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chapter 17
Just by looking at it, the medicine bottle seemed expensive, and Janette waved her hands in refusal.
“You really don’t have to give me this. I still have some of the medicine I’m using.”
Instead of responding to her, Kendrick pulled out another bottle.
“This one is good for scars. It removes most types of scars, so once your wounds heal, make sure to use it.”
Janette looked at Kendrick silently.
There was an unyielding firmness in the man’s eyes—no intention of backing down even an inch.
“If I refuse this too, are you going to threaten to throw it away?”
Kendrick flinched slightly.
“Threaten? That’s hurtful. I was just… persuading you.”
“Persuading?”
“You seem really bad at accepting things from others, Miss Janette.”
“……”
That hit the mark perfectly, leaving Janette speechless.
He was right.
She still wasn’t used to other people’s kindness or consideration. In fact, petty bullying felt easier to endure than goodwill directed at her.
“But you’ll need to get used to it. A maid serving Ludwig can become a symbol to others, or someone who needs special attention. And above all—”
Kendrick stopped and smiled faintly as he looked at her.
“I like putting things into the hands of my people.”
…my people.
Janette blinked slowly.
For some reason, that phrase sank deeply into her heart.
Meanwhile, Kendrick himself was slightly startled by what he had just said.
“‘My people’… that sounds a bit too forward.”
Did that make it sound like he was flirting? Now that he’d said it, it felt awkward. He briefly considered correcting it to something like “partner” or “comrade.”
At that moment—
“I’ve been thinking, but Theo really seems like a great boss.”
“Pardon?”
Now? At this timing?
But Janette’s eyes were completely sincere.
“You don’t often see a boss who takes such good care of his people.”
In her previous life, her so-called “parachute executive” only cared about himself and ignored everyone under him. Compared to that, Theo was the ideal model of a good superior.
Kendrick was left speechless under her bright, admiring gaze.
It was clearly a compliment, but for some reason it didn’t feel particularly pleasant.
While he tilted his head in mild confusion—
“I’ll take these and use them properly. And thank you for the earlier gifts as well.”
Janette smiled and carefully put the medicine bottles away.
Soon after, their food arrived.
After finishing the meal, the waiter approached and asked about dessert.
“Would you like tea or coffee?”
“Black tea.”
“Coffee for me, please.”
The waiter bowed politely and left.
Looking at the now-empty table, Kendrick spoke again.
“You seem to like coffee.”
“I’m not sure I’d say I like it… rather—”
Janette frowned slightly, as if thinking deeply.
“When I drink coffee, I feel strangely calm.”
She didn’t know why.
Nobles didn’t particularly favor coffee, and the Graham family didn’t either.
And yet, Janette liked it.
Tea and herbal drinks were fine too, but coffee felt different.
“Do you dislike coffee, Theo?”
“Yes. I do.”
It was a rare, firm answer.
“Why? Is there a reason?”
“I used to drink it so much I got sick of it.”
So much that he got sick of it?
Janette looked curious, but Kendrick only shrugged.
“Anyway, about the request you gave me earlier.”
Janette’s eyes sharpened immediately.
“Simon?”
“Yes. That matter has been successfully completed.”
“You recovered all 30 million Ecl, right?”
“Of course. Not a single Ecl was missing.”
More than that, he had broken one of the man’s legs and one arm—but Kendrick didn’t mention that, only smiling faintly.
“That’s a relief. I didn’t want a single coin going to that bastard.”
“Your prediction was correct. The moment he got the money, he ran straight to the gambling house.”
“He’s the type who’d wake up even in his sleep for gambling.”
“Then what will you do with the 30 million Ecl? If you have plans, I can assist.”
Janette answered immediately.
“First, I’ll pay Illynia for the request.”
“The fee is fine. Consider it service—”
“No. I hired you as a client. I should pay appropriately.”
Kendrick gave in at her firm tone.
“Understood, customer. Then I’ll charge 3 million Ecl for the request.”
Janette nodded happily, and Kendrick chuckled.
“Then, how should we handle the remaining 27 million Ecl, customer?”
“Well… the rest of the money…”
Later
After the meeting with Janette ended,
Kendrick did not return directly to Ludwig. Instead, he headed underground into Soluna.
At the headquarters of Illynia, Hobbs and Gale were talking.
“I heard from a traveler from the east that there’s a bad flu going around there! They’re worried it might turn into pneumonia!”
At Gale’s rough voice, Hobbs nodded.
“Really? Then we should stock up on cold medicines just in case.”
“True. This place gets a lot of travelers. We don’t know who might bring diseases like pneumonia.”
“Yes, preparation won’t hurt—Deputy Commander?”
“Ah! Deputy Commander! It’s been a while!”
They finally noticed him and greeted him.
Gale raised a hand and strode over.
“You look even bigger than before.”
“Oh, you can tell? I’ve been working on building more muscle.”
Gale, a former mercenary, treated muscle-building as a hobby—claiming muscle was the standard of beauty.
Flexing proudly, he smiled.
“Heh. My cute Fernando.”
Kendrick ignored Gale whispering to his muscles and turned to Hobbs.
A coffee cup sat beside a stack of documents on the desk.
“You’re still drinking that.”
“Coffee?”
“Yeah. After drinking it endlessly on the battlefield, aren’t you sick of it?”
On the battlefield, clean water was scarce. They had to boil it, but even then it wasn’t truly clean. Coffee became the preferred drink to mask the taste of impurities.
It also kept soldiers alert, making it ideal for long nights.
After drinking it for so long, most soldiers couldn’t stand even the smell after retirement.
“It doesn’t bother me. In fact, it’s become a habit. If I don’t drink it, I feel uneasy.”
Hearing that, Janette came to mind.
She had said coffee also made her feel calm.
“How did your meeting go?”
“It went well. She seems to have adapted to Ludwig.”
“…Why do you sound surprised? You already knew that.”
He had been spying from the neighboring estate.
At Hobbs’ reaction, Kendrick smiled slightly.
“Do you have a complaint?”
“No, of course not. And the medicine? You delivered it properly?”
Nod.
Kendrick gestured at the stacks of documents.
“It really removes scars completely, right?”
“It’s the finest medicine in the empire. One bottle costs as much as two carriages, you know.”
“Only two? That seems cheap.”
“Hey! Enough! Stop talking!”
Hobbs sighed deeply.
“So, what will we do with the 30 million Ecl you entrusted to us?”
