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chapter 16
When Wayne, Jack, and Tom suddenly fell silent, Roy and I became serious as well.
Had the Countess noticed that we were all connected? We had planned to approach her acting as if we knew nothing, to find an opening.
Should we skip the ball? Or confront her head-on?
As we hesitated over whether to attend, Wayne suddenly turned around.
“Where are you going?”
I asked, and Wayne answered without even turning his head.
“I’m going to retrieve what was taken.”
Was he planning to meet the Countess McCullin? Was it safe to go without any preparation?
Roy seemed to think similarly and raised the corner of his eye.
“Aren’t you being too hasty?”
“If we don’t go, they’ll come looking for us. It’s not dangerous, so don’t worry and follow me.”
Wayne finished speaking and started walking steadily. Tom and Jack followed him with firm expressions.
When it was just the two of us left, I glanced at Roy and realized he was thinking the same thing I was.
Wayne wasn’t the type to act recklessly. If he said it wasn’t dangerous, then he must have some confidence in the situation.
Realizing we were on the same page, we immediately began to follow Wayne and his group.
“YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT!”
A shrill voice hit my ears. My ears, my ears hurt! I clamped my hands over them. Roy furrowed his brows slightly.
But Wayne, who was closer to the source of the shouting, responded calmly.
“Mother, who’s ungrateful? Who else is as kind and diligent as me?”
Wayne had previously called Countess McCullin “Mother” softly and sweetly. But this time, he said it plainly, and it felt more genuine.
“Kind and diligent, yet you didn’t show your face for six months? And now, sneaking around only to bring the most conspicuous item from your so-called secret hideout!”
The middle-aged woman raised her slender waist and shouted, but Wayne just smiled faintly, unflinching.
“So you were the one who took it. Even after quitting thievery to run a doll shop, your skill at unlocking things hasn’t faded. But how did you find out about that house?”
The woman’s orange eyes shifted toward Tom and Jack, and they quickly ducked behind Roy and me.
Even though their appearance was unlike typical underworld types, everyone has someone they’re weak toward. For Tom and Jack, that someone was Wayne and his mother.
I hadn’t expected to confront the Countess directly. Meeting these three’s mother was certainly unexpected.
The woman, who had been glaring at Wayne’s group, softened her tone when she noticed our blinking.
“I’m not shouting at you, so don’t be surprised. My name is Belle. Call me Sister Belle or Big Sis Belle.”
“Sister? Big Sis?”
When Wayne dragged out the last syllable of his word, Belle narrowed her eyes and radiated a presence so intimidating that even I, a newcomer, was in awe.
“Got a problem?”
Wayne raised his hands as if surrendering, signaling he wouldn’t challenge her.
A chill swept past us like icy wind, making me instinctively hunch over. Could this be the legendary coldness? Even in a mundane state, I could feel everything.
Belle turned toward the house.
“Let’s go inside. The wind is cold.”
Following her, Wayne’s group entered obediently, and we, startled by the unexpected turn, followed as well.
The house was spacious and clean but sparsely furnished.
Wayne frowned for the first time as he surveyed the empty interior.
“Why is it so empty? All the money sent every month… what’s the point?”
“Don’t you know what’s trendy these days, young man? A light lifestyle is the trend! The only things that increase with age are flab and wrinkles!”
Despite the talk of flab and wrinkles, Belle had a slender, firm body and smooth skin.
“I think you’d still be beautiful even with flab and wrinkles.”
Wayne replied cheekily, and Belle answered with a slight frown.
“You’re still hypocritical. But seriously, why didn’t you show your face for six months?”
“Busy with various things.”
Wayne smiled gently, but the expression carried an unusual hint of embarrassment.
Belle stared at him, her orange eyes reflecting a mix of sympathy, relief, and concern. Wayne noticed and scratched his cheek. The usually meticulous strategist now looked just like a boy of his age.
Awkwardly, Wayne shifted the topic.
“This is Daina and Roy.”
“Nice to meet you. How did you come to associate with our troublesome sons? Sit down.”
Unlike how she addressed her sons, Belle spoke kindly. Tommy immediately analyzed her behavior.
{Classic “friend’s mom” behavior.}
Ah, so we must look like friends of her sons.
As we took our seats, Wayne sat down in an empty spot on his own.
“Why didn’t you tell us to sit?”
Wayne muttered, and Belle responded nonchalantly.
“Sit as you like. Oh, wait a moment.”
Belle returned with dresses and swords from a nearby room.
“These are yours, right? Your sons don’t have a taste for cross-dressing, and you already have swords.”
She handed us the dresses and swords, then scurried to the kitchen.
Judging by the noise, she was probably bringing what Tom and Jack called “food that feels like stepping into hell.”
