Chapter 19
“Welcome—”
As the door swung wide, a dim but orderly space unfolded.
Even the small side windows were covered with curtains, so no light entered, but the place was meticulously maintained—there were no piles of dust rolling around or trash in the way.
‘I really underestimate guilds sometimes.’
The more famous the guild, the better it was usually managed.
“What brings you to our guild?”
The person who had opened the door asked before I could explain my purpose, curious about why I was inside. I gathered myself and explained the situation.
“There’s someone I’m curious about. I want information.”
“Is that so? That’s not difficult. Could you give me the stamp you’re holding?”
“…Not even meeting the guild master first?”
“I am the guild master.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
But for a guild master, his appearance was quite shabby. His pale face and flowing blond hair gave him the look of a handsome boy, but he didn’t appear particularly professional.
“A person who works in secret can’t be expected to wear fine clothes.”
“…Ah, my apologies.”
“You must meet a lot of people for your work. Wearing a dress with lace from Derance, I see. Judging by the pleated hem like petals… you must be a lady working in the clothing industry.”
Although a cloak covered most of it, the hem of my dress peeked out slightly.
He had analyzed my dress with cold precision in an instant—just from the half-span that was visible.
‘He even noticed the country of manufacture… his information network is solid.’
Even a normal man wouldn’t easily notice the details of a woman’s lace, much less determine its country of origin. He must have had both a keen eye and extensive information.
I decided to drop my suspicion and handed him the application Jane had sent.
“I want to know about this person. Her name is Jane. Appearance is—”
“No need to think long. Just from the handwriting, we can tell who someone is—what education they received, under whom they studied. Even if everything on this application is a lie.”
Truly, a skilled guild is different.
I reached into my clutch. How much should I give him?
‘They all just said they handled things discreetly, but didn’t mention the fee!’
When I put my hand in but didn’t take anything out, he covered his mouth and laughed.
Pffft.
Out loud.
“Lady, one gold will do.”
“…That’s ridiculously cheap.”
Taking an information request for the price of twenty beers? Something definitely seemed off.
When I stared at him, he tightened his neck as if to show he was serious.
“We’re not a guild that cares about money. We enjoy tasks that don’t cause harm.”
“…That’s impressive work.”
“If we cared about money, we would have accepted commissions somewhere more extravagant by now.”
Hmm, the guild master must just be modest.
I handed him the one gold coin, just as he said.
‘He’s not going to inflate the fee tenfold after I get the information, pretending he received nothing… right?’
Fortunately, he emphasized once more that they worked on a prepayment basis. He was sharp in this regard.
“Then come here by tomorrow morning.”
“Excuse me? You can find it that fast?”
“This request you left us is very easy for us. See you then.”
Fast work was good for me. Jane would be returning to work starting tomorrow anyway.
I thanked him and opened the door.
“…Done.”
I thought I heard something from behind and turned around, but the guild master only smiled and waved.
Guild Master Jake lifted one corner of his mouth as he examined Jane’s application that Daphne had handed him.
When he placed his palm on it, the letters swirled, erasing the lies and revealing the truth.
Name: Jena
Age: 25
Experience: 〈Radipal’s Magic Shop〉 1 year, 2 months
‘Learned magic under Radipal… predictable.’
Jake shook his head and crumpled the resume. Radipal was known throughout the empire as a cunning magician, skilled in trickery, and naturally, those trained under him were morally corrupted.
Jake hadn’t attended the academy but could use abilities and had connections in the magical community. In an instant, he could discern how maliciously this “Jena” had written her application.
‘But why get involved with Miss Daphne?’
He also knew of Daphne Algerf. Not because she was famous in society as a wedding dress designer or simply from rumors he picked up as a guild master.
A few years ago, after his master died, Jake had started a guild to make a living and nearly got caught while stealing information from Radipal. While fleeing, he had hidden in front of a small shop to avoid Radipal’s apprentices.
‘A dress shop…?’
Even at two in the morning, late as it was, lights were on in what seemed to be the workshop. Daphne was inside.
She neither sighed nor complained, steadily attaching jewels to the dress by hand. Observing her carefully crafting the dress, he found himself captivated.
‘An employee?’
Her light golden hair tied back, wearing a worn dress, Jake could only vaguely guess.
It wasn’t love at first sight or excitement from seeing her work. He just wanted to keep watching her. The woman focused entirely on her work, showing no signs of fatigue or unhappiness.
“Over there! Get her!”
Hearing Radipal’s voice, he silently apologized and hid on the rooftop of the building where Daphne was.
After a while, the light that had seeped out from below as if someone finished working vanished.
‘How will she get home this late? Is she staying here?’
After Radipal and his subordinates disappeared, he spent time in the attic until sunrise.
As morning arrived, he prepared to leave.
‘Still working?’
Daphne had brought another dress and was working. A blanket was casually draped over a sofa—she must have taken a short nap there.
‘Persistent woman.’
Just as he was about to leave, his eyes met hers. She bowed politely, clearly mistaking him for a passerby.
‘Interesting.’
Jake found her fascinating. Gathering information, he learned she was the daughter of the Algerf Baron family.
‘Algerf family… struggling, not well-off.’
He was curious about Daphne’s choice. She could have worked as a governess or tutor in a wealthier household, yet she chose the harder path. He raised one corner of his mouth in a smile.
After Daphne bowed and left, he stretched as if relieved.
“…Still, she’s successful now.”
He thought she had established herself after all that effort. It was unfortunate that someone now wanted to dig into her past. Perhaps since rumors about Edin Richevarden began, her peaceful life had been disrupted.
‘It would be better to chase this lady out of the shop.’
Jake stretched his stiff neck and smiled. He sensed he might have to help Daphne in other ways as well. His instincts were rarely wrong.
Just as I was about to leave Doren’s dress shop, I ran into him coming out of the workshop with a new pair of shoes.
“…”
“Lady! You’re leaving now. These shoes are our new release. What do you think? They’re designed to enhance the bride’s image.”
“Um…”
“Yes?”
“If the shoes are made of white silk, shouldn’t the base be more emphasized? The attached rubies and emeralds, and the flower decorations, steal all the attention. If you tone down the gaudy parts…”
“…Understood. That’s a good suggestion.”
He pouted briefly but immediately went to revise them in the workshop.
I usually don’t interfere in such matters. Though I run a wedding dress shop myself, this shop is technically a competitor. I could ignore their operations entirely.
But I thought that if the guild was to survive here long-term, visiting ladies might buy more from this shop. So I gave my comment—just a useless courtesy.
‘Time to go back, finish my work, and head home.’
Days when I was fed up with wedding dresses all day now seemed like good times. Traveling to so many places in a single day, it was no wonder my stamina drained.
‘…Hm?’
Clicking my tongue, I passed a quiet tea shop at a crossing. Two familiar figures caught my eye.
