Chapter 14
Translator: nevermoorian
As I stepped into the bank entrance, the staff standing by the door struck something out in front of me . When I received it, it was a number tag .
He must have realized that it was my first time here because he gave an explanation when I looked at the tag .
“If the number written in the tag is called, please go to the counter . ”
“Thank you . ”
There wasn’t a system like this in the country bank . Again, the capital of the Empire is different .
While waiting in a soft chair, the number in front of me was called . Before it was my turn, I tried to take out my bankbook, but my hands slipped and it fell .
“Whew… . ”
It was when I almost reached to pick it up .
Tuk .
“Oh, I’m going crazy . ”
I kicked it by mistake . I stared blankly at the bankbook that was slithering down the smooth floor .
What a fool .
When I rose from the chair, licking my tongue, a man who was coming out of the counter after finished his business picked up my bankbook and handed it to me .
“Here you are . ”
“Oh, thank you… . ”
The man looked a little surprised at my bankbook . Then he moved his gaze to my face .
“Miss Riana?”
“Yes, it’s my name . ”
The front of the bankbook has a name on it . I almost forgot it’s Riana, not Adriana .
“Is something wrong?”
“This is disrespectful act to a Lady, I should have introduced myself first . I’m from the Magnolia . ”
“… . yes?”
“I was wearing a mask at the time, so it’s no wonder you don’t recognize me . ”
“Ah! The masked man!”
A thought barely came to mind about the masked man who was being commissioned in the basement of Magnolia Trade . It was that kind of face . And it was dark there, so his hair looked like white, but now I see it was close to ash pink .
He didn’t look very old, but I couldn’t guess his age due to the mature atmosphere around him .
I could feel the heat rising on my face as I watched the beautiful man with a dangerous atmosphere filled with composure .
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“Customer number 194, please come this way . ”
“It’s my turn . Thank you for picking it up . Then, goodbye . ”
194 was my number . I bowed slightly, and headed to the counter following the staff’s instruction .
After the business was finished, I came out of the counter looking into the numbers on my bankbook . The numbers were nearly recorded in special ink to prevent forgery .
“Hmm…”
With the ruby’s price, the amount was sufficient and I could pay the teacher’s salary right away . I’m not short of money right now, but how long will I be able to hold on?
The magic stone has no cross vein . I don’t know the principles that arises, but it is known that only one can be extracted from one place . That’s why it’s more valuable and expensive .
I still don’t know how much profit will come from the sale of the magic stone, and the great the teacher is, the higher the salary . I’d better think about how to raise more money . Maybe there’s more to ask to the Magnolia .
I still have some jewelry left, but I have to dress up, so I should keep it… .
“Miss Riana . ”
“Ah, you haven’t gone yet?”
The masked man was still in the bank .
“It’s a fate that we met like this . You’re an important client, so I thought I’d treat you to a meal . ”
Right, when I think about it, my father often used to eat with his business partner . I’m an important client who gave him the information about the magic stone, then it would be okay for me to accept his offer .
“Okay, lets do that . ”
“Thank you for your precious time . I know a good restaurant nearby, I’ll escort you . ”
The restaurant we arrived at was a seafood restaurant .
Seafood is very expensive because the capital is located in the inner city . Even though I’m an important client, can I get this?
“Are we really going here?”
“Do you hate seafood?”
“No, it’s not like that … but … the price… . ”
As I lingered and talked about the price, the masked man smiled softly .
“Never mind . It’s because of my sincerity . ”
Did he get a lot of incentives for the magic stone? How much did you get for this luxurious food?
Still, I felt guilty to get something like this from someone who worked on his salary when I was a Duke’s daughter .
In order not to let me walk away easily, the masked man strode into the restaurant first .
“What are you doing not coming on?”
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“…I’m coming!”
At first, the restaurant caught my eye from the interior .
The restaurant on the street that I went to a while ago had a lot of seats, but this place was where the tables were spaced apart . There were no furniture, decorations, or anything less luxurious .
Well, it was natural considering the social position of the visitors .
… . wait, the guests visiting here?”
“Welcome . Do you have a reservation?”
“No . ”
“We have economy class seats and rooms available . Where can I take you?”
“To a window seat with a good outlook—”
“Room!”
When I stepped in and shouted, the waiter and the masked man looked at me in surprise .
However, I was in a hurry . I can’t risk meeting someone I know while eating here .
Things may get bigger than it actually is if there is a rumor that the great daughter of House Crescente was eating at an expensive restaurant alone with a man .
The thought of what Marianne and Sharon would say made me dizzy .
“I’ll guide you . ” The waiter quickly managed his expression and guided us to the room .
