Chapter 43: The Uninvited Guest Comes, the Unwanted Guest Stays (1)
Chapter 43: The Uninvited Guest Comes, the Unwanted Guest Stays (1)
Translation: Godtl
Leaving the always bustling Litchfield Square behind and riding east in a carriage for about ten minutes.
By the time the city's noise gradually fades away, an entirely different landscape unfolds before you.
Commonly known as 'Maple Garden.'
Not an actual garden, but the name given to Nortaris's newly developed affluent neighborhood.
Along the well-maintained roads without a single cracked or chipped brick, carriages and vehicles come and go.
Under the maple tree-lined streets stand elegant villas and refined townhouses neatly arranged.
Not a single building appears carelessly constructed—even the small boutique at the street corner looks as luxurious as if a section of a palace had been precisely carved out.
Truly a scene befitting the name 'newly developed affluent neighborhood.'
Of course, the established nobility typically own vast mansions in the outskirts, so Maple Garden's residents consist of wealthy merchants, successful adventurers, or high-ranking professionals.
In short, it's a neighborhood where the most successful among those not born into noble blood gather.
The sky takes on the hue of rosé wine as streetlights begin flickering on one by one.
"Next is... Ah, we turn here."
Serena, a resident of the neighborhood, was walking down the street with her guest, Penelope.
"Are you sure? I'm skeptical."
"Ah, no! I'm certain this time."
"You've lived here for ten years, haven't you? How do you keep getting lost? Does that make sense?"
"I-I usually traveled by carriage, you know."
Originally, the two weren't close enough to wander around together like this...
But after living together for a while in a house without a separate annex, they had grown somewhat comfortable with each other, you could say.
Now, even their bickering had become something they were used to.
Occasionally, they would even take post-meal strolls together through the neighborhood.
Not that they were exactly friends or anything...
"Lady Penelope."
"What."
"Why are you suddenly looking for a house in Maple Garden? You're staying at a hotel, aren't you?"
...This was the kind of question they could now ask each other casually.
Penelope wasn't exactly an easygoing person, but she was still less intimidating than Jurgen, wasn't she?
"I'm not looking for myself. I'm scouting a house for Jurgen."
"...Did Jurgen ask you to?"
"No."
The receipt Serena had received bore Penelope's signature.
So she had assumed it was purely for real estate investment—but now, out of nowhere, it was a gift?
Penelope didn't seem like the type for such cheerful gestures at all.
"Hmm, that doesn't really match your image."
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, nothing... So it's a gift, then?"
At Serena's question, Penelope fussed with her hair, tucking it behind her ear.
"Jurgen lives in a shabby wooden rental. I've been there a few times—you wouldn't believe how much of a mess it is. He's technically my business partner, you know? If he lives in such a dump, it reflects poorly on me too. It's not like it costs that much anyway, and it'd be nice if he lived in a proper neighborhood."
"A p-proper neighborhood, you say..."
Serena, who had taken some pride in her own neighborhood, felt slightly offended, but she clicked her tongue at Jurgen's near-insane cosplay of a commoner.
'Huh?'
A lightbulb flickered above Serena's head.
Because Penelope's casually dropped words had contained a rather significant remark.
'Could it be...?'
Serena subtly cast out a line.
"Lady Penelope, you've been to Jurgen's house?"
"Quite often. I still go these days."
"Jurgen lives... alone, right?"
"Do you think two people could possibly live in such a cramped space?"
The flickering bulb above Serena's head lit up brightly.
Beneath it, certain words flashed in sync.
Gossip. Scandal. Affair. Romance.
Ah, now everything was starting to make perfect sense.
No wonder the two of them, despite being business partners, seemed oddly inseparable.
They were adults.
Already adults.
They were true nobles in that sense!
With this premise in mind, the real estate tours of the past few days took on a whole new meaning.
Penelope's unusually meticulous interest in the properties wasn't just about a simple gift—it was about scouting a secret rendezvous spot for the two of them!
Somehow, today's tour was going to be twice as entertaining!
"How much was the property we're seeing today?"
