“It wouldn’t be proper for a delicate young lady to respond to the invitation of an unfamiliar unmarried man alone. Not only does it go against etiquette, but her family is also deeply concerned, so I decided to accompany her. I was worried since I couldn’t inform you beforehand, but I heard about your generous character, Lord Ransfield, so I took the liberty of coming along, even though I knew it might be a bit of an imposition. I apologize if we’ve caused any inconvenience.”
Aslan’s smooth words echoed differently in Lord Ransfield’s ears:
What were you thinking, inviting a woman all by herself? It’s not proper, and if her reputation gets ruined because of you, then what? Her family has been troubled by your invitation. You seem like someone who doesn’t even consider the other person’s situation. You should be grateful that I cared enough to come with her. And what? Your family can’t even handle an additional guest? How low-class… is this a small-time operation or what?
‘…Isn’t that what he really meant?’
Stunned by the hidden meaning behind Aslan’s words, Lord Ransfield finally responded belatedly.
“No, not at all!”
“What exactly do you mean?”
“I meant that it’s no inconvenience at all. What I said earlier about being unprepared was just out of concern that I may not be able to provide an experience that fully caters to your tastes.”
Despite his initial confidence, Lord Ransfield quickly backed down.
“I see.”
Aslan’s brief reply only deepened Lord Ransfield’s embarrassment. His face flushed with humiliation, and although he wanted to flee the situation immediately, he forced himself to fulfill his duties as the host who had invited them.
“Ahem, Miss Lyla, and—”
“Aslan Tesset.”
Unable to reveal himself as the Duke of Tordell, he casually made up a name. Lord Ransfield quickly continued the conversation.
“Yes, Mr. Tesset. I’ve prepared a luncheon as a token of my gratitude. Would that be acceptable?”
Having come this far, declining wasn’t really an option.
Lyla and Aslan followed Lord Ransfield toward the dining room. As they walked, the conversation continued. Most of the time, it was Lord Ransfield initiating the dialogue with Aslan responding, while Lyla only occasionally participated.
This was entirely Aslan’s intention.
Positioned between Lord Ransfield and Lyla, Aslan effectively blocked any interest the lord might have had in her. Not only did he prevent them from exchanging words, but he also made sure that they couldn’t even make eye contact.
For Lord Ransfield, who had fallen for Lyla at first sight and gone so far as to invite her to his home in hopes of creating some connection, this was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow. However, the truth was that Lord Ransfield wasn’t too upset about it.
As their conversation with Aslan continued, Lord Ransfield became increasingly charmed by his elegant speech, flawless manners, and dignified demeanor. It was impossible not to feel a strong liking towards Aslan, who embodied everything he had long admired in the nobles of Central.
“Mr. Tesset, which family do you come from?”
“It’s not one worth mentioning,” Aslan responded calmly. But Lord Ransfield didn’t believe him.
There’s no way a man like him could come from an insignificant family!
Lord Ransfield had never encountered someone as dignified as Aslan before.
In his own region, he considered himself quite a significant figure, associating with the nobility and the wealthy middle class of Eres.
Yet none of them possessed the same level of refinement as the man standing before him.
In truth, those whom Lord Ransfield associated with barely deserved to be called nobility. While they now flaunted their wealth due to a stroke of luck, just a few years ago, they had been impoverished country nobles, barely managing to keep their family names alive.
These so-called nobles, who couldn’t afford luxury, were unable to receive a proper education, and thus lacked the refined etiquette and grace expected of their status. Lord Ranfield himself wasn’t much different, so he held no grudge against them.
The situation of the nobles around Eres was similar for everyone, at least until three years ago when a large train station was built, turning Eres upside down.
The development was accelerated by the Duke of Tordell, reputedly the wealthiest man in the country under the royal family, who made aggressive investments in Eres.
What was once just a small fishing village saw the construction of large buildings like hotels and casinos around the station, and new roads were paved.
As news of the Tordell Hotel’s construction spread, people began visiting Eres in greater numbers, leading to a boom in tourism, commercial development, and soaring land prices.
As a result, Eres saw a rise in overnight millionaires.
