Chapter 7: The Fox Hunt
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- Chapter 7: The Fox Hunt - 1
The interior of the two-story villa was more spacious than it appeared from the outside. After entering through the front door, Lyra watched Hannah head upstairs to check their rooms, then followed a footman’s guidance. She wanted to greet Kaylon upon her arrival.
“He’s in that room. However…”
As they reached the end of the corridor, the footman gauged Lyra’s reaction. He trailed off as Lyra asked him what was wrong.
“He’s in conversation with a guest, and I’m not sure how long it will take…”
“Then I’ll wait here. You may go now.”
Lyra replied lightly as she sat down on a chair placed in the corridor.
“You’ll be bored. Shall I bring you some tea?”
“That’s alright. I’ll greet him first.”
“Yes, miss.”
Lyra sat blankly, waiting for the guest to leave. But no matter how much time passed, no sounds came from inside the room.
Perhaps because the villa was surrounded by forest, she began to shiver as she sat still. Despite wearing rather thick clothing, the cold seemed to penetrate her skin.
Rubbing her arms gently, Lyra quietly stood up and walked down the corridor. When the chill persisted, she entered the room in front of her to find something to cover herself with.
‘A small blanket would be nice.’
There were signs that someone had used the room, but borrowing something briefly shouldn’t be a problem, right?
Soon, a fluffy blanket came into her view. When she absentmindedly picked up the one draped over a chair, she hesitated, finding it larger than she expected.
“This is too big to take…”
While she was deliberating, the door outside opened, and the murmuring voices of men could be heard. Lyra thought the guest was finally leaving and slowly began to move. However, after taking a few steps, she stopped again.
“Make sure you find out exactly where he’s going.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve put several men on him, so we should hear news soon.”
Judging by the familiar voice, it seemed to be Michael from Rogedale Capital whom she had seen before. He apparently worked under the Duke and had come here with him.
“Just make sure your information matches that overflowing confidence of yours.”
“Huh. Do I really look that idle to you?”
“Aren’t you?”
A faint laugh hung at the end of his words.
‘Is he someone trustworthy?’
“What a hurtful thing to say. I’m already dying trying to chase after Ghost, and now I have to dig into the Count as well.”
‘…!’
“Is that all? What about that stupid underling? Keeping him from leaking information elsewhere is quite troublesome too.”
“If you’re that worried, bring him to the manor.”
“Ah! That method existed? But would that really be alright?”
“Is there any reason it wouldn’t be?”
“The young lady is there. If that guy were to escape…”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“Well, I suppose not.”
The voice quickly acquiesced, with no trace of the previous concern.
But inside the room, out of sight, Lyra’s thoughts grew increasingly tangled.
Mentions of her, words that were dangerous and tense just to hear.
‘What kind of work is he doing?’
Just as an unclear picture was beginning to form in her mind, the man’s voice was heard again.
“By the way, are you really not going to do anything? Who knows when such an opportunity will come again.”
“The impatient party tends to make the first move. So make sure to monitor him thoroughly so he can’t approach the woman. That’s why I brought her here.”
“Understood. Well, I just do as I’m told, what else can I do?”
“What’s with that attitude? It’s quite impudent.”
“Oh, did it seem that way? You misunderstand.”
The voices of the two men bickering gradually faded away. Lyra raised her head, which she had lowered. Her eyes were filled with confused emotions.
‘I don’t understand any of this.’
And she couldn’t. She didn’t know exactly what Kaylon did. She had merely thought he was in the hotel business and seemed busy day and night.
But piecing together the words she had just overheard, it didn’t seem like such a simple job. It was almost as if he had never been on good terms with Count Almar.
‘Ah…’
Only then did she recall the day she first met the Duke.
The man who had saved her in the Count’s forest. What had he been doing there? Why had he saved her?
Questions she had never considered before were now etched in her mind.
* * *
“Oh, that’s quite a lot of luggage?”
