AOL 09

Chapter 9

A gentle voice called out to Isel.

Ceres widened her eyes, trying hard to understand what was happening.

How does Rahan know Isel’s name?

“Uh… hello.”

Startled, Isel looked at Rahan for a moment before greeting him with a slight bow.

Ceres became even more shocked. She looked back and forth between Isel and Rahan, barely holding back her disbelief.

They know each other?

“What a coincidence. Meeting you in a place like this.”

Calling it a coincidence, Rahan’s expression was far too calm. It looked as if he had entered the shop already knowing Isel would be here.

Ceres narrowed her eyes.

Isel usually visited the flower shop once a month. Her last visit had been only a few days ago.

Even Ceres, the owner of the shop, hadn’t expected Isel to come today—yet Rahan had appeared in front of her as if he had been waiting.

Unless he had been loitering in front of the shop for days, such a meeting was impossible.

Whatever the method, this was clearly not coincidence but something Rahan had carefully orchestrated. As someone who had known him longer than anyone else, Ceres could be certain of that. What she couldn’t understand, however, was the purpose.

Why go to such lengths? Did he like Isel’s artwork that much?

“You… why are you here?”

At Ceres’ question directed at Rahan, Isel looked up in surprise.

“Master, do you know that person?”

“Ah… well.”

Ceres rolled her eyes, unsure how to explain.

But surprisingly, Rahan stepped forward first.

“He is a friend.”

Ceres gaped at him.

They had known each other for ten years, but it was the first time she had heard Rahan describe their relationship with such a soft word as “friend.”

More than that, Rahan’s expression as he looked at Isel was completely relaxed, as though he had just swallowed something sweet.

While Ceres stood frozen in shock, Isel nodded slightly and murmured,

“I see…”

No, that’s not “I see”!

Ceres stared at Rahan with a demanding look, telling him to explain properly.

But Rahan completely ignored her gaze and focused only on Isel.

“Isel.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t look well. Is something wrong?”

His voice was full of gentle concern, causing Ceres to raise an eyebrow. It was an unbelievable sight.

Rahan El Kanox showing concern? Was that even biologically possible?

Ceres felt like pinching her thigh to confirm whether she was dreaming.

And if it was a dream, it felt like a rather unpleasant one…

Rahan stepped closer and gently placed his hand on Isel’s shoulder, as if handling something extremely fragile.

“Did Ceres say something harsh to you?”

At the same time, his warm voice carried a sharp, hostile edge as he shot a glare at Ceres.

Ceres flinched.

Was this guy possessed or something? No—his disgusting personality was still intact.

What was even more shocking was how quickly Rahan softened his expression again just before Isel could notice.

He changed expressions so naturally it looked like a performance.

Isel, who had missed the brief exchange of glares, shook her head.

“N-no! It wasn’t Master…”

She trailed off and lowered her head again.

“I think it would be good to have a warm cup of tea first.”

Rahan naturally guided Isel toward a table in the corner of the flower shop.

Before she knew it, Isel was seated on a wooden chair with a soft cushion.

After confirming she was comfortable, Rahan turned to Ceres.

“Ceres?”

“Y-yes?”

Still struggling to accept reality, Ceres stammered.

Rahan asked gently, like he was speaking to a fool.

“Could you prepare a cup of tea for Isel?”

“…!”

Ceres felt a chill run down her spine at his soft tone.

What the hell did this bastard eat wrong?

Unable to hide her confusion, she headed toward the back of the workshop to boil water and prepare tea. First, she needed answers from Rahan.

And she was also worried about Isel, who looked pale and shaken.

What had happened? She always seemed to have trouble at home…

Isel had never revealed her identity to Ceres. She still believed Ceres despised nobles.

It seemed she thought that if her disciple turned out to be a noble, she would be thrown out.

Ceres could have corrected the misunderstanding, but she had no way to prove otherwise, so she let it be.

At most, she assumed Isel was simply not a commoner.

