Chapter 53
Seeing her doing well might lighten this weight on my heart a bit.
With his resolve hardened, Arteon turned around with a spin and looked at the steward.
“When did you say the meeting with Duke Crencia is scheduled?”
“In five days.”
“Let me join you then, Steward.”
The steward eyed Arteon suspiciously as he suddenly showed interest in the matter.
This troublesome young master, who had been grumbling and complaining the entire way here—what impudent scheme was he hiding now?
The steward warned him with a sullen expression.
“You mustn’t cause any trouble there. The other party is the Guardian of the North, Duke Crencia….”
“Stop before my ears start bleeding. The reason I’m here is for successor training, right? No matter how slippery I am, I’ll do what needs to be done, Steward.”
As Arteon flashed a sly grin, the steward regarded him dubiously.
Well, surely he wouldn’t do anything strange in front of the Guardian of the North.
* * *
Upon arriving in Letter City, Reina let out continuous exclamations of awe.
“Wow, to have such large-scale merchant groups all gathered like this. It feels just like being right in the middle of the imperial capital.”
“Really?”
“Oh, I meant that it’s just as impressive.”
Reina glanced cautiously at Kaiden’s reaction.
She worried it might come across as dismissing the North.
But he didn’t seem particularly bothered.
From earlier, his full attention had been directed solely at Reina.
“It grew especially after the Hook Merchant Group set up shop here. Originally, they only dealt with northern-born merchants. That was the first thing I changed after becoming the head of the house.”
The North was a region with sparse entry from outsiders due to frequent monster appearances.
It was truly the front line of monster subjugation.
Most Northerners had held weapons suited to their bodies since childhood.
Among them, those with exceptional skill became Crencia Knights and protected the North.
Many had lost family to monsters.
Yet the imperial family took the North’s role for granted and offered no commensurate treatment.
As a result, perceptions toward outsiders gradually worsened.
It was Kaiden Crencia who reformed the North, which had been increasingly turning inward.
Thanks to him, the North brimmed with vitality. People still eyed outsiders warily, but it was better than before.
At that moment, Kaiden pulled Reina close to him.
“Careful.”
Just then, a laborer pulling a cargo cart passed right by Reina’s side.
Suddenly pressed tightly against his chest, Reina held her breath.
The unexpected contact made her heart pound wildly.
A sigh from him echoed above her head.
“This won’t do.”
Following that, he took hold of her hand.
When Reina looked at him quizzically, he averted his gaze and said,
“There are so many people; you could get lost.”
“….”
“Or get hit by a cart like just now.”
“Yes.”
Reina nodded compliantly and grasped his hand in return.
Kaiden gazed at the dainty hand that fit perfectly in his.
“….Let’s go.”
Unbeknownst to her, the tips of his ears had flushed red.
Thinking it might be from the cold, Reina handed him her earmuffs.
“Here.”
“Hm?”
“You look cold.”
“You’re not seriously thinking those would suit me, are you?”
Kaiden frowned at the sight of the pure white earmuffs.
Made from fox fur, the fluffy earmuffs were clearly designed for women at a glance.
For him, who wasn’t particularly sensitive to the cold, they were a pointless item that would only impair his hearing.
“That’s enough.”
“Aren’t you cold? Your ears are so red….”
“It’s because of the sunlight.”
Kaiden made up a needless excuse as he placed the earmuffs back on Reina.
Reina looked up at him with wide, rounded eyes.
Their attire was a true harmony of black and white.
The pure white of her and the pitch black of him made them stand out wherever they went.
Especially Reina, with her slender frame, drew even more attention.
Already, as they passed through the streets, many people were glancing at her.
She assumed it was because she was an outsider and they were wary, but well.
Most of the men were staring with ulterior motives, which irritated him.
He watched the scene quietly before muttering darkly.
“I can’t cover all their faces.”
“Pardon?”
“No. Maybe it’s better to get rid of those bastards instead?”
Reina tilted her head, puzzled by Kaiden’s incomprehensible mumbling.
She sensed a murderous intent, but she wasn’t sure if it was directed at her or not.
‘Somehow, it feels like there are fewer people around.’
Reina glanced at those stealthily leaving the area and felt bewildered.
At that moment, someone who recognized Kaiden approached him.
“Your Grace?”
Kaiden also acknowledged the other party.
“You must be the steward of the Hook Merchant Group.”
Reina looked at the man upon hearing “Hook Merchant Group.”
It was especially surprising since she had business with him.
“Haha, what luck to meet such a distinguished person in a place like this. What brings you all the way here? You told me you were busy and to meet in five days.”
The man called the steward let out a hearty laugh as he approached the two.
Beside him was someone who appeared to be an attendant.
With curly pink hair and green eyes.
He had an appearance that seemed somehow slick, yawning and pretending to be distracted.
Then the steward whispered something to him.
In that instant, the man who had been casually opening his mouth froze.
Following that, he muttered loudly to himself.
“That’s Crencia? He looks more decent than I thought?”
It was too clear and loud to be a mutter.
His voice carried curiosity, but depending on how one heard it, it could sound insolent.
At this, the steward panicked and covered his mouth.
“M-Mouth! Young master, I told you to watch your mouth!”
“You’re the one who should watch it, Steward. Are you planning to spread around that I’m the young master?”
“Eek.”
“Anyway. What would you do without me, Steward?”
“Without you? I’d be perfectly at ease.”
At a glance, he didn’t seem like a mere errand boy.
‘If he’s called young master, he must be the son of the merchant group’s head.’
Why would such an important figure come all the way to the North?
The Hook Merchant Group was under the jurisdiction of Admiral Marquis Hook.
It had grown exponentially thanks to supplying goods through the safest sea routes.
‘Since he’s called young master, he doesn’t seem to be the heir apparent.’
Reina, lost in her own thoughts, felt an intense gaze and lifted her head.
In that moment, her eyes met the man’s.
His emerald eyes were like deep foliage or a clear lake.
Unable to tear her eyes away from the persistent gaze, Kaiden blocked her view.
‘Hm?’
He hid her behind his back as if to protect her.
Then he said to the man,
“That’s rude.”
“I’m sorry, Your Grace. Arteon, hurry and apologize to the Duke.”
As the steward pushed Arteon forward, he said indifferently,
“I’m sorry it turned out that way.”
His face showed no remorse at all. It was an insolent attitude that no ordinary errand boy could afford, but Kaiden paid it no mind.
He had known his identity all along.
Moreover, he was displeased for another reason, so such rudeness didn’t even register.
“You’re the second son of Marquis Hook.”
“Ah?”
Arteon let out a strange exclamation.
To which Kaiden said,
“I recall you accompanied the Marquis at the last grand nobles’ assembly.”
“Ah, so you saw me then.”
“Moreover, the Marquis mentioned that you’d be coming on this trade trip.”
“He told me to hide my identity and travel quietly, yet….”
Arteon grumbled in a voice laced with betrayal.
A moment later, he formally introduced himself.
“Pleased to meet you, Your Grace. I am Arteon Hook, the second son of the Hook County family.”
