Ch.187Time Flows #8

From the Daughter of a Ruined Merchant Guild to a Guest of the Duke’s House

Selen had been living with a dizzying sense of falling into the abyss and rising again several times lately. From being the daughter of a merchant guild ruined by her own greed, to helping another guild, and now as a guest of the ducal family.

She felt burdened by the fine clothes, good food, and the excessive courtesy shown by the servants working in the duke’s mansion.

At times like this, most children—or even adults—might become arrogant, thinking they deserved such treatment. After all, not only the servants but also the nobles here, and even women like Ellen and Eve who had made names for themselves in war, treated her with respect.

Yet despite all this, Selen’s heart remained anxious each day, as if walking on thin ice. Though young, her many hardships had taught her that kindness never came without reason, and that even genuine affection could turn at any moment—just like Selen’s mother, who abandoned her struggling family and child to find a new man when times got tough.

“Selen. May I come in?”

Knock, knock. As Selen sat at her dressing table reflecting on her behavior, she snapped back to attention at the familiar voice accompanying the knocking. The decisive reason for her current treatment—and the person she needed to be most careful around—had come to visit.

“Ah… yes! Please come in!”

As Selen hastily got up from her dressing table, a child entered as if they had been waiting. It was Nix, who would one day succeed Helena as the new duke.

“Hello. Are you doing well today too?”

“Yes. Thanks to your consideration, I’m doing very well. It’s far too generous.”

When Selen politely bowed with her hands folded at her waist, Nix nodded with satisfaction and smiled. Even if it was just flattery offered as a greeting, it was nice to hear. He also knew well that she was being treated properly.

“Really? I’m glad to hear that. May I sit for a moment?”

“Yes. Of course. Would you like me to brew some tea as well?”

“Thank you.”

The atmosphere of brewing tea and conversing across a table was quite pleasant. One might even call it warm.

Yet Selen’s insides were burning black with anxiety, to the point where cold sweat seeped from her hands. Setting aside the heart-stopping comment about liking her, the problem was the look in his eyes.

Despite those clear sky-blue eyes, they seemed to swirl with dark ink—a gaze no ordinary person could possess.

.

“It seems like the child Nix brought in is becoming more frightened… what should we do?”

Goodness. I was inwardly surprised to see Helena voluntarily bringing up matters concerning Nix. While she hadn’t completely neglected Nix before, there had always been a passive quality to her care, a sense of obligation.

But now, she was speaking like an ordinary parent, without any such undertones, which was quite remarkable.

“The child Nix brought in… you mean the one with red hair? Selen, was it?”

“Yes. She seems to have received quite strict training at the Imperial Guild—unlike most children, she shows few openings, and despite being treated well, she doesn’t seem excited by it, which I find admirable. However, she seems to be feeling increasingly stifled because of this.”

Clatter. Helena set her half-empty teacup down on its saucer and slowly exhaled a long breath.

I was aware that Nix had begun showing obsessive tendencies very similar to Helena’s, but so far it hadn’t been severe enough to warrant more than careful observation. It seemed Helena had observed this behavior and formed her own thoughts about it.

“Stifled… because of Nix’s obsession?”

“That’s part of it, but living in this mansion itself seems stifling to her. While her material wealth has increased, her heart isn’t as free as when she was on her own.”

Helena looked alternately at me and my hand resting on the table, then smoothly reached out to place her hand over mine. From the way her fingers gently caressed the back of my hand and the heat melting in her eyes, I could tell she was trying to provoke me. Whether she wanted to end this conversation quickly and move to the nearby bed, or simply didn’t mind ending the discussion here…

I wasn’t sure of the answer, but I could clearly tell that Helena was aroused.

So, before she became more heated, I shared my thoughts to cool her down or divert her attention.

“When Helena started becoming obsessive, I felt stifled and scared too, but we ended up getting married and are doing quite well, aren’t we? But as you know, that process is a difficult path for an ordinary person to endure, let alone a child whose family has collapsed.”

“I know that well, but… have you grown tired of me?”

“Of course not.”

I took a handkerchief from my pocket and gently dabbed around Helena’s eyes, which looked ready to tear up at any moment. The terrace table wasn’t very large, so I could reach her comfortably with just an extended arm.

