Chapter 32

On the third day, I watched an opera. It was boring.

On the fourth day, I attended a concert. It was mind-numbingly boring.

On the fifth day, ...

‘No, pull yourself together. If I keep slacking off like this, I won’t get any information about the client, Dian Ket, or maintain my relationship with the butler assassin. Even if it’s troublesome, the latter is a problem.’

I shouldn’t slack off.

I should get everything I can from my position as Lord Weatherwood, right?

Let’s go over the third day again.

The third day.

“Hey, wake up. People have come to see you.”

“Huh?”

I woke up from a deep sleep during the opera to find my familiar friends waiting for me.

They looked a bit flustered at my half-asleep state and smiled awkwardly.

“The play was a bit... boring, it seems. Do you remember us? We watched the duel of the Berkeleygraiton family together yesterday.”

“I was quite surprised to hear you are Lord Weatherwood.”

They were the newspaper publisher’s son and the banker’s son who had explained the duel of the Berkeleygraiton family to me yesterday.

Their usual hearty attitude was gone, and their words and expressions felt particularly stiff. It seemed my title as a lord was weighing on their minds.

Indeed, if the person I could talk to freely and easily turned out to be a lord... it would be uncomfortable.

I yawned and patted their shoulders.

“Would I forget my friends? This gentleman with the blonde hair is the newspaper publisher’s son, Y... Quin. The gentleman with black hair is the banker’s son, Volka... Si.”

“Hmm. Yegerci and Volkwyn.”

“Seems like you’ve forgotten.”

Yeah, those were their names.

“To make up for the introduction I didn’t do yesterday, I’m Lord Gray Weatherwood. This is my wife, Morian Sereine. Speak freely, friends. Or is there something lacking in me for us to be friends?”

Yegerci waved his hands with wide eyes.

“Eh? No, how could that be?”

“Then I’m glad. I don’t like awkwardness. If you make me feel awkward, I’ll leave immediately.”

“...Do you really want us to speak freely?”

“Consider it a mistake and let it go.”

Yegerci and Volkwyn looked at each other with surprise and then cautiously suggested to me.

“If you say so... Actually, we came here to ask you something. Do you have any plans after this?”

“No.”

“Hmm. Then would you like to join us? We’ve reserved an outdoor seat for a drink. There’s a bit of extra space. Oh, of course, Lady Weatherwood is welcome too.”

It’s good that they’re trying to recruit me. But they want to bring Ludo too?

‘Bring Ludo...’

I didn’t forget the result of the game we played last night...

Ludo never lost a single game while I lost 23 in a row. Every time I got angry and frustrated, Ludo smiled even more happily.

It wouldn’t be much different in front of people.

I could imagine Ludo’s mischievous behavior, my suffering, and the two of them watching us.

It was terrifying.

“No.”

“No?”

I answered with a serious face, looking at Ludo without a smile.

“My wife is too beautiful and dangerous.”

“...Oh, really?”

Ludo, who was covering her mouth and smiling demurely, tapped my shoulder.

“You’re so silly! How embarrassing!”

Her expression of genuine shyness made me shiver.

Ludo, perfectly mimicking a noble lady, instructed Yegerci and Volkwyn.

“Unfortunately, I have another appointment. Please take good care of my husband, gentlemen.”

“What a pity. We’ll wait for the next opportunity.”

Appointment? I’ve never heard of it. I leaned my head slightly and whispered to Ludo.

“Appointment? With who?”

“Secret.”

Hmm.

‘She’s up to something.’

She’s been suspiciously quiet since yesterday.

“Don’t get involved in strange things and stay quiet. Got it, dear?”

I was about to warn her not to cause unnecessary trouble, but she beat me to it.

“...Yeah.”

We left the opera hall and headed downstairs.

On the middle deck of the Black Raga, there’s a small corridor where you can enjoy a cup of tea while looking at the sky.

As soon as we sat down, Volkwyn spoke first.

“Gray. Can I call you Gray? Your relationship with your wife seems very good.”

“I was also very surprised. Sereine is from a family with a long history in the Astrosa Kingdom. It’s not easy for her to come to such a distant place. It seems she loves you deeply.”

