Chapter 50………….
Episteme Guild office.
Theodore sat with his fingers interlaced, deep in thought.
Rune, who was sprawled on the sofa munching snacks, brushed crumbs off his clothes—then flinched when he met Theodore’s glowing blue eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Is it because I’m eating sloppily and dropping crumbs?”
He snapped defensively, though he himself felt guilty. After a pause, Theodore finally spoke.
“Do I look… untrustworthy?”
“Out of nowhere? Uh, yeah, kinda.”
The answer came without hesitation, unlike his initial confusion at the sudden question.
Theodore frowned and asked in a displeased tone.
“In what way.”
“Well, your overall vibe is arrogant and inconsiderate of other people’s feelings.”
Rune replied honestly, then grinned brightly.
Theodore was momentarily speechless. He rubbed his temple and let out a silent sigh.
“Then how does someone earn the trust of people who don’t believe in him?”
This had been troubling him ever since the party.
Claire’s clear boundary with him gnawed at him.
Of course, it was natural to have distance since they hadn’t known each other long, and their alliance was one of mutual interest. A deep bond wasn’t necessary.
But for some reason, Theodore wanted her full trust.
…Not like me at all.
As Rune said, he had always lived without much regard for others’ feelings.
But Claire was different.
In public, she played the role of his affectionate lover with ease, but when they were alone, she drew a sharp line. And that irked him.
Rune gave him a bewildered look.
“You’re seriously asking me that?”
“…”
“Ugh, fine. I’ll let it slide since you’re a baby prince.”
“I’m pretty sure I warned you that if you called me that again, I wouldn’t let it pass.”
The chilling voice made Rune quickly backpedal.
“I meant I’m the baby, not you. Baby and prince, see?”
Theodore twitched his brow but let it go without pressing further.
Relieved, Rune pondered seriously.
“Hmm, how to earn someone’s trust…”
He folded his arms, rubbed his chin, then raised his finger.
“The most standard way is to spend a long time together and build it slowly.”
“How long?”
“Dunno. A hundred years maybe?”
Was he joking? Theodore let out a disbelieving laugh.
Rune scratched his head at his reaction and continued.
“Or, you could save their life, or grant them something they desperately want. That would win their heart quickly.”
So far, Theodore had fulfilled every request Claire had made. But something decisive was still missing.
Then…
“Ah, pretty noona’s coming. I hear footsteps.”
Rune perked up his ears. Theodore quickly put on his mask.
Soon, Claire knocked and stepped inside.
“Hello, Teddy.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Pretty noona, you’re here!”
Rune waved both hands enthusiastically.
Theodore silently tried to pressure him to leave, but the boy ignored it and plopped himself down beside Claire.
Claire gently stroked Rune’s shimmering silver hair, then looked at Theodore.
“Does the guild take requests for bodyguard work too?”
Normally, they didn’t. But instead of saying that, Theodore returned with a question.
“Do you need protection?”
“Yes. I have a trade meeting through the merchant guild, and just in case…”
He quickly understood she was referring to the jewel-flowers. He was about to readily accept when—
“Sorry, pretty noona, but our guildmaster’s lazy and temperamental.”
Rune butted in, shaking his head.
“So we’ll have to refuse this—”
“I’ll do it. The escort.”
Theodore cut him off, declaring firmly.
“Ignore Rune’s words. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
“…?”
Rune looked dumbfounded at how he was disregarded.
“Wow. Favoritism much.”
Ignoring the boy’s grumbling, Theodore’s gaze stayed fixed on Claire.
After taking in the situation, she asked in a voice tinged with subtle suspicion and concern:
“Will it be all right for you to handle it yourself? A guard needs considerable skill…”
“Don’t worry. There’s no one in this guild whose skills match mine.”
Theodore elegantly crossed his legs.
His confident reply was enough for Claire to trust him, at least for now.
“Then thank you. The meeting’s scheduled for two o’clock the day after tomorrow—will that work?”
“Yes. That’s fine.”
Thus, they agreed to meet at the Minerva Merchant Guild two days later.
On the day of the trade.
Claire, with her hair braided into one, wore a hat and glasses to cover her face.
