Chapter 35 –
A Toast, a Farewell, and a Surprise Reunion
“Hey, Rodrigo.”
“…What? Who said you could sit here?”
As soon as Harry plopped down into an empty chair, Rodrigo scowled and basically told him to get lost.
“We’re busy, so stop bothering us and leave.”
“Y-Yeah. We don’t have anything to talk about with you…”
“That’s unfortunate. Because I do have something to talk about with you two. Here.”
Harry raised his hand, and a staff member came running over nervously. Harry smiled lightly and asked,
“Do you happen to have Snowl Wine here?”
“Excuse me? Oh, yes. But we only have two bottles. It’s a very rare wine…”
“I’ll take both. And bring four glasses with them.”
“Yes, of course. Please wait just a moment.”
As soon as the server bowed and left, Rodrigo’s voice trembled.
“D-Did you say Snowl Wine?”
“How do you have money to order something that expensive? I heard you’ve been broke lately…”
Rodrigo’s comment was clearly meant to humiliate Harry and get him to leave. But Harry wasn’t clueless.
So he just smiled boldly.
“Ah, I recently came into a good amount of money. Treating some old acquaintances to Snowl Wine is no big deal.”
Rodrigo gave a loud, dramatic cough in response.
“Hmph. Even if you did, there’s no way you made as much as me. I recently earned 3 million Larc. That’s right—three million!”
“Oh? Really?”
At that moment, the server returned with the two bottles of Snowl Wine. Harry received one and opened it himself, smiling calmly.
“Three million Larc? I’d love to hear more about that.”
Three hours before he was arrested by the knights for gambling in an illegal casino—after blowing all his travel money, including the 30 million Larc he was carrying—Rodrigo had said those very same words.
* * *
Leonard had been completely exhausted and slept for an entire day. Seeing him sleep like the dead, Thompson hadn’t dared wake him.
Because of that, Leonard had to wake up aching from sleeping curled up on a small sofa. He eventually managed to eat and bathe.
“By the way, my lord, did you repay your debt to Count Miles?”
“Yes. I paid it all. You don’t have to worry about debt anymore.”
“That’s a relief… But what about the 30 million Larc Sir Hawke gave you?”
“It was a check, right? He won’t be able to use it. He’ll return it.”
If it had been cash, that’d be one thing, but a 30 million Larc check had to go through a bank—and that meant it would leave a paper trail.
Plus, Leonard had gotten a certificate proving he repaid the debt. With that evidence, if Harry Miles used the check, Leonard could file a formal accusation.
Even someone as reckless as Harry wouldn’t be dumb enough to use it.
Especially when he had just lost everything gambling and had been arrested only hours later—not that Leonard knew that part yet.
Leonard finished packing his things and climbed onto his horse.
“I’ll leave the manor in your care.”
“Of course, my lord. Don’t worry. …Um, would it be rude to ask you a question?”
“What kind of question?”
Leonard had a good idea what the question was, but he played dumb. Thompson just smiled knowingly.
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
“…That’s not a question.”
Grumbling half-heartedly, Leonard let out a long sigh and rubbed his neck. Then as if he just remembered something, he pulled out a pouch of money and handed it to Thompson.
“Use this for repairs on the estate… and hire some new servants. Don’t overwork yourself—you’re not young anymore.”
“Are you sure?”
Right now, only two people worked in the manor: Thompson, the former head butler, and Madam Sarah, the former head maid.
Everyone else had been dismissed due to lack of funds.
In the past, when the former Countess was alive, over twenty servants worked at the estate.
Thankfully, mercenaries had been staying there and helping with chores. Without them, Thompson would’ve collapsed from back pain long ago.
“Oh, and this sword too.”
Leonard almost forgot. He unbuckled the sword from his waist and handed it to Thompson.
“Keep it in storage again.”
“No, that sword is the symbol of the Count of Elpheus. Unless it’s too damaged to use, I’d prefer if you kept using it.”
