Chapter 60

Chapter 60

***

Rickart knew. I don't fit in here right now, and people are looking down on me.

Normally, one might be intimidated by those cold gazes, but Rickart had none of that. He didn't shrink back, nor did he hate the people. Because they all looked weak.

So, he just thought this. Won't be able to stay here long.

Marie didn't shrink back either, but she was a little different from Rickart.

She had trained all her life in a swordsmanship family and lived treated as an illegitimate child. Then one day, she was suddenly told she was registered and instructed to enter the Academy.

From an illegitimate child to an Imperial Princess overnight. But not much changed. She only received notification, she had never seen her father, the Emperor, directly.

So Marie loathed people who flaunted status, money, or position. She felt that in people's gazes and it was unpleasant.

Rickart just glanced over people his age once, and Marie looked down on the scornful gazes just the same with an upright posture.

Perhaps feeling their peculiar attitude and atmosphere, people's gazes also changed little by little.

Looking again carefully, Rickart felt a strong boyish beauty amidst softness, and Marie's beauty was just overwhelming. It seemed to suppress expensive clothes and accessories with just one face.

It was to the point of illusion that the reddish light unique to candles was lit for the two boys and girls.

Rickart held Marie's hand and walked with the intention of looking around the banquet hall. People's gazes followed.

People naturally felt dignity in the confident gait that wasn't forced or pretended. So the scornful gazes gradually lifted and began to change into curiosity and subtle envy.

But among them were envy and jealousy too. Who are those things? Just penniless beggars, right? Why are they acting up like that?

Wherever one goes to a gathering, there is a group leading, and within it, someone playing the protagonist role.

There was a group of men and women sitting in front of the fireplace, and among them, a girl wearing a dark pink dress decorated with pearls held a fan in her hand, stood up, and walked to Rickart and Marie.

"Hello?"

Rickart, who was looking at rare foods on the table, raised his head and looked at the girl. She looked cute, but one corner of her mouth curled up, smiling a subtle sneer.

"Yes."

"Must be your first time at the Gathering of Morning Stars?"

"Morning Stars?"

"Yes. This place is a gathering for children of influential families in Ehrenberg only. So the word Morning Star fits appropriately."

"Well, seems a bit childish."

"Excuse me?"

The girl's eyebrow twitched for a moment wondering if she heard wrong.

Out of the blue, Rickart thought it was very efficient that the girl moved facial muscles one by one, like the corner of the mouth and the eyebrow.

"Excuse me, but may I ask your name, noble sir?"

"It's Ricky. And the Lady is?"

"I am called Regina. Those close to me call me 'Cute Reggie'. If the noble sir also becomes close to me, I might give the honor of calling me Reggie."

Eh? What honor? What is she saying? Rickart was momentarily dumbfounded wondering what this kid was saying.

Regina wasn't a name of authentic nobility. Just by hearing, it was a name of a family roughly becoming a merchant family.

They were nobles if nobles, but it was an era clearly distinguished from authentic nobles holding titles.

However, he didn't come to argue status, so Rickart continued the conversation without caring.

"By the way, is a banquet originally this quiet? Isn't a banquet chatting noisily and eating and drinking?"

Banquets were often held in Stormherz too. It wasn't just for playing, but also had the purpose of strengthening friendship between the Lord and vassals. It was one of the important events.

Since he saw his usually blunt father exchanging rough jokes with vassals when drunk, Rickart felt somewhat disconnected here.

A knight family meant descendants of warriors. Conservative, valuing discipline and honor, but warriors were also hot when playing.

Even if there were cultural differences by region, such things were mostly similar. Whether Count or Duke, families with martial spirit alive were mostly like that.

But at Rickart's words, Regina smiled a triumphant smile.

"Hohoho, such banquets are strictly for hillbillies. We are different. Shouldn't we maintain dignity and elegance properly if nobles?"

"Not honor and discipline?"

"Those are things mercenaries recite. Unfortunately, the clothes the noble sir is wearing seem far from elegant."

Regina kept hiding something like sharp needles in her words and speaking. But such a tone didn't affect Rickart at all.

Rickart also knew with what intention and mindset Regina was treating him, but he just considered it trivial so didn't get angry or such.

"I also know the clothes I'm wearing don't suit this place. If you had invited when money was ample, I would have worn matching the place. If you are really uncomfortable, I'll step aside."

"Ohohoho! No. Giving charity to shabby people is also a virtue a noble should keep properly. Enjoy slowly and go. Just don't eat too greedily. Since it makes one frown. And perhaps, if you need money, seeing how the noble sir does, I might tell my father to lend some."

Regina burst into laughter and became triumphant, feeling she succeeded in shaming Rickart.

