RYL Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Mathieu, running a hand through his hair in frustration, glanced at the stack of letters on his desk.

An upcoming banquet was being hosted by the Laurentano Duke’s family. His father, the Duke of Laurentano, had ordered him to check the guest list.

Of course, the Devonshire Count’s family was included in the invitations.

Without hesitation, Mathieu pulled out the Devonshire family’s invitation and tucked it into his pocket.

***

The grand opening of Clina Salon had gone smoothly.

Sitting in my study, organizing the financial records, I let out a quiet sigh.

I hadn’t expected big profits right away.

The salon had been packed with nobles and influential figures, making it a successful event, but the amount I had spent setting it up was enormous.

Everyone says that the first month of a new business is about investing rather than earning.

Just thinking about all the VIP cards I had handed out, I knew I had made a loss on the first day.

Given the benefits, it was hardly surprising that so many people showed up for the opening.

The real challenge was keeping them coming back.

Luckily, the Ball of Flowers event had gone viral in high society, but I couldn’t rely on just that forever.

I needed something new…

I had already planned auction nights and special guest performances, but they weren’t anything groundbreaking.

I needed something as impactful as the Ball of Flowers to keep the excitement going.

Of course, I wasn’t planning to host events every day.

They would be held once a week, on weekends when the salon was busiest.

During the rest of the week, I wouldn’t be around all the time, so I intended to leave the management in the hands of a reliable supervisor.

Still, even if it was just once a week, repeating the same events over and over would get boring fast.

As I was racking my brain for ideas, a sudden knock interrupted my thoughts.

I looked up curiously and saw my personal maid, Emma, standing at the door with an uneasy expression.

“Um… My lady, there’s a guest here to see you…”

A guest?

Who would come looking for me?

For a moment, I thought of the Crown Prince—was he visiting again?

But if that were the case, Emma wouldn’t look so troubled…

Puzzled, I got up and walked toward the entrance.

There, standing in front of the open door, was something huge.

Or rather, someone holding something huge.

“…Sabrina?”

Sabrina stood there, effortlessly carrying two massive bags, each bigger than her own body.

Frowning at the enormous luggage, I asked,

“What is all this…?”

Sabrina gave me an awkward smile.

“Claire, can I stay at your place for a while?”

“…What?”

When I stared at her in disbelief, she grinned sheepishly.

“I ran away from home.”

***

At a café, sitting with Lilianne, Sabrina huffed in frustration.

“Who does he think he is, telling me when I can go out? Is he my father or something?”

Well… he is your employer.

“Did he really think locking me in my room would stop me? Picking locks, breaking doors, sneaking through ventilation shafts are easy stuff.”

What kind of life have you been living…?

Lilianne, listening patiently, smiled calmly and asked,

“So, you think the Villain saw you with Hector’s gang?”

As Lilianne guided the conversation back to the main point, Sabrina, still fuming, nodded.

“Yeah. I was meeting them about security for the salon when he happened to pass by in his carriage.”

Wait… was the Villain actually worried about her?

To an outsider, Sabrina standing among a group of thugs would look pretty dangerous.

Though, in reality, she was the most dangerous one there…

Hector’s gang wasn’t a threat anymore—they were so obedient to Sabrina that they would drop to the ground and do push-ups on her command.

But, of course, the villain wouldn’t know that.

Then again…

“Didn’t you say you’d only run away if he refused to accept your resignation?”

“Well, when you’re about to get locked in your room, does that really matter? If I just disappear, he’ll eventually give up, right?”

Be honest…

You actually liked your comfortable life at the Duke’s mansion, getting paid while lounging in luxury, didn’t you?

I held back my thoughts and changed the topic.

“But why my house? Wouldn’t staying at Lilianne’s place be more comfortable?”

Before Sabrina could answer, Lilianne smiled and explained,

“The Valerian Dukedom and the Sinclair Marquisate are business partners. The Duke of Valerian often visits our estate for business matters.”

Sabrina shrugged and added,

“So yeah, Claire, I’m in your care now. Hey, do you need another maid? I can’t cook, clean, or do laundry, but I’m strong!”

Sabrina… that’s not what a maid does…

What was the villain thinking, keeping her around as one?

“…Never mind. We have plenty of guest rooms, so just stay as long as you need.”

Sabrina pouted.

“‘Stay as long as you need’? So you’re saying I have to leave eventually? How am I supposed to survive now that I’ve escaped from him?”

Why are you so determined to be a maid…?

Did you think all maid jobs were as easy as the one you had at the Duke’s mansion?

Sighing, I decided to pacify her.

“I’ll think about it.”

Not as a maid, though—maybe as a bodyguard…

Lilianne smiled as she watched the two of us talk.

“I’m so jealous! I want to stay at Claire’s house too!”

Do these people think they’re picking rooms for a school trip or something…?

Though, honestly, I wouldn’t mind having them around.

“If you run away, Lilianne, the Sinclair Marquisate would be in chaos.”

If the Sinclair family was shaken, it would affect the entire noble society. Their influence was that big.

That could even cause problems for my salon business…

As I was seriously worrying about the possible downfall of my salon, Lilianne rested her cheek on her hand and sighed.

“I guess that won’t work, then. Too bad…”

Phew, what a relief. At least Lilianne isn’t as reckless as Sabrina…

***

Lilianne and I spent hours chatting, exchanging ideas for the salon. By the time we finally headed back to the count’s estate, it was already late.

As our carriage approached the entrance, Sabrina suddenly flung herself onto the floor like a spy in an action movie.

Startled, I stared down at her, confused.

“Sabrina?”

She held a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.

“Shh! That bastard’s carriage is here!”

I peeked out the window at her hushed whisper.

Sure enough, a carriage bearing the Valerian Duke’s crest was parked near the entrance.

When did she even notice that?

“You’re right.”

Scanning the area, I spotted a tall man with dark hair standing near the carriage.

Was that the villain from the novel…?

It was too far to see his face clearly, but his broad build and strong presence were undeniable.

“What do we do?”

At my question, Sabrina took a deep breath and answered calmly.

“I’ll stay here. You go handle it.”

“…What?”

“I can’t exactly go out there, can I?”

“But he’s not some stray dog—I can’t just ‘handle’ him by myself—”

Before I could finish, she looked at me with pleading eyes.

…Well. This is what I get for choosing my friends.

Sighing, I stepped out of the carriage and onto the ground.

The Duke of Valerian, seeing the Devonshire family’s carriage stop, slowly lifted his head.

Even from a distance, he was tall. His aura was overwhelming.

He walked forward, not too fast, not too slow—just steady and controlled.

His tousled black hair framed sharp features, and his deep blue eyes gleamed like the midnight sky.

So this is the villain…?

He looked… surprisingly normal.

I had imagined some shady, sinister man, but he was far more refined than I expected.

Just as I was processing that thought, he stopped in front of me and spoke in a cold voice.

“Where is Sabrina?”