Chapter 8

Hailey left the room with a satisfied smile. She didn’t forget to wave lightly at the shocked maids.

Leaning against the door, she started by precisely defining the orders Arcitina had given her.

What must the Head of a noble family do? First, manage the family’s affairs. In the case of the Akrender family, the top priority was managing their trading company. Denny had already sorted out the basics.

So, first, she had to get her superior into his office. After finishing her review, Hailey checked her watch and frowned.

No matter how much he preferred to wash alone, did it really take this long?

Hailey knocked on the door.

Knock-knock. No answer.

Knock-knock-knock-knock. Still no answer. Ominous.

“Excuse me, I’m coming in.”

When she opened the door, a fresh mint scent rushed in. Judging by the tomato pulp floating in the tub, he had bathed. On one side, his stained pajamas were tossed carelessly.

Hailey hurried to the window and looked around the terrace. She couldn’t spot him anywhere. Her hand gripping the terrace railing trembled.

“That bastard…”

Fortunately, she had a good guess where he’d gone. Unfortunately, there was only one possible place. If it wasn’t there, she’d be at a loss.

Her face twisted with frustration as she turned.

* * *

“There’s a strange woman in the mansion.”

Latrian grumbled as he threw himself onto the bed.

The bed was covered with a luxurious quilt made by patching together small pieces of cloth. It was an expensive item, handmade by a skilled artisan, but the person lying on it didn’t care at all. After all, he’d bought it with his own money.

“She barged in and poured juice on my head? Is she out of her mind?”

Having jumped down into the garden, Latrian had gone to the stable at the far end of the mansion behind the annex, taken out a horse, and sped off.

At Ibert Square, he left the horse at the Akrender Trading Company’s central branch, then took a gondola to San Sieta Square. He passed through familiar alleys and entered a house of reddish-brown brick, then had just climbed to the second floor.

Beside Latrian stood a ‘man’ so pretty he could be mistaken for a woman at a glance. His dark blond hair was carelessly tied back, and he giggled as he placed a basket on the table next to Latrian’s bed.

“How bad was it?”

“You’ll be surprised, even you, Luisen.”

Latrian sat up and frowned at the basket Luisen had brought.

“What’s with the tomatoes?”

“Because of the wine you drank yesterday, your head must be splitting, right? Tomatoes are good for hangovers.”

‘It’s tomato. If you blend it with lime and lemon, it’s a really effective hangover remedy.’

Latrian frowned when he noticed the neatly placed lemon and lime. He picked up a tomato and took a bite, the red flesh overflowing in his mouth. Still, his mood remained foul.

She seemed to be trying hard to get on his good side to become his aide, but if that was the case, shouldn’t she at least avoid the senseless act of pouring juice on someone’s head? Was she crazy? Did pouring wine on her make her brain soak in alcohol?

The more Latrian thought about it, the more irritated he became, so he chewed and swallowed the innocent tomato with force.

Luisen, standing next to him, tilted his head and asked,

“Would you like a few more?”

“No.”

Latrian wiped the tomato pulp from his hand onto his thigh and sprawled on the bed. He picked up a book lying nearby—probably the one Luisen had been reading last night—and placed it over his eyes.

“I’m going to sleep. Don’t wake me.”

“Understood.”

With Luisen’s obedient reply, sleep began to overtake Latrian again.

But that peace didn’t last long.

Bang bang bang bang!

A loud, jarring noise shattered his peace, and Latrian removed the book from his face. Looking at the clock on the wall, less than two hours had passed. Deep wrinkles formed in his once peaceful brow.

“Who the hell…”

As if answering his mutter, a furious voice rang out.

“I know you’re in there, so come out!!”

He could hear teeth grinding from her clenched jaw. Right, she sounded ready to burst in and cause trouble. Luisen grabbed Latrian just as he was about to storm out.

“Wait.”

Unlike before, Luisen now looked every bit a ‘woman’. He had braided his wavy golden hair and wore an elegant red satin dress, beautiful enough to catch the eye of every man in Mart.

