🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 21
“Damn it.”
Ten minutes earlier.
Just out of the office, Felix ran a hand through his hair.
‘What the hell is with that woman?’
The irritation that had started earlier that afternoon hadn’t left him all day.
Even Gilbert, who had been discussing strategy with him, had asked if something was wrong—Felix’s mood was that sour.
Of course, he knew exactly what the cause was.
That woman he’d met earlier.
‘Amelia, Amelia.’
Felix chewed on the name that had been stuck in his head all day.
But thinking about it didn’t make the fog in his mind clear.
If anything, his chest just grew tighter.
He let out a deep sigh.
“Master, did something unpleasant happen?”
The timid voice came from Maytal, who was trailing behind him.
Even from the back of Felix’s head, it was obvious his mood was terrible.
“Or… was there some problem with the plan you were discussing earlier?”
“No.”
Damn it, if only it were something like that.
At least then there’d be some logical way to fix it.
But this—this wasn’t the kind of problem that had an answer.
“That woman. What did you think of her?”
“That woman?”
Maytal blinked, then recalled the girl they’d met earlier.
“Uh, hm. She seemed like… a rabbit.”
“A rabbit?”
A rabbit?
Felix frowned at the strange answer. Maytal explained honestly.
“Her pure white hair and pink eyes were very cute. Like a little rabbit.”
The way she scurried around with her small frame—it really was like watching a tiny, adorable creature.
Of course, that wasn’t at all the kind of answer Felix had been after.
“…Not her looks, idiot.”
“Ah, you mean—was she suspicious?”
“Yeah.”
“Well… to be honest, I didn’t notice anything suspicious. And if there had been something off about her, I don’t think the Lord would have let her into the sixth floor in the first place.”
Fair point.
That man might seem easygoing, but he’d survived in a ruthless world.
If there were even a hint of danger, he’d have dealt with it already.
Even so, Felix couldn’t shake this uneasy feeling.
“Investigate her thoroughly. Every detail, no matter how small.”
Maytal nodded without protest.
‘He’s really fixated on this one…’
Felix was, in every sense, a true noble.
He was used to controlling others, not being controlled.
He only felt at ease when things went exactly the way he wanted.
He wasn’t the type to dwell on someone this long.
‘She just seemed like a cute bunny to me, though…’
Having followed his father through the underworld for years, Maytal had a sharp instinct for people.
And experience told him that the bad ones always gave off that feeling right from the start.
But among all the people he’d met recently, none had seemed as bright and harmless as Amelia.
If anything, the one with ulterior motives might’ve been Felix himself.
Still, nobles saw things differently.
‘Tch. This could get messy.’
Felix was the obsessive type.
Normally indifferent, but once curiosity took hold, he’d dig in relentlessly.
And being noticed by someone like that? Never a good sign.
Maytal silently offered a prayer of sympathy for Amelia and looked up—
Wait.
Where was that familiar head of blue hair?
‘What the—?!’
He frantically looked around.
Seriously, he couldn’t take his eyes off the man for one second—
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Wait, what?!
Maytal stomped his feet in panic and rushed forward.
But it was already too late.
By the time he reached them, the situation was… already over.
“L–Lady Amelia.”
“Oh, hello there!”
Amelia greeted him with a bright smile and a polite bow.
Startled, Maytal reflexively bowed back before asking carefully:
“Are… are you all right, my lady?”
“Pardon?”
She tilted her head, confused.
After a moment, realization dawned, and she let out a little “ah.”
“I’m fine. The young lord caught me in time.”
“I–I see.”
He’d meant to ask if anything happened afterward, but before he could, Amelia beamed and ended the conversation.
“Then, take care!”
“Uh—wha—?”
Before he knew it, the little rabbit had hopped off.
Maytal turned around frantically, but she was already bounding down the stairs.
‘Well… at least she didn’t cry. So she must be fine, right?’
Right.
As long as there wasn’t a scene, that was good enough.
He brushed a hand through his brown hair and sighed.
Time to get moving again.
‘I’ve already sent word to Father, so…’
As he tallied up the next steps in his head and climbed the stairs—
“Master?”
Wait.
“Are… are you feeling unwell?”
Why was his face so red?
Meanwhile.
“Phew… that was close.”
Back home, I collapsed onto the living room sofa as soon as I stepped off the carriage.
‘I managed to thank him and make a quick escape, but still…’
He had saved me.
No matter how curt or grumpy he’d been, basic manners required at least a thank-you.
‘It should be fine, right?’
It wasn’t like I’d ever have to see him again.
I’d just make sure to avoid running into him from now on.
Still, we’d only met twice and I already felt drained.
‘If we meet a third time, I might actually faint.’
As expected of a future villain—he really had a presence.
Just being near him sucked all the energy out of me.
I felt like a half-dried squid left out in the sun.
Just then, Grandpa came out of the kitchen, eyes widening at the sight of me.
“Where have you been? You look half-dead.”
“Grandpaaa…”
Ugh, and I couldn’t even tell him the truth!
Living a double life had its perks, but this part was annoying.
No matter what happened, I couldn’t explain it openly.
“Well, I—”
I hesitated, then decided to embellish the story a bit to vent my frustration.
“Hmmm.”
Grandpa listened intently, then muttered in a low, dangerous tone:
“So, you’re telling me some snot-nosed brat glared at you and gave you attitude?”
“…”
Wait.
Did I… maybe over-embellish?
Before I could answer, Grandpa’s expression had already darkened.
His sharp gaze locked onto the front door, his whole posture bristling with murderous intent.
He looked about two seconds away from storming out.
“W–Wait! No!”
“What do you mean, ‘no’?”
“I mean whatever you’re thinking of doing right now!”
His brows furrowed deeper. That grim face looked way too much like a certain someone’s.
“My duty is to protect you. If some brat dares to look at you like that, of course I’ll teach him a lesson!”
“But he’s still just a kid! You can’t trample over a growing sprout!”
“Trample? Do I look like such a heartless old man to you?”
“Then what were you planning to do?”
Grandpa grinned.
“Chew him up nice and slow.”
