“Well. I don’t know how he is with other people, but the treatment of guild members is quite good. Just listening to the stories of people around me, there doesn’t seem to be anywhere like our guild.”
“…Then have you also received personal gifts and such?”
“From the Master?”
“Yes.”
“Of course I have. He has a more delicate side than he looks, so when he sees guild members who seem to have problems, he holds one-on-one meetings and takes care of various things. The reason there are especially many people who work long-term at our guild is partly because the pay is good, but a big reason is also because of the Master.”
“…I see.”
Diego’s complexion darkened a bit more. By asking something pointless, he had only learned one more truth he didn’t want to know.
That for the Master, the act of giving something wasn’t particularly special. And that kindness didn’t seem to apply only to guild members either.
‘Do you know Ireta stopped by too?’
The woman he met at the dress shop yesterday had definitely said that while looking at Roman. He didn’t know who that person was, but at least it was certain it was a woman’s name. If she would give credit based on just a name without the person present, they either weren’t on ordinary terms with Roman or it might not have been the first or second time such a thing happened.
“Oh, come to think of it, the Master asked me to give you something.”
Ruth took something out from his jacket pocket. It was a glass bottle containing a sloshing liquid.
“He asked you to give this to me?”
“Yeah. Then let’s match once more and head out.”
Seeing the hand extended, Diego quickly put the glass bottle in his pocket and grasped that hand. Though flawless, perfect movements followed, his heart remained heavy.
# Chapter 4.
As he stepped down from the carriage, the grand front gate of the mansion welcomed him. After climbing the stairs, Roman showed his invitation to the guards and was finally allowed to enter the estate.
Today was Ireta’s debutante ball, and as promised, Roman had come to Count Labia’s estate. However, he still had no desire to actually attend the ball, so he’d come a bit early with the intention of just showing his face and quietly leaving.
“You’ve arrived?”
Unlike the guards who didn’t recognize Roman since it had been so long since he’d last visited the estate, the old butler immediately recognized him and greeted him.
“Where’s Ireta?”
“She’s on the second floor. I’ll go right away and tell her that you’ve arrived, young master.”
Watching the butler’s quickly retreating figure, Roman moved his feet leisurely. After a moment, following the guidance of the butler who reappeared, Roman went up to the second floor and saw Ireta sitting in front of a mirror being dressed up.
“Brother!”
Ireta wasn’t the only one in the room. The Countess Labia, who had dressed herself up no less splendidly than her daughter, greeted her nephew Roman with an elegantly smiling face.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Have you been well?”
“Of course, I’ve been well. You must be busy, but thank you for not forgetting and coming. Did Ireta trouble you?”
As a matter of fact, the Countess had sternly scolded Ireta when she learned that her daughter had even sent a request form to Roman’s guild to pressure him. The reason was not only that she’d asked for such an important matter in writing, but also that even though they were relatives, she’d sent a request form bearing the family name without her parents’ permission and on her own whim.
Instead of saying no even as an empty courtesy, Roman affirmed her words with a smile.
Ireta, who had been obediently entrusting her hair to the maids’ hands while keeping her senses on high alert, pouted her lips. But that only lasted a moment, and as soon as the dressing was finished, she sprang up and approached Roman.
“How do I look, brother?”
Her blue eyes sparkled like glass beads. Seeing her expression full of anticipation, Roman felt the urge to tease her, but he knew well that even a single joke had to be tailored to the audience. If he said what he was thinking, she would definitely sulk properly, so Roman gave her the answer she was hoping for.
“Pretty.”
Then she smiled brightly, crinkling the corners of her eyes beautifully.
“This is a dress I chose from Susanna’s boutique.”
In other words, it was practically the same as Roman having bought it for her, and Roman immediately grimaced and pressed his throbbing forehead.
Everyone knew how much Count Labia, her uncle, doted on his only daughter. Today was the day of that daughter’s debutante ball. He probably prepared everything thoroughly while being just as excited as Ireta, and that would definitely have included her dress.
But he’d inadvertently been robbed of one of those joys, so it was obvious without even seeing how much he must have gnashed his teeth and fumed.
‘…I should leave before running into him.’
Whether he was noticed or not, whether he attended or not, he was the type who would be angry enough to rage that Roman was a bastard who neglected family events. So it seemed best to just make an impression on his aunt and Ireta, and leave without catching his uncle’s eye.
