“My goodness, Goyo, you really went all out today! It suits you so well!”
Rajin was full of admiration, throwing out one compliment after another—about how seeing her up close was incomparable to from a distance, and how the dress seemed to be made just for her. Goyo, who had barely paid attention to the dress’s color or design due to the rush earlier, thought that maybe it was Annecy, not her, who had “gone all out.”
Just as she was about to thank Rajin, Annecy spoke up first.
“Thank you, Sir Eliom.”
“Why are you thanking him?”
“Wasn’t it I who chose the dress? I’m simply pleased to have my taste complimented.”
“Oh! So it was the Marquis who picked it? As expected, your eye for fashion is excellent.”
“I’m glad you appreciate it.”
Despite hardly speaking much to each other, they seemed to get along surprisingly well. Goyo, once again, found herself wondering if the two might share a distant bloodline.
“By the way, Goyo, there’s someone I want to introduce to you.”
“Introduce?”
“Lady Greta, over here.”
Rajin brought someone standing beside her forward. Goyo hadn’t realized the person was part of Rajin’s group, and she was a little surprised.
The lady with dark blue hair who stepped forward appeared to be around Rajin’s age. Her attire was modest, her frame petite, and she had a somewhat subdued presence. However, her round eyes were strikingly clear.
As she was introduced, a faint blush spread across Lady Greta’s cheeks, as if embarrassed by the attention.
“This is Lady Greta Phillip.”
“Hello. I’m Greta of the Viscount Phillip family. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Her voice was small but steady. Goyo, out of habit, quickly assessed her demeanor and responded with a polite greeting.
It seemed Rajin was about to explain why she’d made the introduction, but just then, someone called for Lady Greta in an urgent tone.
It must have been something important because Greta, having barely finished exchanging introductions, had to excuse herself with an apology and leave hurriedly.
Watching her retreating figure, which somehow looked as though she were escaping, Goyo turned back to Rajin.
She scratched the back of her head with an awkward expression, then shrugged when their eyes met.
“She’s a bit busy today.”
“So, why did you want to introduce me to her?”
“Actually, Lady Greta is about to marry.”
“To you?”
“What? No, Goyo! Iel is the one marrying her.”
Both Goyo and Annecy were equally shocked, their eyes widening. Despite their surprise, neither showed it overtly, their expressions only slightly betraying their astonishment.
Rajin found the similarity between them fascinating. So this is how couples grow alike, she thought as she watched them curiously.
While the two collected their composure, Annecy was the first to ask, his voice steady though tinged with reluctance.
“I didn’t know Iel was seeing someone.”
“Yes. They attended the hunting ball together—didn’t you notice?”
“The hunting ball…?”
It made perfect sense for Iel to have had a partner at the imperial-hosted ball. But Annecy had paid no attention to who Iel’s partner was at the time.
His mind had been preoccupied with something else—the shawl Iel had given to Goyo. He’d been so focused on that, wondering whether Iel had some hidden intentions.
For the first time in his life, Annecy felt like a complete fool.
Suddenly, the face of a certain subordinate—someone who had accompanied him to the ball and had a penchant for gathering gossip—popped into his mind.
His previously tense lips curled into a smile. However, the stark contrast between his smiling face and the blue vein bulging on his neck made it all too clear what Kolabe’s future held.
“I’d heard they even announced their engagement at the ball. It’s surprising that the Marquis wasn’t aware of it,” Rajin added, slightly amused.
Noticing the subtle change in Annecy’s expression, Rajin’s gaze shifted slightly. Goyo seemed only a little surprised by the unexpected news, but Annecy’s reaction was different.
‘So, he was wary of Iel because he thought he was unattached. Given their arranged marriage, it’s understandable if he was unsure of her emotions. But still… it doesn’t seem like he’s devoid of feelings for her. So why doesn’t Goyo…’
Rajin couldn’t quite understand Goyo’s certainty, and it left her feeling a little frustrated.
“Well, in any case, congratulations are in order. I won’t be able to attend, but I’ll send my regards.”
“That won’t be necessary. Iel would already be grateful just for offering me a position. Besides, Lady Greta is quite shy, so the wedding will be a small affair with only close family attending. Sending a gift would be too much.”
Recalling the shy demeanor of the lady they’d just met, Goyo nodded in agreement.
“Thank you for your well wishes. In that spirit, shall we have a drink?”
Rajin raised her champagne glass with a smile.
* * *
After returning from the Eliom estate and putting Goyo to bed, Annecy immediately summoned his subordinate.
Kolabe had been lounging in his chambers at the Bethelgius estate, rolling around in bed for the first time in a while. His brief moment of peace was cut short, however, as he was called to the study in the middle of the night.
It’s rare to get a day off—what could this be about at this hour?
Grumbling to himself, Kolabe entered the study. The moment he saw Annecy’s smiling face greeting him, he realized something was very wrong.
Kolabe Perroto’s mind raced. His master had attended Iel Eliom’s inheritance ceremony today. So…?
“Now that I think about it, doesn’t Iel Eliom have a lover…?”
“He’s getting married.”
“To… someone? Ah, I see. So he’s already planning to marry. Ha ha.”
“Ha ha?”
Annecy’s low, questioning tone made Kolabe immediately shut his mouth. Seeing his subordinate snap his lips shut in a straight line, Annecy smiled with feigned warmth.
“You’ve grown quite bold, it seems. You managed to use Iel Eliom to sell me a shawl.”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Marquis. Did you really buy that shawl because of Eliom?”
‘The only way out of this is to talk my way through it.’
Kolabe widened his eyes innocently.
“I simply noticed that the lady seemed cold and in need of a shawl. I have no idea what Count Eliom has to do with this.”
