SOWD Chapter 85

Chapter 85

“You should write a reply.”

“How?”

“You want to meet Sir Talon, don’t you?”

“Uh? Uh… Hmm… Well, I guess, it wouldn’t hurt to meet him…”

Although she was trying to act coy, her earlobes were already bright red, and her face was full of shy smiles.

“I’ll draft a letter for you. Write it by hand and mail it tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? Wouldn’t it be better to write it quickly and send it today?”

“This is already fast enough. Send it tomorrow. If you rush, it won’t be charming.”

Rinia seemed a bit disappointed, but she didn’t seem to want to argue with Idel’s words. However, it was clear she was still worried about her brother.

“What if my brother says no?”

“I’ll talk to the Count. He won’t object.”

“Thanks, Idel!”

Rinia excitedly ran off to choose stationery.

---

 

“Ian Talon is coming to have tea with Rinia?”

“It’s on the condition that the Count gives his permission.”

As expected, Laszlo nodded lightly.

“You handle the refreshments and all that. Make sure it’s well prepared.”

“…Is it okay if Lady Rinia falls in love with Sir Talon? Are you fine with that?”

“Do I really need to decide whether that’s okay or not? To be honest, I don’t really want to know too much about my younger sister’s interactions with men. Just let her handle that on her own.”

As usual, Laszlo had a look that seemed to question why he was even being asked such a thing.

However, he wasn’t completely indifferent to Rinia’s romantic life.

“Well, Ian Talon is not a bad choice.”

“Do you know much about Sir Talon?”

“The guys from Calliope handled the investigation.”

The elite mercenaries from the Calliope unit, who worked as spies, gathered all the information about Ian Talon, especially after he dared to ask their princess for a dance.

He was the second son of Count Talon, the chamberlain, and had a quiet, down-to-earth personality. Although he wasn’t very social, he was clean in his relationships with women, despite his handsome appearance.

His family relations were stable, and since he helped his older brother, who was the heir, it was likely he would become a vassal of the Talon family. He would probably achieve a barony.

“The fact that his personal life is clean earns him points.”

“But do you think that a weak and naïve young master could make our lady happy?”

“It’ll be fine. He’ll naturally become stronger as he meets Lady Rinia.”

“Even if he does well, he’ll probably only get a barony, and that doesn’t seem like an appropriate match, does it?”

“Well, the boss will handle that. A rich barony holds more weight than a lower-ranking viscount.”

Laszlo pretended to be uninterested, but he was silently storing all the information in his mind.

“What do you think of Count Talon? Has he said anything since the last party?”

“From his point of view, becoming my relative wouldn’t be a bad choice. We’re in the same boat anyway, so it’ll only strengthen our ties.”

“Some people might look down on the idea of forming a connection between the Emperor’s closest confidants.”

“That’s their problem. As long as Calliope protects him, Count Talon will be fortunate.”

Idel could sense Laszlo’s confidence.

It was a confidence that he could easily suppress anyone, even a son from a more prestigious family than Ian Talon.

“The thing that worries me is whether Count Talon has some hidden agenda behind this meeting with Rinia. He’s not the type of person who would let this happen without calculation.”

“Is he someone you can’t completely trust?”

“I don’t have ‘complete trust’ in my vocabulary.”

The moment Laszlo said this, Idel felt a sharp pain in her chest. It was brief, but she didn’t pay much attention to it.

“If Sir Talon comes, I’ll make sure to observe him closely.”

“It’ll be a hassle, but please do. If I go myself, Rinia will be upset, so you keep an eye on things.”

“Understood…”

“Check if he’s trying to deceive Rinia, if he’s disrespecting her, or if he’s saying any nonsense. See what kind of eyes he’s using to look at her. You know what I mean, right?”

Idel changed her previous thoughts.

Laszlo wasn’t completely indifferent to Rinia’s meeting with Ian. He was just pretending to be.

Once she realized this, she understood why Laszlo had been strangely quiet after attending the Bliss Count’s party with Rinia. It was also clear why he had promoted her to Rinia’s personal maid.

