Chapter 9

As sunset approached, the streets grew lively. The doors of nearby buildings swung open, and the owners poked their heads out one by one. Most were women dressed as flamboyantly as Roana. They glanced at Hailey, and some bolder ones pointed and giggled.

Hailey rested her chin on her arms atop her knees.

That superior of hers was impressive, not coming out even now.

“If he’s so energetic, he should live diligently as an heir.”

Her anger toward her superior deepened as her bottom numbed from sitting on the stone steps.

Just as Hailey tried to calm herself, a figure cast a shadow over her head.

“Oh, does Roana have a gatekeeper now?”

It was one of the men who’d been glancing from the corner. His curled mustache kept attracting attention, and he seemed to enjoy stroking its tip endlessly.

She shook her head with a tired expression.

“No, I just happened to be here.”

“Do people really just hang around here for this long? Are you trying to become Roana’s apprentice?”

The man’s sticky gaze swept over Hailey.

“If that’s the case, maybe I should make a reservation before you get famous. You’re pretty enough that you might have a shot.”

Hailey was about to retort, but she calmed herself and waved her hand. She didn’t want to cause a scene and risk her superior finding fault with her later.

“That’s not it, please leave.”

“Wow. So I have to pay to talk already? Wait, I’ll pay.”

The man started rummaging in his pocket, then tossed a gold coin at her feet. The coin rolled across the ground and stopped at her toes. The mustached man chuckled, swaying as he exhaled a strong smell of alcohol.

Hailey gritted her teeth. Her superior, holed up in the Queen of the Night’s mansion, was trash, but this idiot trying to buy time with a woman was no better.

The man grabbed Hailey’s wrist and forced her to stand.

“Don’t be like that.”

“Let go!”

Hailey twisted and resisted, but the man only gripped her wrist tighter and sneered.

“Come on. We’re not doing anything. Just talking. Why act so pricey?”

Hailey made up her mind.

All these problems stemmed from excessive masculinity. So if she eliminated the cause, the problem would be solved. Just as she was about to kick the man between the legs, a crisp, juicy sound rang out above her head.

A drop of red juice flicked in front of her eyes.

“Agh!”

A tomato had been smashed on the head of the man making advances. Tomato juice ran down his cheek and soaked his mustache.

The man let go of her wrist and frantically shook his head. Hailey looked up in disbelief.

At the second-floor window, a platinum-blond man leaned on his arm, looking down. He took a bite out of a tomato, probably a friend to the one that hit the man’s head.

“What a clown.”

Latrian’s voice was as flat as ever, defining the man’s predicament.

* * *

Sunset light streamed through the window as Latrian, now awake, ruffled his messy hair and approached. He picked up a tomato from the basket and took a bite, then leaned on the windowsill, his expression more relaxed.

Hailey was still at the front door. She was getting looks not only from passing men but also from the women opening the mansion’s doors. Whether she was oblivious or ignoring them, her attitude was remarkably bold.

“She really is a funny woman.”

He laughed, but before he finished chewing, his eyes narrowed. A drunken man was staggering toward her. Asking if she was Roana’s gatekeeper was one thing, but suggesting she become an apprentice was flirting. The comment about paying was just crude, and Latrian’s brow furrowed.

“Are you awake?”

Luisen entered the room and approached Latrian.

“I told you not to go near the window.”

“Luisen, who are those idiots?”

“D*mn, they’re back. Just the usual trash. I’ll take care of it…”

Up until then, Latrian had planned to leave it to Luisen. After all, Luisen knew this world better. But—

“Let go!”

“Come on. We’re not doing anything. Just talking. Why act so pricey?”

Latrian’s nerves snapped. He picked up the tomato he’d just bitten into and threw it.

Thud! With a satisfying sound, the tomato hit the man’s head. The red pulp ran down.

Leaving the gaping Luisen behind, Latrian grabbed another tomato, bit into it, and shared his thoughts.

“What a clown.”

The man’s angry voice echoed up to the second floor. Latrian placed the unfinished tomato on the windowsill, grabbed his coat from the chair, and patted Luisen’s shoulder as he passed.

“I’m going.”

“Already?”

Latrian hurried down the stairs and, upon reaching the first floor, threw the door open.

The man was still shaking tomato juice from his head. Two others, presumably his companions, approached.

Latrian crossed his arms and stood crookedly.

“You look drunk. I heard tomatoes are good for hangovers.”