“But…”
“The reason it was kept away all this time is because the previous count… ahem, didn’t know how to use a sword. Also…”
Thompson gripped Leonard’s hand tightly with both of his own.
“You even sold your old sword to pay off debts. Please use this one until you can get a new one.”
Leonard knew what Thompson really meant.
‘I recognize you as the Count of Elpheus.’
Only Janice, Thompson, and Madam Sarah knew the truth about Leonard’s contract with the late Countess. Coincidentally, only those three had stayed at the manor.
Thompson and Sarah had been cautious, afraid Leonard might steal the title for himself someday.
Leonard had known that, but didn’t try to prove himself—because he thought it didn’t matter. He was going to leave anyway.
They didn’t have to trust him. Their relationship was just business.
But now… Thompson’s request made Leonard’s heart unexpectedly stir. Maybe, deep down, he had wanted to be recognized.
‘Call me mother in public.’
‘Huh? But—’
‘I’m the Countess of Elpheus, and you’re the Young Lord. That’s what people believe. If you don’t call me that, what will others think?’
But Leonard had never had the courage to call her “mother.”
Absentmindedly fiddling with the old sword’s hilt, Leonard finally nodded.
“Alright. If you say so, Thompson.”
“I’m sure Miss Janice would be happy too.”
Smiling warmly, Thompson watched Leonard depart from the Elpheus estate.
* * *
Leonard’s expression only darkened once he passed through the capital’s main gates.
He muttered, “Edward… Where is he?”
He had traveled all the way to Count Miles’ estate with Edward, but when he found out Harry had gone to fetch Janice, he had panicked and run off—completely forgetting Edward.
Maybe even if he had remembered, he wouldn’t have had time to bring him. Still, he could’ve told him to go back to the capital.
‘He probably came back to the capital, right? There’s no way he’s still at the Miles estate… Right? …Right?’
Luckily for Leonard, just as he arrived at the front gate of the Marquis’ residence, he saw Edward bawling among the group of servants waiting to greet him.
“How could you just leave me behind?!”
“Sorry. I was in such a hurry I totally lost my head.”
“Do you know how hard it was for me to travel here alone? You can’t even imagine!”
His teary voice was full of real frustration.
Leonard glanced at the line of servants nearby, then gently patted Edward’s back.
“I honestly have no excuse… But why do you look like you gained weight?”
“Uh, well…”
“Seriously, I can’t even guess—explain.”
Avoiding Leonard’s narrowed eyes, Edward looked up at the sky and whistled.
“I-It’s because the new bed was different…”
“To ensure his rest, we prepared a fluffy bed with goose-feather pillows, a soft comforter, rich wine, and calming scented candles.”
“And… I lost my appetite from all the stress.”
“To find foods he could eat, we prepared special dishes from across the continent using imported ingredients.”
“And I got sore from riding too long…”
“So we brought in a professional masseur. In fact, you have another session in 30 minutes.”
Damond checked his pocket watch and smiled proudly.
“…So, yeah.”
Leonard folded his arms and stared at Edward like really?
Feeling the heat of Leonard’s judgment, Edward could only glare at Damond in blame.
But Damond just smiled, clearly proud of his “perfect guest hospitality.”
“The Marquis specifically asked us to take care of the Young Lord’s guests with the utmost attention. We made sure the others were well cared for, too.”
“Y-Yeah! I wasn’t the only one treated so well!”
Edward clenched his fist and defended himself. Leonard just laughed in disbelief.
“Sounds like you’ve been pampered beyond my wildest imagination.”
“N-No! I swear it’s nothing compared to what Aunt Michelle—”
“Michelle?”
That name shouldn’t have come up here. Leonard’s eyebrow twitched.
“Michelle’s here? Wait… don’t tell me the others are here too?”
Well, they were.
Not just Michelle—but Heath and Bean too.
And they were enjoying even more luxury than Edward.
XD
Can’t blame him too much for enjoying it, right?