Chapter 47: How That Man Shows Affection to a Cat

“Regina, are you okay?”

Valentin had come over before anyone noticed. But Regina, the one who had actually fallen, calmly stood up with a composed face.

Luckily, the merchant who had bumped into her was small, so aside from her dress getting a bit crumpled, Regina hadn’t gotten seriously hurt.

“It’s a relief the dress didn’t tear.”

“Is that what you’re worried about? What about your ankle, wrist, or back?”

She turned to look at Valentin, whose voice had slightly risen.

He had been standing at the entrance just moments ago—yet he was already at her side. That meant he had run all the way here.

‘Isn’t he being a bit too reckless?’

“Valentin, as you can see, I’m standing perfectly fine.”

“My Lady, I’m so sorry. I got dizzy all of a sudden.”

The young merchant’s frightened voice echoed all the way up to the high ceiling.

As he fell, his robe had slipped off, and Regina noticed that, like Whale, he was clearly from the Shadow Tribe. He looked like he had just entered his teens.

But even this boy was pale-faced with fear—just like Whale.

‘Why is he so scared? It’s not like he’s bleeding.’

Regina knew that the Shadow Tribe tended to get tired easily during the day. She was about to say it was okay when she picked up a bottle that had rolled to her feet. Inside the small glass bottle, a golden liquid shimmered like sunlight over waves.

“Oh no, the sample bottle…!”

Whale, who had rushed over, gasped when he saw what was in her hand. His eyes flickered like he had just been caught with a terrible secret.

Regina suddenly felt like she was the robber here.

“…Is this golden dye?”

With wide eyes, she looked at Valentin, who gave a small nod. But instead of reacting to her surprise, he was subtly scanning her up and down—making sure she wasn’t hurt.

Golden dye. A mysterious and rare substance that, when applied, could strengthen swords, harden helmets, and make clothes shine. Just a small bottle of it was worth as much as a chest full of gold.

“So the dye Whale talked about… it was this?”

“My Lady, I know I’ve already made a mistake, but please… I beg you to keep this a secret. No one can know that Harne Trading Company is making golden dye.”

Whale bowed his head deeply.

To the Shadow Tribe, humans were greedy beings.

They constantly tried to take the unique powers of minority races. Golden dye contained the special energy born in the shadows of the Shadow Tribe. It was something humans could never replicate.

Humans had once invaded the Shadow Tribe’s land, claiming it was for development. They had forced them to betray one another and brought destruction. Even now, people were probably still searching for their kind—trying to hunt them down and dissect them like fish.

‘And on top of that, we just caused a scene.’

Humans often feared or looked down on those who looked different. No matter how kind a mercenary appeared, you couldn’t know what they were truly thinking. Whale knew Regina might not let this go so easily.

Worst-case scenario, she could use this situation to demand something unreasonable. Especially since she had left the estate at night wearing a mask, which only made things more suspicious.

“…Then I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything today.”

Whale blinked in disbelief at her calm reply. When he looked up, Regina’s eyes were serious and firm.

Though her tone was kind, her guardedness hadn’t completely disappeared.

“And you—are you alright? You’re not dizzy or hurt anywhere?”

Regina chose to shift the topic. She had made her point, and now she was letting Whale calm down on his own. She wasn’t the type to keep pushing someone clearly scared.

“I’m okay. Whale… I’m sorry.”

The young merchant gripped Whale’s sleeve tightly. Ashamed of his fear, the boy blushed deeply. He had completely panicked, forgetting even his duty to his people.

“I’m sorry too. Go rest in the shadows. You must’ve been really shaken.”

Whale felt torn.

He couldn’t completely trust Regina, he felt guilty toward his people, and yet part of his attention kept drifting to his liege—Valentin.

Regina had a way of blending into a room and watching quietly. She noticed the subtle tension in Whale’s body.

‘Why is he so focused on Valentin?’

She was about to glance toward Valentin casually when he spoke first, standing near the window.

“Regina, I recognize that face out there. It’s one of the maids who’s always near the head maid. Something seems off.”

Knock, knock.

