Chapter 104
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 104
As Oscar carefully studied the map, Karl, who was standing beside him, turned his gaze to it as well. Simon, having just approached, also began to peer down at the map.
The Tekan Embassy was located in Pelfe’s neutral trade zone. Pelfe’s power stemmed from its banks and its status as a neutral nation that belonged to no faction. Because of this, despite being part of the Norfolk Royal Union, its neutral trade zone hosted embassies from nations with republican governments. Of course, to avoid provoking the Royal Union, the zone was situated in a highly remote area.
“Since there’s no railway connection, you’ll have to travel by carriage.”
“There’s a demonic beast habitat along the way, but the Pelfe royal family manages it, so there shouldn’t be any major danger. However, since it’s certain that King Leopold is involved in this…” Karl, who had spent his entire life in the Search Team, trailed off as he placed colored stones on the dangerous areas along the route. “I have already dispatched Wolves along the path to the Tekan Embassy.”
Checking his watch, he added, “In about thirty minutes, they will begin clearing the way.”
Despite Karl’s explanation, Oscar studied the map for a long while. Only after a significant amount of time had passed did he finally move, his review complete. Looking away from the map, he walked toward a desk piled high with documents.
“We leave as soon as I finish this paperwork,” he announced.
“I will have everything ready, Your Excellency.”
“Send a sparrowhawk to the ship anchored in Ishas Bay. Tell them to redirect toward the Tekan Canal.”
“Understood.”
Although he had yet to meet the Tekan Ambassador, Oscar had already decided to use the Tekan Canal. He ordered the ship currently at sea to change course first.
He then began tackling the deluge of documents that had resulted from the sudden route change, summoning the relevant personnel as needed.
The office had truly become a battlefield.
With his sleeves rolled up, Oscar worked without a single moment of rest. The Wolves cast curious glances at the bandage wrapped around his right hand, but none of them dared to ask about the injury. In their world, a bandaged hand was as common as a mole.
It was while he was processing the frantically piling workload that someone arrived.
“Your Excellency, someone has arrived from the manor.”
Oscar, in the middle of signing a document, merely nodded without looking up from the paperwork.
One of Barbara’s Wolves entered the office and walked straight toward him. He got straight to the point, addressing his busy master.
“I have brought the carriage you will be taking.”
Oscar never entrusted anything related to his personal care to anyone other than Barbara. The carriage would be neatly organized with everything he might need for the trip.
Oscar merely twitched an eyebrow in acknowledgment. The wolf bowed politely and prepared to turn away.
“Has anything happened?”
The wolf, who had been about to leave, paused and looked back at his master. Oscar was still looking down, his pen moving across the documents.
“Pardon? Ah…”
Something had happened. As the messenger hesitated, the wolf assisting Oscar nearby glared at him. Oscar, who was about to sign another paper, finally looked up.
“Don’t beat around the bush. Speak plainly.”
Faced with a chilling aura that made his assistant’s glare seem trivial, the wolf quickly stood at attention and reported. Barbara had not ordered him to relay this, but she hadn’t told him to keep quiet about it either.
“Actually, the Marchioness has arrived.”
At the news of his mother’s arrival, Oscar’s brow furrowed deeply. Irritation flared at such trivial news interrupting his frantic schedule. Once she had left, she should have stayed gone. Her shamelessness in dropping by now that things were comfortable never failed to disgust him. He didn’t even care to know her business at the manor.
“Throw her out.”
“Ah, well…”
Oscar, about to resume signing, glared impatiently at the wolf for hesitating again. Before the flinching man could even open his mouth, Oscar asked, “Is she throwing another tantrum and harassing Barbara?”
“No, sir.”
The moment the denial left the wolf’s mouth, Oscar turned his eyes back to the documents as if that was all that mattered and resumed signing.
“She almost did, but the target managed to stop her.”
The fountain pen, which had been gliding swiftly across the paper, came to a sudden halt. Black ink bloomed like a dark flower on the white sheet.
Staring at the ruined document, Oscar closed his eyes tightly before opening them again.
“The target?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did she run into her while wandering around again?”
“No, sir. It’s just… well, it couldn’t be helped.”
What in the world did that mean?
Oscar’s gaze flickered back to the mountain of documents. He had to resolve these before leaving; every second counted.
Pushing all his questions aside, Oscar asked only what was necessary.
“Are the two of them together?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And what did Barbara say?”
“I didn’t receive any orders to report this to you, Your Excellency.”
“Is Barbara with them?”
“Yes, sir.”
