CHAPTER 3
“Finally, someone has passed the first stage.”
The child, speaking while covering his slightly flushed cheeks with his hands, was none other than Lublion Artenbach.
At the beginning of this year, he had celebrated his tenth birthday. He possessed black hair as dark as the night sky and golden eyes so bright they could be seen even in the dark.
He was the only heir of the Artenbach ducal family, the pride of the house, and far more intelligent than any of his peers.
His nickname was “Black Serpent.”
“Are you still playing that game?”
The man who asked Lublion this question had the same hair and eye color as the boy. He was the Duke of the Empire—
Ascal Modesto Artenbach.
He asked indifferently as Lublion barged into his office without permission.
Then Lublion answered in an impassioned voice.
“It’s not a game. It’s a great plan and a foundation for a perfect family.”
Ascal’s expression stiffened slightly.
“I hope you know that I’m doing my best so you won’t feel the absence of a guardian.”
“And I hope you know that I’m also doing my best so you won’t grow old in lonely solitude, Duke.”
At this uncomfortable remark, Ascal put down his quill with a sharp snap. Of course, such a gesture had no effect on Lublion.
“Anyway, the first stage is over, so now I just need to pass the second and third stages!”
The boy could not hide his joy. Even the sound of him crunching cookies was cheerful.
“…Fine. Do as you please.”
From experience, Ascal knew that words of advice would not be heard anyway.
Humming, Lublion gulped down some milk, then suddenly raised his head as if remembering something. He approached one of the maids lined up neatly by the door.
“Here, eat this.”
The startled maid hesitated for a moment before politely accepting the cookie.
“It’s probably nothing, but just in case, I’m warning you ahead of time.”
When Lublion crooked his finger, the maid bent down so her ear was near him.
“If someone comes holding the note you wrote, never admit that you wrote it.”
“Don’t worry, young master,” the maid replied with a smile. Lublion returned to his seat and took another sip of milk. Then his eyes met those of Ascal, who was looking at him with a pitiful expression.
“Ah, Duke. Come to think of it, there’s a problem, isn’t there?”
“What now.”
Ascal sighed heavily, resting his chin on one hand.
“The problem is whether that lady will be to your liking…”
Growing unusually serious, Lublion stroked his chin with his fingers, imitating the habit Ascal often displayed when deep in thought.
“Unfortunately, she’s not that pretty.”
“……”
“Well, I suppose it doesn’t really matter, does it? She is still a woman.”
“Out. The Duke is busy.”
At last, Ascal’s eyes widened in anger. Lublion quickly packed up the half-eaten cookies and milk, then spoke to the frighteningly scowling Ascal.
“If you keep working like this, you’ll really grow old without ever holding a woman’s hand.”
A new wrinkle formed between Ascal’s brows. Noticing the change, Lublion hurriedly backed away and shouted.
“I’ll come back to report again!”
“Don’t come back,” Ascal called after him, glaring at the back of Lublion’s head as he left.
Today, Black Swan was unusually quiet. Normally, at least five people would visit in a day, but not a single person had come by, even though the morning had already passed.
“Anna, how’s it looking with the blacksmith?”
Startled out of her daze, Anna quickly smiled and answered.
“It seems they still haven’t decided. Same with Ranson.”
“No one else has approached them, right?”
“No information has come in yet.”
If it was Ranson, he certainly had the potential to hone his skills and become a sculptor of the century.
With Black Swan as his foundation and the support of the Deli viscount family, it would be a perfect scenario.
‘Still, today feels too quiet… like the calm before a storm.’
Inside the office, only the ticking of the clock sounded loudly. Feeling uneasy, I stood up and looked out the window.
Rumble.
Almost on cue, thunder rolled in the sky. It hadn’t been clear, but it hadn’t looked like rain was coming either.
Through the slightly open window drifted the damp smell of rain. People walking peacefully down the street quickened their steps.
Drip. Drop.
At last, rain began to fall. Noon, which should have been the most leisurely time of day, turned chaotic in an instant.
“Director, a guest has arrived.”
While I was looking outside, Anna brought in a visitor. It was the blacksmith I had been waiting for.
“Welcome. I was just thinking it was about time you came.”
The blacksmith removed his raincoat with an awkward smile. Even as I gestured for him to come inside, he simply stood still.
