Chapter 21

1 Ix looked around, marveling that a place like this in Leirest even existed. Massive houses lined either side of the wide road. Perhaps houses wasn’t the right word for them. Mansions, that was better. The buildings were set far apart, with trees and hedges growing on their gardens to block the view from one building to the next. Despite the morning hour, the street was almost devoid of pedestrians. Ix couldn’t see any people in the mansions, either, which made him feel like he was the only person there. This was different from both the heart of the city and its outskirts. It was silent. Ix double-checked the address written on the envelope and wondered if he was really in the right place. He’d been the only one to come here. It wasn’t the kind of errand you sent multiple people on. Yuui and Nova were in the library checking the consistency of the tales on witches. Morna was holed up in the shop, as always. The mansion he was headed toward was set back from the road at the end of a gently curving path. A mild breeze blew beneath the clouded sky, scattering leaves from the trees. Motion caught Ix’s eye. He squinted to find a woman who appeared to be a gardener. She wore coveralls and was doing something around the grounds, too engrossed in her work to notice Ix. As he stepped over dry, crinkly leaves, the mansion properly came into view. It was a two-story edifice made from reddish stone, but Ix couldn’t tell how far back it extended. It was obviously massive. The entrance seemed sturdy, and as he approached, he wondered how hard he’d have to knock for them to be able to hear inside, but the door opened on its own. Or rather, the man who opened it had just stuck his face out. “I’m—” started Ix, before he was interrupted. “Yes, very good, sir. Please do come in,” said the man with a bow. A servant, perhaps? His outfit was almost entirely black, and he even wore gloves of the same color to match. He had pale blond hair that was parted evenly down the center, and his age wasn’t clear from his face. His straight, rigid posture resembled that of a statue. Upon doing as the man asked and stepping inside, Ix was immediately overwhelmed. He couldn’t fathom why the building would need to be this spacious or extravagantly decorated. It was like an even more dazzling version of Layamutah’s shop. Every single thing was elaborate, from the paintings on the walls to the candlesticks. Ix could only imagine they were all there to shock the mansion’s visitors. That could very well have been the reason for its splendor. Behind him, the door gave a quiet sound as it closed shut. “Please follow me,” bade the man as he gracefully walked off. “May I call you by your given name, Mr. Ix?” “I don’t have any other names you could call me by.” “Oh…is that so? How very rude of me.” “Anyway, how do you know who I am?” asked Ix, but the man only gave him a bow that seemed loaded with meaning. They climbed the stairs and passed through a landing made of a single massive sheet of glass. Once on the second floor, Ix could feel a breeze from the outside. One side of the passageway lacked a wall. Beyond a railing, you could see down into a courtyard. The same type of passage ran on the left and right, as well as the far end. In other words, the mansion had been constructed in a square around the courtyard so that the interior opened onto it. This central garden was lined with flower beds, and servants were currently bustling back and forth to bring round tables into it. They were so focused on their work that they didn’t notice the people watching them from above. “We will be holding a gala here in the courtyard for a large number of guests,” said the man. “We’re planning it for this evening, actually, as a sort of pre-celebration for the Feast of Meat. Every year it’s hosted at a different residence, and it offers an invaluable opportunity for the host to flaunt their status. We have been consumed with preparations the past few days.” “Won’t matter if you can’t hold it,” remarked Ix. He looked up at the rain clouds blanketing the sky. The air felt damp. It was the kind of weather that threatened to break into showers at any moment. “There won’t be any issues, so long as the rain is mild. We’ll pass cloth across the second-floor balconies to fend it off if need be.” “You could just hold it inside.” “That would not be possible,” clarified the man with a smile. Ix was about to ask why it wouldn’t, but before he could, the man opened a door and bade him to head that way. Ix stepped into what looked like a parlor. He was no longer surprised at each and every display of luxury, but he did have a hard time feeling at ease here. They could stand to reduce the number of objects in this place. He took a seat at the behest of the man, who then asked him to wait a moment before leaving Ix alone in the room. Ix took the envelope out of his inside pocket and twirled it in his hand. He was regretting not just handing it over at the door and