Episode 31 – Nice to Meet You

*

As soon as my negotiation with Robin was over, I took Mena and left the mansion.

It wasn’t polite to disappear from the banquet without even saying goodbye to Mella, who had invited me,

But I made the excuse that I needed to hear about Banata, so even if she was disappointed, she wouldn’t be unable to understand.

For some reason, the mansion seemed a little noisy, but I ignored it and got into the carriage with Mena.

Mena, sitting across from me, bowed her head and apologized to me, her new master.

,I’m really sorry for my rash behavior today, Baron-nim.”

,It’s okay, it was worth it.”

I tried to reassure her, but she only trembled more at my words.

Well, it was understandable that she was worried that the mysterious tycoon she had grabbed by the collar would hire her for a large sum of money with the intention of harming her.

Of course, I had no intention of tormenting her at all.

,I owe Banata a lot in Plavis, and I’m worried about her too, so I’d like you to start by telling me about her disappearance.”

,R… Really?”

,Yes, I’ll find her for you.”

Mena cautiously opened her mouth.

,The truth is, Banata is the daughter born between me and the Count-nim… no, Robin.”

I remembered the letter I had stolen from Banata in the past.

The recipient of that letter, which revealed the secret of her birth to Banata, who had grown up in an orphanage and was barely admitted to the Aureo Academy and was being bullied by Rose for no reason, was Mena, who was now in front of me.

Mena had no way of knowing that I had stolen and read the letter as a pickpocket, so I pretended to be surprised.

,I had a feeling, but it really was!”

,Yes, I used to exchange letters with my daughter and ask about each other’s well-being.”

,Does Banata know who her father is too?”

,Yes, she knows.”

Suddenly, I remembered what Banata had said in the past.

When I was surprised to see Rose’s thuggish behavior and asked if all the children of heroes were like that,

Banata replied that not all of the hero’s children could act like Rose.

Looking back now, Banata’s somewhat resigned and pitiful expression when she said that must have been out of pity for her own situation as a bastard of a hero.

I asked Mena again.

,But why did Banata suddenly disappear?”

,I received a letter from Banata a few weeks ago.”

,So?”

,The letter said that she was going to follow the Baron-nim to the capital. It has also been confirmed that she has dropped out of the academy.”

,Is that true?”

This is the first time I’ve heard of this.

This is the first time I’ve heard that Banata dropped out of the academy or that she was trying to follow me.

,I haven’t heard anything about that,”

,I know that she left a few days later than the Baron-nim because she was going through the procedure of dropping out of the academy. But…”

,Don’t tell me she had an accident on the way?”

,No, that’s not it. According to my investigation, there was definitely a record of her passing through the city gates.”

,When was that?”

,It was on the day of the funeral of Daniel-doryeonim and Rose-agassi.”

,Hmm, so something happened to her in the city,”

,Yes, I only found out about it the day before yesterday…”

The funeral was almost two weeks ago.

If she was unlucky enough to fall into the clutches of the city’s snakes, she might already be dead or sold off to a place where she couldn’t be found.

Mena probably knew that, so I didn’t bother to say it out loud, but the chances of her being safe were slim.

,…She’ll be safe. I promise I’ll find her.”

,…I’m sorry.”

,You should say thank you in that case,”

The carriage stopped in front of the White Glass Tower.

The hotel staff opened the carriage door and bowed, and I got out of the carriage with Mena.

At that moment, a fact flashed through my mind.

Mena.

The fact that she was Lara’s maid.

,Ah, I’m screwed.”

*

,Ed, are you crazy?”

,Mom, calm down.”

,No, I couldn’t help it.”

I told Mena to wait in the lobby for a while and went up to the room alone.

Lara and Lily were, of course, lying comfortably in the room without hoods.

A major disaster would have occurred if I had come up with Mena.

When I explained the situation that led to Mena being brought here, Lara asked me with an absurd expression.

,What are you going to do now? Do we have to live in the room with hoods on?”

,Um… would it be too uncomfortable?”

,Of course!”

,Hehe, I guess so?”

Lara put me in a headlock and demanded an answer.

Of course, it didn’t hurt at all.

It’s not because I’m undead, but because she was holding me really weakly.

In fact, it was like she was pressing my head against her chest.

,We need to think about what to do first, we can’t just leave her standing in the lobby all day.”

Lily separated me and Lara and said.

I stroked Lily’s hair and agreed.

,Yeah, let’s think about what to do first.”

,What do you mean what to do?”

Lara pointed to her temple with her index finger and said.

