Surely My Life Can't Have Any More Landmines, Right?

Chapter 104

Early that evening.

By the time I got home, a messenger pigeon from the Intelligence Department had apparently beaten me there, because Alfred the old butler was already walking over to me with a discreet envelope on a tray the moment I opened the manor's front door.

“Young Master. This is a letter from the Elder Young Master. It was marked with an urgent seal.”

“Ah, thank you, Alfred.”

I quickly shrugged off my outer coat and handed it to a maid, then took the envelope right away.

The wax seal bore the Farne family's Intelligence Department's distinctive intricate emblem.

My brother must be ridiculously busy.

It hadn't even been half a day since I asked him to send a messenger pigeon, and he'd already replied.

Before I even went upstairs, I sank onto the reception room sofa and tore open the envelope.

Rustle.

When I unfolded the stiff, high-quality parchment, Harun's neat handwriting came into view, flawless and without a single ink smear.

[Recommended List of the Capital's Finest Restaurants]

- Grand Asteria: Located on the south bank of the river in the capital. Its floor-to-ceiling windows provide excellent light, and the open layout gives a pleasant sense of openness while still drawing other people's attention.

- Helios Terrace: Located in an affluent district near the Imperial Palace. It has private balcony seats, but because the garden seating opens during the day, it can create a bright, casual atmosphere.

[Recommended List of Dessert Cafés]

- Salon de Lumière: Famous for its finest black tea and three-tier dessert trays. Mostly favored by noble ladies.

- Le Blanc: Booth seating is half-hidden by curtains, making it ideal for more intimate conversation.

The moment I checked the contents, I burst out laughing before I knew it.

“Ha ha.”

Look at this.

“My brother. He'd really been living it up in glamorous style, huh?”

When on earth had he memorized the databases of all these luxurious, romantic hot spots?

I thought he spent every day buried in piles of paperwork and working overtime, but somehow he knows everything, doesn't he?

But what really made me marvel was the very specific, hard-hitting advice written beneath the venue list.

[Date Course and Attitude Advice]

My brother's handwriting was so firm it looked less like advice and more like operational orders to a rookie agent.

[When you meet a lady during the day, it can be seen as protecting her honor in a bright public place. On top of that, it can be taken to mean that your interest in her is only a clearly bounded one, with every proper courtesy observed.]

“Wow.”

I stood there with my mouth hanging open, parchment in hand.

Right. The reason I said I'd meet Lucius during the day was exactly that.

My brother had already seen straight through even my shallow scheme.

[Therefore, you must absolutely avoid reserving the entire venue. Reserve terrace seats at the restaurant or dessert café, give the lady a safe inner seat hidden by the curtains, out of public view, and have the man sit on the outer side where people can see him.]

[That is the most polite way of saying, “I don't take our meeting lightly.” Especially if, like in your case, you're trying to neatly wrap up the relationship with just one courteous date.]

“He really writes well. My brother.”

It was no joke; I could see why our father had appointed this man to head the Intelligence Department and trusted him so absolutely.

His skill at manipulating a person's psychology and the context of a situation was practically an art form.

The real reason I was genuinely impressed enough to give my brother a standing ovation, however, was the very detailed postscript at the end of the letter.

[P.S. I have already put provisional reservations under your name at all of the restaurants and dessert cafés below. For any place you won't use, just send a separate cancellation notice by tonight.]

“Heh. As expected of my brother.”

He'd even handled the reservations in one neat, efficient sweep, fully taking into account the requester's troublesome habits and circumstances.

My admiration practically welled up from my spine.

“What should I do?”

I lightly tapped Grand Asteria and Salon de Lumière on the parchment with my finger.

“In theory, it's really appropriate advice.”

Honestly, going around on foot to scout places and make reservations myself was the height of hassle.

The fact that I could just sit down and eat what my brother had already set out was a hundred, a thousand times better for me.

“Sigh.”

I let out a light sigh.

I had no other choice, and there was no need to look for one.

“This is why there are no free lunches in this world.”

Since I'd already piggybacked on my brother's effort, later on I'd have to buy him a box of energy tonics or something when he was drowning in overtime and on the verge of collapse.

I decided without hesitation to keep the date course exactly as it was.

Dinner would be at the open, airy Grand Asteria. And teatime would be at Salon de Lumière.

“Old Alfred.”

I called out to the butler waiting outside the reception room.

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Help me write this letter.”

I quickly scribbled a reply to Lucius on the memo pad lying on the table.

A brief note with the venue, time, and dress code.

“Whether by messenger pigeon or by hand delivery, anything works. Just get it to that Lucius guy today—ah, wait.”

I stopped midsentence.

What was that family's name again?

Come to think of it, I hadn't heard which house he was from.

When he introduced himself to Lily, he'd left out his surname too, hadn't he?

Damn it.

As I hesitated, Old Alfred said,

“If you're referring to Young Master Lucius, who came by at dawn, we can send it to House Rohanna.”

Hmm? Rohanna?

I blinked.

Something about it sounded familiar, and a nasty feeling started rising from deep in my gut.

But nothing came to mind.

“No clue.”

It must be a mistake.

Surely there couldn't be any more landmines in my life?

Hmm.

“Probably.”

At this point, it'd be weirder if there weren't.

Damn.

I'll have to look up separately what kind of place that is later.

“Yes. Anyway, please send it there.”

“Understood, Young Master.”

Old Alfred respectfully took the memo and left the reception room.

