Episode 26. Two Strange Guests
“May I come in for a moment?”
It was the voice of her—Delphine.
Pride froze in place like a beast hit with a tranquilizer dart.
“Yes!”
Before anyone could stop her, the woman quickly answered in a loud voice.
She instinctively judged that her only chance of survival lay that way.
As Pride glared at the woman with burning eyes of fury, the drawing room door slowly opened.
His saintess entered the room.
The sight of her flowing red hair ignited a burning thirst in him once more.
I want to ruin you.
But I also want to cherish you.
I hate you for dragging my life and soul into the mire—but even so, I love you enough to want to protect you.
Are these truly the only emotions I have left?
‘Even with a change in status, one can’t discard their lowborn roots, huh.’
He loathed himself for being so twisted and full of darkness.
He was no different from that cabaret woman.
Pride clenched the hand that had been about to reach for the woman’s neck.
Maybe that guest is someone who remembers the former Ioan.
With that thought, Delphine headed toward the drawing room.
She wondered if she might glean some clues from the woman.
When she entered, the woman—who had been standing very close to Ioan—turned her head.
Deep green eyes.
Reddish-brown hair.
So Betty was right after all.
A surge of inexplicable displeasure rose in Delphine, and she twisted her lips.
“Oh my. You must be Ioan—or rather, the Marquis’s wife, right? I could tell at a glance. Nice to meet you!”
The woman smiled, lifting her lips painted in bright red rouge.
She really did call him Ioan.
Delphine quickly scanned the woman up and down.
Her appearance was bizarre.
A gaudy dress overloaded with ribbons and lace, thick white powder on her face, and bright red lipstick.
Delphine’s face turned cold.
She had heard stories from married women around her.
That sometimes, men would go out to Zone 3—the red-light district—to purchase women.
‘So this is what he meant by “managing Zone 3”?’
Was this what he’d been doing, going there day and night?
Delphine cast an even colder gaze at Ioan.
“…Aren’t you going to introduce her?”
“She was just about to leave.”
He answered gently but firmly.
“There was no need for you to come out, my lady.”
At that, the woman made an awkward, troubled expression and glanced out the window.
“It’s just… I’d love to leave, but that sudden blizzard…”
“I’ll escort you.”
Ioan’s cold reply made Delphine raise an eyebrow in surprise.
He’s going to escort her himself?
And what’s with that overly casual tone?
But at those words, the woman suddenly turned pale and shouted,
“N-No, my lord! Please just let me stay until the storm dies down. That’s okay, right, madam? There are plenty of rooms here.”
Ioan’s face grew even colder in response to her rude and unrestrained attitude.
“Well…”
Delphine glanced between Ioan and the woman, hesitant.
She didn’t know why the woman was so frightened, but it was clear the two knew each other.
In that case, it was best to let her stay for now.
Ioan clearly intended to keep hiding his identity.
This woman might be a valuable card to play.
Delphine made a quick decision and nodded with feigned warmth.
“Turning away a guest in weather like this would be no different from murder.”
The woman beamed and nodded eagerly.
“Right? You don’t like men who just kill people on a whim either, right?”
The only thing bothering Delphine was the strange discomfort she felt whenever she looked into those deep green eyes.
“Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself! I’m Kelly!”
…This must just be because she’s so rude.
Delphine forced a smile, having come to that conclusion.
“Um… ma’am, my lady.”
A knock sounded, followed by Betty’s voice from outside the drawing room.
When permission was given, Betty entered with a strange expression.
“There’s… another guest.”
Guests, one after another, in this weather?
Betty clearly found the situation just as odd.
“Another? …Who?”
Don’t tell me it’s another redhead.
Sensing Delphine’s irritated tone, the quick-witted Betty quickly replied.
“This time it’s a noble gentleman. He asked me to tell you his name is ‘Glyn Glasscock.’”
At that, Ioan’s gaze, which had been fixed on Kelly, shot toward Delphine.
“A noble? Who the hell is Glasscock? What kind of lunatic visits someone’s mansion in this weather?”
Good question. I’d like to know too.
