Chapter 65
Shan stayed close to Lucy even within the mansion. She had tried several times to persuade him that it wasn’t necessary, but Shan’s stubbornness couldn’t be broken.
“My duty is to protect my employer. It is my principle to prioritize my employer’s safety under any circumstances.”
That was why he was now quietly following Lucy as she strolled through the garden with Lucas.
Lucy asked him to follow from a little farther away.
“I’m sorry. He’s a personal bodyguard I hired, but he sticks strictly to his principles…”
Lucy smiled awkwardly and glanced back. Fortunately, Shan was following at a distance where he couldn’t overhear their conversation.
Lucas, who had looked displeased when he saw Shan, still frowned as if something about the situation irritated him.
‘Well, it’s understandable that he’s upset. Being followed by a bodyguard probably makes him feel like a dangerous person. But at this rate, I won’t even get a chance to start a proper conversation!’
Today, Lucy intended to meet Lucas to explain about the new material fabric Bruno was researching and secure his investment. But the atmosphere had become so awkward that she couldn’t even bring up the topic, and she frowned inwardly.
“Why… does it have to be that man?”
At that moment, Lucas suddenly asked.
“Huh? Shan? He’s an excellent mercenary. He may be a bit rigid, but he’s indispensable to me.”
Lucy praised him lightly in response to Lucas’ tone, which seemed to distrust Shan.
“Out of all people, why someone like him!”
However, Lucas’ expression twisted as if something frustrated him.
‘It seems Lucas really doesn’t like Shan. At this rate, I won’t even get to say a word about the investment. What should I do?’
Lucy racked her brain to change the mood.
“Oh! There’s something I’ve been wanting to show you when we meet again! Actually, there’s a friend I want to introduce to you!”
Suddenly inspired, Lucy clapped her hands and looked at Lucas.
“My friend, Ray!”
“This is…”
Lucy showed him the pigeon in the cage, beaming.
“I’ve always wanted to show you Ray when we met!”
She wanted to express her gratitude for all the kindness Lucas had shown her.
“I won’t need to send letters anymore, but whenever I saw Ray, I thought of you. And… I also wanted to apologize for being rude in the past.”
“Lucy…”
For some reason, Lucas felt his chest swell.
She lowered her gaze slightly, fiddling with her hands in embarrassment, and it made her all the more endearing.
“Don’t apologize. You’ve never been rude to me, not even once.”
Lucy looked up at him at his words. Lucas’ blue-gray eyes calmly regarded her.
“Thank you for saying that. Then, how about we redefine our relationship?”
Lucas’ eyes widened with anticipation at Lucy’s suggestion.
“As business partners and an investor, how about it? Please invest in the business I’m planning. You won’t regret it!”
Lucy smiled gently, closing her eyes prettily.
“Investment… you say?”
Startled by her unexpected words, Lucas blinked quickly, trying to understand.
“Yes, as an investor! That’s why I want to introduce you to a great business idea!”
Lucy finally got to the point.
That night, she promised Lucas she would accept his investment, while he nodded with a vacant expression.
Excited to secure Lucas’ investment, Lucy immediately wrote back to Bruno, asking him to speed up the development of the new fabric, as she would support the research expenses.
‘I hope the research succeeds before winter comes.’
The winters in northern Crete were notoriously harsh. When winter arrived, northern nobles abandoned fashion and wore thick furs.
If the new fabric research succeeded, Lucy was convinced it would spark a new fashion trend even in the frigid north.
Everything was proceeding according to Lucy’s plan. Next, she wanted to find Dino and Anna.
After deliberation, she requested the Information Guild to locate them.
A week passed before the Information Guild came to her. Lucy, excitedly rushing out, received unexpected news.
“I’m sorry, but we can’t take this request.”
A man from the guild returned her fee with a shake of his head.
“Miss, you’d better give up on finding them. It seems they’re involved with a very dangerous group.”
Leaving her with cryptic words, the guild member departed.
That night.
“Finally found you.”
Lucy, feeling down all day and about to go to bed, was startled by the sudden voice and looked around the room.
A man dressed entirely in black slowly appeared.
“W-Who… ugh!”
Startled, Lucy opened her mouth to call Shan, but the intruder covered it.
“Shh, it’s me. Dino.”
He whispered softly into her ear.
‘Dino?’
Only then did Lucy get a proper look at him.
“It’s been a while. I searched the entire empire to find you, never imagined you’d be this close.”
Dino slowly removed his hand from her mouth.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
At that moment, someone loudly knocked on Lucy’s door.
“It’s me! I sensed a strange presence nearby, is everything alright?”
“Sh-Shan! Wait a moment…!”
Panicked, Lucy turned to Dino, who put a finger to his lips, then quickly disappeared into the darkness through the window.
Carefully, Lucy cracked open the door and peeked out at Shan.
“May I check the room briefly?”
“Oh, no! I’m in my pajamas right now, so that’s a bit awkward. A strange presence, you say? Maybe it was just a cat?”
Lucy feigned ignorance.
“If anything happens, call me immediately. And make sure to lock the windows at night, just in case.”
Shan remained alert, speaking with a serious expression.
“Y-Yes… Good night then!”
Lucy quickly closed the door. She could hear Shan walking away down the corridor.
“Impressive. He sensed my presence.”
Once Shan left, Dino reappeared from the darkness.
“Dino! What’s going on? How did you know I was here?”
Lucy bombarded him with questions.
“You asked the Information Guild to find me, didn’t you?”
“Ah…!”
Only then did Lucy understand the meaning behind the guild member’s words.
“I just wanted to check that you’re safe today, so I’ll leave for now. We can talk more in detail later.”
“Wait! Anna… Anna’s safe, right?”
Lucy hurriedly grabbed Dino as he turned to leave.
“You’re always worrying about her? That’s a bit unfair.”
“No! I’m just glad you’re safe.”
Dino looked at Lucy quietly before speaking.
“She’s doing fine. Actually, I haven’t seen her for quite a while myself.”
“What do you mean? Weren’t you together until now?”
“Well… somehow. Anna is in a town called Urte. I heard she’s opening a general store there.”
Dino shrugged.
“Before your bodyguard comes back, I should go. We’ll meet again soon.”
With a satisfied grin, Dino leapt out of the window in an instant.
Startled, Lucy ran to the window and looked down, but Dino was nowhere to be seen.
‘I guess I’ll be able to see Anna soon…!’
Lucy lay down, her heart pounding with anticipation. But Dino never came back after that day.
She waited daily for Dino’s contact, hoping to meet Anna, but then immediately worried about her again. Still, there was no word from Dino.
“Shan, do you know where the town of Urte is?”