Looking down, I saw an elegant silver dress, impressive even to someone unfamiliar with this field.
Tom examined the dress carefully and nodded.
{This dress should be fine to wear.}
While I inspected the dress, Roy drew his sword from its scabbard. The blade was so polished it reflected his face.
Roy, a former slave who couldn’t carry a weapon, now holding his own, seemed lost in thought. His expression was too complex to simply call nostalgic.
Longing and hatred swirled in his eyes, growing more intense, threatening to engulf him entirely.
“Roy?”
I called softly, and he lifted his gaze from the sword with a puzzled expression.
“Why did you call me?”
He seemed unaware of how intently he had been staring at the sword. Perhaps unconscious.
I shook my head and silently thanked Wayne. Roy also returned thanks as he sheathed his sword.
Wayne flinched at Roy’s gratitude but then bit his lip with a hint of regret.
“I expected Daina to be thankful, but didn’t think you, Roy, would say it so willingly. I wanted to see you reluctantly force yourself to say thanks.”
No wonder Wayne is called a little devil among childhood friends.
But Roy was no pushover. Calmly, he replied,
“No matter how annoying the person is, gratitude is still gratitude.”
In other words, “You’re extremely annoying.”
At that moment, Belle appeared carrying a large plate piled high with round fried morsels.
Each time she approached, my mouth watered uncontrollably. Even swallowing didn’t help. Tommy explained why this happened.
{When humans crave food, saliva builds up.}
A fascinating yet exhausting system.
“I’ve loved these fried treats since I was a kid!”
“They’re the only dish Mother cooks well!”
Tom and Jack’s cheers drew Wayne and Roy’s attention to the plate.
Belle placed it on the table, and Tom and Jack immediately started eating. Wayne, holding a fork, urged us to try it too.
Though her method of encouragement was odd, the aroma was irresistible, and I took a bite.
The crispy coating shattered, releasing a savory, salty taste that danced on my tongue.
Just as I got used to it, hot juice burst across my mouth. Delicious!
{Daina, when sharing food, there’s an unspoken rule about portion size. Don’t eat as recklessly as before.}
Tommy’s voice came from the void. An unspoken etiquette and common sense, I see.
I relaxed my mouth and chewed slowly.
As I savored the treat, Tom, still chewing, turned to Belle.
“I’ve always wondered, what meat is this made of?”
“Curious?”
Belle’s eyes curved like a crescent, a playful glint in them.
“Yes!”
When Tom answered boldly, everyone else nodded, seemingly curious as well.
Belle asked us to wait and returned to the kitchen.
Soon, she came back with a large basin, revealing rat heads rolling around inside.
Had she drained the blood? Clean.
Without thinking, I ate another piece, but everyone else stared at Belle in unison.
“Back then, I couldn’t afford proper meat. So I caught rats to fry. Surprisingly, everyone liked it. Ever since, I’ve made fried rat meat often.”
Tom and Jack covered their mouths and dashed to the kitchen. Wayne scowled, and Roy quietly set down his fork.
Was everyone done eating? Could I eat the rest?
While I continued eating, Belle laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! Just kidding! Who fries rats? I used scraps of meat. The rat heads are for making rat dolls I sell. Realistic, right?”
“We’re used to Mother’s pranks, but for others, it’s their first time. Just—”
Wayne frowned but then froze as he looked at me, a mixture of curiosity, confusion, and intrigue on his face.
“You kept eating even after hearing it was rat meat?”
I swallowed the piece in my mouth and replied,
“Rat meat is still meat.”
“Rat meat isn’t edible.”
Wayne spoke slowly. I glanced at Tommy. He explained,
{In the Avent tribe of West Continent, rat meat is a staple. What’s the problem?}
Repeating Tommy’s words almost verbatim, Wayne looked at Roy.
“Even at the mansion, this strange?”
“…No.”
Roy averted his eyes as he answered.
“Hmph, Roy, you’ll see a lot of interesting scenes.”
Wayne focused more on Roy’s actions than words. Belle did too.
“Hahaha! What a lively kid! I like you!”
I felt a little wronged. I’ve been trying so hard to uphold human-world common sense!
“I’m trying to live diligently and normally, even if it seems otherwise.”
Saying this seriously, Wayne’s group burst into laughter, seemingly thinking I was joking.
After the commotion, we finished the fried food and left the house.
Belle bid Roy and me a warm farewell, scolded Tom and Jack sharply, and gave Wayne a worried admonition.
“If you’re busy, that’s fine. When you have time, come by. Take care of yourself.”
She looked at Wayne as if she knew everything. Wayne paused, feeling a bit pitiful under her gaze, but soon offered his characteristic smile and nodded.
