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Chapter 38
“Deputy Commander. Here is the knight order assignment chart for tomorrow’s imperial banquet.”
“Alright. Thanks.”
Tom of the knight order cautiously watched Haren’s expression.
Everywhere one went, people were talking about the House of Ameron. With the sudden appearance of the duke’s illegitimate child, rumors were spreading—how the atmosphere in the Ameron household had changed, how the duchess had collapsed, and all manner of gossip.
“Are you okay?”
“About what?”
“Well… that…”
“Oh, our family? We’re fine. Nothing’s going to change. Tom, were you worried about me?”
“I’m glad to hear you’re alright.”
Seeing Haren smile as playfully as ever, Tom let out a relieved smile.
“By the way, is it true that the commander said he’ll be attending the imperial banquet?”
“Oh? Where did you hear that?”
“So it’s true?”
“Yeah. Hard to believe?”
“Yes… ah, no. He does attend from time to time, so it’s not that surprising, but this time he said he’d take the day off entirely, so I was just surprised.”
“Of course he should take the day off. He has a partner, after all. You can’t go to work when you have a partner waiting.”
“A partner? The commander has a partner?”
“You didn’t know? He’s going with a lady from the House of Count Leon.”
“No way…”
“Why can’t you believe it?”
“No, it’s just… you never even give us time to meet ladies, so when did the commander have time to meet one? This feels like a betrayal.”
Tom had every reason to think so.
Travis was diligent in both training and work. Watching him, one would wonder if he ever slept. Naturally, the knights followed his example and trained just as hard, and knights who devoted themselves so thoroughly to training were all far removed from romance.
And yet, he was going to the imperial banquet with a lady, leaving them behind.
The knights couldn’t help but feel betrayed.
“It can’t be helped. Espin fell for the commander at first sight. If you were as handsome as him, ladies would be chasing you too.”
“She fell for him just because of his looks? I mean, the commander is handsome, but he’s not exactly the type that’s popular with women, is he?”
“What do you mean he’s not popular? There are plenty of ladies who like the commander.”
“But his expression is cold and scary. Wouldn’t someone like me, smiling warmly like this, be more popular?”
“No. It’s not all about looks. There’s something called presence. The commander has a weight to him, an air of authority. Don’t you get it?”
“Hah. That’s unfair. We can’t even catch a glimpse of a lady’s hair.”
“Hang in there.”
“But isn’t that something you shouldn’t be saying, Deputy Commander? You don’t have a lady yourself either.”
“True.”
“The commander’s got it good. When I saw her, the Lady of House Leon was pretty. Cute, too.”
“Ahem.”
Just then, Travis entered and cleared his throat at the mention of Espin.
“You’ve arrived, Commander.”
“Welcome, Commander.”
“Yeah.”
“Commander.”
“Do you have something to say?”
“May I ask you one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“How did you meet the lady from the House of Count Leon?”
“What?”
“I heard she’s your partner for this imperial banquet. I was just curious how the two of you came to know each other.”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Travis didn’t know how to answer. How we met?
“Ahem. Are the documents from last time finished?”
“Pardon?”
“The reports from the assault case. Are they all done?”
“Ah—yes. I’ll take care of it right away.”
“Report back in an hour. And stop talking about pointless things.”
“Yes. Yes, sir.”
Tom hurried back to his seat. After laughing at his retreat for a while, Haren followed the commander into his office.
“It seems people are quite shocked that you have a partner, Commander.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“You push everyone hard in training, and then secretly go dating behind our backs. There are a lot of complaints.”
“Sounds like everyone’s got too much free time, Haren.”
“No way.”
“No, it really does sound like you’re all too free. Here.”
“What’s this?”
Haren looked over the papers Travis handed him. Despite sighing at the sheer volume, he began to read—and his eyes gradually widened.
“This is….”
“Right. Loan-related complaint filings.”
“But can we handle private contracts between individuals?”
“Normally, no. But their debt-collection practices went too far.”
“Yeah. Assault reports and even attempted kidnapping. This is serious.”
“It is. But those were filed as individual cases. That they’re a lending organization is only based on the victim’s testimony—there’s no concrete evidence.”
“If it’s a group crime, the charges get much heavier.”
“Exactly. That’s why we need to investigate.”
“Yes. Then I’ll review the reports first and see if there are other victims. I’m sure there are more.”
“Good. Just don’t let the organization notice. If they disappear, it’ll be a problem.”
“Of course. Do you think I’m clueless enough to overlook that?”
Haren laughed heartily, but Travis stared at him intently.
“Don’t push yourself and pretend you’re fine.”
At Travis’s words, Haren’s laughter stopped.
“If you’re struggling, it’s okay to show it. No one will blame you.”
“You should take your own advice, Commander. Don’t try to do everything alone.”
Haren smiled reassuringly. Just knowing there was even one person who understood his true feelings made the burdens he’d carried melt away.
“Stop talking nonsense and get out there to investigate. When your mind is busy, keeping your body busy is best.”
“Yes. Thank you for giving me so much work, Commander. By the way—your outfit for tomorrow’s imperial banquet is ready, right? You’re not planning to show up in that gloomy knight uniform again, are you?”
“What’s wrong with this outfit?”
“Please. Wear something else. When you wear that, you look even scarier.”
“Judging by how much time you have to talk, you still have plenty of leeway. I’ve got more work for you.”
“I was just about to leave. Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Commander. And please—wear something different!”
Travis felt a headache coming on.
Somehow, the butler had already heard that he’d be attending the imperial banquet with a partner and had purchased dozens of new banquet outfits. Judging by how the man had secretly held them up behind him to see which suited him best, the butler would definitely find a way to make him wear one tomorrow.
“Ha….”
“Yes. Well done.”
The day before the imperial banquet, the viscount hummed to himself as he looked at the nearly finished painting.
“I think this outfit will do for tomorrow. It looks refined. Ah, and the Duchess of Ameron will be coming tomorrow, won’t she?”
“Yes. There are rumors that she will attend.”
“Oh, when I heard she’d collapsed, I was so worried. She has to come—only then will my words carry weight. Where is that child?”
“He’s in the garden over there.”
At the viscount’s order to paint outside, Orson was sweating profusely as he worked outdoors. The area was covered with a tent so no one could see, meaning it was probably stifling inside—but that was something his younger brother would just have to endure.
“So, it’ll be finished by the day after tomorrow?”
“Yes. He said it can be completed.”
At the butler’s respectful tone toward Orson, the viscount frowned.
“Who told you to speak of him so highly?”
“I apologize.”
“Make sure it never happens again.”
“Yes.”
“And as soon as the painting is finished, take it to the auction house.”
“Yes. Then I’ll excuse myself.”
The butler bowed and left, but not long after, he knocked on the door again.
“What is it now?”
“A guest has come asking about the painting. The one who won it at the previous auction.”
“What? The tent is set up securely, right?”
The viscount opened the window to check, worried the guest might have seen Orson’s presence. Fortunately, the tent was firmly in place, and entry to the garden had already been restricted, so there was no problem.
And even if that foolish lady did see something, she probably wouldn’t notice anything anyway.
“I’ll go meet the guest myself. It’s the Lady of House Leon, correct?”