Theodore came as well, masked as always, ready to guard her.
Ron, seeing him for the first time, looked uncertain.
“You’re… quite unusual. Almost more secretive than us…”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“Really? Well, anyway, it’s good to meet you. I’m Ron, deputy head of the Minerva Merchant Guild.”
Ron offered a handshake. As Theodore accepted it, he carefully studied him.
Was he half-asleep?
His eyes were half-closed as if drowsy, yet his voice was lively and his gaze clear.
“Guildmaster Teddy, of the Episteme Guild.”
“Thank you for your service today.”
After brief introductions, the three boarded a carriage and headed to the meeting place.
On the way, Ron gave a quick explanation of their trading partner.
“The man we’re meeting is Baron Smith. You may have heard of him—about ten years ago, a massive deposit of magic stones was mined in his lands, making him enormously wealthy.”
He was one of the top ten wealthiest men in the Tricen Empire.
Though his family’s lineage wasn’t particularly distinguished, his fortune made him a valuable client.
However—
“He can be a bit difficult to deal with.”
He wasn’t born into wealth; rather, he struck it rich overnight.
It took only a moment for the once humble baron to lose his modesty. In recent years, public opinion of him was that of an arrogant man flaunting his wealth.
“So he may behave rudely. Please keep that in mind.”
“Understood.”
As they conversed, they arrived at the Smith estate.
The butler led them to the reception room. Ron and Claire sat on the sofa, while Theodore leaned against the wall behind Claire.
Baron Smith entered slightly past two o’clock.
“You’re not late.”
He strolled in leisurely, hands behind his back, and sat down, draping his arms over the sofa headrest.
Ron widened his eyes and put on his best professional smile, bowing his head.
“Greetings, Baron. I’m Ron, of the Minerva Merchant Guild.”
Hearing he’d been sent as deputy in place of the guildmaster, the baron’s expression soured.
“Well, well. Is Minerva’s head so lax, sending only young people to me?”
“Though we may be young, we get the job done reliably.”
Ron replied smoothly and placed the bag he’d brought on the table.
Click.
He unlocked it and opened it. A dazzling radiance burst out, filling the room.
“This is a diamond jewel-flower necklace, crafted by a master jeweler.”
Ron rotated the bag so the baron could see better, then added:
“In the tulip design you were looking for.”
“Ooh.”
The baron’s eyes lit up as he admired it. The diamond, shaped into a blooming flower, shone brilliantly.
As a jewel-flower enthusiast, he instantly recognized its top-grade quality.
The gold surrounding the diamond was pure, and the design elegant and refined.
A smile crept onto his lips.
“I was fretting over what to get my wife for her birthday. This is perfect. I love it.”
“I’m glad. We also carry a variety of other jewel-flowers.”
Claire handed him a catalog she had prepared for promotion.
“Please take a look.”
But instead of the catalog, his attention turned to her.
Though her face was hidden, her clear, melodious voice captured his ear.
“Your voice is like a nightingale’s, young lady.”
He smirked and gestured.
“Why don’t you sit beside me and read it aloud?”
Ron’s expression stiffened before he could stop himself. Theodore, standing behind Claire, straightened as well.
Ron forced a smile back onto his face and tried to defuse the situation.
“Baron Smith, she’s an important staff member of our guild.”
“Exactly why I asked. Shouldn’t a guild employee work diligently? Especially for a key client like me.”
But the baron looked down on Ron with arrogance, making it clear he saw the young merchants as easy targets.
Even Claire, unable to hide her displeasure, faintly frowned.
“What does that have to do with business—”
She began, trying to object calmly.
Cre-eak.
One leg of the table groaned ominously, then suddenly collapsed to the floor.
Ron hastily grabbed the bag, rescuing the necklace.
But the candlestick beside it slid straight toward the baron.
“…!”
Seeing the flaming candlestick falling toward him, the baron froze.
Thud!
As the table toppled, a gloved hand shot out, snatching the candlestick midair.
“Be careful.”
Crack.
The immense grip snapped the candlestick clean in two.
“You could’ve been hurt.”
The cold voice delivered the warning with chilling menace.
The baron hiccuped, staring at the white mask that filled his vision.
