ushernet Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Lianel cast a brief glance at Ahwin, who was still seated as if it were only natural.
“If it’s not an imposition, would it be all right if I exchanged greetings with him? I know Pablo from before,” Lianel said.
Penelope was slightly surprised. She hadn’t expected Lianel to know Pablo.
Then again, if he stayed close to the heroine in the original story, he must have crossed paths with Pablo at some point.
Ahwin’s eyes sharpened immediately.
“You... always...”
“A-a-choo!”
A loud sneeze suddenly echoed from the hallway outside the reception room.
Penelope frowned and said, “At this rate, he’ll catch his death of cold. Please, let Pablo in at once.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The steward quickly exited the room, and moments later, Pablo entered the reception room, his hood pulled tightly over his head.
“Baroness! It’s been so long! A-a-choo!”
“Pablo, what on earth happened to you?”
Penelope was startled. Pablo looked utterly disheveled. His leather boots were soaked, his hair was a mess, and his robe was damp and wrinkled. On top of that, his legs were trembling so much that he couldn’t stand still.
Sniffling, Pablo explained, “The wagon wheels broke as we were cutting through the snow, so I had to walk the rest of the way here.”
“You’re going to catch a cold. Go warm yourself in the bath right away.”
“Thank you, thank you, a-a-choo!”
Penelope frowned and gestured to the maids. Giselle stepped forward.
“Please follow me this way.”
Pablo was escorted to the communal bath used by the servants.
Penelope sighed and muttered to herself, “He came all this way through the snow. Truly a remarkable man. I suppose you need that kind of tenacity to make money.”
“Well, yes. There aren’t many merchants as shrewd and persistent as he is,” Ahwin added.
“I figured you’d know him well.”
“I told you, I don’t know him at all.”
Penelope stifled a laugh but glanced at Lianel out of the corner of her eye. She felt she might have been too casual in her conversation with Ahwin.
Lianel, however, simply smiled warmly.
“Please, feel free to speak as you like. There’s no need to mind me.”
“....”
Penelope cleared her throat and averted her gaze. She hadn’t realized she had let her guard down.
It seems Lianel is curious about my relationship with the Mage Tower Master. Am I feeding into his curiosity?
Still, Penelope had no intention of distancing herself from Ahwin just to appease the Grand Duke.
After all, Lianel was merely a guest, while Ahwin was something akin to a friend—a grumpy, begrudgingly helpful friend who always looked out for her, whether he admitted it or not.
Whatever anyone says, Ahwin is on my side.
“It will soon be nightfall, and it will be bitterly cold outside. Why not have dinner here and spend the night in the castle? Tomorrow morning, I’ll send someone to the inn to bring the builders to the castle.”
“...If that’s the case, I would gratefully accept.”
Relieved at not having to venture out into the freezing weather, Pablo nodded enthusiastically.
Penelope turned to the steward.
“Assign him one of the empty rooms in the retainers’ quarters.”
“Yes, my lady,” the steward replied with a bow.
Pablo’s face lit up like a full moon. The thought of sleeping in a warm room with heated floors made him giddy with excitement.
“Thank you so much for your generosity.”
“The steward will show you to your room. Please don’t be late for dinner, as we’ll be dining here.”
“D-dinner here?” Pablo’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Penelope was a noblewoman and the acting lord of a territory. For her to dine with someone of his common status was unthinkable.
“Well, since we’ll be seeing a lot of each other, we might as well share a meal. Also, someone who knows you is currently a guest at the castle. They’ll be joining us for dinner.”
“Someone who knows me? Are they a noble?”
“Lianel Leovant.”
“Ah...”
Pablo furrowed his brow, as if trying to place the name.
Who could that be?
The name Lianel sounded familiar, but the surname Leovant was less so.
“Doesn’t ring a bell?”
“I think he might be one of the noble clients I’ve worked with in the past. I’ve met so many over the years that I’d need to see him in person to be sure.”
“Then I’ll take that to mean you won’t feel uncomfortable dining with him. Now, go get some rest.”
“Ah, yes.”
Pablo stood up, trying not to appear flustered.
Although it wasn’t his first time being invited to dine with nobles, this was the first time he had been asked in such a disheveled state. No other noble, especially someone of Penelope’s status, had extended such kindness.
Not knowing how to process the situation, Pablo left the room silently, his eyes growing unexpectedly warm.
***
Overly nervous about the rare dinner invitation, Pablo arrived far too early, finding himself seated alone as the servants prepared the table and arranged the meal.
As he sat awkwardly in the empty dining room, Giselle approached him with a pitcher of water and poured him a glass.
“Ah, thank you,” Pablo said gratefully.
He had been feeling quite parched, so he eagerly gulped down the water.
“Pfft!”
The water sprayed from his mouth as he coughed in shock.
At that moment, the door to the reception room opened, and Lianel entered.