* * *

Inside Sophia's private dressing room, tucked beyond the lavish sitting room of Count Rohanna's estate.

The chief manager and staff of the capital's renowned dress boutique were moving busily, to the point that even high-ranking nobles had to reserve a slot and wait.

Swish, rustle.

The sound of ivory silk softly brushing as finely ground pearls were sprinkled over it filled the spacious room.

In front of the giant full-length mirrors surrounding the room stood a beautiful woman who shared Lucius's face perfectly: Sophia.

“My, Lady Rohanna. The lace detailing on this neckline really shows off your lovely neck to perfection.”

The chief manager fussed as she straightened the thin shawl slipping from Sophia's shoulders.

Her words were not flattery in the slightest.

If Lucius had elegant, smooth lines, then his twin Sophia possessed the ultimate beauty, as though those lines had been refined endlessly into something soft and delicate.

Her waist was elegantly cinched, and the hem of the dress swayed lavishly like clouds every time she stepped.

Wherever she went, it was sure to draw men's eyes; a truly beautiful figure.

However.

…….

Reflected in the mirror, her clear blue eyes carried a faintly wounded, fragile sadness.

Like a bird with broken wings, staring only at the sky, she looked as though she could shatter at any moment despite wearing such beautiful clothes.

Knock, knock.

Then, with a light knock, the tightly shut door opened softly.

“Sorry to interrupt, Sophia.”

It was Lucius.

He entered his younger sister's room holding the courier envelope in one hand, wearing his usual easy, gentle smile.

The staff all bowed in greeting at once, and Sophia also looked away from the mirror and turned her head slightly toward him.

Lucius instantly read the gloom clouding his sister's face.

As twins who had shared breath since they were in their mother's womb, it wasn't hard for him to guess the reason for that feeling.

'You're terrified, my poor sister.'

As his own other half, she always thought her frailty and shortcomings were a burden on the family.

So even this sudden meeting he had forced on her, she was surely worrying that it would be an inconvenience to the other party.

Lucius approached with soft steps and lightly clasped Sophia's shoulder.

“Whatever you're worrying about will turn out to be a false alarm, so stop fretting.”

Lucius whispered in a very low, warm voice.

“The other side hasn't forgotten you, and they aren't trying to take this meeting lightly. Remember what I said?”

“……I remember. I haven't forgotten.”

Sophia denied it while lowering her gaze weakly.

Her small hands fidgeted helplessly with the hem of her dress.

“What are you talking about when you can't even manage a bright smile after going to all this trouble to dress up?”

Lucius chuckled as if lightly chiding her, then held out the envelope stamped with the Farne family's red wax seal from behind his back.

“A letter came from the other side.”

“……!”

In that instant, Sophia's shoulders jerked.

Her blue eyes trembled rapidly toward the envelope in Lucius's hand.

“Could it be…… that they're saying to postpone the meeting?”

Sophia's voice was thick with anxiety.

She may have thought that was only natural.

A man like the Farne family's second son, someone frequently mentioned in social circles lately, pushing away a promise with a gloomy, fragile woman like herself by using a convenient excuse was a mundane occurrence in noble society.

“Who knows.”

Lucius shrugged.

“I brought it straight here myself the moment I got it. There's no way I'd commit the rude act of opening a letter meant for its rightful recipient before it was even delivered, especially not for my beloved sister.”

At that flippant yet gentle remark, Sophia finally let a faint smile appear at the corners of her stiff lips.

“Come on, open it already, Sophia.”

“...Okay.”

After Lucius handed her the envelope, Sophia took the letter with trembling hands.

Rustle.

Even though she carefully broke the wax seal and opened the envelope, the sound felt unusually loud.

Lucius silently watched the scene beside her and murmured softly to himself.

'Sorry.'

It was a lie.

In truth, if the one who sent that letter had been a sly, inscrutable noble or someone even a little untrustworthy.

Lucius would have feared that his beloved sister Sophia might be hurt, and would have thoroughly opened and inspected the letter in advance, even forging the handwriting to replace it with safer wording.

But.

'If it's that man…… I can trust him.'

Lucius was certain of that inwardly.

He recalled Cassian's face from that morning, when the man had accepted his absurd request while not hiding his irritation one bit.

He figured that man's slack, lazy manner was, paradoxically, something like the flip side of perfectionism.

He hated troublesome things to an extreme, but once he said something aloud, he had to keep the promise even if the sky split in two.

He would act indifferent toward pitiful people, yet still extend the most reliable helping hand.

And he wouldn't be satisfied until he'd repaid in full any debt owed to someone who had helped him.

Maybe they were very basic, obvious principles.

But even among nobles in high society with plenty of entourage, most only spouted lofty principles with their mouths, and when the situation turned unfavorable, they would slyly dodge responsibility.

He knew that living quietly while shackling oneself to every principle was tiring and difficult.

But Cassian was an exception.

He had promised he would show perfect manners to his beloved sister.

Rustle.

Before she knew it, Sophia had unfolded the letter and finished reading it, and carefully hugged the parchment to her chest.

“……I read it all.”

Sophia looked up at Lucius and whispered softly.

The chief manager and the staff might have thought Sophia's expression hadn't changed much compared to before she read the letter.

Still the same meek, quiet face.

But Lucius, who had breathed with her all his life, could perfectly read that tiny ripple.

She felt relieved.

And without a doubt, she was delighted.

A faint pink flush rose on Sophia's previously pale cheeks.