🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter o9
Sebastian’s steps were unusually light as he left the shabby inn and headed to the place that rented out horses.
“Hey, I’m borrowing a horse again today.”
“Ah, no. The boss said we’re not allowed to lend you a horse until you pay off your outstanding debt.”
The clerk blocked Sebastian as he tried to take a horse.
“Hey, what’s a few measly coins anyway? I’ll give you the money tonight, so move aside.”
“No way. You said that last time too and didn’t bring the money. Do you know how badly I got scolded by the boss?”
“Hey, do I look like someone who wouldn’t pay?”
“Yes.”
The clerk answered firmly.
“Ha… you’ve got to be kidding me. Hey, then…”
Sebastian pulled out a gemstone from the inside pocket of his clothes.
It was one he hadn’t been able to exchange for money because the pawnshop had said it was fake.
“Take this as collateral. I’ll bring the money tonight.”
Sebastian handed the gem to the clerk, whose eyes widened.
“Then I can go, right?”
“Yes. I’ll see you this evening. It’d be even better if you don’t come.”
To think he’s that happy over such a fake gem.
Comparing the man’s life—content with a fake jewel while washing horses—to his own, soon to be resting on a peaceful sea with three hundred thousand Ritas in hand, Sebastian mounted the horse.
The old horse seemed even weaker than usual today. It staggered violently before barely regaining its balance and then began to walk slowly.
“Who are you?”
As Sebastian stood in front of the gate to the Leon estate, a servant approached him.
“Sebastian.”
He replied without even looking at the servant’s face.
“Pardon?”
“Sebastian. Now open the gate.”
Sebastian frowned irritably.
“There’s no one by that name among today’s scheduled visitors. Do you have an appointment?”
The servant blocked Sebastian as he tried to force his way in.
“What? Hey, I’m here to see Espin. You don’t recognize me?”
Sebastian stared at the servant in disbelief.
“There are no more guests permitted by the young lady today.”
“Hah, seriously.”
Sebastian let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the servant blocking his way.
“Hey. Call someone higher up. The head butler or someone.”
“That’s not possible.”
“What? Hey, do you know who I am?”
Sebastian dismounted and tapped the servant’s shoulder.
“I don’t. If you tell me your name, I’ll go ask.”
“You insignificant little—what did you just say?”
His face darkened as he shoved the servant’s shoulder harder.
“What is all this commotion?”
The head butler came out in response to the noise.
“Perfect timing, head butler.”
Thinking he could finally enter the estate, Sebastian grabbed the reins.
“Open the gate. Now.”
“Who are you?”
The head butler, whom Sebastian had seen countless times over the past month coming and going from this house, asked as if he were seeing Sebastian for the first time.
“Head butler. Have you gone senile? It’s me—Sebastian.”
“I’ve never seen you before.”
“Are you insane?”
“This is not a place just anyone can barge into. Please leave at once.”
Sebastian froze.
Had everyone in this household gone mad? How could they not recognize him?
Just yesterday, the gates had opened the moment he arrived, and he’d been allowed straight inside.
“Are you all really crazy? Call Espin.”
“Do not speak the young lady’s name so lightly.”
“Ha, this is driving me insane. Just call Espin! I’ll have all of you fired.”
Sebastian shoved past the servants and the butler and forced his way inside.
One servant was about to grab Sebastian by the collar to stop him, but the head butler restrained him with a look, telling him to stay put.
“Espin! Espin!”
Pushing past everyone who tried to block him, Sebastian shouted desperately for Espin as he entered the estate.
“Who are you?”
A maid who had been cleaning the lobby stepped in front of him.
“Have you all lost your minds? Don’t you know who I am? I was here yesterday! You really don’t remember me? Did you all take some kind of strange drug together?”
“Hey, call some people over here.”
Soon, maids and servants from around the estate gathered and grabbed Sebastian by the arms.
“Let go! You know who I am and you’re still grabbing me? Espin, where are you?”
“Please leave now. If you cause any more trouble, we will call the Imperial Knights.”
Even at the maid’s threat, Sebastian wasn’t afraid at all.
What frightened him more than the Imperial Knights was leaving without even seeing Espin—no, more precisely, leaving empty-handed.
