Chapter 11: "I Just Wanted a Break, But Now the Nobles are Here!?"
I was finally free.
Well, not really.
But at the very least, I had escaped Seraphina's endless training and Velzaria's relentless bonding nonsense.
For now.
I lay sprawled across a luxurious couch, arms stretched out, staring blankly at the ceiling.
A normal person would probably be enjoying this lavish mansion.
Me?
I was wondering how my life had gone so wrong in just two days.
---
Seraphina's observation had not stopped.
She sat at a small writing desk near the window, diligently taking notes, occasionally glancing in my direction.
I tried to ignore her.
It was impossible.
She was always watching.
---
Velzaria, of course, had also not left my side.
She sat gracefully on a nearby chair, sipping tea, watching me like a patient predator.
Every so often, I felt her crimson eyes flicker toward me.
It was deeply unsettling.
---
Reina, meanwhile, had finally left.
I hadn't even noticed when she slipped away.
Probably because I had been too busy dying inside.
But honestly?
I didn't blame her.
If I had the choice, I'd leave too.
---
For a moment, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, I could actually get some rest.
The house was quiet.
No one was dragging me into anything.
There were no forced training sessions.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
I could finally relax.
---
Then, of course—
The entire mansion shook.
A loud series of knocks echoed from the front door.
And an unfamiliar voice rang through the halls.
"ANNOUNCING THE ARRIVAL OF HIS GRACE, DUKE REGINALD VALE OF THE ROYAL COURT!"
I froze.
Seraphina calmly clicked her pen.
Velzaria set down her tea.
I slowly turned my head.
"…Who?"
---
Before I could process what was happening—
The front doors swung open.
A group of royal knights stepped inside, lining the entrance in perfect formation.
And then—
A man dressed in regal noble attire strode in with confidence that made my skin crawl.
---
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and looked exactly like the type of noble who never had a single problem in his life.
His rich velvet coat was embroidered with gold.
His boots barely made a sound on the polished floors.
And his smug expression told me that I was about to have a very, very bad time.
I sat up immediately.
"Hold on—what's happening!?"
---
Duke Vale paused a few feet away, his sharp eyes scanning the room—
Before settling on me.
And then—
He smiled.
"Eldric Vayne," he said smoothly. "It is an honor to finally make your acquaintance."
I blinked.
"…Who are you?"
---
He chuckled lightly.
"Ah, forgive me," he said. "I am Duke Reginald Vale, a humble servant of His Majesty."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…Uh-huh. And what exactly do you want?"
---
The duke's smile widened.
Then, to my absolute horror—
He turned to Velzaria.
And bowed.
"Lady Velzaria, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. Your presence in our kingdom has been the subject of much discussion."
---
The room fell silent.
Seraphina calmly wrote something down.
Velzaria, however, merely raised an eyebrow.
"Discussion?" she repeated.
The duke straightened, nodding.
"Naturally," he said. "After all, it is not every day that an unknown, powerful noblewoman appears in our capital, claiming a husband."
I immediately choked on air.
"I AM NOT—"
Velzaria placed a hand on my shoulder.
I froze.
"You are," she murmured.
---
Seraphina clicked her pen.
"Subject Eldric enters automatic denial response when marital status is questioned. Predicting further emotional distress."
I glared at her.
"STOP FINDING NEW WAYS TO DESCRIBE MY SUFFERING!"
She nodded.
"Understood."
And then kept writing.
I wanted to scream.
---
The duke watched our interaction with clear amusement.
He turned back to Velzaria.
"I must say, my lady, the kingdom is quite interested in your origins."
Velzaria tilted her head slightly.
"Is that so?"
He nodded.
"Indeed. Many are curious… and many are concerned."
I felt my stomach drop.
Here it was.
The real reason he was here.
---
Velzaria smiled faintly.
"Are you here to ask me questions, Duke Vale?"
The noble chuckled.
"Something like that," he admitted. "But more importantly, I am here to extend an invitation."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…Invitation?"
---
The duke nodded.
"The royal court has been discussing the matter of your… 'engagement.'"
I winced.
Velzaria, of course, looked completely unaffected.
The duke continued.
"And many believe that, as an honored guest of our kingdom, you and your fiancé—"
He glanced at me.
I felt my soul leave my body.
"—should be formally presented to high society."
---
Silence.
---
I slowly turned my head to Velzaria.
She merely sipped her tea.
I turned back to the duke.
He was still smiling.
Then, finally, I found my voice.
"…You're joking."
---
Duke Vale grinned.
"Not at all."
I collapsed back onto the couch.
I was going to die.
---
I had finally processed the words.
And I did not like them.
At all.
---
I sat up suddenly, gripping my head.
"Wait, wait, wait—let me get this straight."
I pointed at Duke Vale.
"You want me and Velzaria to be… what? Introduced to noble society!?"
The duke nodded gracefully.
"Correct."
I felt my entire body tense.
"WHY!?"
---
Seraphina calmly flipped a page.
"Subject Eldric enters heightened distress upon exposure to political expectations. Predicting further avoidance behavior."
She clicked her pen.
"Fascinating."
I glared at her.
"THIS IS NOT FASCINATING! THIS IS TERRIFYING!"
She blinked.
"No."
I wanted to throw myself into the sun.
---
Velzaria, as always, was completely composed.
She delicately set down her tea.
"I see," she murmured.
The duke smiled politely.
"Indeed, my lady. It is only proper that someone of your status receives the recognition you deserve."
---
I stared at him.
Then I turned to Velzaria.
Then back to him.
Then back to Velzaria.
Then, finally, I said:
"…She doesn't even have a noble title here!"
---
Duke Vale chuckled.
"Ah, but that is the interesting part, is it not?"
I froze.
