Chapter 112
“What kind of promise?”
What could the head of the Steiner merchant guild, who could do almost anything, possibly ask of Ruan, who was just an assistant? Though he couldn’t imagine what it might be… if it was something Ruan could do, he wanted to do it for Ralph.
Ruan looked at Ralph, determined to find a way to fulfill the request even if it was difficult. However, the words that came out of Ralph’s mouth were completely different from what he had expected.
“Promise that you’ll keep wanting to see me, that you’ll always be happy to meet me. Please promise me that.”
It was such a trivial thing that Ruan didn’t understand why it needed to be a formal promise. Expecting something much more significant, Ruan replied with a slightly bewildered voice.
“I’ll do that even without promising, you know? It’s harder not to want to see you, and harder not to be happy to see you, Guild Master.”
Just as he was about to suggest that Ralph ask for something else, something else he could do for him, Ralph spoke.
“Still, I’d like you to promise.”
It was an unexpectedly serious voice.
Ruan met Ralph’s black eyes that were looking at him. How could there be such desperation in those eyes that always showed a gentle light? Was this incomprehensible request so important to him?
Ralph, who had been looking at Ruan, spoke once more.
“I need that promise.”
Faced with the earnestness in those words, Ruan had no choice but to answer.
“Alright. I promise. I’ll want to see the kind and gentle Guild Master from time to time. And whenever I see you, I’ll welcome you as if I’m the happiest person in the world.”
Although he didn’t understand why Ralph specifically asked for this promise, or why this promise was important enough to make him look like that, the words Ruan just uttered were sincere without any lie. Ruan would always want to see this kind dog were-animal, and would always be happy to see him. Therefore, Ruan’s voice also carried sincerity. Understanding this, Ralph’s eyes curved into a smile.
“Thank you.”
Feeling awkward about receiving thanks for promising something so obvious, Ruan asked again.
“But is this really enough? Compared to you, Guild Master, there’s almost nothing I can do… But I still want to do what I can for you.”
But Ralph seemed truly satisfied with this simple thing, or rather, with its simplicity. Ralph spoke with a relieved expression.
“Yes. This is enough for me. As long as you want to see me… Unlike cats bound to their territory, I can come to you anytime. Knowing that I’m someone you want to see in every moment you miss me, knowing that I can come to you anytime, and knowing that you’ll welcome me gladly when I do…”
At this point, a big smile bloomed on Ralph’s face.
“I think that’s enough to make me happy. Just don’t complain if I come too often.”
Seeing him look as if he really didn’t need anything else, Ruan finally smiled softly and replied.
“If you come often, I’ll spend each day in anticipation, not knowing when you’ll arrive.”
“That would be perfect.”
Ralph, who was smiling back at Ruan, suddenly perked up his ears and started rummaging through his desk drawer.
“Ah, Assistant. I have something to give you.”
“For me?”
Ruan was just promising something obvious, but Ralph was trying to give him something again. When Ruan asked in surprise, Ralph pulled out a small package from the drawer and answered.
“Yes. It came in during the last trade… They say cats like it. Apparently, even the most aloof cat will melt with this? I thought you might like it, so I set it aside.”
It was a statement that couldn’t help but shake Ruan’s resolve to refuse Ralph’s gift.
After pondering for a moment, Ruan finally accepted the package and expressed his sincere gratitude.
“Thank you for thinking of me. I’ll use it well.”
He was planning to ask if he could purchase it through the guild next time if he liked it. To this Ruan, Ralph said in a bright voice:
“I’m glad you’re happy about it!”
Ralph and Ruan, having exchanged gifts, shared their reluctance to part in a warm atmosphere.
Not knowing what situation that gift would bring about.
* * *
Ruan was looking at the carriage, where the packing was nearing completion, with a sense of relief.
‘We’re really… going back.’
It seemed like just yesterday that he had left Reinke in a state of high tension, but now he was packing to return to Reinke. For Ruan, who was about to spend his last night in the capital relatively safely, it was truly emotional.
Although he was kidnapped in the middle… it was wrapped up quickly without any major incidents. Compared to the numerous accidents and incidents he had imagined when coming to Reinke, it could be said that it was a fairly uneventful stay in the capital.
Of course, unexpected things did happen, but in a different direction than anticipated.
Like how Rafael had been showing strange favor since then. And also…
“It feels like just yesterday we were watching him take his first steps, but he’s grown up so much…”
“I knew His Grace would, but to think he really… Whew.”
“This is the best time, isn’t it?”
“But look how thin our child has become.”
…Having to hear such things.
Hearing the knights’ whispers from behind, Ruan felt the urge to cover his ears.
Why on earth did he lose his mind that day and give these people a reason to smirk every time they saw him?
From the moment Ruan appeared, wondering what face he should make to others, the unleashed knights began to chatter excitedly. It was with such tremendous momentum that one might wonder how stifled they must have been, unable to say these things until now.
From how His Grace, troubled by love, had asked them for advice, to how they had wholeheartedly—by the fifth time Ruan heard this story, he honestly felt like asking what kind of sincerity it was when it was nothing but self-interest—imparted their dating and courtship skills, and helped with the proposal preparations.
Watching the knights talk excitedly, Ruan finally realized.
He had wondered why the Grand Duke suddenly chose the ‘human courtship method’ of proposing, which felt like a sudden acceleration. It turns out these people were the culprits.
Well, all the people in Reinke firmly believed that Ruan and the Grand Duke were lovers. In fact, they weren’t even dating, and didn’t even know if they liked each other.
‘Come to think of it, it wasn’t just the people of Reinke who thought we were in that kind of relationship.’
Ruan recalled Volker, whom he had met for the last time before returning to Reinke.
Due to Rafael, who unintentionally provided the venue for the Grand Duke’s proposal, talking about it, the story about Ruan and the Grand Duke had spread far and wide. Of course, even without that, Volker, who would have been tracking the Grand Duke’s movements in the capital, would have understood the situation…
Regardless, everyone in the capital now knew that the lover the Grand Duke cherished enough to propose to was just an assistant.
He had thought that maybe Volker would bring up something about it too.
But that it would be…
‘I didn’t know it was sincere.’
That kind of statement.
Ruan felt a chill run down his neck at the statement implying that he already knew about the rumors circulating only within Reinke about the Grand Duke and Ruan.
It was also saying that he didn’t think it was serious because the partner was a male assistant, but that wasn’t the important part.
He had revealed to the Grand Duke that he had his own spy in Reinke.
It was a warning that there would be eyes watching even after they returned, so they should act accordingly.
At that moment, Ruan realized it was time to implement what he had been thinking about all along once they returned.
‘Come to think of it… that guy was talking about whether the Grand Duke would marry or not in front of me, thinking I was the lover.’
Considering the social and historical background, it was quite possible, but it made Volker, whom he already disliked, even more unlikeable.
But no matter how much he disliked him, there was nothing he could do to Volker here, so whatever needed to be done would have to be done after returning to Reinke.
‘So now, what’s left to do in the capital is…’
Ruan’s gaze turned to the Grand Duke, who was staring at him through the mansion window as if he wanted to eat him alive.
‘I guess it’s about soothing the mood of a cat who’s sulking because I came back smelling like a dog…’
When he said he was going to see Ralph, the Grand Duke had silently allowed it, though he looked a bit sulky, but now that he had returned, the cat lover was openly pouting. Ruan scratched his head as he looked at him.
How should he appease him? Since the cat is angry… Maybe I should try using that gift I received.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