,Since she’s going to be a maid to help Baron Salvier with his work instead of us, it might be better for her to know your identity.”

,I think so too, Ed. Of course, I don’t know if she’s trustworthy.”

,Mena is trustworthy. When she was my maid before, she didn’t talk much, but she was very efficient.”

I was the one who started it, but I didn’t know what kind of person she was, so I was glad that Lara thought highly of her.

Lara sighed and continued in a slightly relieved tone.

,Besides, you’ll need her help to find Banata, so she won’t do anything that will harm you.”

,That’s right.”

I looked at Lara and apologized.

,I’m sorry for acting without thinking.”

,It’s okay.”

Lara shrugged and replied.

,I was surprised, but I was also a little relieved.”

,Relieved?”

,That you still can’t pass by someone in trouble.”

,No, I just did it because I thought Robin would hate it,”

,Don’t lie.”

Lara smiled and leaned her face close to mine.

,Fortunately, you’re still the Ed I knew.”

,…”

Wait, you’re too close.

Her face was so close that it filled my vision completely.

The sweet fruity scent I smelled in her cabin in the Vortex Forest tickles my nose.

I was flustered by her sudden approach, and Lily tapped me on the shoulder.

,Mena is waiting in the lobby.”

,Ah, that’s right. I know.”

*

I went down to the lobby and found Mena and came back.

Before entering the room, I spoke to Mena.

,You’ll be staying here for a while, and there are people living inside with you.”

,Are they the Baron-nim’s maids? I’ve heard about them.”

,You know them too, Mena.”

,Me…?”

I didn’t say anything more and opened the door.

Unlike what I expected, they weren’t waiting near the door.

,Everyone, where are you…?”

Dalgeurak.

The sound of teacups clinking quietly.

When I looked in the direction of the sound, Lara and Lily were sitting in chairs drinking tea.

They were holding pretty cups and saucers in their hands, and a luxurious tea set was set up on the table.

,What, when did they set that up?’

Maybe they didn’t want to look disheveled when they met their former maid again.

Lara was drinking tea with a dignity I had never seen before.

Lily was following Lara, but she had lived in the forest since she was five years old, so she was awkwardly imitating Lara’s movements.

,What is it…?”

I was also embarrassed by her sudden performance.

Lara pretended not to hear me and slowly looked at us and spoke in an elegant tone.

,It’s been a while, Mena. How have you been?”

Eugh.

Not only her tone, but also her gentle smile made my jaw drop.

Was this what Lara looked like when she was the Countess?

Honestly, it doesn’t suit her at all.

I looked at Mena with a sullen expression.

,…! S… Surely!”

Mena was staring at Lara with wide eyes and her mouth covered.

Her wolf ears, which had been stuck to her head without moving, perked up for the first time.

,…Are you the Madam?”

She called Lara Madam.

It really doesn’t suit her.

Lara gently put down her teacup and slowly got up from her chair.

Lily gave me a slight wink when she saw my dumbfounded expression, as I was only used to Lara moving nimbly.

,Play along.’

That’s what her eyes seemed to be saying.

Even though my face was covered by a mask, it seemed that my bewilderment was conveyed.

I tensed my body and straightened my posture.

Lara slowly approached with a dignified gait.

Her gestures were very familiar and natural, but that made it even more awkward.

I couldn’t help but open my mouth.

,It really doesn’t suit you.”

,Shut up.”

Mena looked at me with a confused face.

I started by telling her about Lara.

,First of all, unlike what is known to the public, she is not my maid. She’s more like a friend and colleague.”

,…That’s too much.”

,What?”

,It’s nothing.”

I missed Lara’s small mumble, but I didn’t bother to ask.

Mena still seemed confused.

Lara opened her mouth before Mena could ask.

,First of all, I’m sorry for disappearing without saying anything. I had a good reason.”

,…Madam, what on earth happened?”

,To explain that, you need to know who the Salvier Baron next to you is.”

,…Yes?”

Lara gave me a signal with her eyes.

I nodded slightly and took off my mask.

After washing away the rotten flesh that was disguised as burn scars with divine power, I revealed my bare face.

,I’ll introduce you since it’s the first time Mena is meeting me in person.”

,Baron-nim…?”

The moment I revealed my identity for the first time except for Lara and Lily.

I looked at Mena with a bit of nervousness.

Lara politely pointed at me and said to Mena.

,Edward. The thief of the Hero Party and the very Edward known as the Hero of Sacrifice.”

,Nice to meet you like this, Mena.”

.