Hazen watched Luella enter the restaurant and gestured to Tien to follow her before opening the front door.

Just then, Balder and three of his men dismounted their horses. As he stepped forward, Hazen blocked his path.

“What is it?”

“I’ve come to find Luella Rominin.”

“Why are you looking for Luella?”

At Hazen’s question, Balder erupted in anger.

“She agreed to meet me and then ran away. I knew she was capricious, but this is intolerable.”

“Isn’t it possible to change one’s mind after agreeing to meet? Is there no such freedom here?”

Stumped, Balder hesitated before shouting again.

“I still need to hear the purpose of your visit. Tell her to come out.”

Hazen spoke softly, with a polite smile.

“Luella hasn’t returned yet.”

“Don’t lie. I thoroughly searched on my way here and did not see Luella. That means she’s already here, doesn’t it?”

“So distrustful. Would you like to come in and search?”

“May I?”

“Haven’t you already passed through the main gate without our permission? Go ahead, look around.”

Confident, Balder glanced at Hazen and those behind him, then entered without hesitation.

“I’ll search everything. You do realize this includes more than just Luella’s bedroom?”

“I understand. Go ahead.”

Balder had no intention of asking for permission, but he remembered his sister-in-law’s warning and forced himself to be polite.

Once trade negotiations were finalized, he intended to burn down this insignificant Ferrous mansion.

After rescuing Luella, he would kill everyone and blame it on bandits. For that, understanding the internal structure was important, so Balder began searching everywhere without hesitation.

“Is this Luella’s bedroom?”

Hazen briefly considered lying but shook his head. It was a fact that would be easily discovered, so there was no point in hiding it. If anything should go wrong, he could always move Luella’s bedroom after they left.

Balder searched the first floor and then went up to the second before coming back down. He seemed like he was about to leave, but then he opened the office, reception room, and adjoining pharmacy, before descending to the basement.

Hazen had to be careful not to look anxious as Balder passed by the restaurant.

“He’s going to search the restaurant too? I thought he would just skim through.”

Rafael whispered, and Mitchel subtly nudged him in the ribs.

“It will be fine. Trust me.”

Hazen spoke to his friends, annoyed that Luella had not warned him about the party.

If the party had been going on, he could have warned Balder to be careful about heading to the restaurant.

Returning from the basement, Balder and his men searched all the upper floors again and clicked their tongues.

“She really hasn’t returned.”

“I told you so. You could have avoided all this trouble if you’d just asked the guards outside.”

“The guards are your people, how would I know whether they are lying?”

“There are others watching over this place, too. You could have just asked them.”

“Of course…”

Balder was about to say he hadn’t thought to ask because he assumed she had returned, but shut his mouth quickly. Admitting he had been watched was a different matter.

“I will go now.”

As he was about to leave, Balder’s eyes caught the restaurant door.

“There’s one place I haven’t checked.”

With that, he strode over and flung open the restaurant door. It was dim inside since mealtime had passed, but light was leaking from one corner.

“Over there is…”
Rafael was startled by Balder’s motion towards the kitchen, but it was already too late. Everyone watched tensely as Balder harshly opened the kitchen door.

“Oh my, what’s happening?”

Beyond the widely-opened kitchen door, Emma was seen halting her potato peeling, staring with surprised eyes.

“Emma, don’t be startled. He says he’s just looking for something.”

“What are you looking for, coming all the way into the kitchen?”

After scanning the kitchen quickly, Balder turned on his heel and stormed out of the dining room.

No matter how urgent, Luella would never hide in a place like that. To go into a restaurant with a chef present, given her arrogant nature, was unthinkable.

Fuming over his pointless act, he hastily bid the people in the Peroz mansion farewell and headed towards the entrance, almost completely exiting.

“Master Balder.”

The guild leader was used to the term, but being called that by the Ellabs was highly unpleasant. Balder halted and turned to ask the person who had called him.

“Who was it that you said you are?”

Hazgen answered with a cool expression.

“I am the aide to Duke Perimont.”

“How dare you call me Master Balder?”

“What else should I call you? I’ve heard that you prefer the title ‘Master.'”

“Forget it. Continue what you were saying.”

“Today, our master, Duke Perimont, is absent. So, I will let your rudeness pass this time. However, don’t forget that there will be diplomatic consequences if this happens again.”

Annoyed, Balder resisted flipping out, descended the stairs, and mounted his horse, looking down contemptuously at the so-called aide.