After pouring us water, he told us to ring a bell to call him when we’ve decided the menu and left the room .
The menu was full of appetizing seafood dishes . Thinking of it, I remember the lobster I ate when I was 9 years old was very delicious . Shall I have lobster?
“I’ll have steamed lobster with thinned pepper sauce . ”
“Are you sure? It says it’s really spicy here . ”
“When will I ever come to a place like this again? Since I’m here, I’ll try something unique . ”
“Now that you’re here, wouldn’t it be better to taste the safe menu… . ”
I shook my head . I can buy the safe menu, but this one is a bit too much for my money, so I have to eat it at times like this .
The masked man chose grilled clams with fresh olive oil and salmon steak with lemon sauce .
We rang the bell to order the dishes from the waiter . While waiting the dishes to come out, our conversation began .
“You’re so handsome, why are you hiding your face with a mask? Oh, did any of your female clients make a big fuss?”
“No, it’s not that it’s never been done, but it’s not just because of that . ”
“I understand … well, rest assured! I’m a person who can distinguish between public and private matters!”
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“… . That’s a relief . ”
Contrary to his word, the face in front of me looked a little bit wobbly .
Right, he’s not even wearing a mask right now, but I keep calling him the masked man .
“What should I call you?”
“Uh … please call me Ken . ”
“Alright . Can I say Mr . Ken?”
“As you please . ”
I asked Mr . Ken what he had been worried about a little earlier .
“Still, is it okay for Mr . Ken to be away this long?”
“I’m working outside today . ”
“Can you come out to work outside and start slacking off like this?”
“Don’t worry . I’m quite capable . This degree of laziness won’t affect my work . ”
Mr . Ken smiled in confidence .
It looked so cool that my heart fluttered for a moment .
“Oh, speaking of that, Miss Riana’s request was disrupted . It’s not the time for me to show off . I apologize for the delay in ruby’s disposition . ”
“No need . I heard the employee had an unexpected accident, what happened?”
“The first buyer to appear was a fraud . He tried to pay in fake gold, so I caught him and handed him over to the security guard . ”
Huk! That could have been a big trouble . Thank God, my ruby… .
“You can tell it was a fake gold . ”
“That’s right, once I hold it in my hand, I knew it right away . Not only me, but every executive who’s been working for a long time at Magnolia knows how to do it . They’re veterans . ”
“That means you’re an executive, too, Mr . Ken?”
“… . Well . ”
Mr . Ken smiled vaguely . Is he saying that he’s an executive?
That’s when I heard a loud noise .
“Here’s your order . ”
The waiter pushed the serving cart into the room . Steamed lobster was placed in front of me . The red-sauce lobster smelled spicy . It’s going to be a lot spicier than I thought .
“… . Thank you for the meal . ”
I picked up a fork and knife, swallowed my saliva with tension . The smell and color are like this, would it be okay to eat?
With useless expectations, I cut the meat of the lobster with a knife and put it into my mouth .
“… . Are you alright, Miss Riana?”
Mr . Ken asked carefully as he watched me drinking water without words .
No, it is … it’s not okay .
After calming my mouth with water and salad, I tried again just in case and only regretted it .
I rang the bell to ask for more water . It seemed that the waiter was expecting this to happen as he was waiting in advance .
Even the parts with no sauce were spicy enough to make my tongue tingle, but it was still better than the saucy part .
Mr . Ken pushed a plate to me as I was trying to cut off the lobster so the sauce wouldn’t get on me . It was a salmon steak plate .
“You can have this . ”
“What? But Mr . Ken… . ”
“I have this, too . ”
Ken, as if it were no big deal, took a fork and put the grilled clams in his mouth . Was it because he ordered two dishes? My face ached with apologies .
“I’m truly sorry . Because of me… . ”
“I’ve been busy since morning, so this is my first meal . I was hungry, that’s why I asked for two plates, but it’s a little too much to eat . ”
“Yeah?”
“So I’d like Miss Riana to help me . ”
He said that it was not a big deal, but it wasn’t hard to understand that he’s being considerate of me right now . I thanked him, cut the salmon steak in half and put it on my plate .
After finishing the meal, I asked Ken while tasting the fruit and tea served as dessert .
“I have a request, can I tell you now?”
“Say it . ”
“I want you to get me a teacher . The one who teach aristocracy . ”
“You mean a governess?”
“No, I don’t want them to come home . I wish I could take classes at their house or another place . ”
“I understand . I’ll look for it . ”
“And … Umh … the better the teacher is, the more money you’ll have to pay, right?”
“That’s true, but it won’t be too much of a burden for most aristocrats . ”
“…”
It’s because I’m the one who has to pay . Huhu .