At the question asked with widened eyes, Roman chuckled even while grimacing.
“Anyone listening would think I go out every day.”
“It hasn’t even been long since you returned from Morif. And your body still isn’t well…”
“You’ll think differently when you hear the destination. I’m going to Eslen.”
A brief silence flowed. What followed next was a trembling voice.
“Is that really true, young master?”
Thinking ‘Oops,’ Roman hurriedly continued.
“Let me say this in advance—it’s not for the reason you’re thinking. His Grace the Grand Duke requested my help.”
Though he showed no outward signs, the butler was also one of those who desperately hoped Roman would return to the Knights’ Order. Before he could harbor false hopes, Roman gave him a more specific reason.
“He asked me to help establish a guild.”
“A guild… you say?”
“There are circumstances that call for it. I haven’t been able to rest lately either… While I’m there, I’m thinking of staying for a few months.”
“…I see. When do you plan to depart?”
After roughly gauging the date in his mind, Roman answered.
“In about ten days.”
“Understood. I will prepare without forgetting.”
“Good. Go ahead and rest.”
“Yes. If your body continues to feel unwell, please be sure to call me.”
The butler bowed his head and left the room. Roman extinguished the oil lamp and lay back down. Still clutching his stomach from the persistent pain, he swallowed a groan. Contrary to his wish to fall asleep quickly, unwelcome memories rose up on their own.
When Roman saw Diego at the bar this evening, he had been quite surprised. Though he arranged drinking gatherings about once a month, this was only the second time Diego had attended—the first being just once before. Moreover, since he was still on duty, he shouldn’t have heard about today’s gathering, so how he knew to come was a mystery.
Just then the newly ordered food came out, and Martin pushed the plate in front of him, saying to eat quickly and regain his energy. After that, he glanced at the door from time to time, but his eyes never met Diego’s until the very end.
How much time had passed? As he was sipping his drink, he saw someone opening the door and going out in the distance. Even from the back, it was definitely Diego. The moment he reflexively tried to rise, Martin lifted the bottle and filled his glass to the brim.
‘Mine’s empty too.’
At the words spoken while shaking his empty glass cheekily, Roman had no choice but to pour him a drink. The table was still full of a festive atmosphere. After mingling appropriately, Roman stood up saying he’d go to the bathroom for a moment.
‘Where did he go?’
He looked around, but Diego’s figure was nowhere to be seen. But from somewhere he heard a familiar voice, and Roman moved his steps in that direction as if drawn. The moment he was about to turn the corner, once again a clear voice reached his ears.
‘Really not? It totally looked like that kind of relationship to me.’
‘What kind of relationship is that supposed to be?’
It was Antonio and Diego. Roman’s footsteps stopped of their own accord. He couldn’t approach, both because Antonio was with him and because the conversation the two were having sounded unusual.
His heart began to beat faster and faster. Though he didn’t want to do the cowardly thing of eavesdropping, he absolutely couldn’t take a step.
‘Of course it is. I’m only saying this now, but do you even know what the Viscount’s daughter’s eyes were like when she looked at you? And what about the hand that touched your cheek? It was an atmosphere that couldn’t possibly be created unless you were in a relationship.’
“Haah…”
Roman raised his arm and covered his eyes. It was something he had guessed. When he heard the story about the Viscount’s daughter from Martin, he had thought that his relationship with Diego would soon end. But actually hearing such a story directly from Diego’s mouth was more shocking than he’d thought.
‘…It was promised from the beginning.’
Roman forcibly tried to sleep with his face scrunched up. He had a feeling that tonight too, time would pass very slowly.
# Chapter 9
Clink—a small sound came as the teacup touched the saucer. Kailton, whose appearance was so impressive that the modifier ‘shining’ wouldn’t be wasted even today, looked at the person sitting across from him and asked in a leisurely voice.
“Have you really made up your mind?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
A low groan flowed from Kailton’s mouth. At the reaction different from his expectation, Roman sent a puzzled gaze.
“This isn’t quite the reaction I was expecting.”
“What kind of reaction were you expecting?”
“I thought you’d be pleased, saying I thought well.”
“I am pleased though?”
For that to be the case, his lukewarm yet evasive expression was concerning. As Roman stared intently at him, Kailton shrugged and confessed the truth.
“It’s just a bit unexpected.”
“What is?”
“When I brought it up last time, you didn’t seem to have any intention of going at all.”
Roman clicked his tongue inwardly. He remembered answering while leaving room, but as expected, Kailton had seen through his true feelings. However, instead of being swayed by that, Roman replied in a tone just as composed as Kailton’s.
“Isn’t it human nature for one’s mind to change a dozen times a day?”
“That’s true.”
Soon a smile appeared on Kailton’s lips.
“If you’ll go, I greatly welcome it. Ruth will too.”
***
Since that day, Diego visited Roman’s house every evening. But not once could he achieve his goal. Each time, the butler would relay the news that he was absent while showing an apologetic expression.
Thanks to that, Diego’s mood had been endlessly sinking lately. Perhaps he really was busy with something and came home late, but instinctively he felt that wasn’t it. It was difficult to explain in words, but somehow he had a strong feeling that Roman was avoiding him.
But why?
Even thinking about the reason, he had absolutely no clue. …Had his feelings changed? If so, he was the type of person who would say so honestly or cleanly end things. Avoiding like this was a method unlike him.
Another long sigh flowed out—who knows how many times now. Even if there were some circumstances, he could only know what they were if Roman told him, but since he couldn’t see his face at all, there was no way to contain his frustration.
Diego took out his pocket watch. An emotion resembling anxiety appeared on his face. Today was the 15th, so he absolutely had to meet Roman.
“Shall we start wrapping up?”
When he raised his head, he saw Grace’s face. As he quickly stood up, her words continued.
“Do you have time this evening?”
“Is there something going on?”
“Not really, I was just wondering if you’d like to have dinner together at home. Some good meat came in as a gift.”
An unusual nervousness appeared on Grace’s face. She had clearly brought it up after much thought, but right now Diego didn’t have the leisure to consider her feelings.
“I’m sorry. I have a prior engagement.”
“…I see. Then would tomorrow be alright?”
Diego looked at her for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry, but accepting dinner invitations will be difficult going forward as well. I have some personal matters to attend to every evening, you see. Well then, shall we get going?”
He deliberately didn’t say it was because Emily was waiting. And lately it was also true that he had no time because he kept going to find Roman.
“Then please go home safely.”
“Thank you for your hard work. Please be careful going home too, Diego.”
After bowing his head, Diego mounted his horse again. Today too, his destination was not home. After riding for quite a while, a familiar plaza appeared, and an even more familiar building came into view.
After briefly leaving his horse at the stable, he strode forward with large steps. The moment he opened the door, someone was standing right in front of it and he nearly collided with them.
“Oh my, what a surprise.”
Hubert jumped in surprise and took a step back. After confirming the visitor’s face, he let out a hearty laugh.
“I almost got knocked over. Haha.”
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. What brings you here at this hour?”
“I have business with the Master. Is he inside?”
He had come recklessly without knowing whether Roman was there or not. Fortunately, Hubert gave a positive answer.
“He should be. But I don’t think he mentioned that you’d be coming, Diego…”
“He must have forgotten. I’ll just go in for a moment.”
Before Hubert could say anything, Diego strode forward. Even before seeing his face, just the fact that Roman was at the guild made his heart beat faster. Finally arriving in front of the Master’s office, he hastily knocked on the door, and Isabel’s voice came from inside.
