I Will Break Off the Engagement Because I'm Jealous - The Untalented Villainess Who Rejected the Prince Searches for a Safe Haven with the Cheat Heroine - Chapter 3.2

She was taken aback—that was the feeling Emilia experienced physically. As if she had taken a ball to the face, her expression stiffened with an impact akin to pain. Even though she had slept soundly the night before, fatigue seemed ready to wash over her all at once.

“Baron Fran, I presume…”

A middle-aged man wearing a jacket over what looked like a large belly warmer. That was the person who greeted Emilia and the others upon their arrival at Baron Fran’s residence.

“No need for formal titles. The name’s Zlight.”

“Father, behave. Especially your attire.”

Over Zlight’s hearty, booming voice, Iris’s voice pierced through, cold and sharp as a needle.

“This is my finest outfit, blessed by a spirit! A legendary pair of underpants worth enough to build a fortress.”

“I get it, but that’s not the point. At least change for someone.”

“You’re the one who suddenly decided to come back. Everyone’s gone hunting in the duke’s territory, so there’s no one else here right now. Come on in, make yourselves at home. It’s a bit cramped, though.”

Following his invitation, Emilia looked up. Unless the inside was a hoarder’s den… it didn’t look cramped at all. A three-story mansion. Frankly, it was more luxurious than Emilia’s own family home. It didn’t seem ostentatious, but it was large and, above all, spacious.

“…………Don’t leave my side. I’ll get lost.”

As Iris pressed close against her, Emilia’s cheek twitched.

☆ ☆ ☆

She must have endured and suffered a great deal. Ever since the night Emilia saw that unusually clingy side of Iris, the two had first paid a visit to the Fran barony. Judging from yesterday’s events, if Prince Sieg were to seek retaliation, they assumed his target would be Iris’s family.

Though Iris insisted, “My family will be fine,” Emilia persuaded her with the reasoning that ‘the duke’s household probably hasn’t received any messengers yet, so visiting them directly would be difficult. In the meantime, I want to check on the baron’s family.’

And so, the two ended up visiting the Fran baronial mansion.

(It’s too big… and there’s no one here. Yet, it’s completely spotless. There are clear signs it’s being used, though.)

Just walking through the mansion under guidance left her with endless questions.

“From what you said earlier, if you’re not leaving right away, then please, use this room.”

(So, this is what he means by big. Is this the king’s chamber or something?)

Led inside by Baron Zlight, Emilia felt intimidated by the overly large guest room. The high ceiling, a depth of perhaps 20 meters, and doors on both sides leading to other rooms were visible. The current room was furnished with tables, sofas, shelves, and other decor, reminiscent of a living room. One of the rooms at the back, left or right, was likely a bedroom.

“The right is the dining room, the left is the bedroom, and further back is the bath.”

“Huh?”

“And then, like this…”

As Zlight stomped heavily on the floor… shlurp-slurp-slurp, a shadow rose up. Something that looked like a maid? with a face resembling both a human and a cat stood silently.

“The mansion spirit will appear. Cooking, laundry, cleaning, even ear cleaning—just ask for anything.”

(Mansion spirit…………? It’s kind of cute in a weird way.)

The cat maid? bowed politely. Emilia couldn’t make sense of it.

As far as Emilia knew, spirits dwelling in objects should be limited to things like holy swords. That’s why she was so surprised when she saw the spirit car. Even in the game knowledge she possessed, it was the same—she had never heard of a mansion housing a spirit.

“This place used to be a frontline base and adventurer guild branch from when the border was further back,” Iris whispered close to her ear. There was no need for secrecy, yet for some reason, she kept her voice low.

“It was a long time ago, back when the legendary ‘mages’ were still around… This mansion is full of mysterious things. That spirit is one of them. It takes care of us like a maid.”

“I’m surprised the kingdom hasn’t confiscated this place…”

Artifacts from previous eras were usually seized by the state or similar entities. Holy swords were among such relics. When Emilia looked at Iris with a somewhat impressed expression, for some reason, Iris narrowed her eyes slightly, looking serious.

