Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Even a Single Strand of Hair is Precious (3)
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Roin gave a lukewarm response to Viola's offer to cut his hair for him instead.
"It's fine. You don't have to."
"Why? You don't trust me?"
It was a spot-on deduction.
Roin answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Yes."
There was no need to beat around the bush.
Viola couldn't hide her hurt at Roin's reaction.
"You don't trust this big sis."
"If you show me some proof that you're trustworthy, I'll think about it."
"I told you, I'm good with scissors. You know that."
He had to admit she was good at it.
That was why Viola was in charge of trimming the trees and flowers planted around the estate.
In other noble households, a gardener would handle such chores.
But the Leyden family couldn't afford to hire one.
So Viola ended up wielding the shears herself.
Unlike Seira, Helton, and Weiji, Viola hadn't enrolled in the Loud Swordsmanship Academy.
She lacked the talent for it, and she didn't want to anyway.
Instead, she handled the household chores alongside Elien.
Viola held up a pair of small bonsai shears.
With a confident expression, she said,
"I even cut Father and Mother's hair myself. Didn't know that, huh?"
It was news to him.
Lucas's face was so ugly that even a good haircut wouldn't make much difference.
But Elien was different.
"You cut Mother's hair, Sis?"
"That's right."
"Really?"
"What, you think I'm some liar who only tells fibs?"
She was the type who could pull it off, personality-wise.
But there was no point in lying about something Elien could confirm with a quick question.
Elien had always kept her hair long, down to her waist, even when Roin enrolled in the Loud Swordsmanship Academy.
Recently, though, she'd switched to a short bob that barely reached her neckline.
It suited her perfectly, with no awkwardness at all.
From Roin's perspective, it was just surprising that Viola handled Elien's hairstyling.
'If that's true, then she has real talent as a stylist.'
Still, entrusting his own hair to her felt too risky.
Roin cherished even a single strand of his hair.
He didn't want to hand over its care to just anyone unproven.
Not even to family.
Besides, he'd never actually seen Viola style someone else's hair.
It just didn't appeal to him.
"I appreciate the offer. But not now. Maybe next time."
Viola clicked her tongue briefly at that.
Deep down, she was coveting Roin's hair texture.
Thanks to his consistent care, it was better than most women's.
She'd hoped to legally touch it this time.
But he wouldn't allow it.
Things were back to square one.
How to get to the neighboring city.
As he pondered that, Emilia's voice came from afar.
"Then I'll be off."
Elien was seeing bag-laden Emilia off.
"Take care and come back safe. Priva's close, but still, always be cautious."
"Yes, I will."
Roin's ears perked up at that.
Priva.
The city closest to Drin Territory, and exactly where he wanted to go.
Just before Emilia stepped out.
Roin moved faster than her.
"Emilia!"
"R-Roin, Young Master?"
Emilia was quite startled by his sudden appearance.
Roin deliberately raised his voice and cut in quickly.
"You're going to Priva with me, remember? Forgot already?"
"Me?"
She'd never heard of it.
She'd never even mentioned going to Priva to Roin in the first place.
She was more curious how he knew and why he was butting in now.
Meanwhile.
Elien, unaware of the situation, tilted her head and asked Emilia.
"Emilia, were you going with Roin?"
"Pardon? No, I never"
"Ahem!"
Roin cleared his throat loudly, interrupting her mid-sentence.
He quickly winked at Emilia two or three times.
A gesture begging her to play along.
Emilia let out a deep sigh at the sight.
"Yes. Roin Young Master said he needed something, so we're going together."
She reluctantly went along with his plan.
In that moment, Emilia thought.
Working as a maid for the Leyden family was getting really tough lately.
In the end, Emilia and Roin set off for Priva.
Gripping the reins of the horse pulling the cart, Emilia finally heard the full story from Roin.
"So... you're saying you were deliberately heading to Priva just to get a haircut?"
"Yeah."
Emilia let out an incredulous chuckle at his brazen admission.
She knew Roin's obsession with his appearance bordered on madness.
But she hadn't realized it was this extreme.
"I told you last time. You can just get it done at any old place."
"No way."
"Why not?"
