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Chapter – 15
I had never been to the Kaiser House before. Yet, I was fairly familiar with it—though not directly, only indirectly.
It made sense. This was the place where the protagonist, Eclett, first received humane treatment after escaping from Baron Adrian’s house, so it was described in detail even in the novel.
“Milady, this is my drawing room.”
It felt like walking onto a stage of a play.
The fireplace where Eclett had been trembling. The sofa where the two of them had sat side by side, talking.
Scenes from the novel flickered through my mind.
“Milady?”
“Ah, just a moment…”
“If you please, you may sit here, milady.”
I sat on the sofa that felt more like a stage prop than furniture. I removed the hat I had been wearing and lightly pushed back the brim, letting my black hair, hidden inside the hat, cascade down.
“….”
“Your Excellency?”
The duke, staring at me as if he’d lost his mind, quickly looked away.
“…I’ll have tea brought for you. Do you have any preferred refreshments?”
“Ah… I skipped a meal coming here, so maybe just a sandwich—”
“Shall I prepare a proper meal?”
The commanding tone made it sound like he could summon the chef at any moment. I quickly shook my head.
“Nothing that elaborate. I’m fine.”
“If I’ve chosen an inconvenient time and you haven’t eaten—”
“I simply didn’t feel like eating, so there’s no need to worry about it.”
“…Understood. Would tea be acceptable?”
“Of course.”
After summoning a servant to bring tea and snacks, the duke finally sat opposite me. We were here for a transaction; there was no need to linger in idle social conversation.
“I’ll get straight to the point.”
“The ‘transaction,’ you mean?”
“Yes. Your Excellency offered to help me, but I cannot accept assistance without offering something in return. And…”
I paused, wondering how to phrase “I can’t fully trust you” politely. The duke spoke before I could.
“I understand it would be difficult for you to trust me.”
“….”
“If you prefer the formality of a ‘transaction,’ I will, of course, follow that method.”
Could it be that the duke also needed Riotium’s power?
“What would you have me do?”
“…I need your name. I need you to vouch for the Earth Foundation.”
If Duke Kaiser endorsed the foundation, the suspicions of the crown prince and Lord Ventus could be resolved.
The invitation sent from the Administrative Palace could be formalized with just a letter from the duke as a guarantor. After all, the invitation had only been sent because of the crown prince’s suspicions. Once those were lifted, the formalities would be complete.
After that, the construction of the library could proceed smoothly.
“And what would you give me in return?”
All I had was knowledge of the future. It had to be something that interested him, but wouldn’t arouse suspicion, and ideally, something that could help me too.
If I brought up Baron Adrian’s story, perhaps the duke could prevent a fire in the slums…
“…I—”
“If you say truly that you have nothing to give, you won’t trust me any more than you do now.”
Just as I was about to mention Baron Adrian, the duke spoke first. Why did he insist on putting me in debt? It was suspicious.
“…A natural thing to say, Your Excellency.”
“…Then will you fulfill my request?”
“You have a favor for me?”
There was a knock, and the maids entered, setting the table with tea and snacks. Considering the late hour, the table was laden with sandwiches, cakes, and rich desserts.
“I hope you’ll enjoy them first.”
“….”
I glanced at the desserts and then looked up. I thought it was a joke, but the duke’s expression was completely serious.
“…Are you asking me to make a decision after tasting them?”
“No. That is also part of my ‘request.’”
“…What….”
I would need the duke’s name to endorse the foundation. Could the cost really be just eating these sweets?
“This is no joke.”
“Of course. There is one more request.”
Is this the main point now?
“You know my name, milady.”
“….”
“Please, I wish you would address me as such.”
“…You’re really asking for this?”
“Yes, sincerely.”
There was not a trace of playfulness in the duke’s otherwise serious expression. I hesitated, then slowly parted my lips.
“…Duke Bihan?”
Bihan filled my teacup and smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Really, you would do all this for such trivial things… why?”