Michael, who was about to leave the villa to recheck potential hazards at the hunting grounds, paused his steps. Standing at the entrance, he eyed the endless stream of boxes being carried in, his eyes sparkling with interest.
“Are you setting up house here?”
His curious gaze turned toward Kaylon with amusement.
“Does it look like mine?”
Kaylon raised an eyebrow askew, intending to cut off Michael’s overactive imagination at once. However, Michael didn’t even bat an eye at the familiar rebuke.
“Obviously not, I know that. But still, you’ve spent quite a bit, haven’t you?”
Instead, he smirked and played innocent.
“You certainly have interesting things to say.”
In terms of investment, this amount wouldn’t even be considered excessive. Nevertheless, Michael’s interested brown eyes, which seemed to be expecting something, were irritating.
“You should go now.”
“Oh come on, will your possessions wear out if I look at them? You always try to hide the things you cherish.”
“What?”
“Nothing. I’ll assess the situation and come back to report. Take some rest!”
Michael left the manor with movements quicker than ever. In his wake, only sounds of incredulous laughter lingered for a moment.
Just as Kaylon was about to turn around, one of the footmen carrying luggage approached and briefly greeted him.
“Your Grace, have you met the young lady yet?”
It was a question that arose because he had just sent Michael away. The day was growing dark and increasingly chilly, and he wondered if she had been in the corridor the whole time.
“Lyra? Has she arrived?”
“What? Oh… she arrived about an hour ago, and I guided her to where you were. Haven’t you met her?”
“…”
Kaylon’s gaze turned toward the corridor he had just walked through. As his brow furrowed, as if searching for traces of the woman, the footman carefully added.
“Then perhaps she’s returned to her room. Shall I go inform her?”
“No, I’ll go myself.”
He headed straight up to Lyra’s room.
* * *
“I first met the Duke in my hometown. Like fate itself. Can you believe it? It was a small, constantly gloomy village with frequent rainfall, but that day was different. It was still raining, but I met this extraordinary gentleman. I fell for the Duke at first sight.”
Lyra was quietly reciting the fabricated romance story between herself and Kaylon when a knock—tap, tap—instantly broke her concentration.
Turning her head, she saw Kaylon at the doorway, walking in.
“Are you busy?”
“No. I should have greeted you first.”
“I heard the story. Sit down.”
Kaylon sat first and dismissed the servants who were busy unpacking. His eyes scanned the somewhat disheveled room before asking Lyra:
“Do you like the room?”
“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”
“I’m glad.”
A moment of silence fell between them. Lyra kept her gaze fixed on her fingertips, while Kaylon quietly studied her rounded forehead.
Even without specific business bringing him there, the situation clearly called for conversation, yet both kept their lips firmly sealed. The moment they looked at each other’s faces, different thoughts had consumed their minds.
Kaylon stared at Lyra’s seemingly complicated expression, mulling over Michael’s words.
‘Something I cherish, is it?’
Was that really true? He knew perfectly well why his eyes kept drifting toward the woman. She matched his ideal type, his preferences—wasn’t that the natural result?
But this was strictly business; there was absolutely no reason to mix in personal feelings. Though it did provide the perfect excuse to act as lovers.
Quietly furrowing his brow, Kaylon followed her lush golden eyelashes and the light-green eyes beneath them before finally speaking.
“You don’t need to join us at the hunting grounds tomorrow.”
“What? But I heard the ladies must attend…”
“You’re not included among those ladies.”
His voice cut her off decisively. His attitude was somewhat harsh, as if refusing to leave any room for discussion. Lyra quietly clutched at her dress hem under the table.
“Are you disappointed?”
“No…”
“Then? Why the gloom? Am I mistaken?”
“It’s not that. I was just thinking the hunting grounds might be dangerous.”
Kaylon chuckled at her soft response.
“So, you’re saying it’s out of my consideration for you?”
“…”
“Lyra.”