As dusk settled, the revised samples arrived just as Lilien and I were finishing dinner.
Baron Totair had sent the correct quantity of samples to be gifted to fifty knights.
I examined each sample carefully, a smile spreading across my face. The design and efficiency had both improved significantly compared to the last version. It was a well-crafted product.
[The performance tests are complete, so you can distribute them to the knights without worry. What do you think?]
“It’s perfect. We can launch it as it is.”
[I’m glad you like it.]
“Of course. This is the result of all our hard work, holding daily meetings through the communication sphere. Thank you for your efforts, Baron Totair.”
[Ah, by the way, the skilled craftsmen I arranged are already producing the goods. The building’s interior renovations are also nearing completion. How about opening the jewelry store at the end of this month?]
“The end of this month? That’s sooner than I expected.”
Sensing my hesitation, Baron Totair spoke first.
[Is something bothering you?]
I glanced at the letter placed next to the sample box. It was a letter from the Emperor, sent along with the samples. It contained a warning—Devon had escaped, and the Imperial Knights were secretly pursuing him. I needed to be cautious.
For now, I was staying within the mansion, but once the jewelry store opened, I would be going out more frequently. Knowing that someone who bore a grudge against me was on the loose made me hesitant to move the opening date forward.
The Imperial Knights were tracking him, so they would catch him soon enough… And Edmund had promised to be with me on the opening day. Even so, why did I still feel uneasy?
‘It must be because of Verita.’
Verita had married Devon, becoming his legal guardian, and then escaped with him. What was she thinking? If left unchecked, she might conspire with him to cause trouble.
I tapped my fingers on the table before speaking.
“Baron Totair, I have a request.”
[Please, go ahead.]
“Verita has married Devon.”
[What? That’s absurd!]
“I know it’s shocking, but it’s true. So… could you investigate where she is and how she’s living?”
If I could find Verita, I could find Devon too.
Verita was originally from the Buell territory.
Even though she had become an outsider after reaching adulthood, everyone in the region still knew her. Someone must have heard some news about her.
[…Understood. I will investigate further.]
I was relieved that Baron Totair didn’t ask too many questions. If he had, I would have had to explain Devon’s escape in detail.
[Then, what about the jewelry store?]
Lost in thought, I snapped back to reality at Baron Totair’s question.
“Ah, let’s proceed with the opening at the end of this month. Please release an article about the opening of the Lebron Jewelry Store.”
[Understood.]
“Oh, and how is the Lebron Ring coming along?”
[Ugh, it’s in progress.]
Baron Totair sighed heavily, but I simply smiled in satisfaction. See? He was going to do it anyway.
“Make sure it’s ready by the opening day. I want to launch it together.”
[Got it. Then, I’ll take my leave.]
“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”
As the communication sphere dimmed, I found myself smiling at its polished surface, feeling pleased.
After entrusting the samples to a maid for organization, I immediately went to find Rail.
I needed to prepare for the knights’ banquet the next evening.
Rail adjusted his monocle and smiled.
“Tomorrow evening?”
“Yes, it ended up being a bit of a rush.”
After a brief moment of thought, Rail smiled again.
“It won’t be easy, but I can make it work. I’ll prepare everything with pleasure.”
Just then, his hand slipped, and his monocle fell off. He hastily put it back on, looking flustered. Seeing this, I chuckled.
“As a token of appreciation, I’ll pay for a new monocle. You need to maintain your dignity as a butler, but if you’re always fumbling for your glasses, that dignity will be lost.”
Rail smiled awkwardly as he adjusted his monocle.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”
“Please accept it. It’s a gift.”
“I really can’t. The Duke instructed me to serve Count Buell without any shortcomings. Please don’t worry about it.”
“Duke Mipedian said that?”
Rail laughed as if trying to change the subject but then looked slightly panicked.
“Why not give a gift to my master instead? If it’s from you, he’ll surely be pleased, no matter what it is.”
… I frowned slightly at Rail. The way he phrased it made it sound like he had noticed the change in my relationship with Edmund.
‘Could he have figured it out?’
Well, since he serves Edmund closely, it wouldn’t be surprising if he noticed. Rail is quite perceptive.
If he noticed, then Tale likely did too… and maybe even the knights.
