Chapter 3 – Ladies Alighting from the Carriage (13)

As for Chloe, she was already surprised when Ryan first mentioned that the total amount from the sales was 145 silver. She was just pretending to be nonchalant.

‘I sold a diamond for 50 silver, and even though the sizes of the gems varied and the peridot bracelet had three stones… It’s clear that commoners are more savvy about the world than someone like me who only learned from books.’

The Handlung district, which Ryan mentioned visiting, was a place where caravans from local and foreign lands gathered. Chloe had heard of it, but it had been entirely unrelated to her life until now.

Feeling both a bit embarrassed and proud of herself for being unfamiliar with what was common knowledge to merchants, Chloe thought,

‘It was wise to use a proxy, and I was really lucky to have found Ryan.’

Ryan, unaware of his master’s thoughts, cautiously explained why he had earned that amount.

“I first visited places with good reputations to get estimates. I avoided those that dismissed me as a drifter or a kid, or jewelry stores that only sold trendy designs, because the items you gave me were all old. Then I revisited the shops with the prices offered by other places to negotiate again. For example, we sold the ruby ring at the shop of Mr. Theo, whom we first met, but he always offers a low price at first.”

At this, Chloe felt she understood why the diamond pendant she sold didn’t fetch a significantly different price than the other gems, and it stung a bit. Unaware of her reaction, Ryan continued speaking.

“I deliberately sold the three items at different places because I wanted to establish various connections. By showing that we have many items to sell, I thought they might offer better terms if they wanted more transactions.”

“I see.”

Chloe nodded while maintaining a neutral expression. Having spent years as the mistress of the Shevik Pavilion, she wasn’t completely ignorant of the world, and she could quickly calculate the sales details Ryan provided and the resulting budget changes in her mind.

It exceeded her expectations. Knowing he had a keen eye for clothing, she realized he also had a meticulous and perceptive approach to business, and Chloe finally showed a satisfied smile.

If Ryan had seen it, he would have felt relieved. But with Chloe and Mirabelle’s stern demeanor, he kept glancing around the table, unsure where to look.

“You must have been busy helping your parents. You did well.”

“Now that the festival week is over, things have calmed down a bit. Actually, my family… Oh, we handle academy uniforms…”

Ryan’s ears turned bright red as he spoke. It meant he was wearing one of those uniforms when he did that task.

There was a small laugh from Mirabelle beside him, but Chloe pretended not to hear it or Ryan’s embarrassing confession. She took something from her bosom and pushed it toward Ryan.

“Is this…?”

It was a badge adorned with the Lacroix emblem in jewels. It was used to prove identity or during verbal transactions, and although Chloe had no use for it, she had been given a few.

However, Ryan, unaware of its significance, merely examined the expensive-looking item with curiosity.

“Let me formally introduce myself. I’m Chloe of Lacroix.”

“Wha-?” 

Ryan’s eyes widened as he looked up. 

“La, Lacroix?”

Even if commoners didn’t know all the noble family names, living in Gotiue, it was impossible not to know the name Lacroix. Chloe continued speaking in an even calmer voice to reassure him.

“You understand why I need to hide my identity, right?”

“Yes, yes, Lacroix…”

Ryan mumbled something resembling a response through his parted lips. He also resolved not to harbor any ill intentions while working with Chloe.

“From next week, come to the mansion. Show that, and you’ll be able to enter. You can also use it if you encounter any trouble with the guards while coming and going. My brother is in the Police Department, so you can use his name freely.”

Ryan’s eyes trembled with gratitude at every word Chloe spoke.

Watching him carefully place the badge into the inner pocket of his vest, Chloe smiled inwardly and took a few silver coins from the pouch Ryan had brought.

“This is 20 percent of the net profit. If you keep doing well, I can increase it, so keep up the good work.”

After deducting the initial purchase amount of the jewelry and the 15 silver owed to Lagu, the net profit was 105 silver. Ryan couldn’t hide his joy as he received the 21 silver, which was 20 percent of that.

“Thank you, ma’am!”

He was likely proud because he earned it through hard work, not as an allowance from his parents or by playing tricks on noble ladies. Although the concept of earning money might differ between commoners and nobles, Chloe could guess that Ryan felt a sense of pride similar to what she had felt.

‘He must be really happy.’

Chloe grinned and rang the magic stone call bell as she had before.

“Let’s eat what we’ve ordered and then go. I’ve arranged a meeting with Sir Lagu.”

In the carriage leaving the palace, Demetrian recalled being rejected with the excuse of a ‘prior engagement’ when he tried to invite Chloe to his office.

