* * *
‘He’s impossible to understand.’
Adam stared at the carriage, face still filled with confusion.
The one he had just ridden was elegant and refined, but he couldn’t enjoy its beauty.
All he could think about was how he’d have to ride it again after spending that money before sunset.
‘All that money… What am I even supposed to do with it?’
After a moment of hesitation, Adam decided to start walking.
The village was unfamiliar, completely new.
In the center of the square, a large fountain stood, surrounded by crowds of people.
“Whoa, there are foreign merchants here!”
“Careful, there’s a puddle ahead!”
Lily and Dean couldn’t hide their excitement.
The same was true for the other servants—they all seemed thrilled with the outing.
Watching their joy, Adam felt his own gloom lighten.
He gave a small smile and glanced around.
That’s when a tailor’s shop caught his eye.
“Let’s check that place out.”
“The tailor’s?”
“Yeah. I want to buy something for my sister.”
His expression softening, Adam added:
“She’ll have so many things she’ll want to do once she gets better. I want her to have clothes to wear for those moments.”
With a little chime of the bell, Adam stepped inside.
The tailor, taking one look at his posture and clothes, assumed he was a noble young man with money to spare.
Quickly, the shopkeeper greeted him with a bright smile and laid out a variety of fine fabrics.
“Who are the clothes for? I’ll need to take measurements.”
Since Emily wasn’t present, Lily offered to stand in as a proxy.
As Adam pictured his sister in a fresh, cheerful dress, he couldn’t help but smile.
Just imagining it made his heart feel warm and light.
A few hours later, the tailor had taken several orders: a pale pink silk dress decorated with brown and rose-colored lace, a blue outfit for outings, a gray dress for daily wear, and a cream-colored evening dress adorned with exotic embroidery.
“Your sister’s going to love these,”
Lily whispered with a soft smile as she approached.
“Especially that green silk. They’re planning to layer it with green muslin on top—it’ll make such a lovely dress. She has red hair like you, right? She’ll look just like a rose. If she pins a red rose to her chest, she’ll be breathtaking.”
“Yeah, it’ll suit her. But I don’t think red hair is the only match.”
Adam glanced at Lily’s curly brown hair.
“I think it’d look lovely on a brown-haired girl too. Lily, that dress is a gift for you.”
A quiet hush fell over them.
Lily gaped at him, speechless.
Adam looked back and forth between her stunned face and the soft, beautiful fabric.
“I’m getting Dean something too. Even if it’s not technically my money…”
Lily’s eyes welled up with tears in an instant.
Moved by the young girl’s reaction, Adam looked awkward, but at the same time, a warm feeling spread through his body, like he’d just sipped hot chocolate.
I’ve still got plenty of money left. What should I do now?
Fingering the heavy coin pouch, Adam fell into thought.
He had a feeling he’d be running around a lot before the sun went down.
The village tavern was alive with energy.
It was all thanks to the customers who’d shown up wanting to drink in the middle of the day.
They were mostly foreign merchants and mercenaries, busily downing cold dark beer.
“Still drinking like champions, I see.”
Someone spoke toward the mercenaries who were gulping down beer without a break.
They laughed, their faces flushed with cheer.
“Oh, of course! It’s a gift straight from the Duke himself.”
“The best drink in the world is free booze. Wonder if the Duke knows that.”
The man sitting by the window was Chester. Leaning back in his chair, he smiled faintly.
Chester and the mercenary band had been close for a long time.
He had met their leader during a national gladiator tournament, and later they had teamed up to take down a dragon.
As wanderers with no nationality, the mercenaries roamed from country to country but frequently visited the Carlisle territory.
“I’ll send a carriage for you tonight, so be sure to get on it.”
“Huh? Why a carriage?”
“What else? You’re all coming back to my estate.”
The mercenaries shook their heads and took another swig.
“No can do, my lord. We’ve got a contract with those merchants. We’re supposed to escort them safely to their destination. Can’t just ditch them to head to a fancy mansion.”
“You haven’t changed one bit. Come on, it’s not like you’re strapped for cash. I gave you plenty of treasure, didn’t I? Yet you still keep wandering. Isn’t it time you settled down?”
“We get antsy when we’re not working. It’s just how we are.”
Chester shrugged, clearly unable to understand.
The mercenary leader clucked his tongue and waved a hand dismissively.
“Either way, we’re not going to the estate. Being there makes us feel all tense. I don’t think we’d even be able to laugh like this.”
“Who’s stopping you from laughing? Who dares?”
The mercenary leader didn’t seem flustered.
“Probably… the other Duke, right?”
At that, Chester’s mind conjured up his brother’s face.
Unlike himself, who was always roaming around, his brother was likely buried in account books right now.
“Well, fine. At least stay in the best inn. That way I can feel at ease.”
“You really are too kind, my lord,” the mercenary leader said with a teasing grin.
“A handsome and generous Duke like you—wonder which lucky lady’s going to snatch you up.”
“Huh? Ahaha!”
Chester couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you talking about? I don’t do love.”
“You never know what’ll happen, my lord. I didn’t think I’d become friends with a Duke either.”
“No. When I say no, I mean it.”
The mercenaries exchanged looks.
Most people were desperate to fall in love, yet this man seemed intent on avoiding it.
One of them joked:
“Come to think of it, isn’t it true Lord Chester’s into men too? So maybe not a lady, but a young master from some noble family?”
“Wow, you’ve got a good memory. That’s something I said forever ago. But no, it’s not that either.”
Chester gave a subtle signal to the tavern owner, who quickly bowed and disappeared into the kitchen.
Soon, the tavern’s finest dishes would be brought to the table.
With a calm smile, Chester added:
“It’s just the way I am. I’ve never felt that kind of longing or precious affection for someone. And I never will.”
“Still the same as always.”
“Still arrogant, you mean?”
The mercenaries chuckled at the feather-light banter.
Chester laughed along, then stood up from his seat.
“Well, rest up. I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
“Oh, we’re honored, my lord! You’d grace us with your presence two days in a row? I’m speechless.”
“You exaggerate. It’s only natural that—”
Suddenly, Chester stopped mid-sentence.
He was frowning, staring out the window.
A flicker of curiosity appeared in his violet eyes.
“Am I seeing things…?”
The mercenaries looked at him, puzzled.
“Is something outside?”
But Chester didn’t hear them.
His gaze was fixed beyond the window—on a man lingering in the village square.
‘Adam Ross?’
A man with red hair and green eyes—it was definitely Adam.
* * *