But unfortunately, Roman’s plan failed. About 30 minutes before the ball was to start, as soon as Roman left the room, he ran right into Count Labia, who happened to be walking this way.
‘…I’m screwed.’
His expression hardened the moment he saw Roman, which couldn’t be good for Roman either. But regardless of his inner feelings, Roman greeted him with a smile on the surface and spoke politely.
“It’s been a long time, Uncle.”
“Did you come straight to see Ireta as soon as you arrived?”
“I thought you’d be busy receiving guests.”
Roman knew exactly what his uncle was thinking. Starting with the escort issue, there was already so much piled up, so there was no way he would welcome Roman warmly if he went to greet him. Far from it, there was a strong possibility he would have been turned away at the door.
“Don’t even dream of acknowledging Ireta at the ball.”
His uncle’s face was still full of displeasure. Roman subtly raised the corners of his mouth. He’d tried to let it go in one ear and out the other since his uncle would be deeply disappointed either way, but he couldn’t just let it pass when a man who was supposed to be a count was being so openly petty.
“Of course. However, I can’t stop Ireta from running to me first when she sees me, or from requesting a dance.”
“Just stay somewhere out of sight!”
“I wonder about that. If I do that, Ireta might wander around here and there looking for me instead… In any case, I’ll keep it in mind. Then I’ll see you in a bit.”
After bowing his head slightly, Roman passed by his uncle. The back of his head stung as if being pricked by a needle, but he deliberately didn’t look back.
It was all well and good that he left the mansion, but an unexpected situation awaited him. The carriage he thought would be in place was nowhere to be seen.
If he’d gotten off in front of the ballroom, they would have moved it elsewhere so it wouldn’t block traffic, but Roman had gotten off in front of the mansion. And yet the carriage was gone, which strongly suggested it had been moved at someone’s command.
Roman shook his head and went down the stairs. They wouldn’t have taken a visitor’s carriage to the storage facility attached to the residence, and judging by his uncle’s thoroughly annoyed state, it was clear they’d shoved it toward the ballroom.
Sure enough, his prediction was right. After walking for quite a while and arriving near his destination, Roman was able to find his carriage left alone in a corner.
The fortunate thing was that it was already getting dark. Even if it weren’t, there was hardly anyone paying attention to this area anyway. People getting off carriages were all busy climbing the stairs leading to the ballroom, and no one looked back.
That’s when it happened. With the coachman’s command, another carriage stopped in front of the ballroom.
‘They certainly invited a lot of people…’
Roman’s eyes widened slightly for a moment. Beyond the open door, he could see a man with a familiar appearance getting out. The woman who got out next was also someone he knew well. It was Diego and the young lady of Viscount Rood’s family.
‘Don’t tell me… the gathering he was invited to was this?’
Relationships among nobles were entangled like a spider’s web, so there was nothing particularly surprising about the Viscount Rood’s daughter being invited to the ball. But it felt strange to see a familiar face here at this timing.
His gaze followed Diego as if it were natural. The hand he naturally extended toward the young lady, and their movement climbing the stairs side by side—there was no awkwardness at all. It seemed Ruth had taught him quite diligently last evening.
Only after they disappeared from view did Roman board his carriage. For a very brief moment, he considered going into the ballroom, but in the end, instead of stopping the carriage, he left the estate as planned.
His face looking out the window expressionlessly was anything but pleasant.
It seemed his prediction was correct. Grace’s expression as she looked at Diego and smiled clearly showed her favor. He couldn’t say for certain whether it was a smile with no particular meaning or one that held deeper intentions, but somehow he had a strong feeling it was the latter.
***
After leaving the estate, Roman headed not to his home but to his regular tavern. When he opened the door leading underground, smoke spreading thickly like fog and the acrid smell of cigarettes greeted Roman. Unlike the first floor, which was no different from an ordinary tavern, this underground level was a space only certain people could enter.
As befitting a place where idle rich people with plenty of money and time mainly gathered, quite a few people were already occupying tables. Among them was Calliope, Roman’s friend. As their eyes met, he promptly raised his hand and waved in greeting. Roman approached and sat in an empty chair.
“I haven’t seen you so much I thought you’d stopped coming.”
“As if.”
