Chapter 22. I Would Like to See You Again

When Callon and him visited, the servant who greeted us seemed quite flustered.

Moreover, when they entered the house, they could hear shouting.

After the servant went upstairs, there were sounds of frantic movement, as if they were scurrying around in a panic.

“It doesn’t seem like we’ve come at a very good time, does it?”

“Indeed.”

Callon nodded in agreement with Ino’s remark.

The activity upstairs was strange. They were moving around so busily, yet no one was coming down. It was as if they were trying to hide something that shouldn’t be discovered.

Then, there was a loud thumping sound on the stairs, followed by the door opening.

Viscount Aradis entered the reception room with a stiff expression.

“Sorry for the delay. We had to prepare to receive guests rather suddenly.”

Viscount Aradis, who didn’t sound apologetic at all, sat down on the sofa without even offering them a seat first. Seeing this, Ino clicked his tongue inwardly.

Even if they were commoners, he could have at least offered us a seat, but Viscount Aradis seemed to have no intention of extending such courtesy.

‘Even someone who could lay down in front of the Emperor without anyone saying a word is receiving such treatment in a remote kingdom.’

Ino briefly felt sorry for his employer’s situation.

Then he remembered that his employer was a ruthless boss who worked him to the bone and quickly dismissed that feeling.

“Thank you for welcoming us despite our sudden visit. I am Kyle from the Ash Merchant Guild, as I mentioned before.”

“Hmm.”

Callon bowed his head in greeting, but Viscount Aradis merely responded with a short, dismissive cough-like sound.

This made Ino feel sympathy for his employer once again.

Viscount Aradis’s eyes scanned Callon and Ino, or rather, the space beside them.

Disappointment soon spread across his face. The servant had mentioned that they brought a gift, but all the people from the Ash Merchant Guild had brought was a small box.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I have a request for your eldest daughter.”

“For Rida…? What could she possibly do? It would be fortunate if she didn’t cause trouble for others.”

Callon subtly clenched his hands at the way Viscount Aradis spoke about his daughter as if it were only natural to think so little of her.

He must know how intelligent his daughter is and how talented she is in various fields, so why does he look down on her so much?

Callon briefly explained the reason for his visit to Viscount Aradis.

Of course, he didn’t mention that the Ash Merchant Guild was urgently looking for someone proficient in the ancient language. Instead, he said that the branch manager of the Ash Merchant Guild wanted to study the ancient language to better meet the high-level demands of noble clients.

They hadn’t been able to find a suitable teacher, but a staff member at a tea party witnessed Ael’s abilities and earnestly wished to have the honor of having her as a teacher.

However, after hearing the explanation, Viscount Aradis frowned.

It was common for noblewomen to teach other women. A governess was a representative profession for that.

But it was only meaningful when teaching women from higher-ranking families; teaching those from lower positions was considered labor and looked upon unfavorably.

‘And they want her to teach an imperial?’

It didn’t matter that he was the branch manager of the Ash Merchant Guild, he was still a commoner.

Having received an unpleasant proposal and not getting what he expected, Viscount Aradis felt irritation rising.

“That’s quite an impudent request. It seems you don’t yet understand how insulting that is here in Denertum. Please leave now.”

“I understand it is an impudent request. However, finding someone with such excellent skills is difficult, so we have come despite knowing our rudeness. We ask for your understanding.”

As Callon bowed politely again, Viscount Aradis began to grow curious about something else.

“If you insist so much, I might consider it, but…”

Dragging out his words, the viscount gave Callon a knowing look, implying how much he would pay if he sent Ael.

Callon immediately understood his implication. However, he pretended not to notice at all, bowing his head and feigning regret.

“It is indeed a difficult matter, isn’t it?”

“Of course, it is difficult, but…”

“I apologize once again. We tried to avoid offending the nobles of Denertum, but if it becomes a nuisance, it is right to refrain.”

While the viscount hesitated, unable to bring up the topic of money, Callon continued speaking.

“Come to think of it, Miss Aelfrieda repeatedly declined our gestures of appreciation last time, so we couldn’t fully express our gratitude. If you don’t mind…”

Callon looked directly at the viscount as he spoke.

“I would like to meet Miss Aelfrieda again and express my gratitude once more.”

* * *

Ael looked around the room filled with clothes.

The room on the third floor, which she had used as a child, was now filled with Elise’s clothes.

Once, after Elise lost something of hers, she had accused Ael, who was cleaning the room, of stealing it.

Since being falsely accused back then, she hadn’t dared to come near the room for fear of arousing unnecessary suspicion.

Naturally, there were no traces of her time there. Even back then, the furniture was sparse, so they must have thrown it all out.

Ael’s vacant gaze shifted to the viscountess, who was glaring at her.

Initially, the viscount couple had driven Ael into her room on the fourth floor.

But soon after, they had come back up and dragged her to this room, leaving her with the viscountess.

After locking the door, the viscountess spoke.

“The guest insists on speaking with you, despite not having the sense to realize you’re not in a state to receive visitors. Answer appropriately and send them away.”

The viscountess’s definition of ‘appropriately’ carried multiple meanings.

It meant to send the guest away without meeting face-to-face, as they couldn’t show her disheveled state, and not to let the guest catch on to the commotion that had just occurred.

The viscountess was there to ensure Ael didn’t say anything foolish to the guest.

“The Ash Merchant Guild is quite foolish. How proficient can you be in the ancient language for them to cling so desperately?”

Recalling how Elise had been mocked by other nobles for her inability to speak the ancient language, the viscountess clicked her tongue at Ael.

‘I remember seeing her reading books in the study arrogantly long ago. She must have been studying the ancient language behind our backs.’

Despite hiring a teacher, Elise’s skills in the ancient language were poor, but Ael was proficient enough for guests to visit, which twisted the viscountess’s insides.

Then, there was the sound of someone climbing the stairs, followed by a knock.

“Sorry for the late hour, Miss Aelfrieda. It’s Kyle, whom you met before.”

Hearing the voice from outside, Ael felt her throat tighten. Hearing his voice immediately brought back memories of the Ash Merchant Guild that she had been trying not to think about.

That day, while with him, she had forgotten her situation and what she had to do, engrossed in his explanations and enjoying their conversation.

The entire day felt like a gift. That’s why Ael had tried not to recall that time.

Whenever she thought of that day and came back to her senses, what she saw before her was the same cold reality as always.

But the moment she heard Kyle’s voice again, the day she had tried to forget quickly resurfaced. Simultaneously, her cheek, which had been slapped by Elise, throbbed.

“Ah… Hello.”

Ael composed her trembling voice. The viscountess glared at her, as if telling her to respond properly.

‘I shouldn’t need to be watched like this.’

Her desire not to show Kyle her current state was greater than the viscountess’s.

He was someone who had given her good memories, so she didn’t want to feel ashamed in front of him. She didn’t want him to know that she was living like this.

“I heard you weren’t feeling well.”

“I’m fine… But since I was resting, please understand that I’m greeting you like this.”

“Of course. It’s our fault for visiting unexpectedly. Please forgive us for coming despite knowing. It seemed you might have forgotten the promise you made with us before, so we couldn’t wait any longer and came. Our branch manager was so insistent.”

“A promise…?”

Did she make such a promise? No matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t remember.

Then, from outside the door, along with a sigh of regret, his voice was heard again.