Kapitel 10: More Frequently (2)

Meanwhile, as Owen returned to the Duke of Verdin's mansion, he immediately asked his butler, Logan.

"Did the display cabinet I mentioned weeks ago arrive?"

Despite the sudden question, Logan skillfully replied, "Yes. It's prepared in the room next to Your Grace's bedroom."

Hearing Logan's response, Owen then headed straight to that room.

Upon opening the door, he was met with a splendid cabinet.

Even at a glance, the ornate cabinet made of expensive wood was quite eye-catching. But what surprised Owen more than it's extravagance was it's size.

"I didn't know it would be this big..."

Although he had ordered it, he was slightly taken aback by its size.

After examining the cabinet for a while, he took off his coat and removed the cufflinks from his shirt. However, even after taking out the red cufflinks, he couldn't easily let go and continued to fiddle with it. As if reluctant to part with something precious.

Staring at the rose pattern in the red ruby, he put it back into the gift box he received. Then, he placed the empty gift box in one part of the cabinet. Carefully placing the gift box, Owen took a step back and gazed at the still empty cabinet. Of course, with it's splendor, the empty cabinet seemed sufficient, but Owen's purpose in purchasing it was clear.

To store the items received from Lucia.

Running his hand over the surface of the cabinet, Owen happily imagined it slowly filling up.

'If only I could fill this cabinet with the many gifts that appeared in the original work.'

Rings, necklaces, cufflinks, ties, shirts, suits, and various accessories. Also daggers and arrows, pens and ink.

Counting them one by one, Owen realized there were more items than he had thought, considering getting another cabinet. After all, the room was spacious, and the purpose was to display Lucia's gifts in the cabinet.

"Oh."

At the sudden rustling sound, he remembered the letter envelope in his inner pocket. There was an invitation to a garden party sent by Lucia. He had been carrying it around because there was no place to keep it.

Owen pondered for a while whether to keep carrying it or put it on the shelf. He then carefully took out the red envelope from his pocket and placed it in the drawer of the shelf.

'I should keep the letters and invitations and store it here from now on.'

While Owen was pondering seriously about how to decorate the shelf, someone knocked on the door.

"Your Grace, Lady Edelt has sent a gift."

"Come in."

At the mention of a gift, Owen, who had been holding his breath, slowly uttered his permission.

A servant entered and handed him a rectangular gift box and a beautifully wrapped red rose. Owen cautiously accepted the gift box and rose, then nodded at the servant.

He held the rose in his arms and opened the gift box.

Inside the gift box was a wine-colored tie neatly folded.

Owen delicately touched the tie, then reluctantly set it back down. Although he felt the urge to try it on once, he couldn't bring himself to handle the gift Lucia had given him carelessly.

He wasn't the type to handle goods carelessly. He treated even the things he made with utmost care. Let alone handling what Lucia had given him carelessly.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart. After that, he carefully closed the gift box containing the tie and placed it inside the shelf.

With the tie in the shelf, he turned his gaze to the rose in his arms.

"-Red roses, you said you liked them, didn't you?"

He recalled Lucia's words from earlier in the day.

Just thinking about it made his ears warm for no reason.

Owen bowed his head, inhaling the scent of the rose, pondering how he could preserve the rose for a long time.

Two methods came to mind. One was to call a magician for preservation, and the other was to make it into a dried flower.

He strongly desired to choose the former method, which would keep it in its original state, but...

'How embarrassing...'

Embarrassment suddenly made him lift his head.

The hired magician would be shocked, rumors would spread. Then Lucia would hear those rumors, and she might start to look down on him.

Owen shook his head to dispel the dreadful thoughts and called for the gardener.

"I want this turned into a dried flower."

"A dried flower? Understood."

"How long will it take?"

"About two weeks."

"Two weeks... I see."

In two weeks, the hunting competition would begin.

'What a shame...'

Owen felt a little disappointed to think that he had to vacate the mansion without even seeing the finished dried flower.

***

The next day, when Owen mentioned about making plans with Lucia again, his butler, Logan, was startled. Of course, he didn't voice his inner thoughts but his expression gave it away.

Logan, letting out a sigh, asked a question, "Then Your Grace, what time do you plan to return by?"

"Late afternoon."

"Understood."

Logan slowly replied, though he agreed. After all, he was not in a position to stop Owen's plans. Logan served Owen as he was the Duke of the Verdin.

Moreover, Owen's work pace had been speeding up again lately. It was almost comical how worried Logan had been a couple of weeks ago when Owen's work pace suddenly slowed down, wondering if he was unwell.

On top of that, Logan, as his butler knew that Owen couldn't sleep enough lately. And the worst is that Owen was the type to refuse if asked to get some rest. Even when told he might collapse, he wouldn't listen.

He was meeting Lucia in the day while working his ass off in the night.

And this goes on for weeks already.

But.

Strangely, Owen is still fine like usual.

Logan thought that before him stood such a monstrous human being that wouldn't collapse just from losing a few hours of sleep.

Actually Logan didn't agree to work at night because Owen keep meeting Lucia during the day. He afraid that Owen couldn't handle his schedule and might collapse from fatigue and lack of sleep.

But what can Logan do. He was just a mere butler and this matter was beyond his authority. However, even as a mere butler, he could make a suggestion to Owen.

"But, Your Grace shouldn't forget that you have a business meeting tomorrow. It seems difficult to cancel since the person is from another country."

