Episode(39): The tea takes effect, That f*cking hero!
Sovereign of Death~(39)
[It's love dear sister!]
'Ugh'
Maria could picture her sister frolicking with Renji through a flower field while humming a sweet tune in bliss.
Maybe Elaine would stop to pick a flower and exclaim at its beauty. But then Renji would activate his filter and drop the lines, 'Not as beautiful as you, my princess'.
She shivered.
Maria could literally feel goosebumps even though the weather wasn't cold.
There was even a heat regulator so the fact that she had goosebumps all over her meant she was freaked out beyond belief.
'It's a demon! She has to be possessed by a demon!!'
A priest.
She needed to quickly call a priest to exorcise whatever abomination had taken over her sister's body!
Her hands trembled and before she could even reach the communication device, Elaine uttered her next words.
[I...I've fallen for his heroic aura and his masculine charm of a man. I don't believe there is a man who can outshine sir Renji in this world!...Also, dear sister, I didn't meet him three weeks ago, please correct your misconception! I met him a couple days ago!]
Pfft!
Maria spluttered.
If she had been drinking tea Elaine would have long been covered in said tea long ago.
She looked forward.
Elaine looked so proud, you would have thought she saved the world with that smile. But, did she hear the words that came out of her own mouth?
[A co....a couple...what?]
As in two days ago?
Or, no.
Couple could always be used figuratively to mean more than two so it could have been 20 or even more?
The heroes had been here for a month so it'd make sense in that time frame.
Maria nodded satisfied by her calculation.
It had to be so.
There was no way you would meet a man then give him your first the next two days. Even a harlot would have more pride.
Elaine, seated on the other side thought hard about it.
It had already been a month and so it was hard to recall when she had her first time with Renji.
But as if a Light lit up in her head, she smiled and answered cheerfully.
[I think it was four days after we met to be exact…..]
Indeed, it couldn't have been two days.
Right, no way was her sister such an easy woman.
Maria brightened up, but the next moment her mood became dark and grim again.
So what if it wasn't two but instead four days? Was that any better?
It was like comparing 60 minutes to an hour or 24 hours to a day.
Literally, what was the difference? The difference was just a mere two days!
Something was obviously wrong.
Maria went silent, unable to continue the conversation she didn't say a word.
She really didn't want to hear anymore or she might just think that she had gained wings and jump off the balcony.
It was better to try flying than listen to this bullsh*t. And why did her sister look so damned proud of herself!?
She wanted to cry but had no tears.
Just when she was about to test how long she could stay in the air before falling-
Knocking*
A knock echoed across the silent room.
The huge door at the entrance carried the sound into the room as both girls looked over at the door.
Elaine raised and eyebrow in confusion.
However the voice of an angel bringing salvation to Maria's sorrowful heart echoed in her ears. It was a familiar person that she was glad to have show up at the moment.
[Lady Maria, I've brought the tea]
It was Karian.
'Perfect timing!'
Maria rejoiced.
She really couldn't stomach that idiotic blissful expression her sister wore. It was like the face of a girl that finally started dating her crush.
However Maria wasn't happy at all!
This caused her to suffer imagining many dark scenes of 'how to kill a hero successfully without becoming a heretic!'.
Luckily Karian had arrived!
'Great! It was getting harder and harder the more I saw Elaine's head over heels expression!'
[Please come in...]
Maria calmly spoke.
At the same time she sat up straight and regained her poise and calm.
It was like the stress she had been facing was no longer there and she had been free from all worry.
Elaine raised an brow but soon shook her head deciding not to ask when she saw the change in demeanor.
She figured it was just her sister being weird again.
Just then, the door opened with a click.
Soon the double door was pushed open revealing the spacious room to all those beyond the door.
Maria and Elaine also saw the figures of not only Karian but also the maids following at the ready behind her.
Karian looked at Maria and Maria looked back at her taking a huge gulp.
Karian stared at her for a while before she nodded causing Maria to sigh and turned around with a sigh.
Elaine didn't see the exchange but instead focused on the fragrant tea aroma that wafted through the air.
It seemed to have a calming effect that took effect immediately.