“May I ask one more thing?”
“What is it…?”
“…May I have your permission to use your name?”
“….”
Why is this happening? I took a sip of tea to hide my astonishment. It wasn’t hard to do… but still…
“…It’s not a difficult request.”
“…Rosemary.”
“….”
Was this really Bihan Kaiser? Where did Eclett go…?
“Bihan, are you seriously willing to undertake the hassle of vouching for a charitable foundation just for these things?”
“Of course.”
“And lastly, may I ask one more ‘troublesome’ favor?”
“I’d rather it be a bigger task. What is it?”
I’d rather take on some proper difficulty than a childish, trivial request.
“There will be a masked ball hosted by the Marquess Gron in a week.”
“Ah… the marquess’s daughter’s birthday ball?”
“You know of it?”
“We’ve known each other since childhood. She is one of the few who still sends me invitations while I remain secluded due to illness.”
Since she couldn’t attend personally, she had prepared a gift to send via proxy, remembering me. And turning a birthday ball into a masquerade was rare.
“Would you accompany me as my partner at the masquerade?”
“Eh?”
I blinked in disbelief. Who was Bihan Kaiser? He had never attended a party with a partner, much less a masquerade.
Going with him would make Eclett the target of the crown princess’s wrath. I had no desire to make an enemy of the princess on Eclett’s behalf.
“Your Excellency… Bihan… you usually…”
“I wish for you to accompany me, Rosemary.”
“….”
Was he planning to make Eclett jealous and pursue me instead…?
“It’s a masquerade with no restrictions on costume, so few will recognize us. Please consider it favorably.”
Even with masks, would anyone fail to notice him?
“If I refuse, may I not go?”
“Of course. How could I force you?”
He smiled again. Even a faint smile was a rare expression for him.
“…Bihan is willing to vouch for a charitable foundation, yet all he asks of me is to eat, permit him my name, and accompany him to a ball. And none of it is compulsory.”
“…It’s only natural for you to ask this of me.”
“Natural?”
“…Though I thought you would dislike it, I have observed all you have done over the past two years. I know how much effort you have put into the slums—taking care of children, running the soup kitchen, repairing homes… Everything in the Eastern slums has changed because of you.”
“….”
“I was amazed and excited. I look forward to the library to be built, too. Can you believe the sincerity in that?”
I remembered a rainy day in the Eastern slums. The tattered cloak. The owner of the horse.
Could it have been you?
“So even if I couldn’t step forward first, I wanted to help with all my strength if that’s what you wished.”
I bit my lip tightly. His eyes, deep as the night sea, radiated a trust I could hardly believe.
“I’ll… think about it. I should be going now.”
I nearly dashed from the room. I roughly pressed my hat down over my hair, and Bihan reached out.
“Ah…”
He touched the tangled veil, letting it fall and leaving a small gap between us.
“I’ll escort you.”
He walked me to the carriage waiting outside the house, bowing politely.
“I shall await your answer, Rosemary.”
“…Don’t expect too much, Bihan. Since my debutante ball two years ago…”
“I know. That is why I made my request.”
He offered his hand. Resigned, I placed mine on top. A courteous kiss on the back of my hand briefly touched my skin, then lifted.
“I will have everything arranged by tomorrow.”
With that short farewell, I boarded the carriage. As Rodel closed the door, it began to move.
“Ha…”
I sighed, removed my hat, and fiddled with my veil while watching the Kaiser House fade in the distance.
At that moment, a light flicked on in a separate building next to the mansion. On the terrace of the second floor, someone was there…
“….”
The Kaiser House’s annex. Second floor.
I could immediately guess the silhouette’s identity.
Eclett Adrian.
Eclett, who had escaped from Baron’s House and was staying in the Kaiser House, was undoubtedly there.
Since the debutante ball… was this the first time?
“Eclett…”
If I saw you too, how could I ever free myself from this strange feeling?
