Chapter 98

Serena followed the letter of introduction.

Her steps soon came to a halt.

“…It’s here.”

Perplexed, she checked the letter of introduction multiple times.

She was sure she hadn't made a mistake.

It wasn't too far, nor was it too strange.

At the address that Guild Master Veranio had given her was a store.

“The place that’s supposed to have the most dangerous person in Merion…”

She read the sign.

“But this is…”

[Art Gallery Lamponé]

Contrary to the sign, it didn't look like an art gallery at all.

There was an outdoor tea table, dusty piles of books peeking through the window, and the golden-haired, blue-eyed boy she had had Seramade with earlier in the day who worked there...

“…It’s Shion’s old bookstore.”

“I told you it’s not an old bookstore, miss.”

The golden-haired boy suddenly popped out.

“But you came after all. Of course, you did. Where else would you see a first edition with Viscount Mustas's commentary? We at Lamponé Art Gallery barely managed to get it!”

Shion smiled faintly.

His features were still as delicate as ever.

Under the setting sun, his golden hair shone with an orange hue.

He spoke with a carefree smile.

“Actually, someone who had heard about the book wanted to buy it. They came all the way from Schmeizen and offered gold, so I was tempted, but I tearfully refused, thinking of you, Miss Serena, our regular customer…”

“No. I didn’t come for the book, Shion.”

“Pardon?”

Serena de Verchello sighed deeply.

She wondered where she should even begin to tell this naive boy.

‘I can’t just ask, "Hey, Shion, I heard the most dangerous guy in Merion is at your old bookstore, can you introduce me?"’

But she had no other choice.

The duel with the Del Conti family was just five days away.

It was a matter of her family’s fate.

There was no time to be picky.

“Shion, please don’t misunderstand.”

She chose her words carefully in a calm voice.

“I received a letter of introduction.”

The boy tilted his head.

“A letter of introduction?”

“Yes. It told me to come here to find a great person I was looking for. Do you know anything about it?”

“Let me see it for a moment.”

Serena obediently handed over the letter of introduction.

The blue-eyed boy read it, making a humming sound. Serena felt a little uneasy.

‘Could it be that Guild Master Veranio made a mistake?’

Shion was a bookstore employee and she was a regular customer.

They had seen each other for a long, though not very long, time.

She felt like he was about to say she had come to the wrong place and offer her another glass of Seramade.

The Shion she knew was a boy so frail that he seemed more like a girl.

“Aha.”

But then.

Shion suddenly smiled wryly.

It was a smile that held a certain eeriness.

“So it’s a letter of introduction from the Guild Master of a ‘miscellaneous bunch.’”

It was strange to see a familiar boy with an unfamiliar expression.

“Then you’ve come to the right place, miss.”

A familiar street, a familiar boy, yet an unfamiliar atmosphere.

Serena de Verchello felt as if she had suddenly fallen into a dream.

“Come in.”

***

The old wooden door of Art Gallery Lamponé creaked open.

Serena followed Shion, who was leading the way.

The interior was nothing out of the ordinary, very familiar to her, since she was a regular at this art gallery that looked like an old bookstore.

“It seems you still haven’t cleaned.”

Dust lay thick on the piles of books.

The already old books looked even older.

As they headed towards the inner shelves, the condition got even worse.

She coughed from the flying dust.

“It’s been twenty years, I think. I thought you came to Merion around this time last year.”

“I did try to clean up.”

“…I feel like I want to do it for you instead.”

One book caught her eye.

Dragon Great Mountain Range Travelogue.

The first edition with Viscount Mustas's commentary that Shion had mentioned.

It was something she had always wanted since she was little, but she held back.

The request was a priority.

“But it does make it feel more like an old bookstore.”

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

Shion pouted.

“We’re an art gallery, an art gallery! We just happen to handle a lot of old books, but we deal with all kinds of artworks!”

Sculptures, paintings, even brokering artists!

We even have an exhibition space!

Shion said and pulled out a framed painting from between the shelves.

It was a very high-quality item enchanted with a spell to prevent the painting from being damaged; the frame alone was worth three Erta gold coins.

What was even more surprising was the content.

“This painting… Portrait of the Widow Queen?”

“You have a good eye, miss.”

“I’ve seen it in a catalog from Madwir.”

Shion whispered softly.

“It’s the real thing.”

“Don’t joke!”

She giggled unconsciously.

“Why would Madwir’s masterpiece be here? It would be worth enough to buy this art gallery fifty times over!”

“It really is…”

Shion looked glum, but Serena still didn’t believe him.

Madwir Mol Meder was a master among masters, who had served as the court painter for the great nation of Erta for half a century.

A masterpiece from such a painter couldn't possibly be in a place like this!

“Still, it’s a very well-made replica. If I had the money, I’d definitely want to buy it.”

“Do you like Madwir, miss?”

“I don’t have a hobby for paintings, but his works particularly move me.”

“Then it is a hobby.”

Shion’s eyes sparkled.

“Why hide it, our art gallery’s goal is to hold a Madwir exhibition within this year.”

A small laugh escaped her, but she held it back.

It was rude to laugh at someone’s dream.