Annecy found himself momentarily speechless.
Thinking back, the shawl hadn’t been purchased because of Iel.
He’d been bothered by the way Goyo’s dress left her exposed, particularly with how some men had been glancing her way. If the only concern had been the cold, he could’ve easily cast a temperature control spell. Yet, he had gone out of his way to get a shawl… because of the dress design…
‘…But Iel Eliom had beaten me to it.’
Even though he now knew Iel was soon to be married, he hadn’t known that at the time.
Seeing his master’s expression turn icy again, Kolabe, with uncanny instinct, realized exactly what Annecy was thinking. He immediately spoke up in his defense.
“Technically, it was your slow reaction that let Count Eliom get the shawl first! If you had handed it to the lady right away, none of that would’ve happened!”
“If you hadn’t tried to turn it into some ridiculous bargain, it wouldn’t have been an issue either.”
“No matter how it looks, forcibly taking your subordinate’s goods is theft!”
“And theft is my specialty.”
Is that really something to say so confidently? Kolabe’s jaw dropped in disbelief, but then he quickly remembered the matter wasn’t resolved yet.
His halted excuses resumed.
“A-anyway, it’s not my fault! How was I supposed to know the lady would go out to the terrace at that exact moment? I sold the shawl, you bought it, and Iel Eliom was just an unrelated third party!”
“Didn’t I tell you before? I want you to gather not just political rumors, but any gossip related to me.”
“What does Iel Eliom have to do with you? It’s not as if his father—or anyone else—had any connection to the lady…”
“Kolabe Perroto. Don’t try to challenge me.”
The irritated tone in Annecy’s voice made Kolabe’s shoulders hunch. The hierarchy was clear—when his superior was annoyed, Kolabe had no choice but to endure it.
That didn’t mean he wasn’t frustrated, though. Hesitating briefly, Kolabe decided to speak up again before his resentment festered any further.
“But truly, I did try to tell you. Remember that day when you stormed out, all upset, ranting about fickleness and whatever else? You didn’t even give me a chance to explain. Every time I tried to speak, you cut me off and left in a huff.
Marquis, no matter how lowly a subordinate I am, that’s no way to treat someone. If you keep ignoring what others have to say and only focus on your own thoughts, you’re on the path to becoming a tyrant. And I doubt the madam would be pleased with that.”
“…What does Goyo have to do with this?”
“Who would enjoy having a spouse that doesn’t listen and only pushes their own agenda? Right now, it’s just happening with your subordinates, but leave it unchecked, and it’ll spread to your friends and your wife too.”
‘He’s leaving me speechless.’
Kolabe’s grumblings, bordering on a curse, didn’t sound particularly polite, but his weary expression looked genuine. Kolabe Perroto wasn’t exactly skilled at lying.
Now that he thought about it, Annecy recalled that Kolabe had tried to say something that day. He’d cut him off, assuming it was just more of his rambling about feelings or love. He hadn’t listened.
The scowl on Annecy’s face slowly smoothed out. Upon reflection, he felt a twinge of guilt—just a little.
‘Looks like I got through to him.’
Kolabe noticed his master’s expression softening and quickly averted his gaze, though his sly manner made him look like a mischievous raccoon. Annecy, deep in thought, didn’t notice.
With a more composed tone, Annecy asked again, “So you really were trying to tell me?”
“Yes! I knew you were… uh, concerned, and as your loyal subordinate, how could I stay quiet while you were digging yourself deeper?”
Loyal subordinate, indeed. What a shameless lie.
Annecy thought this to himself but refrained from saying it aloud. It was perhaps the first time he’d shown such restraint with Kolabe.
“Alright. I’ll believe you.”
Relieved that the situation seemed resolved, Kolabe relaxed. However, now that the tension was gone, the frustration he had momentarily set aside came rushing back. Silently, he cursed his superior.
After cutting me off and now saying he believes me, does that make everything better? And honestly, why was this whole thing about Iel’s love life so important anyway?
“By next month, you’ll receive a bonus of 1,500 gold. It’s been a while since your salary was adjusted, so we’ll increase it by 20% starting this month as well.”
Kolabe’s eyes widened to twice their size.
“Is that not enough?”
“Heh heh, no, that’s more than enough.”
Well then, I guess it was important.
The sound of his wallet filling up instantly elevated Iel Eliom’s importance by two notches in Kolabe’s mind.
Even if his master was temperamental, he sure knew how to compensate. As his anger subsided, Kolabe’s loyalty swelled in its place.
Once again, Kolabe Perroto reaffirmed his role as the loyal servant of Annecy Bethelgius.
* * *
The next morning, Annecy left the estate at dawn.
Since Goyo had already been informed that he wouldn’t be around early in the day, she didn’t force herself to wake up early either.
It wasn’t until noon that Goyo finally stirred, blinking drowsily. She had enjoyed a long, satisfying sleep, but the empty space beside her felt oddly lonely. She glanced at the vacant spot next to her on the bed.
Aside from that small moment, the day passed leisurely. She had a late breakfast, nibbled on some cookies, and spent some time reading.
Ever since Rajin had joined the Bethelgius knight order, visitors had become a rarity during the day, leaving Goyo to enjoy a quiet, uneventful time.
After spending so long reading, her body began to feel stiff, so Goyo stretched and decided to take a walk in the garden.
Just as she closed her book, there was a knock at the door. It was Sally, one of her maids.
“Madam, a guest has arrived.”
It felt similar to when Rajin had come to visit, though Goyo doubted it was her this time. She was likely training at this hour.
Curious, and with a faint smile, she asked the name of the guest. As the words left her mouth, she noticed something odd about Sally’s expression.
“Lord Terio Alte is here to see you.”
And without even asking, she immediately understood why.
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