Chapter 89
Just as Wilhelm was about to forget himself and shout at the top of his lungs—
“……Pardon me, but the Marquis has instructed that all matters concerning the reception of our guests are to be entrusted to Sir Wilhelm.”
Yvonne, who had been standing quietly to the side observing the situation, interjected calmly.
Wilhelm lifted his head as though he had just been saved by a god.
“Ah, that’s right. I completely forgot, Einar. Father specifically ordered me to host our guests.”
When Einar’s brows shot up in clear displeasure, Wilhelm continued with a cheerful chuckle.
“Well, isn’t it simply Father’s consideration for propriety? The heir of the House of Diero is visiting—how could he possibly put forward someone like you, who’s nothing more than the second son?”
No matter how highly you strut around outside, I’m still the heir.
Though the words were never spoken aloud, Einar felt as if he could hear them clearly. Letting out a hollow laugh, he turned to Rosie.
“Don’t pay attention to that crap. Come with me.”
Rosie couldn’t hide her unease as she stole a glance at Wilhelm. He was glaring at her with a burning intensity, as though he might kill her if she so much as took a step after Einar.
At that moment, Cliden stepped forward and addressed Wilhelm.
“You must have been taken aback by our sudden visit. We are grateful for the Marquis’s consideration. If I may ask—have our rooms been prepared?”
Wilhelm, clearly pleased that Cliden was addressing him rather than Einar, smiled broadly.
“Of course. In the west wing of the estate where I reside, there is an excellent set of rooms that are only occasionally opened to distinguished guests. Young Duke, Miss Rosie—please follow me.”
“Yes. Thank you, Lord Viscount.”
“……Wilhelm!”
Einar roared as if in a fit, but that was all he could do.
Even aside from the Marquis’s orders, Cliden—who still did not fully trust Einar—saw no reason to keep Rosie near him.
As they were about to leave him behind, the priest, who had remained silent until now, suddenly raised his hand.
“Then, where shall I be staying?”
“Ah—.”
Wilhelm’s gaze swept arrogantly over the priest.
A priest dispatched to a marquis’s estate with holy water was certainly competent enough, but—
“Oh, my apologies. I seem to have overlooked you, Father. In that case, you shall—”
Grinning like a villain who had just thought of something amusing, Wilhelm continued.
“Einar, you’ll guide him.”
“…What?”
Einar snapped back roughly.
He’d already diverted Rosie and Cliden to the west, and now this?
Wilhelm chuckled at Einar’s stunned expression.
“Well, if you don’t feel like it, I suppose Yvonne could arrange separate accommodations.”
Cliden frowned at the blatantly discriminatory remark. He didn’t care about sibling rivalry, but treating a priest who had arrived with them this way was unacceptable.
Just as Cliden was about to speak up, the priest swiftly stepped to Einar’s side.
“Yes. I’ll go with him.”
“…What?”
Einar, Cliden, Rosie—and even Wilhelm—stared at the priest in disbelief.
With an unreadable gaze and a thin smile, the priest looked at Einar.
“Ha, seriously…”
After a few frustrated sighs, Einar finally said,
“…Follow me.”
And with that, he headed east, the priest trailing behind him.
The eastern wing.
Upon arriving, Einar muttered a low curse, frustrated that things hadn’t gone according to plan.
“Damn it.”
He hadn’t even managed to say a single word to Rosie yet.
I need to stash this baggage somewhere and go see Rosie…
But that meant confronting the Marquis again, and time was tight.
As soon as they arrived, Einar handed the priest off to a nearby servant.
“Pick any room you like. As long as it suits you.”
“…Anywhere? Are you certain?”
Einar shot the priest an annoyed glance.
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
He didn’t have the luxury of wasting time.
Though one might expect the priest to take offense, he merely nodded calmly.
“All right. Take your time.”
Einar turned his back on him without another word.
The priest watched him go, his eyes glinting strangely.
“…Father? How long do you plan to stand there? Please go inside.”
At the servant’s urging, the priest began walking, murmuring softly under his breath.
“…How very strange.”
“Pardon?”
The priest shook his head as if it were nothing.
It was a sensation ordinary people wouldn’t understand, even if explained.
No.
Einar Portrey was not a dark mage.
And yet, for some reason, there was a far more dangerous stench around him than that of ordinary dark mages.
“……Is this really all right?”
As Rosie followed Wilhelm toward the west wing, she kept glancing back, unable to stop worrying about Einar and the priest—though they were long out of sight.
Cliden spoke gently.
“Are you worried?”
“Not exactly worried… just unsettled.”
Cliden let out a small chuckle.
“That’s a relief. I was afraid you might be worried about the true power of House Portrey while standing in its very den.”
Rosie’s cheeks flushed slightly at his teasing tone.
As the two whispered quietly to each other, Wilhelm suddenly turned around.
“Ha ha, even in a place like this, you seem quite fond of your private conversations. You must be very close.”
Rosie flinched and instinctively stepped closer to Cliden.
Strangely enough, despite having an appearance similar to Einar’s, Wilhelm’s presence felt completely different.
And perhaps it was just her imagination, but she felt his gaze lingering on her face—and her collarbone.
It was the same look worn by countless men who had once approached her, believing she’d be easy to possess.
No… surely not.
Though she didn’t think the brothers were close, she didn’t want to view Einar’s family in such a bad light and shook her head to clear her thoughts.
Just then, Wilhelm spoke again, as if waiting for the moment.
“Well, I suppose it’s only natural. With such a beauty by your side, how could your relationship not be good? Every night must be quite enjoyable.”
Rosie swallowed a sigh.
The intent behind the words was obvious, yet it was awkward to call him out—he seemed to think he was offering a witty compliment to lighten the mood.
Cliden, however, spoke in a cold, steady voice.
“You seem overly interested in a married couple’s private life.”
Wilhelm looked briefly startled, but quickly recovered.
“Eh? Ha ha, is that how it sounded? Please forgive me. Consider it the price of having such a beautiful spouse. As an apology, I’ll have the finest wine and scented oils placed in your room.”
Wine and scented oils—standard preparations for newlyweds on their wedding night.
Cliden’s gaze grew colder.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been best to laugh this off. But Cliden could no longer tolerate Wilhelm’s vulgar remarks toward Rosie.
“Do not speak of Rosie that way.”
“Ha ha, did I offend you? I merely meant that I envy you, Young Duke, for having such a beautiful—”
Thud.
Before Wilhelm could finish, Cliden stomped his foot heavily against the floor.
Wilhelm froze, startled. Rosie did as well.
Worried that Cliden might damage relations with the Marquis’s family because of her, Rosie gently tugged on his sleeve.
“Um… I’m fine, Cliden.”
Cliden’s cold gaze shifted to her.
Had she overstepped?
Just as her shoulders began to droop, he spoke in his usual gentle tone.
“I am not fine, Rosie.”
