CHAPTER 61……………….
Hugo was about to say that he might be a knight belonging to the Imperial family, but closed his mouth.
“I judged there was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble. If we get caught, our identities might be exposed.”
“What? So in the end, you didn’t find out anything about Gronzy?”
Hugo took an envelope from his coat and handed it over.
“I brought back what was investigated on the Gronzy family.”
Skimming through the contents, Angelus let out a scoffing laugh as if it was ridiculous.
“Are you sure this was investigated properly? A mere baron’s daughter of this level paid so much money and even had a shadow knight?”
There wasn’t much written on the paper, but Angelus read it over and over.
The money Everett had donated was the largest among all contributions. And that unflinching, dignified demeanor before him.
He had assumed she must be the daughter of a high-ranking noble, or at least a great merchant.
“No territory, just a small two-story house… living with only one maid?”
“It is said that Baron Gronzy is in the eastern region because of business.”
“Ha! So she was just pretending to be a rich young lady with the money her father earned away from home? Then what about the shadow knight?”
“Well… there is indeed a shadow knight attached to her, but it seems Lady Gronzy herself doesn’t know.”
It didn’t add up.
That a properly trained knight would secretly guard a noble lady of lower standing than commoners.
“She seemed sly. She’s definitely hiding something. Find out more.”
“Yes, understood.”
Angelus drained the water the maid had brought, then asked:
“Have you heard of Naz?”
“The fortune-teller in the square?”
“Yes. I’m thinking of meeting her. Make an appointment.”
“Why would you, my lady saint…”
Angelus gave a short, irritable laugh.
“Saint? Hugo, do you really think of me as a saint?”
Then she burst into peals of laughter as though amused.
“As you probably know already, no one donates to the temple anymore.”
“So you mean to ask the fortune-teller instead?”
“Listen. I’m the saint called the incarnation of Lord Anishu.”
“Then why…”
“Naz uses something similar to Arcana to read fortunes. That’s probably why nobles think she’s like me.”
Hugo nodded once.
“I want to see for myself just how good she is.”
“Yes, understood.”
Angelus’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“And… does the Empire really need two outstanding prophets?”
She met Hugo’s gaze with a cold smile.
“When people have nowhere else to go, they’ll come back to the temple. And when they do, they’ll have to give several times more than before.”
A crooked smile spread on his lips as well.
“Do you mean to reveal your identity as the saint?”
“She’s just a street-corner fortune-teller. I’ve only ever dealt with wealthy nobles. A fortune-teller can’t be a noble anyway. Why should I care?”
After Hugo left, the maid who brought dinner picked up the scraps of fabric scattered on the floor.
“Have you ever met this Naz before?”
“Naz…? No, she’s the most popular fortune-teller in the square, so I never even tried.”
“Mm. Then go see her once. She’ll be gone soon anyway.”
“Gone? What do you mean by that…?”
“You don’t need to know that. Just go and ask her what’ll happen to you in the future. When she’s still in the square.”
The maid tilted her head at Angelus’s cryptic words.
“Miss Everett, you’re so beautiful. Even your enemy would fall for you at first sight.”
Daisy’s compliments were endless.
Unlike Daisy, who was overly excited, Everett was completely worn out.
“Daisy, I told you, this isn’t a party. There’s no need to go this far. It’s just a dinner invitation, so I can go dressed simply.”
But Daisy, holding yet another dress up before Everett, insisted:
“That’s true, simple is good. But it should be simple and beautiful. My lady, this is your first meal with His Grace. If I had my way, I’d dress you up extravagantly, but since you’re embarrassed…”
“I’m satisfied as it is. It’s my own reflection, but it’s so dazzling I can hardly look at it straight.”
At Everett’s joke, Daisy burst into laughter.
The last dress Daisy chose suited Everett perfectly.
The gown was a soft gradient from pale violet to white, shimmering subtly all over.
The shoulders were bare, but the arms were covered with a sheer cape-like fabric, keeping it from looking overly revealing.
Her long black hair was braided thickly, tied with fabric of the same color as the dress.
