010. More Often (3)
Meanwhile, as Owen returned to the Duke of Verdin’s mansion, he immediately asked his butler, Logan.
“Did the cabinet I mentioned arrive?”
Despite the sudden question, Logan skillfully replied, “Yes. It’s prepared in the room next to Your Excellency’s bedroom.”
Upon hearing Logan’s response, Owen 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 its extravagance was its 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 jacket and removed a cufflink from his shirt.
However, even after taking out the red cufflink, 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 its splendor, the empty cabinet seemed sufficient, but Owen’s purpose in purchasing it was clear.
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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.
There were 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, who 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 carefully took out a red envelope from his pocket and placed it in the drawer of the shelf.
“I should keep letters and invitations stored here from now on.”
While Owen was pondering seriously about how to decorate the shelf, someone knocked on the door.
“Your Grace, Lady Edelte 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 had worn cufflinks earlier in the day because it seemed like something she was anticipating.
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 murmurs 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 to make?”
“About two weeks.”
“Two weeks… I see.”
In two weeks, the hunting competition would begin.
To think he had to vacate the mansion without even seeing the finished dried flower.
Owen felt a little disappointed.
* * *
The next day, when Owen mentioned making plans with Lucia again, his butler, Logan, was startled.
Of course, he didn’t voice his inner thoughts.
His expression gave it away.
Owen pretended not to notice Logan’s reaction.
Logan, letting out a sigh, asked a question.
“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 his master, just a servant of the Viscount 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, Owen couldn’t sleep.
He was the type to refuse even if asked to get some rest.
Even when told he might collapse, he wouldn’t listen.
Well.
Before him stood a sword master who had appeared after centuries.
Such a monstrous human being wouldn’t collapse just from losing a few hours of sleep.
It’s not like he would completely neglect his work while playing around.
Logan, a mere butler, couldn’t agree to work at night instead of meeting Lucia during the day just because Owen couldn’t handle his schedule and might collapse from pain.
Until then, it was beyond his authority.
“I have a business meeting tomorrow. It seems difficult to cancel since the person is from another country.”
However, he could make a suggestion.
It was something a butler could easily do.
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.
It was natural.
Owen was on edge, fearing Logan might bring up the subject.
To his surprise, Logan brought up something entirely unexpected.
“The Commander seems to have seen you. He suggested that Your Highness should spar with the knights soon.”
“…”
Fortunately, it didn’t seem like his suspicions were confirmed, but it was still a big deal.
Spar with the knights, really?
Drawing a sword in front of skilled knights.
Especially with the intention of fighting them.
“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.
‘But I can handle a sword…’
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 ignorant of swords or combat, but against skilled opponents, he might be exposed after a short while.
Especially against knights of a level who used aura.
‘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 jacket.
Watching him prepare to leave, Logan asked in confusion.
“I heard you received gifts from Lady Edelt yesterday… Why aren’t you wearing them?”
“Ah… 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.