Although my Dad was not highly regarded within the Travel’s family, he was actually quite popular outside of it.
He was known as a rogue who had ruined every family business he was in charge of, yet he was the best when it came to swordsmanship. He had a daughter but was unmarried, had an impressive appearance, and had disappeared for six years.
While he remained quiet inside the high walls of the Travel estate, the air of mystery surrounding him had only grown.
‘Oh, is the shopkeeper trying to get my Dad’s signature on his wanted poster?’
I could sense the shopkeeper’s intention, which made the situation even more intriguing. I watched while sipping my orange juice, curious to see how this would unfold.
‘Creating an image of the shop as one where Reytan Quartz from Travel visited— that’s not a bad marketing idea. Though I’m not sure if my Dad will actually sign the wanted poster!’
From my Dad’s perspective, he could likely see the top of the tray. The wanted poster, guided by the shopkeeper’s finger, slid up the side of the tray and was presented before my Dad.
The eyes of the man in the wanted poster met the eyes of my Dad, who sat on the couch.
“Hmm, Master Reytan, there’s something I must say…”
“………”
My Dad slightly lifted his head without saying a word.
As the two locked eyes, I took a more eager sip of my juice. The tension made it impossible to look away.
‘Dad may be a former Grand Master, but the shopkeeper is a seasoned merchant!’
The shopkeeper, who must have gone through many ups and downs to reach his current position, would surely find a way to get my Dad’s signature.
“I’m a fan.”
Cough.
“Berry, here’s a tissues.”
I nearly choked at the shopkeeper’s simplistic approach. Theon took the juice glass from my hand and placed a tissue in my other hand.
Did the shopkeeper really think he could get my Dad’s signature with such a mundane tactic? Really?
My Dad didn’t even respond, as if it wasn’t worth his attention. Just when I was about to feel a bit disappointed, the shopkeeper’s follow-up was quite something.
“Twenty-one years ago. You were eight years old, Master Reytan. That day, when you visited the town of Hispoth wearing a wine-colored tie as a belt, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Up until then, who had ever done something so unconventional? People believed that a hat should be worn as a hat, and pants should be worn as pants—such fixed ideas! My rigid thinking was shattered by that wine-colored tie! From that moment on, my path was clear—fashion! Though I didn’t have the talent to become a designer, I entered this industry! Master Reytan, you completely changed my life!”
“……..…”
Theon and I stood there, mouths agape, staring at the shopkeeper. Passionately professing his admiration for my Dad, the shopkeeper finally blushed as he requested my Dad’s signature on the wanted poster.
My Dad calmly picked up the pen, perhaps to put an end to the shopkeeper’s lengthy monologue.
“…I love-”
“Quiet, shopkeeper.”
“Yes.”
The shopkeeper, now holding the signed wanted poster and receipt, quickly and discreetly left. My Dad let out a barely noticeable sigh and turned to us.
“Shall we go now?”
“Yes!”
“Yes.”
But my Dad’s ordeal didn’t end there. Just as we were about to leave, receiving overly respectful farewells from the shop staff, someone called out:
“M-Master Reytan!”
As we were leaving, the head designer of the tailor shop, who had taken my Dad’s measurements earlier, hurriedly called out to him. The designer’s curly hair bounced like cotton candy as he rushed over.
“Are you leaving already? Could you take a look at these before you go?”
“……..…”
When my Dad stopped walking, the designer tried to regain his composure. However, I could still notice some signs that he couldn’t hide: his flushed cheeks, his heavy breathing, and his anxious tone as if he couldn’t afford to let my Dad go.
I had a hunch.
‘This person is also a fan of my Dad…!’
The more future allies my Dad had, the better. I quickly noted the name of the tailor shop again.
Trang Tailor Shop.
Just in case, I made sure to remember it.
“These are the buttons for the new design, Master Reytan. I would really appreciate it if you could choose one of these! This one can have embroidery, and this one has a fantastic detail on the sides.”
“All I have to do is choose the button design?”
“If you could pick two, that would be great. They’ll be used for Miss Berry’s dress.”
My Dad carefully inspected the buttons in the wooden box the designer presented, even picking one up to examine it closely. This meant he liked them, but needed more time to decide.
“Theon, shall we wait outside?”
“But it seems like Teacher still has something to do.”
“Dad~ Can we wait outside? I’ll be with the knights.”
“Alright.”
While my Dad examined the buttons near the counter, he called out to me from across the room, near the door.
“Hold hands with the biggest knight. I’ll be right out.”
“Okay! Theon, we’re allowed to go outside.”
Smiling, I grabbed Theon’s hand, and we stepped outside.
The six knights waiting in front of the tailor shop immediately gathered around us.
“Dad said I should hold hands with the biggest knight.”
After relaying my Dad’s message, five large hands were instantly thrust in front of me as the knights competed with each other, flexing their muscles.
The knight whose hand remained last proudly said,
“I’m the biggest.”
Just as I took his hand, another knight standing further away spoke in a sharp tone,
“Don’t come any closer.”
