Ch.9Moth (3)

Click, click.

In the subtle silence, the footsteps of the maid, Serin, and myself seemed unusually pronounced.

I secretly stole glances at Serin using the presence of my mask. Her face was a contradictory mixture of dissatisfaction and expectation.

When we arrived at the banquet hall while I was covertly observing her, the Baron welcomed us with a gentle smile.

“Welcome. I thought you might be hungry, so I instructed them to prepare quickly, but as a result, the table setting is a bit light. Please forgive my rudeness.”

It was most likely an excuse.

The Baron’s usual meals would be lighter and more modest. Today, it was clear that he had increased the number of dishes because of the unofficial visit from Serin, who was none other than an Imperial Princess.

“I don’t mind at all. Originally, I’d be full just eating grilled pork neck.”

“My, what a good joke.”

Though it wasn’t a joke at all, the Baron shook his hand genuinely. Perhaps this response was possible because he didn’t know that she, an Imperial Princess, was neglected at the Imperial Palace. Who would dare guess that she was a lonely soul with nowhere to turn?

Thus, their greetings flowed on misunderstandings. Following the Baron’s invitation, Serin and I sat in our designated chairs.

The scraping sound of knives. Proper and quiet table manners. The warmth of the soup.

When the components of the dinner banquet had gone around once, the Baron calmly opened the conversation.

“There’s one thing I’d like to confirm, if that’s alright?”

“What is it?”

“…Does the gentleman wearing the mask have special circumstances? The way you’re pushing food under your mask seems quite uncomfortable, even for me to watch.”

“I agree. I’m uncomfortable too. Just take it off once, Rian.”

“I apologize. If it’s causing trouble, I’ll stop eating now.”

I offered an apologetic response filled with guilt. Serin flinched as if about to jump up and quickly raised her voice.

“Ah, no…! That was a joke, a joke! Even a dog isn’t disturbed while eating, so why would I bother Rian… Haha.”

Serin’s change in attitude seemed quite surprising to the Baron. She scattered her gaze between Serin and me before nodding her head heavily.

“If the… young lady has no complaints, then I won’t mind either.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

It would have been strange if the Baron had cut things off when the Imperial Princess had already stepped in to smooth things over. Still feeling guilty, I pretended to eat a little more before quietly putting down my utensils.

At that moment, the Baron cleared her throat to draw attention.

“Ahem! From what I heard earlier, you two were treated unfairly?”

Serin’s eyes sparkled. It was the challenging look she had when she received the dinner invitation.

“That’s right! The gatekeeper was exercising so much authority… That person isn’t part of your mansion staff, is he?”

“He’s one of the members of the mercenary group I contracted to maintain the security of the mansion and the peace of the village. I apologize on his behalf for his rudeness.”

“From what I saw, he seems to have a lot of problems… Have you considered reconsidering his employment?”

Serin asked subtly. It seemed she still harbored resentment about the disrespectful treatment she received. But the Baron responded with an awkward smile that hinted at her answer.

“Actually… I was surprised when I received the report. They’re usually such gentlemanly people with good reputations among the residents. I wonder why they acted that way…”

“What? Gentlemanly? That person…?”

“It’s understandable if you don’t believe me, but I’m quite perplexed too. So I’m concerned there might be some misunderstanding.”

“Are you… doubting us?”

Behind Serin’s trembling voice, displeasure was raising its head. She seemed to be chewing on the unfair experience she had suffered like tough meat.

“Though I know it’s rude, I dare say this. I don’t want to distrust my people whom I’ve been watching all along.”

“Ha.”

Does she think this is just the whining of an Imperial Princess raised delicately in the palace? Or is she genuinely blinded by the trust emanating from the mercenary group?

As I considered various possibilities, I discovered an expression in the Baron’s words that created a sense of dissonance.

‘She doesn’t want to distrust her people whom she’s been watching all along?’

After all, mercenaries are drifters.

That is, they have a calculating relationship tied by money, from duels between territories, conflicts between nations, to protocol and menial tasks.

Therefore, loyalty and affection for the contractor and the contracted group are distant concepts.

In fact, I had never heard of employers becoming attached to them. It’s natural since they’re a group where compatible human types are rare. It would be fortunate if they weren’t treated as disposable.

‘What’s even stranger is that she’s acting like this despite knowing Serin’s identity as an Imperial Princess… What’s clouding the Baron’s eyes?’

While I was retracing these questions, the Baron continued speaking.

“So I was hoping you could talk with the person responsible for this incident… Would that be alright?”

I remained silent, and Serin accepted after a pause.

“…I’ll accept for now.”

“Thank you for your generous decision.”

The Baron pulled a bell cord hanging near the table. Shortly after, an unknown figure knocked on the door of the banquet hall from outside. When the Baron gave permission, he approached her with dignified steps.

“I’m sorry for the sudden call, Rude.”

“As someone employed by the Baron, I’m just doing my duty.”

Indeed, his speech was gentlemanly as the Baron had mentioned.

