Chapter – 41
“Once you’ve set the boat afloat, there’s no need to look back. You just have to keep moving forward.”
Her father had never looked back on any business he had started. All calculations and regrets had to be finished before beginning; once he put his hand to something, he would push forward using every possible means. If there were no oars, he would row with his hands if necessary, and he had emphasized this to her several times.
But she wasn’t sure there was any need to go that far in this situation.
‘Is it really okay for things to go this smoothly?’
Evangeline lifted the edge of her hat slightly while looking at the government office located in Mare’s central square. As befit a port city, the white building was neat and clean. The blue Central Council emblem embedded in the spire made her expression hesitate, but this was not the time for unnecessary thoughts.
‘There are more than a few offices under the Council.’
To exaggerate a little, nearly half of the empire’s public institutions belonged to the Central Council. She couldn’t afford to be startled or nervous every time she saw one of those buildings in the future. She didn’t want to lose confidence in something that was finally starting to go well.
“Do we really have to come here at this hour?”
“Well, yes. We have to get permission from the office since we’re going to start trading from tomorrow.”
At the complaint heard beside her, Evangeline quickly gathered her documents and answered.
“Before any commercial transaction, you need authorization from the authorities. That’s imperial law.”
“Oh, yes. Law is good.”
“Actually, it’s easier to handle things if we do it this way. Besides, it also helps avoid conflicts with other merchants.”
Calès probably wanted to do things more casually, but there were rules that had to be followed. Since she didn’t know how long she would stay in this place, attracting attention for breaking rules from the very beginning would be dangerous. It was common for even the smallest technical violation to bring a new business crashing down, especially for a newly starting company.
“I heard that as long as we apply today, it should be fine. If we can secure even a small stall near the harbor, then everything will be ready.”
“Yeah. It’s been a really long day.”
“Still, I can’t remember the last time things went this well.”
Walking up the steps to the main entrance, the corners of her eyes curved slightly.
She wasn’t sure if she could really call this going well, but compared to sinking deep into a sea of darkness where there had been neither light nor hope for a while, things were certainly progressing smoothly.
“When I traveled around following my father, I just listened with one ear and let it go out the other, but I never thought it would be useful like this.”
“You traveled quite a lot, it seems.”
“Of course! Except for a few southern island countries, I’ve probably been almost everywhere.”
Her confident smile grew brighter.
Until now, when she smiled, it had only been a faint, weak smile. It was the first time she had smiled so brightly.
Unexpectedly, Calès’ eyes changed as he held the door open for her.
“You really had a good father, miss.”
“What? Ah, yes.”
“That must be why you’ve never wondered about your mother’s existence until now.”
“Hmm, that might be true.”
As Evangeline revealed her neatly aligned white teeth in a smile, Calès deliberately looked away.
Just then, a gust of wind nearly blew her hat off, and he quickly steadied it before handing it back to her.
“By the way, do you really have to wear this hat?”
“Until I’m fully settled, it’s better if no one knows who I am.”
“……”
“But somehow I feel it will work out well. I have a good feeling about this.”
She lifted the documents in her arms with effort and pressed her hat firmly down.
Even though there were few nobles who might recognize her in this city, her striking hair—something that stood out even in the capital—was unlikely to be an exception here.
While tying the ribbon under her chin, she noticed the merchants gathered in the central hall applying for permits and quickly walked toward them.
“Calès, hurry here—”
“What do you mean? The registration is already closed?”
Suddenly, voices rose among the people standing in front of her.
Sensing their anxiety, Evangeline turned her head toward them.
“We were told applications would be accepted until this evening, so we came now. What are we supposed to do if it’s like this?”
“A guest of honor suddenly came, so there was nothing we could do. The available spots are already full.”
“Even so, we prepared everything. If necessary, we’ll set up a street stall or even speak directly to the mayor—oh, he’s coming!”
As someone began descending the second-floor stairs, the murmuring crowd rushed toward that direction.
Evangeline tried to follow them, but her loosely tied hat shook again.
“Ah—”
“Being pretty isn’t always convenient, is it?”
“Calès.”
At that moment, he came closer again and held her hat.
This time, instead of handing it back, he stretched out his hand and tied the long ribbon himself.
“I could have done it myself.”
“You’re too careless. Are you going to act like this in front of the mayor later too?”
“……”
Calès pulled the ribbon tighter as if to show her.
With her hands already carrying a heavy load, accepting his help this way was probably easier.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly as tension quietly settled in, and Calès clicked his tongue.
“Honestly. What are you so worried about?”
“It’s not exactly worry… It’s just that things suddenly happened like this.”
“You said you had a good feeling. I was only believing that. Was I wrong?”
“…No, you weren’t.”
Forced to relax by his obvious attempt to tease her, Evangeline took a deep breath.
In truth, being able to smile like this was all thanks to Calès.
“I really do have a good feeling. Coming here, I met my nanny again, and thanks to that, I also met a wonderful doctor like Calès.”
“Hearing you joke like this means you’ve relaxed, I see.”
“It’s not a joke. Calès is really a very good—”
As she tried to express her gratitude, she suddenly fell silent and looked around at the people.
The sound of heavy footsteps descending the marble stairs was somehow familiar.
Clack, clack.
A deep blue scent quickly filled the not-so-small hall.
More precisely, a peculiar silence that suppressed everyone present at once awakened all her senses.
No way.
The uniform gradually appeared as the figure descended the stairs.
Without any confusion about who it was—that was true for the other person as well.
De Carno’s gaze, which had been scanning the people indifferently, stopped exactly on Evangeline.
“……”
But it didn’t stay there for long.
One eyebrow lifted slightly as if slightly surprised, and then his gaze returned to its usual calm state, as still as the deep sea.
Even that small change in his expression made the mayor and others react nervously.
“Y-Your Excellency. I’m sorry. They seem to be harboring harbor merchants; I’ll have them removed at once—”
“No. Leave them be.”
“……”
“It’s interesting.”
Even with De Carno’s emotionless voice, the mayor merely bowed in fear.
Thud.
Along with the hat that fell onto the marble floor, Evangeline’s footsteps rang out as she quickly ran away.
#7
The steam rising gently from the old table’s teacup had long since disappeared. The once beautiful pale green tea had gradually taken on a dull brownish, astringent tint. The only thing that had not changed from the beginning was Evangelin’s empty gaze.
“Would you like me to pour you some more? It looks like it’s already gone cold.”
“Ah… no, it’s fine, Kalles.”
Her eyes, which had been frozen like a doll’s, began to move again. She tried to force a smile, but the trembling of her cheeks made it awkward.
“You don’t have to hold it in. Honestly, it’s better if you cry.”
“Cry? When did I—”
“Just saying you can if you want. In this house, just do whatever makes you feel comfortable.”
Kalles, seated at the edge of the table, rubbed his brow above his eyes. His tone was blunt, but Evangelin didn’t feel the slightest resentment. Even though she had suddenly rushed out of the city office in a burst of impulse after being so full of determination, Kalles had followed her without a single complaint. He had simply watched her quietly with a somewhat dissatisfied look and poured her a warm cup of tea.
“Thank you. For not asking anything.”
“There’s nothing to be thankful for.”
“But I really don’t want to cry. I guess I was just a little shocked.”