Rickart just considered Regina a pathetic brat inwardly. So he didn't feel the value of dealing with her, but Marie, who was listening from the side, couldn't stand it.

Moreover, she couldn't stand touching Rickart more.

"Excuse me Lady, but seems the Lady has a fantasy about nobles somehow."

Marie intervened and said. The outwardly revealed eyes were cold but inside fire was blazing.

"What do you mean? Don't understand well. Here there is no one who isn't a noble. Of course, me too. How is the family of the Lady 'over there'?"

Regina asked confidently lifting her chin since she was a merchant family counted even in Ehrenberg.

But it wasn't something to compare to Marie whose father is Emperor and maternal family is Count Palatine of Helauman.

It wouldn't happen, but if two families fought, Marie's side could just exterminate a merchant family just by the trouble of pressing with a thumb.

Marie snorted because it was ridiculous. However, she considered there was no need to reveal her family to trample on such a small fry. Didn't want to either.

"In my opinion, my family seems to be more prestigious than the Lady. Because, we reveal dignity and grace by ourselves without decorating with expensive clothes and accessories. Shame. Even if decorating outside however much, blood flowing in veins doesn't change. It's funny for a merchant family or such to mention dignity."

"......Wh, what did you say?"

"Besides, isn't Lady Regina also just a puppet of the family similarly? Soon will be sold off like a pig by the decision of family elders, where is dignity in that? I am not. I'm free. Naturally have freedom to choose what clothes to wear too. Please don't transfer your own victim mentality and annoyance, frustration to others. Since it looks pitiful."

If Regina spoke hiding needles in words, Marie seemed to speak stabbing deep with a knife openly.

Receiving too big shock, corners of Regina's mouth that were curled up went down. Other merchant family children around covered mouths and made surprised expressions.

Regina tried, hated to admit defeat, to raise corners of mouth again forcibly, but looked as difficult as lifting a rock. Wanted to retort something but even stuttered.

"W, wo, words, p, pig, rudeness......"

"Do needlework quietly in the corner of the house, pitiful Lady. That seems to suit the Lady."

Marie crushed the opponent completely.

Rickart thought inwardly my mom also did needlework every day, but didn't feel bad. Since situation is situation.

Atmosphere swelled like a balloon about to burst, something seemed about to pop. But suddenly an adult man's voice was heard.

"Hero-nim?"

As Rickart turned his head and looked, a middle-aged man wearing a loose hat mainly used by merchants was looking at him.

"Don't know if I'm a hero but came from Beringen Guild Branch is correct."

"Ah, oh my. Sorry. I thought you didn't come. Why didn't this guy report? Sorry. I should have escorted separately. Please come this way."

Seemed something crossed. Or entered wrong.

"Conversations were fun, Lady. Needlework is not a bad thing either."

Rickart said to Regina and followed the man with Marie.

The place was quiet since Rickart and Marie entered, and quiet now too. But even though the place was quiet, the girl was trembling body because stomach boiled inside.

"Owner of Marconis Merchant Guild, Marconis. Should have escorted properly, my negligence. Please forgive."

The person who invited Rickart said bringing expensive tea in the reception room.

Since tea had no way to obtain other than buying from Salamanders far away, was rarer than gold of same weight.

As Rickart sipped, felt a scent never smelled in life. Hard to express but tea was definitely warm but cool energy felt.

"Does the tea taste suit your palate a bit?"

Marconis said showing a good-natured laugh. But Rickart felt indescribable incongruity from that trained-like smile.

"Scent is a bit mysterious. Good."

"What about the Lady?"

"I am okay too."

"That's a relief. But, unfortunately the banquet ended. The place Hero-nim was at is a social hall. Children of influential families of Ehrenberg here gather to know faces each other, and find mates if necessary. That side must have been fun in its own way too......"

Rickart noticed immediately this person is lying now. Knew he induced to go there on purpose seeing Marconis's eyes.

Couldn't know exactly with what intention did so. To kill spirit first? To apply pressure?

Did he think knowing he can occupy advantage when negotiating or talking this and that if making them intimidated through kids first rather than stepping up himself?

It was a cunning trick but shallow. So Rickart didn't want to share chat long with this person. Since he wasn't a merchant, nor a negotiator.

"Was fun enough. But, what is the reason for inviting?"

"Hahaha, as expected, refreshing since Hero-nim."

At Rickart's direct speech style and attempt to enter main subject immediately, Marconis said laughing.

Because merchants usually talk beating around the bush for quite a long time as if putting oil on tongue.

"First, heard you started new business in city so intended to greet. Since reputation is so high, ashamed but curious too, moreover, isn't Adventurer Guild originally staying close with merchants?"

