Chapter 44
｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Translated by Sienna ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
‘Well, ultimately, the goal is to go down and live there…’
If I put my name on it, no one would come.
So, I planned to find a proxy and handle the actual management from behind.
“No, I’m not going down there.”
Not yet.
I shook my head without finishing the sentence.
Then Luciel’s face, which had seemed a bit stiff, brightened up.
“That’s a relief.”
Luciel smiled softly, his eyes narrowing. As if it were a relief that I wouldn’t be going down.
‘Was he worried that I would manage it myself?’
Well, if that were the case, it was obvious that the business wouldn’t succeed.
If it were anyone else, they would have scolded me for suggesting something absurd long ago. But Luciel didn’t.
He just looked at me with a worried expression.
‘This is why my conscience pricks me even more since I deliberately approach him.’
I pretended to sip my tea and subtly avoided his gaze.
‘But the real problem is how to find someone to manage the business…’
I can’t just hire anyone to run a business.
Although I don’t expect an immense amount of trust from society, some level of safety should be ensured.
But where can I find someone willing to work with that ‘Lady Peregrine’?
‘Not just anyone, but someone like Luciel.’
I quietly sighed to myself.
“Do you need someone to manage it for you?”
I snapped back to attention at the warm voice.
Luciel, as always, was looking at me with a smile on his face.
Despite his endlessly gentle voice, it felt like he had seen through me.
‘How did he know?’
With that thought in mind, I nodded.
“Yes. I’d prefer someone with a relatively clear background. Gender doesn’t matter, but…”
Having said that, I narrowed my eyes.
When you first start a business, you’re bound to get mixed up with the wrong people. Plus, if a woman is the owner, everyone will likely ignore her.
‘To prevent such individuals from approaching easily, I should probably…’
“I think a man would be better.”
“……A man?”
“Yes. It would be better if he were bigger than me in size.”
Based on numerous part-time job experiences, even if he didn’t directly manage the counter, a visual presence that couldn’t be easily dismissed in case of unexpected complaints was necessary.
As I nodded, I suddenly felt a chill.
‘Is the wind blowing again?’
However, the tree next to the terrace remained calm without any movement.
While I was pondering, Luciel on the opposite side caught my eye.
Perhaps it was because of the robe draped over his head, but for a moment, it seemed like a dark shadow had fallen over his normally clear eyes.
“Rose?”
“Yes, milady.”
But he smiled brightly in response to my call, as if nothing had happened.
It must have been my imagination.
Then, with a sound of realization, Luciel spoke again.
“I just remembered someone. I heard that he recently quit a job he had been working at for quite a long time.”
“I see.”
“But because of his larger physique, it seems he’s having difficulty finding a new job.”
“Uh, in that case…”
He’s still job hunting, isn’t he?
Moreover, if he has a large build, he might be helpful in unforeseen situations.
And if Luciel introduces him, his identity will be guaranteed.
‘This is so…’
Isn’t he just what I need?
I unconsciously clench my fist. I didn’t want to reveal my excitement for no reason.
“So… is he still actively looking for a job?”
“Yes.”
“However, due to the setback in his job search activities, I assume he’s in quite an urgent situation.”
“That’s correct.”
Luciel responded readily, as if understanding.
Having obtained the information about the job seeker, I subtly threw out a bait.
“So, he’ll do well in any job, right? For instance, even if it’s a new venture.”
In my subtle tone, Luciel blinked for a moment.
Then, he nodded with a gentle smile.
“Yeah. I’m sure he’ll be good at whatever he does. Although he may be a bit timid, he can adapt easily and has good stamina.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
We ended the conversation smoothly.
Luciel said he would arrange an interview date, and I nodded in agreement.
“Are you going straight to the mansion?”
As Luciel got up from his seat, he adjusted his slightly drooping robe hood and asked.
I was about to say yes, but suddenly I noticed the desserts on display.
‘Come to think of it, Aunt Livnell loves the desserts here.’
Since I was already here, it wouldn’t hurt to buy one.
Maybe I could score some points from Cyan.
“I think I’ll buy some desserts while I’m here.”
“It seems like this shop suits your taste, milady.”
Thinking of Livnell, I nodded.
Then, as I approached the door connecting the terrace and the bakery, Luciel opened it for me with a smile.
He smiled as if indicating that I should enter first.
Indeed, the people here all seemed to have good manners.
‘I should have realized that beforehand; I almost misunderstood.’
As a gesture of gratitude, I lightly nodded and entered the bakery.
Perhaps because it was frequented by nobles, the staff waited for customers to choose their food before picking it up and placing it on the trays.