“You! You jerk!”

“Don’t call me a jerk. It’s offensive.”

The mustached man, furious, lunged at Latrian. But Latrian sidestepped and hooked the man’s ankle, sending him sprawling on the stone floor.

“Ugh!”

Latrian pressed down on the man’s back and beckoned to the newcomers, who looked less drunk.

“Hey. If you have eyes, use them. Does she look like one of the Queen of the Night to you? She’s just a clueless errand girl who came to fetch her superior.”

“What, what?”

“I’m Roana’s guest, and she’s here for me. So don’t get confused—go your own way.”

One of the men, looking hot-tempered, tried to rush at him, but Latrian leaned forward, putting more weight on his foot. The mustached man groaned beneath him, and the other man hesitated.

“If you make more trouble here, the queens will get annoyed. And Roana won’t like a scene in her own front yard.”

“You started this…!”

“You want to argue about who’s at fault? I’m good at that. Pretty sure I’ll win. Should we start with you harassing an innocent person?”

Latrian was definitely smiling brightly, but despite outnumbering him, the men couldn’t respond easily. They kept glancing at each other, then shook their heads.

Only then did Latrian step away and immediately grabbed Hailey’s wrist, pulling her along.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

With a bewildered expression, Hailey crossed the square with Latrian.

* * *

The tail of a summer sunset is long. The deep scarlet glow drew lines on the ground as if guiding the footsteps of passersby. Latrian skillfully navigated the narrow alleys, which still carried the scent of the sea. With every step he took, a fresh soapy fragrance drifted by.

After escaping the maze-like alleys, the San Sieta Square finally spread out before them. Reaching this everyday space, bustling with busy people, Hailey let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.

At that moment, Latrian spun around. His face was deeply furrowed.

“Why are you acting so stupid? Where did the woman go who ruined my plans just by looking at a single-page route plan? No, why were you foolishly sitting there in the first place? Why did you put up with all those things?”

Hailey was dumbfounded by the direct, vivid criticism directed at her.

Just moments ago, she had felt grateful, but now she couldn’t believe she’d even entertained such a thought—her gratitude vanished completely. She flung her arm to free her wrist from his grip.

“Because I’m your aide, Lord Latrian. Isn’t it only natural for an aide to follow their superior? If you didn’t want me there, you shouldn’t have gone to ‘a place like that’ in the first place.”

“The role of an aide is to follow and assist their superior, not to nitpick every little thing like you do.”

“Oh, is that what you think? I don’t. I believe a loyal aide should step in even more actively if it looks like their superior is about to mess everything up.”

“Don’t exaggerate. What did I do that was so disastrous?”

“Is it sane for an heir to spend the whole day locked up with a courtesan from morning till sunset?”

“Let’s say, as you claim, that I spent the whole day with Roana. What does that have to do with ruining everything?”

“It matters! If the heir brings back an illegitimate child, isn’t it the retainers’ job to clean up the mess?!”

“Do I look like the type to make an illegitimate child?!”

“How would I know?!”

“You don’t even know me, so why are you so confident in arguing with me?!”

“Why should I know?! I don’t want to know!”

Hailey glared, breathing heavily, while Latrian growled between his teeth.

A breeze filled with summer’s warmth slipped between the two as they stared each other down, carrying the scent of the sea like the wind that brushed the canals.

“Did you study navigation at the Academy just to serve me like this? Don’t you care that you’re wasting your talent? There are plenty of other ways to make money.”

“No. I must be your aide, Lord Latrian.”

“Even after all this, if you still don’t get it, then you really are stupid.”

“Lord Latrian, you’re the stupid one.”

Hailey’s tightly bound long hair fluttered like the sails of a ship. Her sharp golden eyes stared directly at the superior who was so intent on rejecting her.

“You said I don’t even know you, right? Then what about you? Do you know me, or my situation? Don’t pretend to be rational and considerate when you know nothing.”

Her teeth ground together with a faint sound.

“It’s sickening.”

Latrian ran a hand through his hair in irritation, then steadied his breath and delivered his final warning.

“I’ll say this just once more. Don’t cling to hopeless things. I will never become the Head of the family.”

Unlike before, his voice was dry and calm, lending it extra weight.

Hailey tried to respond, but Latrian turned away coldly. To keep up with his long strides, she had to walk almost at a run. Though frustration bubbled up, she gritted her teeth and stuck close behind him.