The Main Heroines are Trying to Kill Me

Chapter 481: Side Story - The Social Gathering (5)

“Th-Thank you... Thank you so much...”

“There’s no need to bow. I just gave you my contact info, that’s all...”

Frey hurriedly helped Trisha up from her bowing position, where she had been practically groveling in gratitude.

“W-With this, I won’t get kicked out of the family... Haha, hehe... Ehehe...”

But Trisha, still mentally overwhelmed by the fact that she had secured Frey’s direct contact information, remained out of touch with reality.

“I’ll treasure this forever...”

“Yes, well... goodbye.”

Frey, seeing her in that state, kindly escorted her to the door.

“...Hm?”

Just as he was about to bid her farewell for good, Trisha’s legs wobbled, and she staggered, causing Frey to change his expression to one of cold seriousness.

“Wait a moment.”

“...Hic.”

More than annoyance at being called back, Trisha, intimidated by his stern look, began to hiccup nervously.

“If you leave now, where are you headed?”

“W-Well... home, I suppose...? The tea party was a disaster, but since I got your contact info... I won’t be kicked out, so...”

“Sigh.”

Frey let out a deep sigh, gazing at her with a cold expression before extending his hand.

“H-Huh?”

Slowly and gently, Frey began to examine the area around her neck and arms.

“Don’t go home for now.”

“...H-Hic.”

Frozen in place under Frey’s touch, Trisha hiccuped again at his words.

Is he going to execute me after all? No... the way he said it, he’s not letting me go home... maybe... maybe I’ll become Frey’s possession...

“Sit over there.”

“...Y-Yes, yes, yessir.”

She scurried to the table as Frey directed, her forehead sweating profusely as she thought to herself,

...Could this actually be good? Maybe I can get by easily from now on.

“...”

Watching her, Frey’s butler, Kania, quietly approached him.

“What’s the matter, Young Master?”

“You saw it too, didn’t you, Kania?”

Still gazing coldly down the hallway, Frey began speaking in a low voice.

“That young lady had marks on her neck and arms.”

“...Yes, she did.”

“Judging by the marks, she was beaten with a cane, right?”

“Correct, and repeatedly.”

Kania was well-versed in torture, so she could recognize such marks easily.

Getting the confirmation he needed, Frey quietly gritted his teeth.

“It pisses me off.”

“...”

“How many hidden gems are buried and lost, unable to shine? Forever buried under these corruptions “

“If I had to guess, probably enough to fill ten rooms like this one.”

“I don’t want fools holding back talents like hers.”

Kania, watching him closely, quietly pulled out a notebook, her eyes gleaming.

“Shall we flip the table?”

“No, don’t. It’s still a loyalist family after all.”

“Understood. It seems there will be some shifts in the power structure of the Hollind family soon.”

“Is that so? That’s good news.”

With that, they had effectively and mercilessly decided the fate of a noble family.

“You’ve become even sharper than before.”

“What choice do I have? Running a country is no child’s play.”

Frey scratched his head, answering with a wry smile, then added quietly.

“Besides, I take care of my own.”

At that, Kania, her eyes wide in surprise, stared at him.

“That statement just now...”

“Ah.”

Frey, noticing her sudden change in demeanor, began sweating nervously as he realized what he had implied.

“Can you handle the responsibility?”

“N-No, you know... I didn’t mean it that way! I meant she’s on my side...”

“Very well, let’s return to our seats.”

Frey hurriedly opened his mouth to explain as Kania, with a gentle push, urged him toward the table.

“Kania! I... I wanted to have a private conversation with you...”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

Turning toward the left table where he had been sitting earlier, Frey suddenly fell silent.

“The table is... gone.”

Indeed, the left table that had been there moments ago had completely disappeared.

“Ah...”

Reaching out toward where the table had once stood, Frey found himself under the scrutinizing gaze of everyone in the room.

“””...”””

Including Serena and Roswyn, who were all staring at him with their necks craned forward.

- Tremble, tremble, tremble...

And for some reason, amidst them all sat Trisha, completely pale with fear.

“What are you doing, young master?”

Kania, who had already gone over to sit next to Trisha, beckoned him with a gesture.

“Hurry and sit down.”

“O-Oh, I-I  just remember I have something to take care of real quick...”

After agonizing over countless decisions in that brief moment, Frey once again opted for immediate safety and hurried toward the exit.

- Crack... crack...

But the door and windows were already frozen shut.

“Why... Why won’t it open...? Haha...”

“Sit.”

“Yes.”

.

.

.

.

.

“E-Excuse me?”

“....”

This is uncomfortable.

“C-Can someone please say something?”

“...”

No joke, this is seriously uncomfortable!

