Even after sitting in the drawing room, Kendrick's blunders didn't end. Regardless of what Cider said or didn't say, he kept staring blankly at Esperanza while blushing, then stomping on his own foot with his cane, and couldn't even answer properly.
'Is that person really going to be helpful?'
'......I wonder.'
Even Cider, who had been trying to defend Kendrick—or more precisely, his own choice to bring Kendrick all the way here—eventually gave an ambiguous answer. And he was shaking his head while doing so, which said it all.
"Viscount Poulsbury."
"Yes, yes!"
"The reason I invited you here is because of Lord Avondale's research. Of course, I'm personally interested as well."
"Interested, in ......?"
"In 'Lord Avondale's research,' Viscount. If you're not going to listen, may I go upstairs?"
When Esperanza spoke with irritation, only then did Kendrick calm down a little. He fumbled with the toy-like teacup with his pot-lid-sized hands and cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Ahem. Pl-please speak."
"I'll do the talking, so tone down the disgraceful behavior, Poulsbury."
"Disgraceful...... did I behave disgracefully?"
"Trendously, in front of a lady you've just t. Esperanza, could you relay what I asked Mrs. Lux about last ti?"
Of course, there was no such thing. Even if there had been, there was no reason to relay it through Esperanza. It ant sothing like 'I'll calm this guy down a bit, so step out for a mont.' As soon as Esperanza left, Viscount Poulsbury grabbed Cider's hand tightly.
"Won't you let go? When I said I had sothing to ask earlier, you were so haughty?"
Cider, who had to follow around and persuade that haughty alumnus all day to bring Kendrick, who wasn't even that close to him, to this place, spoke coldly. Then Kendrick knelt down completely.
"Avondale, aren't we good friends?"
"Friends, my ass."
"I'll say whatever you want. I'll help with whatever you need, so please allow
to court Miss E-Esperanza Hunter."
Allow?
Cider suddenly thought. So that's how it works.
As the guardian of the twenty-three-year-old lady Esperanza Hunter, Cider Claiborne naturally had the duty to help the lady under his protection marry safely. That duty ca with the right to prohibit courtship from unsuitable young n and refuse marriage proposals.
In his and Esperanza's relationship, such things were aningless, but as long as only Kendrick Grimston-Hanger didn't know that, wouldn't that be fine?
"Well, that depends on Esperanza's feelings."
Though he pretended to step back gracefully, they both understood that this ant he'd see how things went. Kendrick lanted, 'If I had known it would be like this, I would have agreed to co right away!' and slunk back to his seat.
"You're lucky, being able to call Miss Hunter by na."
"In this house, even the coachman and gardener call her by that na."
"I want to beco your house's coachman or gardener......."
He swept his still-red face with one hand and muttered while looking at the drawing room door where Esperanza had left.
"I, I fell in love at first sight. Miss Esperanza Hunter and I are definitely destined."
This bastard keeps trying to say Esperanza's na by sohow calling her by her full na. Cider scoffed at that pathetic attempt and said:
"You're mistaken."
"That can't be. I definitely felt destiny!"
"What you felt was because Esperanza is beautiful. Not because you and she are destined."
He couldn't hear the door handle turning quietly because Kendrick was writhing around making a fool of himself over nothing. And also because, as the person who had summoned Kendrick and as the host, he had to watch that spectacle.
"No, what would a blockhead like you know? My feelings are special!"
"If you threw her into a ballroom, about ten passing n would say the sa thing. So is Esperanza destined with all ten of them?"
"I don't particularly want to do that."
Esperanza answered matter-of-factly and went to find her seat. Cider asked in a bewildered voice:
"......How long have you been there?"
"Since 'I definitely felt destiny!' It seems you haven't even gotten to the main point yet."
Esperanza smiled briefly and turned her cold tea cup. Both n buried their faces in their palms for their respective reasons.
After a while, Kendrick finally opened his mouth.
"So, what's the business?"
Kendrick Grimston-Hanger was the Marquess of Poulsbury, son of Elizabeth Grimston, and was a criminal law scholar and judge. Though he was overshadowed by the trendous genius that was Cider Claiborne, he was one of the most outstanding achievers among their alumni. Cider had chosen him because of this background—soone who worked as a judge while preparing his doctoral dissertation.
Being a judge, he'd have quick access to various cases, and as a criminal law scholar preparing his thesis, he wouldn't be suspected even if he showed interest in strange cases out of the blue.
Of course, it would be quite suspicious for Cider Claiborne, a magical engineer, to do such things, but Kendrick was oblivious to such matters. And now that he was enchanted by Esperanza, he'd have even less ability to exercise what little perception he had.
