Chapter 11
Eventually, Irene, who was to receive etiquette lessons from Karlos, sat at the table, tense and nervous.
The table was set with all kinds of utensils, some of which Irene had never seen before.
So many types of utensils exist… she thought in wonder, reaching out to pick up something new. Just then, the dining hall doors opened, and Karlos entered.
Startled, Irene immediately put the utensil down, and Karlos looked at her with curiosity.
“What are you so startled about?”
“Nothing…”
“You weren’t planning to take that, were you?”
Although Karlos was joking, the serious look on Irene’s face made her appear almost pale.
Memories of being harshly scolded by her father for a misunderstanding about stealing flared up, and fear surged within her.
“N-No! I didn’t steal anything! Really!”
Karlos blinked, slightly surprised by such an extreme reaction to what was meant as a simple joke.
Irene, thinking he still doubted her, sank into a darker expression.
“It was a joke.”
Only then did Karlos realize there was a misunderstanding and quickly added:
“So, don’t worry about it.”
Was it really a joke? Irene remained half-doubtful but nodded anyway.
“The one you just picked up is a seafood fork.”
Karlos stepped closer to Irene and picked up the fork she had nearly dropped.
“Have you ever eaten shellfish?”
“No.”
Shellfish were expensive, as transporting them fresh inland cost a lot. A basket of shellfish equaled a commoner’s monthly food expenses, so there was no way she, a simple commoner, had ever tried them.
“I’ll have them served tomorrow evening, then.”
Irene’s eyes widened.
“Can I eat it?”
“Yes, you may.”
Karlos took her right hand and placed the seafood fork in her small palm.
“If you enjoy the shellfish dish tomorrow evening, Gilbert will be pleased.”
“…Gilbert?”
“He’s the head chef of this castle.”
Ah, the person who had prepared all the delicious meals she had eaten until now. Just knowing this gave Irene a sense of fondness for Gilbert.
“If you’ve never eaten shellfish, you’ve never used this fork either.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll show you how to use it.”
The real lesson began. Irene listened intently, so focused that she didn’t even notice Karlos occasionally looking at her with a strange expression.
“…That’s enough for today.”
Karlos decided to end the session at a suitable point, not wanting to overwhelm her with too much information at once. It was also about the promised one-hour lesson.
“Any questions? Anything you didn’t understand?”
“No, nothing.”
Irene truly had no questions—not because she was scared of Karlos or wanted to end the class quickly, but because she understood his explanations perfectly.
Still, there was one thing she wished for…
“May I take notes during lessons from now on?”
Even someone with a good memory couldn’t retain everything after hearing it just once. Repetition or reading was necessary.
Since she couldn’t ask Karlos to repeat, she chose to take notes.
Karlos let out a small laugh, as if he had heard something amusing.
“You’re the first person I’ve seen wanting to take notes during etiquette lessons.”
“Is that not allowed?”
“Not really, but in that case, reading a book might be better, don’t you think?”
“Is there a book?”
“Of course. I can bring it if you want.”
“I want it!”
When Irene replied quickly, a deeper smile appeared on Karlos’s face.
He immediately ordered a servant waiting outside to bring the etiquette book.
“The book you requested has arrived, Master.”
A short while later, the book was brought not by the servant who had been given the order, but by another man.
The man she had seen near the knight training quarters—the twin of Dewey.
Fascinated by twins, Irene stared at him, but he didn’t so much as glance at her.
“Why are you staring like that?”
Karlos asked instead, and only then did Irene shift her gaze from the man to Karlos.
“Do you need something from Deus?”
Ah, so this man’s name is Deus. Irene finally learned it. She realized why he and Dewey were twins—their names were also similar.
Though their personalities were completely different. Especially, she could never forget the time he had held a knife to her neck.
Irene gave Deus a sidelong glare and answered,
“I didn’t need anything… I was just curious because it was the first time I saw twins.”
Hearing that, Deus finally looked at her. His gaze, cold and disdainful, made her flinch.
Why is he looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?
“Deus.”
Karlos called his name, and Deus immediately looked away, bowing his head.
Karlos nodded as if he understood Irene’s reaction.
