When Lucas ended his speech, the room erupted in warm applause.
“We’ll stick by you, of course!” a young male employee shouted.
The elderly men nodded along. “Hey, to us, you’re just a mischievous, reckless brat. But the light you emit is so bright and reliable. We’re counting on you, sir.”
The women surrounding Coldola also offered their support.
“Oh, don’t you worry about it, sir! We’ll continue working here even if you want to shoo us away!”
“Personally, I had no idea that even you could become anxious.”
“I hope you can find more details about your parents!”
Lucas received each comment solemnly, but his face couldn’t hide the emotions that bubbled up within him. “Thank you,” he said.
This undying trust proved how preciously Lucas had treated his people until now. As his wife, he dazzled so brilliantly, and I was so proud of him. Endless joy filled my heart. He gazed at me, and I smiled back as he tightly gripped my hands.
“I’m happy for you,” I said.
“Yeah, thanks,” he replied.
Just then, a hand rose from the crowd, a wet blanket amid the cheers.
“Uh, sorry to spoil the fun,” Cano said. “But how exactly are you going to meet House Diascia?” The young boy’s clear voice gathered everyone’s attention. “The houses of the Traditional Twelve are on equal ranking to a duke. Isn’t it difficult for you to meet someone of that rank, my lord?”
“What a blunt and rude child this newbie is,” Coldola said with a frown.
“Aw, but am I wrong?”
Everyone gave an awkward chuckle as Leik, who stood behind Cano, pushed the boy’s head down. “I’m terribly sorry,” the butler apologized. “He hasn’t been trained well yet. Now, Cano, kneel to the ground and kiss Coldola’s feet.”
“Oh, all right,” Cano relented.
“H-Hey, stop it!” Coldola cried. “I’m not into stuff like that!”
“Now, what shall we do, my lord?” Leik asked, glancing at Lucas.
“Hmm…” Lucas loosened the buttons on his collared shirt and turned to the boy. “What would you do, Cano? You asked, so try thinking about it.”
“M-Me?” Cano asked.
“It’s important for you to think about solutions too. I want everyone to try and come up with an idea. How can a nouveau riche meet with the Traditional Twelve? And a house in the opposing faction, no less?”
“H-Hrmm…”
Cano furrowed his brows pensively as some people in the crowd glanced at each other while others turned toward the ceiling. Before I could say a word, Lucas looked at me, placed a finger on his lips, and closed one eye.
“Don’t say a thing, Iris,” he said. “You’ve probably realized it already, haven’t you?”
“I think I’ve got a vague idea,” I replied.
“I’d expect no less from you.”
He smiled happily, and some people raised their hands to say their ideas.
“What about selling them some wares that they desire?” one suggested.
“Can’t do that,” Lucas replied. “They’re regulars of the Bearbrooks Trading Company. Pushing them aside to sell our wares would be against the rules.”
“Then what about claiming your blood relation to the house?” another inquired.
“After all these years? No one will take my sudden claims seriously,” Lucas countered. “In fact, I might be put on trial for making false claims.”
“What about finding a treasure that even Bearbrooks doesn’t have yet?” asked a third.
“You’re the closest to the correct answer,” Lucas said. “You guys are getting much warmer.”
As though a trivia tournament was suddenly being hosted, everyone eagerly raised their hands as the game continued.
“Even those who haven’t raised their hands might’ve sensed the answer by now,” Lucas said. “Why don’t we have Iris tell us?”
As the room focused on me, I nervously turned to Lucas and said, “The railroad. It’s a project that you and the third prince stood at the helm of as their chief investors. When the railroad is completed, you plan to attend the celebratory party and suggest your plans on lengthening the railway to the marquess.”
“Huh? Pardon my insolence, madam,” Cano interjected. “Construction is necessary to build a railway. Land needs to be conceded to form one, and the nearby places will get noisy. I can’t imagine everyone eagerly wanting in on a railroad.”
“You’re absolutely correct. However, as a lord of a land, being left behind will be fatal,” I replied with a shake of my head. “Marquess Diascia’s land may border the main roads, but it’s a region with numerous lakes. It’s said to be difficult to extend a railroad to their territory. At this rate, should transporting goods via the railway become the norm, Marquess Diascia would be unable to conform to new technology. However, if Lucas, who has spearheaded this railway project, shows interest in scoping out the land in hopes of extending the railway, he’d surely be invited to visit.”
Lucas nodded firmly. “Bingo. If I imply that I’d like to gauge their land, the house will surely bite at the opportunity.”
The room buzzed with chatter. Some claimed not to know about the area, and others were quizzical about the possibilities a railroad could bring. Lucas clapped his hands, commanding attention once more.
“In the list of invited guests for the party to commemorate the completion of the railway, we’ve already got Marquess Diascia’s name,” he said. “It’s the first railroad within the nation, no doubt people of the Traditional Twelve will be in attendance. As I gather everyone at the party and hint at my desire to lengthen the railroad, I’ll be able to be in contact with all these nobles.”
