028. Reason for Change (2)
“The guild member that Lucia attached doesn’t seem to be around.”
Owen narrowed his eyes, as if following the figure chasing him with his ears.
Although he couldn’t see the person hiding their body, their presence was vividly felt.
Having the body of a swordmaster, he had a keen sense that couldn’t be missed.
While Lucia had previously attached guild members to investigate him, this person had a different vibe.
“Who are you?”
“Your Grace? Is there something bothering you?”
As Owen abruptly stopped, the coachman spoke with a puzzled tone.
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Upon noticing Owen’s unfamiliar demeanor, he shifted his gaze from the suspicious figure to the coachman.
“No, nothing.”
Owen casually lowered his head and calmly got off the carriage.
Although the identity of the presence was unknown, one thing was clear – there was no sense of threat.
Not only was there no hostility in the air, but even a hint of enmity was absent.
Therefore, he proceeded.
“Is he a mercenary hired for investigation.”
That was the most realistic conclusion he could draw.
Whether from a noble family or the royal family.
A hired mercenary to dig up information about him or the Verdin Duke.
Although there were few instances of swordmasters like him being directly followed, there were quite a few cases of them secretly infiltrating mansions for information gathering.
Since undercover employment was common, butlers and maids were thorough in scrutinizing and filtering out such individuals.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t entirely impossible to assume that he was being followed for information gathering.
“Probably not worth any useful information anyway.”
However, as he thought so, there was another point of concern.
If hired by the royal family or a noble house for information gathering, he needed to uncover more substantial information.
It was more appropriate to dig up valuable information such as weaknesses of the Verdin Duke or the worth of his current ventures and trades, rather than this trivial information about him strolling in the boutique.
“I’ll find out later.”
Firstly, the reservation time at the boutique was approaching.
Even if he followed the presence later, it wouldn’t be too late.
If they wanted something from him, they would likely stay nearby.
“Welcome, Duke Verdin.”
As Owen entered Stella Boutique, the staff waiting inside bowed respectfully.
Owen nodded lightly in response and immediately stated his purpose.
“I came to see the new items for this season.”
“The new summer season items are over here. We have both women’s and men’s clothing, which one would you like to see?”
The staff member smoothly introduced women’s clothing, even if they weren’t quick on the uptake, it would have been easy to figure out due to the upcoming hunting competition.
Either way, it was convenient for him if they quickly caught on.
“I came to see women’s clothing. I heard there are limited edition items.”
“Ah. You’re looking for limited edition items.”
As the word ‘limited edition’ came out of Owen’s mouth, the staff member smiled kindly.
The new season items were originally more expensive than regular items, but they were no less than the limited editions.
“Right this way.”
The limited edition line of products released by Stella Boutique for this year’s summer season all had a similar vibe.
Based on a sky-blue aquamarine with shades of light blues, they resembled a summer beach scene.
Following the guidance of the staff, Owen walked around and checked out the limited edition products one by one.
“Lucia frequents this boutique.”
As Owen carefully examined each product, he raised a question.
“Although only the brooch was mentioned in the original work, surely Lucia bought all of these.”
Even if it wasn’t necessary, Owen wanted to gift her each and every one.
Because she would like them.
“Yes, Lady Edelt is a VIP customer at our boutique.”
In response to Owen’s question, the staff member nodded.
Upon hearing this, he continued.
“If so, you must know her size well.”
Owen’s words were clear in their intention.
He would prepare the items he was looking at in her size.
The employee who understood his words immediately replied with a bright smile.
“We always remember the size of VIP guests. Shall we send everything as a gift from the Edelt Countess?”
As expected, the boutique employee was quick on the uptake, just as rumored.
Owen lightly nodded, taking the pen offered by the employee.
He then signed the documents carefully.
“If we start preparing now, the items should arrive at the Countess by next week. However, in doing so, you might receive your goods on the same day as other customers who purchase this item today…”
The employee trailed off, murmuring unnecessary information.
This was clearly a ploy to extract more money from the guest.
Owen was well aware of this.
At the same time, he was acutely aware that he had no choice but to fall for this trick.
“However.”
“If you pay an additional fee, you can receive it the fastest. We’ll have it ready within three days.”
The boutique employee was truly more astute than rumored.
In social circles, it was only now that they barely believed rumors, but the employee before him seemed to see through Owen’s intentions, as if she knew.
