36.
Damn it.
Norman could not accept this. He could not accept the fact that the Grand Duchess’s plan had failed, nor that it had been seen through by Lancelot’s low-born wife.
‘I heard that base girl was busy learning royal etiquette. She had time to worry about something like curtain laundry?’
That couldn’t be.
Although Anita Boellony was a rare beauty, she did not strike Norman as a particularly brilliant woman.
‘Did Lancelot foresee today’s events?’
That was somewhat plausible. Even if Lancelot was a cocky fellow who looked down on his elders, it was a fact known to the whole family that he possessed a chilling intuition.
“It’s fortunate that the family’s honor won’t be dragged through the mud because of a counterfeit that isn’t even worth a toy, Norman-nim. Isn’t it?”
At Anita’s question, Norman feigned innocence and played along.
“Indeed, it is! I must track down the thief who hid the gold sword and send them to the inspector immediately. Who was it? Hey! Whoever the maid was that hung the curtains in this room…”
His shouting was cut off sharply by Anita.
“We have to head to the station in three minutes. I don’t think there’s time to press the maid. I plan to dismiss her immediately and leave the rest to Jill.”
His pride was wounded, but he could not afford to get angry at Anita in this situation.
“Right. That would be clean. Otherwise, in front of all the nobles, the Edenbahir’s…”
“Ah. Furthermore, I intend to dismiss all employees in charge of the 4th, 3rd, and 1st floors.”
“What?”
“I heard they were all introduced through your acquaintances, Norman-nim. Given that a major incident almost occurred, I think a clean sweep is necessary. You agree, don’t you, Norman-nim?”
Norman’s eyes widened. Before coming up to the fourth floor, he recalled Anita’s voice, which had been dinned into his ears as if she were telling him to open his ears and listen carefully:
[The person responsible for the disappearance of such a precious gold sword will have to pay the appropriate price.]
One would have to be an idiot not to notice. There was no doubt it was a mockery aimed at him!
His blood began to boil.
“I am the one and only paternal uncle of Lancelot, who is to become the head of the house! How dare you, someone from a family without a title, blame me…”
“I think there is a misunderstanding. I never said it was your fault, Norman-nim. It is a matter concerning your acquaintances who deceived you and introduced light-fingered employees.”
“Yes, of course, that expression is certainly correct. The maid’s mistake cannot be my mistake.”
“Yes. For that reason, I will take responsibility for all future matters regarding the mansion’s personnel. I trust you, Norman-nim, but I cannot trust the person who took advantage of your reputation and trust to insult the Edenbahir.”
Norman’s brow furrowed violently.
The head of the employment agency that introduced staff to the Edenbahir was one of the businessmen he had cultivated.
For him, having received only a portion of the inheritance because he was not the eldest son, nothing was more important than maintaining his connections.
‘Above all, if this authority is handed over…’
He would no longer be able to make his voice heard in the Edenbahir family. He would also lose the dogs who served as his eyes and ears. He absolutely could not let that be taken away.
“That part can be resolved if I connect a new agency head.”
“No. If today’s events reach Lancelot’s ears, it won’t be resolved by simply connecting a new agency head.”
“Are you threatening me that you will tell your husband?”
“Even if I hold my tongue, do you think he won’t find out about today? He will find out one way or another. You know his personality. Unless you bow your head, Norman-nim, he will drag you to the very bottom.”
Since it was a picture he could imagine without any difficulty, Norman’s pride and anxiety clashed, battering his brain.
“If the employees are all dismissed at once, the internal affairs are bound to leak out. As always, reporters desperate to strip the upper class naked will swarm.”
“Then you must make sure they keep their mouths shut!”
“How do you propose to keep over twenty people quiet? If articles detailing a family feud over a gold sword make headlines, the Grand Duchess will be furious. If Lancelot uses that as an excuse to rebuke you, Norman-nim, you won’t even be able to set foot in the Duke Edenbahir Residence.”
