Chapter 57

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 57

Chapter Title: A Turkey Soaked in Grease

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"Is that really you, Lord Rohan? The head of the Hindenburg Merchant Company!"

Clodel's face was one he'd never seen before.

"Allow me to formally greet the Lady of Rowen Castle, Duchess of House Temneth. I am Rohan, head of the Hindenburg Merchant Company."

"It's an honor to meet you."

She even spoke politely to Rohan, a commoner and subordinate.

"You're the one who wrote Hindenburg's Continental Adventures!"

"That's right. Have you read it?"

"Yes! I bought every single one! I brought them all with me from Valmond to Rowen without missing a copy. They're my most treasured possessions."

It was news to Kaiyan. He knew she'd come empty-handed, but he hadn't realized she'd brought books by someone like Rohan as her prized treasures.

Those are her most treasured possessions?

More than the jewels I gave her?

Kaiyan's mood soured.

"I never imagined that among those cheering on my adventures, there would be such a beautiful noblewoman."

"Oh, you flatter me..."

Seeing Clodel's face flush even redder at the words "beautiful noblewoman," two lines creased his brow.

"You're far more handsome than I imagined, Lord Rohan."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I pictured you with a bushy beard and much older."

Come to think of it, the Rohan from earlier, with his musty sweat smell and frumpy frock coat, had transformed into an entirely new look.

His face was neatly shaven, his light brown hair trimmed short and tidy, and his black eyes beneath groomed brows looked intelligent.

In his crisp-collared white shirt and impeccable suit, he could pass for the son of a prestigious noble family fresh from studies abroad.

"That's a look I've never seen on you before."

Rohan scratched his head sheepishly at Kaiyan's blunt remark.

"Haha. I thought my usual attire might seem rude to the famous Duchess from House Vermonte, so I put in a little extra effort."

Rohan's words were meant to say he'd dressed up out of respect for Kaiyan, his employer, but to him, it sounded like he'd dolled up to impress Clodel.

"You look like a turkey soaked in grease."

"...Pardon?"

Rohan, who had never heard such a sharp jab from Kaiyan, blinked in confusion, unable to grasp the context.

Just then, Hanna entered the drawing room where they were receiving the guest, arms full of books.

"Oh, allow me, miss."

"It's fine."

Rohan hurried to the entrance and took half the books from Hanna's arms.

"I can handle it; I'm strong."

"Hahaha. Good one."

One more person now mistook Hanna's sincerity for a joke.

As they set the books on the table together, Rohan's eyes widened.

"These are first editions."

Hindenburg's Continental Adventures had blue covers for the first editions, later changed to yellowish-brown.

The yellowish-brown covers used undyed paper, while blue dye was an expensive import from the Sol Continent, making blue-dyed fabrics, leathers, or paper costlier than others.

"I love these books so much. Look at this one—I've read it so many times the spine's coming apart. The part where you get swept away on the raft at the waterfall."

"Hahaha."

"But I couldn't get just one first edition."

Clodel's face fell bitterly.

"Which one is it?"

"The most recent one. I was a bit ill at the time..."

When she'd contracted Herzol and was leaving for Rowen to settle her affairs, Clodel had lost the will to buy new books. She'd even written in her will to leave that valuable first edition to Hanna.

"I'll give it to you."

Clodel jumped up from her seat at Rohan's words.

"Really?"

"Yes, Duchess."

"Oh... my goodness. Hanna, hold my hand. This isn't a dream, right?"

Kaiyan, irritated by their little world, called for the butler.

"Yes, my lord."

"I'm hungry. How much longer for dinner?"

"It's ready. This way."

Kaiyan strode toward the drawing room door, then abruptly turned back.

He took Clodel's hand and hooked her arm through his.

"Let's go."

Clodel alternated glances between Rohan and the books on the table as she was half-dragged along.

"I haven't gotten his autograph yet."

"Do it after dinner. You're still recovering. You need to take care."

It had been over a month since the doctor last visited the castle, but he treated her as a patient when it suited him.

"The autograph..."

"We'll chat more after dinner if there's time."

After dinner, it would be bedtime. There'd be no time for chatting. Absolutely none.

Kaiyan glanced at Hanna.

"You join us for dinner too."

"Me?"

Hanna, as the lady's maid, had never dined with her master.

"I heard you shone at the festival. The butler told me. Rohan's no noble either. I don't mistreat the capable, so sit with the lady tonight."

Being allowed to dine with the family head was a great honor.

It was something that might happen only once in a lifetime, perhaps when one retired after a life of service, worn out by age and health. Hanna's eyes widened.

"Th-thank you."

Even the bold Hanna bowed with a slight tremble.

"Shall we?"

Rohan extended his hand as if to escort her, and Hanna, uncharacteristically demure, took it.