Not just because of her striking appearance hidden under a hood.

Her posture, her walking, and her speech all reflected refined aristocratic education.

Given she rarely went outside, Ceres had assumed she came from a strict noble family…

Unless she had run away?

Once the thought appeared, worry began to snowball.

Ceres shook her head.

As she took out tea leaves and filled a kettle with water, someone entered the workshop.

It was Rahan.

“Ceres.”

“…?”

“Didn’t you say you had urgent business earlier?”

“What?”

What is he talking about?

As Ceres stared at him for clarification, Rahan continued.

“You said you had to leave in a hurry.”

“I never—”

Ceres began to protest, but suddenly held her breath.

Cold golden eyes were staring at her.

A look that clearly meant: Get out.

You damn bastard!

Ceres frowned and spoke.

“You—!”

At her raised voice, Rahan placed a finger on his lips.

“Lower your voice.”

So Isel outside wouldn’t hear.

Ceres suppressed her frustration and lowered her voice.

“You’re the one who should leave! This is my shop!”

Despite her threatening tone, Rahan didn’t even blink. Instead, he smiled faintly.

“Is that so?”

“…?”

“Then you seem to have forgotten who owns this building.”

“What…!”

Ceres’ jaw dropped as she held the kettle.

Rahan lightly pressed down on her shoulder, smiling as he whispered:

“Would you prefer to step out for a while… or permanently?”

So there really was something like landlord power above the creator’s authority…

Ceres glared at him with a look of betrayal, as if to say, Aren’t we friends of six years?

But Rahan simply patted her shoulder and left the workshop leisurely.

Meanwhile

“Isn’t it strange no matter how you think about it?”

“Yeah… where did His Grace even go?”

Leo glanced at the murmuring knights as he arrived at the training ground.

The imperial knights recognized Leo Blisha, vice commander of the Second Imperial Knight Order, and hurriedly bowed.

“Vice Commander!”

Leo greeted them with a wave and looked around.

All the knights of the capital were gathered in the vast training field.

They stood in neat rows by unit, all looking confused.

It wasn’t just the Blisha family knights who were unaware of the reason for the sudden summons.

Everyone looked surprised.

It was clearly a summons ordered by Duke Kanox—but there was no sign of him anywhere.

Only Damon Lanchester, the Duke’s adjutant, was managing the registration of arriving knights.

Leo handed his horse to Alec and approached him.

“Sir Damon.”

“Ah, Sir Leo. Long time no see.”

Damon greeted him with a smile. Leo nodded slightly.

“Where is His Grace Duke Kanox?”

At that question, Damon’s smile froze. He visibly panicked.

“He… seems to be a little late due to some business.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes…”

Leo’s dark green eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Damon cleared his throat awkwardly and adjusted his glasses.

Fortunately, Leo did not press him further and simply turned away after nodding.

Watching his back, Damon sighed deeply.

He wished he could just tell the truth.

That today’s summons had no real purpose or meaning.

But if he did, he couldn’t even imagine what his lord would do to him.

Earlier that morning, when Duke Kanox ordered the summons, Damon had assumed it was related to upcoming matters of the Imperial Special Knight Order.

Summoning hundreds of knights on such short notice was typical of Duke Kanox.

But after sending out the orders, the Duke’s instruction to Damon had been simple:

“Keep them occupied until sunset.”

Damon had asked what that meant, but as always, the Duke ignored him.

After changing into plain clothes, Duke Kanox left the estate.

“Your Grace, where are you going?! What about the summons?!”

Damon’s desperate shout faded into the air.

Now, the one left to manage this meaningless gathering was Damon alone.

Duke Kanox clearly said to keep them occupied until sunset…

Damon looked up at the sky.

The sun was still high overhead, with no sign of moving.

Until it set, he would have to keep hundreds of knights busy.

First finish registration… then check training status… and then what? Should he tell them to pull weeds if there’s nothing else?

With a groan, Damon wiped his face in exhaustion.