TLDWAE 17

Chapter 17

“Why? Do you want to stop me as a guardian?”

<No, of course not! Everything here belongs to my master. Including me, of course. It’s just…>

Andion crossed his arms and looked at his master, who had posed the question. Alice, excited by the task at hand, happily filled her sack with gold, oblivious to his silent observation.

<Are you going out again?>

Ah. Karian paused for a moment at Andion’s question. Andion had spent so much time waiting for her here that he had almost developed a sense of self. It wasn’t intentional, but in hindsight, he felt a bit apologetic.

“This won’t take long this time.”

<Return safely.>

Reassured by her words, Andion’s voice relaxed. Alice, in her usual excitement, hoisted the heavy sack and hummed to herself.

Yes, he would return. The place where Karian could truly feel at ease was not the Pandeon Mansion or the Grand Duke’s castle—it was here.

“Is it true that this is a place where you can do anything for money?”

Entering the worn-down tavern, Karian wrinkled her nose at the overwhelming smell of sweat. She had come looking for the “Black Night,” wondering if she could repay a debt to the child she had met at the fountain last time. The atmosphere was rough.

The burly men, sprawled lazily across the place, glanced at her like she was some unusual creature. No guards, no attendants—she had come alone.

“Ah! Welcome, miss! What kind of job are you looking for? Investigations on fiancés, husbands, lovers, even children—anything you need!”

“-Is the only thing you know how to do follow others around?”

A man, more approachable than the others, hurried over. Despite his imposing physique, he had a cute, almost innocent face and spoke in a friendly voice that seemed sold to gold.

“No, of course not! It’s just that most nobles usually request that kind of job. So, what kind of work do you need?”

“Not you.”

Karian brushed past him, rubbing his palms, and stepped deeper into the tavern.

“I want to speak with this person.”

She stopped in front of someone who seemed small compared to the others—a man who appeared quite compact among the burly men. Like most in the tavern, he wore a robe hiding his face. He raised his head slightly at her unexpected choice.

“Ah, miss! Why choose him, of all people!”

“Though they seem casually seated, the aura of these skilled men is all directed here. As if they intend to protect him. They don’t look weak. So there’s only one answer—he must be the leader.”

Karian pulled out a chair and sat in front of him. Immediately, those around her rose to their feet.

They tried to approach her menacingly, but the man casually raised a hand, halting them.

“Calm down, everyone. What disrespect would there be toward a lady?”

“They’re more cautious than I expected.”

“I’m a well-loved leader,” he said.

His voice was different from what she expected. She thought a leader of this violent group wouldn’t be so young. Yet his voice sounded like someone her age. It was gentler than she imagined.

“Now, what task have you brought, my lady? I hope it’s interesting, given your grand entrance.”

“-Lady? Do you know who I am?”

“-Ah.”

He tapped his temple lightly with a finger.

“Unmarried ladies don’t usually wear their hair up like this.”

“Hmm…”

Though a standard deduction, she didn’t entirely trust him. Either way, as long as he handled the task efficiently, she didn’t care much.

“I want to reshape old and new coins into gold. Source it from somewhere like a nearby trading guild.”

“Old and new coins? Did you steal some? If so, you don’t need to hire us…”

“There’s quite a lot,” she said, glancing toward the entrance at the capitalist who had greeted her. He hesitated briefly, then went outside. From beyond the door came astonished gasps.

“Is this all gold?”

“Wow! How much is this?”

The sounds came as he dragged in a sack full of gold, spilling ancient coins and ingots across the tavern floor.

“It should make about 3,000 large coins. So, in total, around 300,000 gold. Can it be done by tomorrow?”

“Did you rob somewhere?”

The gold spilled across the center of the tavern—ancient coins, damaged, rusted, and gold bars flowed endlessly.

“Does it matter?” Karian asked. The man swallowed a laugh and shook his head.

“The source can be kept secret, and we know some trading guilds, so it’s possible. But it was reckless to bring such a sum into a den of strangers. What if I had taken it and denied it?”

“A huge sum?”

His teasing tone made Karian frown. This man, who commanded so many people, had a sharp sense of humor.

“Just that?”

She remained calm despite scattering 300,000 gold.

“Don’t misunderstand. This is merely a test to see how you handle work. Payment is 3% of the gold I entrusted for the task. If the deal is satisfactory, we continue; if not, we end here.”

Three percent for reshaping and reworking gold—fair. Tempting, but not enough to rush. Yet if similar contracts followed, it would certainly pique her interest.

The man admired Karian’s skill, laughing heartily.

“Excellent! You’re naturally confident. Let’s complete the task with utmost sincerity.”

Even if it was a bluff, it was risk-free. His subordinates collected the gold back into sacks.

Karian had been staring intently at him since his laughter began.

“-You.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Your voice… seems familiar. Have we met before?”

The man rolled his eyes from side to side, confused by her question.

“Are you teasing me? Even covered, your beauty can’t be hidden.”

“I’m not joking.”

Karian felt a strange, heavy sensation in her chest at his laugh. Good or bad, she couldn’t tell—but such a feeling had never occurred with a man she had just met.

She reached for the robe covering his face. He could have stopped her but didn’t.

“Oh, really… exhausting.”

The cloth fell, revealing glossy black hair. He blinked slowly, a playful crescent-like smile spreading across his face.

His subordinates froze instantly at the sight.

“-Gilford?”

Karian was equally shocked. Gilford had never had black hair—always neatly tied silver, showing his round forehead. He never smiled this way. He was diligent and polite. Yet she was certain the face before her was his.

The first and last love of her life. Her one and only lover, cruelly killed by Rubal.

Karian absentmindedly touched his cheek. Warmth—he was alive. Alive…

“This is problematic,” she snapped back to reality when he placed his hand over hers. His hand wasn’t as soft as Gilford’s.

Rough calluses reminded her she had to withdraw her hand.

“It’s alright. No need to be embarrassed. People often lose themselves when they see my face. But you recovered quickly. Some ladies were so stunned, I could see their cavities…”

“Enough.”

Karian didn’t want to hear more. Similar face, similar voice—it tricked her. But Gilford never laughed like this.

“My apologies. I must have been mistaken.”

“That must have been your lover. That’s why you looked at me so fondly.”

“-Confident, I see. I’ll visit again tomorrow. Excuse me.”

Karian didn’t indulge his jest. She wasn’t in the mood. How could fate, just as she regained memories of her past life, make her meet someone with a face like his?

She strode out of the tavern, almost fleeing. The sound of reins being released followed, and Karian disappeared.

At the same time, the man’s laughter ceased. The tense atmosphere inside the tavern dissolved. The money-minded men who had tried to attract Karian ran to stand before their leader.

“Are you alright? That woman—she’s the Grand Duke’s…”

“Likely the Duchess of Pandeon? Daughter of Grand Duke Luterbert?”