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Chapter 13
An elderly butler greeted the Ortes Trading Company party from the main gate. As Florian looked around, the butler spoke.
“Are you looking for the young lady?”
“Well… yes, something like that.”
Florian gave a vague nod. He was looking for her, and at the same time not really. He had been pushed here by his father, but he would rather avoid meeting her if possible. That way he would fulfill his father’s order and also stay safe.
Whatever his hidden intentions were, today’s task was simply to supervise the delivery of goods to the Del Ponto estate. There had been no clause in the order saying, “Have tea with the Del Ponto young lady.”
“I will guide you to the young lady.”
However, the butler seemed to have expanded Florian’s answer in his own mind. The old man smiled warmly.
“This way, please.”
“Ah, no, that won’t be necessary. I’ll just confirm the quantity of the goods and leave.”
“You need not trouble yourself. My staff will handle the inspection. Please, take a short rest.”
Florian tried repeatedly to refuse, but the butler interpreted it as politeness and led him deeper into the estate.
Normally, a reception room would be near the entrance, but the room he was guided to was far too deep inside the mansion, closer to the back gate than the front. The butler soon said he would bring refreshments and seated Florian at a window-side table.
At that moment, something metallic flashed outside the large window. Florian unconsciously looked out.
A red-haired woman wearing indoor training clothes was holding a dagger, and a brown-haired woman in training trousers was holding a longsword. Their movements were extremely fast, crossing and separating again and again in an instant.
“….”
Florian could only stare blankly.
The dagger compensated for its lack of reach with sharp reflexes and flexible footwork, while the longsword demonstrated extraordinary speed in deflecting and redirecting incoming strikes.
It was a duel so intense it felt almost like a dance. Sunlight reflected off the blades, turning them white-hot.
Florian had a weak body. Not by nature, but according to his father, he had become frail after a serious illness during a long voyage in childhood.
A weak heart, heightened sensitivity, recurring headaches.
Because of that, most physical activities had been forbidden since childhood. No running. No sword training. No fistfights.
Fortunately, he had never been interested in such things, and it was not required for the heir of a trading company.
Still, repeatedly collapsing from breathlessness at aristocratic gatherings before even finishing a single dance had been stressful.
So, watching these two women clash like dancing blades gave him an unexpected sense of vicarious satisfaction.
Florian did not even notice the tea and refreshments being placed beside him; he remained fixed on the window.
A shaded reception room, himself seated in a chair. Outside, under the bright sun, a woman moved with sweat on her brow.
Even though only a thin sheet of glass separated them, he felt a profound sense of separation. The maid wielding a sabre was impressive, but the young woman with the dagger—Astrid—fighting almost equally despite her disadvantage felt like someone from an entirely different world.
Well, she literally was from another world.
A world of crime, he thought.
Yet even a “world of crime” looked beautiful under the sunlight.
After a while, the two finally stopped. It seemed the duel had ended.
Feeling his gaze, Astrid walked toward the window.
“Hey, young master!”
She abruptly flung the window open from outside.
“Here for business today?”
Florian thought she was unbearably shameless. He hesitated on how formally he should respond to this heiress of the trading company and ended up replying curtly.
“Isn’t it obvious? Delivery.”
“Oh, fabric for dresses?”
“Yeah… ah, there was no white fabric in the order. Aren’t you going to a debutante?”
As he spoke, Florian placed a hand over his chest. Fortunately—or unfortunately—his heart was not panicking.
His body being calm was good, but it also made him feel strangely detached from himself for conversing so casually with someone who could be considered a hostage-taker.
“Why would white fabric matter for a debutante?”
Astrid turned to Rosalina and asked.
“At debutante balls, young ladies traditionally wear white dresses.”
“Oh… then maybe the dress they said they’d alter is white, so it should be fine?”
Astrid leaned against the window and rested her chin on her hands.
“Are you going too? The debutante ball?”
“I’m not a noble. I don’t have to go.”
It was more accurate to say he couldn’t go, but Florian brushed it off.
Astrid’s chin glistened with sweat.
“It’s a pity. Where am I supposed to find a partner? Rosalina, why don’t you be mine? You’re a knight after all.”
“Miss, a lady’s partner should be a proper gentleman.”
“But aren’t we the best pair?”
“You should be careful what you say.”
Rosalina smiled faintly.
Florian felt relieved he had no title. If he did, Astrid might have made him sign a partnership agreement on the spot.
“Still, it feels like Her Majesty might just pick a partner for me anyway.”
“She probably will.”
The Del Ponto girl casually mentioned the Emperor. Florian quickly analyzed the situation.
This girl is connected to the Emperor. That is why she is still alive.
The Ortes Trading Company works for the Imperial Court. His father often deals with the palace. He must have eagerly latched onto rumors about Del Ponto’s daughter like a starving dog.
When he looked up again, Astrid was staring directly at him.
“What? Why are you staring?”
“Doesn’t it feel too dark in there? Come outside for a bit. The wind is nice.”
“I’ll pass. Sunlight makes my skin burn…”
Florian wished there was even a window between them. The open window still felt like a barrier, giving him a faint sense of safety. His excuse was also partly true.
His skin reddened easily in sunlight, so he always wore long sleeves even in summer.
“Does someone like that even exist?” Rosalina whispered to Astrid.
“How would I know? People in the capital know everything.”
Florian pretended not to hear.
Then Astrid said, “Then I’ll come in.”
And in the next moment, she climbed through the window.
Startled by the sudden shadow, Florian toppled backward with his chair.
Astrid grabbed his hands and pulled him up.
“Phew.”
“Can you stop doing things like that?!”
Florian, still pale, shoved her hands away.
“Are you really… the daughter of Del Ponto?”
“If you mean Captain Faust, then yes.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“Believe what you want.”
Her eyes were full of affection and pride for her father.
This girl really is from a completely different world, Florian thought.
The taste in his mouth turned bitter. He drank down his cold tea in one go.
“I’m leaving.”
“Already?”
“The goods are delivered. I don’t have a reason to stay longer.”
He put on his coat and avoided eye contact.
“Come again.”
Florian looked at her like she was insane.
“Why would I come back?”
“Because you’re the only person I know in the capital.”
Florian said nothing and left the estate.
