Translator: Nox

Chapter 30

The sunlight was particularly intense, perhaps because we were so close to the sky. I lay blankly staring at the ceiling in the center of a bedroom as bright as if dozens of lanterns had been lit.

‘How long has it been since I woke up feeling this refreshed?’

For someone with insomnia like me, this sensation was truly a rarity.

Was it because I skipped the Noble Assembly banquet that I felt so refreshed?

‘Last night’s banquet must have been quite an important occasion from Viscount Weatherwoods’ perspective.’

To make his first appearance in four years and then pointedly skip it?

‘We’ve screwed up from the start.’

With things turning out like this, I needed to revise the plan.

I’d go with the concept of a brainless, arrogant wastrel family head who lacked both tact and foresight. In fact, that might be the more comfortable path for the Weatherwoods family.

‘If rumors spread that the family head is an idiot and arrogant, no one will bother trying to get close. We’ll naturally isolate ourselves, so no enemies will emerge either.’

A quiet and peaceful Weatherwoods Mansion.

Oh ho, this was exactly the ultimate outcome the head maid had hoped for…

“Mm.”

A thunderbolt struck my languid mind.

Come to think of it, one of my arms felt heavy. Something soft and pliant was using it like a pillow, lying against me.

Just in case, I turned my head.

“You’re awake?”

A breathtakingly beautiful woman, her face still heavy with sleep, gazed at me.

Ugh.

“Aaack!”

“Uwaaack!”

I shook off my arm like I was flicking away a bug and bolted upright. Only after putting as much distance as possible between me and the bed did I finally turn back around.

Lu had fallen to the floor and was now propping his chin, flashing a chilling smile.

“Hey, darling. Don’t ruin the mood. I was finally immersing myself in the role of viscountess. If you keep interrupting, I might just leave you behind on your own.”

I didn’t even have the energy to shout that he was crazy. Clutching my throbbing forehead, I replied.

“The bed is separate!”

“Why, for newlyweds?”

“That’s just a disguise.”

“Oh, come on. Are you shy?”

Swish. As Lu rose, the soft fabric shifted along his slender legs.

He’d even put on the pajamas tailored at the boutique? He’d fallen asleep properly next to his husband, still in his outing clothes.

Lu approached with light steps, rang the chime on the purified magic stone to signal morning, and grinned.

“Our dear Miss Daizy is so shy, she’s talking nonsense again. It’s annoying with that male face of yours, but not enough to make me mad.”

Once again today, I pondered deeply.

‘Lu isn’t human. Lu is a dog. Don’t try talking to him.’

Good, I’d regained my composure.

Sitting in the chair across from him, I slowly loosened my crumpled tie and asked.

“Why didn’t you wake me yesterday?”

“How could I wake you when you were sleeping so soundly? Morian wants her beloved viscount to rest well. Here, take a look at this. It’s the Black Ragal Ho’s schedule.”

I checked the pamphlet-like paper Lu handed me.

『Welcome, passengers of the Black Ragal Ho.

We will sail for 7 days according to the schedule below.

We hope you enjoy a comfortable journey.』

The schedule that followed was dazzling.

‘Opera, concert, salon, exhibition, lecture…’

At the bottom, it noted that Noble Assembly members would receive separate notices for each event.

“Everyone’s so busy playing and eating.”

Lu blew on his freshly arrived hot black tea and smiled as he sipped it.

“That’s what camaraderie is all about. Investing time and effort to build relationships. For nobles, that’s their job. It’s how they hold onto what they have and gain more.”

Playing is their job? Nobles sure have remarkable lives.

In that case, I couldn’t just sit still either.

‘Whether it’s Dian Ket or the client, I need to get out there and poke around to gain any leads.’

You nobles fretting over not having enough fun—

Wait for me. The queen of labor is coming.

“Heading out?”

Lu, who had been watching me prepare to go out, asked.

I hesitated for a moment before revealing my honest intention.

“The client who sent an assassin to the Weatherwoods family. I suspect they’re a Noble Assembly member.”

Over the past few days, I’d been deep in thought.

The butler assassin’s warning that ‘all the Weatherwoods family’s employees could be eliminated’ felt hollow because both the mansion and Midwintree had been peaceful.

Unexpected peace breeds even greater anxiety than before. Speculating on the client’s psychology, I arrived at a fairly plausible conclusion.

‘If the client isn’t an ordinary noble but a Noble Assembly member… that explains the recent quiet.’

More precisely, there’d be no reason to stir up the Weatherwoods Mansion anymore. With Viscount Weatherwoods announcing his attendance at the Noble Assembly, the client would get a direct face-to-face.