What on earth is happening to me today?

Suddenly, the left table disappeared, leaving me with no choice but to sit at this table.

And now, I’m being stared down by people I normally wouldn’t even dare to look in the eye.

“About the idea you mentioned earlier.”

“...!”

“It wasn’t bad. How about we discuss it further later?”

Even Lady Serena, who was sitting next to me, leaned in with an expectant smile.

I don’t even remember what I said, how can we discuss it!

“A-Ah, w-well. S-Sorry, I’m kind of busy...”

“That’s fine. I can make time for you.”

The more I tried to wriggle out of it, the deeper I sank into this mess.

“By the way, besides that idea you mentioned earlier, do you have any other suggestions?”

“P-Pardon?”

“It can’t be the only one, right? I bet you’ve got a few more amazing ideas up your sleeve.”

Great.

The only way to deal with this is to lower her expectations all at once.

“Y-Yes, like... a flying carriage, maybe?”

“Pardon?”

“Y-Yeah, you know... if we tied dragons to the carriages, they could fly across the sky, and we’d be able to travel super fast?”

As I threw out a childish fantasy I used to have, I immediately noticed the shift in the atmosphere.

“...Are you serious?”

“U-Uh, that is to say...”

Lady Serena’s eyes turned cold in an instant.

No! If this keeps up, I might get assassinated!

I need to fix this somehow...

“Th-The dragon thing was a joke... But how about a carriage that flies on its own?”

“How would that work?”

“Well, you attach wings to the sides of the carriage... and make them flap like a bird’s.”

“And how would you power it?”

“Um, maybe using magic crystals...? I heard that the Cloud Kingdom recently mined so many magic crystals that they don’t know what to do with them... If we struck a deal and imported them in bulk, it’d be a win-win for everyone...”

I forced a smile, trembling as I spoke.

Lady Serena stared at me for a moment before looking away.

Wait, why does it even matter when we already have teleportation!

Realizing how ridiculous my suggestion was, I slumped my head onto the table in despair.

“Teleportation is a top-tier magic, so it’s definitely risky... There have been a lot of accidents during intercontinental travel... And, now that I think about it, a flying carriage could be used as a strategic weapon too...”

It’s over... I’ve caught the attention of the head of the Empire’s Secret Service...

Watching her mumble to herself, I was certain she was already planning my assassination.

I feel nauseous. If this keeps up, I might faint.

... Actually, that might be better.

- Gulp, gulp...

“...!?”

Just as I was contemplating knocking myself out by slamming my head against the table, I noticed Miss Eurelia chugging champagne across from me.

“Ugh...”

“W-What’s wrong with you?”

Her wine glasses were scattered around her, and her eyes were completely unfocused.

“Uh...”

“What the... what is going on...”

My survival instincts, honed through years of social navigation, suddenly flared up.

I have a bad feeling about this...

Shifting uncomfortably in my seat, I glanced nervously at Lord Frey as I mumbled to myself.

But... if I get up now, I’ll lose the opportunity of a lifetime...

A chance to extend my life and secure an easy future, all at once.

As I weighed the two options, disaster struck.

“F-Frey...”

Wait, did I just hear that right?

“I love you...”

Eurelia, her face flushed red, had her head bowed as she confessed tearfully.

This is some top-tier gossip material, something I could milk for the next five years.

No, wait, this isn’t the time to be thinking like that.

“Why... Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“...”

“Is it because of my family?”

“...”

“Is it because... my family is your family’s enemy?”

What is she even talking about?

“Is it because... my father did such disgraceful things?”

I didn’t want to hear this. This kind of information only makes me feel uneasy like my head’s on the chopping block.

Lalalala. I didn’t hear anything. I didn’t hear a word.

“If that’s the case... I’ll make amends somehow.”

“...”

“I’ve already given up our family’s power. I’ve given up on my father’s petitions. I’ve gathered all the information about those involved in those dirty dealings.”

“Mhmm.”

I’m not listening. I’m not hearing this at all...

“I even brought a written contract. To transfer the Justiano family’s control to the Starlight family.”

...She’s crazy.

As I shook my head and covered my ears, I couldn’t help but pull my hands away.

Honestly, though, this is too entertaining to ignore.

This kind of juicy gossip comes once in a lifetime.

“E-Even after all this... will you still not accept my feelings?”

“........”

“I-Is my love... still not enough?”

Wow,

Eurelia, the once-proud daughter of the noble Justiano family, was kneeling on her chair.

I can’t even imagine how many men would be jealous if they saw this.

“For now, let’s sober up and talk about this...”

Frey tried to speak calmly, but then he suddenly stopped.

“”...””