Owen nodded hesitantly, feeling a prick in his heart at Logan's words.

Then Logan continued, "I heard you've been training in the early mornings lately."

"...Yes."

Owen stiffened at Logan's words. He wondered if he was about to be exposed.

The original Owen often trained, but not usually in the early mornings.

So, it wasn't strange for Logan to find this odd.

Owen was on edge, fearing Logan might bring up the subject.

To his surprise, Logan brought up something entirely unexpected.

"The knight's commander seems to have seen you. He suggested that Your Grace should spar with the knights soon."

Fortunately, it didn't seem like his suspicions were confirmed.

But.

Spar with the knights.

Really?

Drawing a sword in front of skilled knights.

Especially with the intention of fighting them.

"Okay, I'll inform you when the time comes."

He couldn't just avoid it out of fear of being discovered. After all, he needed to improve before the hunting competition. It was better to be exposed in front of his allies than in front of all the nobles. And it would be wise to prepare before the hunting competition.

'I can handle a sword, but...'

One fortunate thing was that Owen's body itself was that of a sword master.

Thanks to this, after adapting to his body, he could handle basic sword techniques and even wield a sword.

However, the issue was whether he couldn't use extraordinary swordsmanship like 'Owen'.

He could easily deceive those who ignorant of swords or combat, but against skilled opponents?

He might be got exposed after a short while.

'What should I do before the hunting competition?'

This was a serious problem since there would be knights who used aura or even more skilled participants in the hunting competition.

'But other things should be fine. I should be able to get through the sparring with the knights and the inspection of the knights'

Owen was familiar and proficient in various martial arts techniques, from horseback riding to basic archery, spear handling, and using his body.

'I can wield a sword. I should dismiss my doubts.'

Having come to a conclusion about his concerns, Owen got up from his seat, brushing off his thoughts.

"I'll be going now."

With a brief farewell, he put on his coat.

Watching him prepare to leave, Logan asked in confusion.

"I heard you received gifts from Lady Edelt yesterday... Why aren't you wearing them?"

"Well..."

After a moment of contemplation at Logan's question, Owen spoke, "I was worried they might get damaged if I wore them..."

As he reached the end of his sentence, Owen's voice grew softer.

Even as he spoke, his embarrassment made his ears turn red.

Watching Owen in such a state, Logan realized that his master truly knew nothing about this aspect.

Owen, who had always been composed and pragmatic, blushing in shyness was quite intriguing, but it wasn't important in the current situation. For the first time, Logan looked at Owen with a pitiful expression and said.

"If you're concerned about wearing them, I won't stop you. But Lady Edelt might think you discarded her gifts. Just as you've always been."

Seeing Logan spit out the truth like violence, Owen blinked for a moment before accepting it.

"...I see."

"Fortunately, you seem to understand this extent."

As Logan muttered quietly, Owen's mind was elsewhere, so he didn't hear him.

Owen, perhaps done with his thoughts, stood up and headed straight to the room with the dresser. Carefully, he took out his tie and cufflinks.

As Owen quickly removed the tie and cufflinks he was originally wearing, Logan approached him and took them. Seemingly accustomed to being catered to by another, Owen appeared nonchalant.

Handling the wine-colored tie as if it were a treasure, Owen skillfully tied it neatly with his deft hands. He then glanced at the ruby cufflinks he had worn yesterday, now fastened at the end of his shirt, after changing into the new tie.

"...Seems like the colors don't match."

Not pleased with how the original outfit and tie colors didn't quite complement each other, Owen muttered in dissatisfaction.

Upon Logan calling for an attendant to bring a suit in a similar tone to the tie color, Owen quickly changed into the deep wine-toned suit and looked at himself in the mirror again.

This time, it seemed quite fitting.

Nodding affirmatively, Owen expressed his approval, and the attendant stepped back. Even after the attendant left, Owen continued to scrutinize himself in the mirror for a while.

His gaze was fixed on the tie.

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke.

"Your Grace, if you've received a gift, it's best to reciprocate."

"Of course."

In agreement with Logan's affirmation, Owen also nodded slightly.

In his mind, Owen recalled everything Lucia liked.

Having read <Flower of the Empire> dozens of times and meticulously organized the details, he dared to boast that he knew Lucia's tastes almost as well as he knew Lucia herself.

In an instant, a list spanning dozens of pages flashed through Owen's mind.

A rare gem said to be one of a few on another continent,

A red sapphire dyed with magic,

A black diamond found in the depths of the sea,

A brooch to be released as a limited edition this summer at Lucia's favorite boutique,

A masterpiece of a famous painter to be auctioned in a foreign country in a few months.

'Hm...'

Although dozens of gift ideas came to mind, only a limited number could be prepared immediately.

"...Could we make a bouquet with pink flowers?"

"Pink flowers?"

"Lucia mentioned that she likes pink."

Owen instructed Logan on the flowers that could be prepared immediately.

For some reason, Logan nodded with a relieved look in his eyes.

"Still, it's fortunate that you seemed to know a bit."

"...What do you mean?"

"No, just talking to myself."

Seemingly unwilling to explain, Logan rambled vaguely and left to inform the gardener.

Watching Logan disappear in an instant, Owen furrowed his brows in confusion before focusing on preparing his attire for meeting Lucia, which seemed more important than deciphering Logan's incomprehensible muttering.

'It's another meeting. How nice.'