Chapter 5

“Why did you specifically assign Hailey… to Latrian..?”

As Milo tidied the desk, Arcitina replied in an amused tone.

“Doesn’t she seem talented? That calm Latrian was caught off guard. The one who manipulated the Port family to get the ambassador’s aide position and a ship.”

Recalling the dawn’s events, Milo chuckled and nodded.

“That parrot was impressive.”

“She’s an extraordinary talent. The type we’ve never had at the mansion.”

Leaning by the window, Arcitina looked toward the garden. Hailey, having left the central mansion, was heading to the annex with another aide. As the wind stirred the leaves, Arcitina murmured softly.

“Milo.”

“Yes, Head.”

“Have you ever seen Latrian truly care about someone? Besides me, you, Denny, and Shale.”

As a long-serving aide to the siblings, Milo answered quickly.

“I don’t think so.”

Arcitina fiddled with the brooch in her hand. She’d meant to give it to Hailey, but retrieved it to repair the emerald that fell off.

“Right. That Latrian gave this to Hailey after just a few words.”

The open window let the wind ruffle her reddish-brown hair.

“That’s why I’m betting on her, the one who managed to shake the prickly Latrian Akrender’s heart in record time.”

“And you’re investing a whole 20,000 gold?”

An enormous sum, enough to buy a small boat. Even Milo was astonished. But Arcitina shrugged as if it were nothing.

“If my only heir settles down, it’s a small price to pay.”

As Milo left with the documents, Arcitina glanced at a brown envelope on her desk, just taken from the drawer.

When the letter disappeared back into the drawer, her gaze grew sharper. She was certain her choice was right again.

* * *

Outside the office, Hailey was greeted by the brown-haired man she’d met at dawn. With a friendly demeanor, he bowed to her.

“Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Denny Manais, direct aide to the Head. Thank you so much for your help at dawn.”

“No need to mention it. My name is Hailey.”

As Hailey bowed, his surname echoed in her mind.

Manais?

“…Could it be Captain Deborah’s…?”

“Haha. My grandmother’s reputation is still formidable.”

Hailey clasped her hands, eyes sparkling.

In Mart Republic, where women could hold jobs and inherit headships, there was still a subtle bias against women working on ships. This was overturned by the female captain, Deborah Manais. Called the ‘deck’s disaster’ by her crew, she uprooted superstitions and bad habits with her charisma—including the bias against female sailors and navigators. Thanks to her, women could work as navigators and sailors on equal terms.

Denny stroked his chin leisurely.

“You’ll see her sometimes. She’s old and frail, but she always attends Akrender events with her cane.”

“It’s an honor to meet a member of Captain Deborah’s family.”

“The honor is mine, meeting the heir of the Great Route, Hailey Perlo.”

Hailey scratched her neck, embarrassed.

‘Great Route’ was the honorific for the achievement of Tasia Perlo, who pioneered the route from Wibad Sea to the Rockd Sea. As Perlo’s heir, she should have been proud. But—

“No need to treat me specially. I’m just another retainer now.”

“Lady Hailey.”

“If you could drop the honorifics, I’d appreciate it. Just call me Hailey.”

Seeing his sympathetic look, Hailey scratched her cheek awkwardly.

It was easy to let go of pride. This was why she hesitated to work for noble families—the ‘why lower yourself as a noble’ or ‘how pitiful, a noble working’ attitude.

“Of course, Hailey.”

So Hailey was grateful for Arcitina’s quick shift to informal speech and Denny’s quick adjustment of titles.

Denny guided Hailey through the mansion. The central mansion was mainly for the head—Arcitina’s bedroom, office, and offices for direct aides.

The western mansion, for the consort, was empty since Arcitina was unmarried, but the eastern mansion for branch family and close retainers was nearly full.

And most important, the annex. Traditionally used by heirs, it was their destination.

“Lord Latrian is in the annex now.”

Passing through the garden, the annex came into view. Built of white brick with a blue roof, it was a small three-story mansion. Of course, ‘small’ only compared to the central mansion—it was still huge for one person.

“Your office will also be in the annex, right next to the heir’s.”

She understood why heirs were raised here. If the central mansion was grand and imposing, the annex was cozy and comfortable. As she looked around the annex, she spotted a figure.

