Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: From the Beginning, That Was the Only Thought
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Two months had passed since Arselia let out that "Puuuueeng" wail and confessed her feelings.
Ever since that sunset confession on the rooftop, we'd officially started dating, and we'd grown even closer.
"See you later!"
"Miss, hold on a sec."
"Yes?"
I'd give her a light kiss goodbye as she headed off to work.
"Looks like you need to start working out with me."
"Th-this time it was just a bit too much strain..."
"A bit of strain doesn't make someone collapse like this."
"B-but..."
"Tch. No buts. When you get off work, we're exercising together. I know you don't have anything else planned today anyway."
"Hiiing..."
On weekends when we worked together, I'd nurse her when she came down with a fever from overdoing it.
"What do you think of this outfit?"
"Hmm..."
"...It doesn't suit me?"
"No, it suits you too well. I don't want anyone else seeing you in it."
"H-hmm... Then just this one..."
"You're not planning to wear that out for drinks, are you?"
"Since you're so possessive, I'll save this for when we're alone later."
"...In that case, while we're buying it, this one too."
"Oh my, you have that kind of taste?"
On days off, we'd go on dates, shop for clothes, eat, and have drinks.
We'd met often before because of work, but back then it was purely business, so even when we ate together, there wasn't much emotional exchange.
We both had personalities that strictly separated work and personal life, which made it even more so.
Now, though...
"What do you want to eat after work today?"
"Hmm, remember that place from last time? You know, the one from two weeks ago."
"Two weeks ago... Ah, the one near the theater district?"
"You get it right away, as expected."
We'd casually chat about what to have for dinner after getting off work, and so on...
Sion watched us with lukewarm eyes from her spot right beside me, as always...
"What? Something to say...?"
"No, I'm just reconfirming how different you are from your second brother."
"Me? Well, yeah, I guess."
"The fact that you haven't dragged her straight to the bedroom now that you're dating..."
I'd started stuffing food in her mouth more often since she kept making harsh remarks, but nothing had changed much overall.
"It might be overstepping, but don't you think you could be a bit more aggressive, young master?"
"...Here?"
"Hasn't it already been two months since you two officially started dating? You even did your coming-of-age ceremony together."
"True... But we already greeted Mother together too..."
Sion's gaze, silently swishing her tail as she watched, made me a little intimidated.
Still, Arselia had come to my coming-of-age ceremony last week, and we'd spent almost the entire day together.
She'd dressed up so much that she drew everyone's eyes, but I didn't mind hiding our relationship—in fact, I liked it.
It felt good introducing her as my woman.
Mother had looked at me at first with eyes like, "My youngest has a girlfriend???" but after we greeted her and chatted a bit, she seemed to approve, smiling the whole day.
Compared to my little brother, who had issues from seeing too many women, or my eldest brother, who went straight from a rigid childhood engagement to the ceremony...
She probably worried inside since I seemed perfectly fine—no rough edges in personality, no shortcomings anywhere—yet there'd been no news of me dating anyone.
She'd even told Sion before, "I'm worried he has no experience with women."
"At least now Mother has one less worry."
"Yeah... Wait, she has another worry?"
"Sh-she's started asking lately when she'll get to see a grandchild..."
"..."
"...Sorry."
"Nah, you're working hard stuck in the middle. Thanks."
"If you know that..."
"Still, I don't want to rush it that fast. Sorry to Mother, but it'll take a bit longer."
I replied while stamping the last document, wrapping up the day's work.
Looking out the window, the sun was already setting.
It had been just like this when Arselia confessed.
"Ah, by the way, how's that thing I mentioned going?"
The day the ever-composed merchant in her mask had reached her emotional limit and poured out her true feelings.
The day the always-mature Arselia showed her vulnerable side.
It might sound a bit perverted, but... seeing her cry and confess that she liked me, loved me, in front of me—it made my heart race.
Not that I have a fetish for making women cry.
You know, that spine-tingling thrill.
Like electricity buzzing through my fingertips, heart pounding wildly.
I never wanted anyone else to see that side of her—only me.
I wanted to be the only one in the world who knew, the only one who possessed it.
A fierce surge of possessiveness, something like that.
"I'm looking into it quietly, as you instructed, young master. If you need the investigation results so far..."
"No, just keep doing well. Not now—tell me later, once we have something solid and it's organized."
Thinking of the Rosenheim Merchant Guild soured my good mood instantly.
Tok, tok, tok.
I unconsciously covered my mouth with one hand, glared out the window, and drummed the desk.