leaving. Being here was uncomfortable. A short while later, the same man returned. He poured tea into a porcelain teacup that seemed as thin as a feather. Steam spiraled up into the air. “I appreciate your hospitality,” said Ix as he spread one arm, “but this isn’t that important an errand. I just need to deliver this envelope.” “And to whom is it addressed?” “I was told to give it to someone in charge of the Obryle family.” “May I see the contents?” “Uh…” Ix thought for a moment. “I wasn’t told to keep others from seeing it. I guess it won’t hurt as long as it reaches the higher-ups.” “Then if you don’t mind.” The man sat in the chair opposite Ix. He broke the seal and read the letter inside. There wasn’t much written. The Obryles were a clan of influential merchants based in Leirest. They dealt in a wide variety of goods and were involved in all sorts of transactions that took place across the city. Ix had heard that they’d hailed from outside the kingdom, but thanks to their influence skyrocketing during the sonim plague, their name carried weight across the entire nation. Their economic and political clout rivaled that of even higher-ranking aristocrats. The only reason Ix had ended up in the home of such a prominent family was because of an order from Layumatah. Apparently, she’d purchased some materials she would need for making the new wand wall lock from the Obryles. Her request was asking a lot of them, so she’d made Ix hand deliver a letter expressing her gratitude. “How very kind of her,” noted the man with a smile when he finished reading. “Ms. Layumatah is a valuable customer. Just being able to continue doing business with her is thanks enough. Would you like a reply?” “I don’t think it matters. But should you be sending a reply before even showing it to someone in charge here?” “That is not an issue.” The man smiled and brought a hand to his chest. “My name is Elion. I am the fourth son of the Obryle family. I have a certain level of authority over our transactions.” “…You’re Elion Obryle?” “I am indeed.” “Uh-huh…” “I apologize for misleading you.” “Are there any other members of your family here?” “There is my father, who is the head of the household; my mother; and two of my brothers. I don’t feel you would get along very well with them, so I have asked the servants to ensure you don’t cross paths.” “I appreciate the concern.” “By the way, Mr. Ix, you earlier said that you have no other name by which I could address you,” said Elion as he folded his hands and gazed at Ix. “But I was under the impression you were Munzil Alreff’s adopted son.” “Oh… Yeah, legally speaking, that’s true, but I was really just his apprentice. What about it?” “I would have thought you’d taken his surname. Shouldn’t your real name be Ix Alreff? It may not be by blood, but you are father and son.” “Ix Alreff…?” He couldn’t help bringing his hand up to hide his mouth. Now that he mentions it…that is how it works. Children usually took their parents’ surnames. Ix had never heard of a household where only the kids were without them. But he didn’t have one. Even Master had told him he didn’t have one, and that was how it was written on their family register. He’d never considered claiming the Alreff name for himself. “Ah, my apologies if I’ve upset you,” added Elion with an open arm when he saw Ix fall silent. “It’s fine…” “Through my work, I have developed a bit of an interest in names. It is the most crucial detail in trade, after all. Oftentimes, a single moniker can change the outcome of a deal.” “I would’ve thought a merchant wouldn’t want the outcome of a deal to be influenced.” “Well, we do interact with nobles, and even if we didn’t, we have to handle merchants who don’t behave as they should.” He gave a wry chuckle. “There are benefits, of course. For example, if you move from calling someone by their surname to calling them by their given name, you can play up a relationship of friendship. It’s a way of currying favor.” “Really?” Ix had never experienced this even once in his life, but he nodded anyway. “Indeed. Now, this concerns different countries, but there are some regions where the given name actually comes after the surname. Oh, how I have some amusing tales on that subject…” At some point, Ix decided to cut off the small talk and get out of there. Thinking it would be best to try the tea he’d been offered, he took a sip from his untouched beverage. The teacup was so fragile, it seemed liable to break were he to accidentally hit it on his teeth. He carefully set it back on the table. “Right, so since I’ve delivered the letter…,” announced Ix as he started to get up. “Ah, well… You’ve come all this way, so why don’t you take some time?” asked Elion, gently raising a hand to stop him. “In fact, would you like to attend today’s banquet?” “Sorry, but I’ve got other things to do today.” “Such as…meeting with Lady Saneeld?” Ix stopped, then slowly sat down again. