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Chapter 33
“Good morning, Count.”
The count returned the greeting with a stiff expression, looking at Rahn, who was smiling brightly.
Until you showed up, it was a perfect morning…
The words rose to his throat, but he forced them back down.
The day Duke Kanos suddenly proposed. After seeing him off and returning home, Isel had explained to her brother and father that the duke had simply misunderstood the situation.
It was a somewhat incomplete explanation, but in any case, they were greatly relieved that Isel had never made any engagement promise.
It was clear that the duke had an interest in Isel, but they believed it was entirely one-sided. If he came again, they planned to turn him away under the excuse of her health.
However, those plans had been completely shattered by Duke Kanos’ terrifying persistence.
As if acting on his words that he would try to win Isel’s heart, the duke visited the estate every single day.
He never came empty-handed. He always brought lavish gifts for Isel.
From tea leaves of the Bahrien region, known to be supplied only to the Emperor, to a custom-made jewelry box ordered directly from a master craftsman for Isel—everything was expensive beyond reason.
Today was no exception. In one hand, he held a massive bouquet of flowers, large enough to cover two faces. That was likely today’s “offering.”
Rahn, seated in the reception room holding the bouquet, looked slightly different from usual.
Having come alone without a carriage, he wore casual clothes instead of his usual neat formal attire.
Yet, perhaps because of his inherently handsome face, even casual clothing looked refined on him.
With the bright bouquet in hand, he looked like a well-groomed, handsome young man.
The bouquet—made of vivid pink Elsaldor roses and hydrangeas—was extravagantly decorated with small jewels and lace.
Elsaldor roses were Isel’s favorite flowers.
But there was no way Duke Kanos could have known that.
Count Blisha frowned at the strange coincidence. Something about it felt far too intentional to be an accident.
Isel accepted the bouquet Rahn offered her.
The gentle scent of roses tickled her nose. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she looked down at it.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“You’re welcome.”
A satisfied smile spread across Rahn’s face.
If Isel so much as wished for it, he looked like he would buy out every Elsaldor rose in the capital.
Count Blisha was horrified.
That was clearly the face of a man in love.
He clenched his teeth. This was his precious daughter—raised with more care than anything else in his life.
He could not possibly hand her over to someone like this.
While he was struggling to contain his rising anger, Rahn suddenly turned to Leo and Count Blisha.
“By the way, aren’t you both supposed to be heading to the Imperial Palace about now?”
“That’s correct.”
At Leo’s answer, Rahn looked at him quietly. His gaze was gentle, but the meaning behind it was not.
It clearly meant: Don’t interrupt my time with Isel and go to work already.
Count Blisha frowned slightly, then composed himself.
“Then Your Grace should come with us.”
A clever counterattack—he clearly had no intention of leaving Isel alone with him.
Rahn smiled faintly.
“I’ve already received permission from His Majesty to take the day off.”
“Pardon…? Is there some important matter?”
Leo asked suspiciously.
Rahn simply gave a meaningful smile and did not answer. Instead, he turned to Isel.
“Isel, would you like to go out with me today?”
“Eh?”
She blinked in surprise.
“I thought you might get bored staying in the mansion alone.”
Isel’s face brightened instantly.
She turned to her father with a questioning look.
“I absolutely—”
Count Blisha was about to refuse as usual, but stopped mid-sentence.
He had momentarily forgotten that Duke Kanos was standing right there.
Seeing his hesitation, Rahn smiled reassuringly.
“I will ensure the young lady’s safety.”
He had already saved Isel twice during her stay at the summer villa.
If not for him, she might have been killed by wolves or suffered something far worse at the hands of Cesare.
Thinking about it still made his vision darken.
By all accounts, Duke Kanos was technically her benefactor.
With him insisting this strongly, Count Blisha could no longer refuse. Reluctantly, he nodded.
While Isel went upstairs to prepare, Blisha secretly called Alec and Harris.
He ordered the two knights to follow Isel and Rahn discreetly.
“You two are all I can trust.”
“Yes, Count.”
Their mission was obvious.
Alec and Harris silently swore—if that devil laid even a finger on the young lady, they would draw their swords immediately.
Thus began the strange outing.
Isel and Rahn arrived at the main street of Delion City and stepped down from the carriage.
Isel could barely hide her excitement.
It had been days since she last came to the city.
The bustling streets were full of life. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the lined-up shops and stalls.
Rahn walked beside her, smiling softly, matching her pace.
Whenever someone was about to bump into Isel, he subtly pushed them away with precise, discreet movements.
Of course, Isel did not notice.
Behind them, two persistent gazes followed closely—her bodyguards, Alec and Harris.
Though they believed they were hiding well, Rahn had long since noticed their presence.
He felt like eliminating them on the spot, but since Isel seemed happy, he decided to tolerate it.
Rahn leaned slightly toward her.
“Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”
“Flower shop!”
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked up at him.
Rahn suppressed a sigh.
Isel often referred to Ceres as her “teacher.” That alone displeased him.
Even if Isel believed Ceres to be a woman, it still irritated him.
“…Maybe I should just tear down the flower shop and rebuild it.”
He muttered quietly.
Isel tilted her head.
“Pardon? What did you say?”
Rahn only smiled.
“Nothing.”
They soon arrived at the flower shop.
But when they opened the door, the situation inside was unexpected.
There were several people inside, including Ceres—and a holy knight holding a sword to his neck.
A priest in a long white robe stared at them.
Rahn broke the silence.
“What is this situation, Ceres?”
The knight slowly removed his sword from Ceres’ neck.
“We were questioning her on a serious matter. If we caused offense, we apologize.”
Ceres glared at him as if to say, Why are you apologizing when I was the one nearly beheaded?
The priest, Yuri, narrowed his eyes at Rahn.
He felt like he had seen that face somewhere before.
Then it struck him.
The man from the Orsian auction house.
“You…!”
Rahn’s expression remained unreadable.
Yuri asked, “You were the one who purchased the sculpture at the auction, correct?”
Everyone turned to Rahn.
Isel, confused, also looked at him.
Only then did Rahn remember the man from the dark auction hall.
But he calmly smiled.
“You must be mistaking me for someone else.”
“What?”
Before Yuri could object, Rahn interrupted.
“More importantly, did you follow proper procedure for this interrogation?”
“…Procedure?”
“You should know that interrogating a citizen requires Imperial authorization.”
Yuri froze.
Rahn’s words were correct.
The Church was technically independent from the Empire.
Relations between the two had become increasingly tense recently.
And Imperial law clearly required authorization for such actions.
“It was urgent, so we—”
“So you intend to ignore Imperial law?”
Yuri fell silent under Rahn’s pressure.
He instinctively felt that this man could not be opposed.
This was definitely the same man from the auction house.
The situation was bad. If they requested permission now, the Empire would inevitably join the search for the sculptor.
They had to find the sculptor first.
There was no advantage in continuing this argument.
Yuri signaled the knights, who sheathed their swords and left.
“Then… we will return with proper authorization.”
“That would be appreciated.”
At Ceres’ casual remark, the priest frowned but said nothing.
As they were leaving, Yuri’s gaze briefly landed on the small woman in the hood.
She had called Ceres “teacher.”
Suspicious, perhaps—but he dismissed it quickly.
Just a woman learning sculpture.
Nothing more.
Yuri left the shop with a heavy sigh.
Where on earth was the sculptor “El” hiding…?
A strange feeling lingered, as if he had overlooked something important.
He glanced back at the shop one last time.
Then shook his head and walked away.
