Chapter 42: The Beginning of Another Encounter part 2
“I knew you’d be curious, so I made sure to remember. He’s incredibly diligent!”
“Is that so?”
“He sometimes dozes off from exhaustion and ends up sleeping in the stable, but at this rate, I think he’ll be knighted without issue. Maybe by the end of next year or the following year at the latest?”
Most people wouldn’t dare bring up such matters so casually. But Raphael did, without malice, simply and sincerely. That was both his greatest strength and his most serious flaw.
As Kassel’s red eyes cooled, Raphael, sensing the shift, swiftly changed the topic.
“Ah, actually, I do have a reason for coming, Commander.”
“What is it?”
Kassel tilted his head slightly, and Raphael made an unexpected remark.
“That Drakan Rider.”
“What about her?”
Kassel’s response was abrupt, betraying his unease.
“I heard you used to visit the Magic Tower frequently before you introduced her to His Highness the Crown Prince. So, I was thinking of stopping by myself to meet her.”
“Sir Raphael, you have no acquaintance with Lady Fay! The Magic Tower doesn’t readily allow outside visitors, yet you expect to just walk in? That’s absurd.”
Kassel’s voice was almost scolding, while Raphael remained as carefree as ever.
“Every first meeting has to start somewhere, doesn’t it? Her gallant flight through the skies on a Drakan still lingers in my mind…”
“If you were on the ground, all you’d have seen was the underside of the Drakan and its wings. Don’t even think about disrupting her research at the Magic Tower!”
Kassel, in his passionate defense of Fay, turned red with frustration, an unusual sight for someone known for his composed demeanor.
“…”
Even Raphael was momentarily stunned into silence. Seeing this as an opportunity, Kassel spoke in a firm, instructive tone.
“Lady Fay is a distinguished mage of the Magic Tower, and her current affiliation extends between the Tower and the Crown Prince’s palace. You may propose a meeting, but if you pressure her like that, do you think she’ll be able to stay in the Tower comfortably?”
“Meeting her just once at the Magic Tower and then arranging to meet outside afterward should be fine, no?”
“No! Sir Raphael, stop it. If you wish to meet Fay privately, no, separately, you should follow proper etiquette and be introduced by a suitable intermediary. I will inquire and arrange a time and place for the invitation, so abandon any schemes to contact her personally. I’ll be in touch later.”
Kassel lowered his voice slightly, but his tone was still commanding, as if he were asserting control over the situation. Far from being offended, Raphael actually looked pleased.
“Is that true? That’s exactly the kind of decision I’d expect from you, Sir Kassel, no, Commander! Very well, I’ll await your message.”
Having achieved his goal, Raphael left without hesitation, and Kassel found himself overcome with a slight sense of self-reproach.
Had he, in the end, simply fallen for Raphael’s ploy?
Still, there was no other choice.
As a knight, Raphael lacked nothing in terms of skill, but his purity, cheerfulness, and relentless persistence made it dangerous to leave him unchecked. If left alone, Fay would inevitably get caught up in his antics instead.
That innocent girl with that man… no, Raphael hadn’t exactly done anything wrong, but still, absolutely not!
More than that, Raphael wasn’t just any ordinary man. He was Raphael Orleans.
‘If the two of them start meeting awkwardly on their own, it’ll be a disaster. It’s a hundred times better if I’m present as someone who already knows them both.’
When Raphael was still around, Kassel had been preoccupied with all the things he needed to do, but the moment he left, all those thoughts vanished from his mind.
What mattered now was figuring out where to take Fay outside the Magic Tower to ensure she had an enjoyable time. He almost called for his adjutant but then decided to leave work early and sought out his personal attendant, Paul, who was staying at the imperial palace.
“I’m looking for a place within the capital where one could stay for half a day to a full day.”
“What exactly are the requirements?”
Kassel listed them as they came to mind.
“Hmm. First, it must be quiet and away from prying eyes. The interior should be elegant, with plenty to see, and it should be easy to arrange refreshments and meals at the appropriate times.”
“Understood.”
“It also needs to be conveniently accessible, with immediate accommodations available in case rest is needed. There should be carriages and horses on standby at all times for a swift return. Since the guest is a lady, there should also be proper preparations: flowers, handkerchiefs, and the like. Can this be arranged?”
It was as if Raphael no longer existed in Kassel’s mind. He was only focused on Fay’s comfort.
Paul remained silent for a moment, sensing the thoughtfulness behind Kassel’s rather elaborate request, before asking,
“…Master, I won’t ask who the lady is.”
“Hm?”
“Are you finally proposing to someone? If this is your decision, I will hold my tongue.”
Kassel, caught off guard by the completely unexpected remark, quickly shook his head.
“It’s nothing like that. I simply wish to treat the lady with due respect.”
His ever-loyal attendant openly displayed his disappointment. After four years away from his estate, his master was finally entangling himself in a romantic situation, only for it to turn out otherwise.
“I was so certain… What a shame.”
“I told you it’s not like that! Anyway… I need such a place. If necessary, I’m willing to rent an entire building, so don’t worry about the budget. Just find the right location.”
Paul nodded.
“Understood.”
But a place that perfectly fit Kassel’s meticulous standards, exquisite, discreet, and entirely free from gossip, wasn’t exactly common. In the end, he decided to rent the Mizhuang Hotel, a place he knew well and had visited often.
Fay agreed to come, and the promised day arrived sooner than expected.
