Now, Go Ahead and Stamp It - Chapter 38

“Why did Lord Kaiden come all the way here?”

Ellen asked with a surprised expression.

Kaiden, visibly flustered, replied.

“Oh, I, well―”

“Oh my, the owner!”

Owner?

“Is this place owned by Crient?”

“Oh, yes. It’s not well known yet because it’s quite new. I need to work harder on that.”

His face began to flush.

Of all places to stop by, it had to be a Crient store!

“Haha… I didn’t kno, you’re interested in jewelry as well as dresses, Miss.”

“They’re a combination that’s harder to think of separately. By the way, what brings you here?”

“Oh, this gentleman is here for a businessman―”

As the clerk attending to him began to speak about his order, Kaiden quickly interrupted.

“I heard you were going out, so I came out to report and also to inspect the market.”

“Oh.”

Ellen nodded as if she understood something.

“You visited the old city last time, so I see. This time it’s here.”

She said with a soft smile.

“Would it be alright if I accompany you as a guide today? I know this area well.”

“You must have come out for your own business, so there’s no need to do that because of me.”

“No, I’ve just finished all my urgent tasks, so I asked.”

“Urgent tasks?”

When Kaiden asked curiously, Ellen waved her hand dismissively as if it was nothing.

“I needed to check how the matters I asked my father about were progressing.”

“Well, sometimes it’s frustrating to handle things through a deputy only. Still, it’s quite a coincidence to run into each other like this.”

“Hmm. This street has our affiliates. I think we would have met no matter where you went, Lord Kaiden.”

“…Ah.”

Realizing that he would have met Ellen regardless of where he went, he sighed quietly.

“Alright. Let’s just do that. Let’s go where you lead.”

It’s over. The surprise gift selection is over.

He spoke with half resignation.

“I’m thinking of stopping by a salon or coffee house where stories gather, is that alright?”

“Of course. There’s a salon called Caramillo, which belongs to our family.”

“Going to the same place all the time is boring. We might as well enjoy it too.”

He shook his head.

It was obvious what would happen if he went to a store owned by Crient.

‘Surely, instead of getting a gift, I’d just be luxuriously entertained and leave.’

That wouldn’t do.

“Then how about the new Magnolia dessert shop that opened recently? I’ve been meaning to visit it.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go there.”

Thus, they ended up accompanying each other, and their carriage headed towards the salon street.

“There it is.”

Following Ellen’s guidance, they entered the shop and sat by the window.

The widely spaced tables were bustling with their own sounds.

“May I take your order?”

“Oh, I―”

Just as Kaiden was about to order a drink in response to the clerk’s attention, Ellen, who was looking at the menu pamphlet, spoke.

“All the dessert menu items. All the special drinks.”

Sliding her finger down one side of the pamphlet as she ordered, Kaiden asked, a bit taken aback.

“Isn’t that excessive?”

“I’m not sure what will suit your taste, Lord Kaiden. Anyway, I would have come back to try everything sooner or later.”

The clerk, realizing she was serious, noted down her order.

“All the dessert menu items, all the special drinks. One of each?”

“There are two of us, so for two, please.”

“Understood. Two of each dessert and special drink menu item. I’ll bring them as they are prepared.”

It seemed bringing everything at once was too much due to the large order.

Ellen told them to do so and began examining the pamphlet closely.

“What are you looking at?”

“Oh, I’m reading the descriptions of the menu items.”

She glanced at Kaiden and said.

“I’ll take care of my business, so please feel free to do yours, just like last time.”

“Ah… Sure.”

Having spoken to her without much thought, Kaiden closed his mouth, feeling awkward.

‘Didn’t we have quite a bit of conversation last time?’

There seemed to be some playful banter back and forth.

He couldn’t help but grumble internally, wondering why he felt more awkward now, even after getting to know her a little.

Before long, the menu items began to arrive one by one.

The plates, which started with one or two, filled their table completely.

“I’d appreciate it if you could also taste and give your opinion, Lord Kaiden.”

“Do you need my opinion?”

“Rather than need to, it’s just helpful. It saves the cost of one taste tester.”

“Oh, that’s true.”

He chuckled at her nonchalant talk about costs.

Ellen started sipping the drinks from the leftmost one with care.

But from then on, she was completely absorbed in her research.

Occasionally muttering things like ‘What fruit is in this?’, ‘It’s refreshing, nice.’, ‘Is this made by adding spices?’, she seemed deep in thought or took out a notebook to jot something down.

‘She’s completely engrossed.’

She, who always approached with an inscrutable smile, giving off an unapproachable vibe, now seemed more like a girl who loved desserts than a thorough strategist.