“Well, twins shouldn’t exist in the Luman Empire. It’s natural to find it strange.”
The Esper territory is part of the Luman Empire, yet he spoke as if it were somehow separate.
Now that she thought about it, Jesse had said something similar. But Jesse was not from the Empire, whereas Karlos definitely was—the head of the Esper family. Why did he speak like that?
“Here.”
Moments later, Irene’s eyes shone as she received the book from Karlos, clutching it as if it were a precious treasure.
“You must really like books.”
“I do.”
To Irene, who had been confined at home all her life, books and newspapers were her only connection to the world—her friends.
All the knowledge she had gained came from reading.
So of course she liked them, though Karlos found it strange. Most people would shudder at the sight of an etiquette book, yet she seemed delighted.
“Would you like to read other books too?”
Seeing her so happy with just an etiquette book, he wondered how delighted she would be with other books.
Irene’s face lit up immediately, her smile bright.
“Yes! Please let me read them!”
“…”
Meanwhile, Karlos’s expression stiffened.
“Why…?”
Did I do something wrong? Irene asked carefully, nervous. Karlos let out a low sigh, covering his eyes with his hand.
Then, without a word, he turned and left the dining hall in a swift motion.
Karlos left the dining hall almost as if fleeing, walking aimlessly without a set destination.
His mind was filled entirely with the image of Irene’s smiling face.
It was the first time he had seen her smile so brightly.
Until now, she had always looked scared or fragile, but now he realized she could smile like this too.
Of course, it was natural—she was human after all…
“She’s beautiful.”
The words slipped out unconsciously. Karlos frowned and stopped abruptly.
Deus, quietly following him, stopped as well and asked,
“Are you alright, Master?”
“….”
Karlos turned, frowning. Deus bowed deeply in apology.
“I asked an inappropriate question. Please forgive me.”
The loyal subordinate’s words somehow irritated him. Karlos pressed his temple, then continued walking.
He headed to his office, where Deus followed. Sitting in his chair, Karlos asked:
“So, what is it?”
Ordering a servant to bring a book, but having Deus bring it instead, meant he had something to report.
Deus stood straight in front of the desk and reported:
“There’s something strange written in a newspaper published by the Temple.”
At the mention of the Temple, Karlos’s brows furrowed.
Like most underground residents, Karlos did not like the Temple.
In the past, the Temple had treated all underground residents as monsters, insisting they should be killed. They had also stirred humans with witch hunts, persecuting underground residents further.
Because of this, communication between the human and underground worlds was almost cut off.
Now, the fact that the Temple newspaper contained strange information made Karlos suspicious.
“Bring the newspaper.”
Deus handed it over. He had likely picked out only the page with the relevant article.
[The Loser of the North, Bewitched by a Witch.]
“Ridiculous.”
Seeing the headline, Karlos scoffed. He didn’t even bother reading the article—it was predictable and unworthy of his attention.
“Which Temple published this?”
“The Monsera Temple in the Kaman territory.”
Kaman territory was a small town near the Silas territory. Nearby regions contacted Monsera Temple when they needed help from the Temple.
So even Baron Silas had contacted this Temple.
To accuse Irene of being a witch and executing her, they would have needed the flames controlled by the Temple.
Thus, Karlos could understand why Monsera Temple knew of Irene’s existence.
What he couldn’t understand was…
“How do they know I took her?”
Baron Silas wouldn’t have informed the Temple first. Furthermore, according to Dewey, Silas had died in a fire before meeting the priest from the Temple.
The answer was obvious: someone must have reported it to the Temple.
“Investigate thoroughly who reported this to the Temple.”
“Yes, Master.”
After Deus left, Karlos read the article. Perhaps there would be clues about the informant—but there were none.
“Just wasted my eyes.”
He crumpled the newspaper into a ball, tossed it into the trash, leaned back in his chair, put his feet on the desk, and tilted his head.
The reason the Temple published this was clear: to extend their influence over the Esper territory and family.
“They think they can do as they please.”
Karlos’s violet eyes glinted ominously.
Those who dared reach for something they shouldn’t would pay the price.