She seemed to know that Lucia was more important to Owen than anything else.
That he would do anything for her.
“…All right.”
Although it seemed like his intentions were completely exposed, he was not afraid.
Owen nodded and gripped the pen again.
***
After leaving the boutique, Owen instructed his valet to wait.
Soon, he began to sense a presence.
Since he had been on alert, retracing the steps where he felt the presence was not difficult.
Realizing that someone was following him roughly twenty steps behind, he turned and headed in that direction.
Whether it was because Owen started to pursue him or not, the person following Owen began to run away, looking startled.
Naturally, he was apprehended shortly thereafter.
Owen was a swordmaster, and there was no knight superior to him in the world.
Moreover, by using the layout of the streets, Owen deliberately led his pursuer into a dead-end alley, so it was inevitable that the person following him surreptitiously would be exposed.
“What is your purpose?”
The person who emerged in the dead-end alley was indeed a stranger, as expected.
It seemed like someone had hired a mercenary to chase him, but the reason was still unclear.
Although it was a method used to gather information that required cutting ties from the royal family or noble houses…
Well.
It didn’t seem to be such a clumsy approach.
It seemed that the opponent’s skills were not particularly outstanding.
At best, he seemed to be a B-grade mercenary.
He was not of the caliber to be hired by reputable noble families or the royal family.
The mercenary Lucia had hired previously was a member of the S-grade guild, and even the occasional mercenaries from other families who followed them were mostly A-grade.
“I… I can’t tell you.”
The mercenary, when questioned by Owen, trembled his lips and spoke in a shaky voice.
It seemed like he was scared of being exposed.
Seeing him firmly stand his ground, it seemed like he was determined to keep his mouth shut.
“You can’t tell me?”
Owen tilted his head slightly, speaking coldly.
Most silence could be broken with money.
That’s why persuading the other party was quite an easy task.
Either by offering more money to reveal the truth, or…
“Even if you face consequences.”
By threatening.
Among these, Owen chose the latter approach.
He wasn’t kind enough to be courteous to those who sought to threaten or manipulate him.
Honestly, he didn’t understand why he should be so kind to people who were not helpful or cherished by him.
Why show kindness in a relationship where there is no benefit to me?
“Even if…!”
“Do they think I’d open my mouth for a higher price?”
Despite the threat of punishment, the mercenary somehow maintained composure.
That fact puzzled Owen, but he simply swallowed the greater threat.
A higher price.
Its meaning was clear.
Death.
His adversary gulped nervously.
As if paralyzed by fear, his body began to tremble.
Owen gazed down at the frightened mercenary with indifferent eyes.
His cold pupils held no particular emotion.
As if it didn’t matter if he killed him right now.
The mercenary, who had been contemplating, finally spoke.
“At the temple.”
Perhaps he knew well.
Even without a sword in hand, Owen could easily kill him.
And as a Duke of Verdin, he could effortlessly make a commoner’s life disappear without a trace.
In truth, in noble or powerful circles, such incidents were not uncommon.
Though illegal by imperial law, even the royal family had secretly engaged in such activities, so it was entirely possible.
“At the temple?”
Owen narrowed his eyes at the unexpected response.
The temple, indeed.
They were an unexpected group.
Was there a reason they were tailing him?
They weren’t in a hostile relationship, and his information wouldn’t be of much use to them.
“Yes, yes. Someone who seemed to come from the temple approached the Mercenary Guild for a favor.”
In a voice tinged with suspicion, Owen questioned the mercenary’s innocence.
Though the mercenary’s earnest tone and actions hinted at truthfulness, it wasn’t an easily believable story.
“Are you certain the person was from the temple?”
“Absolutely. They were wearing a white robe, a style unique to the temple.”
According to the mercenary, an individual from the temple had requested an investigation into him.
This only deepened Owen’s puzzlement.
He didn’t know anyone at the temple.
Nor did he think anyone there would be interested in him enough to conduct surveillance or harbor ill will.
“Even in the original, there might be someone like that…”
Lost in thought, Owen suddenly paused.
“…except for Bella.”
Bella was also a member of the temple.
As a saint.
She was probably receiving education at the temple of Sudo by now.
So, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to join the Mercenary Guild.
But…
“Bella is not that kind of person.”
Unless it was Lucía.
Bella wasn’t the type to investigate me in such a manner.
It wasn’t like her.