Chapter 65

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 65

Chapter Title: Dining Together from Now On

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‘Somehow, this scene feels like I’ve seen it before...’

There’s a proverb that says even a thief gets jittery thinking of his own footsteps.

But I hadn’t done anything wrong.

So why was my heart pounding like this?

As I frantically reviewed the past for any possible slip-ups, the duke’s expression hardened more and more.

“I... I don’t quite understand what conversation you’d like to have...”

He stared at me intently, then clenched his fist tight and spat out his words like they were bitter medicine.

“I’m thinking of reexamining your overdue room and board fees.”

“Reexamining?”

Suddenly?

Why?

His declaration hit me like a bolt from the blue, freezing me in place.

“Let’s talk inside first. Follow me.”

I stood there stunned for a moment, but they say even if a tiger bites you, you’ll live if you keep your wits. I tried to shake off my panic and followed the duke into the mansion.

But whenever the topic of room and board came up, I couldn’t help tensing up, so all sorts of worries plagued my mind as I trailed behind him.

‘What on earth is the problem?’

Why reexamine the overdue fees? Was he raising them or lowering them? What the hell!

No matter how much I puzzled over it, nothing came to mind.

As I spiraled deeper into my worries, we arrived at the duke’s study—now thoroughly familiar to me.

“Come in.”

“Y-yes, sir...”

Click.

The moment I stepped inside, the duke shut the door and fixed me with a stern gaze.

...He just stared, saying nothing.

“Um, Your Grace?”

Unable to bear the pressure, a squeaky voice escaped me.

Even then, he didn’t open his mouth easily.

‘What the heck is going on!’

It felt like a full year had passed in that one minute.

Only when my patience was about to snap did he finally speak.

“...I checked with Liam, and lately, orders for two portions of meals have been frequent.”

“...!”

H-how did he know?

I’d already felt a twinge of guilt, and his words made me flinch.

“Th-that’s...”

Of course, I had a mountain of excuses.

From my position where I had to pay room and board faithfully going forward, it felt unfair that I’d skipped meals and worked overtime before!

I’d ended up requesting two portions because I’d invited Ashley or Bonita, who I worked with, to eat together—and I never imagined they’d even count that.

Sure, it wasn’t entirely aboveboard, but there was no rule against inviting guests and sharing a meal!

But as the saying goes, when you’re too flustered, words fail you.

A dozen excuses bubbled up in my mind, but my mouth felt glued shut with superglue.

Unaware that the duke’s gaze was growing more intense as he stared straight at me, I hung my head and began spinning increasingly dire scenarios.

‘So, this “reexamination” of room and board isn’t good news, huh?’

To be honest, a small part of me had hoped he might take pity on me.

Like, slash the fees dramatically... or at least give a discount?

Couldn’t he consider something like that? Everyone knew the Duke of Brail was the richest man in the empire after the crown prince.

...But bringing up two portions out of nowhere.

Aiming another question at me, who was completely out of it, the duke pressed on.

“You must’ve been eating with the men you met while working, right?”

“Uh...”

I ducked my head even lower, like a terrified ostrich.

I’d often invited managers from trading companies or elderly painters who’d finished their deadlines to join me for meals.

But how did the duke know all this?

There weren’t even security cameras!

“No answer means you admit it? In that case, for room and board, the ‘meals’ portion should be charged at two people’s rate...”

“W-wait a second!”

Thinking more silence would only deepen the misunderstanding, I jerked my head up in a hurry.

But...

“...Huh.”

The duke’s green eyes, meeting mine at the same moment, held no real malice.

It was more like... he didn’t actually want to get mad at me, or something.

But now that the conversation had started, I had to say my piece.

“I... I feel wronged!!”

“Wronged?”

“I should be able to invite guests, and eat with them too!”

Especially since I’m paying room and board!

But the duke didn’t budge an inch.

“So you had that many male guests?”

He even shot back in a tone that sounded distinctly displeased.

Frankly, setting aside the fees, I couldn’t understand why he kept harping on male guests from the start. I paused to choose my words.

Actually, female guests outnumbered the men by far.

‘No way it’s because they eat more, right?’

But that was just prejudice!

Bonita and Ashley ate two or three times as much as the elderly painters. Especially desserts.

But airing that here wouldn’t help at all.

“C-can’t I eat with the people I want to eat with? Isn’t that my right while staying here?”

His suddenly piercing gaze made me falter mid-sentence, and I slyly averted my eyes.

“The people you want to eat with.”

And then that chilling echo.

“People you want to eat with... Want to eat with. Ha. Right.”

In that moment, I knew. Something had gone terribly wrong.

Now I was starting to feel the urge to say screw the fees—just let me leave this place.

Soon, the duke’s voice echoed through the now-silent study.

“From now on, we’ll have dinner together. No exceptions.”

“Pardon?”

It was the last response I’d expected.

Unable to fathom what logical leap had occurred, I could only stare at him in bewilderment.

“Why...?”

I voiced my confusion, but he ignored me casually and called his right-hand man.

“Liam.”

The door flew open.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Liam appeared right on cue, as if they’d rehearsed it.

Ignoring my gaze naturally, he stepped in, stood by the duke, and bowed his head.

What a loyal aide.

Unaware or uncaring of my thoughts, the duke questioned Liam beside him.

“Among all meals, the one with the highest cost is dinner, correct?”

“Generally, yes.”

“There you have it.”

Hold on.

This conversation flowing without me felt strangely off.

‘Is he saying no two portions for dinner because it’s the most expensive?’

Eat with him instead, no exceptions?

Realizing the duke’s stinginess exceeded my wildest imaginings, I barely suppressed a involuntary laugh.

A man richer than anyone but the crown prince in the empire—how could he be such a cheapskate?

This level would make even Scrooge take notes.

‘But...’

It might not be so bad?

For starters, that face that seemed forgivable no matter what mischief I got into.

And that perfectly toned body, never once out of shape despite him lounging in his study every day—who knew when he even worked out.

Dinner with that face might surpass any gourmet feast in enjoyment.

Wouldn’t that actually benefit me?

Having swiftly weighed it, I nodded eagerly.

“Sounds good. I’m actually happy about it.”

“...Happy?”

“F-for me, having dinner with Your Grace is something I’d want anyway. Not something I’d hate.”

Thinking about it, it was an opportunity others might desperately crave but never get.

Plus, with all the work discussions we needed to have, this proposal was actually a boon for me.

But as he listened quietly, the duke’s face turned peculiar, and suddenly an unexpected reply tumbled out.

“We’ll lower it.”

“Lower what...?”

“Room and board.”

Now, all of a sudden?

Unable to keep up with his whims shifting like a reed in the wind, I faltered briefly.

“But if you say you’ll hire another bodyguard knight, I’ll double the room and board. Be prepared.”

“Pardon? What... why?”

“Because the one you have now is a bargain.”

Ian? A bargain?

Why? How?

While I struggled to process the shocking revelation, he turned to Liam, having finished organizing his thoughts.

“Liam, redo the bill.”

“Understood.”

Liam bowed without a word and left, leaving the duke and me in an excruciatingly awkward silence.

‘What just happened.’

It felt like some massive storm had blown through.