Cheers arose from the crowd as Lucas stood there proudly. He drew my head close to him and winked.
“My wife’s amazing, isn’t she?” he said, showering me with praise and showing me off. After he enjoyed the cheering for a short while, he stood tall again. “Things’ll get busy. It’s an important time for us to stabilize our company. I hope you’ll all lend me your support.”
As Lucas ended the discussion, applause erupted within the room. The employees started to discuss future steps with Lucas as the meeting came to a close. He parted ways with me and returned to work with his employees. What he had just done was raise the morale of his employees, and he was almost blinding in my eyes.
Since the room was crowded, I waited until everyone left. I could hear Leik and Kiki whispering to each other.
“My lord looks happy,” Leik said.
“Lord Lucas has really changed since he met Lady Iris,” Kiki replied. “He barely drinks a drop of alcohol in the manor now.”
“A healthier lifestyle, no doubt. I thought he was headed straight for an overweight body when he became middle-aged. Heh heh. He’d be like those chubby nouveau riches you see in books.”
“Hmm, I should live a healthier lifestyle, too. I’d like to live longer.”
“Then why not start running with me, Kiki?”
“Is it effective?”
“Oh, most certainly.”
My chest grew warm at their conversation. Just then…
“Hmm?” I glanced around, sensing an oddity in the air.
I felt like someone was missing. When I gazed at the faces in the room, I realized Cano had disappeared. I said not a word, but my heart started to thud with dread.
“Is something the matter?” Leik asked, noticing my shift in demeanor.
“Where has Cano gone, I wonder?” I inquired.
“Oh, him?” He narrowed his eyes slightly, his sharp gaze looking into the distance. “He’s hard at work. Rest assured, my lady.”
“If you say so, Leik. I don’t doubt your words.”
“Madam, you’re trusting me a bit too much, I find.”
Leik smiled, conveying his thoughts. He surely knew that I was feeling uneasy and was acutely aware of whatever this oddity was. And still, he chose to offer me assurance. If he wasn’t telling me the details, it implied he had information I was better off not knowing. I knew that he would never do Lucas or me wrong.
✦ ✦ ✦
🌻 🌻 🌻
THE skies were a light shade of violet; the sun was about to rise for the day. Lucas left the manor and walked straight toward the garden. The quiet early mornings of Solalitika felt special. As waves crashed along the water’s mirrorlike surface, the yells of the fishermen echoed from afar. Even House Stock, which stood on a hill, could always hear the sound of the ocean.
In the depths of the garden, kept slightly warm as the morning mist settled in, Cano stood on a small hill and took out a pigeon from his chest pocket. As he watched the bird leave, his serious face was different from his usual demeanor—his gaze was stern. The fact that he failed to notice Lucas’s presence implied that he still had much to learn.
“Hard at work so early in the morning, Cano?” Lucas asked.
“Good morning, my lord,” Cano said.
He turned around, looking slightly surprised as he bowed neatly. The boy immediately forced a smile on his face, but he couldn’t mask a hint of panic that had set into his mind. He didn’t expect a mere nouveau riche and amateur at combat to hide his presence completely.
That’s what makes you naïve compared to Leikzig, Lucas thought. If Leik had gone all out, even Lucas would’ve had difficulty noticing his butler’s cunning schemes. Hence, their relationship was based on trust and emotions.
“You’re an early bird, my lord,” Cano said with a shrug and laugh before prattling on about excuses no one had asked for. “I was just exploring this estate as I’m not quite used to it yet. I didn’t notice the blind spots of this manor; hence, I’d allowed a burglar to slip through during your precious wedding and party.”
“Burglar, huh?” Lucas smiled.
Cano’s pupils wavered ever so slightly. That was proof enough, and Lucas turned on his heels to leave. “Ah…” Cano said in astonishment.
He was shocked to see Lucas back off so easily. The baron turned around coolly, gazing at his servant’s stunned face.
“All right, well, I’m counting on you to stay on guard,” Lucas said. “I’m sure there are some people who want to kill me before the railroad’s complete.”
“Of course,” Cano replied. “I won’t let anyone lay a finger on you!”
“Yep, I’m trusting you.”
After one final confirmation, Lucas returned to the manor while Cano bowed. I’m sure Cano will risk his life to protect me should I be in danger, the baron thought as he walked away. The silver-haired servant’s true goal wasn’t to endanger the life of Lucas Stock. No doubt Cano had received an order to protect the baron with his life.
“I’m relying on you, Cano,” Lucas murmured. He was certain that the boy’s true master had entrusted him with a certain mission. The baron pretended to be none the wiser, allowing Cano to continue acting in secret. “In exchange, I’ll have you properly fulfill the job you’re tasked with.”