EP.161 Hasn't The Grand Duke Already Been Decided?
"..."
Two people, Kyle and Elga, walked silently down the hallway.
Whether by coincidence or design, their rooms were located near each other.
As a result, their paths back to their rooms overlapped exactly.
Click-clack-.
The Littorio noble lady quietly followed right behind him.
Kyle had to resist the urge to turn around and speak several times.
'She clearly seems to have something to say.'
The Elga he knew would have spoken up by now.
However, from leaving the banquet hall until walking down this corridor, Elga hadn't said a word.
She was just returning to her room with her lips tightly sealed.
Meanwhile, they arrived at the room provided by the Littorio side.
He waited a moment thinking she might finally speak, but still nothing.
"I'll head in first."
Kyle said as he grabbed the doorknob in front of his room.
It was meant to prompt her to say what she wanted to say, but Elga didn't respond.
She just stared intently at Kyle before her with a peculiar gaze.
Feeling awkward, he cleared his throat and opened the door to enter.
Just as he was about to close the door after wishing her good night.
Click-.
Suddenly the door swung open, and before he could stop it, Elga came inside.
"Lady Elga?"
Kyle called out to her in surprise at the sudden situation.
But she went inside as if his call meant nothing to her.
When he hurriedly followed, Elga had already seated herself on the sofa in the center of the room.
This wasn't just anywhere - it was inside the Littorio Grand Duke's residence.
Littorio's people were everywhere.
It would be best to send her out quickly before unnecessary rumors spread.
It could become a disadvantage in the succession battle.
"Lady Elga. It could be disadvantageous if rumors spread, so quickly..."
"What did you mean by those words earlier?"
Elga asked, her eyes sparkling like flames.
She probably had a general idea. She just wanted confirmation.
She seemed to want assurance from Kyle's own lips, no one else's.
"By those words, you mean..."
"About staying by my side."
Kyle just looked at her silently in response to Elga's question.
"If I'm not mistaken, your answer... it's what I wanted."
What I wanted. Kyle knew exactly what that meant.
There was no need to hide it. No reason to step back. Now he just needed to move forward.
"You're not mistaken. You're right, Lady Elga."
"I'm right?"
"About those feelings you have for me. I feel like I'm just now at the starting line too. So since I'm at the starting line, I've decided to properly begin."
Elga slightly narrowed her eyes at his answer.
Then she looked at Kyle sitting across from her and spoke.
"...It's not quite... how should I say this... It's not hitting me like I imagined."
He could guess what she had imagined without explanation.
Even if it wasn't pure feelings, emotions of tenderness between a man and woman.
Perhaps she thought he would whisper words of love while holding his racing heart.
It was understandable given how stiff the atmosphere was right now.
"That's probably true, Lady Elga. Right now, I'm most worried about you giving up other things needlessly, which is why I deliberately took your hand."
"What do you mean? Do you think I'm aiming for the Grand Duke position because of you?"
"Isn't that the case?"
Of course not. I have my own desires. My own dreams. That's why I want to become Grand Duke.
She wanted to say that proudly, but something caught in her throat and wouldn't come out.
She realized it instinctively. A woman's intuition told her.
If she hid her feelings again here, the opportunity would never come again.
She needed to keep his heart close somehow in this moment.
"...N-not entirely. Half... yes! About half?!"
At Elga's honest answer, Kyle gave a small smile.
Then he sat beside Elga and gently took her hand.
"Lady Elga. I've always wanted to ask. Why do you like me?"
"What? That's because you're the only one who... Ah! Wait! D-don't misunderstand! As you know, I joined hands with you partly for political reasons too!"
"I see."
"Ugh! Y-you too! You're similar to me. Because I'm a noble lady of the Grand Duke's family. Because I'm from Littorio who clashed with Jonathan. You're staying close to me to use those aspects, aren't you?!"
"That's true, but even if you weren't a noble lady of the Littorio Grand Duke's family, I think I would have found other reasons to stay close to you."
Elga looked at Kyle with a surprised expression.
The meaning was clear - she wanted to know if his words were sincere.
"Do you really think I held your hand because you're Littorio's noble lady? That I stayed by your side all this time because I wanted to be Grand Duke? I'm not some power-hungry youngster. It's because it's you. Because it's you, Lady Elga. That's why I stayed by your side."
