Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Mistress Proposal
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"Oh my."
I hated how goodwill without any ulterior motives could twist into something like this.
But the world rarely goes the way I want it to.
"A mistress...?"
My body shuddered. This was an unexpected development.
Even if I had the wealth and looks to keep multiple mistresses, for someone like me who'd lived an ordinary life in modern society, it was too much.
It felt like a betrayal of a lover.
Even if I never had a lover of my own.
I guess I have too modern a mindset.
"...Really?"
Darsi asked back amid the silence. He seemed genuinely worried about my situation.
"I don't meet with the theater troupe anymore. I only visit the theater after they've all left, past ten o'clock."
Even as I said it, I wasn't sure if Darsi would believe me.
I slowly raised my gaze to meet his.
"Anyway."
His response was far more concise than I'd expected.
Darsi stared at me with the same expressionless face as before.
But his gaze was softer now.
I'd told him my story, and he'd believed me.
The whole process felt so natural it left me a bit dazed.
"...You believe me?"
I found myself asking, and Darsi let out a small chuckle.
"Why wouldn't I believe you? Unless you're lying?"
"No."
"Then we're good."
He loosened his cravat and let out a languid breath.
Come to think of it, he looked more tired than usual.
'...His expression was a bit dark from the start.'
He was showing signs of exhaustion so obviously that I couldn't just ignore it. Especially after how much he'd cared about me so far.
I glanced at him cautiously and finally spoke up.
"Did something happen today?"
Darsi shrugged with a brazen smile.
"Nope."
But that smile was awkward, no doubt about it.
'He probably doesn't want to talk about it.'
I didn't pry. I had no desire to force open the mouth of someone who wanted to keep quiet.
If he wanted to hide it, I'd let him.
Darsi's shoe tapped against the floor with a sharp clack. Frowning, he ruffled his hair. Something else was bothering him, it seemed.
The more I thought about it, the more enigmatic he became.
His overwhelmingly intimidating presence and aura didn't fit the word "merchant" at all.
I'd thought it was my imagination at first, but the more I met him, the clearer it became.
There was something about him I didn't know.
If we kept meeting, something would surely happen.
Whatever it was.
'I should dial back how often we meet and gradually distance myself.'
It was about time to wrap up our dealings. I could find another mage to use his magic tools with.
As I mulled this over, Darsi spoke up.
"Need anything else? My schedule's tight after this, so we won't meet for a while. I can make you one more."
Talk about perfect timing. I answered right away.
"You must be really busy. Business is booming, huh? Guess there's no helping it."
At my words, Darsi crossed his arms and let out a hollow laugh.
"You seem thrilled about that?"
"No way. How often do you get to see someone as handsome as you, Darsi?"
Looks weren't everything, but since we wouldn't be seeing each other much longer, better not to make things awkward. I quickly added that.
Darsi crossed his arms with a bored look.
"So, what magic tool do you want? You've probably thought of plenty."
After pondering what to ask for, I made up my mind.
"Separate from recording video, I want a magic tool that captures a moment and transfers it onto paper."
"Basically a magic tool that turns footage into a picture."
"Yeah."
"That's easier than the others I've made. Sure."
Darsi nodded readily at my request. He didn't even mention payment. He trusted I'd take care of it.
When he left today, I'd give him three times the usual magic crystals.
As I resolved this inwardly, Darsi said,
"Not curious when I'll be back?"
It'd be rude not to ask when he put it like that.
"...When?"
"No idea."
...Then why ask? I was baffled.
Darsi stood up.
"Alright, let's head to the theater."
"...Huh?"
"To watch the play. Just the two of us, of course."
The romantic line sounded like a date invitation, but his tone was close to a threat.
Wait, was this actually a date?
He'd even told me the rumors today, out of concern for me... That was odd too...
"I want to upgrade the recorder beyond the last one this time. Need to see how well it works during a full play."
Never mind. Before I could get ahead of myself, Darsi explained.
"Oh, got it."
I'd almost fallen into self-indulgent delusions.
Of course Darsi wouldn't be interested in me. My mind eased again.
I stood up.
"Alright, let's go to the theater."
Darsi hated running into people, so I sent him to the theater first while I went to fetch the recorder from the playhouse.
I could've sent a servant, but picking it up myself would be better for their peace of mind. The maids and manservants always trembled at the price when they handled it. Bad perceptions of magic tools played a part too.
Returning to my room with the recorder, I found Darsi lounging on the bed, reading a book. The wall next to the theater was covered floor-to-ceiling with the bookshelf I'd commissioned.
It was filled with my favorite genre novels. Mysteries and nonfiction were there, but romance took up the most space.
"You like these kinds of novels?"
"Oh, yeah."
"Unexpected. Tired of people, can't even think of marriage, yet you enjoy love stories."
I loved reading about romance. I'd tried all genres, but romance was my favorite. I set the recorder on the table and shrugged.
"I can still like them."
At my words, Darsi snapped his book shut and looked up at me.
His silver hair, falling to either side, caught the chandelier light from the ceiling and sparkled dazzlingly.
"Why do you like them?"
He asked in a tone that said he couldn't comprehend. Darsi's questions were always direct. He never beat around the bush.
"I like watching people who didn't even know each other become indispensable parts of each other's lives. It's romantic."
It was easy to be honest with Darsi.
Baring my soul to a complete stranger felt surprisingly easy—and refreshing.
I'd grown up too fast.
In my previous life, my parents loved me, but there were always problems at home. Spoiled behavior was out of the question.
My parents weren't people I could lean on; they were the ones I had to help. That time cast a shadow over my life.
I wanted to be irreplaceable in someone's life. I'd never been that for anyone.
That was probably why I couldn't let go of the heroine, Resuan, so easily.
"I'm projecting my desire to lean on someone while I read."
"Satisfied with just reading? You've got quite the imagination."
Watch your words. I shot him a light glare.
"Your tone is so sharp."
"That's my charm."
Darsi grinned, stood with his book, approached, and slipped it between my hands.
He looked baffled, like he couldn't understand.
"Why not just have that kind of love? No one would turn down the Etwar Marquis House."
I wasn't starving for love anymore... Why bother?
After dealing with Resuan, Ryan, and Kaisen, all my illusions about love had shattered.
Fiction is beautiful because it's fiction...
I answered in a serious tone.
"I'll think about it when I'm sick of holing up at home."
Right now, I was too busy planning my future alone.
Soon, I attached the magic tool Darsi had brought to the recorder.
But Darsi wasn't done talking, it seemed.
I felt a prickling gaze from the side.
"...You, who's walked a smooth path without any twists, chose seclusion because of some deep wound?"
The thing that leaves the deepest scars of all.
The noise around us faded, leaving just the two of us. He looked straight at me.
That must have been what Darsi really wanted to ask.
I answered simply.
"People."
People.
"Ah."
Darsi said nothing more. He seemed to get it.
He turned his gaze back to me. I didn't avoid it.
Darsi raised an eyebrow. His lips parted slowly.
I held my breath, expecting him to speak, but no sound came.
A subtle atmosphere flowed between us. He was still staring.
Now I was curious too.
"...I have a question of my own."
"Ask."
His usual leisure filled the air around us.
The most beautiful man I'd ever met.
A man with a foul personality, shrouded in mystery.
"...Have you ever been in love?"
I wondered if he had.
"Nope."
Darsi's answer was curt.
"Didn't have the time."
His gaze didn't waver in the slightest.