“As I’ve said before… if I disliked you or was still afraid, could I have continued like this from the first day I embraced you until now? I couldn’t have, right?”

“Yes…”

Helena nodded, her eyes slightly red and swollen, as if she didn’t doubt this point. Seeing this, I felt I could continue the conversation and finally got to my main point after a somewhat lengthy introduction.

“But I was able to accept it all because I liked Helena. If I had only tried to fulfill my obligations without any affection, I would have grown tired of it. Even if I wasn’t scared.”

“So you mean… we need to make that child like Nix somehow?”

Having escaped her anxiety and regained her composure—and her perceptiveness—Helena asked a sharp question. It was so precise that it left me with nothing more to say, as it captured the essence of what I wanted to convey.

“Exactly. I think we need to create opportunities for that child to like Nix, so she can endure this, and perhaps even reach out to us.”

“Like Zion did with me?”

“Um… yes.”

It’s extremely difficult to handle someone with strong obsessive tendencies. One needs a sturdy mentality—if not the iron mentality I’ve developed—to calmly guide emotions and situations, which is why creating opportunities for that is important.

At least that’s what I thought, and fortunately, Helena seemed to agree with me.

So, my conclusion on what we should do is this:

“It might be a bit early, but I think we should introduce her to high society…”

.

High society refers to the social circles where the upper classes—including imperial family members, royalty, and nobility—gather and interact, according to its dictionary definition.

And true to that definition, the high society of the Sothern Kingdom is organized accordingly, broadly divided into banquets hosted by the king and those hosted by various nobles.

These banquets typically take place during the relatively leisurely winter season, though this isn’t a strict rule.

In other words, invitations can arrive regardless of season, and people often attend these banquets throughout the year.

“Wow…”

From the immaculately cleaned entrance of the mansion to the elaborately decorated garden, and the splendidly dressed people gathered in the banquet hall inside—Selen let out soft exclamations of wonder at the brilliant and dazzling scenery from beginning to end.

Nix watched her silently with a smile, recalling the words Helena and Zion had shared with him.

—It’s fine that you see that child as special and feel obsessed. But to truly win her over, you must know when to step back, and gradually make her look toward you.

Although such advice about restraint might not resonate well with a child prone to emotional decisions, the clever Nix followed the counsel faithfully. He liked the idea of holding back and preparing to pounce, like a predator waiting to completely devour its prey.

Moreover, the advice had come from Helena, who shared his tendencies and had ultimately achieved what she wanted.

“It really is magnificent. This is my first time at a banquet too, and it’s dizzying to the eyes.”

“Yes… it’s truly splendid.”

For a while, the two children stared with wide eyes at the bright yellow lamps that illuminated the night like day, the many tables arranged beneath them, and the plates and dishes adorning those tables.

It was a childlike display of wonder that anyone could recognize.

“That’s good.”

Ellen, standing in an inconspicuous corner of the banquet hall, watched this scene with folded arms and fond eyes. She had come here to guard Nix and, at Zion’s request, to observe and report his every move.

While she would certainly intervene if danger threatened, until then, she would simply watch and enjoy the scene.

Ellen smiled lightly, feeling the stifling air outside that contrasted with the warm atmosphere beginning to fill the banquet hall. The banquet, hosted by Duke Calliwood, a leader of the neutral faction, was large in scale and heavily guarded, allowing her to relax somewhat.

“First, I’d like to thank everyone for attending despite your busy schedules.”

Shortly after, as Duke Calliwood began the banquet with customary greetings, the hall immediately filled with murmuring voices.

The source was undoubtedly the group of young men and women gathered in the hall, most of whom were either heirs to titles or those without such responsibilities.

However, because Helena’s childbearing had been delayed, Nix stood out starkly among the crowd, most of whom were in their twenties.

The same was true for Selen.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Nix Krauser.”

Yet, as Nix moved among the young adults, firmly holding Selen’s nervous hand, he resembled a seasoned nobleman. He showed no concern for the primal intimidation that came from height differences, maintaining his composure throughout and conversing with a constant smile.

Amazing.