“Sir?”
“Well, I came to cancel my request.”
It was a completely unexpected turn. Forcing my stiff expression into calm, I asked,
“What happened? Don’t tell me it’s about your daughter’s marriage?”
“No, not that…”
Looking troubled, the blacksmith fiddled with his raincoat.
“Someone offered to scout Ranson, and I plan to use that person to prepare my daughter’s dowry.”
…Could it be that place again?
“May I ask who that person is?”
“They didn’t ask me to keep it secret, so I suppose it’s fine. It’s the director of the Artenbach Art Museum.”
The art museum run by the Artenbach ducal family. It wasn’t the Empire’s best, but it was the only museum in the North, and it had a knack for discovering and fostering rising new artists.
‘So I was a step too late.’
If Ranson had been taken by the Artenbach Museum, then there was no chance he would come to Black Swan.
A future asset had been lost.
‘If only I had enough funds, I could have scouted him.’
Even if not on the level of competing directly with the Artenbach Museum, I might have been able to bring him in by offering the advantages of personalized, one-on-one care.
The blacksmith apologized repeatedly, then left.
I smiled and told him it was fine, but inside I was burning.
‘The timing is too perfect, it keeps happening.’
The talents I worked hard to discover were being snatched away at just the right moment.
Even an artist I had secured just a step ahead of the museum ended up constantly comparing their conditions to ours, grumbling day after day, and eventually walked into the Artenbach Museum on their own.
‘Sigh. No use lamenting. Ranson isn’t coming back.’
Life had its ups and downs. It wasn’t the first time I’d had a request canceled.
‘…But today, I really don’t feel like working.’
I thought of the 3,000,000 Tiga wasted at the gambling house. My father’s written oath to never return there again—how long would that resolve protect him?
“Director, another guest has arrived.”
Anna peeked in through the door. I beckoned her to bring them in.
“Hello, have you been well?”
Lifting my head at the childlike voice right in front of me, I saw the little boy who had come a few days ago.
I waited for someone else to follow him in, but Anna shut the door completely. The boy had come alone.
“You’re not here for the diamond, are you?”
“Oh, that’ll be later… I have other business today.”
The boy pulled out a large cloth from his coat. At a glance, I could tell it was expensive.
He neatly spread the cloth over the guest sofa, dusted it off carefully, then sat on it and said, staring at me,
“Please let me stay here for three hours. I’ll pay plenty for the consultation fee.”
I sighed deeply. The weather was gloomy, my mood was worse, and now this boy wanted to use the office as a shelter.
“That won’t do, sir. I have appointments scheduled.”
“The lady outside told me there haven’t been any clients today.”
“There will be soon.”
“Then I’ll leave when they come.”
“Kid, this isn’t your playground.”
The boy pulled out a crisp sheet of paper from his coat.
“How long could I stay here with this?”
He was holding a 1,000,000 Tiga check in his tiny hand, barely half the size of mine. I shook my head.
I had thought this before—his sense of money was highly questionable.
“Do you even know how much money that is before handing it over so easily?”
“Is it a lot?”
“Of course. With that money, I could do nothing for a whole week and still be fine.”
“Wow, really?”
His golden eyes sparkled. I realized too late I had said too much.
“Then I’ll give you all of this—just give me your week.”
“As I said, I have appointments later, so that’s…”
“I know you don’t.”
Then he quietly scooted closer, sitting properly.
“My father left me behind and went far away to work. When I go home, no one’s there. No family, no mother…”
Unlike before, his voice now sounded drooping and sad. I felt guilty, as if I were a criminal.
“I won’t interrupt your work. I’ll sit quietly by your side. So please, just stay with me for a week. Okay?”
How could I refuse those shining eyes?
“…One week. No longer.”
“I’m so happy! Thank you, noona.”
He had just called me “auntie,” and now it was “noona.”
Should I call this clever, or simply innocent?
I took the check the boy had placed on the table. Then I called Anna, telling her to deposit it along with the pink diamond.
The boy, who had been listening with a bright smile, clapped his hands in delight when our eyes met.
‘Why do I feel so uneasy?’
I had to find out who this boy really was.
Gesturing for Anna to come closer, I whispered softly so only she could hear.
