The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 59

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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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6. You Didn’t Make a Mistake

I rested my chin on my hand and thought.

“This is an estoc. Not a rapier.”

‘Alter didn’t volunteer to be a weapons consultant for nothing.’

To recognize it at first glance?

As I stared at him intently, Alter slightly furrowed his brow and picked up the sword.

“Both have thin, long blades so they might look confusing at first glance, but you can tell when you actually hold them. The center of gravity is positioned differently.”

Alter easily lifted with one hand the sword that I had struggled to hold with both hands.

He swung the sword at his fingertips, then suddenly slashed through the air as if piercing it.

Alter elegantly withdrew the sword that he had thrust with enough force to create wind, then glanced at me as I applauded.

“What?”

“It was cool.”

“…Stop saying such ridiculous things.”

“I meant the sword was cool?”

As Alter looked exasperated, I smiled mischievously.

“I’m joking, it really was cool. Both recognizing it at a glance and demonstrating it directly. I speak based on facts, you know.”

“…”

“Anyway, thank you. It’s a bit smaller than a typical estoc, so I was confused whether it was a rapier, but it is an estoc, right?”

Alter stopped my hand as I tried to take the sword and personally placed it on the velvet.

I bowed slightly and was diligently writing the appraisal report when Alter casually remarked.

“Today you’re calling me ‘customer’ again.”

“Because you are… a customer?”

Come to think of it, Alter was a bit different from usual today.

He sighed frequently and stared intently at me even when I hadn’t said much.

Does he have something to ask of me?

As I tilted my head, Alter ran his hand through his hair.

“Strictly speaking, I’m not a customer. I’ve never made a transaction with you.”

Ah, so that’s why?

“Oh, then should I call you ‘Consultant’?”

“No… ha.”

Alter, who had been making incomprehensible sounds, closed his mouth.

I could roughly guess. ‘We’ve known each other for quite a while now, but you still call me customer so coldly?’ Something like that.

We had already introduced ourselves properly after all.

But I couldn’t fathom why Alter had suddenly become dissatisfied with how I addressed him.

‘Did I say something when I was drunk on cake? I can’t remember well.’

I couldn’t remember well the day I ate cherry cake two days ago.

I remember talking a bit about Grandfather and asking him to investigate the snowdrop root, but did we have other conversations too?

I had walked all day and was starving, so eating on an empty stomach could make me drunk from just a little rum.

I asked cautiously.

“Did I perhaps make some mistake back then?”

“…Mistake?”

“Yes. Like, hitting the customer’s head with a dish or something.”

“Could that be covered up by calling it a mistake? No, more importantly, did you want to hit my head with a dish?”

“I couldn’t think of anything else. Um, if not a dish, then a fork…”

“…No.”

“Not a fork either?”

“You never made a mistake. …I don’t want to think of it as a mistake either.”

Another incomprehensible remark.

Alter’s expression darkened a bit, making me wonder if something had happened.

Reading the mood, I put the consultation fee in an envelope and pushed it toward him, speaking in a slightly playful tone.

“The customer calls me ‘hey,’ ‘you,’ ‘look here’ too.”

I was about to continue when Alter’s brow furrowed sharply.

Then he turned around.

Surprised, I also looked toward the doorway.

There was…

“Excuse me.”

Ailren was there.

Today he was sparkling too. Though the light seemed slightly dimmer than before.

‘Alter turned around because he sensed Ailren’s presence. That’s impressive.’

But for Ailren to come this late at night?

‘Did Lina give permission? Or did he decide to lose the hourglass to me!’

“Hello, Knight!”

I smiled brightly, happy about the news Ailren might bring, but Alter’s expression crumpled again.

Wait, his expression could get even worse from there?

Ailren looked at Alter for a moment, then turned his gaze to me.

“If you’re in the middle of business, I’ll wait.”

“Oh, then please wait just a moment.”

I should at least say goodbye to Alter.

“Thank you for the consultation today…”

“Why is that guy here?”

Alter cut off my words and asked in a low voice.

But I couldn’t say he was going to the Imperial Palace to see Lina, nor that he came about the hourglass matter.

As I hesitated, I suddenly noticed the clip he was wearing.

‘Did it originally look like this? Two out of five gems are glowing.’

Anyway, there was only one thing I could say.

“He probably came to see my face, don’t you think?”

As I pretended to pose cutely, Alter, who had been staring at me, sighed.

“If it’s your face, he saw it plenty for several hours last time, so why would he.”

Several hours?

Alter wouldn’t know that Ailren had come once more.

Was he exaggerating about Lina’s pendant incident? Or was he telling me to stop posing because it looked ridiculous?

But before I could think further, Alter added.

“Tell him to apologize properly and get lost. Not just words, but a more substantial and visible form of apology. You’re a merchant, can’t you demand at least that much?”

“An apology?”

“For blowing you away. For smashing the door. And for making you faint…”

Alter swallowed his words and bit his lip.

“Never mind. Just keep this. You need some means to protect yourself from that ruffian, don’t you?”

What Alter held out was a small dagger.

Taking it in bewilderment, I asked carefully.

“…If you’re telling me to attack the Knight Commander with this, do you just want to send me away…?”

“What… ha.”

Alter, who looked exasperated again, saw my confused expression and ended up chuckling.

He spoke slowly.

“Even carrying a small weapon changes your mindset itself. What’s this little blade anyway, it can become a source of strength.”

“Ah, so.”

“Don’t forget. Your goal. The things you want to protect. Of course, I hope you won’t need to use it.”

It was both a warning directed at Ailren and words of concern for me.

It seemed he had listened carefully to my story about Grandfather again.

I quietly looked down at the dagger and bowed.

“Thank you, Alter.”

Alter hesitated for a moment, then nodded his head.

Then he cleared his throat and spoke in a deliberately grumbling tone.

“Do I have to give you a gift for you to call me Alter? How merchant-like.”

“Huh?”

Seeing that there was a slight hint of amusement, it seemed like.

“You’re joking, aren’t you?”

“I’m leaving.”

I’ve seen everything, even Alter joking around.

I was about to see him off when I noticed the consultation fee envelope on the counter.

“Oh, take your consultation fee!”

“It’s fine. Wasn’t this a testing period anyway? Who pays money to a temporary advisor?”

“Still.”

“It’s not much money anyway.”

It’s not a lot, but still, this guy doesn’t know how precious money is!

As I fumed, Alter looked at me for a moment and chuckled.

“Use that to take care of your meals. On time.”

Alter, who emphasized the words “on time,” glared at Ailren before quickly leaving.

I gathered up Lina’s wrapped pendant and also strapped the dagger Alter gave me to my thigh.

Come to think of it, why did Alter come back?

‘He already saw the 2nd Floor, didn’t he. Maybe he was worried that pearl swords might come into our shop?’

I thought as I headed toward Ailren.

His brow was slightly furrowed, then soon smoothed out.

Since Alter had openly shown hostility toward him, it was understandable that he’d feel bad.

I felt somewhat responsible.

“Um, that person’s way of speaking is a bit rough, but he’s not a bad person.”

“Is that so.”

Ailren’s response was quite businesslike.

Whether he understood, or found my words hard to believe, or if it was just his characteristic way of speaking, I couldn’t tell.

“By the way, the fact that you came today means…?”

“Yes. Your ‘friend’ has granted you a reprieve and extended another invitation. You can have an audience directly and return the entrusted item.”

“Wow, really? That’s wonderful!”

“I will escort you to the destination. Please let me know when you’re ready.”

“Oh, could you really wait just a moment?”

Delighted, I ran up to the attic.

Still, I can’t go empty-handed when I’ve been invited!

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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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