“…Or maybe not.”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, just talking to myself. I was curious about what’s in this tea too.”

Saying so, he took a sip of the same tea Ellen was drinking.

‘Even while eating desserts, she’s thinking about business, she seems like a born businesswoman.’

Watching her quietly as she went about her task, Kaiden couldn’t help but chuckle at her demeanor.

* * *

James, the butler of Duke Krembell’s household, sighed again today.

Among the mail that arrived for the family, he found a familiar seal.

‘It’s not time for a letter from the imperial family…’

He shivered at the creeping sense of unease.

Please, let it not be bad news.

He sorted out only the items that the head of the family needed to see immediately and took them up to the study.

Knock, knock.

“Master. I’ve brought things you need to review.”

“Enter.”

Gillian, who was seated at the desk reviewing documents, nodded slightly.

“A letter from the imperial family has arrived.”

James, who entered carefully without making a sound, handed over the letter from the imperial family straight away.

“The imperial family?”

Gillian accepted the letter that James handed him.

Surely they’re not investigating me as a suspect in the shooting incident.

‘No way…’

There’s no way.

But even thinking that, Gillian felt tense as he hurriedly opened the envelope and unfolded the contents.

Yet, what was written in the opened letter was entirely unexpected.

“…Summoned to the palace tomorrow?”

An order to appear before the Emperor.

It was far from the investigation the Crown Prince had mentioned.

Gillian couldn’t suppress a smile and lowered his head.

“Heh, heh heh…!”

He thought he understood how things were unfolding.

Even someone like him couldn’t help but feel nervous when an event ended in such a manner.

The only one who could benefit from harming Ellen Krembell was indeed himself.

But there was no way they could easily decide to investigate him.

‘Yes. They must need me, so they can’t act rashly.’

Even if he were the real culprit, he would have hesitated.

‘In the end, the Crown Prince failed to gain the Emperor’s trust. He couldn’t convince him that he could survive without me.’

Otherwise, this letter wouldn’t make sense.

If the Crown Prince was genuinely concerned about the situation or merely aimed at giving punishment, proceeding with an investigation without any notice would suffice.

But the Emperor summoned him.

That means simply letting the situation unfold isn’t what the Emperor wants.

‘There’s room to maneuver.’

Gillian thought so.

How disappointed would his father be to see him acting contrary to his wishes?

‘I hope I can run into the Crown Prince tomorrow.’

He tossed the letter into the desk drawer with a delighted heart.

* * *

The next day, in the Emperor’s audience chamber.

The protagonist of the issue summoned by the Emperor had arrived.

“Your Majesty, Duke Krembell seeks an audience.”

The attendant notified inside upon seeing Gillian’s arrival.

“Let him in.”

Upon the Emperor’s command, the heavy door opened.

A man with solid shoulders and sleek muscles confidently entered.

“I greet Your Majesty, Emperor Istazio of the Empire.”

Bowing his head, Gillian subtly observed the Emperor’s face.

“I assume you know why I had to summon you.”

“……”

Gillian reserved his response for the moment.

He intended to adjust his answers based on what the Emperor would say.

“Recently, there have been unsavory rumors about you. The first few I could ignore, but this time it’s different.”

The Emperor’s introduction was unusually lengthy today.

‘What is he trying to say?’

He thought the Emperor would just gloss over the matter, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

“Two families under my protection are in conflict. And I am responsible for protecting them both.”

“…I apologize for causing you concern, Your Majesty.”

Gillian bowed his head, gauging the Emperor’s mood.

‘So what exactly is he trying to say?’

“Anyway, I had to make a decision.”

He swallowed dryly, waiting for the Emperor to speak.

“I advise you to accept Crient’s demand and divorce.”

‘…Divorce?’

Gillian questioned, doubting if he had heard correctly.

“Divorce… are you serious?”

“Yes.”

He exclaimed, truly feeling wronged.

“Your Majesty, no matter how unreasonable Crient is, why suddenly…!”

“I’m sorry. But it can’t be helped, can it?”

“Your Majesty, I truly did not instigate such a thing. Why would I do something so unnecessary!”

Gillian shouted.

If he had ever attempted to harm that woman even once, he wouldn’t feel so wronged.

But the Emperor’s face was resolute.

“The truth is irrelevant to this decision. The important thing is that I must investigate your family under Crient’s scrutiny, and they hold a grudge against you.”

An internal investigation of the Krembell family.

Why is the Emperor suddenly reacting sensitively to that?

Gillian unconsciously swallowed dryly.