The servant who greeted them when he and Calon visited had a quite perplexed expression.

Furthermore, when they entered the house, shouting could be heard.

After the servant went upstairs, sounds of hurried footsteps echoed, leaving them unsure what was happening above.

“Do you think our timing is bad?”

“Seems like it.”

At Ino’s words, Calon also nodded.

The upstairs activity was strange. They were so busy, yet why didn’t they come down? It was as if they were hiding something.

Then, footsteps were heard descending the stairs and the door opened.

Aradis Duke entered the parlor with a stern face.

“I apologize for the delay. I was suddenly preparing to receive guests.”

Aradis Duke, speaking in an unapologetic tone, took a seat on the sofa without inviting the others to sit. Seeing this, Ino clicked his tongue internally.

Even if they were commoners, a basic invitation to sit would be courteous, but it seemed that Aradis Duke had no such intention.

‘He’s someone who could lie down before the Emperor and get away with it. How pitiful to receive this treatment in some rural kingdom.’

For a moment, Ino felt sympathy for his employer.

But then he quickly retracted those feelings, recalling that his employer was unscrupulously exploitative.

“Thank you for your hospitality, even though we arrived unannounced. I am Kyle from Ash Trading.”

“Hmm.”

Calon bowed in greeting, but Aradis Duke acknowledged it with a brief cough.

Once again, a feeling of sympathy towards his employer rose within Ino.

Aradis Duke scanned both Calon and Ino, specifically their sides.

A look of disappointment crossed his face. He had expected gifts, but all the Ash Trading people brought was a small box.

“So, what brings you here?”

“We have a favor to ask of your eldest daughter.”

“Lida… can do what exactly? It’s good enough if she doesn’t inconvenience others.”

The way he disdainfully spoke about his daughter made Calon clench his fists.

‘He has no idea how brilliant and talented my daughter is, so why does he belittle her so?’

Calon succinctly explained the reason for their visit to Aradis Duke.

Not mentioning the desperate search for an Ancient Language expert, but rather to meet the aristocratic clientele’s elevated demands, they wished to study Ancient Languages.

Finding no suitable teacher, they had spotted Aelfrie’s talent at a tea party and wished to honorably hire her.

However, upon hearing this, Aradis Duke scowled.

It was common for noblewomen to teach other women. Nannies were the quintessential job for that.

But that only held true when teaching those of higher status; teaching those below them was deemed laborious and was frowned upon.

‘Teach an imperial citizen?’

Even if he were a manager at Ash Trading, he was still a commoner.

Frustrated with the offer and its lack of appeal, irritation welled up within Aradis Duke.

“That’s a rather presumptuous request. It seems you don’t yet understand how insulting this is in Denerum. You should leave.”

“We are aware of the rudeness, but finding someone of such skill is difficult. Hence, we have resorted to this impoliteness. We ask for your understanding.”

As Calon once again bowed deeply, Aradis Duke began to grow curious about something else.

“If you insist, I might consider it, but…”

Drawing out his words, the Duke gave Calon a hint. The implication was about how much they were willing to offer for Aelfrie’s services.
Extending his speech, the Viscount gave Calon a hint. He was asking how much he could give if he sent Aelfrie.

Calon quickly understood his meaning. However, he feigned ignorance, lowering his head and pretending to regret as he spoke.

“Indeed, it would be a difficult task.”

“Of course it’s difficult, but…”

“I apologize again. I tried to be respectful to the nobles of Deneretum, but if it becomes a hindrance, I should refrain.”

As the Viscount hesitated to bring up the matter of money, Calon continued speaking.

“Come to think of it, last time Lady Aelfrie declined our gesture, so we couldn’t fully express our sincerity. If it’s alright with you…”

Calon looked directly at the Viscount as he spoke.

“I would like to see Lady Aelfrie again and express my gratitude.”

Aelfrie looked around the room filled with clothes.

The room on the third floor that she used when she was young was now filled with Elize’s clothes.

Once, when Elize lost something, she accused Aelfrie, who was cleaning the room, of stealing it.

After being falsely accused at that time, she had avoided the room to prevent unnecessary suspicion.

Naturally, there were no traces left from when she stayed there. Even then, the furniture was barely passable, so they must have thrown it all away.

Aelfrie’s gaze, which had been staring blankly at the room, turned to the Viscountess standing in front of her, glaring at her.

Initially, the Viscount and Viscountess had shoved Aelfrie into her room on the fourth floor.

However, they soon came back up and brought her to this room, and she was now with the Viscountess.

After locking the door, the Viscountess spoke.

“Guests seem to have no sense; they insist on speaking with you. I’ve told them that you’re not in the condition to greet guests, so kindly answer them briefly and send them away.”

Several meanings were packed into the Viscountess’s word ‘briefly.’

Do not let the guest see the current mess, and make sure they don’t notice any slip-ups that just happened.

The Viscountess being here also aimed to prevent Aelfrie from saying anything unnecessary to the guests.

“Ash Corporation is laughable. To cling like that because you speak Ancient; what can you possibly do?”

Recalling how Elize was ridiculed by other nobles for her poor Ancient language skills, the Viscountess clicked her tongue at Aelfrie.

‘She used to read books in the library arrogantly; so she studied Ancient secretly.’

Elize had even hired a tutor but was terrible at Ancient, while Aelfrie was so good that a guest came to see her, infuriating the Viscountess.

Just then, footsteps climbing the stairs were heard, soon followed by a knock.

“I apologize for the late hour, Lady Aelfrie. It’s Kyle, whom you met before.”

Hearing the voice from outside, Aelfrie felt choked up. Memories of Ash Corporation flooded her mind as she heard his voice.

That day, she’d forgotten her place and what she needed to do, losing herself in joyful conversation as she listened to his explanations.

The whole day felt like a gift. So, she had consciously tried not to recall that day.

Recalling that day made the reality in front of her even colder than usual.

However, hearing Kyle’s voice again made that day resurface quickly. At the same time, the slap she’d received
The moment I heard Kyle’s voice again, the day I had tried to forget quickly resurfaced. Simultaneously, the cheek that had been slapped by Elize stung.

“Ah… hello.”

Aelfrie steadied her tremulous voice. The Countess glared at her, as if demanding a proper response.

‘There’s no need for such scrutiny.’

The desire to not show this side of me to Kyle was even stronger on my part than the Countess’s.

I didn’t want to feel ashamed in front of someone who had given me good memories. So I didn’t want him to find out that I was still living like this…

“I heard you’re not feeling well.”

“I’m fine… But I was resting, so please understand this manner of greeting.”

“Of course. It’s our fault for coming so suddenly. Please forgive us for coming despite knowing. We couldn’t wait any longer, as it seemed that you, Aelfrie, had forgotten our previous agreement. Our director has been quite anxious.”

“A promise…?”

Did I make such a promise? But no matter how