CH 23

“Taak Merchant is going to sponsor us?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you so much for your willingness to sponsor us. Actually, the number of sponsors has decreased a lot recently.”

Pablo hid his fishy smile from Angela. As far as he knew, Angel’s house had never been sponsored from the beginning. That meant the Waieos family was paying all the expenses here.

Pablo said, hiding his insidious intentions. “I should have come sooner. By the way, how many children did you say were in here?”

“There are a little over thirty.”

“Then I’ll have to provide you with a lot of support.”

Pablo looked at Simon’s expression and pulled a blue satin pouch from his arms.

“First of all, I’ll sponsor 100 gold.”

“…100 gold. Such a large amount…!”

“I will give you more in the future. It will be a pity if you feel pressured. As you know, my top is pretty big, right?”

“Ah, yes, we’re so grateful. Thank you very much, Sir Pablo. I will use it well where it is needed.”

Angela was thrilled to pick up the blue satin pocket. It was because Elusiana came to mind. She always felt heavy on one side of her chest because she had put the precious young lady in a rough place. If Angela had been young and healthy, she would have stopped the young lady from going to work. However, there was no place where her old and poor body could be used.

Angela, who recalled the misery of that time, quietly wiped away the tears around her eyes. It’s good. What a relief. With this money, the lady’s burden will be lessened. If the sponsorship continued to come in, she could stop the young lady from working. With that, the young lady didn’t have to get more scars from trimming flowers.

Angela thanked Pablo without any doubt. It was a very grateful and precious relationship.

Watching Angela lower her head, Pablo smiled with his plump cheek. He said, “Of course, there will be a difference in the amount depending on what will be discussed later.”

“…discussed later? What do you mean by that?” Not understanding Pablo’s words, Angela looked at him and tilted her head. However, Pablo only looked straight at Simon, not even paying attention to Angela.

“Well, I think Viscount Waieos, who is here, should be the one answering that.”

“Are you saying you have something to discuss with me?”

Simon, who was sipping tea, laid down his teacup leisurely and faced Pablo. Although he was already middle-aged, Simon’s appearance was definitely eye-catching. It was to the extent that Pablo couldn’t wait to see Elusiana in person, which he had only seen from a painting.

Conscious of the strength in his lower leg, Pablo moistened his plump lips. “It’s a very important story that the sponsorship may be canceled depending on your answer.”

“If it’s an important story, I’m a little curious about what that is.”

When Simon smiled with his good-looking face, Pablo brought out his words. “Let me be blunt. I heard that your daughter is not engaged yet.”

“My daughter?”

“Yes. So I’d like to offer you a good marriage offer. What do you think about it?”

When Simon stayed still, Pablo became impatient and asked again, leaning his upper body forward. “The conditions wouldn’t be bad for the young lady either. She will be able to live a good life without worrying about money for the rest of her life.”

“Hmm.”

Simon, who seemed to be in agony, nodded slowly. Pablo, who thought he had already received the agreement, couldn’t hide his excitement and continued. “Ahem, then… Should I make the offer right away?”

“No,” Simon, who seemed to think about it the whole time, answered sharply.

For a moment, Pablo thought there was something wrong with his ears.

“…are you saying you will refuse it?”

“I don’t think this is a case to make you worry about my daughter’s marriage. I will just accept your goodwill.”

Pablo’s voice raised a little as he frowned. “In that case…! Wouldn’t it be necessary to accept? It’s something that will benefit both of us.”

“It’s something that will be good for both of you… Hoho, then your thought is wrong.”

“What?”

“It’s my daughter who will decide it, not me.”

“Are you saying your daughter has the right to decide?”

Simon nodded instead of answering. Pablo forced himself to swallow his anger. This was a blatant rejection rather than openly ignoring him. Is this penniless person really the same person as the last minister?  Pablo smiled suspiciously at Simon, who refused with a lame excuse.

