Chapter 15
“Let’s leave the greetings at that for now and head to my office.”
Kaiden naturally led everyone deeper into the mansion as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
His intention was to draw up Emilia’s employment contract.
Witnessing such shamelessly smooth behavior, Harold finally had no choice but to step in.
“Your Grace?”
“What?”
The reply was so absent-minded that anyone could tell he wasn’t really listening.
A crack appeared in Harold’s carefully maintained smile.
‘What’…? What do you mean, ‘what’?!
Today’s schedule hadn’t been to return straight to the estate.
They had merely added one brief stop to escort a young lady back.
Considering she was the benefactor who had saved his employer’s life, Harold had fully understood that much.
But it seemed the duke had completely forgotten where they had originally been headed.
A second deviation from the schedule was absolutely unacceptable.
Still…
He had to preserve His Grace’s dignity in front of their benefactor.
So Harold desperately tried to communicate with his eyes.
I already overlooked you bringing Lady Emilia here, didn’t I?!
Having served as Kaiden’s aide for many years, he was confident this much silent communication would get through.
“Oh.”
“Right.”
Kaiden nodded as though he finally understood.
Then he casually handed Emilia’s travel bag to Harold.
“…Pardon?”
“Prepare the room in the center of the third floor.”
“But…”
Harold trailed off.
Almost instinctively, the layout of the mansion flashed through his mind.
This man…
He picked the very best guest room.
After a brief silence, Harold spoke again.
“In case you’ve forgotten, Your Grace…”
“You have another appointment after this.”
Only then did Kaiden seem to remember.
He clicked his tongue quietly.
Harold stared at him in disbelief.
“Now that you remember…”
“Could you please go?”
“How long will it take?”
“Not very long.”
“But we’re already pressed for time.”
“And while we’re standing here talking…”
“The clock is still ticking.”
At that moment, Emilia cautiously interrupted.
“Um…”
“If you’re busy…”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you left now?”
“My contract can wait until later.”
There really wasn’t any urgency to signing it.
“Then…”
“Would you mind waiting?”
“Of course.”
Emilia nodded without hesitation.
“Then we’ll sign it this evening.”
Watching Kaiden somehow made her feel busy.
“Yes, yes.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ll wait here until you come back, Your Grace.”
She spoke almost as though soothing an impatient child.
“I’ll return soon.”
For some reason, Kaiden looked noticeably more satisfied after hearing her answer.
Emilia tilted her head.
…Was Kaiden always this impatient?
Soon afterward, Kaiden left the estate again together with Harold.
As soon as the two men disappeared, an elderly but dignified gentleman who had been standing nearby approached Emilia.
“I am Robert Griffin, the estate’s butler.”
“Oh.”
“I’m Emilia.”
“Please feel free to call me by my name.”
She greeted him with a smile.
“Certainly, Miss Emilia.”
“I shall do everything I can to make your stay here comfortable.”
Having already received a brief explanation from Kaiden, Robert bowed politely.
Only then did Emilia notice that he was holding the travel bag Harold had handed him.
“Oh!”
“I can carry that myself!”
“No.”
“I’ll show you to your room.”
“Please follow me.”
“O-Okay…”
Unable to argue against his firm refusal, Emilia answered awkwardly.
Just as she was about to follow him empty-handed—
“Emilia!”
Ivan called out, his eyes sparkling.
“Oh.”
“[Shall we go upstairs together?]”
She smiled.
“[Mm-hmm!]”
Ivan answered enthusiastically before quickly taking her hand.
The moment Emilia stepped into the room Robert had prepared for her, she stood frozen.
It was enormous.
Not only that—
Every piece of furniture looked elegant enough to belong in a museum.
Even at a glance…
Everything here looks incredibly expensive.
Is it really alright for me to stay in a room this nice?
Then Robert’s voice came from behind her.
“I’ll leave your luggage here.”
“Ah.”
“Thank you.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
After setting the bag down, he gave a slight bow before quietly leaving the room.
Even his footsteps were nearly silent.
Just what one would expect from a butler with decades of experience.
Robert Griffin…
Emilia recalled what the original novel had said about him.
He was the one who opposed Kaiden and Reina’s contract engagement until the very end… wasn’t he?
She couldn’t exactly blame him.
His family had served House Valen for generations.
Naturally, he wasn’t pleased about an illegitimate daughter becoming connected to the family.
Still…
The novel had described him as an excellent superior to the servants.
There probably wasn’t much for her to worry about.
After looking around the room once more, Emilia sat down in one of the plush chairs.
This room is amazing…
As she finally relaxed—
A sudden uneasiness crept into her mind.
This mansion is sturdy… right?
She immediately realized how ridiculous that thought sounded.
Sturdy?
This estate was practically priceless.
Unlike her own house…
Which had collapsed because of an unexplained disaster and wasn’t even eligible for compensation.
No matter how many times she thought about it, the whole incident had been unbelievably unfair.
Seriously…
How does a house suddenly collapse like that…?
Then—
Emilia froze.
…Wait.
Come to think of it…
Hadn’t something similar happened in the original story?
Buildings collapsing in the capital.
Until now, she had never connected the two because the original plot hadn’t officially begun yet.
But…
Back then, there had even been people who suffered serious injuries.
What caused it again…?
As Emilia searched through her memories—
She suddenly shot to her feet.
That’s right!
It was that!
Baron Hariben swallowed nervously as he watched the man seated across from him flipping through the contract.
The young duke who had inherited his title early after the previous duke and duchess passed away.
Despite his refined, almost ascetic appearance…
Rumor had it he was ruthlessly strict.
It certainly seems that way…
Even while reviewing the contract, not a single change appeared on Kaiden’s expression.
There was no way to tell what he was thinking.
He was undoubtedly calculating every possible gain and loss behind that emotionless face.
Just then—
Kaiden placed the contract onto the table.
“We’ll proceed with it as written.”
“Th-Thank you!”
Baron Hariben’s face immediately brightened.
“Then, regarding the next matter—”
“Y-Yes!”
“Please give me just a moment!”
Filled with excitement, the baron hurried out of the room.
I was going to suggest discussing the next matter another time…
Kaiden swallowed the rest of his sentence.
Crossing one leg over the other, he pulled out his pocket watch.
Not even an hour has passed?
He seriously questioned his own eyes.
Even during the meeting just now…
The baron’s explanations had felt unusually long.
For a brief moment, Kaiden had even been tempted to abandon the negotiations altogether.
He hadn’t actually done it.
But that was how slowly time seemed to be passing.
As he waited for the baron to return, Kaiden casually looked out the window.
…What?
His brows furrowed.
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over him.
…I must have imagined it.
Even so…
An inexplicable feeling of unease lingered in the back of his mind.
Kaiden nudged Harold beside him with his elbow.
“Hm?”
It wasn’t as if they were lovers secretly exchanging signals.
Harold looked at him with complete confusion.
Kaiden tilted his head toward the window.
“Did you see outside just now?”
“Outside?”
Harold glanced toward the street.
There was nothing unusual.
Only the usual crowds of people hurrying through the capital.
“What exactly was I supposed to see?”
“…Didn’t that woman just walk past?”
“…Excuse me?”
There was only one woman Kaiden could possibly be referring to.
Emilia.
…What nonsense is he talking about now?
Harold’s face immediately fell.
“Lady Emilia is obviously still at the estate.”
“You personally escorted her there.”
“And you even sacrificed your precious schedule to do it.”
Hearing Harold point out the obvious, Kaiden nodded.
He was right.
Kaiden himself had taken her there.
“…Then why are you standing up?”
