Chapter 42
Suddenly, Roy seemed to remember something he had forgotten and spoke up. His expression had briefly returned to that of a boy.
“Ah! I was supposed to tell Lady Dalia something earlier. I completely forgot.”
“What is it about?”
“Someone has been waiting here for a while. They said they know Lady Dalia, so I kept them separated for now.”
He said it so casually that she initially treated it like nothing serious, but as she thought over his words, her brow furrowed.
“A guest came? Then why did you isolate them instead of showing them in?”
“There was something suspicious about them. They were acting overly familiar.”
“Even so, locking them up isn’t right. Most likely, they’re just someone from the tailor’s. It’s unusual, since we didn’t expect anyone.”
The recent kidnapping incident had shocked both Sylvia and Mielre considerably.
Especially for Sylvia, the shock and guilt were stronger because the person who overpowered her and abducted Dalia had been her own husband.
‘I told Sylvia not to worry about blame and just focus on recovering… but I guess she still won’t feel completely at ease.’
“Where did you put them? Let’s go quickly. They might need help at Zephyros.”
“No, it’s not those people.”
Dalia tilted her head at Roy’s unusually hesitant tone.
“Really? Then who else would come looking for me?”
Aside from Zephyros, she had used the information Ahmad had left behind to handle a few matters, but those were all document-related and not people-related. There had been no close personal connections like with the tailor’s staff.
“Uh… they said they came from your hometown, and that they’re a legal adviser. They thought you would know them if I mentioned that.”
“What? No way…”
She instinctively dismissed the thought, but there was only one person it could possibly be.
“Elzenon.”
He was the legal adviser from the Borbon estate whom she had consulted about inheritance law.
His visit was also part of her future plans, but the timing was far too early.
‘Nothing I’m preparing has surfaced yet, so there’s no way he’s decided to leave the Count and come under me already.’
Dalia’s face hardened.
Then there was only one reason for his visit—he must be acting on the Borbon Count’s orders.
Elzenon had seemed favorable on his last day with her, but she could not be sure what he was truly thinking.
He was, after all, on the Count’s payroll, and she had once broken into the office vault.
“Oh, right. Elzenon. That’s the name. But Lady Dalia has never mentioned him before. He came to find you so confidently… it didn’t sit right. Are you really close?”
“Hmm… I’ll have to see if he’s an ally or an enemy. For now, I should meet him. So where is he? You didn’t lock him in the basement or anything, did you?”
“No, I didn’t. I just put him in the reception room on the first floor and locked the door.”
“…It’s been a while since our walk.”
That meant he had locked the visitor in without telling her. When Dalia gave him a sharp look, Roy nervously added:
“But I put tea and cookies in so they wouldn’t be hungry.”
No one would appreciate refreshments while being locked up, but there was clearly no malice, and Dalia finally relaxed and smiled.
“Alright. I won’t get angry. Take me to where the guest is.”
Roy’s face lit up at her response, though it quickly turned pensive again.
“You said you’re not sure if he’s an ally… Can I stay right beside you while you meet him? And this time, please don’t tell me to move. I hate waiting outside the door.”
“Roy, that’s…”
Dalia stopped herself from refusing outright.
It was true that Elzenon couldn’t really attack her inside the mansion, so Roy’s concern seemed a bit excessive—but just recently, Sylvia had been kidnapped while he scouted around Zephyros’ tailor shop. That time, Roy had been helpless, losing the person he was supposed to protect.
‘Normally, I’d tell him to move, but this time, I understand his worry.’
“I absolutely won’t let go!”
“Alright, fine.”
Roy, who had prepared words of persuasion in advance, was surprised by her unexpected acceptance.
“Please take care of this.”
“…Understood. Just trust me!”
Startled, Roy quickly followed her with a determined look. He was ready to block even a single moth from approaching her without permission.
“…So, what does Elzenon want to say that he came all this way?”