It was because both Lady Serena and Lady Roswyn were staring at him, wide-eyed.

I’ve seen that look before.

When I visited the Frozen Kingdom, the penguins there had the exact same expression.

“...It’s not going to work out.”

“...!”

Under their silent pressure, Lord Frey, now sweating profusely, finally shook his head, and Eurelia, who had been kneeling, looked utterly devastated.

- Fwoshhh...

Wait, what’s happening now?

Something dark began to seep from around Eurelia’s body.

“Young master, I suggest you take back what you just said.”

“What are you talking about?”

Confused, Lord Frey watched the ominous aura creeping out from Eurelia, as his butler urgently whispered in his ear.

“Eurelia is starting to emit a large amount of black mana.”

“What nonsense is that? She’s a white mage.”

“She’s also a warlock. If you leave her like this, she’s going to go berserk.”

“Shit.”

“Young master, hurry.”

I should have just left earlier!

This is getting dangerous.

- Tremble, tremble, tremble...

“I mean! I’m saying it’s not going to work right now! Right now!”

“...?”

“I’m really busy, okay? I’ve got a lot on my plate. So, it’s hard for me to give you an answer at this moment, you see.”

As I trembled in fear for my life, Lord Frey fought desperately.

“....”

“What I mean is, I can’t say anything right now, but who knows what might happen in the future... You know what I mean, right?”

There’s no way she’s falling for that.

No way.

Eurelia, the Ice Queen, wouldn’t fall for such a vague excuse...

- Smile...!

She fell for it!! Immediately!!

“Hehehe...”

What are you smiling at!? Are you stupid!?

With dazed, drunken eyes, Eurelia reached out to Lord Frey, grinning.

“I really do love you... Frey...”

“Why, though? Why do you love me?”

Lord Frey looked genuinely confused as he asked.

Is he seriously asking because he doesn’t know?

“You’re my first love...”

“But why!?”

Just look in the mirror and you’ll find the answer!

“...You were kind... You taught me magic...”

“What?”

“Magic...”

“...???”

How does he not get it!?

Is he seriously that dense?

... Really?

- Thud...!

“Oh.”

While I was fuming inside, Eurelia, who had been holding Lord Frey’s hand and smiling, suddenly collapsed face-first into the table.

“Snore...”

She had fallen asleep.

“Poor thing...”

“Tomorrow’s going to be interesting when she sobers up.”

I’m actually curious about how she’ll react when she wakes up.

Not that it has anything to do with me, of course.

And for the record, I’m drinking fruit juice to avoid such embarrassment.

Besides, I’ve built up a high tolerance from all those etiquette classes I took over the years.

“In any case, it’s my turn now.”

Relieved that the situation had passed without incident, I suddenly heard a cold voice.

“Lord Frey.”

“Yes?”

It was Aishi, the princess of Cloud Kingdom, who was staring at Lord Frey.

“This may be sudden, but I’d like to propose to you.”

“...!?”

What nonsense is this now?

Why is the princess of the up-and-coming Cloud Kingdom, a potential rival to the Empire, proposing to a Duke’s house?

“Ahh, I, too, must take responsibility. Human.”

This is bad.

I’m starting to lose track of what’s happening.

Now, after the princess of the Cloud Kingdom, the fox princess is proposing too?

Is this really the kind of open-minded era we’re living in?

“Aren’t you accepting handmaidens? I’d like to serve your household for a few years...”

Even the Horizon family sisters were getting in on it!

Why is my head spinning like this? Is it because my brain can’t keep up with the situation?

“I’ll be your slave... if you’ll accept me...”

“M-Me too...”

“...Please use me as your shield.”

What nonsense are those commoners and knights babbling now?!

A-Anyone help!!!

“Why are you all... treating me like this?”

“”...””

“Why... Why are you doing this?”

Holding my aching head in my hands, I lowered my gaze.

“...Do you really not know?”

Hearing Lord Frey’s scared voice, something inside me snapped as I looked up.

“What?”

“Let me explain it to you.”

Without even thinking, I found myself speaking my thoughts out loud.

“These people here have collectively lost their minds.”

“Ms. Trisha? What are you...”

“You’re an incubus in human form, Lord Frey. With a face that could drive anyone mad, a tragic backstory to boot, and you go around teaching magic, saving lives, and casually touching people... Do you really think there’s a single noblewoman who wouldn’t fall for you?”

“W-What...”

“Honestly, I think you owe everyone here an apology for unintentionally seducing them.”

Why does this feel so satisfying?

“Go on. Apologize right now...”

Ah.

“...Hic.”

That wasn’t fruit juice in front of me... it was fruit wine.

“””...”””

“Hic...”

I’m doomed!!!!!!