Chapter 50
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Chapter 50
As I stepped inside, I felt the gazes of other patrons upon the Duke and me—unmistakably direct and scrutinizing.
It struck me anew that the Duke, who was merely the grandfather of a dear friend to me, was a celebrated figure whom everyone revered.
"Welcome, Your Grace."
The Manager who greeted us showed curiosity in his eyes toward me, but with the practiced discretion of an experienced manager, he concealed his questions and guided us deeper inside.
"I shall show you to your reserved table."
At the Manager's words, I tilted my head in confusion and asked the Duke.
"You made a reservation?"
"I did. We've come all this way—it would be troublesome if there were no table available."
"But how could you have known I would come today?"
"I made the reservation from the day I heard you would be coming."
It seemed the Duke had deliberately omitted "from Rachel" as the subject, mindful of the Manager's ears ahead of us.
The fact that Rachel was alive remained a secret known only to us.
'But if he heard the news about me from Rachel on that day...'
The Duke must also possess a journal for exchanging messages with Rachel, so he could have learned of it that very day.
If so, he would have heard about me a week ago.
"...You've been keeping a reservation ever since then?"
"Yes."
"Then... what about all the reservation deposits? I heard that to reserve here, you have to put down a deposit..."
"Since a table had to be kept empty, the cafe would have taken that money."
"So... you've been losing reservation deposits every single day because you didn't know when I would arrive?"
As I asked in astonishment, the Duke looked at me with eyes that seemed to question why I would ask something so obvious.
"That's incredible. The Duke truly is the best."
At my quick shift in attitude, the Duke burst into laughter as if exasperated.
"I thought you'd refuse, going on about propriety and such."
"But it would be equally impolite to reject the Duke's generous heart and the considerable sum you've spent on me."
"So you've finally abandoned that unsuitable sense of propriety."
"Hehe."
"Then go ahead and order whatever your heart desires."
Upon arriving at the private terrace, I perused the menu and ordered various dishes I had been craving.
After the Manager withdrew with my order, the Duke asked whether I would like to go shopping for clothes next—it was at that very moment.
"Meow!"
Kamang, who had been sitting quietly on my shoulder, suddenly tumbled onto the table and began hopping about as if desperate to communicate something.
"Hmm?"
Puzzled by Kamang's strange behavior, I glanced around and spotted a silhouette beyond the terrace door.
At the same instant, the door opened and a man stepped into the terrace.
With eyes as cold and blue as ice, and black hair scattered by the gentle autumn breeze, he was a man who evoked the memory of someone from my fading recollections.
Our eyes met before I could fully recall that face from my memory.
The man's frigid gaze, having locked with mine, seemed to freeze in place for a moment, and in that instant filled with inexplicable emotion—
"You've come."
Sensing a presence, the Duke turned, and that emotion quickly vanished from his expression.
"...My apologies. I'm late."
I watched intently as the man approached from behind the Duke.
Of course, it was partly because he was an uncommonly handsome man, but more than that....
'Why does he keep staring at me?'
Unable to discern the meaning behind his gaze fixed upon me, I found myself staring back.
Noticing my scrutiny, the Duke introduced the man.
"Vivian, this fellow will serve as your escort for the time being."
"Oh, there's really no need for that...."
"Given what happened before, I'm concerned for your safety."
Though the Duke didn't elaborate, I understood 'that incident' referred to when I was kidnapped by those ruffians targeting Rachel.
'But an unfamiliar man would be uncomfortable.'
As if reading my hesitation, the Duke added:
"You can trust him—Rachel sent him. Having him nearby will be helpful."
"Princess Isella?"
"Yes. She was concerned about you and sent him."
A man sent by Rachel for my sake.
With those words, the stranger who had felt so foreign moments before suddenly became trustworthy.
That concern for me, the friendship we had promised beneath the Terrak Tree....
It seemed that bond still endured.
Lowering my guard toward the man, I gazed at him and suddenly recalled the thought that had crossed my mind when I first saw him.
"By the way, you look quite similar to the Duke."
At my words, both the Duke and the man froze momentarily.
Yet there was no time to dwell deeply on that curious silence.
The Manager had entered with a knock, set down tea and dessert, and departed.
Once the Manager left, the man answered my earlier question on the Duke's behalf.
"It's because I'm a distant relative."
"Ah, I see."
Satisfied with that explanation, I extended my hand toward him.
The man regarded me with momentary bewilderment before carefully taking my hand.
It was a large, warm hand.
Like the hand of that child who once held mine.
I smiled brightly at this man who carried my dear friend's precious heart.
"I look forward to working with you."
* * *
After leaving the Dessert Cafe and stopping by the Boutique, twilight had settled over the town.
Despite my protests, I watched as the Duke's numerous purchases of clothes for me were loaded onto the carriage, and I spoke up.
"Duke, I'll go to the Tavern and retrieve my belongings."
"I could send someone for them—why insist on going yourself?"
"I'd like to see the Town Square. There are also some things I need to think about alone."
"I shall accompany you."
Just as the Duke was expressing his displeasure at sending me alone, the Knight who had been listening from behind stepped forward.
The Duke regarded the Knight for a moment, then gave a small nod of approval.
"Then see that you return without delay. I shall have dinner prepared."
"Yes, sir!"
I watched the Duke's carriage disappear into the distance before turning to look at the Knight beside me.
Before I could say anything, the Knight spoke first.
"I can speak casually, right?"
...But you're already speaking casually without waiting for my answer?
'What's this? A complete change in demeanor the moment the Duke left?'
So a pleasant voice is all it takes?
I found his swift shift in attitude disagreeable, but since he claimed to be a cadet branch of Edelwein, he was undoubtedly nobility regardless.
In this filthy class-ridden society, there was no way a commoner like me could dare to defy him. Tch.
"Well... do as you please."
At my response, a faint smile seemed to flicker across the nobleman's lips, but it vanished just as quickly.
"I'll follow behind. Walk at your ease."
He trailed after me, maintaining a distance of a few paces.
Beneath the crimson sunset, two elongated shadows stretched across the ground.
Walking alone among couples, friends, and families strolling together made me feel oddly self-conscious.
Just as my attention was drawn to the presence behind me.
I suddenly noticed that my shoulder, which usually bore a small familiar weight, felt strangely empty.
"Huh! Kamang?"
"Meow!"
I spun around in alarm, looking about frantically, when I heard Kamang's voice from behind.
Turning back quickly, I spotted Kamang perched atop the nobleman's head.
'When did it go up there?!'
I hurried over to the nobleman and Kamang.
'What if he dislikes Dark Spirits?'
Having just this afternoon fallen victim to prejudice simply for being a Dark Spirit summoner, I couldn't help but worry.
"I'm sorry. Kamang doesn't usually approach people like this...."
But contrary to my concerns, he calmly removed Kamang from his head and placed it in my palm with an indifferent expression.
Yet Kamang immediately leaped up again, hopping onto his shoulder.
"Meow!"
It trembled as if it had something to tell me.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org