That meant nothing critical was happening at the moment. Oscar picked up his pen again. Scribbling his signature, he said, “Alright. You may go.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
The wolf practically fled the office, and Oscar immersed himself in his work once more. He read documents, summoned personnel for discussions, and continued signing.
He looked as though he had completely forgotten the news from the manor.
At a certain point, however, he began checking his watch. Oscar, who previously hadn't even raised his head no matter who entered the office, now looked up whenever he sensed footsteps approaching.
When Simon burst into the room in a rush, he flinched at the piercing blue eyes that met him the moment he entered, then flinched again at Oscar’s irritated sigh.
Clenching and unclenching his bandaged fist, Oscar finally pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his lips—something he hadn’t done earlier, feeling that even the time spent lighting it was a waste.
“Ha…”
Once again, he was painfully aware of every damned second dragging by.
* * *
A breeze drifted in through the wide-open window, sending ripples across the tea in the cup.
Seo-ah stared only at the tea.
As the ripples gradually subsided, the reflection of an ornate ceiling painting appeared on the clear liquid.
Clink.
The sound of the cup meeting the saucer rang out, unusually loud in the central hall.
Setting her teacup down, Charlotte turned a page of the newspaper and smiled.
“Look at this. They were quite an influential family, yet they’ve been completely ruined.”
The maid who had tried to slap Barbara chimed in, leaning over to look at the page Charlotte was reading. “Indeed, one must be careful about whom they let into their household, Marchioness.”
“Yes. That is more important than anything else.”
Charlotte nodded. Then, she turned another page and began to laugh even louder.
“Look at this news.”
“Oh my, goodness!”
Charlotte and the maid laughed for a long while, chatting amongst themselves.
Seo-ah, sitting at one side of the table, was completely ignored.
A few hours ago, Charlotte had used her status as the Marchioness of Reinhardt to dismiss Barbara and all the other Wolves from the hall.
“Oscar’s guest is my guest as well. You all make things uncomfortable, so wait outside.”
Since Charlotte wasn’t asking to close the hall doors, Barbara complied. There was no reason to provoke her further.
Seo-ah, who had been staring only at her teacup, occasionally glanced toward the main entrance. Standing with her back perfectly straight, Barbara had been watching over the hall from the doorway for hours, her vigil unwavering.
Just then, another wave of laughter erupted.
The maids gathered around Charlotte burst into loud cackles at something she pointed out, entirely absorbed in their gossip.
Charlotte’s invitation to have tea together was, in truth, no invitation at all. After seeing her dismiss even Barbara, Seo-ah had wondered what would happen. Yet, once the tea was served, Charlotte hadn’t said a single word to her. Instead, she had been treating her like a ghost for hours. Though Seo-ah didn’t know why Charlotte was doing this, she could tell it wasn’t out of goodwill.
Seo-ah quietly let out a long breath, making sure Charlotte didn’t notice.
Whatever her intentions, this was actually a relief.
Unlike at yesterday’s exhibition, no one was pulling her hair ribbon, and sitting quietly for hours was not a difficult task.
“Look at this, ahaha!”
Charlotte, laughing so brightly, was the most beautiful person Seo-ah had ever seen. Judging by her subtle words and actions, she was undoubtedly Oscar’s biological mother.
But why didn’t she live here? And why did she treat those who served her son so disrespectfully?
Meanwhile, Charlotte cast a cold glance at Seo-ah. The woman, sitting quietly before a single, solitary teacup, had maintained the exact same posture for hours. Even though she was being treated as if she didn't exist, her expression hadn't faltered once.
The problem was that Charlotte herself was growing weary of this drawn-out, tedious tea time. Her back ached, and she had reached her limit of laughing and chatting with maids who were far beneath her station.
Charlotte had expected Seo-ah to grow tired and lose her posture, or perhaps try to awkwardly strike up a conversation, or even use Oscar’s name as an excuse to escape. She had never imagined the girl would sit so perfectly upright without her expression changing in the slightest.
What a stubborn creature.
Charlotte had made a critical miscalculation. She failed to realize that this Outsider didn’t grasp the social humiliation of being ignored. In fact, far from feeling shamed, Seo-ah actually preferred it. In this regard, Charlotte and Seo-ah were like parallel lines that would never meet.
Ultimately, it was Charlotte who spoke first.
“How is Oscar?”
“…Pardon?”
“My son. What do you think of him?”
Blinking her clear eyes, the woman chose her words carefully for a moment before replying calmly, “As a mere guest residing here temporarily, it is not my place to presume to judge His Excellency.”