Chapter 17
Luca, the employee from the hamster teahouse, held onto his cloak and gave an awkward smile.
When I asked why he was here, he just scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.
His red eyes avoided mine, wandering off into the air.
“…If you don’t answer why you’re here, I’ll have no choice but to take you to the Grand Duke’s residence. I need to find out why you were following me.”
I turned to signal the escort who had already drawn his sword.
With a sharp shing, the guard unsheathed his blade.
Luca, now pale as a sheet, shook his head frantically.
“Ah, I absolutely had no bad intentions. Please, I beg you, don’t take me to the Grand Duke’s residence. There’s a reason for all this…”
“Then you’ll have to tell me the reason.”
Under my icy command, Luca swallowed nervously. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he tried to steady himself.
After a moment of thought, he finally spoke slowly.
“Actually, I…”
“…Go on.”
I tilted my head slightly, silently daring him to speak, and he let out a sigh before confessing.
“I… have a second job.”
“…Excuse me?”
Without preamble, he started talking about his occupation, letting out a sheepish, deflated laugh.
He then slightly raised his muscular right arm.
“Money’s tight, so I take various jobs. I didn’t want these muscles to go to waste, so I’ve also been doing work from the agency.”
“So what you’re saying is, today you followed me as part of your agency work?”
“Yes, that’s right. Haha…”
“….”
“…Yes. I know it’s hard to believe. You’re probably wondering a lot, like who gave the request in the first place.”
“Luckily, we’re getting along. Let’s continue the rest of the story at the Grand Duke’s residence.”
I couldn’t let him confess who was tailing me out here on the street.
There might be someone else lurking nearby.
I felt sorry for Deon, but this matter was urgent.
I had intended to visit Ailey for help with Crown Academy, but this had to take priority.
I frowned at the inconvenience.
Luca was flailing his arms and gesturing frantically at the mention of the Grand Duke’s residence.
“G-Grand Duchess… please… anywhere but the Grand Duke’s residence. I can tell you everything elsewhere, I just don’t want to go there.”
His desperation puzzled me.
This isn’t a place haunted by monsters—why was he acting like it was some hellish lair?
Seeing Luca behave as though the Grand Duke’s residence was a den of evil, my expression stiffened.
“You’re making it sound like our home is a prison. There are no demons there. It’s a warm, beautiful place. Much better than having this conversation on the street, I’d say.”
Sensing my annoyance, Luca hurriedly tried to explain.
“I’m not saying I dislike the Grand Duke’s residence. It’s just that I’m a small-time freelancer taking orders from an unknown client. Even if we went there, there’s nothing I could tell you.”
“You don’t know anything about the client?”
“Unfortunately, no. And I can’t say anything about the agency either. I’m a freelancer. I read requests that come by mail, solve them, and receive payment via mail. Haha… though now that I’ve been caught, today’s job is done anyway.”
It sounded believable enough. He didn’t seem to be lying.
I glanced at Chirp-chirp, calmly perched on my shoulder, observing the situation.
“Wait a moment.”
I signaled the guard to keep a close eye on Luca, then stepped a little away.
Facing a dark wall, I whispered softly to Chirp-chirp.
“So, what do you think? Is he lying?”
[…Hard to say. Seems like he’s hiding something, but I don’t sense hostility.]
Indeed, throughout our conversation, I hadn’t felt any animosity from him.
That’s why his story was beginning to sound more credible.
If he had followed me purely based on the agency request, with no personal grudge…
‘Then Luca likely holds no special ill will or schemes against me.’
But if I were to believe him entirely, one thing still bothered me.
The person following me had been the hamster teahouse employee who had served me tea.
I couldn’t immediately determine the connection.
I approached Luca, who was sitting on the ground with slumped shoulders.
“Alright. I’ll believe everything you’ve said so far. But we still need to go to the Grand Duke’s residence together.”
“W-what? Oh, please… not that…”
“You just need to be there until I can confirm that you’re not lying. I won’t starve or torture you. Contrary to your worries, the Grand Duke’s residence is very beautiful and welcoming.”
I turned away, signaling that I didn’t want to discuss it further.
“…No…!”
A weak, despairing voice protested, but I ignored it.
I needed to stay calm. If I got caught up in pity, I’d lose more than I could afford.
I casually brushed my neatly arranged blonde hair aside.
Chirp-chirp, watching the guard restrain Luca with ropes, asked quietly:
[Is this okay?]
“…For now. I’ll take him to the Grand Duke’s residence and see if his story checks out. There’s no harm in being thorough.”
I pressed the bones above my eyes to relieve the fatigue, sighing.
“This weakened state of the Bennett household is probably unprecedented. Everyone will be trying to take advantage. It’s not just the Empress we have to watch out for.”
If someone other than the Empress was targeting the household…
‘We need to stay one step ahead.’
While those overreaching fools try to swallow the Grand Duke’s household, I need to monitor their movements from the front.
[Don’t overdo it.]
“…Thanks for the advice.”
The meeting with Deon was not far from here.
The theater run by the Richard family was one of the most striking landmarks in the bustling part of the Empire.
A massive theater near the crowded square, its dome gleaming as though dusted with golden powder.
Despite the earlier events, I wasn’t very late for the appointment.
I tidied my hair and adjusted my clothes to avoid dishonoring the Bennett household, then approached the theater’s main entrance.
The sound of horse hooves and the high-pitched laughter of young ladies reached my ears.
The closer I got, the more obvious their gazes became.
Though I couldn’t see their mouths behind their fans, I could tell exactly what they were saying.
‘Grand Duchess Selena Bennett… what’s she doing here?’
‘Since the deaths of the Bennett Grand Duke and Duchess, I’ve never seen her out like this. Who could she be meeting?’
Probably gossip like this.
Boring, predictable, and utterly uninteresting.
I glanced at them with a deliberately indifferent expression.
Among the many who awkwardly looked away, one person waved enthusiastically.
“Grand Duchess Selena Bennett!”
“…Ah.”
Even from a distance, I could instantly recognize his dazzling features.
A boy with silver hair fluttering in the breeze approached shyly.
“Thank you for coming all this way. I’m truly delighted.”
“No, it’s I who should be thanking you for your help. I suppose you’ve been waiting long?”
I asked kindly, feeling slightly apologetic, and Deon’s pale cheeks flushed.
“Not at all!”
He waved his hands frantically, shaking his head as he denied it.
‘…He’s terrible at lying.’
I wanted to believe him, but it seemed Deon had no talent for deception.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Something came up on the way…”
“No, not at all! I wasn’t waiting. My legs don’t hurt either.”
“…Huh? Legs?”
I hadn’t even asked.
I stifled a laugh and looked at Deon.
His embarrassed green eyes shimmered like a summer forest against his silver hair.
“Yes! My legs are strong, so they don’t hurt at all.”
I understood why he seemed angelic.
Not just his appearance, but his genuinely pure personality.
Seeing his eyes sparkling as if pleading for trust, I finally laughed.
“Alright! Let’s assume your legs aren’t sore and head inside. We’re a bit late anyway.”
I wasn’t sure I’d be able to focus entirely on the musical, but I had to see it.
I glanced at Deon amidst the piercing gazes around us.
He smiled gently, seemingly unfazed by anyone else’s attention.
“Yes, we’re a little late, but it’s fine. I’ll guide you to your reserved seats.”
With an elegant gesture, he extended his gloved hand.
I looked at his slightly larger hand and placed mine over it.
I couldn’t imagine the repercussions this meeting might set in motion.
