Vol. 2 Chapter 3.3 - Cant escape

Vol. 2 Chapter 3.3 - Can't escape

It was no wonder that the Count was so eager to sign the thick contract that Klopp had presented to him after only a few days of absence. Klopp quickly grasped the hand holding the luxurious handmade fountain pen. The count looked at Klopp in surprise.

“How the hell are you so sure of me that you would blindly sign without even reading it?”

“I’m sure you wrote it well. After all, you’ve boasted several times that you’re the best in the industry.”

“That’s just my words. But you should verify it yourself. Read it!”

“Alright then, so let go of my hand. It hurts.”

Apparently, he was so agitated that he had put too much strength into his grip. The count’s hand was slightly smaller and a lot smoother than Klopp’s hand. When he released it, the count murmured in a low voice, “Your brute force is unnecessarily strong.” Klopp glared at him until his eyes hurt, but the count bowed his head and didn’t see it as he was busy examining the contract. The delicate papers were quickly turned over. Is he really reading it properly?

“Read it aloud. So I can confirm that you really read it all.”

“I’m past the age of having a tutor.”

“So prove to me that you’re really reading it.”

Klopp was close to shouting at him, so Aelock began reading the contract out loud with annoyance. He wasn’t reading in a loud voice, but in the study where there were only the two of them, it was clear and sound. Maybe it was because he had sung cultured songs before, Aelock elegantly recited the contract, filled with rigid vocabulary, as if it were a romantic poem.

While reciting the lengthy content, Klopp unknowingly got absorbed in it, as if he were listening to a beautiful aria. Even though he had written it himself, he couldn’t grasp the content at all. His cup of tea was untouched, and he gazed intently at the count, who had his beautiful golden eyelashes slightly lowered as he continued reading the contract.

“Is this fee sufficient? I think it’s lower than the previous agent.”

Oh, damn it. In the midst of experiencing a rare personal moment of being immersed in the world of artistic sensibility, with those words, Klopp was forcefully pulled back into reality, almost swearing. Half of it was directed at that pathetic Count and the other half at the previous agent who had been dismissed by the Count. As repeatedly mentioned, Klopp, who was recognized as the best in the industry, naturally demanded a fee that matched his reputation, which was three times higher than usual for this contract that required him to handle various troublesome tasks. And yet, it was lower than that of his previous agent.

That cunning little swindler. What was his name again? I think I wrote it down somewhere. If I see him again, I’ll get rid of him and make sure he never scams anyone again.

Klopp imagined how he would deal with that rotten scoundrel. While he was having wicked thoughts, Aelock, with a faint smile that involuntarily appeared on his face, signed with his graceful handwriting. Before he closed his fountain pen, Klopp handed him another copy and pointed to the places where he needed to sign again.

“There are two copies, so sign both.”

“Contracts can be quite bothersome.”

Complaining about how bothersome it was to sign just three times, the Count completed his signature and without even considering taking the copy of the documents, he abruptly got up and made an excuse about having ‘urgent matters’ to attend before leaving.

Not having enough energy to be surprised or angry anymore, Klopp personally took the copy and put it in the desk drawer in Aelock’s study. He put the key on a silver tray carried by the waiting butler.

“Where is Aelock?”

“Count Teiwind is at the Music Hall. Shall I guide you there?”

Inside the carriage racing toward the Count’s estate, Klopp took out the crumpled paper once again. The immense cost was such that one might think the Count had invited a royal orchestra and a world-renowned maestro to play at once. Currently, the Count had declared austerity measures and strictly prohibited any overspending until his investment returns entered a stable phase. He had definitely reminded him of that several times. However, this wasn’t just excessive spending; it was lunatic consumption.

Klopp urged the rushing carriage to go even faster, even if the wheels were already about to come off. He pressed for more speed than usual. As the carriage arrived at the Count’s driveway sooner than expected, Klopp leaped out as soon as it entered the drive. And upon seeing the butler rushing out in response to the sound of the carriage, Klopp immediately shouted.

“Where is he?!”

“What is the matter, sir?”

The butler raised his one-eyes glasses and asked in a stern tone. After a pause, Klopp dangled a piece of paper with the estimated expenses in front of him.

“So it’s related to the expenses for the soirée. Hmm, it’s relatively more modest than usual.”

“Were these expenses reduced? That’s impressive. Anyway, it exceeds the amount that I laid out by more than five times. I need to meet the Count immediately. Otherwise, your salary will be reduced starting from next month.”

“My salary is determined by the Count, hence it doesn’t concern Sir Bandyke. However, allow me to guide you. The Count has given those instructions.”

Facing a rampageous alpha who seemed about to explode at any moment, the butler calmly presented his composed response without batting an eye. He turned his head and led the guest with an upright posture. Klopp felt suspicious of the place that they were heading as it was in a different direction from the study or the meeting room.

“Where are we going?”

“To the music hall. The Maestro and renowned musicians are selecting the repertoire for the soirée. With all due respect, please be mindful that the Maestro and renowned musicians are there.”

Klopp understood the meaning the butler emphasized, but he merely furrowed his brow at the mention of the ‘Maestro’.

As they approached the doors, loud dissonant sounds resonated from the Count estate’s music hall which was the size of a small theater, as if many people were playing instruments and trying to synchronize their performances. Without paying attention, one wouldn’t even be able to tell if there were people entering or leaving the place. The butler only guided Klopp to the music hall, he didn’t announce Klopp’s presence to the people in the room. It seemed like retaliation for disregarding his previous question. That rude oldie.

No one paid attention to Klopp in the music hall full of musicians and instruments. No, to put it more precisely, there were two clarinet players, who looked like Omegas, glimpsed this way but soon ignored him. It seemed because there was no instrument in his hand.

Amidst the chaotic music hall adorned with murals from indeterminable time periods, Aelock stood in the center. Unaware of Klopp’s presence, he was in conversation with a middle-aged alpha holding a violin.

Usually, when Klopp saw him, he would only put on a smile full of pretense, but now, Aelock was laughing so brightly and making sounds as if he was truly enjoying his time with the other person. The view made Klopp’s insides churn. A person couldn’t even meet his lover on holidays and came here running while at work.

“Aelock, you’re truly a genius. This musical soirée will be incredibly beautiful.”

“It’s all thanks to the Maestro’s participation.”

“You’ve invited me, so of course I should participate.”

The alpha even lightly tapped Aelock’s shoulder with his hand.

Aelock, who usually would meticulously brush away even a fallen leaf from the sky.

Make me feel happy and supported by leaving a comment!