Rude was a man whose distinct features were accentuated by his smoothly swept brown hair. His appearance, capable of attracting the opposite sex’s gaze, and the wild muscles revealed on his forearms greatly enhanced his charm as a man. The Baron’s cheeks blushed a shy crimson as she smiled at Rude. It was the color of secretly burning affection.

“He’s the captain of the mercenary group responsible for the security of the mansion. Recently, he’s been handling household matters fairly, so his trustworthiness is high.”

“What? You let him handle household matters, not just other duties? Him?”

“I’m trying my best, knowing my inadequacies.”

Rude answered instead of Serin, who couldn’t hide her astonished expression at the Baron’s behavior, which was completely at odds with common sense. However, having clearly seen through the Baron’s intentions, I judged that while it was strange, it wasn’t an inexplicable phenomenon.

‘The Baron is in love with him.’

It’s unclear how great an emotion love must be to blind a person. I just realized that since no one is a perfect superhuman, they can’t always be rational.

I’ve seen countless people who forget the principles of the world and ruin their own positions. Like my father and mother who engaged in dark schemes and tyranny.

“Hey, as the captain, don’t you acknowledge your subordinate’s mistake?”

“They might have shown somewhat irritable behavior due to fatigue.”

“So, are you admitting that your subordinate abandoned gentlemanly responses and acted rudely?”

“Well, everything is relative, so there can be differences in perception between people.”

“You have quite a talent for packaging sins.”

This was the first time I witnessed Serin’s mood deteriorate this much during our journey. She seemed to be getting increasingly irritated with Rude, who maintained his thick skin despite her open mockery and questioning.

The emotion that sprouted as I observed her argument was a small spark. A small spark burning in my esophagus.

‘What should I do in this situation to resolve it?’

I had no idea. I just disliked the feeling. A very repulsive heat was rising.

Rodrick had told me not to let emotions fester for too long. Saying it could make me sick. This seemed to be exactly that kind of situation. If I ignored it and swallowed it down past my throat, it felt like it would burn like embers.

Without knowing what decision I was about to make, I called her name while she was in the midst of arguing.

“Serin.”

“Rian?”

That was all, but the strange heat subsided somewhat. I judged that I could endure it to this extent.

After I called her name but withheld further words for a while, Serin stood up from her seat, exuding an unpleasant aura.

“Sigh. Let’s go, Rian.”

The person who responded more promptly to her actions than I did was the Baron.

“Young lady!”

A face mixed with a hint of regret. Uncertainty about the actions taken. And yet, an attachment that couldn’t be given up. It was a face where all these emotions were complexly intertwined.

I suppressed the spark trying to come alive in my stomach and followed Serin’s suggestion.

“The meal was delicious.”

And so, the chaotic dinner ended with a pretentious expression of gratitude.

◇

“Ha, he’s one of the most shameless people I’ve ever met. What was his name, Rude? I really can’t understand why the Baron keeps him around! He certainly lives up to his name!”

As if the aftermath of dinner hadn’t faded, Serin grumbled as we walked down the corridor. Knowing the answer, I casually asked her a question.

“What kind of person do you think he is, Serin?”

“Someone I’d like to lay down and beat thoroughly.”

“So Serin is a violent person.”

“What did you say?”

I knew it from when she tried to take my blanket. She’s a character type that I can hardly handle.

“No, don’t you feel the same way, Rian? Am I wrong? Am I?!”

“I don’t know. Just…”

…..

It was difficult to concretize abstract concepts into language. Thus, my answer remained unfinished and was buried in my throat. Instead, a sentence I had never thought of or intended to say took shape and jumped out of my mouth.

“Aren’t you attracted to his appearance, Serin?”

“Me?”

I made a mistake. It was a clear error. But I’m confused because I can’t diagnose myself on what I mistook and what I did wrong. Meanwhile, Serin scolded me with a deeply furrowed face.

“Are you crazy? Why would I be? When I have Rian!”

“What?”

“Why would I do that when I have you, Rian?”

“That’s…”

I couldn’t continue speaking.

The reason is…

Pure joy. That seems to be the appropriate expression. However, it was unclear why her words approached me as joy.

It doesn’t matter.

Right now, I just want to savor Serin’s words a bit more inwardly.

With one question.

“…But Serin, you don’t know my face.”

“If you knew, you’d show it to me at least once. Tsk…”

“That would be difficult.”

Yes, it’s difficult. Even if it’s just curiosity, her straightforward gaze focusing on me is truly difficult. It’s so difficult that the difficulty is becoming increasingly pleasant.

“Anyway… I should have stripped you to the bone before dinner. Ah, my room is this way. See you tomorrow, Rian!”

“I hope you have a good night.”

We turned in different directions. Even though we had a bad experience, I hoped it would be alright by tomorrow. I wish for a good night where everything is forgotten and we can greet a refreshing morning.

…

……

Though I had wished for it so purely.

Unfortunately, the spark of trouble was secretly traveling along the fuse to the roots of the Baron’s mansion.