I looked at Yegerci with a slightly surprised expression.

“You know my wife’s family?”

“Well, I studied abroad in the Northern Continental Federation when I was young. Wow! It was a fantastic cultural sphere. Especially the Astrosa Kingdom, the heart of Northern Continental culture, had a lot to study.”

He then gave a rather long explanation of his study abroad days.

Yegerci, the second son of a large newspaper publisher, had a wealth of information and experiences that were new to me.

“You know, because of the North Deuse Mountains, cultural exchanges between our Pen Rota Empire and the Northern Continental Federation are not smooth. My father wants to set up a branch there. The Magic War is over, and if we secure a position first, we will surely grow rapidly.”

“...Do you regularly interact with people from the Northern Continent?”

“Of course. The professors of Northern Continental Culture we sponsor number over twenty. Gray, if you have children, contact me first. Northern Continental culture is a craze among the nobility now, and foreign language teachers are very popular.”

Professors of Northern Continental Culture. They would certainly have accurate information about noble families like Sereine.

‘Sereine’s family must be related to Ludo.’

Since using Sereine’s family status wouldn’t be a problem, there must be a deep connection.

If I dig deeper, I might find clues related to Ludo’s identity. I requested a connection in a natural way, as if I were asking for a favor.

“If I could meet one of those professors, my wife would be very happy.”

“Sure, no problem. Among friends.”

“Oh, thanks. By the way, speaking of professors, I have a question. Is there a treasure hunting course or something?”

“Treasure hunting... you mean archaeology?”

“For example, the relics of Dian Ket.”

At that moment, a faint sense of caution appeared in Yegerci’s eyes.

‘Does he know something?’

To get useful information, I needed to lower his guard.

I shook the book <Continental 7 Great Mystery Treasures for Children> that Ludo had been reading next to me while I was dozing off.

Since the lady’s handbag was so small, I had to carry it as her husband.

“My wife became interested in this book. Since she’s from a distant country, she might not have many things to enjoy. I thought we might go on a treasure hunting trip together if possible.”

Only then did Yegerci’s expression soften.

“Treasure hunting? Oh... Gray, you really...”

“You’re so innocent.”

“Yeah, Volkwyn. Our new friend Gray seems very innocent. It’s a bit worrying.”

Was it an upper-class joke? Or a mockery?

Yegerci, who was stroking his chin as if in thought, leaned in and whispered.

“A pleasant treasure hunting trip with your wife... it’s best to forget about it. Dian Ket’s relics are dangerous. Recently, they’ve become very dangerous. For some reason, they’ve become targets for some dangerous people.”

Targets for dangerous people.

‘This is it.’

From a few short sentences, I had an intuition.

‘Among the dangerous people Yegerci mentioned, the client must be included.’

Especially, the client likely prowled around other places besides the Weatherwood family. After all, there are five Dian Ket relics.

It was a startling piece of information, but I couldn’t show deep interest. Yegerci’s intuition was as sharp as a knife, and I might raise unnecessary suspicions.

I added a short comment as if I had just heard an interesting legend and led to another piece of information.

“Targets? You don’t mean... the legend that if you find all five, you become immortal, is true?”

“I don’t know that much. Just know it’s dangerous, so look for other entertainment.”

“Why is it dangerous? It sounds more exciting. Don’t you think so, Volkwyn? So, who are these dangerous people? The royal family or a secret society, something like that?”

“Ahaha... Gray, you have quite a childlike side. Secret society? That’s something you hear when you’re young.”

While Volkwyn laughed softly, Yegerci’s expression became strange. Volkwyn lowered his voice, as if in disbelief.

“Why, Yegerci. Is it really related to the royal family and a secret society?”

Good job, Volkwyn! Ask more! More!

“That’s...”

Yegerci, who was about to speak, closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

“...That’s enough. Don’t keep putting me in danger, you guys. I have to see my children get married before I die!”

“Haha... Get married first, Yegerci.”

Marriage? Perfect, the next topic to bring up.

“What about Jin Berkeleygraiton?”