manner, befitting a skilled maid, but there was a hint of suppressed excitement in her voice.
“I’m glad to hear you’re doing well.”
Arina, unable to hold back any longer, gently embraced her daughter.
“Your sister is doing well too.”
“My sister? That’s good. I’m so glad she’s healthy.”
Eilly’s eyes lit up with relief and joy.
Arina nodded and continued,
“She’s doing so much better thanks to Master Arnold. I’m truly grateful to him.”
Eilly straightened her shoulders and her eyes sparkled, a subtle pride swelling within her at her mother’s praise for her master.
“So, you’re here for the quarterly accounting?”
Arina smoothly steered the conversation towards work.
“Yes, that’s correct. I asked Master Arnold for permission to be away for the day.”
Eilly nodded, her composure still slightly ruffled by excitement.
“Well, I have good news.”
Arina smiled, looking at her daughter’s face.
“Good news?”
“It seems the accounting will be finished sooner than expected this time.”
“Really?”
Eilly’s eyes widened with surprise and anticipation.
“Yes. They’ve changed the procedure. We submit the reports the day before, and on the day itself, we just finalize the accounts.”
“And unlike before, when the head maid handled everything alone, the assistant head maid is also helping this time, so the work is much more manageable.”
Arina explained with a reassuring smile.
“So… it could be finished much faster than expected?”
“Yes, most likely. They said it might even be done by this morning.”
Eilly couldn’t contain her excitement any longer, her face beaming, her movements filled with energy.
“That means I can go back to Master Arnold sooner.”
Her thoughts were already with Arnold.
‘Oh, I can go back to Master sooner…’
‘Just the thought of seeing him again makes my heart race!’
She imagined Arnold’s kind and reliable face, a natural smile and a blush spreading across her face.
“That’s wonderful news!”
Eilly tried to maintain a calm tone, but her voice was filled with excitement.
Arina chuckled and gently took her daughter’s hand.
“Yes, I’m happy to see you so happy.”
Eilly smiled brightly, her heart already flying back to her master.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Hi Lord Fourth here!
Things are heating up. This argument was kinda difficult to translate.