A man sat slanted on the second-floor terrace, sunlight behind him, looking down at her. The gentle sunlight from above touched his hair.

Beautiful platinum hair, like honey melted in milk, elegant features, straight brows, high nose and sharp jaw. And… a familiar face. Hailey’s eyes widened as she tried to call his name.

But before she could—

Splash.

If only wine hadn’t poured over her head at that moment.

“Kyaaa!”

Despite Hailey’s urgent scream, the man on the terrace didn’t move his hand. Only when the wine bottle was empty did he calmly withdraw his hand.

Denny, standing beside her, hurriedly searched his pockets.

“Here, use this.”

Hailey took the handkerchief Denny offered and hurriedly wiped her face.

The man leaned his arms on the terrace, looking down at her with the most relaxed attitude in the world. Even though he had just made a mess of someone, his expression showed not a hint of guilt.

Hailey tilted her head up and shouted,

“Rick! What on earth are you doing?!”

“Rick?”

The answer didn’t come from above, but from the side. Denny was looking at her with a puzzled expression. Hailey pointed her finger at the man on the second floor.

“Isn’t he Rick? The navigator of the Akrender family?”

“He himself said that wasn’t his real name.”

‘Rick’ twisted one corner of his mouth into a sneer.

“I thought you were smart, even if you’re clueless, but I guess not? Saying such a dumb thing.”

“Rick!”

“Latrian Dien Akrender.”

Latrian leaned forward, meeting Hailey’s gaze.

“That’s my real name. So, Hailey,”

And with a bright smile,

“Would you kindly get out of my house right now?” 

He picked a fight.

It was so blatantly sarcastic that even Denny, standing nearby, stiffened his expression. But as a seasoned aide, he quickly managed the situation.

“Hailey, let’s leave greeting the heir for tomorrow.”

He meant well, but Hailey shook her head firmly. She licked the wine that had trickled down her lips and glared at Latrian.

“No. Let’s go greet him. Rick… no, the heir.”

He’d told her to get lost, so she had no intention of leaving quietly.

* * *

Climbing the annex stairs, Hailey fully understood Arcitina’s words. The condition to use any means resonated deeply in her heart. She deserved at least that much permission.

At this very moment, she wanted to give Latrian a piece of her mind.

Pour wine over someone’s head and then laugh? And then tell them to leave? Was he out of his mind? Had he erased not only his hair dye but also the minimum decency required of a person?

“Sigh.”

Her sigh came out naturally, making Denny, who walked ahead, noticeably flinch.

“It’s not much, but… I’ll apologize.”

“Why? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“…Maybe it’s a sense of responsibility as a co-guardian…”

Hailey chuckled at Denny’s muttered, incomprehensible words.

“It’s fine. Maybe he’s just angry about what happened at Arasil harbor.”

He’d glared at her like he wanted to kill her, right up to the moment he left with his group. As she headed to the mansion, Hailey secretly hoped she wouldn’t have to see Rick until she cleared up the misunderstanding with the head.

Rick was the heir? He was Latrian Akrender? The very superior she had to serve starting today?

It was devastating. Utterly devastating.

“Rick… no, Lord Latrian still hasn’t cleared up the misunderstanding with the head, has he?”

“Well… sigh.”

Denny rubbed his neck and groaned.

“I heard from the head. The misunderstanding is about the headship.”

Hailey groaned and pressed her forehead. Now she understood.

In short, it was a succession dispute. But unlike most disputes where both sides fight to become the heir, this was a conflict between someone trying to give the headship and someone refusing to accept it.

Hailey felt overwhelmed by her situation. Like a shrimp caught between giant whales, all she could expect was to be crushed—she should run, but she couldn’t give up. The reward Arcitina offered was the most urgent thing she needed.

Her hair was damp, her clothes were stained, and the smell of alcohol clung to her, but Hailey shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

“I was prepared not to be on good terms with the heir as soon as I accepted the head’s offer. Whether things are already bad or become bad now, the result is the same.”

Clenching her fist, Hailey made up her mind.

Just receiving the signing bonus Arcitina proposed would let her commission work for the Perlo family right away.

So, dealing with this childish and low-level heir’s whims—she could handle that.