"The annual rent? 110 crowns."
Of course, Penelope had no idea about the bizarre misunderstanding brewing in Serena's mind as she tapped away at her calculator.
The recent expansion of syrup sales through the cola dispenser had become a solid revenue stream for Y&P.
When combined with the still-popular bottled cola, Y&P Shop's monthly net profit reached a staggering 1,700 crowns.
And with promising growth prospects ahead.
An annual rent of 110 crowns for the co-CEO's residence wasn't an unreasonable burden.
"We're here!"
Today's property was a modest two-story townhouse with a garden.
Located slightly further out than other listings, it was both affordable and appealing.
Though the building was old, meticulous upkeep was evident.
"The location's good. Quiet and peaceful."
"Especially since it's not easily noticeable to others!"
"You seem unusually excited all of a sudden?"
"Me? Oh, it must just be the mood..."
Penelope took the key from the agent and opened the door.
The empty interior felt somewhat bare without furniture.
Having come into some money didn't mean she'd choose carelessly.
Even as a nominal manager, running a hotel had given Penelope an eye for buildings and interiors.
"Alright, shall we inspect it thoroughly?"
"Yes!!!"
Penelope began scrutinizing the townhouse with her sharp gaze.
Serena, in turn, watched Penelope with hawk-like intensity.
"Isn't the living room smaller than it looked from outside? It'd be cramped with just one guest."
"But it looks cozy enough to be appealing..."
"Really? I suppose too much space would be hard to maintain."
"Y-yes! It's p-perfect for just M-Master Jurgen to live in alone!"
Living room.
"These walls are thick for an old house. Should be quiet enough to live peacefully."
"Wow, the soundproofing is excellent! Essential for... undisturbed private time..."
"Surprisingly wide windows for an old building. We'll need large curtains for these."
"Y-yes! Curtains! Privacy! We'll need thick blackout curtains with sheer overlays..."
Walls and windows.
"The bathroom's clean too. Good drainage. Hmm, we should replace the tub though. The design's terribly outdated."
"The b-bathtub is c-crucial too... It does look rather cramped to me..."
After the bathtub,
"This room would work as a bedroom. Not overly spacious, but with wardrobe and dresser considerations, a king-size should fit."
"K-king size... O-of course... In case of... restless sleeping habits... the more space the... aahhh..."
At last, the long-awaited bedroom!
By the time the tour concluded,
"Haaa..."
Serena's body temperature had risen by about two degrees.
Her face was as pink as her hair, flushed and feverish.
Just imagining scenarios had left her dizzy.
Penelope looked curiously at the steam practically rising from Serena.
"What's wrong with you? Too hot? Why so red?"
"It's too... stimulating... Feeling a bit lightheaded..."
"Overdid it? Let's rest at the park before heading back. The weather's nice today."
Sitting side by side on a park bench, Serena stole glances at Penelope's profile.
Earlier, wild fantasies had clouded her mind, but the cool breeze brought clarity.
"Lady Penelope, why... are you sharing such important information with me?"
"Important information?"
"Well, about... Master Jurgen's house... Is it really appropriate to tell me all this..."
Most socialites entering political marriages were still human.
Everyone tacitly understood they'd still have romances, lovers, affairs—indulging in all manner of dalliances.
Though known, such matters went unmentioned without special cause.
But revealing such clues to others carried different implications.
Today, Penelope had willingly shared her secrets—or vulnerabilities—with Serena.
Was this a sign of trust? Or was there another reason?
With equal parts tension and anticipation, Serena studied Penelope's lips.
"Of course you should know. You'll be coming and going there too."
"W-what?! M-me?! Why would I go there?!"
Serena shot up from the bench as if electrified by the unexpected answer.
Penelope naturally meant for "business discussions," but Serena interpreted it entirely differently.
What kind of outrageous suggestion was this?
Hadn't they just scouted a secret rendezvous spot?
What possible reason could there be for Serena to be invited to such a place?
"Oh? Weren't you planning to come?"
"Of course! What on earth are you saying right now!"
"Why not? It's close to home, and you won't have to go far—how convenient."
