Volume 8 - Chapter 12 – Elsa’s Crisis (2/2)

“Now then, before we get down to business.”

Purcell ordered his subordinates to have Elsa sit on a simple chair.

“It’s not proper to have a lady stand around for a long time, you see.”

He said, and then finally cut to the chase.

“Now then, first of all the reasons we’ve invited you, there’s two of them. Well, actually, maybe I should say there’s three?”

Say whatever suits your fancy, Elsa thought while staring at Parcell’s feet.

“Number one. As a restraint against Reinhardt-dono. This one’s already taken care of, eh?”

“Huh?”

Elsa wondered for a moment what’s the connection between Reinhardt and her, but then realized that if her gentle cousin knew she had been taken hostage, maybe he’d be obliged to work for the interest of the Unifilers.

“Number two. That mysterious Magi Craftsman who suddenly appeared. Jin Nidou, was it, eh? We’d like to know every detail about him and the golems who are with him.”

In other words, they would extract information about Jin who ruined the Unifilers’ plans from Elsa who’s been together with him.

“I, don’t, know. Even if, I did, I wouldn’t, tell.”

Elsa made a brief proclamation while glaring at Purcell.

“…Number three. You’re an excellent magus. The fact is that I would also love to have you as an ally of us Unifilers.”

“Who’d, do that.”

Elsa looked away in a huff.

But Purcell continued while smiling as if he was making sport of Elsa.

“Consider it veeery carefully. At the very least we’ve achieved one goal. And were you to refuse to cooperate on the second and third then, well, we have our methods.”

He wasn’t any less polite, but this time there was ice in his words. Elsa reflexively looked Purcell in the eyes.

“The only thing needed for you to satisfy the requirements of that first one is to stay alive. As for the second, you need only to be able to speak.”

Understanding the meaning of his words, Elsa’s face went pale with horror.

“You understand, right? Tearing off fingernails is the gentlest way. Breaking off fingers. Shaving off the nose. Cutting off the ears. Amputating the limbs. There’s other ways to torture a woman, eh, but I do not wish to do something like that to a lady.”

That was absolutely a lie. The man called Purcell in front of her said that with such joy. Elsa felt that instinctively.

“E, even, so, m, my, reply, does, not, change.”

Elsa tried her best to act brave, but her body shivered slightly.

“Oh my, so you must like being tortured, eh?”

“N, no. I don’t, like, either, option.”

Hearing that, Purcell burst into laughter.

“Oh my, oh my, aren’t we a selfish lady, eh? Alright, you’ll have just this one day to think it over. Tomorrow morning, I’ll hear your reply once more. Until then, please consider it very, very carefully.”

“N, no, matter, how long, I, think, my, answer, won’t, change.”

Elsa firmly stared at Parcell while she retorted with a trembling voice and,

“Ah, m’lady’s eyes are pretty, eh. Like the finest of Aquamarines. I wonder just what kind of voice you’ll be making once I gouge them out, how about you, eh?”

Purcell said and licked his lips.

“!…”

Elsa quietly fainted.

“What, that’s boring. You just fainted. …Return her to her cell.”

＊　　　＊　　　＊

When Elsa once more came to, she was in her cell. The iron bars were shut and locked. There was no window so she couldn’t tell the time.

But no matter how much time she had, Elsa’s heart was settled. She had betrayed the people kind to her by running away, but she would not betray them a second time.

No matter what she went through she would not budge.

Suddenly, she remembered what Reinhardt had said when he gave her the dagger Jin had made.

‘As a noblewoman, that blade is the final tool to protect your dignity with. Only when you absolutely no matter what do not want to your will to be trampled is it acceptable to draw.’

What she couldn’t understand at that time she now vaguely could. To sever her own life with her own hands. The dagger was for that purpose.

But she had left that dagger behind. No, she had abandoned it along with her status of a noble.

“Even, so, I’ve, already.”

Elsa made a vow in her heart. To never sell out Reinhardt and Jin. To that end, she would subject herself to anything.

“That’s, my, pride.”

She closed her eyes and sights of the journey until now came to mind.

“It was, fun.”

The trip with Reinhardt. Departing for the golem boat race. Being together with Jin on the return trip. She learned a lot of things. Met a lot of people.

Thinking about that, even at this time she felt her heart grow warm.

“I’m, content.”

Muttering that, Elsa laid herself down. There was still time until nightfall, but perhaps because of her piled up fatigue, her body was sluggish and while she lay there her awareness sunk into the darkness.