Realizing this made me feel slightly embarrassed, even though Edmund and I weren’t officially together.
“If that’s what you think, Rail, then fine. I’ll express my sincerity to the Duke.”
I emphasized that I was only following Rail’s suggestion, but he turned his head and stifled a laugh. When I narrowed my eyes at him, he quickly cleared his throat.
“Ahem! Will you be personally inviting the knights to the banquet?”
“Yes, I’ll go alone.”
“Then Tale is probably away, so you should find David.”
“Thank you. I’ll leave the banquet preparations to you.”
Even as I turned away, I shot Rail one last pointed look before leaving the mansion. When I looked up, the sky was streaked with thin clouds, and the outline of the knights’ headquarters partially obscured it.
‘I should hurry before it gets dark.’
As I quickened my pace, I replayed the conversation in my head.
‘A gift, huh?’
Giving a gift to someone who already has everything is the hardest thing. Edmund, who seemed to lack any material desires, was an even greater challenge.
‘What should I give him?’
As I walked, an idea suddenly struck me—but I immediately shook my head.
‘A ring… feels a bit too much.’
Even though I was designing the Lebron Ring for Edmund, giving it as a gift felt too symbolic. It would seem like I was accepting his confession.
Lost in thought, I suddenly realized I had already reached the knights’ training ground. I almost forgot my purpose.
As I moved quickly, I noticed a few knights resting in a narrow space beside the headquarters, sharing dried meat. They were chatting before the evening roll call. Just as I was about to ask them to call for David, I overheard their conversation…
“I’m really glad. He seems like a good person. I used to worry a lot that our master might stay alone forever like this. Even back in the Zether Forest, he looked so lonely.”
“Are you talking about Count Buell? I think so too.”
“Right?!”
…What?
I froze on the spot and stared in shock, mouth wide open.
So what I only suspected was actually true.
Then the reason the knights were so tense during our first meeting was…
Ahh. I buried my face in my hands and let out a deep sigh. What did Edmund do to be found out by so many people when he’s so good at hiding how he feels? Then does that mean I was just more clueless than the rest? As I suffered from a mix of shame and self-blame, the conversation continued.
“I really mean it. You wouldn’t know since you stayed behind to guard the territory, but even in the forest, he looked so lonely. I showed him a picture my five-year-old daughter drew, and he didn’t even shed a tear.”
“That’s because your daughter looks like you.”
“Shut up, you bastard!”
Just as things were about to escalate, the knight standing between them stepped in to settle things.
“Come on, both of you. You were just celebrating, and now you’re about to fight.”
He pushed them apart and sighed.
“I know we all wish for our master’s happiness, but do we really have the right to speak about it like this?”
The two bickering knights scratched their heads in embarrassment. As the mood shifted toward reconciliation, a knight from the territory quietly spoke.
“But still, he… she’s divorced… I wonder if that’s okay.”
A knight from the subjugation unit exploded in anger.
“Don’t say stuff like that! What if someone hears you?! Oh-ho, so now you’re saying the Western princess would be better for him?”
Western princess?
I lifted my head slightly at the words that brushed past my ears.
“I told you! Even when that Western princess came on to him wearing almost nothing, our master didn’t even blink! She even snuck into the barracks and tried to climb on top of him!”
“What?! Don’t tell me… something actually happened—”
“Hey! What kind of person do you think our master is?! There’s no way! I wasn’t there, but a man like him, who treats women like rocks, there’s no way anything would’ve—”
The knight who was passionately defending him suddenly hesitated, tilting his head in confusion.
“…Could something have happened?”
“What…!”
At that moment, the knight in the middle put his hands on his hips and let out a deep sigh.
“Alright, both of you, enough with the chit-chat. Let’s head ba—”
He raised his head and locked eyes with me.
His face instantly turned pale, like he had seen a ghost. The other knights, who didn’t know what was going on, frowned in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
“Yeah, what did you see—”
The two who turned to look at me froze in shock, their lips trembling. One of the knights even lost strength in his legs and collapsed to the ground.
“C-Countess… When did you get here…?”
With my arms crossed, leaning to one side as I had been listening in on their whole conversation, I gave them a bright smile.
“You all seem to be having such a fun conversation. Mind if I join?”
Despite the cheerful greeting, my facial muscles were twitching miserably.