"Because every single strand of my hair is precious."
"Sigh, Young Master Roin, you really..."
She was too fed up to nag anymore.
Roin aside.
"Why did Lady Viola decide to tag along?"
Viola, sitting in the back and gazing at the flower fields.
She answered casually, as if it were no big deal.
"'Cause I don't wanna work."
Roin and Viola.
They were two of a kind.
"Lady Seira and Master Helton are so diligent. Why are you two..."
She had plenty more to say, but stopped herself.
Lamenting further would only stress her out.
By the time they reached Priva, the sun was starting to set.
The city wasn't as big as Endla.
But it was much larger than Drin.
'There should be at least one salon here that meets my standards.'
From now on, Roin planned to hustle and find a stylist worthy of his hair.
"I'll head off on my own from here."
"Be careful, Young Master Roin. If any shady person talks to you, just ignore them."
"Don't worry. I'm not a kid."
"You are a kid."
His mind was adult, but his body was still that of a child.
Sending him alone was worrisome.
Emilia asked Viola in the back.
"Lady Viola, can you stick with Young Master Roin?"
"Sure, got it. I was about to get off anyway."
Unlike her siblings, Viola was hopeless with swords.
Still, better for them to move together than Roin wandering solo.
After seeing Emilia off first.
Roin and Viola began exploring the area.
Viola, who bought a cream bun midway, asked Roin, who was walking ahead.
"Little bro. Want one?"
"No thanks. Not tempted."
"Oh? It's delicious."
Viola took a big bite of the cream bun.
She loved sweets.
Maybe that's why.
As they wandered the market, Viola's eyes relentlessly scanned for dessert shops.
Roin, meanwhile, kept moving in search of salons.
He knew of about two in the area.
His first target was a salon called 'Arihen'.
'Go straight left and it should be there.'
But that meant looping around too much.
'What a hassle.'
He scanned for a shortcut.
'There's an alley over there.'
Roin took it without hesitation.
It was quite narrow.
Narrow and dark, giving off an eerie vibe.
'Perfect spot for thieves to plot.'
Sure enough.
Rounding the corner, he spotted a group in black robes hiding their faces.
They looked suspicious at first glance.
The five robed thugs flinched, as if they hadn't expected Roin here.
His outfit alone screamed he wasn't a commoner.
A noble's son.
Running into one like this would rattle anyone.
Yet they showed no sign of showing him respect.
'What are these guys up to?'
Their robes bore a common emblem.
'Feels familiar...'
But right now, Roin cared more about the salon.
With a blank expression, he tried to walk past them.
Then.
"Hold up."
A man's voice stopped Roin in his tracks.
"Where you headed?"
"You know I'm a noble, and you're still talking down to me?"
"Don't care."
The tone was curt.
With the guy acting like that, Roin decided to drop 'politeness' from his mind.
He replied indifferently.
"To a salon."
But the man didn't buy it.
"Who sent you? How'd you know about this place?"
Seemed like a big misunderstanding.
Roin sighed deeply.
"I don't care who you are. And no one sent me, so just stay quiet. It's better for you that way."
Considering Roin's temper, this was him holding back a lot.
If it were Rodri, fists would fly first.
But they had no clue.
The man who'd spoken to Roin signaled his companions.
They slowly shifted, surrounding him.
Five in total.
Few, but in the tight alley, their encirclement was flawless.
Only one option.
'Knock 'em out and go.'
Roin clicked his tongue inwardly.
'My luck sucks.'
As he'd told the black-robed man, he truly had no idea what they were doing here.
However.
If they picked the fight, it was only natural to respond.
The two men pressing him from the front charged at once.
Compared to the thieves from the subquest, their movements were decent.
But against Roin, thieves or these guys made no difference.
The men drew daggers from inside their robes.
For a split second, a strange smell wafted.
'Poison.'
The blades were coated.
Street thugs didn't bother with poisoned daggers.
Using poison meant assassination was their trade.
'Tried taking a shortcut and got dragged into something annoying.'
Should've just taken the long way.
Regret hit late.
Oh well.
No choice now.
'Time to rob 'em clean!'
Roin's eyes gleamed.