Days in the Jilgista Kingdom 5
「Um, excuse me. Could you spare a
little time for me?」
When
I turned around after suddenly being called from behind, a tall, unfamiliar man
was standing there. Slightly older than me, with silver hair, ice-blue eyes,
and a straight nose on a well-ordered face, the young noble was indeed someone
I had no memory of.
「I apologize, but I am going home, so
please ask someone else for a dance.」
「No, this is not an invitation to
dance. Of course, I would be happy if you danced with me, but I figured you
probably are not in the mood for that right now.」
The
young noble floated a smile on his thin lips that also looked frivolous, and
forcefully led me to the corner of the hallway, saying, 「Please
give me just five minutes.」
「You are quite forceful, aren't you.」
「I usually act a bit more
gentlemanly, but I do not have time today, so I took drastic measures. I am Ashren
Naturi from the neighboring Kanista Kingdom.」
「I am Layla Wilbas.」
What
business could someone from a neighboring country have with me? If I recall
correctly, the Naturi family should be a Marquis family with a long
history.
「Actually, I was also near His
Highness the Second Prince earlier.」
「Is that so. Then, you must have also
heard my engagement being broken off.」
Thinking
that I had exposed such a disgraceful sight in front of a completely unknown
third party made me feel embarrassed all over again. However, it was still
unclear why Ashren-sama had stopped me. In a story, a neighboring prince
would appear, suddenly whisper words of love saying he had actually liked the heroine for a long time, and sweep the
heroine off her feet to take her away, but no matter how you looked at it, this
was our first meeting.
Besides,
there is no one who would fall for me wearing an ill-fitting dress, with ruined
skin and hair from sleep deprivation, and I do not feel even a shred of such a
sweet atmosphere from him in front of me. Yes, if I had to say—
「You seem like the two-faced type……」
「Lady Layla?」
「Ah, no, it is nothing. By the way,
what is your business with me?」
Ashren-sama narrowed his slit-like eyes
and smoothly approached me. And then, he muttered by my ear.
「The research results that Lord Carter
was rewarded for are yours, aren't they?」
「！！」
My
heart jumped at the unexpected words. How did he figure that out? As I
dumbfoundedly stared back into his ice-blue eyes, Ashren-sama raised the
corners of his mouth.
「You have a look on your face that
asks how I knew. The reason is these hands. The medicinal herbs required for
that research include ones that cause rashes, yet the hands of Lord Carter
and Lady Aisha are white, without a hint of redness, let alone eczema.
In contrast, your fingers are so red and swollen, with blood oozing out in
places.」
I
am extremely careful when handling medicinal herbs. Even so, when doing
research, microscopic droplets can adhere to the skin, and when washing the
used beakers, caked-on powder can get on your hands.
「You noticed well. Are you also a
medicinal herb researcher, Ashren-sama?」
「Yeah, I serve as the deputy director
of a laboratory in the Kanista Kingdom.」
The
Kanista Kingdom is located south of our country, and its landmass is
about one-fifth the size. It is said that they are fifty years behind our
country in both literary and military arts.
「What sort of business would someone
in such an important position have with me?」
Please
don't let it be a development like a marriage proposal, I thought, when Ashren-sama
let out a chuckle.
「It would be romantic if I were to
whisper words of love here, but unfortunately, I do not possess such words, nor
would you wish for them.」
「Of course. Even if someone I am
meeting for the first time said such a thing to me, I could only think I am
being made a fool of.」
「I agree. Rest assured, I want to
scout you. Please lend me your power. I want you to let your talents bloom in
our country, Lady Layla. Of course, I will support you with anything I
can.」
Scout?
Me?
As
I blinked rapidly, Ashren-sama nodded powerfully. It was at that moment.
「Layla, so this is where you were!!」
Just
as I thought my arm had been suddenly pulled, Carter-sama was standing
there, his face red with anger.
「What was the meaning of that
earlier?」
He
closed in on me with raised eyebrows. My grabbed arm hurt, causing me to furrow
my brow, but he showed no sign of loosening his grip.
「Until now, I have supported you, my
fiancé, in my own way. However, if our engagement has been annulled, there is
no longer any need for that.」
「This is why I ask why you lack charm
so much. Even though I am telling you I will let you remain at the laboratory
if you wish. Besides, who is that man?」
Despite
being glared at with a gaze full of hostility, Ashren-sama parried it
with a light smile. Despite his delicate facial features, this person is quite
bold on the inside.
「It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Ashren
Naturi from the Kanista Kingdom. Hearing that Lady Layla quit
the medicinal herb laboratory, I was scouting her for my own laboratory by all
means.」
「Scout?」
Carter-sama's right eyebrow twitched
upwards. At that gesture, this time Ashren-sama's left corner of his
mouth curled up tightly. He really does have quite the personality.
「That is unfortunate. All she can do
is organize documents and wash dishes; I do not think she will be of use.」
「The population of our country is
one-fifth of this one's. Even someone doing chores is a precious human
resource.」
「On top of being inconsiderate, she
fiercely asserts herself with 'buts' and 'howevers', and lacks modesty.」
「As a researcher, one must possess
their own thoughts. That, too, is the human resource we are seeking.」
「She cannot even brew tea properly.」
「The one who wants to drink it should
brew it, shouldn't they?」
Halfway
through, Ashren-sama was clearly enjoying himself. As expected, this
person is two-faced. But, with every single word Ashren-sama said, my
chest felt lighter and refreshed.
「Listening to you, that is quite a
terrible way to speak of her, yet do you have a reason to fixate on her?」
「Hmph, as if there is any such thing.
I simply do not want our country's shame spread to a foreign land.」
While
still grabbing my arm, Carter-sama quickly ran his eyes over my entire
body.
「Or are you interested in her as a woman? She is a boring woman who cannot even dress up properly. Her body looks like chicken bone…… Ow!」
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