Was proximity to home the problem here?
Penelope remained utterly unruffled even as she made these common-sense-defying remarks.
Serena was so shocked her jaw trembled uncontrollably.
"Y-you can't possibly mean...!"
Serena's imagination spiraled even further.
She was well-acquainted with those scandalous tales whispered in social circles—the kind too embarrassing to describe aloud.
Perhaps Penelope's suggestion implied...!
Just as Serena firmly pressed her lips together, about to voice her resolute refusal—
"Penelope Rosemore!!! I heard you were here and came at once!"
A booming voice loud enough to draw every remaining eye in the park called out to Penelope.
It was Rex Salisbury, his eyes bloodshot and hair disheveled.
The sight of him charging toward Penelope with a menacing expression made Serena recoil in terror.
After all, Rex was the mastermind who had nearly gotten her kidnapped into the Demon Realm to suffer unspeakable horrors.
Even the leisurely park-goers who recognized Rex's face immediately tried to distance themselves, fearing entanglement.
But in that very moment—
"My deepest apologies!"
Like a cricketer sliding into base, Rex executed a dramatic knee-slide, skidding to a stop about a meter before Penelope.
"I overstepped my bounds by daring to cross you, Penelope! Please, just once! Spare me just this once!"
Not stopping there, he began banging his forehead against the brick pavement with audible thuds, wailing loud enough to shake the park.
"L-look at that... Rex Salisbury is groveling before Penelope...?"
"So all those rumors were true—no, they were underestimating the situation?"
"Unbelievable..."
The fortunate witnesses who'd stumbled upon this bizarre spectacle whispered among themselves. The same Rex Salisbury—notorious for being the most unscrupulous board member—was now kneeling and begging for his life before Penelope.
"...?"
Penelope maintained her poker face but was thoroughly bewildered.
She knew nothing about Rex orchestrating Serena's kidnapping, nor about Jurgen's subsequent dismantling of the Jet Black Group in retaliation.
Thus, Rex's pleas to "spare him" sounded to her like desperate begging over Berry Mix's market share.
'For someone so intimidating-looking, he's being ridiculously dramatic.'
Salisbury Financial was rumored to be quite wealthy—was he really kneeling and begging over beverage market share?
It was downright pathetic.
But to Serena, the scene appeared entirely different.
Of course Rex would beg Penelope for his life.
From his perspective, his entire faction in the Labyrinth Demon Realm had been wiped out overnight.
He must be terrified he'd be next.
'But... this is strange.'
She'd been curious ever since her rescue.
Jurgen had explicitly told her:
Everything that happened in the Demon Realm, her rescue, the Black Mage and Jet Black Group—all of it was to remain secret from Penelope.
So why would Rex be begging Penelope for his life? It made no sense.
"...How pathetic. Must you be so dramatic? Over something so trivial."
Yet.
Penelope showed no signs of confusion.
If anything, a faint smirk played at her lips.
As if she'd known everything from the very beginning.
Serena trembled as if struck by lightning.
'Lady Penelope... knew everything all along...'
Well, their relationship was far closer than Serena had initially assumed.
There couldn't possibly be secrets between them.
Then what was the meaning behind Jurgen's request?
'Miss Serena, could we keep what you saw in the Demon Realm just between us?'
What had that been about?
A test to see if she could keep secrets?
Or had Jurgen been protecting her—ensuring Penelope wouldn't discover Serena knew "something"?
She didn't know.
Her head felt ready to explode.
Neither Jurgen nor Penelope existed within realms ordinary people could comprehend.
They breathed along the thin boundary between truth and lies, manipulating those around them with ease.
Only one thing was certain.
Serena's cowardice radar was blaring:
'I know nothing...'
Digging deeper would only get her hurt.
It was better to leave things buried as they were.
"Please... please spare me... Lady Penelope... sob..."
Rex, having abandoned all dignity to beg for his life. Penelope, observing him with detached amusement as if she knew nothing.
It was terrifying.
Serena, who'd recently thought they'd grown quite close, now felt an immeasurable distance from Penelope.