Right now, Luisen was ‘Roana Evis’, the Queen of the Night. As an actor, he fully utilized his talents to disguise himself as Mart’s courtesan. Given the nature of his real work, which required hiding his identity, this role was the perfect mask.

Sometimes, those captivated by his beauty tried to spend the night with Roana, but Luisen always demanded not only an eye-popping sum but also rare gifts that were hard to obtain. Most gave up.

On the surface, Latrian was now just another visitor to ‘Roana’.

“You said you came to rest, right? Then rest. I’ll handle it.”

Luisen draped a lace shawl over his shoulders and descended to the first floor as ‘Roana’. When he opened the door, a woman with shining golden eyes was standing there. Luisen instantly recognized her as the ‘crazy woman’ Latrian had mentioned.

“You don’t seem to fit in here. What brings you?”

His voice was thin and coy, unlike when he spoke with Latrian earlier. Hailey quietly wiped the sweat from her forehead and answered his question.

“I know my superior is here.”

“I don’t know who your superior is, but we don’t receive visitors at this early hour.”

“No. I saw the two of you hugging down here a few days ago.”

Luisen’s eyes narrowed.

Not long ago, someone had been following Latrian, so Luisen had purposely walked to the alley entrance. Was this woman that person?

Hailey straightened her back and spoke again.

“Roana Evis.”

Luisen’s eyebrows twitched at the sound of his other name, which he hadn’t introduced. Hailey bowed deeply in respect.

“I am Hailey, retainer of the Akrender family. I’ve come to fetch my superior, Lord Latrian, so I’d appreciate your cooperation.”

Lying to someone who’s sure of themselves is pointless. Luisen, quick-witted, immediately changed his strategy. He elegantly swept his hair behind his ear and tilted his head as if troubled.

“What should I do? He’s still sleeping.”

“…Sleeping?”

“This is the Queen of the Night’s mansion. It’s a place that gives men sweet sleep.”

She seemed clever enough to understand the implication. As expected, Hailey’s face turned red, and Luisen waved his hand lightly.

“So please go. I’ll tell him you came when he wakes up…”

“Then I’ll wait here.”

“What?”

“I’m sure he’s here. I’ll wait until he wakes up. No matter how tired he is, he can’t sleep all day… right?”

“Excuse me.”

“Just in case, is this the only door to the building? Or is there a back door?”

Hailey craned her neck, looking around the building, then checked the second-floor windows—the very place where Latrian was lying. The woman’s gaze seemed even sharper.

“He couldn’t jump out from there, could he?”

“Huh.”

Luisen was momentarily caught off guard by Hailey’s boldness. He accidentally let out his male voice and quickly covered his mouth. Fortunately, Hailey was too busy inspecting the building to notice.

Sweat broke out on his forehead. He’d thought he was toughened by all the jobs Latrian had made him do, but this woman was in a league of her own.

Hailey sat down in front of the door and began her sit-in.

Contrary to his expectations, Luisen couldn’t get rid of this uninvited guest.

“If you want to, suit yourself.”

Luisen closed the door in her face. He lingered for a moment, but her presence remained.

When Luisen went back upstairs, Latrian was groaning with his hands over his face.

“Seriously… she’s exhausting.”

Latrian tried to go to the window, but Luisen hurriedly stopped him.

“Don’t. She’s checking the window, too.”

In the end, Latrian sat on the edge of the bed again. Luisen folded his arms and sighed deeply.

“So what are you going to do? Even if you kick her out, she’ll keep coming as long as she’s sure you’re here.”

“…….”

Latrian, troubled, lay back down.

“Just leave her.”

“But this isn’t a place for a woman to be alone…”

“What could happen? At most, someone will hassle her. Which would be better if she’d just leave.”

He supported his head with his interlocked arms and closed his eyes.

Luisen went to the window and glanced outside; Hailey, who happened to look up, waved lightly. When he turned back, Latrian’s breathing had already become regular again.

Luisen looked back and forth between Hailey, who was smiling cheerfully, and Latrian, who was sleeping peacefully, then grabbed his head. He felt a headache coming on.