Even as Selen followed Nix’s smooth suggestions and hastily greeted people, she inwardly admired his un-childlike skill. It seemed almost unbelievable that this was the same person who had once shown such innocent yet unsettling obsession.

“Indeed, as expected of the sole heir to the ducal family, you already have such a broad perspective! If I may be so bold, could we perhaps have a deeper conversation?”

A group led by a young man from a count’s family, impressed by Nix’s knowledge and judgment, sparkled with eagerness to form a closer relationship. Initially, they had only intended to establish a casual connection with the Krauser ducal family and might have even seen him as an object of ridicule, but they had realized their mistake.

What to do? Nix, finding the situation bothersome, considered politely declining. While connections built in such places could be useful someday, most were formed like merchant relationships, based on mutual benefit. And those benefits weren’t particularly appealing to Nix at present.

Yes, he would use his youth as an excuse and add that he was tired to politely decline.

Despite knowing he had more stamina than most people gathered here, Nix was about to feign exhaustion when he looked around and closed his mouth.

There were men and women. And there was mockery.

Nix noticed the hostility embedded in the gazes directed at him from various corners, and understanding who that emotion was targeting, he spoke without hesitation.

“Yes, that sounds good. Selen, could you wait here for a moment? It won’t take too long.”

“Ah, yes…”

Only after Nix naturally hinted that he wouldn’t be gone long did he leave, and Selen, left alone, followed his retreating back with her eyes.

She had thought his obsession was frightening, but the moment he let go, a strange emptiness wrapped around her heart. That was why her response had been somewhat sullen.

“Haah…”

Maybe I’ll eat something simple. Selen reached for a plate on one of the tables, which had been lowered overall to accommodate Nix’s height. It contained steak, thick and appetizing, cut into bite-sized pieces.

The sauce on the steak and the meat quality were naturally of high standard, and above all, it was cooked perfectly, making it pleasant to chew. It was good enough to momentarily forget the indescribable emptiness she felt.

But as if the world thought that wasn’t enough, several tall, beautifully adorned noble ladies approached Selen with sneering smiles.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Scarlet, and your name is…?”

“Ah, pleased to meet you. I’m Selen—”

“The daughter of a ruined merchant, right? We know well enough, so there’s no need to introduce yourself.”

As Selen quickly put down her plate and bowed her head in greeting, a mocking laugh descended upon her, clearly intended to crush her. The daughter of a ruined merchant. And now, inevitably residing in the house of a family her merchant had opposed.

Selen had never forgotten any of this and had been careful to maintain proper boundaries, but hearing these facts from someone else’s mouth felt like her heart was being torn apart.

Nevertheless, she quickly convinced herself this was to be expected, reciting a mantra to herself as she raised her bowed head.

“…Yes. Thank you.”

“Indeed. You should be thankful. You seem to know your place well. But…”

Why are you accompanying the ducal heir and acting beyond your station?

Scarlet, the apparent leader of the group of ladies, dressed in a blue gown, smiled as she jabbed at what she perceived as Selen’s vulnerable point.

She had heard about the arrival of a child with delicate features promising a bright future, backed by the solid and massive background of being the ducal heir. Scarlet had intended to move to gain his favor, but was greatly irritated by the unexpected presence of this girl. So she planned to gradually pressure this obstacle out of the way, making her realize her place and eventually removing her from sight.

The other ladies were her helpers in this endeavor.

“I’m sorry. I was just so excited to be able to attend an event where nobles are present that I…”

“Excited, you say? Saying you were so excited that you forgot your place suggests you lack judgment. Well, I suppose that’s understandable given your young age.”

Selen understood these intentions well but felt too depressed to respond strongly. She believed that people’s interest could be cut off at any time, and even if it was deep obsession, it would eventually disappear, so one shouldn’t rely on it too much.

Moreover, even if she did trust it, affection could fade depending on her attitude.

So, knowing she could become like a kite with a broken string at any moment, she responded timidly, trying not to offend, wallowing in her depression.

But then—

“Excuse me.”

Selen’s eyes widened in surprise as she saw Nix stepping between her and Scarlet, his eyes as bottomless as Helena’s.