Karian also pushed the trolley with several dishes of sweets and pastry into the room. She only stopped once the trolley was right beside the long table.
At that time, a smile spread across Maria's lips.
A glint flashed through her eyes and she seemed to see victory waving at her from afar.
'The hero better hope that my sister genuinely has love in her heart'
Otherwise there was no way she would let that degenerate go so easily.
If he had truly defiled her sister and sullied her purity Maria genuinely and honestly didn't know what she would do.
Even disregarding the repercussions she might still act.
It just so happens that hero hunting got a new chapter just today.
'Huhu....Don't give me a reason to act, Hero'
Now, all she had to do was wait. Just wait patiently for the answer to reveal itself.
After stopping the trolley beside the long table, Karian stepped aside before walking to Maria's side and standing there without much movements.
The maids took this as a signal and soon began to prepare the tea and snack laying them all across the table.
An array of sweets and snacks had all been lined out before Elaine and she really couldn't wait to dig in.
As an avid lover of all things sweet and healthy, she liked both indulging in delicacies and making sure she was fit enough to consume them in large proportions.
Not to mention her metabolism made it extremely hard to gain weight.
This was mainly why even as a 14 year old she had proportions comparable to a model at the peak of her career.
Well, her chest was still on the smaller size and she was petite in size but aside from that there wasn't a man that didn't want to hurry her growth into a woman so they could pluck the long awaited flower.
She loved sweets.
Even so, she grew up as a princess and etiquette was beaten into her ever since she was small. As a result she didn't immediately attack the snacks on the tray.
It wasn't until after everything had been prepared and the maids left that Elaine had begun to eat her fill.
Maria turned her gaze towards this with a smile and casually begun speaking again. However compared to before she seemed more nonchalant.
[So, Elaine, about the child...are you––]
[It's obvious that I'm keeping it]
There was no hesitation in her answer.
Well, Maria was expecting this. Even if Elaine were under a spell and were to wake up there was no way she would abort her child.
Especially not after what they had been through, neither of them would abandon a child whether it was in this world already or not.
It would be a shame to prevent a life just to spite one incorrigible degenerate. So Maria didn't disagree at all.
[I see]
As long as the child grew up without the influence of that d*ck for brains Maria had no issues.
She would even hand over the throne if it were a boy that would be born.
Elaine squinted with a puzzled gaze.
She was confused by the change in her sister.
Moments ago she seemed ready to go prepare a funeral in her rage, but now she was so calm that it felt ominous.
What was this really?
She had no idea that Maria was already planning to never let the child be involved with Renji at all.
'I will take good care of both my sister and her child'
Maria made a solemn vow in her heart.
She then smiled and continued the conversation in a light hearted manner.
[And...will you be sharing residence with the hero? He was requesting a residence after all]
Hearing the question, Elaine smiled.
She sipped the tea with elegance befitting a royal princess and savored the taste before she answered.
[Naturally]
[Is it not the duty of a wife? Both sister and I grew up learning about this in bridal classes did we not? A wife should always be by the husband's side]
Maria nodded but the seething rage was like a churning disaster in her heart.
To hell with bridal classes.
Had she known those bridal classes would have led her sister into the belly of the beast she never would have made her take them in the first place.
'Ahh....I'm so mad!'
She decided that she really had to pay a 'visit' to those instructors in the future.
At the same time a sinister smile appeared on her face.
Standing at the side, Karian didn't miss this terrifying smile and she knew the meaning. It wasn't hard to guess when the topic was 'bridal classes'.
She made up her mind to tell those former instructors to leave the capital before the princess tracked them down.
[Ehem…]
Having no idea that her plans would be foiled in the end, Maria coughed and regained her calm smile.
[Well, it is true that as his wife you will need to be at his side. But, with the hero's sexual hobbies will you be okay? He might even bring other women into your home you know? Are you sure you want to see that every day?]
Renji was like a monkey that would hop in heat and excitement for every woman to cross his eyes.
Such a man surely wouldn't become a 'proper' husband just because he had gotten married.
Maria was sure of it or else her last name wasn't Floren.
Elaine shook her head with a calm smile.