A light tapping sound hit the window, clear and sharp. Familiar face? Regina quickly walked over to the window where Valentin was looking and followed the direction of his pointing finger.

Across the street, she saw Jane surrounded by a few men. Even from this distance, it was obvious she wasn’t in a good situation, judging by her expression.

“I’ll be right back.”

Regina didn’t hesitate to leave the building.

Valentin, who had expected her to act fast, casually glanced out the window before walking over to Whale.

“She looks like someone who just got smacked hard.”

His tone was half-joking. Clearly, as the real head of the Harne Trading Company, he didn’t seem too bothered that Regina had seen the golden dye.

“I’m sorry. I panicked. I was sure she’d want it for herself.”

“Regina always does the unexpected. She’s not someone who’d be tempted by something like that.”

“…Yes, that’s what it seems.”

That’s why she’s so interesting to watch—you just can’t look away.

Valentin gave a faint smile.

“She might even be able to move past an old grudge like it’s nothing. But I didn’t give permission to bring up the past.”

His voice turned cold in an instant. Whale immediately lowered his head.

“I understand.”

Meanwhile, Regina was getting a taste of how effective her duchess outfit really was.

The local thugs who had been picking on Jane just because she’d brushed their shoulders glanced at Regina’s fancy dress and the carriage nearby—and then ran off without a fight.

If she’d shown up in her usual mercenary outfit, she might’ve had to draw blood.

“This duchess look is more effective than expected. Usually, they need a good scolding to back off.”

“Thank you for helping.”

Regina looked at the small boy peeking from behind Jane. He looked around ten and quickly ducked his head in surprise when their eyes met—only to get scolded by Jane.

“Come on, say hello properly. She’s a lady of the estate I work at.”

“Hello.”

“Haha, he really does look just like you, Jane.”

Regina laughed. The boy’s big eyes were exactly like Jane’s, just as Aileen had said. His shy, tight-lipped expression was adorable.

“My little brother always insists I play with him at least once when I visit. I should’ve helped you get ready today, but…”

Regina noticed Jane wasn’t in a maid uniform—she was wearing casual clothes. Come to think of it, she had heard Jane was originally from Balmen.

“It’s fine. Miss Joy and Madam Menlo helped me get ready.”

“You look beautiful today.”

“That’s all thanks to Miss Joy’s skill.”

Her flat reply to the compliment made Jane puff out her cheeks.

Sure, Joy was a great designer, but Regina’s looks were what really made the dress shine—not that the lady herself seemed to notice.

“Since we’re playing, snacks, good food, and gifts are a must.”

Regina opened the small pouch she had brought. It didn’t hold much, and she’d thought it was useless—but thankfully, she had listened to Aileen and brought it anyway.

“You two enjoy something tasty.”

She pulled out a small amount of money and handed it to the boy as pocket money.

“My Lady…!”

“Let’s say it’s because your little brother was just too cute.”

It wasn’t polite to keep rejecting a gift from someone of higher status. Jane’s brother glanced at her, then took the money with a smile so wide it almost reached his ears.

He looked toward the candy shop down the road, then suddenly said:

“Oh! There’s that guy.”

Regina followed the direction the boy pointed—and saw a man near the candy shop slipping into an alley.

He wasn’t walking normally. It looked like he was trying to stay out of sight.

“Do you know him?”

“Probably not. He’s the guy who just moved in next door. But this kid says he saw him near the back gate of the estate. That day, I couldn’t take time off because of Head Maid Phinette, so he came to the estate himself.”

“You met him that day?”

“He says so, but I doubt he remembers someone he just saw for a second.”

“I do! I’m not stupid!”

The boy raised his voice, clearly frustrated. Regina crouched down to meet his teary eyes.

“…You really saw him?”

“Yes! I might mess up reading sometimes, but I’m really good at remembering faces. And that guy got mad at me, told me to stop staring. It was super scary.”

“Alright. I believe you.”

Regina gently patted his head and then turned toward the alley where the suspicious figure had disappeared.

The warmth in her eyes from talking to the child vanished completely.

Now, like a wild beast sensing a trespasser in her territory, her presence turned sharp and dangerous.