It looked carefully prepared, but not excessive.
Everett twirled before the mirror.
The thin skirt that fell naturally swayed like waves.
“You’re so slender, my lady, that this style suits you better than a full skirt. You look so elegant.”
A smile she couldn’t hide touched Everett’s lips.
Then, from outside the house, came the sound of a horse.
“He must be here.”
Daisy hurried downstairs, while Everett chuckled at her reflection.
“Really… over nothing…”
She could already imagine Kyle teasing her for dressing up just to impress him.
After one last glance in the mirror, Everett descended as well.
At the door stood Kyle, hands clasped behind his back.
Sensing her coming down, he turned and looked up the stairs.
Everett, in her shimmering lavender gown.
Kyle froze, breath caught.
Unconsciously he swallowed hard, unable to look away.
Daisy glanced at his face and smiled.
“Lord Kyle?”
Everett, now at his side, called his name.
That snapped him back, and he exhaled the breath he had been holding.
“Everett…”
He couldn’t meet her eyes directly.
His green eyes trembled, darting restlessly around her figure.
“Lord Kyle, aren’t we going?”
“Oh—yes, right. We should.”
He hastily stepped ahead, then turned back, reaching out his hand to her.
Daisy whispered softly beside Everett:
“He’s definitely startled because you look too beautiful.”
“That can’t be.”
Shaking her head slightly, Everett took Kyle’s hand and climbed into the carriage.
“Your Grace, we’ve arrived.”
The carriage jolted to a halt as the coachman shouted.
Kyle, who had stared silently out the window the entire way to Alfred’s estate, turned his head toward Everett.
“Lord Kyle, the coachman said we’ve arrived.”
But he made no move to get out, only stared fixedly at her.
‘Why that serious look? Does he have something to say?’
As Kyle leaned closer toward Everett, as if steeling himself—
Knock, knock.
“Lord Kyle, what are you doing in there?”
It was Madam Charlet, who had come out early to greet them.
“The carriage stopped ages ago. What are you two doing inside?”
Startled, Kyle jumped out quickly.
Seeing his flustered expression, Madam Charlet gave a mischievous smile.
“What were you and the young lady doing in there, hmm?”
“I was just having a short talk with Everett.”
“So the young lady’s name is Everett. Oh my, such a lovely name.”
Avoiding her persistent gaze, Kyle looked off into the distance.
But the redness of his neck and ears did not escape her sharp eyes.
“Everyone is waiting inside.”
Everett peeked out of the carriage, and Kyle hurried over to help her down.
Watching them, Madam Charlet’s lips twitched with amusement.
Kyle was always polite, always the gentleman.
Never lacking, never overstepping—exactly what was expected of a duke’s heir.
But the way he treated Everett looked entirely different in her eyes.
‘To reveal his heart so plainly with just a glance or gesture…’
Everett, smiling sweetly with dimples, looked all the more charming.
‘So this is the debtor my brother mentioned.’
Everett curtsied politely.
“I’m Everett Gronzy.”
“Pleased to meet you. Please call me Charlet. But… your voice sounds familiar. Have we met somewhere before?”
“No. This is the first time.”
Everett answered slowly, trying not to sound flustered.
“I thought so. If I’d met such a beautiful young lady, I couldn’t possibly forget.”
Charlet warmly looped her arm through Everett’s.
“Come inside, let’s talk. Lord Kyle told us to prepare especially carefully for his very important guest….”
She glanced back at Kyle’s expression.
It was hard to see in the dim light, but it was clear his face was as red as his hair.
“It’s a rather warm night, isn’t it?”
Trailing behind them, Kyle shook his head vigorously.
“Wow…”
Stepping into Alfred Kiyor’s mansion, Everett couldn’t take her eyes off the lavish interior.
Since the exterior looked dull and neglected, even shabby, it was all the more astonishing.
“My brother only spares no expense on two things: alcohol and the house’s interior decoration.”
Charlet pouted, as though she couldn’t understand it.
“He’s always off wandering the borders, barely ever home, yet he pours so much effort into the decorations.”
