Chapter 22
The noble couple from yesterday must have completely withdrawn by now. That meant there was no more need for personal security.
“Mm, I won’t be needing an escort anymore.”
“Excuse me?”
“I only needed one because of those nobles yesterday. Thanks to that mess being over, I don’t think it’s necessary anymore.”
Rosie said this and continued walking.
Tom hurried after her, sounding panicked.
“Wait! You’re not firing me, right, Miss Rosie?”
Rosie blinked at him, baffled by how he was talking as if she were his employer, even though he was assigned by the hotel.
“Firing you? Why would I? You’re employed by the hotel, not by me.”
“Oh, uh… well, that’s true but still…”
Even as he said that, Tom continued sticking close to her.
It seemed following Rosie around was a lot easier than guarding the hotel premises.
“Still! I’m strong, and I know lots of places around here. You won’t lose anything by keeping me with you.”
Rosie gave him a side glance, clearly annoyed, then quickened her pace.
“Fine, I get it. I’ll talk to the front desk later, so don’t be upset then.”
Even though talking to the front desk would immediately get him reassigned, Tom simply grinned and trotted after her, visibly relieved.
Seeing how desperate he was to follow her, she realized being a hotel guard must be far more exhausting than she thought.
Sigh.
Somehow, more and more people were gathering around her.
It’ll be harder to cleanly distance myself later…
With a sigh, Rosie walked quickly toward her destination: the Cozette Atelier.
✦ ✦ ✦
After yesterday’s chaos, Daisy had returned to the atelier in a shocked state and couldn’t calm down even after a full day had passed.
She expected those nobles who held a grudge against Rosie to cause trouble at least once, but she didn’t expect it to happen immediately and in such a dramatic way.
But what truly shocked her wasn’t that incident.
Yesterday… That man. I’m sure it was Tom Jeckin.
The one who stepped in as Rosie’s “escort,” Tom Jeckin.
Tom Jeckin.
He was originally an orphan raised by the Portray family’s orphanage, later becoming a knight. Before he was granted the surname Jeckin, he carried out all sorts of dirty work for the Portray family as a mercenary.
Despite his boyish looks, he was known among mercenaries for being ruthless—dangerously so.
Why is someone like that following Rosie around?!
Suspicious. Extremely suspicious.
Rosie did say she had some connection to the Portray family, but from her innocent expression, it was obvious she didn’t know his true identity.
Daisy anxiously waited for Rosie, all while pretending to work—though she kept glancing outside every few minutes.
That was when she spotted a familiar head of beige-colored hair.
She immediately rushed to the entrance and swung the door open.
“Rosie! Why are you only— I was so worried—”
But the rest of her words died in her throat.
Because standing behind Rosie was the same man she saw yesterday—Tom Jeckin.
Rosie noticed Daisy’s gaze shifting to Tom and smiled apologetically.
“Sorry. You were surprised, right? Let me introduce you. This is Tom Jeckin. He’s an escort from Vine Rose.”
“…An escort from Vine Rose?”
Daisy paused, studying Tom.
Tom smiled brightly and extended a hand.
“Tom Jeckin. Nice to meet you.”
“…Daisy.”
Daisy hesitated only a moment before taking his hand. Tom enthusiastically shook it up and down with innocent friendliness—completely devoid of guile.
Trying not to show her discomfort, Daisy turned back to Rosie.
“Did you get home safely yesterday? I stopped by Vine Rose, but they said you weren’t available. I was worried.”
Rosie tilted her head.
“You came to see me?”
“Yeah. The front desk said they’d contact your room. You didn’t know?”
“…I didn’t.”
Rosie slowly looked at Tom.
Tom simply shrugged.
“There must’ve been some confusion. I don’t know anything about it.”
True. He wasn’t a front desk employee; he had no way of knowing what happened with Daisy’s visit.
Rosie bowed her head apologetically to Daisy.
“Sorry. Next time, don’t go through the front desk—just come straight to my room.”
Daisy gave a small, awkward smile.
As an outsider, she was supposed to use the servants’ passage. Without an official reason, she wasn’t even allowed to step inside Vine Rose’s lobby.
But there was no need to explain those limitations to Rosie.
She nodded lightly.
“Oh, by the way, the outfit I promised to make you last time is finished.”
“Huh?”
Rosie blinked, confused.
Daisy cheerfully rummaged through the clothing rack.
“Just a second, Rosie.”
Her behavior looked casual, but Rosie’s eyes hardened slightly.
Last time she promised to make me clothes? That never happened.
Come to think of it, she acted like this before too…
Just like the day after Rosie first bought clothes here—Daisy suddenly showed up while Rosie was talking with Einar, insisting she come to her room.
And back then, the manager warned me to be careful.
It seemed Daisy had something to say again.
“Tada! What do you think? Pretty, right?”
Daisy held up a dress—a soft pink gown with layered, petal-like fabric cascading elegantly.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Right? I made it while thinking of you. Want to try it on now?”
“Right now?”
“Yeah. It’s a bit tricky to put on alone, so I wanted to help you.”
As if it were the most natural thing, Daisy carried the dress into the dressing room.
Rosie followed her, already guessing how this would go.
This dressing room was much larger than the tiny booth Rosie had used last time. It had a full-length mirror, a sofa, and racks—almost like a small private room.
The moment the door clicked shut, Daisy lowered her voice.
“Rosie! Why on earth are you keeping him with you?”
“I’m not keeping him. The hotel assigned him to me. And I’m planning to refuse soon anyway.”
Daisy exhaled sharply.
“Why? Did something happen?”
Rosie asked, remembering Daisy’s job as an informant.
Daisy seemed almost relieved to finally speak.
“He’s someone raised by the Portray Marquisate.”
“Oh, I see.”
Rosie blinked, clearly not grasping the significance.
Many noble families did sponsor children to nurture talent. Nothing unusual.
But Daisy looked frustrated.
“No, not that. I mean he’s truly one of Portray’s people!”
“…Portray’s person?”
“Yes! Out of the countless people they sponsor, he’s one of the few they personally selected—someone they poured money and years into shaping. A genuine Portray asset.”
Like me, Daisy nearly said, but swallowed the words.
“And someone like that is doing hotel security? Impossible.”
People from the capital might not know, but in the East, the Portray Marquess family held near-royal authority.
There were almost no businesses untouched by Portray’s influence. Most people lived under their shadow in one way or another.
But Rosie’s expression said she still didn’t grasp how big a deal this was.
Daisy sighed internally and continued dressing Rosie in the gown. Even though it was just one of the better dresses she had on hand, it suited Rosie so perfectly it looked like it was made for her.
While tying the ribbon behind Rosie’s neck, Daisy suddenly noticed a small burn scar.
Right then, Rosie spoke.
“Then, could it be… the manager also has some connection to the Portray family?”