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, his hands folded, and asked, “…Was that written in the letter?” “No, it wasn’t. My apologies again, but as a merchant, you can’t help but gather information, even when you’re not trying to. She’s faring quite poorly at the moment. I believe it would be near impossible for someone like you, an unrelated commoner, to form a connection with the Saneeld family. I imagine your friends at the library will be met with an unfavorable response.” “Thanks for the advice. Not that it’s very useful…” “However, the Obryle clan can form a connection with the Saneelds.” Elion winked at Ix. “As a matter of fact, we already have, you see.” “What are you getting at?” “Lady Saneeld herself will be attending the banquet tonight.” “…What about her health?” “Yes, it is not ideal, but she has been doing relatively well the past few days. Her family has contacted us to confirm that she’ll be attending. Assuming she doesn’t take a sudden turn for the worse, that is.” “Isn’t it just rich people who go? Nobles and merchants and those sorts… Wouldn’t someone so obviously impoverished stick out like a sore thumb?” “You don’t necessarily have to attend the banquet. You could wait in this room—I will keep an eye out for an ideal moment and call you when it comes. An ill lady would want to rest at some point, so it would go unnoticed. I wouldn’t mind if a friend tagged along, either. When it comes to social gatherings, the more the merrier.” “You probably don’t know—” “I am aware of your friend’s birthplace.” “Well, that makes it easier…,” said Ix, his eyebrows knit. “Do you have any other concerns?” “What do you want from me in return?” “In return, oh my,” said Elion with a chuckle and a wave of his hand. “This is for the capital’s wand wall, the nation’s security. Any citizen loyal to the king would provide such trifling assistance.” “You know about that, too…” Ix sighed. “If this was really for security purposes, someone who’s actually in civil service would be carrying out the investigation, not me. Most of what I’m doing is just satisfying Layumatah’s curiosity. You’re probably aware of that already, too. That was a pretty warm welcome you gave me just for bringing you a letter. And I don’t see what you could gain from helping out a measly apprentice like me. So there’s got to be some sort of condition.” “Hmm, you are a suspicious one.” “I’ve had some pretty bad experiences. I’m just protecting myself by trying to avoid doing something foolish.” “I understand.” Elion gave a sad smile and stood. He asked Ix to wait a moment and left the room. He wouldn’t be back for a while. Ix finished drinking his tea, and just as he thought he might as well see himself out, the door opened again at last. The face that appeared in the entryway belonged to a young boy of around ten years old. He had the same pale blond hair as Elion, and he was beaming from ear to ear. He looked directly at Ix. “Ix,” he said in a clear voice. “Ottou?” muttered Ix. This was the boy who went to Morna’s shop to handle whatever she wasn’t very good at, which was everything except crafting wands. Elion also entered and stood behind Ottou, his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “This is the Obryle family’s seventh son,” announced Elion. “…He’s Ottou Obryle?” “He is indeed.” “Uh-huh…” “Our family treats him as though he doesn’t exist. The only people who have shown him kindness are you and the people at the shop.” Elion bowed his head low. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude toward you, Mr. Ix, and Ms. Morna as well, for always looking out for him. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” “Well…” Ix debated whether to tell Elion he was mixing things up, and that in truth, Ottou was looking after Morna. Ultimately, he gave a vague response in the form of holding up an open hand. 2 “Ottou’s the Obryles’…?” asked Yuui with wide eyes. “Son, apparently,” confirmed Ix with a shrug. “Guess he’s been coming here from that mansion every day. Morna, did you know about this?” “Eh, huh, ah, um?” Morna’s eyes darted back and forth as they stared at her, but she was hemmed in on either side by them, so her pupils ended up bouncing between the floor and ceiling. “I didn’t tell her,” added Ottou shortly. “I do think there is a problem that she let him help without his family even knowing where he was…,” said Yuui. “Uh, uuuurgh…” Everyone—Ix, Yuui, Nova, and now Ottou—had gathered again at Morna’s store. Morna had been delighted to see Ottou for the first time in days, but after that, the conversation immediately swerved in this direction. “You too, Ix. You’ve known Ottou for a while, haven’t you?” asked Yuui as she pressed a hand to her forehead. “It’s not like I asked him for details on his family history,” said Ix, no expression on his face. “I just thought he was a kid from a small merchant family.” “You never asked his surname?” asked Yuui. “I don’t care about that. Plus, there was a chance he wouldn’t have one,” said Ix. “Sigh…”