Chapter 33

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 33

Chapter Title: The Bodyguard Inquiry

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"I have no excuse to offer."

Liam's head drooped low as he stood before Kaian.

"I've culled the documents needing your approval as much as possible, but inquiries from the imperial press about the follow-up volume to Safety Rules of the Haunted Duke's Castle came flooding in, leaving me only halfway done. I'm truly sorry."

In the chilly dawn light as faint daylight began to creep in, Kaian turned from gazing at the hazy moon beyond the window, ignoring the lingering fatigue.

His lips twisted slightly as he looked up at the mountain of papers piled before him.

"It's fine. Anything else to report?"

"We're distributing food and daily necessities to the Salt Kingdom residents near the border in the name of the House of Brail."

"And the response?"

"The Salt royals seem content to sit back and watch."

Kaian, who had been listening quietly, suddenly shot back.

"What about April Salt, then?"

"...Pardon?"

"No word from her since?"

Liam paused for a moment in thought before finally understanding the question and nodding.

He had news about April that wasn't crucial but worth mentioning anyway.

"...She actually asked about hiring a bodyguard knight."

A twitch.

One of Kaian's eyebrows arched upward.

To prepare for any contingencies, he'd used the family ring to alter his appearance and shadowed her.

But he couldn't ignore her when she was getting pickpocketed, so he'd helped—and now this entanglement.

The family ring didn't completely transform one's looks into someone else's; it only altered distinctive features and overall aura.

So, to avoid suspicion from constant refusals, he'd half-heartedly accepted her offer... but he hadn't expected her to be so serious about hiring him.

Liam, gauging the duke's dissatisfied expression, continued cautiously.

"A quick check suggests she mistook you for a mercenary who'd come to the duchy seeking work. How should we handle it?"

The silent green eyes turned toward Liam. After a baffling silence, Kaian's lips parted once more.

"For now, say we'll investigate since the identity is unclear."

"Understood."

Of course, April did need a bodyguard knight. Intended or not, she was a talent bringing massive profits to the Brail Duchy.

But the problem was her ambiguous position right now.

With Salt not yet publicly announcing the disappearance of their second princess, any leak of information about April was to be avoided.

Still, since she'd brought up the bodyguard first, they should at least consider a fallback plan.

Thud.

Once the door closed and he was alone again, Kaian sank deeply into the leather chair.

'Is it just the fatigue?'

His brow furrowed involuntarily.

He didn't care what April Salt did, but the image of her during the pickpocketing incident kept nagging at him.

'She must have been really scared.'

True to her timid-looking face, April seemed bold at first glance but was actually quite fearful and faint-hearted.

If he hadn't stepped in, she might have tried handling it alone and gotten hurt—or worse.

Crack.

Kaian looked up, realizing the pen he'd been gripping out of habit had snapped.

"Time for some cleaning."

Yes.

This nagging irritation stemmed from the duchy's security deteriorating to the point where pickpockets roamed freely in broad daylight while he sat idle.

With that conclusion, Kaian rose from his seat.

Moving the security forces amid his current busyness wasn't just about resident safety—nothing more, nothing less.

...Or so Kaian told himself.

"Money really is the best thing ever."

I muttered it like I was entranced.

Honestly, ever since falling into this world, I hadn't handled physical cash much, so I'd almost forgotten the sheer satisfaction it brought.

But in this moment, I reaffirmed a profound lesson deep in my heart.

'Materialism reigns supreme.'

"You're right..."

Bonita nodded blankly in agreement.

The day I'd withdrawn a fortune from Pascal's merchant guild, I'd gone ahead and hired laborers for Poletta leather processing too.

Seasonal migrant workers were more common than I'd thought, and I picked the ones with good handiwork skills to employ at Mrs. Rainy's sewing workshop.

With the right manpower and funds in place, everything proceeded smoothly.

Mrs. Rainy, who had initially balked at the sheer volume of leather to process, now beamed happily at the overflowing bonuses and even volunteered for all-nighters.

And so, now.

The cramped shack once piled high with stinking raw Poletta hides had transformed beyond recognition.

It was all thanks to abundant funds, essentially.

"My goodness..."

The maids, arriving a beat late, let out voices thick with awe.

"So that's the pattern you get when experts process Poletta leather."

"It doesn't even look like the Poletta leather I knew... This quality could go straight to the imperial palace, no problem."

The praise was a bit exaggerated, but I had no urge to deny it.

Just as they said, the processed hides neatly stacked inside the shack boasted beautiful, unique patterns over their entire surfaces.

They were more than ready for sale to nobles right away.

"It's all thanks to Lady's support in every way."

Mrs. Rainy, standing at the shack's entrance, bowed her head.

She, who had once doubted the venture more than anyone, now even expressed interest in specializing in Poletta leather processing herself.

"But... are you really sure about this?"

"Why not?"

Perhaps thinking it childish whimsy from a noble lady, Mrs. Rainy opened her mouth cautiously once more.

"The quantity seems a tad high. The hides are in great condition, but for curtains... won't the popularity be lacking?"

"Oh, no worries there."

I shook my head firmly.

Curtains made from Poletta leather naturally couldn't compete with the light, airy styles currently in vogue.

'But their uses are completely distinct.'

My curtains were for people who worked nights and slept days.

"Shall we test them first?"

Since we hadn't properly used them yet, the first test was the little shack stacked with hides.

Under Bonita's direction, the maids began hanging curtains over every window.

Bonita checked that even the small vent by the door was covered, then gave the signal, and the heavy curtains dropped all at once.

"Gasp...!"

"Oh my."

The outside was broad daylight, yet pitch darkness enveloped the curtained interior.

"It's like night."

"Exactly. How can it get this dark?"

As exclamations of wonder rose from those left in the serene shade, I cheered inwardly.

'Total success!'

Compared to the shoddy blackout curtains I'd patched together from discarded hides back in my destitute days rolling in the dirt in Salt, this was leagues better.

Plus, Mrs. Rainy had provided a detailed instruction manual on handling the curtains, so distribution as-is would pose no issues in actual use.

"Um, Bonita."

"Yes, milady?"

Her quick reply came to my thrilled, trembling call.

"Could I possibly see the head maid?"

"The head maid? For what...?"

"Well, there's something only she can handle."

At my response, Bonita's eyes widened in surprise.