Chapter 16
“It’s been a while, Teddy.”
“I knew you’d come back.”
“Really? Why?”
Claire sat naturally at a diagonal from him, and his reply came with an air of certainty.
“You’ve seen my abilities.”
“Oh, right. Thanks to you, I caught the culprit and resolved the issue. Thank you.”
Realizing she hadn’t properly expressed her gratitude, Claire placed a hand on her collarbone and bowed slightly.
“I know.”
His short response to her elegant and polite gesture made Claire feel oddly familiar with his manner. She replied dryly.
“Well, it’s better than being unaware.”
Teddy shrugged shamelessly and said, “What brings you here today?”
“I recently received an invitation to a party and wanted to find a nobleman to accompany me.”
“…You want me to find one for you?”
“Yes, if possible. I’ve only recently arrived in the capital and don’t know anyone.”
Teddy tapped his fingers on his knee as if lost in thought, saying nothing. Sensing his hesitation, Claire spoke up.
“Does this request disappoint you?”
“Do I look disappointed?”
“Yes, your expression seems less than pleased.”
At her words, Teddy instinctively touched his face. The smooth mask was still securely in place.
“…Do you have some kind of clairvoyance?”
“It’s intuition. I don’t have younger siblings, but I’ve been around plenty of children. There’s a distinct aura of holding back discontent without speaking up.”
Children like a younger Franz or her two stepchildren often displayed that kind of demeanor.
Even Theodore, the aloof Crown Prince, often revealed his displeasure through his expressions and gaze alone.
“I’m not a child.”
“Of course not.”
Claire glanced at the dog figurine still adorning his desk and smiled.
“Do you know how old I am?”
“You’re probably older than me.”
Honestly, it would be challenging to run a guild while being younger than Claire’s current age.
Still, exceptions always existed in the world.
With his well-built physique, he might still be a teenager, after all.
“So, which is it?”
“I’ll leave it to your judgment. But must you attend the party with someone?”
“Well… I think you already know, but I’m an illegitimate noble. That means I’m not someone the hosting family or attendees will welcome.”
“And yet you plan to go.”
“There’s someone who will insist on meeting me eventually, even if I refuse this time.”
Claire didn’t relish the idea of facing her enemy without being fully prepared.
But she knew how persistent Duke Muton could be when he set his mind on something.
Perhaps it was better to confront it lightly now than to avoid it entirely.
“Who is it?”
“That’s…”
Her full lips parted slightly before closing again. In a calm and composed voice, she said,
“I don’t think it’s something to tell you just yet.”
“…Fine. I’ll find you a partner. Do you have any specific requirements?”
“The party is being hosted by the Fennec Barony. So ideally, someone from a family ranked higher than the barony.”
“Understood.”
Relieved that he accepted the request, Claire rummaged through her handbag.
“How much is your fee for this request?”
“There’s no need to rush the payment.”
“It’s not about rushing; it’s about being certain. You’re not running a charity, so it’s only fair to pay you on time.”
“You’re very meticulous.”
“It ensures everything remains clean and without complications.”
After all, she couldn’t afford to conduct a casual transaction with a man she’d only met three times.
“What guarantee do I have?”
Claire quietly observed Teddy, waiting for an answer. Finally, Teddy extended his hand.
“Five gold coins will suffice.”
“Are you sure that’s enough?”
“Yes.”
If that was his decision.
Claire placed five gold coins onto his gloved hand. Teddy nonchalantly withdrew his hand.
“I’ll contact you once I’ve found someone.”
“All right.”
Claire picked up her bag, ready to leave. Teddy, who had stood before her and opened the door, asked,
“What’s your name?”
“Don’t you already know?”
“I’d like to hear it directly.”
It wasn’t a difficult request, so Claire answered readily.
“Claire Ravello.”
“…I see.”
Teddy touched the chin of his mask, his voice softening as he added a compliment.
“It’s a beautiful name.”
“And your name is adorable.”
“…”
“See you next time.”
Leaving behind a seemingly speechless Teddy, Claire departed gracefully.
Rune saw her off.
“Goodbye, pretty lady! Make sure to visit again!”
The boy, smiling brightly, turned on his heels as soon as Claire disappeared outside the building.
He ascended the stairs briskly, barging into the guild master’s office without knocking.
“You made such a fuss about her not coming back, and now you’re happy she did, huh?”
“It wasn’t a fuss.”
“Hah! As if I didn’t notice you staring at the door all the time. You were so sensitive to every sound of it opening.”
Rune flopped onto the sofa, shaking his head in disbelief.
Despite the boy’s cheeky tone, Teddy ignored him, heading over to water a plant on a side table.
“You should thank me for emphasizing how she should visit often.”
“…”
“Don’t forget, it was thanks to me handing her that flyer and convincing her to come in the first place.”
Rune’s prior encounter with Claire had been no accident.
Under Teddy’s orders, he had scouted around the closed Snapdragon Guild building and approached her deliberately.
He had even gone so far as to offer a discount to ensure she would visit.
“Aren’t you grateful? You should be!”
“Thanks to you, I’m now suspected of exploiting children. Yes, very grateful.”
Teddy slowly removed his mask, revealing a breathtakingly handsome face.
Jet-black hair darker than the night sky, sharp blue eyes, and two distinct dots beneath his left eye.
Teddy—no, Theodore—frowned slightly.
“And didn’t you leave after snatching a year’s worth of snacks? Don’t act like you did me a favor.”
“…Ahem. Anyway, why are you so interested in that pretty lady?”
Rune shifted the topic, asking something he’d been curious about.
“She’s intriguing.”
Theodore’s lips curled into a sly smirk.
“The daughter of a reclusive, eccentric mage.”
As the Crown Prince, Theodore had been paying attention to the food shortages in the Grime Marquisate, a central region in the west.
It was there he learned that Franz Ravello, unmarried and traveling with a daughter, had solved the problem for a hefty sum.
It was obvious to anyone that the once-ascetic mage had been motivated by his daughter.
From the moment Franz and his daughter arrived in the capital, Theodore had been watching their movements with interest.
“She might turn out to be a good card in my hand.”
Thus, he had intentionally involved her in a guild known for operating discreetly with trusted individuals.
When she cuffed the fake culprit in front of him, Theodore’s curiosity had only grown. Her calm appearance contrasted with her bold actions.
“It’s strange, though. Her face seems different yet identical to the late Duchess’s.”
Rune swung his legs as he spoke. Theodore replied bluntly.
“They’re completely different. Her eyes are much more alive.”
“Really? To me, she just looks like the Duchess in her youth.”
The boy let out a long, deep sigh, tinged with pity.
“In any case, that Duchess was truly pitiful. Her husband was the one who cheated, yet she was the one who died.”
Surprisingly, Rune was somewhat aware of the circumstances surrounding Priscilla Muton’s death.
Because…
“Make sure your true identity stays hidden from the new client, Lindus.”
After all, he had investigated it himself.
—
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