As the head of the merchant guild and viscount leading the Rosenheim family.
With her eldest brother—the firstborn son—still perfectly healthy, there was no reason to insert her into the succession.
Forcing merit-based succession in an ambiguous situation would clearly stir up a storm of bloodshed.
That's why in my family, my little brother pursued magic, and I went into business since I had no interest—keeping us on great terms.
If either of us had eyes on the heir position, we'd have become rivals from then on.
"Are you alright?"
"They say a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even if it takes ten years..."
We weren't even married yet, so maybe I was overimmersed, but fuck—who just sits by when their girlfriend cries over her family's bullshit, no matter what?
It pissed me off even more suddenly.
Originally, the plan was to slowly erode the Rosenheim Merchant Guild's influence and, long-term, swallow it up into ours.
It was too big to gulp down quickly, and while not on our count family level, as a viscount house, it wouldn't fall easily to the blade.
Better to dismantle it steadily over time than choke on half-assed gains.
"If you need him, bring Saul in too. His current tasks should be wrapping up soon, giving him some leeway."
"As you say."
"Even if they've cleaned house spotless, there won't be zero dust to shake out. Especially on taxes."
Best to wield every blade available.
Especially if it's a particularly sharp one.
"That's something we struggled with too."
"Handle it quietly so it doesn't touch Arselia at all. I don't want her caught between me and her family, looking awkward."
She's the most important, after all.
I plan to smash the in-laws who made my woman cry and gift her only the tasty bits—but I don't want to drag her through that dull, pretentious process.
"And if they try anything with her..."
"Yes, I'll fend them off appropriately, like now."
"Good. I know you'll handle it well, Sion. I'm counting on you—don't have enough reliable people besides you yet."
"I'm just glad to be of help to you, young master."
"Phew... Shall we head out then?"
Looks like I'm the possessive type.
I just hadn't dated before, so I didn't know—but anyone touching "mine" pisses me off to no end.
Even if it's one of the empire's top merchant guilds—they'll pay the price.
You get your hand chopped off for fooling around and getting caught, after all.
"Oh, right—we need someone for the counter too."
"We're recruiting, but not many applicants yet."
"Really? Didn't we advertise high hourly pay and all sorts of perks?"
"Hotel work in general might be fine, but facing all sorts of guests at the counter seems daunting."
"Hmm, yeah, not just commoners—plenty of nobles will come too..."
"If nothing else, I could..."
"You're my secretary—where would you go?"
And so time passed until the official opening day.
Fortunately, we found someone for the counter.
"Then, see you tomorrow!"
"Yeah, get home safe."
I waved to the blue-haired girl bowing and hurrying out of the hotel, then sighed.
Yeah, we'd found someone for the "day shift" at the counter.
It was the younger of those sisters—our hotel's inaugural guests.
Fallen nobility or not, she was still from a noble house.
She could read and write, knew proper etiquette...
Energetic and sociable, great with people, and her face was pretty enough to serve as our hotel's front—perfect.
She wouldn't flinch no matter who came in. Honestly, that was the most important part.
"Haa..."
Just one drawback: for "night shifts," she'd be spending time with her sister after work at the guild, so she could only do days.
I figured since I just stamped papers and had nothing else, I could greet guests at the counter and switch off in the evening...
'Hehe, now my sister can work with a bit more peace of mind! Thank you!'
Couldn't send the kid—who bowed so gratefully for the job—off to nights.
Forcing an unwilling worker kills efficiency anyway.
"Wonder who'll come tonight..."
Thanks to that, I ended up with unwanted night duty.
No idea how long, but at least it meant daytime dates with Arselia.
My days and nights flipped, sleep slashed.
Couldn't skip dates either.
If I hadn't built up stamina earlier, I'd have collapsed by now.
"Yawn..."
As I mulled over these thoughts, clack, clack—heels approached, and someone arrived.
"Welcome to Everglow Hotel."
"Eh? Julian Everglow?"
"Haha, right now I'm just a regular hotel counter staff."
The woman, who seemed to know me and looked quite surprised, greeted me.
She had a somewhat weary impression.
"Is this your first time at our hotel? If you need guidance, feel free to ask."
"Ah, actually, I was here once at the last banquet. It was such a fun experience, hehe."
"Oh, a returning guest. Thank you for coming back. Looking for a specific room?"
As I smiled and asked, the woman leaned slightly on the counter and whispered softly.
"By any chance, do you have a room with a nice view outside?"