“Hmm?”

Lu raised an eyebrow with a suspicious expression and stood from the slouched chair.

“Ahh… yeah, that makes sense. Your deductive skills are pretty sharp, darling. I was a bit surprised just now.”

“What do you mean?”

Lu leaned in close and pressed his lips to my chin.

“It means come back safe. Yaaawn. I need a bit more rest…”

Bang!

Before Lu could finish, I slammed the door and left the cabin.

‘Is he insane? Sticking his lips on some random woman’s chin?’

I rubbed my chin vigorously as I walked on.

My mood felt off. Was it because Lu’s actions and speech, while playing Morian, had subtly shifted? Really, this new… new… newlywed…

Slap!

I glared with wide eyes, feeling the sting on my cheek.

‘Get a grip. This is how girls like you get sucked into cults, offering body and soul.’

Thinking of Lu as a cult leader fleecing money cleared my mind and brought peace to my body and soul.

With the magnanimity of a true adult, I strolled casually until I paused at the stairs leading up.

Faint hope blossomed at the voices and footsteps of two young men climbing ahead of me.

I bounded up the stairs three or four at a time to fall in step beside them.

“Hey, friends. Something fun going on? Mind if I tag along?”

They looked barely over twenty. The two friends eyed me with confusion and discomfort.

“You’re…”

“A new face? Hmm. Who might you be?”

“Me? Just a nobody passenger. First time crashing the fancy Noble Assembly party. Guess that’s why—no friends, and it’s boring as hell.”

They scanned my outfit suspiciously.

Then they spotted my wristwatch and relaxed their guard.

It was the watch Lu had fastened on me—apparently pricey enough to meet their standards.

“First time attending? Ah, yeah, that’d be boring. The regulars here follow you around like you’re at a buffet, but they pretend otherwise while sticking to their own clique. Tough to break in as a newbie.”

“Oh. Really?”

“You’re handsome, so here’s a heads-up, friend. Watch out for the ladies with fire in their eyes. They’ll mark you as son-in-law material before you know it. Even those rich capitalists clawing to get into these events—it’s all for connections and marriage.”

The blond introduced himself as the son of some newspaper publisher, and the black-haired one as the son of some bank president.

Being non-Noble Assembly made them easier to approach.

Just as they finished introducing themselves so smoothly, almost like they’d been waiting, right before they could ask about me—

I cut them off and nodded toward the stairs above.

“Alright, seniors. So where are we headed right now?”

Did they like being called seniors? The newspaper heir smirked, lifting the corner of his mouth.

“The Noble Assembly’s a drag, but something fun happens every year.”

The bank heir picked up.

“Yeah. Nothing beats watching the Berkeley Grayton Duke’s heirs fight for succession.”

“Come on, let’s hurry before we’re late.”

It felt like a very intriguing addition had just been tacked on.

Without further delay, we headed to the top deck of the airship.

The wind was leisurely.

I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring the sky wind blowing at the perfect height, speed, and temperature.

This was one of the great things about massive airships.

Thanks to their high structural stability, they had an outdoor deck perfect for relaxing, just like on an ocean cruise liner.

“Hey, don’t get distracted—follow us. Over there.”

But the upper-class heirs, for whom play was work, had no intention of savoring the wind’s leisure.

A bit disappointed, I followed them.

The Black Ragal Ho’s deck had a unique structure. The central plaza was the lowest point, surrounded by areas rising in tiered steps like stairs.

“It’s like a colosseum.”

“First time on the Black Ragal Ho too? This airship belongs to the Berkeley Grayton family. This space was designed for training, but its unique vibe makes it popular with everyone, young and old.”

“No wonder the latest big airships under construction are copying this circular colosseum style for their decks.”

Massive airships cost astronomical sums to design and maintain.

Putting a training ground on top of such a vehicle. So very Sword Saint-like.

The newspaper heir, whose specialty seemed to be explanations, patiently briefed the ignorant me on today’s event.

“Good, it hasn’t started yet. See those two facing off in the center? The woman on the left is Jin, second in the Berkeley Grayton succession. The guy on the right is Oster, fifth.”

Jin.

A familiar name. I narrowed my eyes and scrutinized the woman called Jin from head to toe.

“Ah, yeah. They don’t look like they get along at first glance. So why are they standing there facing each other? Poetry recitation contest or something?”

“Poetry? From Berkeley Grayton heirs? Pfft, that’s a lame joke.”

“They’re dueling. It was announced at last night’s Noble Assembly banquet—a duel. Didn’t you hear? They declared they won’t take responsibility if anyone gets hurt while spectating.”

Sorry.

I was asleep.