Episode 53
Seeing her doing well might lighten this burden.
With resolve, Arteon turned to the manager, grinning.
“When’s the meeting with the Duke of Crensia?”
“Five days from now.”
“Let me join, Manager.”
The manager eyed Arteon suspiciously.
The troublesome heir, who’d grumbled the whole way, was suddenly interested.
“Don’t cause trouble. He’s the North’s guardian, Duke Crensia…”
“Enough, my ears are bleeding. I’m here for heir training, right? I’ll do my job, Manager.”
Arteon’s sly smile left the manager wary.
Surely he wouldn’t act out before the North’s guardian.
* * *
In Letter City, Reina gasped in awe.
“Wow, so many big merchants together. It’s like the capital!”
“Really?”
“I mean, it’s impressive.”
She glanced at Kaiden, worried he’d take it as a slight to the North.
He didn’t seem to care.
His attention was solely on her.
“Since Hook Company joined, it’s grown. We used to trade only with local merchants. Opening up was my first act as lord.”
The North, plagued by frequent beast attacks, had limited outsiders.
It was the frontline of beast subjugation.
Most Northerners trained with weapons from childhood.
The skilled became Crensia knights, guarding the North.
Many had lost family to beasts.
Yet the palace took their role for granted, offering little support.
This bred distrust of outsiders.
Kaiden Crensia reformed the insular North.
It now buzzed with vitality, though outsiders still faced caution.
Kaiden pulled Reina close.
“Careful.”
A worker with a cart passed by.
Caught in his arms, Reina held her breath.
Her heart raced from the sudden move.
His sigh brushed her hair.
“No good.”
He grabbed her hand.
Puzzled, she looked up as he avoided her gaze.
“Too many people. You could get lost.”
“…”
“Or hit by a cart.”
“Okay.”
She nodded, gripping his hand back.
Kaiden stared at her small hand in his.
“Let’s go.”
His ears were red.
Thinking it was the cold, Reina offered her earmuffs.
“Here.”
“Hm?”
“You look cold.”
“You think these suit me?”
He frowned at the fluffy, fox-fur earmuffs, clearly for women.
For someone unbothered by cold, they’d only muffle his hearing.
“No thanks.”
“Not cold? Your ears are so red…”
“It’s the sun.”
Making a flimsy excuse, he put the earmuffs back on her.
She looked up, eyes wide.
Their outfits, her white, his black, stood out.
Her petite frame drew more eyes.
People glanced as they passed, which she thought was wariness of an outsider.
But the men’s stares held different intent, irking Kaiden.
Muttering darkly, he said.
“Can’t cover your face.”
“What?”
“No, maybe I should clear them out.”
Reina tilted her head at his cryptic words.
She sensed menace, but not aimed at her.
‘The crowd’s thinning.’
Noticing people slipping away, she grew curious.
Someone recognized Kaiden.
“Your Grace?”
Kaiden acknowledged him.
“Hook Company’s manager.”
Reina perked up at the name, having business with them.
“Haha, what luck to meet you here. You said you were busy and to meet in five days.”
The manager laughed, approaching with an aide.
The aide had curly pink hair and green eyes, yawning disinterestedly.
The manager whispered to him.
The aide froze, then spoke loudly.
“That’s Crensia? Looks normal.”
Too clear for a mutter, it sounded bold.
The manager panicked, covering his mouth.
“Watch your mouth, Young Master!”
“You watch yours, spreading I’m the young master?”
“Ugh.”
“You’d be lost without me.”
“Lost? I’d be at peace.”
He wasn’t a mere worker.
‘Young master? The company head’s son?’
Why was such a figure in the North?
Hook Company, overseen by Admiral Earl Hook, thrived on safe sea routes.
‘Not the heir, if they call him young master.’
Lost in thought, Reina felt a piercing gaze and looked up.
Her eyes met the man’s emerald ones, like a forest or a clear lake.
Unable to look away, Kaiden stepped in front.
“Hm?”
He shielded her, facing the man.
“Rude.”
“Sorry, Your Grace. Arteon, apologize.”
The manager pushed Arteon, who said lazily.
“My apologies.”
His face showed no remorse, bold for a commoner, but Kaiden didn’t care.
He’d already identified him.
Plus, he was annoyed for other reasons, making the rudeness trivial.
“Earl Hook’s second son.”
“Huh?”
Arteon made a strange sound.
Kaiden continued.
“I saw you with the Earl at the last noble assembly.”
“Oh, you saw me there.”
“And the Earl mentioned you’d join this trip.”
“Told me to keep a low profile, yet…”
Arteon grumbled, betrayed.
Then he introduced himself formally.
“Pleased to meet you, Your Grace. I’m Arteon Hook, second son of Earl Hook.”
