"Illy-dono, do you know Warrior-Captain Gazef?"
Arshe was quite curious about this. Since Illy-dono had mentioned him, she might as well learn more! Perhaps there could be a turning point, and then she and her sister wouldn't have to serve Illy-dono.
Before, except in front of the Old King of the Kingdom and the Blood Emperor of the Empire, Iri had never used honorifics for anyone else.
At least from what she had seen, the only one for whom Illy-dono used an honorific was Warrior-Captain Gazef.
Logically, Illy-dono's identity as the Princess of Nazarick should mean she had no connection with the Warrior Captain of the Kingdom.
When they met in the Royal Capital earlier, they merely exchanged greetings, but this time, Illy-dono's attitude after seeing Gazef was immediately different.
There must be something fishy...
"Of course I know him. Who doesn't know Warrior-Captain Gazef, the Kingdom's strongest warrior?" Iri replied nonchalantly.
Indeed, even Arshe, a Black Worker whose activities were primarily in the Empire, had heard rumors of the Kingdom's Warrior Captain, so it wasn't strange that Iri knew him. It just felt like Iri's attitude towards Warrior-Captain Gazef was genuinely different from her attitude towards others.
"Isn't he Nazarick's enemy?" Arshe asked, her face looking strange and full of doubt.
Nazarick was about to go to war with the Kingdom. The Kingdom's strongest warrior, logically, should be Nazarick's number one enemy. Yet, the Princess of Nazarick was so concerned about this number one enemy. It just felt off.
"It's true that he's an enemy, but aren't we still not fighting yet? Besides, isn't the setting where you're enemies on the battlefield but friends off the battlefield very romantic?" Iri didn't think much of it and answered casually.
Uh... she actually said 'setting'.
Hmm? She remembered Hellank teasing Roba once, how did he put it? He said that young Little Girl nowadays liked men like Roba, who had a mature charm.
Young... Look at Illy-dono. Although she said she had been asleep for many, many years, her actual age should be very, very old, right?
But from her appearance and personality, Illy-dono did fall into the category of a Little Girl who wasn't very old, not like a monster who had lived for a long time and knew everything.
And then, a mature and charming older man... Warrior-Captain Gazef indeed looked like Roba, full of mature charm. In fact, Roba was not as charming as Warrior-Captain Gazef, if one were to summarize it that way.
Oh! So Illy-dono was longing for Warrior-Captain Gazef? No wonder Illy-dono only used honorifics for Warrior-Captain Gazef, but... didn't Iri like girls?
"Then, Illy-dono, how do you view Warrior-Captain Gazef?" Arshe asked cautiously.
She had to figure this out, because it concerned her sister's future and her own!
If! If Iri truly longed for Warrior-Captain Gazef, then she and her sister might be able to escape.
If not... then it would still indicate that Iri had some special feelings for Warrior-Captain Gazef. She could try to push her, guide her back to the correct path, and she and her sister could also be saved! So now she had to figure out Iri's true thoughts!
"How do I view him? Hmm?? Uh... Could it be? Oh oh! Warrior-Captain Gazef is a good man! The Kingdom's strongest warrior, upright and loyal. I heard the Blood Emperor even tried to poach him. Such a Warrior-Captain Gazef is indeed very charming, Arshe!" Iri seemed to recall something at this moment, smiling meaningfully as she looked at Arshe and spoke.
Arshe suddenly being so concerned about Warrior-Captain Gazef definitely meant something was up, Iri thought.
She hadn't noticed it just now. Ever since they left the dojo, she had been asking questions about Gazef. Otherwise, why would she suddenly ask how she viewed Gazef, and she wouldn't have reacted!
Lady Arshe is truly cute. She probably saw her show a little goodwill towards Gazef and got worried!
Don't worry, don't worry!
Her goodwill towards Gazef was purely admiration, with no romantic elements whatsoever. But you, Arshe! Such obvious jealousy. But when did Arshe get involved with Gazef?
It shouldn't be possible, right? They had almost no connection, right? That could only mean it was Lady Arshe's unrequited love. You should have said something earlier. If you had said something earlier, she would definitely have helped set you two up!
"Is... that so? Warrior-Captain Gazef is indeed very charming." Arshe was overjoyed. Iri did have a good impression of Gazef! This would make things easier! Regardless of the outcome, at least! At least she had to guide Iri back to a normal orientation!
"Yes! Warrior-Captain Gazef is very charming, hehe..." Iri also laughed aloud. She couldn't say for others, but she was very confident in Gazef. She would entrust Lady Arshe to him!
Hmm... she seemed to have forgotten something very important... Gazef... she remembered he was destined to die in the Battle of Katz Plains, right??
If she were to set up Lady Arshe, then wouldn't... As soon as she thought of this, Iri's expression suddenly darkened.
Arshe immediately noticed that Illy-dono's expression suddenly changed. Had Illy-dono noticed her intentions?
It shouldn't be, right? She hadn't done anything yet! She hadn't said anything yet! Could she detect it? Although she knew Illy-dono was indeed very clever and intelligent, this was too absurd!
As soon as she thought that her little scheme was still in the brewing stage and might be exposed by Iri, Arshe's expression also immediately turned bad.
Hmm? Why did Arshe suddenly become like this? Wasn't she fine just now?
How did she suddenly look so secretive and scared? Was she worried that she would snatch Gazef from her?
No, no... Lady Arshe, you're overthinking. Although she admired Gazef quite a bit, it was just admiration. She didn't have any particular preference for the 'older man' type, and Gazef wasn't her type, so you can rest assured!
It's just that Arshe would definitely be sad after Gazef died, right? But there was nothing she could do about this, after all, the plot of this battle was unavoidable, and Gazef going to the battlefield was also unavoidable.
The plot where he faced off against Ainz-papa on the battlefield was also unavoidable. Facing Ainz-papa, his only outcome was death, unless Gazef could agree to come over to Nazarick's side.
But Gazef was famously upright and loyal, so it was impossible for him to come over to Nazarick's side. So... for Lady Arshe's romance?
Should she save Gazef?
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!