Espin. As long as I can see Espin, everything will be resolved.
No matter how crazy the servants might be, all that mattered was that Espin recognized him.
Sebastian called out to her with all his heart.
Creeeak.
“What’s all this noise? It sounded like someone was calling me.”
In response to his voice, the door to the reception room slowly opened, and at last, Espin—the one he had been desperately calling for—appeared.
“Miss! It’s me, Sebastian. Let go of me. Espin, all these people have gone crazy.”
Sebastian shook off the maids’ hands and ran toward Espin.
“Who… are you?”
Despite Sebastian’s desperate gaze, Espin looked at him with an innocent expression, as if she were seeing a stranger for the first time.
“Espin… Have you gone mad too? It’s me. Sebastian!”
“Head butler, who is this person?”
Espin asked the head butler, who had just entered the estate.
“I don’t know. He’s been causing a disturbance, insisting on seeing you. We’ll deal with him shortly.”
What is this…?
Am I dreaming?
Sebastian couldn’t believe what was happening before his eyes.
That can’t be… I gave you every last coin I had…
In his panic, he turned his head to look at the maids and servants. Surely there had to be at least one person who had spoken with him before.
What… they’re all unfamiliar faces.
The maids he had grown used to seeing over the past month were all gone.
Everyone was looking at Sebastian as though he were truly a complete stranger.
Sebastian felt like he was about to go insane.
“What’s going on? Why is this taking so long?”
A man and a woman, who seemed to have been with Espin in the reception room, opened the door and came out, curiosity on their faces.
The Im… Imperial Knights.
Seeing the Imperial Knights’ uniform worn by Haren, Sebastian instinctively shrank back.
No. If I retreat now, I’ll never get the seal. And then my three hundred thousand Ritas…
Sebastian had spent a total of fifty thousand Ritas to obtain Count Leon’s seal. Even if the ten thousand he’d received from Espin were deducted, a massive forty thousand Ritas were about to go down the drain.
“Espin, is it possible you’re angry with me about something? Is that why you’re suddenly pretending not to know me…? We agreed to leave together…”
At Sebastian’s trembling, tearful voice, Espin shuddered in shock.
Then the man in the Imperial Knights’ uniform stepped in front of Sebastian.
“What’s your name?”
“I—I’m Sebastian…”
At that name, the man’s eyes flashed sharply. And then—
“So it was you, you crazy bastard. You dare set your sights on our Espin? If you’re going to go crazy, do it somewhere else, you piece of trash. Want me to tear you apart?”
The fierce-looking woman rushed forward, cursing.
The knight naturally grabbed her arm to stop her and raised his other hand to call the head butler.
“Head butler, summon the Imperial Knights immediately.”
“They’ve already been called.”
“And have this man bound.”
What is this…?
Tightly restrained before he could even resist, Sebastian couldn’t understand a single thing that was happening.
Was everyone deceiving him?
Unable to let himself be taken away like this, Sebastian cried out desperately toward Espin once more.
“Espin, why are you doing this…? I gave you money yesterday.”
“Money? You gave me money?”
“Yes… Didn’t I give you forty thousand Ritas yesterday, my lady…?”
“Why would you give me money?”
“Because you said you didn’t have any.”
“Hah.”
Before he even finished speaking, Espin let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
“Excuse me. Do I look like someone who doesn’t have money?”
Just like Jane had done yesterday, Sebastian collapsed into a sitting position in the lobby and looked up at Espin.
Sebastian, dressed in shabby silk clothes, and Espin, wearing an extremely luxurious, high-quality dress.
Comparing the two, it was obvious to anyone who looked that the one who seemed poor was Sebastian.
“Where did this delusional lunatic come from, running his mouth? As if Espin would ever take money from you. This bastard’s completely lost it.”
The fierce-looking woman shouted again, now with both of her arms held by the maids.
Is all of this really just my delusion?
Sebastian now genuinely began to wonder if he had truly gone mad.
As he stared at the floor in despair—
“The Imperial Knights have arrived.”
The servant’s voice rang out, followed by the sound of precisely synchronized footsteps.
The knights entered at once, and when Haren saw the man leading them, he called out to him with clear delight.
“Captain!”
