Finally, the long-awaited day of contract transfer between Ranson and Murten arrived. While eating breakfast with the kid, I enticed him by saying there would be good news at Black Swan today, and as soon as work was done, we’d buy cake from the famous cake shop on Lübeck Street and have a celebration party.

“I love parties!”

The kid raised his arms in excitement, even more thrilled than me. Then he pulled my hand over, claiming muscles were starting to develop on his arms.

There wasn’t much difference from before, but to encourage Rublion for his hard work, I brightly replied.

“I can really feel the muscles! At this rate, you’ll become the bear-like person I love!”

The kid’s expression melted like tissue in water. My heart swelled seeing how happy he was.

“Should we invite the Duke to the party too?”

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Ah, the Duke… wouldn’t he be busy? It’s fine with just the two of us. And though I said party, it’s just our usual dinner with cake, wine, and milk added. Of course, the wine is for me, and the milk is for you.”

Though I emphasized it wasn’t a grand party, Rublion still smiled like sunshine and replied.

“I want to grow up quickly and drink wine with you, auntie.”

“You’ve still got 8 years to go. It’s a long way off.”

The kid pursed his lips. As if entranced, I gently caressed his furrowed chin and smiled broadly.

After finishing such a pleasant breakfast, I arrived at Black Swan and headed to the art gallery in a rented carriage. Despite arriving earlier than the appointed time, Ranson and Murten were already standing at the main entrance with large luggage bags.

“You’re here early.”

As I approached, Murten smiled brightly and extended his hand.

“You’re from Black Swan, right? You bought my work before too.”

“That’s right! You remember.”

“It’s even more delightful to see you like this. I’m honored to receive patronage from someone who knows my work.”

Murten kissed the back of my hand with a twinkle in his eye. Somehow it felt like chewing raw butter, so I slightly shrugged my shoulders and pulled my hand away. At that moment, Ranson abruptly stepped between me and Murten.

“Have you been well?”

A huge shadow loomed over my head. Looking up, I saw Ranson gazing at me.

“I’ve been busy preparing for you all.”

I continued, gesturing towards the rented carriage.

“Well, we have a lot to discuss, so shall we head to Black Swan first?”

There were too many eyes in front of the art gallery to have a proper conversation.

Ranson and I boarded the rented carriage, hearing Murten’s overly sweet greetings to Anna.

As soon as we arrived at the office, the first thing we discussed was the housing issue.

“I rented out my original house when I moved into the art gallery. I’ve already notified them, so I plan to stay at a hotel until the tenants move out.”

Murten grinned and winked at Anna. I never dreamed he’d be this kind of person… Having only briefly seen his image when buying life and death, the shock of learning his true personality hit me several times harder.

“What are your plans, Ranson?”

He smiled awkwardly and fidgeted.

“I don’t really have a place to stay. Before entering the art gallery, I ate and slept at the blacksmith shop.”

“Ah…”

Since he had completely quit his blacksmith work, staying at the forge was impossible. Moreover, if he stayed there, he would inevitably be exploited for labor by the blacksmith.

“Well, how about staying at a hotel until we arrange lodgings?”

Ranson thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“You don’t need to find separate lodgings for me. I don’t mind staying anywhere as long as I have a place to sleep and eat.”

Saying that, he pointed to the storage room separated by a round arch and said.

“It wouldn’t be bad to stay there. I heard it’s not easy to find housing these days with all the people flocking to Lübeck for factory work.”

Though I appreciated his understanding, I couldn’t let our affiliated artist sleep in a storage room.

I got up and went into the storage room. Then I carefully inspected everything. It still didn’t seem right to have him stay here.

“Oh, it’s not bad.”

Ranson, who had followed behind without me noticing, strode into the storage room. He looked around and then said decisively.

“I’ll stay here. Just hang a curtain at the entrance.”

“Ranson, my pride won’t allow that. You, who will be responsible for Black Swan’s future…”

“I can put plaster statues here, and a work desk over there. Small wood blocks for carving can be stacked right here. Ah, I’d like to choose the work desk myself, would that be possible?”

I stared blankly at Ranson as he rattled off words. Murten, who had approached closely by now, put his hand on Ranson’s shoulder and said.

“My friend. If you talk so much at once, you’ll confuse the lady.”

Ranson let out an “Ah” as if he realized.

