Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 58

Chapter 9

“Klaus, at your service. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Blanche.”

The man who respectfully bowed his head appeared so frail that even raising a pen seemed challenging.

I nodded hesitantly.

’Wasn’t he supposed to be robust?’

It could be a prejudice, but I had imagined the boss of the underworld to be a rugged man with a large build and scars on his cheeks.

However, the king of the rats I met had delicate hands, seemingly suitable for playing musical instruments, with skin so pale that it looked almost sickly.

Moreover, his eyes, which were torn open by a smiling statue, were strangely disconcerting, and he certainly didn’t look like the leader of the underworld.

“This is my son and assistant, Jerry.”

A sturdy man who had been guarding Klaus stepped forward and bowed.

It was a face I recognized from <Hirome>.

He had been an ally who helped the protagonist with various disguises during the Dark Guild boss ending.

He was particularly skilled in disguise.

Among them, he was the only face I was familiar with.

However, if there was anything different from the illustration in <Hirome>, it was the face that looked about four years younger and the gentle eyes devoid of malice.

“Yeah, is the dress ready?”

“Yes, right this way. Jerry, please treat the young master to some snacks.”

I nodded in approval, and Leo followed Jerry out of the room. Meanwhile, Madam Merilin and Klaus approached me.

She didn’t look well, probably from staying up all night to finish the dress I urgently commissioned a few days ago for the royal ball.

Making a dress for a high-ranking noble, let alone for a royal ball, was an overwhelming task, but I had straightforwardly instructed her.

“Don’t worry about trends, just make it extravagant.”

“I believe that clothes are a form of expression, much like art. Just as each individual has unique preferences for accessories, fabrics, decorations, and colors, it takes at least three days to select the right fabric and design that suits Your Grace.”

“Your dedication is truly remarkable. However, Madam Merilyn, it seems like you’ve forgotten something.”

“What is it…?”

“I have never come across an outfit that doesn’t suit me.”

“I will get started immediately.”

Thus, a dress heavily adorned with extravagant fabrics and jewels was created.

The dress itself was a pinnacle of opulence and beauty, but it was so lavish that it seemed burdensome to wear.

Nevertheless, I nodded in satisfaction at the finished product.

‘I believe you, Belinda. You can pull off this dress.’

“Here’s the new design sample book. Would you like to take a look?”

Eventually, Klaus brought over a catalog along with some tea.

The catalog looked like something meant for VIP customers, but inside, it detailed the purpose of my visit to Bluebird today.

Klaus gently skimmed through a list in the catalog, as if explaining the designs contained within.

“I’ve handled this line entirely to Lady Blanche’s liking. It’s all thanks to Terry’s skill.”

His tone and demeanor were so mild that if Klaus hadn’t been known as the boss of the underworld, one might have thought he was pointing out a list of trendy dress decorations in the royal court.

However, in reality, what his finger indicated was none other than a list from the guild that had accepted the assassination contract for Belinda.

“Wouldn’t it cause a commotion if you cut this out all at once?”

“The industry in this area is booming these days, so there are many mediocrities. When supply is abundant, excessive competition arises, leading to lower prices and a decline in service quality. It was about time to tidy things up to provide better service.”

The assassination industry is booming now, right?

Is this country okay?

“And this is the special order you were talking about.”

Between the pages handed to me were documents detailing the information and weaknesses of nobles active in the social circles of the capital, along with forged identity documents.

I examined the intricately forged identification cards with a mix of excitement and tension.

A free citizen of the southern Pavled Republic.

Due to the development of maritime trade, dozens of foreigners came and went every day, and many tourists came to enjoy the livable Mediterranean climate.

In about a year, I would be living there under a new name and identity.

My stomach was churning with emotions I didn’t know whether to call excitement or nervousness.

As I silently scanned the documents, Madam Merilin, perhaps sensing some trouble, said in a tense voice.

“I hope it pleases you.”

Only after meticulously reviewing the information on social figures did I finally speak.

“Flawless indeed.”

Only then did Madam Merilin exhale a sigh of relief.

Then she began to relay various news from the capital.

“By the way, have you heard? This morning, dozens of knights from the North crossed the gates of the capital.”

As I reacted with surprise, Madam Marilin lowered her voice and whispered, “It’s said that ‘he’ was leading them.”

He?

“The rumor is about the Duke of Baluasten, whose presence is causing quite a stir.”

Although she called it a rumor, coming from the mouth of the boss of the underworld, it was likely more than just gossip.

Moreover, without the visit of the duke, there would be no reason for so many knights from the North to suddenly enter the capital.

I recalled Sir Penadel, who was guarding the door to the dressing room.

Would the chivalrous knight, who insisted on only guarding the entrance because he couldn’t just barge into the lady’s changing room, be aware of this fact?

***

“…I haven’t heard.”

Cedric responded with a slightly somber tone.

It had been about a week since Cedric last contacted Penadel.

If Penadel had arrived in the royal capital early this morning, right after their last contact, it meant he had rushed to the capital immediately after their conversation, using Cedric’s name.

Why would Penadel come to the capital using his name? Cedric pondered over this question.

As he gazed beyond the carriage window at the palace in the distance, Cedric could easily guess the reason behind Penadel’s sudden visit to the capital.

The reason why Penadel hastily disguised himself as the duke and visited the capital could only be one: the King’s summons.

If so, Penadel would soon come to make contact from his side.

Rather than hastily assessing the situation, it would be clearer to hear the situation from Penadel’s mouth.

With such thoughts in mind, the moment he entered the reception room of the annex following Belinda, he muttered.

“Penadel?”

Seeing the familiar figure comfortably occupying two seats on the sofa as if it were his own home, Cedric couldn’t help but blurt out.

He didn’t even realize Belinda’s gaze was on him.

***

As soon as we arrived at the mansion, Terry greeted me with a somewhat puzzled expression.

She spoke in a hushed tone, seemingly conscious of the maids around her.

“A knight from the North is looking for me?”

“Yes, Sir Penadel assured that he would vouch for his identity. Given that they are wearing the masks of the Northern region, it seems to be Baluasten’s knights.”

I, too, was taken aback by the unexpected visitor.

Suddenly, the thought crossed my mind that this visitor might be sent by the Grand Duke who had visited the capital.

Despite the suddenness of the visit, I wondered if it was to catch a glimpse of the face of his betrothed, considering he had arrived in the capital. Dressed up and ready to go out, receiving the guest was not a problem.

I headed towards the reception room with Penadel, who would confirm the guest’s identity.

As I opened the door to the reception room…

“Penadel?”

Penadel opened his mouth towards the man sitting on the sofa.

My gaze darted to him, then back to the guest in front of me.

“I am honored that you have come in person to seek me out, my lord.”

I stood frozen, alternating my gaze between Penadel and the man he addressed as “my lord.”

The information I heard didn’t quite make sense to me.

The large man, looking somewhat bewildered like me, sat stiffly with only his mouth slightly ajar.

So, to sum it up…

’The Duke of Baluasten… you’re saying it’s him?’

I thought someone had been sent, but he had come in person.

By the way, did Penadel just refer to himself in the third person in front of his master?