Chapter – 44
‘If you don’t understand, at least take her back.’
Yes. If he returned Evangeline to the duke’s manor, perhaps this suffocating feeling would calm, even if only slightly.
Rationally speaking, it would be better for her as well. Instead of serving a sick old man in that collapsing house, she could regain a life admired by everyone. Anyone who dared not lower their head before her would have theirs forced down in his stead.
He had planned to tell Evangeline that too. To ask her to think carefully once more, to say that this was the last chance he could offer her.
Not some pathetic bargaining over a single street stall.
“…….”
Decarno frowned sharply at his own ash-gray eyes reflected in the window.
He did not regret it. After all, to her crimson eyes, he was probably nothing more than a loathsome beast. If that was how she saw him, then he had no reason to hold back harsher words.
As long as he could bring that woman before him again, even that would be acceptable.
“Your Grace, it is already past midnight.”
“…….”
But to Evangeline, who was willing to try anything, he seemed not even worth enduring.
Along with Michael’s cautious voice, the midnight bell rang loudly outside the window.
Dong, dong.
He knew she would not come even if he waited longer.
Slowly turning around, he pressed a gloved finger onto the documents prepared on the desk.
“Let us return. I have reserved an entire hotel overlooking the sea. It will be quiet enough for you to stay.”
“…Very well.”
Could it get any quieter than this?
The man, whose ears were still faintly ringing from the oppressive silence, twisted the corner of his lips.
Now everything seemed to be settling down. The market officials, who had been anxious the whole time, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
They did not know what wind had blown this high-ranking nobleman here, but he would be leaving tomorrow anyway. At least, that was what they believed.
“Your Grace. I will accompany you on the way out—”
“Before that, I believe Your Excellency has other matters to attend to.”
“…Pardon?”
The mayor slowly raised his head.
Now that he thought about it, the duke, who was supposed to leave the office soon, was still pressing documents on the desk.
Realizing what they were, the mayor quickly forced a chuckle.
“Oh, please don’t worry about that. The stall placements have already been properly arranged.”
“Properly?”
“Of course. There are so many people hoping to profit when the trading ships arrive tomorrow.”
“And you are one of those hoping to profit as well, I presume.”
“…….”
The duke finally lifted his hand from the documents.
Next to the densely written names of merchants were numbers. Though slightly startled, the mayor thought it could be explained as stall numbers.
“Haha, Your Grace must have misunderstood what happened during the day. Truthfully, those people were foolish and had no plans… Of course, I do not mean to slander them—”
“That is not wrong.”
“Your Grace.”
“They are indeed lacking in planning. Naive, and without looking ahead.”
“You are exactly right!”
“But she is not a woman who cannot read the clearly written notice.”
The duke’s finger tapped the date written on the document.
The mayor, who had been enthusiastically agreeing, flushed red.
“T-That is…”
“Perhaps because she is so helplessly naive, you assumed the only thing she could do was strictly follow established rules.”
Decarno flipped through the remaining documents one by one.
His hand scattered papers under the desk, and irritation gradually seeped into his movements.
“It seems applications were accepted far earlier than the designated date. There were no rules governing how the spots were assigned.”
“That is not true. The stalls were arranged by considering the merchants’ convenience—”
“Was it money?”
“…….”
The duke’s elegant lips curved into a faint smile.
He had guessed it from the beginning, but it was so obvious that it was not even worth pursuing further.
“If even something as small as a street stall is handled in this manner, the rest is easy to imagine.”
“Your Grace! Please listen to me. If you hear our explanation to the end, you will surely understand our position—”
“Must I hear it right now?”
“Pardon?”
“Well, I am in a rather bad mood right now. If I hear more here, what might end as dismissal could end up as extermination. But that is, of course, your choice.”
“Huuh.”
Faced with the duke’s politely murderous offer of choice, the mayor barely managed to lean against the wall to keep from collapsing.
Seeing the mouth that almost opened in protest quickly being covered, it seemed he had decided not to provoke the man further.
“…….”
Boring.
The duke, who had secretly been expecting something, brushed past the slumped mayor.
Yet his expression was not particularly refreshed.
Even spending days in a meeting hall without taking off his tie had never made him feel as suffocated as today.
Still, he did not loosen his tie.
As the Duke of Teze, he had to maintain everything he was supposed to protect.
Breaking down and losing composure was enough once a day.
◇ ◆ ◇
“Haah.”
From early dawn, Kales kept sighing.
“Haaahhh.”
Then deliberately inhaled again. And that was not the end.
“Ugh!”
Finally, he jumped up and walked to the ship’s railing.
Unable to endure any longer, he lowered his head toward the deep blue sea.
A gentle hand patted his back.
“Are you alright, Kales?”
“To the lady’s eyes, does this look like I’m alright—ugh.”
Kales was even more emotional at Evangeline’s gentle tone and nearly lost it again before trying to speak, only to turn pale once more.
The seasickness from dawn felt like all his internal organs were mixing together.
“…Is this really the best option?”
“I’m sorry. You didn’t have to follow me, Kales.”
“Please stop talking nonsense!”
Haah.
Finally losing his strength, he sat down at the bow of the ship.
He had no idea where Evangeline had gone in the middle of the night, but he never expected her to rent a ship.
Gathering all the money she had, she paid the shipowner directly. Then she went to a tavern and gathered sailors to launch the ship herself.
When the sun slowly rose and he regained his senses, he found himself on the vast, rolling ocean with flowers piled nearby and a stunned Kales.
He was certain this was a combination that would lead to either drowning or starvation.
“I thought you had some kind of secret card because you looked so determined.”
“…There was no such thing.”
She standing by the railing slowly turned her head.
Even while smiling, her silver hair fluttering in the sea wind looked endlessly lonely.
Feeling awkward, Kales roughly messed up his own hair.
“Ugh, no matter how I think about it, how could you even think of bringing a ship out?”
“It couldn’t be helped. The trading ships arrive tomorrow, but all the land stalls were taken, so I had to find another place.”
“But why a ship?”
“To sell in the harbor, you need a trading license from the authorities. But beyond three nautical miles from shore, small trade between merchant ships doesn’t require a license. Moreover, this ship’s mast height is below the regulation limit, and all goods traded on it fall under the tax exemption range.”
“…….”
Who is this lady?
Kales, who had even forgotten his seasickness, opened his mouth blankly.
Well, since the ship was already out, there was nothing to argue about now.
Muttering that he understood nothing, he struggled to stand again but swayed once more.
“Ugh, it seems you really want to take someone’s life.”
“I’m just trying to survive.”
“…….”
“I don’t want anyone to die anymore.”
Her hand pulled Kales up by the arm.
Though it was only a small effort, it was impressive that she, whose life had likely been limited to holding handkerchiefs or fans, would reach out so freely anywhere.
“Phew, Lady, do you not get seasick?”
“I used to, but not anymore.”
The lie sounded convincing.
Though she occasionally clutched her chest secretly, Evangeline ran to check the box filled with flowers each time.
Perhaps she was trying to swallow her seasickness by looking at them.
“Still, thanks to renting the ship, we can carry other goods too, and we’ll be able to meet Ierneau’s ship faster than anyone else.”
“Are you sure we can just wait here? What if we miss it?”
“No. It will definitely have to pass this place. Looking at this navigation chart… Ah! Hey!”