Who could it be? The knight’s large figure blocked my view of the newcomer.
“I apologize for bothering you, Sir Knight. But I have business with the young boy over there.”
Was it someone Theon knew? I turned my head to look at him.
Theon stared straight ahead, clearly having no idea who the speaker with the friendly voice was.
Then the speaker managed to slip past the knight’s arm, finally showing her face. It was a warm-looking commoner woman. As soon as she spotted Theon, she called out to him urgently.
“Theon, don’t you remember me?”
“Are you… the innkeeper?”
Theon’s eyes widened in surprise. I asked him,
“Do you know her?”
“She’s the innkeeper where I stayed before I joined the Travel family.”
“She’s kind,” Theon added.
“That’s right! You remember! There’s something I wanted to ask you. Do you have a moment?”
“Yes.”
Isn’t he being too easygoing about this? I quickly whispered to Theon,
“Stay close and talk nearby, okay?”
Theon nodded, positioning himself next to the inn’s wall to chat with the woman.
If anything happens, I can always ask the knights for help.
‘For some reason, I feel like I should know this innkeeper. I can’t quite remember the details, though. All the famous innkeepers in town are coming to mind.’
I pretended to play with the knights while keeping my ears perked, trying to overhear their conversation.
Theon didn’t speak loudly, and the innkeeper also lowered her voice, making it difficult to hear what they were saying.
“Master Reytan is coming out.”
It seemed my Dad had finally chosen the buttons. I waved at him as he exited the shop, but at that moment, the innkeeper shouted in an emotional voice:
“You threw that poor child out! That sick boy!”
“What’s going on?”
My Dad interrupted the conversation.
***
To prevent the situation from escalating, we moved to a nearby alley.
The innkeeper was startled by my Dad’s intervention, but she insisted that she needed to say something, regardless of the consequences.
“Even if you strike me down, I must speak.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’m taking care of a child in my inn who might die by tomorrow. The child was thrown out from the estate of the Travel family just last night.”
“The child must have lived outside the estate.”
My Dad referred to the area outside the high walls of the Travel family estate. The innkeeper, with a pained expression, continued her explanation.
“That’s right. The child is only six years old and is sick. If you see him yourself, you will understand why I’m telling you this. His sister might have stolen from the Countess, but still…”
Anne…!
My mind flashed. Is Aunt Marian using her sick younger brother as leverage to threaten Anne?
I couldn’t believe it. The changed future was starting to reveal its clues.
‘It’s thanks to Theon.’
If it were just my Dad and me, we wouldn’t have met the innkeeper. Theon was the key connection to this event.
My heart began to race for no apparent reason.
“Still, I just…”
The innkeeper’s emotions were rising, but she seemed to hold back her anger in front of my Dad. Then, with a voice filled with frustration, she pleaded.
“The child’s sister still works as a maid at the Travel estate, but they threw her sick brother onto the dirt and cast him out. How could they do such a thing?”
“Threw him?”
“Yes! The knights dragged the little one out and threw him onto the ground. I saw it with my own eyes!”
At her words, my Dad, Theon, and I all looked at the knights who were with us.
“….……”
I quietly let go of the knight’s hand I had been holding, and Theon murmured with a shaken expression.
“A six-year-old…”
“That’s not true!”
“The 4th Division is responsible for that area. They are terrible, those guys.”
“If it were me, I would have used my own money to take the child to a doctor.”
“You too? So would I.”
The knights with us were from the 2nd Division and quickly distanced themselves from the actions of the 4th Division.
My Dad turned to the innkeeper and spoke.
“I understand. However, this doesn’t seem to be something related to us. What should we do?”
“Young Master, please help. The local doctor insists it’s just a fever, and the medicine they prescribed is useless. The boy’s condition is only getting worse. His sister works as a maid in your annex, so surely…”
“I’m afraid I cannot intervene so easily. It could be the Countess herself who ordered Anne’s family to be cast out. The treatment of the maids is not within my jurisdiction. Right now, with the race for the successor, people are very sensitive about stepping outside their authority.”
“………”
My Dad, after all, was a noble. By explaining even what he didn’t have to, he made it clear that he couldn’t help, and the innkeeper could no longer beg for assistance. She bit her lip in frustration, letting out a sigh of defeat.
She had probably hoped to use Theon as an excuse to get my Dad’s help, as it was likely the only way she could think of to save Anne’s brother.
“How could such a small child… It’s just too pitiful…”
The innkeeper’s voice trembled with resignation and helplessness.
Based on what we heard, it seemed like she had no prior connection to the child.
‘There are people willing to step forward for a stranger in front of nobles. If she tried to plead like this to Aunt or Uncle, she wouldn’t have stood a chance.’
Despite my Dad’s fierce appearance, he was the kindest of all.
But still, that face… I almost remember it…
My Dad asked the innkeeper,
“Which inn do you run?”
“…The Evening Primrose Inn. It’s a small, three-story inn on the outskirts of Hispoth town.”
Ah! Now I remember.
