🌸🌸🌸
DAZZLE gazed at the daughter of the Marquess, brows furrowed, as she walked away. Before parting, she softly smiled, dark eyes slightly squinting against the setting sun.
“A lady kept in a box and sheltered from the outside world, huh,” he murmured to himself.
Leikzig, who had kept hidden, suddenly appeared. “Seems like you can’t stuff her in a box and ask for a return, though.”
“You always phrase things in the scariest way possible.”
“The scariest thing is your face, you know. Mercy me, I must remember to speak to the coachman Dazzle with respect.”
“Boy, do you sound sincere.” Dazzle shrugged largely and organized his tools.
“Dazzle, you seemed to have dropped a tool.” Leikzig bent down to pick it up and casually brought his face near Dazzle’s ear. “They were idiots looking for some entertainment. I presume that they got drunk and decided to taunt a nouveau riche.”
“Got it. Carry on.”
Leikzig narrowed his bright eyes in understanding before stepping back. The entire exchange ended in moments—no one had seen them close to each other, much less heard their conversation. He looked down at the oil-proof paper in Dazzle’s hands, which had contained a sandwich.
“And? What will you do about the woman you’ve failed to return?” Leikzig said.
“Eh, guess things will be interesting,” Dazzle replied. He crumpled the paper into a ball and stood up.
✦ ✦ ✦
🌸🌸🌸
AFTER two whole days, the long ride was finally coming to an end. We arrived at the seaside merchant city of Solalitika. It wasn’t as rural as rumored in the royal capital. It was a bustling town filled with people who had come to the city to work. People, including the middle class and working class, happily went about their afternoon. This was in stark contrast to the royal capital, which had a clear divide between the aristocrats and the poor. The citizens of the merchant city looked well-groomed and cheery as they led a well-balanced life.
Within the carriage, a cool ocean breeze tickled my cheeks. I took in the view: the sunny sky, brick buildings, and the markets selling a variety of items. Minstrels who had unusually colored hair filled the city square. They sang with sonorous voices and strummed their instruments as though they were harmonizing with the cries of the seagulls.
“What a beautiful city,” I murmured. I fell in love with Solalitika at first sight.
“And there’s Lord Lucas’s Trading Company!” Kiki said energetically as she pointed out various buildings, beaming with pride.
I held my hair out of the way as I looked out the window. A five-story brick building stood next to a large manor and a warehouse that extended to the end of the road.
“Do these buildings all belong to Lord Lucas?” I asked.
“That’s not all! There are hotels and restaurants lined up on a different road. Those belong to my lord as well!” Kiki replied.
I was awestruck by the scale of his influence. It was beyond what I’d imagined, as though I were shouldering the heart of an industry that supported this city.
“The magnitude of his business far surpasses what I imagined.”
“Just wait until you see the manor! My lord has specially built a new place for you, my lady!”
The carriage went up a slope paved with stone, and I arrived at a manor atop a hill. The gates opened to a beautifully maintained garden with blooming flowers. Servants lined up and greeted us. The sheer number of servants would put even an earl to shame.
“H-How amazing,” I murmured. Was the baron extremely wealthy or prone to spending an extravagant amount? Since finances were rough back at home, I was curious.
“Lord Lucas hired us when we had no education or skill. He said that if we gained experience here, we wouldn’t have trouble finding our next job,” Kiki explained next to me.
“I see. I was curious why the servants were so young, but that makes sense.”
“But everyone here loves Lord Lucas, so we can’t leave this city! Of course, we have a few long-tenured servants as well! A majority work at the ocean-side company—the one we just passed by.”
Kiki seemed like a different person than when we first met. She cheerfully chatted with me, and I felt like I gained her trust after the incident at Tesouvius. The more she smiled at me, the more her slender frame bothered me. She hid her body with thick black tights and large maid clothes. I knew that she had a reason to, but the clothes made her look messy and unorganized. I would have to think of a solution later.
The carriage stopped, and I borrowed Leikzig’s arm as I got off. His expression softened slightly.
“Welcome, Lady Iris Karelia.” The lined-up servants greeted me and bowed in unison.
I straightened my back and curtsied deeply. A wave of nervousness rushed over me. Excitement and anxiety gripped my chest; I’d never felt this nervous, even during my debutante. I was about to enter an unfamiliar world.