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ERNEST had been to the gentlemen’s club Marquis Groves was running twice since gaining permission to join. The gentlemen there, all united by similar interests, met twice a week and chatted the hours away amicably.
The men were diffused among the many rooms of the marquis’ second home. Each room was adorned with a nameplate bearing the names of various flora and fauna. The largest of these rooms was the lounge known as the Rose Room. Billiards tables were held in the Butterfly Room. And the library was in the Oak Room.
Even though many of the members were there to relax and play cards or billiards, the club as a whole was much classier than Ernest expected.
Ernest finally chose a room with paintings that were from the East, though he couldn’t be sure which country they were from. They were tall and made of a thin paper. The scenes depicting plants and animals were done in light colors. The first was a picture of barley swaying in the sun, the second depicted a long-legged bird, the third was a brown animal that looked similar to a mole, and the last was a flower reminiscent of a rose.
Ever since he met Yuuri, Ernest was having more and more opportunities to interact with Eastern culture. But artwork was still new to him.
“Welcome, Count Selden. How are you enjoying our club? I believe you’ll find all the men here are of exceptional quality. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding a conversational partner.”
The plummy voice belonged to his host, Marquis Groves. He was plump and completely looked the part of an affable old man, but if there really was illegal gambling going on here, he was likely at its helm.
“Indeed, I have already had quite an illuminating discussion of the classics. You have my gratitude for inviting me to your soiree.”
Ernest was a man of many interests, but had yet to focus on one in particular. Still, his focus today was not to stand out or give anyone reason to suspect him. He had picked topics of conversation in which he had at least a passing interest, but he wasn’t here for intellectual competition. All he wanted was to wrap this case up and be done with it.
And now here he was, face to face with the man who held the key. He had to figure out whether or not it was pure coincidence that they were meeting like this.
After Rodrick told him he seemed like the type to do something illegal if it looked like fun, getting into the club had been easy.
Just bringing up gambling out of the blue would be dubious, so Ernest chose a different tactic: asking about the paintings.
“Are these paintings from the East?”
“Indeed. Which reminds me, there have been rumors circulating of a certain noble running around with an unmarried raven-haired woman.”
Ernest had neither announced Yuuri as his partner nor attended very many social events. To the rest of the world, it was as if Yuuri had appeared at his side out of nowhere, and that was exactly the sort of rumor the members of high society loved. But Ernest had anticipated this.
“She is my lover. I hope to introduce her properly at a future event...” If his fears came to pass, that day might never come, but Ernest flashed him a convincing smile nonetheless.
“I take it you’re also interested in books and paintings from the East as well, Count?”
“It is something I hope to explore further, but at this point, I’m little more than an amateur.”
“And what of the Eastern girl? Perhaps she could teach you?” the Marquis asked, his eyes fixed on Ernest.
Ernest couldn’t figure out why the Marquis would bring up a woman when they weren’t allowed in the club. He must have an ulterior motive.
“My lover? She was born here in Hylant, so she isn’t very well-versed in Eastern culture. She certainly couldn’t keep pace with someone as knowledgeable about artwork as you are,” Ernest said. The truth was, he didn’t know how much Yuuri knew on the subject. At the very least, she was familiar with the items Watoh Company traded.
At any rate, the fact that the Marquis, who might very well be the leader of the illegal gambling ring, was interested in her concerned Ernest. It made him want to steer the conversation away as quickly as possible.
“I suppose that is understandable. Though such beauty is wasted on one with no interest in their own county’s art and literature,” the Marquis said, shifting his gaze to the paintings once more.
“Eastern artwork can easily be changed out to suit the season or occasion,” he explained, pulling the attached cord. He then rolled the thin paper up into a tube.
“It’s so different from Hylantian art.”
“Indeed. Those exclusively familiar with Western art would deem these works barren and flimsy and overlook it, but it seems you are different, Count Selden.”
The marquis seemed pleased with Ernest’s reaction and he nodded to himself as he strode away. Ernest suspected he truly did love art as much as he said. And Ernest had had his first successful attempt at getting closer to the man behind everything.
After his conversation with the Marquis, he spent some time getting to know the other members before going home.
On his way home, he spotted Major Conquest, but carried on, pretending not to know him.
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BEFORE retiring for the night, Ernest sat with a glass of wine, considering his next move.
“Mmm...what should I do? And then, there’s that painting...”
Ernest had observed the marquis’ shifting expressions the whole time. It was likely that the marquis had spoken to Ernest specifically because he had become aware of Ernest’s interests in the East. But he seemed comforted upon learning that Ernest was not nearly as knowledgeable as he.
“I can’t get Miss Yuuri involved...” he said, wishing nothing more than to end this annoying reconnaissance mission so he could go back to his carefree days of lounging around Yuuri’s shop. “The problem is that it’s a gentlemen’s club. Ah well, I guess I should go ahead and ask her.”
A week earlier, Ernest had told her to come find him if she needed anything, but it was he who was in need of her expertise. He would have to swallow his pride.