He stepped forward, speaking smoothly.
"Her origins remain a mystery. Her power is undeniable. Her presence has already changed the political landscape."
His smile sharpened slightly.
"And yet, she remains an unknown figure."
---
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
I felt my stomach drop.
Velzaria, however, was completely unfazed.
She simply tilted her head slightly.
"Are you concerned, Duke Vale?"
Her tone was polite. Smooth.
But there was something underneath it.
A warning.
---
The duke did not falter.
But I saw it—
The slight twitch of his fingers.
A noble's version of a nervous reaction.
He quickly recovered, smiling.
"Not concerned, my lady. Merely… curious."
---
I felt like I was going to be sick.
This wasn't just a courtesy visit.
The royal court was testing the waters.
They weren't just curious about Velzaria.
They were worried.
---
Duke Vale adjusted his silk gloves, glancing at me.
"And as for your fiancé—"
I immediately interrupted.
"I AM NOT HER FIANCÉ!"
Velzaria placed a hand on my shoulder.
I froze.
"You are," she murmured.
---
Seraphina clicked her pen.
"Subject Eldric enters automatic denial response when marital status is questioned. Predicting continued emotional distress."
I glared at her.
"I SWEAR TO THE GODS—"
She nodded.
"Understood."
And then kept writing.
I wanted to scream.
---
Duke Vale chuckled.
"I must say, Sir Eldric, your engagement has caused quite a stir."
I stared at him in horror.
"…What do you mean 'a stir'?"
He smiled.
"Oh, nothing much."
Then he added—
"Just that several noble families are debating whether to recognize you as one of their own."
---
Silence.
---
I slowly turned to Velzaria.
She merely sipped her tea.
I turned back to the duke.
Then back to Velzaria.
Then back to the duke.
Finally, I found my voice.
"…YOU'RE JOKING."
---
Duke Vale's grin widened.
"Not at all."
I collapsed back onto the couch.
I was going to die.
---
I could not believe what I was hearing.
Noble families were debating whether to recognize me as one of their own.
Me.
Eldric Vayne.
A forever F-rank adventurer who had spent five years collecting herbs in a dungeon.
And now, suddenly, people wanted to give me noble status!?
I felt faint.
---
I sat upright so fast I nearly got whiplash.
"Hold on—hold on."
I pointed at Duke Vale.
"You're telling me that noble houses—actual noble houses—are discussing whether or not to recognize me as one of their own!?"
The duke smiled politely.
"Indeed."
I felt like throwing up.
---
Seraphina clicked her pen.
"Subject Eldric experiences acute distress when confronted with sudden social elevation. Predicting further psychological collapse."
She clicked again.
"Fascinating."
I glared at her.
"THIS IS NOT FASCINATING! THIS IS TERRIFYING!"
She blinked.
"No."
I wanted to throw myself into the sun.
---
Velzaria, as always, was completely calm.
She delicately set down her tea.
"This is expected," she murmured.
I snapped my head toward her.
"EXPECTED!?"
She nodded.
"You are my husband. It is only natural that you receive proper recognition."
I felt my brain shut down.
"I AM NOT—"
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You are," she murmured.
I wanted to scream.
---
Duke Vale watched our interaction with clear amusement.
"It is quite the unique situation," he said.
Then, to my horror, he continued—
"Of course, certain noble families are considering a more… direct approach."
I froze.
I did not like the sound of that.
---
I slowly turned my head.
"…What do you mean, 'direct approach'?"
The duke's grin widened.
"Well, some houses believe that your engagement to Lady Velzaria should be properly formalized through noble channels."
I blinked rapidly.
"…And what does that mean, exactly?"
---
The duke chuckled.
"Why, they wish to offer you a duchy, of course."
Silence.
---
I slowly turned to Velzaria.
She merely sipped her tea.
I turned back to the duke.
Then back to Velzaria.
Then back to the duke.
Finally, I found my voice.
"…YOU'RE JOKING."
---
Duke Vale's grin widened.
"Not at all."
I collapsed back onto the couch.
I was going to die.
---
Seraphina calmly noted something down.
"Subject Eldric enters advanced psychological distress when confronted with governmental recognition. Predicting continued emotional instability."
She clicked her pen.
"Fascinating."
I groaned loudly.
"THIS IS A NIGHTMARE!"
---
Velzaria watched me patiently.
"You should accept," she murmured.
I shot upright.
"EXCUSE ME!?"
She nodded.
"It would provide stability."
I felt my entire world tilting.
"VELZARIA. DUCHIES ARE FOR ACTUAL NOBLES. I AM A HERB-PICKER!"
She raised an eyebrow.
"And now you are more."
I wanted to scream.
---
Reina chose this moment to reappear.
She casually walked in, holding an apple.
"Hey, what's happening?"
I pointed at the duke aggressively.
"HE'S TRYING TO MAKE ME A DUKE!"
Reina blinked.
Then shrugged.
"Neat."
I felt actual betrayal.
"NEAT!? THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY!?"
She took a bite of her apple.
"Yeah. I mean, why not?"
I clutched my head.
"WHY IS NO ONE ON MY SIDE!?"
---
The duke cleared his throat.
"Sir Eldric, please understand—this is a grand opportunity."
I stared at him.
"For who!?"
He chuckled.
"For everyone."
I wanted to cry.
---
Velzaria placed a hand on my shoulder again.
"You need not worry," she murmured.
I slowly turned to her.
"…You really believe that, huh?"
She nodded.
"It is inevitable."
I felt my entire world crumbling.
---
Seraphina calmly flipped another page.
"Observation ongoing."
Duke Vale smiled.
"Shall I inform the council that you will consider their offer?"
I opened my mouth to scream.
Then closed it.
Then opened it again.
Then—
"NO."