Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 58

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 58

Chapter 9

“My name is Klaus. I have been eagerly awaiting the chance to meet you, Lady Belinda Blanche.”

The man who bowed politely to me looked so frail that he seemed like he would struggle to hold even a pen, let alone a sword.

I nodded with a somewhat displeased expression.

‘Wasn’t he supposed to be in good health?’

It might be prejudice, but I had thought the boss of the Sewer Rats would be a large, menacing man with scars on his cheeks.

However, the king of rats I actually met had delicate hands that would suit playing musical instruments, and his skin was so pale that he looked distinctly sickly.

Moreover, his narrow eyes that curved into a smile had a strangely disarming quality, giving him an impression that was completely unlike what you’d expect from a real power in the underworld.

“This is my son and assistant, Jerry.”

The slender man who had been standing behind Klaus stepped forward and bowed his head.

It was a face I had seen in 【Hirome】.

A supporter who had helped the protagonist in every way when pursuing the underworld boss ending. I believe his specialty was the art of disguise.

He was the only familiar face among them.

However, what differed from the 【Hirome】 illustration was that he looked about four or five years younger and had gentle eyes without any malice.

“So, the dress is completed?”

“Yes, please allow me to escort you this way. Jerry, please serve some refreshments to the young master.”

When I nodded in permission, Leo left the side room following Jerry.

While Jerry attended to Leo, I was accompanied by Madame Merilyn and Klaus.

Her complexion looked quite poor, as if she had stayed up all night creating the ballroom dress I had urgently commissioned a few days ago.

A dress for a high-ranking noble, and one for attending a royal ball at that.

When she complained that it was an impossible task to handle, I made my request plainly.

“Don’t think about trends or anything like that, just make it flashy.”

“…I believe that clothing is like a kind of prosthetic limb. Just as with prosthetics, the fabric, decorations, and colors that suit each individual are all different. Therefore, it takes at least three days just to select the fabric and design that suits you, my lady.”

“What an admirable work ethic. But Madame Merilyn, I think you’ve forgotten something.”

“Yes? What do you mean…?”

“There are no clothes that don’t suit me.”

“…I shall begin immediately.”

And thus was born a dress densely adorned with excessively gorgeous fabric and jewels.

Looking at the dress itself, it was extremely beautiful as it was the pinnacle of splendor, but it was so flashy that it would be burdensome for a person to wear.

Even so, I nodded with satisfaction as I looked at the finished product.

‘I believe in you, Belinda. You’ll be able to pull off this outfit.’

“This is a sample book of new designs. Would you like to take a look?”

Eventually Klaus brought a catalog along with tea.

On the surface it looked like a catalog shown only to VIP customers, but inside it contained detailed information about my purpose for visiting Bluebird today.

His slender fingers gently traced over a certain list as if explaining the designs contained in the catalog.

“We’ve disposed of all items in this line since Lady Blanche didn’t care for them. That was Terry’s handiwork.”

His tone and manner were so gentle that if I hadn’t known Klaus was the boss of the Sewer Rats, I would have thought what he was pointing to was a list of dress decorations popular in the Royal Capital.

However, what his finger was actually pointing to was none other than a list of guilds that had accepted assassination contracts on Belinda.

“Won’t it get noisy if you cut them all out at once like this?”

“The industry is in a golden age these days, so there are many riffraff around, which makes it fine. When supply increases, excessive competition arises, and when that happens, prices fall and service quality also declines. I was thinking of cleaning house at this point to provide quality service.”

Are you really saying the assassination industry is in a boom period right now? Is this country okay?

“And this is the special order item you mentioned.”

Between the turned pages were documents organizing information and weaknesses of nobles active in the Royal Capital’s social circles, along with forged identity papers.

I rolled my eyes to first examine the expertly forged identification.

The Duchy of Pabld, said to be across the great sea to the south.

It was a country where maritime trade was developed so hundreds of foreigners came and went daily, and many tourists visited to enjoy the pleasant Mediterranean climate.

In about a year, I would be living there with a new name and identity.

My insides felt restless with emotions I couldn’t tell were excitement or nervousness.

When I only silently examined the documents, perhaps worried there might be a problem, Madame Merilyn asked in a tense voice.

“Are they to your satisfaction?”

Only after thoroughly reviewing even the information on social circle figures did I speak.

“Flawless.”

Only then did Madame breathe a sigh of relief. Then she began sharing various news from the Royal Capital.

“By the way, have you heard? At dawn today, dozens of Northern Knights crossed the gates of the Royal Capital.”

When I showed a reaction while tilting my teacup, Madame lowered her voice to whisper.

“I heard that ‘he’ was at the head.”

He?

“The Duke of Baluashten, who is only known through rumors.”

Though she called it rumors, since it came from the mouth of a Sewer Rat, it wouldn’t be mere gossip.

Above all, if it weren’t for the Duke’s visit, there would be no reason for so many Northern Knights to suddenly enter the Royal Capital.

I thought of Penandel who was guarding the door of the tailor shop.

I wondered if that upright knight, who always insisted he couldn’t set foot in a space where a lady was changing clothes and reluctantly only guarded the entrance, knew about this fact.

* * *

“…I had not heard.”

At Belinda’s question, Cesar couldn’t hide his flustered feelings as he answered.

The last time he had contacted Penandel was two weeks ago.

But if he had arrived at the Royal Capital at dawn today, it meant he had ridden without rest to the Royal Capital immediately after their last contact.

And using his name at that.

What could have happened for Penandel to come to the Royal Capital using his name?

As Cesar pondered, he looked at the royal palace visible through the carriage window and could easily guess the reason.

The reason Penandel had deliberately disguised his identity to urgently visit the Royal Capital.

It could only be a royal summons.

Then Penandel would make contact soon.

Rather than moving hastily to assess the situation, it would be clearer to hear the circumstances from Penandel’s own mouth.

With such thoughts, the moment he entered the drawing room of the annex following Belinda.

“Penandel?”

Cesar found himself muttering as he saw a familiar figure occupying two seats on the drawing room sofa as comfortably as if it were his own home.

Not even noticing that Belinda’s gaze had turned toward him for a moment.

* * *

As soon as I arrived at the manor, what greeted me was Terry’s face, which looked troubled somehow.

She spoke in a lowered voice, seemingly conscious of the maids around her.

“A Northern Knight is asking for me?”

“Yes, he explained that Penandel would vouch for his identity. Judging by the Northern mask he’s wearing, he’s definitely a knight of House Baluashten.”

I was equally flustered by this unexpected visitor.

Then suddenly the thought occurred to me that he might be someone sent by the Duke who had visited the Royal Capital.

Perhaps he had suddenly come to the Royal Capital and thought he might as well see his fiancée’s face.

Fortunately, I was fully dressed and in outdoor attire, so my appearance was suitable for receiving a guest.

I headed to the drawing room with Penandel, who would confirm the guest’s identity.

And when I opened the drawing room door.

“Penandel?”

Penandel spoke those words toward the large man sitting on the sofa.

My gaze flowed from the guest before me and returned to Lord Penandel.

Then he hurriedly added his words and bowed his head.

“…to come personally to find him, it is an honor, my lord.”

I stiffly froze and alternately looked between Lord Penandel and the person he called his lord.

What I heard didn’t seem to register properly in my mind.

The bear-like large man also looked somewhat bewildered, just like me.

Judging by how he stood up abruptly and remained frozen, opening and closing his mouth visible from below his mask.

So to summarize…

‘That guy is the Duke of Baluashten himself?’

I thought he had sent someone, but he came personally.

By the way, did Lord Penandel just refer to himself in third person in front of his master?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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