Although the work was tough, it was quite rewarding to make Rodney feed me. Upon my request, Rodney enthusiastically went to the kitchen without asking the maids. His figure made me burst into laughter.

He placed three slices of strawberry cake in front of me. When Rodney asked if I needed more, I nodded, and then I tasted the strawberry cake.

“It’s sweet and delicious.”

“Good to hear. So, let’s talk now. There’s actually a lot I want to ask you.”

I spoke while holding a fork in my mouth, looking at Rodney.

“What is it?”

“Take the fork out of your mouth before talking… No, forget it. I heard from a classmate who hasn’t graduated yet. Urick Penton, dropped out of school?”

“Hmm. The news is late.”

“It’s been quite a while since I graduated. And when I send a letter to Urick, he replies a month later. Sometimes, he doesn’t reply at all.”

“He must be busy. Urick never delays his replies for a month.”

“He replies faster than anyone else. When I mentioned it, Rodney laughed awkwardly.

“It’s only you. Why does Reese’s younger brother have no clue about this side?”

“…Urick is in Hoja Village now. He’s training every day to become a knight.”

When I avoided the topic, Rodney’s eyes narrowed. Before he could ask a pointless question, I quickly opened my mouth.

“For more details, ask Urick when he comes. He’ll attend Felicia’s wedding.”

“Urick at Felicia’s wedding…? Did you two finally get engaged?”

I glared at Rodney.

“Don’t make assumptions.”

“Otherwise, there’s no reason for Urick to come to the wedding, right?”

“Felicia invited him. He happened to run into Urick while visiting Hoja Village.”

“Felicia did something unexpected.”

“What exactly is so good about it? You caused trouble for Urick!”

He even threatened me unnecessarily. Rodney laughed heartily, treating that incident lightly.

He could laugh so easily because he didn’t experience that situation himself. I tossed the fork onto the plate.

At the sharp sound, Rodney’s smile also stopped for a moment. Instead of opening his mouth, he just stared at me with his eyes that seemed to see through me.

“Not knowing anything is a lie, right? You’re just pretending not to notice. How much Urick likes you.”

“…Stop it.”

“Can I tell you something interesting?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Listen, our school and the Venetian Girls’ Dormitory School were quite close, right? At that time, the rumor about you dominating the entire school with just one game of chess was quite impressive.”

“It’s not that impressive.”

“Our school guys were excited to see you too.”

“I don’t know. Stories from the past are not interesting.”

“Let me finish.”

Rodney caught my gaze.

“At that time, it was before selecting the next year’s student president. Urick was recommended too, but he hated awkward things, so he deliberately didn’t submit the application. But when many guys started leaving without permission just to see you, Urick immediately submitted the application for student president, saying he would catch them all.”

“Excellent.”
“Excellent. Can’t you see right through me?”

Rodney’s laughter-laced words forcibly pulled out my past. The memories swirling in my mind weren’t limited to just that.

Whenever he looked at me, Urick’s upright gaze always came to mind, stirring my chest. It was still the same now. I tried to enjoy my leisure, but Urick kept intruding.

“…….”

I took a large bite of the strawberry cake. Instead of calming my emotions with its sweetness, it reminded me of the sensations Urick had given me.

Unaware, Rodney continued to bring up things Urick had done, describing them in detail, as if afraid someone might doubt it was literature. He added vivid descriptions to keep the conversation lively.

“Reese, I understand why you pretend not to know Urick’s feelings. But be reasonable. Before Urick Penton gets hurt.”

Now, I was starting to get scared of the depth of Urick’s emotions towards me.

Why on earth does Urick…?

It was a depth of emotions with no end in sight.

“Of course, I don’t just want to talk about Urick. There’s a separate, more important story, Reese.”

“Then, start with that kind of story first.”

“It’s about Marquis Marsen.”

Rodney’s face gradually stiffened.

“It seems he has joined forces with the Ignora Guild.”

Rodney stated the conclusion immediately.

“Your information is really late, Rodney. I already knew. I see that master every day, you know?”

“Are you close?”

“As close as it gets.”

Rodney smirked as if acknowledging defeat.

“Don’t tell me that’s the only thing you found out? Don’t underestimate your information network. Marquis Marsen is meticulous and cautious, contrary to appearances. It’s not easy to uncover information.”

Rodney felt unfairly treated, thinking I didn’t appreciate his efforts.

“Tell me where.”

“As you know, when establishing a guild, it’s better to start from the southern guild shopping district. It seems Ignora almost owned that land.”

“And then?”

“Ignora handed that land over to Marquis Marsen. In return, Marsen gave Ignora the land that used to be part of the former imperial territory.”

“…….”

“Anyway, they investigated how those two, who had no connection, met. And in the process, they found something.”

“What?”

“It seems there’s a ‘place of trade’ known only to dirty characters. And it’s quite large in scale. Rumor has it that it’s a place filled with crime and inhumanity.”

As soon as I heard that, only one place flashed through my mind.

The alley deep in the Hoja Village marketplace…

“But it’s such a secretive place that there’s almost no information about it. However, they accidentally heard one rumor. The family that most frequents this ‘place of trade.'”

“Our Marquis Marsen family?”

“No. It’s hard to believe, but it’s the Penton Ducal family.”