“She didn’t know the humiliation Rinia was facing in high society. If she had, she would never have let it go.”

Her big brother, the fool, would have stormed the party with a sword if he had known.

Idel couldn’t help but feel a warm feeling and nodded.

“I’ll be your eyes and ears, and I’ll keep a close watch.”

Those words brought a subtle smile to Laszlo’s lips.

---

 

However, there was a visitor who arrived a step ahead of Ian Talon at the Chrysus Count’s residence.

“Thank you for allowing me to visit despite the short notice, Count.”

“…I heard something was being sent by the Bliss Count, but I didn’t expect it to be the young lady.”

The woman holding an envelope with the Bliss Count’s seal and a box of what appeared to be a gift was Angela Bliss.

“I don’t think you can imagine how my heart raced when grandfather said he had to send someone to the Chrysus Count.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course! It’s an opportunity to meet you again. Are you uncomfortable with being honest about your feelings?”

“Right now, I suppose I am.”

“You’re surprisingly shy. Oh! I bought a limited-edition snack from Bluebird Confectionery for you to try.”

With a bright smile, Angela eagerly offered the snack to Laszlo.

But something about it sent a chill down his spine. He had never felt like a prey before a predator, but right now, he did.

‘The veteran of high society says she’s a predator, while I’m just a rookie?’

Suddenly, Idel’s cool evaluation crossed his mind.

But he had never been a simple rookie, not even when he was a twelve-year-old errand boy. He certainly didn’t plan on becoming a joke now that he was older.

“I’d rather see the letter sent by the Bliss Count than the snack.”

“The tea hasn’t come yet, but you’re already saying that?”

“True. It feels like it’s been a while since you arrived, and I forgot.”

Angela almost froze at his words that seemed to imply he was bored with her presence, but then she remembered the news about other families preparing to propose marriage to the Chrysus Count’s house and forced a smile.

“It seems like the Bliss family is eager to hear news from here. Well, even though the tea hasn’t arrived, let me give you the letter grandfather sent.”

Angela winked and handed him the envelope. But Laszlo’s expression was unreadable as he took it.

Without saying much, he quickly tore open the envelope and read the letter inside.

“There are over a hundred excellent military horses in the Heroes estate, and if I, the commander of the royal guard, establish a strong relationship with the Bliss family, I’d be willing to take half of them…”

Though it didn’t specifically explain what a ‘strong relationship’ meant, the fact that Angela had brought this letter made it clear.

Angela quickly added when she saw his lukewarm reaction.

“The horses in Heroes are known to be the best military horses, of the Obble and Karkesha breeds. Each one costs over a hundred thousand Lington. Grandfather has been waiting for someone who will truly appreciate their value.”

“But those breeds, Obble and Karkesha, are quite famous. They’re faster and larger than other horses. How could anyone not recognize their value?”

“But few people can properly utilize them.”

The term ‘properly utilize’ could sound dangerous, depending on how you interpreted it. However, Angela only pursed her lips in a coquettish manner.

“What exactly does that mean…”

Just as Laszlo was about to ask in irritation, Idel arrived with the tea.

The moment Angela saw Idel, it reminded her of the uncomfortable memory from the party.

Angela stared at Idel, who silently placed the tea cup in front of her.

Idel still had the same beauty and air about her. Even though she had once been a duchess, she seemed to erase her presence, quietly finishing her tasks and stepping back, which was quite impressive.

“I’ve heard that it’s the best treatment to have the butler serve the tea… Oh, but is this person really the butler?”

Angela tilted her head playfully as she asked Laszlo.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I greet you. I am Idel, the butler of the Chrysus family.”

After Laszlo’s answer, Idel greeted Angela, who then let out a small laugh.

“I’ve heard of your name in these circles, but… Count, I’ve been taught that a butler shouldn’t attend parties and enjoy them. Is this person really a butler?”

“I don’t enjoy beating around the bush. What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Oh my! I’m just worried. You should be sure about the ‘purpose’ of this person, or you might face issues later on with whoever you end up marrying.”

 

Laszlo found Angela’s attitude utterly absurd.