Chapter 103
Suddenly, the surroundings truly lit up.
It wasn’t as if hundreds of lamps had been switched on—someone simply approached the two of them carrying a night lantern.
“Ugh…”
“Hey, what the hell?”
Both of them frowned in unison and turned to glare at the unexpected intruder.
The intruder, however, showed no sign of embarrassment and spoke smoothly.
“Lost your way? Need a carriage? I can take you to the main street cheaper than anywhere else.”
“……”
As the night air grew softer, the beach bordering the casino plaza swelled with crowds that had gathered early.
People who brought picnic mats and baskets full of snacks from street vendors had already taken spots everywhere, sitting comfortably and waiting for the fireworks to begin.
In such a warm, romantic atmosphere, having the city guard captain walk around openly wasn’t exactly pleasing to the eye.
That was why Ditte had taken off his guard’s cloak and wandered around in a see-through shirt instead—though, frankly, it wasn’t much of an improvement.
Of course, Ditte himself was blissfully unaware of that.
“Uncle, there are way too many people. Are you sure they’re here?”
Charlotte, sounding a little annoyed, finally asked.
Ditte looked around distractedly but answered with conviction.
“Of course I’m sure. I got word they’d be watching the fireworks here tonight.”
“So who exactly? Are you sure Uncle Ravi’s coming?”
“Obviously! Only that guy would think of bringing Nina to a filthy, tasteless place like this to watch fireworks! Ha ha ha!”
Then what did that make the two of them, wandering aimlessly in this filthy, tasteless place?
Charlotte frowned, staring down at her boots, now coated with sand.
Good thing she’d worn boots—if she’d worn her other shoes, the insides would already be full of sand.
“Then what about you, Uncle? You dragged me all the way here too.”
“Huh? That’s different—wait, that kid over there looks familiar. Isn’t that…?”
Whoever “that kid” was supposed to be, Charlotte didn’t know.
But when she followed Ditte’s pointing finger, her expression brightened.
“Messe! It’s Messe!”
Standing alone near the breakwater, away from the crowd, a young boy turned slowly at the sound of his name.
“Messe, long time no see! What are you doing here alone?”
“……”
Messe merely stared at the girl approaching him with a strange, chilly look—one that said Who are you again?
Charlotte faltered for a moment.
“Oh, you’re that kid—Merce’s little brother or something, right? Hey there! Why are you by yourself? Where are your friends?”
Ditte cut in noisily, and only then did Messe let out a small “Ah,” smile faintly, and speak.
“They’re over there. It was noisy, so I came out for some air.”
“So they really were here! What about Ravian and Nina?”
“Well, everyone seems to be waiting, but they haven’t arrived yet.”
“They’ll show up soon enough. Lead the way, Merce’s little brother!”
“Uncle, mind your manners! Ugh, seriously.”
Charlotte sighed and gave Messe an apologetic smile.
“We were looking for you guys too. We wanted to watch the fireworks with Uncle Ravi and Nina.”
“Really…?”
There was a spark of amusement in Messe’s eyes as he looked at Charlotte.
Then, without another word, he turned and began leading them toward where the others were waiting.
When the three arrived, the penthouse crew, led by Kiss, had already secured the best spot and were in the middle of a heated argument.
“I’m telling you, they’re not coming. The boss is obviously using tonight to score points with the baby. And tomorrow he’ll dump all the annoying work back on us like always.”
“Hey, shut up and spread that mat properly.”
At Smoky’s sharp command, Kiss pouted but obediently smoothed out the mat.
Smoky turned his glare toward Mira and Katya, who were leisurely emptying the snack basket.
“Can you two stop eating for once?! Help out a little! For crying out loud!”
“We bought this food to eat! What’s your problem?! Even a ghost who died eating looks good—ugh! What the hell is that pervert doing here?!”
Startled, Mira threw her half-eaten hot dog in shock.
The hot dog flew straight into Ditte’s see-through shirt, right on the chest.
Ditte exploded.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?! Do you even know how much this costs?! Even your yearly salary wouldn’t—!”
“Who cares, you damn pervert! Put a cloak on, for god’s sake!”
“Yeah! How are you even the guard captain dressed like that?!”
While the adults bickered noisily, Katya frowned slightly upon noticing Messe standing beside Charlotte.
He’d claimed earlier that he wasn’t feeling well and had gone back ahead of everyone else.
But judging from the situation, it looked like Ditte had caught him halfway.
Katya didn’t like that Charlotte was tagging along, but she decided to keep her displeasure hidden.
“Hey, hey, calm down and sit already. Kids, want some snacks?”
“That’s for when the baby comes!”
The moment Smoky offered the basket, Kiss nearly foamed at the mouth.
“Ha! Typical of a lowlife gangster, trying to win Nina’s favor with cheap snacks…”
“Shut it, you wannabe cop! What’d you bring then?”
“I—I… ahem! Unlike you, I don’t intend to feed Nina cheap junk food from some filthy street stall!”
“You mean you’re broke from buying that pervert shirt?”
“Are you calling me a beggar now?!”
While Ditte and Kiss squabbled, Smoky rummaged for something else to eat.
“Then here, take this.”
“Oh, that looks good. Thank you. Messe, you want one too?”
Charlotte took a croquette with a friendly smile and gently tugged on Messe’s arm.
Messe smiled faintly and obediently accepted it from her hand.
At that, Smoky tilted his head and spoke curiously.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well earlier? You look fine now.”
“I’m not sure. I got dragged here by that person.”
“Ah, figures. Well, let me know if you need a carriage back later.”
Watching the scene with distaste, Katya suddenly felt a strange sense of wrongness.
What’s up with him? Feverish? Or did he eat one too many whiskey bonbons somewhere?
Everyone else was too distracted to notice, but she saw it clearly.
Messe wasn’t the kind of boy who spoke politely or used honorifics with anyone.
And the way he treated Charlotte right now wasn’t normal either.
From what Katya had seen, Messe was calm but obsessively cold—a perfectionist who allowed no one close.
The only person he ever let touch him or share food with him was Nina.
Normally, if Charlotte so much as tried to grab his arm, he’d move halfway across the beach to avoid her.
What’s going on? Has he suddenly developed a thing for noble girls? Or maybe he’s had secret ambitions all along?
While Katya’s mind filled with suspicion, Mira—who was proudly wearing Ditte’s stolen cloak—suddenly jumped up and pointed.
“Hey, there they are!”
“Where?! Where?!”
There was no need to ask who.
A moment later, the whole group charged forward in unison.
“Boss! Boooss! Where do you think you’re going, you sneaky bastard?!”
“Stop right there, you conniving scoundrel!”
“Give us the baby back!”
Their shouting echoed across the crowded beach, instantly drawing every gaze their way.
From the plaza, Ravian and Nina—just arriving—turned their heads in surprise.
“Huh? Isn’t that everyone over there…?”
While Nina looked delighted, Ravian clicked his tongue with a grim expression.
“Good grief. The guard captain… So much for the dignity of the West.”
“Hey, you’re one to talk! Where were you sneaking off to with Nina this time, you shameless crook?!”
“If I’m shameless, what does that make you, a man who handed over the captain’s badge to that clown…?”
Ravian’s dry jab made Ditte flush with anger.
Then he suddenly noticed Mira—and froze.
“W-When did you—?! Hey, give me back my cloak, you pickpocket!”
“No way! Finders keepers!”
“Unbelievable! You want me to cuff you?!”
While Ditte and Mira ran in circles playing tag, Nina quietly watched the chaotic scene unfold.
Charlotte again, huh…
