You Can't Catch the Wind - Chapter 23

The servant who greeted them when he and Kalon visited had quite a bewildered expression.

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

After the servant went upstairs, sounds of frantic walking back and forth could be heard, though it was unclear what they were doing up there.

“It doesn’t seem like we’ve come at a good time, does it?”

“Indeed.”

Kalon nodded in agreement with Ino’s words.

The movement upstairs was strange. Why weren’t they coming down while moving about so busily? It was as if they were hiding something that shouldn’t be discovered.

Just then, the sound of footsteps thumping down the stairs was heard, and the door opened.

Soon after, Viscount Aradis entered the reception room with a stern face.

“Sorry for the delay. We had to suddenly prepare to receive guests.”

Blaming the other party in a voice that didn’t sound sorry at all, Viscount Aradis sat down on the sofa without inviting them to sit. Seeing this, Ino inwardly clicked his tongue.

Even if they were commoners, one would expect at least a word inviting them to sit, but Viscount Aradis didn’t seem to have the slightest intention of showing such consideration for his guests.

‘To think someone who could lie sprawled before the Emperor without reprimand is receiving such treatment in a kingdom tucked away in the countryside.’

Ino briefly felt sorry for his employer’s situation.

Then, remembering that he was a heartless employer who worked him mercilessly, he quickly withdrew that sympathy.

“Thank you for welcoming us despite our sudden visit. As I introduced myself last time, I’m Kyle from Ash Trading Company.”

“Hmm.”

Although Kalon bowed his head in greeting, Viscount Aradis responded with only a brief sound like clearing his throat.

Thanks to this, sympathy for his employer once again welled up inside Ino.

Viscount Aradis’s eyes scanned Kalon and Ino. More precisely, to their sides.

Soon, a look of disappointment crossed his face. The servant had said they brought gifts, but the people from Ash Trading Company had brought only one small box.

“So, what brings you here?”

“We have a request for the eldest young lady of this household.”

“For Rida…? What could she possibly do? It would be fortunate if she didn’t cause trouble for others.”

At the tone that disparaged his own daughter as if it were natural, Kalon subtly clenched his fist.

Surely he must know how intelligent and talented his daughter was in various fields, so why did he look down on her so much?

Kalon briefly explained to Viscount Aradis the reason for his visit.

Of course, not that Ash Trading Company was urgently looking for someone skilled in ancient languages, but that the branch manager of Ash Trading Company wanted to study ancient languages to better respond to the sophisticated demands of noble clients.

They hadn’t been able to find a suitable teacher, but fortunately, a company employee had seen Ael’s abilities at a tea party and hoped for the honor of having her as a teacher.

However, after hearing the explanation, Viscount Aradis frowned.

It was common for noble women to teach other women. Wasn’t the governess a prime example of such a profession?

But that was only meaningful when teaching women from higher-ranking families. When teaching those of lower status, it was classified as labor and viewed unfavorably.

‘And they want her to teach an imperial citizen?’

No matter if it was the branch manager of Ash Trading Company, he was still a commoner, wasn’t he?

Having received no expected gifts and now an unpleasant proposal, Viscount Aradis felt irritation rising.

“That’s quite a rude request. You don’t seem to realize how insulting that is here in Denertum. Please leave now.”

“We understand it’s a rude request. But it’s because it’s so difficult to find someone with such excellent abilities that we’ve come here, risking such rudeness. Please understand.”

As Kalon bowed his head politely once again, Viscount Aradis became curious about something else.

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

Trailing off, the viscount gave Kalon a meaningful look. It meant to ask how much they would pay if he let Ael go.

Kalon immediately understood his intention. But deliberately pretending not to notice, he lowered his head and spoke as if disappointed.

“I see, it would be difficult indeed.”

“Well, it is difficult, but…”

“I apologize again. We tried not to be rude to the nobles of Denertum, but if it’s causing you trouble, we should refrain.”

While the viscount hesitated, unable to bring up the matter of money, Kalon continued speaking.

“Come to think of it, last time Miss Aelfrida repeatedly declined our sincerity, so we weren’t able to properly express our appreciation. If it’s alright…”

Kalon looked directly at the viscount as he spoke.

“I’d like to see Miss Aelfrida again and express our gratitude once more.”

* * *

Ael looked around the room filled with clothes on all sides.

The room on the third floor that used to be her childhood room was now filled with Elize’s clothes.

Once, after Elize had lost something of hers, she had confronted Ael, who was cleaning the place, accusing her of stealing it.

Since then, falsely accused, Ael hadn’t dared go near the place for fear of arousing unnecessary suspicion.

Naturally, no trace remained of when she had stayed there. Even then, there had only been shabby furniture, which must have all been thrown out.

Ael’s blank gaze shifted to the viscountess standing in front of her, glaring at her.

At first, the viscount and his wife had pushed Ael into her room on the fourth floor.

But soon they came back up, dragged her to this room, and left her with the viscountess.

After locking the door, the viscountess said,

The viscountess’s “appropriate” implied several things.

That they absolutely couldn’t let the guests see her current disheveled state, so make sure to send them away without meeting face to face. And not to let the guests notice even a hint of the disgraceful scene from earlier.

The reason the viscountess was here with her was to prevent Ael from saying anything unnecessary to the guests.

“Ash Trading Company must be foolish. How much ancient language could you possibly know for them to be so desperate?”

Remembering how Elize was particularly bad at ancient languages and had been mocked by other nobles, the viscountess clicked her tongue at Ael.

‘I saw her arrogantly reading books in the library long ago. I suppose she must have been secretly studying ancient languages behind our backs.’

Despite having hired a separate tutor, Elize’s ancient language skills were terrible, yet Ael was said to be so good that guests came looking for her. The viscountess felt her insides twist.

Just then, the sound of someone coming up the stairs was heard, followed by a knock.

“I apologize for the late hour, Miss Aelfrida. This is Kyle, whom you met before.”

At the voice from outside, Ael’s throat tightened. As soon as she heard his voice, she remembered the events at Ash Trading Company that she had been trying not to think about.

That day, while she was with him, she forgot about her circumstances and what she had to do, engrossed in listening to his explanations and enjoying their conversation.

That entire day had felt like a gift. That’s why Ael had tried not to recall it.

When she came to her senses after thinking about that day, what she saw before her was the same cold reality as always.

But the moment she heard Kyle’s voice again, that day she had tried to forget quickly came back to life. At the same time, her cheek, where Elize had slapped her, began to throb.

“Ah… Hello.”

Ael cleared her hoarse voice. The viscountess glared at her as if telling her to answer properly.

‘There’s no need to monitor me like this.’

She wanted to avoid showing this state to Kyle even more than the viscountess did.

He had given her good memories, so she didn’t want to appear shameful in front of him. That’s why she didn’t want him to find out that she was living like this even now…

“I heard you’re not feeling well.”

“I’m… fine. But please understand that I was resting, so I’m greeting you like this.”

“Of course. It’s our fault for coming so suddenly. Please forgive us for coming like this even though we knew. It seems you may have forgotten the promise you made with us before, so we couldn’t wait any longer and came. Our branch manager was so insistent.”

“Promise…?”

Did she make such a promise? But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t remember.

Then, with a sound of disappointment from outside the door, his voice was heard again.