Delphine gave Kelly a sidelong, scornful glance.
“Oh, then I’ll head to the room I’ll be staying in.”
Kelly said shamelessly, having sensed the look.
“There’s no way a carriage can make it through that storm now. The horses won’t budge.”
Looking out the window, Delphine saw that the snowstorm had indeed worsened in that short time.
Glyn Glasscock? Who was he?
Who was important enough to seek her out through this blizzard?
Curious about the guest’s identity, Delphine silently moved toward the hall.
There, at the front door, stood a man soaked to the bone.
She only remembered where she’d met Glyn Glasscock before after seeing his face while he wiped his wet hair and clothes with a towel.
He was the man who had given her a cryptic warning at the social club.
“Ah, Lady Pride!”
The man beamed with joy upon seeing her.
“…Who is that man?”
Ioan had silently appeared behind her and muttered in a cold voice.
Delphine didn’t answer and instead walked up to the man.
“Lord Glasscock.”
“Lady Pride.”
The man bowed with perfect form and kissed the back of her extended hand.
His etiquette was flawless, but his face was pale from the cold.
“Let’s get you—”
“And this is… your guest, my lady?”
A smooth voice interrupted her as she was about to guide him to a room with a bath.
It was Ioan, standing beside her in a more elegant and poised manner than ever.
Delphine had no choice but to introduce the shivering man first.
“This is Lord Glyn Glasscock. I met him once at a social gathering. Lord Glasscock, this is…”
Delphine paused for a beat before continuing as if nothing were wrong.
“…Lord Ioan Pride.”
“Ah, a pleasure. I’ve heard much about you.”
Glasscock extended his hand to Ioan with a peculiar greeting and gaze.
His fingers were noticeably trembling.
It wasn’t surprising—he was completely soaked.
If he stayed like that, he might catch a serious illness.
The Empire’s medical knowledge was underdeveloped. Catching the flu in winter could be fatal.
Thinking that, Delphine was about to lead him in quickly, but Ioan stood firm at her side.
He showed no intention of stepping aside.
Staring coldly at the outstretched hand, Ioan raised his gaze and murmured,
“…Without a letter of introduction, what brings you to this mansion in this weather?”
“Ah, I’m terribly sorry. I happened to be passing through Zone 1 when the weather suddenly worsened…”
Glasscock replied, shivering violently.
“My horse panicked and refused to move… then I saw the Pride estate, so I came despite the impropriety. May I stay until the storm passes?”
Delphine glanced at Ioan.
Be careful of Ioan Pride.
She wasn’t naive enough to believe that someone who had warned her like that had just stumbled by chance.
Kelly and Glasscock.
Could it really be a coincidence that both showed up during the “madness” period?
Whatever the case, for Delphine—who sought to uncover Ioan’s identity—it was a perfect opportunity.
“Of course. I couldn’t possibly turn away someone in distress.”
She turned her head toward Ioan, who was visibly displeased.
“We already have one guest, after all.”
You have a guest, and now I do too—so don’t even think of objecting.
“…”
Ioan simply observed Glasscock coldly, saying nothing.
“You need to warm up first. I’ll show you to a guest room.”
Delphine summoned a servant to guide him.
Glasscock offered his thanks with a pale face and disappeared down the hall.
As all of this unfolded, Ioan watched with visible displeasure before finally speaking.
“…Glasscock? I’ve never heard that name before. Are you certain of his identity, my lady?”
“He’s legitimate.”
“You said you met him just once, didn’t you?”
Ioan’s tone was soft, but his eyes—watching her—were cold and composed.
“You can’t attend that social club unless your status is verified.”
“When was that?”
The day you saved me… and had to get seven stitches in your forehead.
Delphine gazed directly at his covered forehead.
But the existence of that club, and the fact that she had visited it, were both secrets.
Feigning indifference, Delphine turned the conversation.
“…If you’re unsure of his identity, then what about Miss Kelly? I don’t believe I’ve heard her surname yet.”
At that, Ioan—who had seemed ready to press her further—suddenly drew a long line across his lips with his mouth.