No matter how futile a dream seemed, no, especially if it was a futile dream, one should not laugh at it.

Besides, wasn’t Serena also tied to the futile dream of rebuilding her family?

She felt a sense of camaraderie.

“I say all this, but…”

Sigh. The golden-haired boy let out a deep sigh.

“The gallery isn't making enough, so I’m doing all sorts of odd jobs. Many people need my insufficient skills, so.”

Past the counter were two more rows of shelves.

The innermost row of shelves slid open smoothly with a mini clatter, revealing a staircase leading downwards.

Shion still led the way down the stairs and Serena followed him.

At the bottom of the stairs were two doors.

One looked like a storage room for books and the other for paintings or sculptures.

Shion grabbed the wall between the two doors and pulled it open.

A magically hidden door opened, revealing a reception room.

“Shion, the proprietor of Lamponé Art Gallery, greets you again.”

Blue eyes of a depth that was hard to guess his age.

Features as beautiful as a sculpture.

The boy placed his index finger on his lips and spoke.

“What kind of request have you brought, miss?”

***

The reception room, for being hidden underground, was excessively clean and bright.

From the table to the rug, everything was of the highest quality.

It was enough to make Serena feel intimidated.

Shion noticed her tension and handed her a cup of warm Fre Leaf Tea.

The teacup also looked like it was worth at least two gold coins, but she tried not to care.

“I see. You need a champion for a duel with the Del Conti family…”

After hearing the general explanation, Shion nodded.

“Besides, the head of the Del Conti family is truly shameless. How dare he covet Miss Serena?!”

He didn't hesitate to express his anger on Serena’s behalf.

“He’s just a parvenu with two wives and three daughters! I can't stand it!”

He stood up in a huff.

Then he began rummaging through a desk drawer.

‘Is he looking for tobacco or strong liquor?’

It didn't suit his childlike face, but it wasn't strange since he said he was eighteen.

Soon, Shion pulled out a small metal case.

“Ugh!”

The metal case rattled, spilling its contents.

They were slightly red, had a strong scent, and were round.

They were sugar candies, commonly called lozenges.

To vent his anger, Shion threw three lozenges into his mouth at once.

His cheeks, as he chewed on the candies, were so cute that Serena couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Why are you laughing? Do you want candy, too, miss?”

“…This candy is also quite a high-quality product, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Or so I hear. It’s from the Shaebo Confectionery.”

She had heard of it.

The Shaebo Confectionery in the capital of the great nation of Maesh.

It was said to be so popular that even royalty couldn't enter the store without a queue.

‘…What on earth does Shion do?’

On the outside, he was just a good-looking boy.

She had frequented his store enough to become a regular, yet she hadn’t felt anything strange at all.

But today, ever since she brought the letter of introduction from Guild Master Veranio, everything had changed.

What was his relationship with the person said to be the most dangerous in Merion?

How did he acquire all these top-quality items filling this room?

What was he doing before he came to Merion?

Could the Portrait of the Widow Queen be real, after all?

Or could the most dangerous person in Merion be Shion himself?

One question led to another, and soon, a swarm of countless questions rose like a cloud.

“Miss.”

“…Yes?”

“Calm down. Your breathing is rough.”

At Shion’s single word, her heart quickly settled.

It was a strange thing. He offered her the metal case.

“Please, have one. It’s a raspberry lozenge with a mint flavor.”

“…Raspberry.”

Serena put the candy in her mouth.

It was very sweet and soft, but with a slight sourness and a mint flavor that seemed to dance on her tongue.

“Wasn’t the name of the art gallery also a type of raspberry? Do you like raspberries?”

“Yes, very much.”

Suddenly, an old memory came to mind.

Her father, who had found her raspberry-colored eyes so cute, his gentle touch, his voice that she would never hear again.

All that was left now was the name Verchello.

She had to protect it.

No matter what, she could not give up.

“So, can you find me a champion?”

“It’s not difficult. Do you have any specific requirements?”

“…Hmm. It would be good if we could make it seem like a family with ties to the Verchello family sent someone.”

“That’s also not a difficult matter.”

Shion’s attitude was consistently relaxed. He took out what looked like expensive paper and a pen and scribbled something.

“Understood. I’ll take the request.”

“I…”

Serena de Verchello brushed back her black hair.

It was difficult to bring up the next topic, and her lips wouldn't part easily.

“…The cost, how much will it be?”

“Oh, right. How much can you prepare?”

“…For now, this much.”

She took out the hidden coin pouch from the basket she had been holding all day.

Shion picked up the pouch and felt its weight.

It made a clinking sound and felt quite heavy.

It couldn’t be all gold coins, nor could they all be silver.

This was probably the best she could do.

Considering the Verchello family’s current situation, it must not have been easy to gather this money.

Shion scratched his temple and said.

“…It’s a bit lacking, but I’ll accept it.”

Only then did Serena let out a sigh of relief.

It would have been very difficult if he had asked for a higher fee.

“When did you say the duel was?”

“Five days from now, at noon, in a vacant lot a little way from the spinning mill.”

“Very good.”

Shion showed a light smile.

“You can rest assured and wait.”

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