“Then, I guess I should meet your daughter. It just happens that she’s here. Can you call her?” Pablo smiled insidiously as his gaze moved out of the window

Simon’s expression, which had been smiling, quickly hardened. Sitting next to him, Angela also trembled at Pablo’s sudden change.

Although Simon had become penniless, he was still strict when it was about his daughter. However, this time, he was just calm because he didn’t intend to respond to Pablo’s request in the first place. Simon’s brown eyes, which seemed only warm, sank coolly.

“I don’t think there’s a need for further conversation. Please go back now.”

“Are you saying you’ll give up sponsorship?”

At Pablo’s sarcastic remarks, Angela, next to Simon, was more upset than Simon. “What an unscrupulous thing! Now, do you mean you’re going to make a deal over a young lady?”

“A deal. It’s a great metaphor.”

Angela jumped up from her seat, unable to contain her anger at Pablo’s triumphant words. “I’m afraid I’m not a merchant. I don’t need the backing of people like you, go back immediately!”

Pablo snorted at it. “Alright. But how are you going to compensate me for wasting my time?”

“W-What?”

“Didn’t the Director say it? I’m a merchant. Time is money to me, so you’re not telling me to come all the way to this remote place and return empty-handed, right?”

Angela shook her body with her fist clenched in astonishment. If the family had survived, would such a beautiful young lady receive such an insulting offer?

No, no matter how much their status has declined, my lady is not an existence that commoners can look down on. Angela gritted her teeth and stared sternly at Pablo.

It was then.

Knock, knock. There was a polite knock as if to break the tension.

“…Who is it?”

“It’s me, Director.”

“A-Astein?”

“Yes.”

Angela naturally turned aside at the unexpected visitor. Simon also shook his head as he didn’t know why Astein came.

“Wait, excuse me.”

Angela shot Pablo a sharp look and opened the parlor door.

Creek. Angela, who half opened the door, asked Astain, “Yes, Astein. What brings you here?”

“I have something to tell Viscount. But—”

Astein looked at the back of Pablo’s head over Angela’s shoulder. Pablo turned his head just in time to see who would interfere. At that moment, the eyes of the two collided in the air as if it was planned.

“…!”

“—Ah, you have a guest. I’m sorry.”

“What do you mean you’re sorry?… But is it urgent?”

Angela laughed weakly. Only then did Astein take his eyes off Pablo.

“No, I’ll come back later.”

“Okay. It’ll be over soon, so can you wait outside for a while?”

“Yes.”

Angela nodded and closed the door. Just before the door closed, Pablo, who looked pale,  his whole body was shaking as if he was having a seizure.

* * *

Pablo, who came out of Angel’s house, had goosebumps all over his body. When the red eyes, like those of a beast, glared at him with madness, he felt suffocated, as if he was strangled.

“I thought I was going crazy. Fyuuh.”

Pablo, who was in a hurry in the carriage, finally breathed. As soon as he left the parlor, he ran like a madman, so his body was soaked with sticky sweat.

“Those red eyes that look like they’re going to eat people…”

The idea of marrying Elusiana had long gone from his mind.

Pablo, who wiped his face and neck with a wet handkerchief on his forehead, repeated swear words so often he lost count.

“That monster.”

Kiiik—

Something quite unpleasant and creepy scratched his ears. What sound is that?  Pablo, half lying down, jumped up at the goosebumps that climbed his arms.

“D-Damn it. Why is the door of the running carriage suddenly opening?”

His trembling eyes turned toward the shaking door. He had to grab that door right away, but he didn’t dare.

At that moment, the door burst open. Pablo’s eyes widened. “Y-Y-You!”

“I didn’t know you had a habit of stuttering. In the parlor, you could even say and talk about whatever you wanted.”

Astein, who twisted his mouth eerily, strode into the carriage. He sat across from Pablo as if it were his and said, “So, I have something to say too. No, should I say it’s something that needs to be solved?”

After speaking calmly, Astein leaned against the back of the carriage. Pablo swallowed his saliva unconsciously.