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Chapter 57
Felix frowned, remembering all the hardship he’d endured. Finally, this damned, drawn-out escape would come to an end.
“Yes. I’ll make sure to tell him to be thorough so that not a single thing is missed during the handover.”
Felix nodded in satisfaction. By tomorrow, everything would finally return to its rightful place.
“It’s been a while since they’ve seen their master. The others will be happy too.”
“Tell the Shadows to behave themselves. Just because it’s been a while doesn’t mean they can start going crazy again.”
“They only do that because they’re happy to see you.”
They were so loyal that the moment they heard their lord had returned, they would undoubtedly start bouncing off the walls. Gilbert, who couldn’t even imagine that their loyalty would one day become a variable, smiled faintly.
“Still, it’s fortunate. Everything is being resolved before the Emperor steps in.”
“…That bastard, seriously.”
Felix grimaced as he recalled the reply they had recently received.
The cunning snake was annoyingly perceptive. The moment he sensed that the head of the family was absent, he sent a decree designating the exact date Felix must come to the palace.
Since it was sealed with the Emperor’s own insignia, disobeying it would be the same as defying imperial command. Even the Kazliden family couldn’t ignore it.
But at least things hadn’t escalated to the worst possible scenario. Felix could finally relax a little now.
“Take some medicine or something. You smell like a rat.”
“I’ll prepare the strongest remedy.”
If the Emperor knew the head of the Kazliden family was away, it meant there was a spy inside.
Whoever it was, they were certainly the Emperor’s invisible ears. It was time to clean things up again, just in case something happened.
Especially since they had just recruited a technician capable of producing high-grade potions. If that information leaked, it would be a serious problem.
“I’ll investigate the guild as well, just in case,” Gilbert added, sensing the young duke’s concern.
Right now, Amelia was an extremely important asset to both Kazliden and Raymond. They had disguised someone as her assistant, but recently many people had been coming and going through the guild.
This might be a good opportunity to overturn things and sort them out.
Then Felix sighed deeply and said,
“And send someone first thing in the morning. No—go yourself and bring her from the guild. I already told her.”
“Huh? If you mean her—don’t tell me you mean the lady?”
Felix nodded instead of answering. Gilbert opened and closed his mouth, as if thinking over something.
“I understand… But in that case, wouldn’t it have been easier to escort the lady when she got off work earlier and bring her right away?”
“…”
“…Wait. Are you doing this because the lady might get startled?”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Wow—seriously… unbelievable.”
“I said shut it.”
“No, really, ask Meital or Lord Dion! They would never believe you could be this— huh?!”
A flying book smacked Gilbert on the forearm. He pouted, but Felix didn’t flinch in the slightest.
“Just shut up and get things ready. We’re leaving right away.”
“Ugh… fine, I’ll prepare.”
Gilbert retreated, rubbing his sore arm.
Felix also stood up, ready to move.
Is it really… because of the lady?
“…Damn it.”
Felix rubbed his face with one hand.
Truthfully, he had no right to deny it. He had purposely not accompanied Amelia when she left work earlier for exactly that reason.
‘Come in early tomorrow.’
‘…What?’
‘I’ll give you a bonus, so just come early tomorrow.’
He would likely end up showing her something unpleasant. There had to be a reason the Winstons hadn’t come until now.
Most likely because of Amelia Fran—that woman.
If they barged in, she wouldn’t come quietly.
Which meant if necessary, they’d have to use force to bring her.
“Tsk.”
And for some reason, Felix didn’t want her to witness that brutal scene.
The girl didn’t even know the true identity of the old man she lived with.
Felix grabbed the coat hanging over the sofa.
But a few hours later—
“S-Sir? Young Duke?”
“…Ha. Seriously.”
He should have just said screw it all and kidnapped her.
“Uuugh!”
The moment the sun rose, I stretched and came downstairs. My grandfather, who was baking bread, looked at me with wide, startled eyes.
“Why are you up so early today?”
“The place I work at—haaam—they asked me to come in early.”
“What?”
Grandpa frowned, clearly confused. Still yawning too widely to notice, I plopped down at the table and rubbed my sleepy eyes.
‘Ugh, I can’t even tell where I’m walking because I’m so tired.’
But why did they want me early today?
‘Did something happen?’
It felt like just a few hours ago we were celebrating finishing that big job.
Or maybe… they had a special assignment just for me?
‘Since he mentioned extra pay, that must be it.’
Munching on bread, I rested my chin on my hand.
Hopefully it wasn’t anything serious.
“Hmmm.”
Speaking of which—
I glanced at the cake box sitting on the table.
The cake I devoured last night!
During the night, it had magically reappeared—restored to its original state!
Brand new!
No matter how you looked at it, that was definitely a fresh cake.
‘But I ate all of it!’
I narrowed my eyes sharply.
“This isn’t right.”
Yeah. No matter how I thought about it, something was off.
“What isn’t?”
“For days now, cakes have been piling up like mountains.”
Tap, tap—
I drummed my fingers on the table and then traced a big circle in the air.
If Gilbert didn’t send them, then who, and why, and for what reason—
was sending me cake?!
Every single day!!
‘Cakes that make you want to hug the sender!’
Cream-Master’s cakes were wildly popular even in the capital. Even nobles had to wait more than a month to get one!
‘Is it my tall mystery benefactor?’
Whoever it was, if I met them, I’d kiss them first!
Then Grandpa cleared his throat, voice hoarse.
“That’s all your good fortune.”
I tilted my head.
“But I didn’t do anything good.”
Let’s see.
I got scammed with real estate,
sold potions to the guild master,
threw a tantrum because I didn’t want to work,
and took digestive strolls around the backyard with Grandpa.
‘Basically, I’m unemployed.’
I mean, I work at the guild, sure, but besides that my life is ridiculously peaceful.
The beginning was hectic, but now things were mostly stable… probably?
“You did do something good.”
