ATPL 31

ATPL ≈ Chapter 31

Posted by Dustin, Released on July 25, 2026

Chapter 31

* * *

The Fleur family villa in Reims was an ordinary three-story mansion that could be found just about anywhere. Even the attached garden wasn’t particularly large.

If anything could be called unique, it might be the pond, fed by water flowing from a nearby reservoir.

“My Lady!”

Judy, the caretaker’s daughter, came running out.

I had sent word ahead while taking care of business at Reims Castle, but Judy’s enthusiastic welcome was unexpected.

Although the caretakers of the Fleur villa were diligent, their daughter Judy wasn’t especially loyal to the Fleur family.

To begin with, Reims was an imperial territory. Being imperial citizens rather than Belfast natives explained a lot.

Particularly since Judy was about the same age as Anais, she seemed to regard the Fleur family merely as her family’s employers.

Moreover, Anne strongly disliked Judy. Apparently, whenever the Fleur family came for vacation, Judy would jump at the chance to gossip about Anais with the maids.

From Anais’s perspective, there was no real reason to get close to Judy, so she simply let it go.

After all, people gossip even about His Imperial Majesty behind closed doors.

“Hello, Judy. Where’s Mr. Baldwin?”

“Father? He went to clean the stables earlier…”

Judy’s voice trailed off as she glanced at Anais, then kept casting a wide-eyed look behind her.

The reason was obvious. Anais wore a mask, and behind her stood two incredibly handsome men—the kind one might see once in a lifetime.

But they weren’t just strikingly handsome. Everything about them exuded nobility.

“Where did you find such people again….”

Judy let out a breathless murmur as she lightly grasped the hem of Anais’s skirt while she sat on the mule.

‘Again’?

Anais blinked.

Again? When had she ever brought such people here before?

More than that, she was taken aback by Judy’s familiar behavior toward her.

One could chalk up her earlier excitement to seeing the young miss after a long time or surprise but this was overstepping.

Anais gently removed Judy’s hand from her skirt and instead placed the mule’s reins in it.

Only then did Judy, who still couldn’t take her eyes off Elliot and Abelard, snap out of her daze and grasp the reins with an “Ah!”

“You received the message, right? They’re Anais’s guests. Give them the best rooms.”

“Ah, yes!”

“Oh my, young miss, you’ve arrived!”

Mr. Baldwin, the villa’s caretaker and Judy’s father, came hurrying up.

As soon as he arrived, Judy handed him the mule’s reins and helped Anais dismount—though her eyes remained fixed on the two men.

Anais studied her thoughtfully, then remembered that No. 33 had visited last year.

Maybe No. 33 had entrusted something to Judy.

“Is this our first time meeting since last year? Have you been well?”

“Oh, young miss. You visited briefly last winter, remember? Still, I missed you!”

At Anais’s words, Judy brightened and lightly grabbed her sleeve. It felt like they were close friends.

Anais didn’t push her away. Instead, she took a silver coin from her pocket and placed it in Judy’s hand.

It seemed wise to sweet-talk the girl and figure out what had happened last year.

“Really? Thank you. Anais missed Judy too.”

She smiled as she spoke, but Judy’s expression didn’t light up. If anything, after glancing at the coin, she looked unimpressed.

That was… a little insulting.

But it would be ridiculous to ask “Is the money I gave you not good enough?” right to her face.

‘Was No. 33 generous?’

That was just a guess.

‘But wasn’t she supposed to be a miser?’

Anais tilted her head in confusion.

According to Anne, No. 33 was extremely… stingy.

Despite her wealth, she wore the same dresses multiple times, reused tea party dishes, and even used the same tablecloths repeatedly.

She had even reduced the lavish fresh blooms flower decorations which were practically a symbol of the Fleur family. It showed just how stingy she was.

Yet she’d been generous with the servants?

Whatever.

“I’m Elliot.”

“Abel.”

The two men behind Anais handed their horses to Mr. Baldwin and dismounted.

They were cloaked head to toe. If they’d arrived in full Dragon Knight uniform, the lord of Reims would surely come running barefoot.

Mr. Baldwin asked cautiously.

“Um, these two gentlemen are…?”

“We’re bodyguards.”

“Oh my.”

Abelard looked like he wanted to say something in response to Elliot’s words, but he held his tongue.

After all, if it were revealed that one of the men was the Commander of the Dragon Knights and the other the Crown Prince of the Empire, poor Mr. Baldwin might faint.

Even calling them ‘bodyguards’ seemed hard to believe, judging by Baldwin’s skeptical expression.

“I stopped by on my way to the Grand Duchy of Neuze on business. Has everything been well?”

“Yes, I was surprised to receive your message.”

“Well, Mr. Baldwin, my parents always speak highly of your diligence. They say the villa is spotless, even during surprise visits.”

“Oh my, thank you.”

Baldwin beamed at the compliment. Soon, Mrs. Baldwin and the gardener couple emerged to take care of the guests’ luggage.

The villa’s caretaking staff was limited to just these five. When the Fleur family visited for vacation, servants from Belfast usually came along, so the villa wasn’t fully staffed year-round.

“I’ll show the gentlemen to their rooms.”

Mrs. Baldwin led Elliot and Abelard to the third floor. It looked like they were being given Anais’s parents’ room—which made sense since they had asked for the best accommodations. However…

“Let me carry your luggage, miss!”

It was Judy who followed Anais.

‘She’s being unusually courteous.’

Anais couldn’t help but note the power of money. Her parents had always given tips to the staff, but Anais herself hadn’t done so before.

Now, seeing how eager Judy was, she understood why.

“But miss, why are you wearing a mask? And your hair too…”

“Well, I have my reasons.”

Before leaving the institution, Anais had changed out of her Dragon Knight uniform and back into her clothes. It was only natural—there was no longer any need to hide her identity or present herself in a certain way.

Luckily, the checkered walking dress matched the white mule nicely.

It was the mask that was an issue. A bonnet would’ve been good for keeping her hair neat, but wearing a mask on top looked ridiculous.

It also clashed with the dress.

‘You could just take it off.’

Though Elliot said that, Anais didn’t particularly want to.

It was because of the mischievous Abelard.

Ever since his initial blunder, their interactions had been nothing but sarcasm and teasing. She was sure that the moment she removed the mask, he would mock her about not having eyebrows or something.

‘But still, Lord Abelard is the Empire’s…’

‘He may be the Empire’s crown prince, but he teased Anais as soon as he saw her.’

‘…That’s true.’

Elliot showed an awkward and uncomfortable expression. Anais shrugged.

‘Anais doesn’t want to do things she knows will hurt.’

‘But it would be fine after a little while, wouldn’t it? You showed your face comfortably in front of me.’

‘That was because I had no choice.’

Saying that, Anais stared at Elliot. Elliot cleared his throat.

Come to think of it, hadn’t he rudely barged into her room after she’d been struck by lightning? Of course, she hadn’t had time to hide her face.

‘I apologize for that.’

It’s fine. I understand you had no choice.

Truthfully, Anais wasn’t bothered. It wasn’t in her nature to blame someone for something unavoidable.