Chapter 97

# 97

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Erkin turned the carriage and was on his way back to Campanella.

"Ricardo."

At his call, a man with a rough appearance emerged from the corner of the spacious carriage interior where he had been hiding.

"Yes, master."

Though it was excessively disrespectful to act this way in front of a noble, let alone a grand noble, Erkin was a man who didn't pay much attention to such things.

"I assume you heard the story just now. We need to check out the Sophia Temple."

"I'll gather a team of stealth mages. One day should be enough."

Erkin nodded, then ran his finger along his lips for a moment.

"Ricardo, have you heard any news recently?"

"News? Well, apart from the commotion in Esselred caused by that little girl, nothing much. Oh, and Viscount Janeger suddenly bought some poplar wood."

"Poplar wood? Why?"

"Who knows? How can someone like me understand what nobles are thinking?"

Erkin chuckled at Ricardo's curt reply.

"There's no such thing as a hierarchy in thoughts. How could you not know?"

"But she's just a kid."

Erkin shook his head.

"You need to broaden your perspective. Why would someone who makes such a bold choice to be both a carpenter and an information agent be so narrow-minded?"

"Being a carpenter alone doesn't pay the bills, so that's why. I might as well become a packer too. That way, I can gather information and it seems like a good idea."

"Good thinking. With your skills, you'll make a fortune."

At this optimistic statement, Ricardo furrowed his brow and looked at Erkin as if he were a hopeless young master.

"Pack your bags? Oh, you do it then."

"But I'm not as talented as you."

Erkin smiled, and Ricardo turned his head away, as if to say, "Fine, whatever."

The carriage soon arrived in front of the grand theater.

Instead of the coffee house, he entered Campanella and headed to his office on the top floor.

The entire building belonged to him.

Creak.

Erkin pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper from a drawer and untied it.

It was a copy of the portrait of Naviya that his informant had made at Nikan's request.

"Even just looking at the painting, I thought she looked like me..."

When he actually met Naviya, she looked so much like him that he felt his breath was taken away.

Erkin caressed Naviya's portrait with trembling hands.

His eyes were filled with pain, brimming with sorrow.

With slightly reddened eyes, he took a deep breath and looked away from the portrait.

Then he paced around the room, recalling Naviya's appearance.

The coat she wore looked very old, as if she had inherited it from her mother.

Of course, it looked new and stylish on her.

Still, children usually want something a bit better than what their peers have.

He called his assistant.

"Get as many clothes and items as possible for a noble girl. At least enough to fill five carriages. Oh, and some for Ansee too."

The assistant looked bewildered.

"......Yes? Ah, yes. Understood."

What on earth is he going to use them for? Is he planning to put on a children's play?

'But even in a children's play, the actors aren't necessarily children. And Ansee is too much...'

While he was confused, Erkin gave the next order.

"Also, look into the Alvin Viscount's sedative herb farm and transfer the ownership to Esselred."

This was a clear command with a specific interest, so the assistant straightened his expression and bowed.

"As you wish."

* * *

Ricardo trudged into the small woodworking shop he had barely managed to set up on the outskirts of the capital.

"What good is having skills when these damn craft guilds don't give newbies a chance?"

The capital of the empire was already filled with renowned craft guilds.

It was quite difficult to compete with such established figures.

He plopped down onto a stool in the workshop that was as clean as new.

'Should I really take up a side job as a packer?'

Since the invention of the magical train, travel had become more common among the wealthy.

This led to a need for professionals who could pack the nobles' luggage.

The market was still a blue ocean, so jumping in now could potentially yield a big profit.

While he was lost in thought, the sound of hooves cut through the rain outside.

"Who could that be?"

As Ricardo stepped out of the workshop in confusion, an old gentleman with white hair and a cold demeanor greeted him from the carriage door.

"Hello."

Ricardo knew exactly who he was.

'Schleman Janeger, the Viscount!'

Why would he come to my workshop?

"......Yes, hello. What brings you here?"

"Ah."

Schleman got out of the carriage, opened his umbrella, and approached Ricardo, who was standing a bit away from the workshop door.

He pulled out a piece of paper from his coat pocket.

It was the same paper Naviya had used to draw the bag.

"The young lady I serve asked me to deliver this to a carpenter named Ricardo. Are you Ricardo?"

"Yes, but......"

Ricardo took the paper hesitantly, feeling puzzled.

"......Wait. This was delivered by the young lady you serve? Who is she?"

Ricardo's hands trembled with shock and disbelief.

At that moment, Schleman's eyes flashed sharply.

'So, he knows who I am without an introduction. What does a carpenter have to do with me?'

"Naviya. The young lady I serve is named Naviya."

"......!"

Ricardo's expression turned even more horrified.

* * *

Naviya looked anxiously at Lark, who had been moved to the bedroom, drenched to the bone.

"Lord Lark will be fine. He's a strong person who doesn't even feel the cold in the middle of winter. Miss Naviya, you'll catch a cold if you stay like this."

Margaret wrapped Naviya in a large towel, gently drying her and soothing her with concern.

But Naviya was still frozen in shock.

"The Duke...... The Duke collapsed because of me......"

"That's not true."

"No, it is. He was waiting for me, and it's because of me......"

Naviya was always the one being waited for.

She had never made anyone wait, and she had never seen anyone get hurt because of her.

The tenuous bond formed through the time she spent with Lark now came back as a massive shock.

When she was younger, she had only felt envious of the sense of belonging and connection.

But now, she learned for the first time the great responsibility and the fear that come with having something precious.

She was scared not only of his pain but also of the possibility that Esselred's retainers might hate her because of it.

Even in such moments, she realized how selfish and calculating she could be.

How disgusting.

Naviya felt her eyes trembling.

Margaret could see that Naviya was in a state of shock and confusion, unable to think rationally at the moment.

So she said nothing more and simply held her tightly.

Naviya's trembling body gradually calmed down.

The power of a hug was truly strange.

This act was more comforting than a hundred logical words.

Naviya's face was still pale, but she thought that if she didn't act mature, those around her would suffer, so she regained her composure.

"Then, I'll go out. I need to change my clothes...... Oh."

Naviya only now noticed that the cloak she had promised to return clean was soaked and dirty.

"I'm sorry...... I'll have it washed and return it to you."

"Oh, clothes get dirty when you wear them. Just have the shadow wash it, don't worry."

Naviya, feeling that she had completely ruined the day, smiled bitterly and nodded reluctantly.

Naviya left the bedroom and descended to the second floor with weak steps.

'I need to change into pajamas and wash the dirty clothes. And prepare dinner.'

I need to find something I can do.

Right now, there was nothing else she could do.