‘Although I could pick up the items myself, that seems to be the procedure here, so be it.’
I approached one of the waiting staff.
The staff member, who had been looking in the mirror, sensed my presence and turned towards me.
“Hello.”
The staff member, who had greeted me with a bright smile, paused upon noticing me. Then they looked me up and down.
‘This seems like an assessing gaze.’
Unlike the young noble ladies sitting on the terrace, I was currently wearing a black robe, making it difficult for them to discern my identity.
Unexpectedly, the staff member spoke in a more reserved tone than before.
“Just let me know when you’ve made your selections.”
Raising an eyebrow, I asked,
“You mean you’re not going to assist me?”
“I thought you might take a while to decide, so I wanted to inform you beforehand.”
The staff member chuckled lightly.
At first glance, it could sound like they were offering to wait, but upon closer inspection, their true intentions could be sensed.
I didn’t look like a customer with a lot of money.
So, they probably thought I wouldn’t buy much anyway, and naturally, they wouldn’t expect much of a tip either.
Since there were no hidden prizes to be found by following me around, they were suggesting that I let them know once I had made all my selections.
“Or you can choose from the pre-packed items at the counter. They were made the day before, but they taste just as good. You might find that option more convenient.”
Upon hearing their additional comment, I became even more certain. He was ignoring me.
That’s when I frowned.
Ding-.
The sound of a bell rang, signaling the entrance of another customer.
“……I’ve told him several times that I’m fine, but Lord Roderick still seemed worried.”
She was a noble lady with red hair and brown eyes.
I immediately realized who she was.
‘Rize Caparoel.’
She was the young noble known as the recipient of Lord Roderick’s affection and the target of Daphne’s attempted poisoning.
‘Ugh, why do we have to meet here of all places…!’
“Of course he would be. It was poison, after all. It’s terrifying just to imagine consuming something like that.”
“And didn’t Lord Evans even go as far as getting Holy Water from the temple? To think he went to such lengths to get something so precious, he truly is remarkable.”
The young nobles who followed her inside praised her to no end.
Evans and the Holy Water from the temple.
I could sense a change in the gaze of the staff member in front of me at the mention of those words.
“Welcome!”
He brushed past me as if I wasn’t there and approached Rize.
“If you need anything, please let me know.”
“Oh, right. Could you pack these up for me?”
“Of course!”
The staff swiftly and accurately placed the desserts Rize mentioned onto a tray.
“After lying in bed for a few days, I started craving these desserts so much.”
“That’s understandable. When you’re sick, the foods you like the most naturally come to mind first.”
“Indeed. Oh, this.”
Rize handed the bag she was carrying to the ladies who followed her.
“My hand hurts a bit.”
“Oh…… yes…….”
The ladies seemed flustered but, unable to resist the unspoken pressure, reluctantly accepted her bag.
Then Rize chuckled softly.
“I heard she’s been quiet these past few days, that woman.”
“Oh, I heard she was put on probation.”
“Her family has given up on her now. Frankly, it should have been like this from the beginning.”
The ladies echoed Rize’s words.
Even without being named, I could tell who that woman was.
“Milady…….”
Luciel, who had approached unnoticed, called me with a slightly worried tone.
‘Normally, following Daphne’s personality, she would have attacked and grabbed her by the hair.’
The suspicions that Daphne had tried to poison Rize were still unresolved.
Moreover, causing a disturbance here could have led to even greater trouble.
‘Let’s just leave for now.’
I was about to say this to Luciel when Rize’s voice, mixed with mockery, reached my ears.
“You’re right. If it were me, I would have removed her name from the family registry instead of putting her on probation.”
Upon hearing that, I stopped abruptly in my tracks.
“It’s, it’s an indefinite probation. I’m sure the two adult Peregrine have already made up their minds.”
“Right. Being removed or being on probation, it’s practically the same.”
Several ladies tried to spin the conversation positively.
In reality, discussing the Duke’s family registry so casually was already crossing a line.
But Rize didn’t stop.
“What do you mean? Because of that person, I almost died.”
“W-Well, that’s true, but…”
“Oh, how I resented my father for ending the conversation before I had a chance to protest.”
As if filled with resentment, Rize turned her head sharply.
“This won’t do. I need to talk to my father again. This is a problem that can’t be resolved by just probation.”
Saying this, Rize gestured to the staff trailing behind her.
She swiftly exited the shop, looking determined to run to Marquis Caparoel.
‘After all the trouble I went through to come here, am I going to be restricted again?’
I had intended to keep quiet, but after what I saw, there was no reason to hesitate any longer.
I quickly looked around.
‘There it is!’
And with that, I spotted something, and my eyes lit up.