‘Who could it be…’

Since they weren’t unaware of each other’s social circles, if it were a tea party, a banquet, or someone else’s young lady, she would have said so. The ambiguous term ‘prior engagement’ was puzzling.

‘Could it be…’

Demetrian’s thoughts always ended with the image of one man. The man he had encountered in front of Frederick’s drawing room not long ago, whose presence always made him unconsciously tense.

‘No, it can’t be that kind of relationship now…’

With such gloomy thoughts and the bewilderment at his own feelings, Demetrian merely leaned his head against the carriage window.

It was then that his gaze, thrown outside aimlessly, caught sight of Lacroix’s small carriage.

‘Who could it be?’

Since Etienne wouldn’t be leaving work at this hour, it was likely Chloe. Of course, it could be the Countess or Achille, but… there was no point in guessing.

“Let’s stop here for a moment.”

Feigning a disloyal look at his impulsive young master, Faigen opened the side window to relay the message to the coachman.

Around the fountain in the middle of Franz Square, where all the main roads of the capital converged, carriages awaited their owners. Demetrian instructed the coachman to position their carriage in a way that provided a good view of Lacroix’s carriage and waited without stepping out.

Faigen, observing his young master’s actions, recognized Lacroix’s carriage and shook his head.

‘I thought something seemed off last time, and he’s still acting like he’s missing a few screws.’

About 15 minutes later, Demetrian’s expression slightly brightened. Chloe and Mirabelle had emerged from a nearby café.

However, the café was known among the young ladies of the social circles as a place often used for secret meetings.

‘Why there…’

As far as he knew, Chloe never frequented cafés or enjoyed coffee. Just as Demetrian furrowed his brow, he noticed a man accompanying them.

The man’s attire didn’t seem to match that of a Lacroix servant, and Demetrian was already out of the carriage before realizing it.

‘Perhaps the café’s footmen have adopted such shabby attire as a concept…’

Trying to rationalize it positively, he approached them while observing closely. Chloe and Mirabelle’s familiarity with the man suggested they were indeed together. Moreover, Chloe didn’t tip him, and she even took the man’s hand instead of the coachman’s… Demetrian found himself running without realizing it.

It was just as Chloe was about to board the carriage with Ryan’s awkward escort. Sensing someone approaching quickly, her gaze naturally turned.

“Was your prior engagement to meet him?”

Demetrian’s sharp question rang out with labored breaths. He had forgotten the embarrassment of watching from a distance and the resolve to apologize when he met Chloe.

“Demi?”

Chloe couldn’t hide her astonishment at Demetrian’s sudden appearance. 

No, he couldn’t have been hiding and watching… 

She had no idea he had indeed been watching, and she scoffed at her own imagination.

“Why does it matter to you?”

“Loi.”

Demetrian’s face fell heavily.

‘…Did I know Demi could make such a face?’

It was an expression of anger, but Chloe had never seen Demetrian angry with her.

No, he wasn’t the type to get angry at all. The Young Duke of Crevelle could remain indifferent to anything. People naturally avoided crossing him, and even if it happened, it was naturally resolved.

Yet, Demetrian’s menacing gaze was fixed on the man beside her. With shoulders too narrow for his height, he seemed like a young boy at first glance, but his face made it uncertain. Judging by his clothes, he was a commoner… Demetrian wasn’t suspicious of their relationship but was upset about something unknown to him regarding Chloe.

“Uh, I’m…”

Under Demetrian’s intense gaze, Ryan almost began reciting his personal details without realizing it.

“Enough. Let’s go.”

“No, ma’am…”

Chloe, relying on Ryan’s hand to board the carriage, pulled him up as if inviting him. In a moment’s hesitation, Ryan found himself in the carriage, and Mirabelle awkwardly bowed and slipped inside.

“Let’s depart quickly.”

Ryan, who had unwittingly boarded the carriage holding his master’s hand, was restless, looking back and forth between his master and the noble lord outside with a bewildered expression, thinking,

‘Ah, this must be it. A lover’s quarrel.’

A strange silence settled inside Lacroix’s small carriage heading for Alezio.

Mirabelle, who would normally have been fussing over Demetrian’s unexpected appearance, kept her mouth shut in front of Ryan, and Ryan, feeling as if he had intruded on his master’s private life, dared not speak.

‘Why did he appear there… And why does it matter who I meet?’

Chloe bit the inside of her lip in frustration, unable to control her rising anger.

‘I was happy when I saw how well Ryan did at Yega Cheff earlier.’

Her previously elated mood had plummeted instantly.

Whenever she met Demetrian, especially when he acted unfamiliar, Chloe couldn’t control the branches of imagination spreading in her mind.

Demetrian Crevelle’s kindness was, indeed, a significant problem.