Not on my watch.

Kaiyan led the way with Clodel on his arm, calming his boiling frustration.

Hanna was capable and had kept her vow to devote her soul to House Temneth over the past two months, but inviting her to dinner was purely because he couldn't stand watching Rohan chat with Clodel all meal long.

Even numbers would naturally draw attention away—it was human nature.

Without being asked, Rohan was acting like escorting Hanna was his duty now that Kaiyan had pulled Clodel away.

"Kaiyan."

"What?"

"You're so wonderful."

He turned to see his wife, clinging to his arm, gazing up at him with sparkling eyes.

"Even looking after my maid like this. Hanna's like a friend to me. Back before Valmond Castle, when we were kids, we really were friends."

"I see."

"We've eaten in my room together, but this... I'm thrilled."

Clodel slipped her arm free and took his hand, pressing a kiss to the family head's ring on his finger.

"Thank you, Kaiyan."

He hadn't expected her to be so touched, leaving him a bit embarrassed.

Still, he'd fully succeeded in redirecting Clodel's attention from Rohan back to himself, which filled him with quiet satisfaction.

"Where did you meet Rohan? How did you decide to invest in a ghost company with no track record?"

"The first time Rohan came to me was when I was advancing west from the Kurvang Plains."

"He came to a battlefield?"

"That's right."

Behind the two, momentarily forgotten, Hanna and Rohan exchanged subtle glances.

Unbeknownst to himself, Kaiyan had played matchmaker for a couple truly deserving of blessings.

The dinner table was remarkably lively.

Rohan and Hanna sat facing each other to the left and right of Kaiyan and Clodel, who were side by side at the head.

The atmosphere is much better this way.

Unlike when Irena sat alone beside Clodel, balancing the guests had been a stroke of genius.

Kaiyan really knows these things.

He was flawless as the master of a great castle.

Throughout the meal, Clodel observed Kaiyan's hosting etiquette, inwardly resolving to do the same in the future.

As lady of the domain, she'd have to entertain guests often.

But midway through dinner, the butler entered with a tense expression uncharacteristic of him, placing an envelope on Kaiyan's plate.

"My lord, you should see this now."

"What is it?"

"A telegram from the royal palace."

The envelope bore the golden seal marking it from the king.

Clodel's eyes went wide.

She'd heard telegrams from Oberon's king came with the royal golden seal, but she'd never seen one in person.

Even Rohan craned his neck to peek at the envelope from the head table.

"Understood."

Kaiyan slit the envelope with his table knife, pulled out the contents, and read.

Clodel grew worried seeing his face sour immediately.

What bad news is it?

Noticing her concern, Kaiyan softened his expression the moment their eyes met.

"What's wrong? Something happen?"

"No, just an annoying matter."

For an urgent missive from the king, his tone was oddly nonchalant.

"It's an invitation to the king's birthday ball at the palace."

"The king's birthday ball?"

"Yeah. Take it to the study."

The butler withdrew after Kaiyan replaced the telegram in the envelope and set it back on the plate.

"But why the long face?"

"Round trip would take at least two weeks."

It was seven days by horse from Rowen to the capital, ten by carriage depending on weather.

"Two whole weeks?"

Clodel sighed, wondering how she'd endure ten days without him.

"Why that face? You're coming with me, of course."

"Really?"

"Why do you think Valqui—er, His Majesty sent this? It's to thank the king who ordered our marriage, for Houses Temneth and Vermonte now joined. On his birthday... well, the king's birthday."

Kaiyan looked plainly annoyed, but Clodel's heart suddenly fluttered.

"I see. I want to see the capital."

"Yeah?"

"The only inn I stayed at was on the way to Rowen. I'd love to sightsee."

"You like traveling?"

"I've never really traveled. Leaving Valmond was my first time, coming here. I want to try it."

"Makes sense. Noble daughters aren't usually allowed to wander before marriage."

Kaiyan looked at her fondly.

"First time you've begged for something like this."

"I'm not trying to trouble you."

"No trouble. We can take it slow, stop at a few places like a proper trip. Make it a generous month round trip."

"Really?"

Rohan glanced at Hanna, watching the harmonious pair.

"You two..."

...don't look like enemies at all?

Hanna caught the unspoken words perfectly.

"They're newlyweds."

"Ah, I see. Haha."

The sudden telegram made dinner end in a bit of chaos.

Rohan and Kaiyan headed to his study, while Clodel, escorted by the butler back to her room, suddenly had a question.

"When is the lord's birthday? Do you know?"

The butler nodded at her query.

"Of course."

"When? I've been married this long and didn't even know my husband's birthday."

At her embarrassed question, the butler answered briskly.

"The day after tomorrow."