Though she has many gaps, areas that need improvement, and shows naivety at times.
Despite all that, Elga is definitely a good woman. She deserves to be loved.
She has her own charm. Elga's charm lies in the coexistence of her sharpness and innocence.
She has strong convictions, intelligence, and the courage to take action.
At the same time, she still has vulnerable aspects that make her want to rely on others.
Being a shoulder to lean on for someone seeking support.
I thought it wouldn't be so bad, ever since I first met Elga.
"I like you, Lady Elga. That's why I want you to become Grand Duke. Because I want you to be Grand Duke, I completely suppressed the young lord, though I apologize to you and the Grand Duke of Littorio."
The heir to the Grand Duke position needs to be decided soon anyway.
Well, if someone has to be chosen, I'd like my woman to become Grand Duke.
It's not that I'm greedy for political power. It's just because Elga wants to become Grand Duke.
Because she wants it, I'm supporting her as much as I can within my capabilities.
Is this what they call supporting from behind? Well, whatever works, works.
And as Jonathan, wouldn't it be better to make the harem even grander!
"Do whatever you want. I'll help you with all my might. You wanted to become Grand Duke, right? You must have things you want to do once you become Grand Duke. Try everything. I'll help you."
At Kyle's words, Elga gives a smile that seems to say 'you're hopeless.'
Then she mumbles, 'It feels like I'm using you until the end because I want to become Grand Duke.'
Kyle tilts his head with a "Hm?" and says with a smile.
"That's not entirely wrong. You did intend to use me at first, didn't you?"
"T-that was only at first! Not anymore!"
"Really? I find that hard to believe."
"It's not true! Really! Really it's not!"
Elga taps Kyle's shoulder, knock knock.
Of course, it was just playful tapping with no strength behind it, half teasing and half aegyo.
"But Lady Elga. Have you steeled your resolve?"
"What resolve?"
"You know. About how formidable your rivals are."
Elga lets out an "Ah" sigh at Kyle's words.
The Imperial Princess, the Saintess, and even the Witch. The women she's been facing off against come to mind in order.
She realized that even Tisha, whom she considered the easiest opponent, was no simple rival.
If that's the case, the Imperial Princess and Saintess would be several times more difficult opponents.
Honestly speaking, it might be a bit tough even if she becomes Grand Duke.
After struggling with these thoughts, Elga shakes her head vigorously with a "Uuugh!"
"I'll think about that later. Right now, I don't need anything else, I just want to think about you and me."
With those words, before Kyle could react, Elga climbs onto his lap.
It's quite a suggestive position by anyone's standards. It wouldn't be out of place to head straight for the bed.
And to make matters worse, the room isn't even properly lit, creating a dim atmosphere.
"Just asking, but you're not thinking of embracing me right now, are you?"
If the Grand Duke of Littorio saw this scene, wouldn't he immediately raise his fists?
Saying something like, is this what you meant by continuing to help her?
"I'm fine with it. Kyle, if you just say yes."
This noble lady, really. She's trying to progress things too quickly.
Come on now. This is something even the action-oriented Imperial Princess hasn't done.
And we'll both be ruined if we do this before marriage.
"Stop it. We've just reached the starting line, how can we receive the trophy already?"
"That's true too. Well then... I'll be satisfied with this for now."
A soft and warm sensation touches his cheek.
With her face beautifully flushed red, Elga gives him a smiling look.
"Don't take too long. I hate waiting. If you're late, I'll run over and drag you across the finish line by force. You know what I mean, right?"
With those words, Elga tries to get up from her seat.
Thinking this is enough, feeling relieved now that she's gotten her answer.
"Eek!"
That is, until Kyle suddenly grabs her hand and makes her sit back down.
The woman sits back down next to the man with a plop.
Seemingly a bit surprised, Elga blinks her eyes and carefully opens her mouth.
"Kyle?"
"Stay a little longer."
At these unexpected words, Elga's face turns red.
Despite already receiving a clear rejection, thoughts of 'maybe?' start to surface...
"We can talk more, and do some simple bodyweight exercises too."
"Wait, what? Talking is fine, but why is exercise suddenly in there!"
Somehow, the greatest rival might not be the aggressive Imperial Princess, the pure Saintess, or the opportunistic Witch.
It might be that Jonathan who keeps popping up and overtaking everyone at random times.
Such thoughts began creeping into Elga's mind.