ELSML 21

Chapter 21

Leiban leaned back in the chair of his office and turned toward the sea. Today, the waters were unusually calm—so calm that his encounter with the monster two days ago felt like something from a distant past. In the stillness where nothing could be sensed, Leiban held his breath.

Yesterday’s conversation had ended as only half a success. In the end, he had learned nothing from Kaisa.

“…Was involving Milena a mistake? What exactly did the two of them talk about?”

A sigh escaped him. He had never lacked anything in his life, but now there was one thing he regretted. He should have learned Luikaron’s language beforehand. The very thought made him scoff at himself. And yet, he regretted it that much—because of Kaisa.

“How can I persuade Kaisa to come over to our side?”
“Well, Count… but even if you try to persuade him, won’t you need an interpreter?”

At that, Leiban suddenly realized something. Come to think of it, he had never spoken to Kaisa alone. Milena had always been present.

“No. I’d like to speak with him privately first.”

He was curious how Kaisa regarded him—what he might read from the man’s attitude. Perhaps there was something that could transcend the barrier of language.

Meanwhile, Kaisa, puzzled by the sudden summons, made his way to the Count’s office. He understood that he had been called by gesture, but he couldn’t comprehend a single word the servant guiding him was saying.

It would’ve been nice if Milena were here.

But Milena was busy attending to the Grand Lady at this hour.

When Kaisa knocked and entered, Leiban was watching him from behind his desk. Kaisa gave a brief bow in greeting.

Leiban began to speak.

“What you showed us the other day was truly impressive. To defeat Bardanos so easily.”

From Leiban’s expression and tone, Kaisa guessed it was praise. Perhaps it was an extension of the conversation they had yesterday.

“Thanks.”

He answered shortly in Siern. Leiban then took something out of a drawer—a bundle of banknotes. Kaisa blinked and stared at it indifferently. It didn’t feel like his, so he felt no desire for it.

Seeing Kaisa’s calm reaction, Leiban grew oddly impatient and pushed the money toward him.

“This is a special bonus. Think of it as the price of the knights’ lives you saved.”

Leiban placed the pouch of banknotes on the desk. Kaisa roughly understood the situation. It seemed to be an additional reward on top of the position he’d already been given.

For what I did the other day? Count Keister is generous. Is that why people follow him?

Still, this was too little.

Bardanos was not a monster one could usually defeat alone. Had Kaisa not been there yesterday, the navy of the Keister territory would have suffered heavy losses. The ship might even have run aground. Bardanos had the habit of ramming its entire body against ships.

“Small.”

Kaisa shook his head and pushed the pouch away. Leiban’s eyebrows rose.

“You don’t want it?”

Of course, Kaisa didn’t understand.

“Small.”

He repeated the same word.

Leiban frowned. Did he mean the reward was too large compared to what he’d done?

Such noble knightly spirit. Just as Leiban was reevaluating Kaisa, the aide interjected with a troubled look.

“Uh… Count, I think he wants something else. It seems the reward isn’t enough.”

A completely different interpretation.

Leiban stroked his chin. Then what did he want? Watching his expression, Kaisa thought for a moment and recalled the words Milena had taught him.

“House. Big.”

He gave a thumbs-up, meaning he wanted a big house. The one they currently lived in was too small and quite far from Count Keister’s estate. He had to leave at dawn every day because of it. As a result, housework kept piling up.

He had been feeling suffocated by the increasingly messy state of their home.

“Close.”

Kaisa raised his thumb high again.

Leiban and his aide exchanged glances.

“He wants a house? One close to here?”
“A large house?”

Kaisa nodded. Finally, they seemed to understand.

He wants a stable residence… Does that mean he intends to settle in Siern?

To Leiban, that was good news. He had wanted to settle Kaisa in Siern anyway. Crossing the Sea of Monsters to return to Luikaron wouldn’t be easy. Now that he had become commander of the knights, continuing to rise in rank and earning a title would benefit him as well.

Leiban’s mood lightened like a spring breeze.

“Very well. There are officer-level residences among the navy quarters. How about one of those?”

Though he couldn’t understand the specifics, Kaisa could tell from Leiban’s positive expression that it was good news.

“Thanks!”

Kaisa beamed. Leiban was slightly taken aback. It was a look of pure joy—so different from his usual blunt demeanor.

“However…”

Leiban tried to add something more, but Kaisa merely tilted his head, unable to understand.

The aide tried to help.

“His Excellency is wondering whether you intend to settle in Siern.”

But no matter how much he spoke, complex sentences were nothing but noise to Kaisa. He shook his head.

Leiban sighed. He hadn’t expected direct communication to be this frustrating. Some sincere truth revealed beyond the barrier of language? None of that appeared. All that remained were rewards and what seemed like worldly demands.

“Milena.”

Kaisa suddenly mentioned the name. Leiban looked up.

“Together. House.”

Ah, he needed a house to live in with Milena. Leiban readily nodded. Now that he thought about it, the aide had mentioned their current home was small.

“Agreed. I’ll prepare a place where you and Milena can live together.”

Sensing it was a positive response, Kaisa raised his index finger again—another expression he had learned from Milena. She knew many unique forms of body language.

“Thanks. Much.”

The aide whispered to Leiban.

“Shall we find a teacher to teach him Siern?”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Isn’t Bella arriving soon?”

Leiban muttered. Of those words, Kaisa only caught “Siern.”

“Siern. Good.”

At the unexpected reply, the aide burst into laughter.

Leiban stood and extended his hand to Kaisa.

“I’m glad to have gained a talent like you. I look forward to working together.”

Kaisa grasped his hand, roughly understanding the meaning from the gesture. His palm was thick with calluses. Some of it was natural, but it also spoke of relentless effort. Each time Leiban faced him, he found himself wanting him more.

After Kaisa left, Leiban gave instructions to his aide.

“Look into the navy residences. Something suitably sized for two people. If possible, a house where placing a maid wouldn’t be out of place.”

Leiban intended to plant someone in their household as well. Since Milena could speak Siern, he expected that even casual daily conversations might yield useful information.

Leiban’s plans were steadily taking shape—without Milena or Kaisa ever realizing it.