She was right. This must never leak out.
‘The Grand Duchess is already furious at the very fact that we have to present the gold sword to the royal family.’
Given the Grand Duchess’s temperament, where she valued the family more than her children, he thought she might even sever ties with him.
Perhaps it was the fallout of the Grand Duchess being mentioned. Eventually, Norman’s anxiety trampled his pride and grew even larger.
Bang! His fist slammed against the wall.
“Damn it, so what do you want me to do now! Do you want me to kneel before you and beg you to relay a good word to Lancelot?”
Anita shook her head calmly. It was baffling how their expressions, which were irritating enough to grind one’s teeth at, were so identical between the couple.
“No. I just want you to stay still. As I said before, I will handle the personnel reshuffling. Please act as if you have nothing to do with it. I will tell him it was just a mishap. I will also do my best to appease the employees who will be dismissed.”
Anita, having calmly soothed Norman’s anger, glanced at the grandfather clock at the end of the west hallway.
“My, the time is already… I must move before it gets any later, Norman-nim.”
In the space where Anita had disappeared, Norman gripped his hair and reprimanded himself.
‘Damn it, I was a fool to leave the job to a maid who hasn’t learned a thing! Ugh. How on earth am I supposed to tell the Grand Duchess this news…’
There was no use crying over spilled milk.
All Norman could do was rack his brain to prepare the perfect excuse.
***
Hixen.
The heart of the Kingdom of Montebio and the center of industry, burning with colors as vibrant as a rose.
Anita’s eyes, which had been fixed beyond the train window, suddenly widened.
It was because the outskirts of a massive city were revealed after passing through vast grasslands, agricultural zones, and the grey smoke spewing from factories.
‘How long has it been since I was in Hixen?’
Three years. No, it seems like four.
Hixen, visited after four years, was much more magnificent than the remnants in her memory. The city and the cruise ships floating on the river had grown even larger.
Whenever she went up to the capital, it was always with her father. Now…
‘Ah.’
A long whistle sounded. It was the signal that the train was pulling into Hixen Station.
Hixen Station was even more crowded with people than Shavalon Station.
‘If I lose focus for even a second, my bag will be pickpocketed.’
But beyond the window, among the faces that flashed by, was it her imagination that she had seen Lancelot?
“Madam. A carriage headed to the royal palace will be waiting. Please disembark.”
Anita swallowed hard and followed behind Jill to get off.
Every step she took through the crowd felt incredibly heavy.
‘Let’s not be nervous. Adelaide said if I act as I usually do, there will be no room for criticism.’
The royal palace is, after all, just a castle where people live. And the Queen said she would help Lancelot and me.
Was it because she hadn’t checked the platform properly due to her wandering thoughts?
She ended up bumping her forehead against the chest of a man walking straight toward her.
Thud.
A surprised Anita trembled and stepped back.
“Oh, I’m sorry…”
“It’s a good thing I came to meet you.”
However, at the familiar voice from above, she lifted her chin.
“…Lancelot?”
“Just a moment.”
Reaching out, he wrapped his arms around Anita’s back.
Passengers who had disembarked from the same train were swarming like ants behind her.
Anita was forced to stand, wrapped snugly in Lancelot’s arms against her will.
‘…Lancelot’s scent.’
When she inhaled, the scene of a winter cabin densely packed with dry trees came to mind.
A scent that felt cool and dry, yet had the cleanliness of white snow.
After the crowd had passed, he pulled Anita from his arms, continued walking slowly, and asked.
“What were you thinking about so intensely? You wouldn’t have even known if someone had snatched you away.”
For some reason, she felt embarrassed.
“Since it’s my first time visiting the royal palace, I was a little worried… You could have just sent someone, why did you come out yourself?”
To her question, Lancelot replied with a look that suggested she was asking the obvious.
“I can’t leave my wife, who has just arrived in a city where she has no ties, all alone.”