Actually was so, so Rickart nodded. Where money goes sword follows, and if sword is swung bloody money pours. World was like that.

"Then called for greeting. But I'm not good with words."

"Ah, oh my. Second remains yet. Actually this is important."

"Speak."

"Have you heard of Ehrenberg Stonemasons' Guild?"

"Yes, heard quite famous here."

"Skill is good, but troublesome things happen frequently because they are extremely rough people. We definitely paid construction fee as per contract, but they occupied the dock again asking to give more money. No matter if we do work handling money, money doesn't spring up infinitely from somewhere right?"

Rickart looked down at tea blankly. Money doesn't spring up infinitely, but becoming affordable enough to enjoy tea?

"So asking to take care of it, is that it?"

"Hahaha...... Little explicit expression but, to speak simply it's like that. If ships can't depart, loss is 10 gold coins every day. But already third day. What to do with this matter?"

"How is down payment, interim payment, success reward?"

Rickart felt very difficult to talk with Marconis dragging words here and there on purpose.

Marconis took out money from bosom hearing Rickart's words. With clinking sound, ten each, moreover gleaming gold coins wiped cleanly one by one piled up in two rows. 20 gold coins.

"Down payment 20 gold. Interim payment 10. Success reward 30. Total 60 gold coins."

Of course, contract must be written separately, but shape thrusting gold coins in front of eyes on purpose felt like a kind of negotiation technique.

By the way 60 gold coins was really big money. 1200 silver coins.

Previously if capturing Haspiel, boss of Murder Guild 'One Who Makes Mother Sad', it was 40 gold coins.

"Can't kill or such right?"

"Because must handle work without killing, we are paying a bit much."

"Good. Then will discuss with colleagues and contact again or so. Drank tea well."

"Yes?"

Business heard all so Rickart stood up from seat without lingering attachment. Then Marconis blinked eyes with absurd face.

"Saying contacting again. Going. Goodbye."

Whether he is absurd or not, Rickart just left the reception room with Marie. No matter how urgent money is, couldn't sign contract carelessly.

Leaving the mansion, saw several people going home riding carriages. Many spent night at mansion, but seemed some just going.

Rickart and Marie walked back to Guild building like when coming here.

Walking riverside, lights of dock or mansion, here and there reflected on black river water were seen. And like moon submerged in water, rippled on river water.

Felt gusto in its own way, but also eerie atmosphere likely assassin popping out from grass.

But Rickart and Marie weren't afraid at all, so could accept beauty of night riverside only.

"That person feeling not good right?"

Marie said. Though didn't penetrate Marconis's shallow trick exactly like Rickart, seemed she also noticed aura is strange.

"Uh."

"But isn't it a bit ambiguous to antagonize? Since we must take a position in our city. That person is influential here."

"Well, should see how it goes. Since Bori and Ice went to dock let's ask kids. How atmosphere there was."

"Yeah."

Two people passed riverside, walked city's night street.

Really not a single person passed by, because city's night is dangerous beyond measure so everyone stuck in house.

Boy and girl walked night street with no one continuously. Clack clack, trudging, footsteps heard exceptionally clearly.

Rickart looked up at Milky Way in night sky seen between buildings. Marie watched such boy from side.

Distance of two people was exactly this much. Marie felt heartbroken at that, but on the other hand thought fortunate too. Being able to be even this degree distance. Being able to grab if reaching out. But didn't hold hand now.

Don't know why, but because Marie felt boy's eyes looking up at night sky were sad.

Why did boy come to not believe love. While knowing to cherish person's heart. So suddenly thought boy is pitiful.

To others might seem genius swordsman, terrible enemy, close friend, hero, but to Marie boy felt like somewhat pitiful existence.

Since Marie was the only existence who knocked on boy's tightly closed door, could feel vaguely beyond that.

While being cool and yearning existence, on the other hand heart to look after coexisted.

But when two people reached under overpass where waterway passes, several black silhouettes blocking the way were seen.

Gangsters? Just city hooligans? While thinking such, someone walked out Clack clack. And familiar voice was heard.

"Noble has different thing from commoner besides dignity and formality. That is exactly power. Called authority in other words. Lowly adventurer daring to insult me who is noble and thought just passing over? Hope not stupid to that extent."

Owner of voice was Regina.

Rickart brought hand to dagger on waist. And looking at waterway passing by road worried if dumping corpse here handles properly.

But before Rickart did anything Marie stepped up first.

"You really annoying."

Because disturbed precious time of only two, Marie's eyes didn't hide anger anymore.

Seeing that eyes, Rickart momentarily thought shouldn't I stop this. Of course, himself worried about corpse disposal just now though.