Chapter 23. Anytime is Fine

“So, you forgot. I mentioned that we didn’t have a chance to properly express our gratitude that day due to the rushed preparations, and we wanted to do so properly.”

Ael’s eyes widened at Kyle’s words. That was just a polite remark, and she thought it was already over.

However, Kyle was speaking as if Ael had promised to contact them later but had forgotten.

The viscountess, listening to their conversation, couldn’t hide her rising smile at the mention of expressing gratitude.

Thinking about receiving another gift, like the last time, seemed to momentarily make her forget Elise’s situation and put her in a good mood.

“And I’m not sure if it was conveyed, but I came today to ask you for a favor, Miss Aelfrieda.”

“Yes, I heard. You want me to teach the ancient language…”

“That’s right. But Viscount Aradis mentioned that it’s considered very rude here in Denertum, so I won’t dare to ask further.”

At Kyle’s seemingly resigned words, Ael bit her lip.

If she agreed to teach the ancient language, would she then be taken to the Ash Merchant Guild? Would she be able to see the bustling people again, like before?

Every day, passing through the busy streets, on the road where the sea breeze blew, looking at the ships that seemed ready to set sail at any moment, and imagining herself boarding one of those ships someday…

As her imagination went that far, Ael shivered and unconsciously covered her mouth with her hand.

‘Oh my God.’

She thought she had forgotten everything related to the Ash Merchant Guild since that day, but her mind was already filled with such grand imaginations.

Leaving this house, working among people, and leaving this country…

While Ael was startled by her late realization of her own desires, Kyle’s voice came from outside again.

“Miss Aelfrieda, anytime is fine. If there’s anything you want, please contact us.”

He spoke as if making a vow.

“I will do anything for you.”

* * *

“It was a waste of time and money.”

Ino said nonchalantly on the way back in the carriage after leaving the viscount’s house, resting his chin on his hand.

Their visit to Viscount Aradis’s house was a failure. They only managed to deliver the gift they brought and failed to bring Aelfrieda to the Ash Merchant Guild.

“Right.”

Callon also spoke softly in response to Ino’s words. Hearing his tone, Ino suddenly straightened up and spoke with a tense face.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Huh?”

“If not, why are you so angry?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

When Callon looked at Ino in confusion, Ino replied, still stiff.

“I’ve been with you for years, Callon. How could I not recognize when you’re angry? Your voice gets a bit flatter when you’re really angry, just like the time with the Taryn Republic bankruptcy…”

“Ino.”

Hearing Callon’s low voice again, Ino closed his mouth.

The Taryn Republic bankruptcy was orchestrated by the Ash Merchant Guild. More precisely, it was designed by Callon.

It was a doomed country. Behind the name of a republic, the illegal activities they engaged in were numerous.

Among them, the country ran human trafficking and slave markets under the guise of the council, which Callon despised the most.

‘That was truly terrifying.’

Ino realized then that there was a more perfect destruction than being crushed by swords and guns.

The people of Taryn lost the name of their country and their future. He didn’t feel sorry for them.

Their wealth was all built by stealing other people’s lives.

And Callon’s voice was similar to how it was back then.

‘Why on earth?’

Ino couldn’t understand what about that shabby viscount’s house made Callon so angry.

Viscount Aradis? He was a petty and vulgar man, but they had met countless people worse than him.

So there was no reason for Callon to suddenly be angry at someone like the viscount…

Thinking wouldn’t solve anything. So Ino made the best choice he could.

‘I should just shut up.’

While Ino wisely chose to remain silent, Callon was lost in thought.

‘There was someone else.’

From the moment they were led to Ael’s room, Callon had realized it.

That Ael wasn’t alone behind the door.

He had seen all the servants he had seen during his previous visit, so it was likely that the person with her was either the unseen viscountess or Elise.

Moreover, Callon noticed a faint tremor in the voice he heard. As if the person was under some kind of threat.

At that moment, Callon recalled the commotion at the tea party that Ino had mentioned. He guessed why Ael couldn’t show herself.

They must have punished her for the incident at the tea party, leaving her in a state unfit to be seen by others.

So Callon spoke firmly, saying he would do anything if she wanted.

Being clever, she would have found it odd when he mentioned sending more gifts and soon understood his intention. That he could help even in this situation.

Of course, she couldn’t easily respond with someone else there.

But after today, if she still needed help, she would surely reach out.

When the carriage arrived at the Ash Merchant Guild, Nisha, who had been waiting, ran out. She then questioned Callon and Ino as they got off.

“Where is Miss Aelfrieda?”

“Ah.”

At that moment, Callon realized. From the moment he left the viscount’s house until now, he hadn’t thought at all about the most important issue of the ancient language.

And three weeks later….

“Can you still help me?”

Callon faced Ael, who had come with a bruised face.

* * *

The night Callon left. Ael was dragged away again and punished by Elise and the viscount couple.

The next day, Jenna, who secretly visited Ael’s room, wept, wondering how they could do this to their daughter.

Ael was in a terrible state.

Bruises all over her body, a split lip from being hit, and other injuries.

The one-sided beating left a dreadful mark on Ael’s body.

Still, she thought she was lucky. Her body hurt, but nothing was broken. The bruises and swelling would heal with time, as they always did.

But the problem didn’t end there.

Elise, unable to contain her anger, stormed into Ael’s room and, in her rampage, discovered a book under the bed.

〈What’s this?〉

Picking up the book, Elise’s eyes gleamed at the library mark of the Academy inside and she ran straight to Viscount Aradis.

Already furious, he exploded once more. Grinding his teeth as he looked at the book the servant had pulled out.

〈So you dared to do this with my identification card! Did you enjoy flaunting yourself with knowledge gained through theft? You pathetic failure!〉

For a while, he had been preoccupied with Elise and wandering outside, completely ignoring Ael.

That perfect indifference had allowed Ael to live quietly, but this incident made the viscount remember the disappointment, despair, and anger from when Ael was born.

The viscount threw the book he was holding at Ael without hesitation. The corner of the book hit her forehead and fell to the floor.

“……!”

Feeling a sharp pain, Ael touched the spot where the book had hit. Her hand was covered in red blood.

Initially, she would cry and feel pain when hit, but as Ael soon endured the pain as if accustomed to it, the viscount couple and Elise grew even more furious.

They wanted Ael to suffer and beg at their feet.

Then Elise picked up one of the books Ael had borrowed and tore the pages.

〈This trash!〉

At that moment, Ael, who had been still, jumped up and lunged at Elise to snatch the book away.

〈What are you doing! Stop it!〉

Startled by Ael’s sudden attack, Elise stepped back.

But soon, Elise’s eyes gleamed. She realized what she could do to make Ael suffer.

Ordering Maya to hold Ael down, Elise tore the book in front of her.

Ael tried to stop her, but her injured body wouldn’t cooperate, and Maya held her arms so tightly that she couldn’t break free.

Knowing that the book was borrowed from the library in his name, the viscount flinched for a moment, but seeing Ael crying and begging them to stop, he joined in tearing and trampling the books.

‘What’s a book worth anyway?’

Even if it was a book from the Empire, it was still just a book.

He thought it was cheap for the sight of her suffering.