[It's okay. A man is supposed to be healthy like that. Rather I'd be worried if he only loved me, a great man such as himself will surely have plenty women by his side]
She placed her hand close to her heart and spoke with a loving tone.
Her dreamy eyes and misty tone seemed to scream that no matter what she would always love the guy until death do they part.
[I'm only glad that I get to be by his side as well]
Maria squinted, displeasure was written all over her face after hearing these words.
The Elaine she knew would never compromise on a man no matter what.
This new Elaine was merely just a mockery of what her sister used to be and it enraged her to no end.
'Good, good job hero for making me angry! If I, Maria, S. Floren don't one day cause your demise then may the heavens punish me!'
She calmed down.
That demon really managed to twist her sister's view of love but it wouldn't be long before everything was back to normal.
Maria looked at her sister with a reassuring smile, however that smile was so chilling that it caused Karian at the side to shudder.
[I see, well enjoy the tea...I bet everything will be clear to you after drinking it]
[?]
Elaine was confused.
It sounded to her like her sister's words had an underlying meaning but she really didn't know what it was.
In the end she just chalked it up as a part of her strangeness today.
Elaine decided to focus her attention on the tea instead.
Since her sister praised the tea so much she might as well enjoy it.
Sure enough, the more she drank the more she liked the tea.
It was sweet but it wasn't too sweet and neither was it bitter.
It was just right.
[This is really amazing tea sister. I'm surprised you could procure such high quality tea leaves, just where did you get it from?]
Her eyes lit up.
Elaine could already see herself drinking this tea while reading books at night and at tea parties in the future.
Although she always had good tea no matter where she went, tea that enticed her this much was indeed a first.
Maria smiled at her sister's excitement.
[Oh, just a little to the east. I believe they have a variety of tea flavors, if you'd come with me next time I went as a part of the delegation, we can purchase a whole bunch]
Maria paid keen attention to her sister to see if anything would happen but no matter how long she stared Elaine was still as energetic as before.
She frowned.
The effects should have begun taking effect already.
Did her sister truly fall in love with the hero and become an idiot with nothing but love on the brain?
'No, let's wait a bit.
She refused to believed that was the case!
Thus, Maria acted normally while holding conversation.
When she ran out of things to talk about for one topic she instantly switched to the next to not let the conversation end.
But no matter how much she wasted time, nothing happened in the end.
'No…way. It can't be true right?'
Did her sister actually have real feelings for the hero?
Maria instantly lost hope.
Since it was like this then there was nothing she could do.
[Uh....]
Just as she was about to give up hope, it happened.
Elaine who was being energetic all of a sudden held her head. Her eyes seemed unfocused and dazed.
[Ah, suddenly I feel...sleepy]
A drowsy spell hit Elaine so hard that she could see the world spin before her very eyes.
It felt like she was fighting a sleep demon ravaging her body and consciousness.
Seeing this, Maria's eyes lit up and spoke immediately to calm her sister.
She didn't want her to be suspicious so she randomly came up with an excuse that sounded plausible.
[That must be the pregnancy symptoms creeping up on you! Yup, that sounds just about right!]
'Could you make it any more obvious?'
At the side, Karian slapped her forehead and shook her head side to side.
On the other hand Maria ignored her and was secretly delighted.
That was because the tea had taken effect!
[I heard pregnant women tend to sleep a lot]
[Is... that, so?]
[Yep]
She nodded without a hint of hesitation.
For Elaine who had been pregnant for the first time, she immediately believe her sister without a doubt.
After all, there was no way her sister would harm her.
[That's why just go to sleep and leave everything to your sister]
Elaine tried to resist, but after hearing her sister's reassuring words she gave up all resistance and gave in to the sleep soon shutting her eyes and falling into sleepy land.
'I promise I keep you safe'
Maria whispered.
This extreme sleep was in fact a sign that the golden shrub had taken effect and had begun to eliminate all forms of abnormal status within the hosts body.
Even Maria could feel slightly tired but unlike Elaine who had been directly affected by Renji's 'charm', the effects on Maria was weaker since she only looked at him a few times.
[That confirms it..]
She let out a sigh. That sigh was filled with endless rage and unfiltered killing intent.
That f*cking hero!