WSRN 26

chapter 26

A complaint, whose addressee was unclear, hung in the air, damp and scattered.

Xian spoke in a hoarse voice.

“Don’t talk like you already know everything.”

His eyes shook violently. Strangely, it felt as if he were on the verge of crying.

“Xian, are you crying?”
“Do you think I am?”

I held his cheeks a little more firmly. There was a light snap sound.

“How’s that? Does it hurt?”
“…Yes, it does.”
“See? That’s why it’s okay to cry. I hurt you, after all.”
“You sound very confident for someone who just hit another person.”
“Sorry.”

I gave a half-hearted apology and chuckled, and he smiled faintly with his eyes closed. It was a fragile smile, like a delicate leaf about to fall.

Then, his hand slowly reached out.

The next morning, Marian came to see me and sighed when she saw my face.

“Oh my… Lady Elena, your eyes…”

I gave an embarrassed smile. I didn’t need to look to know they were puffy.

“I really should have brought you ice yesterday.”
“…I didn’t think they’d swell this much either.”

I barely remembered the last time I had cried properly. Even as a child, I rarely did. I had learned early on that crying wouldn’t change anything.

‘Why did I cry like that yesterday?’

I had cried like a child, yet I wasn’t ashamed. Thanks to Marian’s diligent help, most of the swelling had gone down.

Today, I was meeting Havel in our teacher-student capacity, so I had been slightly worried, but it was a relief.

‘Speaking of which, do I need to prepare anything?’

Usually, the teacher handled such things. While quietly adjusting myself, there was a knock, and Havel entered.

“Ah, Havel. Welcome.”

I greeted him, and he nodded as he came in.

‘He still looks like he’s reluctantly here…’

But what could I do? It was already decided.

I smiled, and Havel narrowed his eyes.

“…Even though I’m technically your employee, we’re in a mentor-student relationship. So during lessons, I’d appreciate being treated as your teacher.”

‘Oh, starting with some discipline, I see.’

Still, it wasn’t a big deal. I simply nodded.

“Alright, Teacher. Is this okay?”
“….”

Havel nodded reluctantly, clearly thinking something was off. Then he scrutinized my appearance.

“But… is that outfit alright?”
“Huh? Why?”

It had a few frills, but it was a comfortable, casual outfit.

Marian, who had helped me dress, couldn’t hide her proud smile. It was clearly her choice. The outfit was comfortable, easy to move in, and delicately finished, so it didn’t irritate the skin.

‘Perfect for studying.’

Since Marian picked it out, I thought it was a bit nitpicky of him. But he added, as if not meaning any harm:

“Well, it doesn’t matter to me, but it might be cold to go out dressed like that.”
“…Go out where?”
“Huh? Didn’t I say? It’s important to assess the site first, so on the first day, I’ll check it in person.”

…Now that I listened carefully, it seemed that was mentioned at the very beginning of his long explanation.

I had just nodded absentmindedly, like someone blindly agreeing to terms online.

I jumped up from my seat.

“…Give me ten minutes, I’ll be back quickly.”
“Very well.”

He sat lightly on the sofa, and Marian’s cookies were promptly snatched up, as if he’d been waiting for them. He even seemed a little excited.

Even as I rushed to change clothes, his movements were noticeably quick.

‘Good grief, he doesn’t look like that at all.’

I left him to focus and hurried to prepare myself.

Just as I finished, Marian handed me a letter envelope.

“This letter arrived at the Count Shannon’s residence addressed to you.”
“Ah, thank you for bringing it!”

It was a letter from Aria—the reply to the letter I had sent earlier. Marian had clearly kept it aside for me.

The content was brief, but the words at the end startled me:

“Why didn’t you invite me over?”

Her sulky tone was vivid in my mind. But it wasn’t possible to visit her right now.

‘I’ll go quickly and write back.’

I put the letter aside and returned to Havel.

He straightened his outfit and gestured toward the door.

“Shall we go?”
“Yes. But, Teacher…”
“Yes?”
“There are crumbs here that haven’t been cleaned.”
“They’re not crumbs.”

Havel shook them off with a shameless grin. He was mischievous. We walked out together efficiently.