Heading toward the reception room where he was waiting, Dalia considered various possibilities.
Though the plan had failed, Shirei had already caused quite a commotion, so she expected the Borbon Count to act soon.
But unlike her vague expectations, seeing her father’s envoy arrive in person felt different.
The mastermind behind the kidnapping had been Shirei, but the Borbon Count might also have been involved to some extent. It felt different from her husband, with whom she had a loveless marriage.
No matter how terrible her relationship with the Count had been, he was still her blood relative.
‘Let’s not jump to conclusions. Nothing is certain yet.’
Dalia took a deep breath, composing herself in front of the door where Elzenon waited, and removed the lock Roy had placed.
Moments later, she entered. Elzenon, seated neatly, stood up.
“Miss.”
“…”
“Good day.”
He showed no sign of complaint or protest over being locked alone without explanation.
Removing his hat, he greeted her politely. Roy, ready to pounce and strike him at any moment, felt his energy falter.
Elzenon barely glanced at Roy and then focused calmly on Dalia.
“It’s been a while.”
He added carefully, “You look very… healthy. That’s a relief.”
He oddly emphasized the word “healthy.”
‘Is he saying that because he knows about the kidnapping?’
But Dalia couldn’t tell from just that. She chose her words carefully.
“…I have no reason to be unhealthy.”
“I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Please, have a seat.”
Even if he knew, there was no way a mere retainer from the estate could have gotten wind of it—only her father, the Borbon Count, might have.
Dalia forced herself to calm her nerves and offered him a seat.
“It’s earlier than I expected to meet you.”
“I don’t know when you expected this meeting.”
“Really? I thought Elzenon might have guessed.”
Recalling the last day she had faced him, a faint smile touched Elzenon’s face.
“So you left then, expecting a far later meeting.”
“That’s right.”
“I apologize for the earlier timing, but I must admit I feel somewhat relieved. I thought if things went wrong, we might never meet again.”
His seemingly genuine concern made her cheeks tingle with embarrassment. She decided to go straight to the point.
She still hadn’t decided whether to treat him as friend or foe.
“Elzenon, how have you been? How did you find me, and how did you get here?”
“I came under orders. I was told that if I came to Ahmad, I could meet Lady Dalia.”
“Your father? I almost wasted my time. If I had left a bit earlier, I would have already gone.”
Watching workers busily moving luggage outside the window, Elzenon replied,
“He knew that as well.”
Whether he meant he had seen it himself or already had information beforehand, his tone was ambiguous.
She knew he wasn’t a bad person, but in her past life, even good people could behave differently depending on circumstances.
For now, she could only offer him a wry smile.
“We’ve exchanged greetings enough. Let’s get to the point. You didn’t come all this way just to chat.”
Dalia’s dry words briefly cast a shadow of sadness across Elzenon’s face before it vanished.
‘Did I imagine it?’
He opened a briefcase he had set under the chair and pulled out an envelope, extending it to her. The seal bore the Borbon family crest.
“This is a letter from the Count.”
“A letter?”
The bulky envelope suggested it wasn’t a casual note. Given the situation, the Count wouldn’t be writing just to exchange pleasantries.
Dalia hesitated as Roy snatched the envelope from Elzenon’s hand, inspecting it carefully.
“There’s nothing dangerous.”
It could have contained sharp blades or gunpowder. Roy checked the seams thoroughly before placing it on the table in front of Dalia. His vigilance seemed to reflect guilt over his own past negligence.
“Thanks.”
Dalia’s brief thanks made Roy hide his pride.
Though slightly excessive, considering the Count’s temperament, a blade wouldn’t have been out of character, so the precaution wasn’t useless.
“I doubt he would intentionally hurt Lady Dalia.”
Meanwhile, seeing Roy handle the Count’s letter so carelessly, Elzenon showed his first hint of displeasure.
‘Thanks to Roy, I understand. This person is not really on my side yet—he’s still the Count’s man.’
