BCHG Chapter 40

Why is he asking that? At times like this, lying carelessly could easily make things more complicated.

 

“…Even if you’re my master, taking too much interest in your employee’s private life is a bit…”

 

“Why shouldn’t I?” Isaac asked, tilting his head slightly. “I’m your master.”

 

It was a statement that could result in an immediate fine if reported to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

 

“When did you start seeing him? Did you take that 50 gold advance because of your lover?”

 

“It has nothing to do with that.”

 

“Then why did you ask for the advance?”

 

Ugh, I don’t know either! He kept asking questions I didn’t have answers to, which made things all the more difficult. I decided to change the subject.

 

“By the way, don’t you have any talk of a lover or engagement, Master? It would be troublesome if rumors spread that you’re engaged to a commoner.”

 

“There’s nothing to be troubled about. I’m not interested in marriage.”

 

Isaac’s expression was completely indifferent. It was the same expression I had always seen from him.

 

Isaac was indifferent to everything. Even when talking to people, he never showed any emotion. Well, except for the few times he got angry. He did show emotion when it came to matters involving Mia. He also only smiled kindly when he was with Mia. It seemed that all his emotions existed solely for his cat.

 

I wondered if that was really good for Isaac. As a person, he should live meeting other people. Was it really right for him to live tied to a cat alone?

 

Isaac, unaware of my concerns, just looked at me calmly and spoke. “Do you want to go home? Or do you want to stay here?”

 

“…I’m not sure. I kind of want to stay and enjoy myself since we’re here, but after what just happened, I kind of want to leave…”

 

As I hesitated, music began playing from the hall. Isaac listened for a moment and then approached me. I flinched and tried to step back, but there was nowhere to go. My back was leaning against the railing. Realizing this, a sudden fear crept over me.

 

Surely, he wouldn’t push me off here, would he?

 

Even though I knew he wouldn’t attack me in such a public place, the memory of being killed once was etched deep in my bones.

 

Then why is he coming closer?

 

As I watched him nervously, Isaac extended his hand. “Shall we dance here, then?”

 

“What?”

 

“You said you didn’t want to leave, but you also wanted to enjoy yourself more here.”

 

“But…”

 

Is it okay? If I refuse his hand, it might hurt his feelings…

 

I hesitated for a moment, then cautiously took his hand. Surprisingly, Isaac gently pulled me toward the center of the terrace.

 

“Have you ever danced before?”

 

“No…”

 

“Then just follow my lead.”

 

Isaac guided my hand to his shoulder. Standing this close, I realized how tall he was. His hand, too. It was large and firm as it wrapped around my waist, which surprised me.

 

“Now, move slowly.”

 

Isaac began to move in time with the music flowing from the hall. I followed his movements as if mesmerized.

 

I had seen his face many times before, but this was the first time I saw it from this distance and angle. His lowered eyelashes were long and thick, giving him an almost dreamlike appearance.

 

Was it because of the music? The anxiety I had felt earlier seemed to dissipate, perhaps due to the soothing melody from inside. So we danced quietly to the music.

 

Isaac’s hand holding mine was just warm enough that I began to forget the fact that he had once killed me.

 

* * *

By the time the party ended and the two returned home, it was nearly 10 PM. Isaac returned to his room and sat on the sofa. The butler standing next to him carefully spoke.

 

“Did you enjoy the party, Master?”

 

“It was alright.”

 

“… There’s a rumor spreading within the mansion.”

 

Isaac looked at the butler as if to ask what the rumor was. The butler cautiously continued.

 

“There’s talk that since you took Mia as your personal maid, went out with her, and bought her expensive clothes, you might have taken Mia as your lover.”

 

Isaac chuckled at that. A lover? What nonsense.

 

He replied dismissively. “That’s not the case, so don’t concern yourself with it. You may go.”

 

“…Yes, Master.”

 

After the butler left, Isaac stared intently at the lantern’s light. Just then, the window opened, and the night breeze blew in. As the curtains fluttered, someone appeared. It was Raphael. He was perched on the window sill, watching Isaac.

 

“…Welcome back, Raphael. Why didn’t you come in through the front door?”

 

“I prefer the window. By the way, it seems something interesting happened while I was away.”

 

Something interesting. Was he referring to the time he almost got killed by a former servant? Whether that counts as interesting, Isaac wasn’t sure.

 

Raphael chuckled as he spoke. “Did you go to the party with Mia today? How unusual. You don’t like parties.”

 

“It was a token of my gratitude for her saving me.”

 

“Even so, a party? That’s not like you.”

 

Not like me. Isaac fell silent for a moment at those words.

 

Was it really unlike him? Isaac wasn’t sure.

 

Mia had asked Isaac to forgive her debt. But if he forgave it, she would leave his side, making it impossible to keep an eye on her. Besides, he didn’t know what else to offer other than material things. So, he took her to the party since she seemed to enjoy it quite a bit last time.

 

“She likes parties.”

 

“Hmm… Even so. I heard you introduced her as your fiancée? Aren’t you worried about the rumors?”

 

“I don’t care much for rumors or reputation.”

 

“Is that the only reason? Introducing Mia as your lover?”

 

Lover. At those words, Isaac suddenly thought of Lian. Mia had said they were lovers. When he heard that, the emotion that filled Isaac’s heart was… It made me feel unpleasant.

 

Why did it make him feel unpleasant? He didn’t know.

 

The fact that Mia had a lover just annoyed him. If Mia hadn’t had a lover, he might not have introduced her as his fiancée.

 

“Well, I’ll go rest now. Let’s go to a party together sometime.” Raphael smiled and left Isaac’s room.

 

Isaac remained seated on the sofa, staring quietly at the lantern’s light.

 

* * *

[The light fades.]

[The time of darkness has arrived.]

 

When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the interior of a luxurious mansion. Slowly, I rose from the sofa.

 

Ugh, I’ve been summoned again. No matter how many times it happened, I could never get used to being summoned to the mansion at night. Last time, I had spent the night investigating, separated from Isaac, so no one was around me.

 

“Meow…”

 

I should probably go find Isaac. But today, I didn’t particularly want to see him. Why? Was it because of the party today? The moment we danced together flashed clearly in my mind.

 

Why is he being so kind to me? Why did he help me by lying about being my fiancée and dancing with me…?

 

If it weren’t for the fact that he had killed me, I might have thought he liked me, but I knew the truth. Considering his affection for me still in the negative, all his actions must have had some hidden meaning rather than being acts of kindness. What could it be…? I should think while I move.

 

Speaking of which, I had brought flesh and blood with me, so I should probably visit the grand duke before seeing Isaac.

 

I slipped out of the room and headed to the room where I had met the man last time. As I carefully entered, I heard his voice.

 

“Hello, cat lady.”

 

Just like last time, the grand duke was sitting in one corner of the room. The man spoke in a relaxed tone.

 

“Did you bring what I asked for?”

 

“Yeah. The flesh and blood of an animal, right? Is this okay?”

 

“…Huh.”

 

The grand duke looked at what I had brought out and laughed in disbelief. On the table were steaming roast chicken and black pudding. Black pudding was a type of sausage made with blood. Since it contained a lot of blood, I thought it might work… Or would he be angry?

 

I cautiously spoke. “Technically, it’s animal flesh and blood…”

 

“…”

 

“You didn’t specify the form!”

 

When I asserted that, the grand duke chuckled. Smiling as if amused, he patted my head. “You’re right. I didn’t specify the form, so you win. This will do.”

 

[???’s affection has increased by ???]

[Current ???’s affection: ???]

 

His affection for me went up from this? I really can’t grasp a demon’s taste…

 

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