In the past, no matter how much land one owned, it was practically worthless—useless and unsellable, barely even considered an asset.
But after the train station was built, land prices skyrocketed. What was once a burden became prime real estate, turning landowners into the newly wealthy.
Though these individuals suddenly found themselves rich, almost as if struck by lightning, they still lacked many things.
Honor and refinement, which cannot be bought with money, were prime examples.
Gradually, it became a goal for the nobles around Eres to travel to Central and associate with the real aristocracy there.
Lord Ransfield was fortunate enough to spend some time in Central and engage in social activities, but he was always on the outskirts.
He never managed to enter the core of the social scene, and naturally, he never even caught a glimpse of Duke Tordell, the very person responsible for Eres’s development.
‘After all, a mere country baron like me could hardly expect to meet the great Duke Tordell.’
However, his experiences were not entirely useless.
During his time in Central, Lord Ransfield developed a discerning eye.
To him, the man standing before him, Aslan Tesset, might not be on par with Duke Tordell, but he was undoubtedly a high-ranking noble of considerable repute.
‘What could be the reason for someone like him to conceal his identity and come to a place like this?’
Suppressing his curiosity, Lord Ransfield continued the conversation until they eventually reached the dining room.
Inside, there were already three people seated, all of whom were women.
Lord Ransfield introduced them.
“These are my family members,” said Lord Ransfield. “My mother, my younger sister Diana, and Lady Caroline. Lady Caroline is a distant relative who is currently staying with us to recuperate due to her poor health.”
Following his introduction, the women greeted them in the order they were introduced.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. You may call me Lady Ransfield,” said the Ransfield matron, who had a stern and rigid demeanor, befitting her status as the baron’s mother.
“I’m Diana,” the younger sister introduced herself. She appeared to be around Aiden’s age, with a youthful face and chubby cheeks that made her look endearing. However, she seemed shy, speaking softly and avoiding eye contact.
And then there was Lady Caroline, the distant relative…
‘Does she know me?’
Lyla wondered, as Caroline’s intense gaze made her feel as though they might have met before.
From the moment Lyla entered the room, Caroline had been glaring at her with a hostility that felt almost personal, like she was facing a sworn enemy.
“Hello. I’m Caroline Havide,” she said. But while her icy, piercing stare was directed at Lyla, it seemed to melt away whenever she looked at the men beside her, Aslan and Lord Ransfield.
Lyla couldn’t understand Caroline’s sudden shifts between cold and warm behavior. However, since she wasn’t planning on getting to know Caroline better, Lyla decided not to bother figuring it out and instead focused on her meal, ignoring Caroline’s glaring.
Conversation continued during the meal. Initially, it started with small talk about the weather, the festival, and other trivial topics. However, it quickly turned into something resembling a cross-examination.
The Ransfield family members bombarded Lyla with questions, prying into everything from her family background to her past. Caught off guard, Lyla responded with a strained smile, giving vague and noncommittal answers to evade their probing.
“That’s enough, Mother,” Lord Ransfield finally intervened, raising his eyebrows. Only then did the awkward inquisition come to an end.
“What did I do?” the Ransfield matron grumbled, casting a sidelong glance. Lord Ransfield responded with an awkward smile, but in truth, he had intervened just in time.
If he had hesitated even a moment longer, Aslan would have likely lost his patience and overturned the situation.
However, Aslan wasn’t entirely at ease either.
Diana, Lord Ransfield’s younger sister, couldn’t take her eyes off Aslan throughout the meal. She continuously tried to engage him in conversation.
“Where are you from, Aslan?” she asked.
“I’m not from around here,” he replied.
“From the way you speak, it sounds like you might be from the West. Did you live in Central?”
“Yes.”
Even though his answers were curt and could have seemed uninterested to anyone else listening, Diana seemed to enjoy their exchange, smiling brightly as she continued to talk with him.
However, after her next question, she grew much quieter.
“So, um, are you married?”
“Yes. I have a wife whom I love dearly.”
Aslan’s firm response made Diana fall silent, her lips closing tightly like a clam. Only then did she notice the wedding ring on Aslan’s ring finger.
When are the chapters of this novel released?
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