Chapter 5 (Part 10)

After Meia left, Theodore rolled around on the bed laughing.

Venable, hearing his laughter, entered the room and felt relieved to see him rolling around in joy.

It felt like a dream he would wake up from soon. Goodness! She had used the word “alone” with him.

She even generously forgave him for calling her by her nickname and allowed him to call her that.

“Father was right. Venable, you have to take the plunge.”

One of the things his father had said, “Take the plunge,” had led to positive results for both the engagement talk and the nickname.

“Indeed, the previous master took many plunges to win over his wife, haha.”

“Right? I should become someone who can confidently call her by her nickname in front of others.”

The more his love grew, the more Theodore longed for Meia.

The servants of the Grand Ducal residence also decided to do their best to help Theodore so that she could become the Grand Duchess.

“But I’m still anxious.”

“Don’t be too hasty. They say the slower you go, the faster you get there.”

Even the greatest power in the world is weak in the face of love.

“Lady Meia has a beautiful father. A man with such outstanding beauty might feel more like family. Rather than excessive beauty, your appropriate charm might be more appealing to Lady Meia.”

Even Aethon had been shocked upon seeing David’s portrait.

The man, who looked very similar to Meia, was more than just beautiful. Thinking about how he had been jealous without knowing he was her father, Theodore had kicked the blanket and buried his face in the pillow several times in embarrassment.

“They say David’s nickname in the Carpen Empire is ‘Righteous Beauty.’”

“Righteous Beauty?”

“It means a beauty that can be forgiven for anything. No matter what he does, whether it’s something bad or cruel, people say they can forgive him because of his beauty.”

“His appearance is indeed undeniable.”

Thinking he could win against such a person in terms of looks was already a lost game.

“Have courage. Though you might not have dazzling beauty like David, you have a handsome appearance and masculine charm.”

Theodore’s eyes narrowed as if contemplating something while looking at Venable.

“They say daughters marry men like their fathers.”

“Master, there is no one with David’s appearance. Even if there were, you just need to win Lady Meia’s heart before that. Don’t worry too much.”

Venable gave Theodore sincere advice with a contented smile.

“Don’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet. For now, focus on doing everything you can to win Lady Meia’s heart.”

Theodore shook his head, trying to rid his mind of the thoughts that should never happen.

“Yes, Venable. You’re right. There’s no need to worry about things that haven’t happened yet. But where is Lady Meia?”

Theodore, who searched for Lady Meia several times a day, asked again.

“She must have returned to her room?”

“I’ll go find out where she is.”

Not long after, Theodore found out that Meia had gone out with Aethon, and he was puzzled.

Was there a reason she had to go out? 

He read the documents Hemann had brought and her note.

[I’m going to look at fabrics.]

And knowing that she had gone out with only two knights worried him.

“Hemann, are you saying Lady Meia went out with just two escort knights?”

Even if he understood her going out with Aethon, only having two knights…

“Tell Versha to get ready to leave immediately.”

Versha is the first knight commander of the Florence Grand Duke’s household and is strong enough to be considered close to a sword master.

“Understood.”

It felt as if all the blood in his body was drying up.

Theodore abruptly stood up from his chair and placed both hands on the desk. He was anxious and nervous.

“Those maggot-like bugs.”

Just thinking about men staring at her, drooling, and fantasizing about her made him feel an uncontrollable urge to vomit.

“Just thinking about it makes me nauseous.”

He really hated others looking at Meia. Although he couldn’t restrict her freedom to go out, he was very worried because there were many maggots who would stare at the beautiful her.

Even now, the second prince of the Carpen Empire is looking for her!

Like what happened on the cruise ship! 

It was fortunate that Juan exuded a murderous aura, so the maggots didn’t cling to her, but currently, Juan was on an errand to the Carpen Empire, and Meia had gone out with Aethon without Juan, making him even more anxious and nervous.

He had fallen in love at first sight and even got lovesick, so he hated the thought of others falling in love with her at first sight like he did. He needed to go to her quickly.

“I need to go. I must find Lady Meia right away.”

***

The name of the fabric store owner is ‘Roman.’

When asked to show silk fabric, he showed the fake silk fabric that was brought into the Grand Ducal residence.

Meia stroked the fabric with her hand and crumpled it slightly. Roman jumped and shouted.

“It’s expensive fabric, you shouldn’t touch it like that, Miss!”

“This isn’t silk.”

“What?”

“I asked to see silk… Why are you showing me fabric used for making doll clothes?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I must have been confused, haha.”

Roman, claiming it was a mistake, then showed the real silk. And Meia realized.

If people were fooled by the fake silk fabric, they would just sell it, but if someone wasn’t fooled, they would show the real silk fabric, claiming it was a mistake.

Saying “it’s a mistake” while doing business is a phrase that can be understood.

Aethon, who was watching this, frowned heavily. His lips twitched as if he had a lot to say.

“If it weren’t for you, La…Miss, I would have almost bought fake silk fabric.”

Aethon quickly changed his words from calling her “Lady” to “Miss.”

“Have you, a cloth merchant, been in business here for a long time?”

“Yes.”

“Then why do you make such mistakes so often?”

“What?”

“You’re showing fake silk fabric to people who can’t distinguish it, selling it as if it’s real silk.”

Roman came to his senses at Meia’s cold voice.

“No… What do you mean by that?”

“How many times have you really sold proper silk to people who bought fabric here?”

“I have never sold it that way. What you experienced today was truly the first mistake I’ve made. Miss, let me show you embroidery silk fabric from a distant foreign country instead.”

Roman asked them to wait for a moment and left. Shortly after, the back door opened, and Roman, with an extremely friendly face, bowed and asked them to follow him, guiding them to the back of the store.

Following him through the back door, they found themselves in a narrow alley. There were only narrow passages to the left and right, with no other way out. The front was completely blocked by buildings. Although it was bright, the atmosphere was quite dark.

“Please come this way. My treasure storage is nearby.”

Roman stood in front of a red-roofed building and said he had forgotten the key, asking them to wait for a moment before running back the way he came.

As time passed without Roman returning, Aethon felt anxious and was about to walk in the direction Roman had gone.

“Let’s go back to the store.”

It was then.

“Please spare me!”

Roman’s scream was heard. Not knowing what was happening, Aethon drew the sword from his waist.

“Aethon, we don’t know what’s happening, but let’s go back and bring the knights.”

“I agree with you, Lady. Let’s go back and bring the knights.”

As Aethon nodded and agreed, suddenly the door burst open, and someone grabbed Aethon’s wrist, pulling him inside the building. Meia raised her eyebrows and stared at the place where Aethon had been dragged.