Chapter – 47
Chapter 19. On the Necessity of a Leash
“Take this and cover yourself for now. Whether you’re counting money or drinking, you should at least avoid the rain, shouldn’t you?”
“I’m really fine. This much doesn’t bother me anymore… Ah.”
She had been about to step boldly onto the harbor, lifting the hem of her dress with a smile, but suddenly the strength drained from her face. Even in the dim night, the man standing before her had unusually clear eyes.
“Why are you here…?”
“……”
In a small city like this, she didn’t know what to say to a man she had met again in just one day. Evangeline hesitated, then quickly tried to turn away, but it wasn’t easy to avoid Decarno’s broad chest.
“What are you trying to do right now?”
Frustrated, she tried to speak, but too many eyes were watching. Wasn’t he a man who always drew people’s attention? Leaving aside the glances of the merchants already peering curiously, she was also very conscious of Calès standing behind her.
“……”
But she couldn’t stay on someone else’s ship forever.
She managed to step down the stairs beside Decarno, and as she tried to keep her balance, the jacket Calès had draped over her shoulders slipped down.
“Ah…”
Evangeline hurried to pick up the jacket, but Decarno moved closer first.
As if saying there was no need, he lifted the black umbrella over her head without a word. Calès, who had been following her, picked up his own clothes and let out a dry laugh.
“Excuse me, Duke. What is this—!”
“Too late.”
“……”
Michael rushed over, ready in case a conflict broke out, but it wasn’t necessary.
There was no sign of displeasure. Decarno’s low voice calmed the surroundings without even turning around properly. It was hard to treat even a buzzing insect with such indifference. His characteristic arrogance—treating anything beside him as nothing more than noise—suited him perfectly.
Or perhaps his field of vision had simply become filled with one person.
“Take it.”
“…Why would I need this?”
“Will this do, then?”
Evangeline tried to return the umbrella to him, but Decarno took a step back before she could.
It was as if he knew she disliked being under the same umbrella with him.
And he was not a man who would endure such an insult.
The long lashes of Evangeline trembled like butterfly wings.
“……”
Yesterday, after facing him like that, she had believed that even if they met again—if only, just if—they would have nothing to feel restrained about.
Whether she got angry or frowned, there was no reason to retreat.
She had planned to show him proudly that she did not need his help.
“Quickly.”
But seeing the man’s head grow damp under the darkening rain—someone who had likely never been exposed to rain in his life—made her lips go dry.
Words like “I don’t need this,” or “Why do you keep making things difficult for me?” scattered into the mist of water.
Thud, thud—the sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella rang loudly.
They were not close enough to share an umbrella gently.
The gaze from a few steps behind, watching her quietly, grew harder and harder to endure.
“Your Grace.”
Tell me at least the reason why you’re doing this to me.
Left alone with her hesitation, Decarno suddenly turned away first.
His sharp eyes, as if reading Evangeline’s thoughts, twisted bitterly.
“Your Excellency!”
Michael chased after him toward the carriage, holding a new umbrella, but all he got was a short gesture telling him to stay away.
So aristocratic was his profile that, even soaked in rain, not a single drop seemed to touch him. His noble side face was suffocatingly proud.
“Wow… seriously, what kind of man is that!”
“Calès.”
As if stopping him from cursing, Evangeline shook her head at Calès, who was about to spit out insults.
Even though Decarno had already left, she still didn’t know what to say. Watching the duke’s carriage leave the harbor, she absentmindedly rubbed the ivory umbrella handle.
Evangeline’s first business was a success far beyond expectations.
Calès, counting the piles of money on the table, finally buried his head as if he couldn’t handle it anymore.
“Seriously, what is this!”
“Calès?”
Evangeline, sitting across and organizing the money, tilted her head.
It seemed strange to her that Calès suddenly raised his head and stared at her face intently.
“No, just wait a moment. Let me take a look at your face.”
“Why? Did I get something on me?”
“I’m just trying to see what a person blessed with money looks like.”
“…Oh my, Calès, really.”
Despite her smile, Calès was terrifyingly serious.
He didn’t particularly care about money, nor was he obsessed with it, but he understood its value. Most merchants in Mare could work for a year without ever seeing this amount.
And she had earned it in a single day.
Of course, if asked whether he disliked it, the answer would be no.
“One trade and this much money!”
“It’s not a bad amount.”
“Not bad? That’s twenty times! Twenty times! Even after deducting flower costs and everything, it’s twenty times what the young lady had just days ago!”
Calès narrowed his eyes at Evangeline, who smiled quietly.
They spoke of money in completely different units, but he couldn’t stay silent.
Somehow, he felt her ambitious plan did not end here.
“So, what do you want to do next?”
“I’m going to buy land.”
“Land?”
This young lady really knows how to play big!
He had guessed it wouldn’t be jewelry or dresses, but the scale grew again.
Ignoring Calès’ suddenly tired shoulders, Evangeline’s fingers swept across the table neatly.
“My father said a merchant must have a base of operations. Since I’m just starting, I want to establish a foundation here.”
“Still, there’s no need to buy land recklessly, is there?”
“Since we’ve decided to do exclusive trade with Irneo in the future, I need to manage things more systematically and legally. I’m also keeping all the Karnak roots, and if I want to prepare for future crops, I’ll need my own perfect land. And also…”
Evangeline, having sorted the money, seemed to have planned several years into the future.
Listing things she needed to buy and allocating money for each, she worked with careful precision.
Calès, who had not been surprised this time, rested his chin on his hand.
“You’re still thinking it’s strange, aren’t you?”
“Yes, a little.”
“Well, our story has been quite eventful. You suddenly sailed off to sea to get everything resolved…”
“No. Not that.”
“…?”
“I’ve never seen our young lady smile so brightly before.”
She slowly raised her head from the money she was putting down.
Unsure of what expression to make, she hesitated, and Calès’ smile turned mischievous.
“When you first came here, you were like a dying doll. But when you returned on the boat after making that money, I thought—ah, she’s someone who can’t help being human after all.”
“T-that was just… relief because everything was finally solved…”
“What I mean is, it looked good.”
“…Calès.”
“If you’re going to smile like that, just keep smiling. Why go back to looking so down again?”
He pointed out her slightly darkened face.
Before disembarking from the ship, she had been smiling brightly, but once she stepped ashore, she returned to how she had been before. If she smiled, it was only briefly, and quietly.
The reason was obvious, but he didn’t mention it.
“Let’s not act like that between people living in the same house. Don’t hide things all by yourself.”
“Yes, all right.”
Understanding Calès’ meaning, Evangeline nodded with her lips pressed together.
Picking up the largest pile of money she had handled so far, he added one more question.
“So what are you buying now?”
“Oh, this is for Calès.”
“Huh?”
“You helped and accepted someone who had nothing. This time wouldn’t have been possible without you.”
“No, I really don’t need this…”
“In fact, it’s also for the nanny. If Calès becomes a wonderful doctor again soon, maybe our nanny will gather strength and recover her health.”