The carriage Havel had arrived in looked fairly normal, which was comforting.

We sat side by side, but Havel faced the window with a slanted posture. He kept his mouth moving, but not his head.

“First, let me ask. What exactly are you planning to do with this pathetic troupe?”
“Teacher, you’re… a bit clumsy. Asking all these questions. Of course, we’ll make money. A lot of it.”
“…Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“You’re the clumsy one here.”

Havel grumbled as if stunned, but I didn’t back down.

“Calling your cute student ‘that’? You haven’t forgotten my name, have you?”
“…I dug my own grave. Anyway, I recommend giving up such wild dreams. Let’s just consider this studying.”
“Why?”

Only then did he turn to me, looking exasperated.

“Don’t you have even a basic sense? Your dreams are huge.”
“Good grief, I’ll have to teach you. You’re truly the worst teacher.”
“You realized that quickly. Congratulations.”

I shrugged.

“I’m not entirely ignorant. Minuet Troupe. A superficial Count created it for show, so there’s no substance. And now, it’s barely holding together.”

Havel nodded at my sharp evaluation. I counted off the facts on my fingers.

“They mainly handle cosmetic products or decorative items like teacups. Nothing particularly famous, and their business skills are abysmal. That’s basic knowledge, right?”
“…You’re not a boring student.”

Havel’s blue eyes lit up for once. He gestured outside the carriage.

“Then next, we’ll see just how run-down this place really is.”
“…Honestly, we’re just trying to salvage it and make money.”

I muttered quietly as I followed him off the carriage.

Unsurprisingly, Havel’s prediction was spot-on.

…I hadn’t expected anything, so I thought it might be slightly better than imagined.

Havel leaned close and whispered into my ear.

“More than you expected, right?”
“…Yes.”

Good grief, we have to manage this together, but why is he so excited on his own?

I glared at him. We have to succeed. I’ll make him help me with my work for life.

‘Seriously, what a sight…’

Even though it was a fairly large building, it was a complete mess—like a thief had broken in yesterday.

Dust hadn’t been wiped, the interior smelled musty, and scraps of what looked like flyers were scattered across the floor.

My throat tickled immediately.

“Cough, cough.”

While Marian watched me worriedly, a thudding sound came from upstairs.

Shortly after, a middle-aged man ran down.

“Ah, welcome! Please come in!”

Honestly, I paused.

‘Is this world in the novel… some kind of zombie apocalypse?’

The man looked terrifying. His eyes had no life, his hair was frizzy, and exhaustion leaked through his forced smile.

“Right this way.”

He guided us like someone rescued after being stranded, overly eager.

‘He recognized us even before introductions?’

He gestured to a sofa that looked like it had been used for a century, inviting us to sit.

“I’ve heard about you. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Gilbert, running the Minuet Troupe.”
“Ah, so you’re the one… Thank you for your hard work.”

The name matched what I had seen in the documents. One of the few employees who hadn’t fled.

Gilbert’s eyes became moist.

‘Why… why is he like that?’

Regardless of my surprise, he clasped his hands in gratitude.

“Surely you haven’t completely forgotten me. I trusted you. You wouldn’t abandon someone devoted like me.”

‘No, I think the Duke intended to abandon them.’

“Yes… hm, some reorganization may be needed, but we won’t be firing existing employees, so don’t worry.”

As he answered calmly, Gilbert suddenly jumped up.

“Oh, this isn’t the time for this. We must properly entertain our guests.”

He rummaged through a cupboard.

Havel, wearing a sullen expression, spoke in an unusually sharp tone.

“Entertaining guests is enough. We’re here as owners, to inspect the place. Where are the account books?”

‘…Was I being tested just now?’

I couldn’t tell if Gilbert was cunning or Havel overly sensitive.

Gilbert stopped rummaging, turned around, and smiled kindly.

“Oh no, not at all. The office is upstairs, let’s go together.”

‘He doesn’t seem like a bad person.’

Still, thanks to Havel’s subtle warning, something felt suspicious.

‘I need to check this out.’

I followed Gilbert up the stairs, with Havel and Marian behind me in order.