"So, about the case where an entire district's people died."
"Do you have sothing in mind?"
"Well, if it were an accident, it wouldn't co up to the courts. It would be better to ask the investigators, but investigators don't know much about areas outside their jurisdiction either...... Or maybe journalists would know better."
"You don't know anything?"
Thinking he might be kicked out imdiately, Kendrick glanced at Esperanza. However, the reaction of the lady with whom he had unilaterally felt destiny was no different from Cider's. If he got kicked out now, it would really be hopeless!
"Even if such an incident occurred, it's often buried at the territorial guard level! You know, unless soone files a complaint, cases that happen in the countryside don't co up to the courts. If they all died at once like that, they would have concluded it was an epidemic."
"What if they died in a very short period? For example, about half a day."
Kendrick gaped at Esperanza, then suddenly ca to his senses.
"In, in such a case, rumors would inevitably spread. Co to think of it......."
Kendrick's effort to sohow avoid being kicked out and stay seated in this drawing room for even 10 more minutes paid off.
"Ah, ah! That's right! The disappearance case in Mabelwood!"
A disappearance case?
Esperanza exchanged glances with Cider. Suspicious.
"The Mabelwood Barony?"
"That's the place."
Kendrick answered roughly and explained to Esperanza with fervent eyes.
"It happened when Baron Mabelwood was in Nine Holder regarding the marriage of his granddaughter, Lady Cordelia. The details aren't known, but because of it, the marriage talks that were about to be finalized dragged on and were eventually called off."
"Is there a reason this case ca to mind?"
"Because of what you ntioned earlier. You're truly brilliant, Miss...... Esperanza Hunter."
"You can call
Miss Hunter."
Kendrick's smile beca awkward after being caught in his trick. Cider raised the corner of his mouth mockingly. As if even the ti spent glaring at him was precious, Kendrick fixed his gaze on Esperanza and spoke.
"Ah, anyway. It's about what happened in Mabelwood. That place is originally vast with people living sparsely, but apparently several households had occasion to gather. Not many, about twenty people. I don't know if they had a eting or a party, but the next day, all the people who had gathered that day completely disappeared."
"How did they find out people had disappeared?"
"It seems one of those people's family mbers couldn't attend that day due to so business."
For claiming not to know the details, he knew quite a lot of facts. Kendrick said the incident had circulated as rumors in high society. Wasn't it a spine-chilling story? Baron Mabelwood had sent people to thoroughly search the nearby forests, but no one was found.
"Does it seem like a dungeon?"
After Kendrick left, Cider asked.
"I'm not sure. I think we need more detailed information. If I beco confident that the possibility is high, it might be worth visiting once."
Kendrick knew quite a bit about the case, but it was hard to be certain whether it was caused by a dungeon.
"How about asking Baron Mabelwood? Since it happened in his own territory, he'd know best. Anyway, it's social season, so they must have co up to Nine Holder too."
The aning was to use that opportunity if she was planning to introduce herself to high society anyway. Esperanza nodded.
"And I should have the information broker look into the Mabelwood case in detail too."
"I want to say it's a good idea...... but it's not a good idea, though it is a good idea."
Cider still disliked the information broker. He considered them dirty and dangerous, but the forr was unavoidable, and wasn't the latter sothing he shouldn't be saying?
"At least the information broker doesn't covet my blood."
Esperanza grumbled dissatisfiedly. Cider didn't bat an eye. What amazing conscience.
Shortly after, the summoned butler picked out several invitations to events that Baron Mabelwood might attend.
"Among these, there are about two that you could attend."
One was a ball at the Guymon mansion, and the other was Lord Humphrey's garden party.
"Lord Humphrey......!"
"Do you know him?"
"In about 8 years, Lord Humphrey will know
too."
Until then, it was a one-sided acquaintance.
"Well, you did say you have a knight's title too."
"Though that was unrelated to this matter."
"Anyway, if you're familiar with him, shall we go with Humphrey?"
Esperanza soon nodded. Actually, Lord Humphrey and Esperanza weren't on very good terms. There was the matter of her ruining his daughter's marriage.
But that was entirely that bastard's fault. He was supporting research that kidnapped people and combined them with monster corpses.
'Co to think of it, there's one here too. Mad scientist.'
Soft shadows fell beautifully along his gentle facial lines. Even among the NPCs famous for being handso, there wasn't such good looks. Cider, who had been looking down, felt the gaze and raised his head.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Esperanza, who had been looking suspiciously at Cider asking with a fresh face, shook her head.
"It's nothing."
"I think I just saw eyes full of prejudice."
"Ah....... It's nothing."
Cider tilted his head but couldn't get an answer to the end.
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