“First, I’d like to use this as a workshop and temporary lodging, is that possible?”

Though we called it storage, it was just an area separated by an arch with small windows and good ventilation.

When I asked if he was serious, he answered by saying he wanted to go look at desks soon.

“Alright. Then let’s do this. Use this as a workshop and temporary lodging until we find you a house. Promise me you’ll move once we find a house.”

“Can’t we discuss that again when the time comes?”

He gently smiled and rubbed the back of his head.

‘It’s good for me if I only think of myself.’

Recently, with factories springing up like mushrooms near the Artenbach territory, workers who had come up to the city looking for jobs were in an uproar because they couldn’t find housing.

At night, homeless people occupied park benches and dark alleys, and those who couldn’t even get those spots bought cheap linen cloths to sleep on the streets or slept in chapels provided by the church.

Naturally, housing prices and rent were expensive.

It was impossible to predict when we could find lodging for Ranson. So when he said he would stay in the storage room, I was inwardly relieved that my worries were lessened.

“Or how about staying at my place?”

Murten said, completely wrapping his arm around Ranson’s shoulder. It was a tempting offer, but he firmly refused.

“No thanks. I don’t like moving around constantly. Besides, you often bring women home.”

“Come on, we can be quiet.”

“Yeah, right.”

It was a moment when my image of Murten shattered into pieces. Anna was now openly frowning.

“Then shall we put this topic aside for now and talk about other things?”

I left the storage room and sat down in an office chair. Then I explained the activities they must do as members of Black Swan and about the exclusive sale of their works.

Murten was indifferent, saying he had already seen it all in the documents, while Ranson listened attentively, nodding his head.

“That’s all the important stuff. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me or Anna anytime and we’ll explain.”

“Thank you.”

Ranson expressed his gratitude. I smiled at him, looking like a large body crumpled into the chair.

“Then I’ll be organizing the storage room, so go with Anna to look at desks.”

As they say, strike while the iron is hot, we decided to act right away since we’d made a decision. As I rolled up my sleeves and started emptying the bookshelf in the storage room, Ranson came over to help.

“Are you going to do it together?”

“It’ll finish faster if we work together.”

“Don’t. What if you get hurt?”

“…I’m not clumsy enough to get hurt easily.”

He lifted the bookshelf I had half-emptied as it was. It was like seeing a giant with superhuman strength from the Bible.

“Could you put, put it next to my desk?”

I was so surprised I stumbled over my words. Ranson nodded once and placed the bookshelf where I had indicated.

After pulling out two bookshelves and wooden boxes, Ranson opened the small window wide to ventilate.

Sunlight poured in, blatantly revealing dust motes dancing in the air. Anna and I rummaged through the boxes taken out of the storage room to find cleaning supplies.

‘Is it almost done?’

The storage room organization progressed faster than expected. It was soon nearing completion even though Murten dropped out, saying he didn’t like getting his hands dirty.

Perhaps feeling guilty for not helping while everyone else did, Murten bought sandwiches in time for lunch. The cleaning, which seemed like it would end soon, finally finished about two hours after we ate the lunch he brought.

“It looks much better now.”

Ranson was satisfied, saying he should put the desk near the window.

“I’ll say it again, this is just temporary lodging until we find you a house.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I couldn’t help but smile seeing him brush off my words.

“If we’re mostly done, can I leave now?”

Murten was still here. I thought he would have gone to the hotel already.

“Anna, when are you going home?”

As expected, Murten approached Anna, who was finally sitting down to rest. I perked up my ears, hoping he would be coldly rejected.

“I’ll go home when work is done.”

“When does work end?”

“It will end sometime.”

Murten whistled sharply as soon as Anna finished speaking. Then he took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the soot on Anna’s nose bridge while saying.

“If Anna is willing to play with me, I’m inclined to wait even if work ends late at night.”

Why is embarrassment always the observer’s burden? I swallowed dryly, feeling my hands and feet curling up. What would Anna’s answer be?

“That’s too bad. I have no intention of playing with you, sir.”

Anna smiled brightly as she rejected him and scurried over to me. Then she silently asked me with her eyes to chase that man away.

“Let me know if he crosses the line. I’ll take care of it.”

Anna shuddered as she looked at him still winking at her. Then she grumbled under her breath.

“I should call him Butter-tang instead of Murten.”