“I told you not to leave my side, didn’t I? If you’re not recognized as part of the household, the spirits will eliminate you. If you’re unlucky, they might even take you to another dimension.”

(Full security!? Another dimension? That’s scary! I’d better stick close to Iris.)

As Iris finished her frightening tale, she moved away. Without thinking, Emilia pinched the sleeve of Iris’s dress. If only certain people could use it, then confiscating it would indeed be pointless. But what about guests like herself? —Emilia imagined the place where spirits might imprison people from the word ‘another dimension’ and shuddered. Anxious and deeply unsettled.

“Well, I’ve got some work to attend to.”

(You’re leaving!?)

Just as she was feeling that way, Zlight made to withdraw, causing Emilia to flinch, stiffen her body, and stand rigidly at attention. Even if he was just a man in his underpants, the thought of him leaving made her feel vulnerable.

“Ah, Father. I’d like your advice on something.”

While Emilia was frozen, Iris set down her bag and placed a long object wrapped in cloth on a nearby table. As she unwrapped the cloth, a blade gleaming silver emerged.

It was the holy sword Sieg had left behind.

“About this sword, do you think we could make a scabbard for it? It’s incredibly sharp, so it’s dangerous to carry unsheathed.”

The sword could slice effortlessly through cloth or iron, making it hazardous even to carry around. When she had tossed it into the back seat of the car, it had cut through the floor, so it was dangerous even just leaving it somewhere. Sieg had probably taken the scabbard with him, so they needed a replacement.

“Oho, a sword inhabited by a spirit, eh? But this one looks finicky. What would you do?”

After glaring at the sword, Zlight turned the question back to Iris. Whether through experience or intuition, he seemed to sense something invisible about the holy sword.

“What if we wrapped it up in rope? Surprisingly, that might work.”

“Or we could try making a scabbard like a prison.”

Listening to their exchange, Emilia nearly burst out laughing. It was a rather irreverent way to handle a holy sword. But their faces were utterly serious.

“Anyway, we gotta figure out how to make this guy think ‘I won’t cut now.'”

“Yeah. Then, for example—”

Leaving Emilia aside, the two continued their discussion. Feeling at a loose end, she set down the bag she was holding. Though she moved closer to Iris, the two were handling the sword as they talked, making it too dangerous to get too near.

(…………They get along well, don’t they?)

She gazed vaguely at the parent-child scene. Though his attire and tone were eccentric, Zlight showed no arrogance toward his daughter. He treated her more like an equal than a child, and Iris seemed to rely on him in turn. Neither held back in their speech, sometimes laughing, sometimes enjoying themselves as they conversed.

That kind of relationship… was something she had never experienced, neither in her previous life nor in this one.

Emilia sighed quietly to herself.

(And once again, I’m useless.)

She was dissatisfied that she couldn’t join in their conversation at all.

She believed she had studied diligently. Especially since recalling her past life memories, she had studied a great deal. But when it came to spirits, blessings, relics, and magic, there was much she didn’t understand, and her game knowledge was of no use.

“I want to be useful to Iris”—she recalled that feeling from last night.

Emilia gently pressed a hand to her chest.

Gripping the brooch beneath it.

As if grasping at the hazy unease deeper within.

(I want to be useful to Iris. But while we’re staying here, I’m clearly just a guest. What should I do…?)

She could handle some household chores, and it didn’t seem like there were any other servants here. But with this so-called mansion spirit around, and with Iris taking care of things, there would likely be very little for Emilia to do. Imagining several days of such a life, Emilia sighed and lifted her face.

Just then.

“Whoa.”

“Ah.”

“Ah!?”

It seemed the hilt had hit the table by chance, and the sword was about to slip from Iris’s hand. The spinning tip was aimed straight at Iris’s thigh.

(It’s dangerous, Iris!)

Without thinking, Emilia reached out her hand. Her unprotected right hand… toward the blade that could slice through iron. And from below, trying to catch the sword. The wavering tip, obeying gravity, closed in on Emilia’s fingertips—then, slick, the sword was swallowed up by Emilia.

“…Huh?”

All three murmured at once.

For a while, no one could move.