Chapter 60: Do I Look Like a Casual Person to You?
"Second Miss, what I'm about to tell you—please don't be alarmed."
"As Montelli's designated successor, I don't get alarmed."
"Should I give you the censored version or the uncensored version?"
"?"
Carlotta's head practically sprouted a giant question mark at Aeron's bizarre opening. She was growing genuinely curious about what exactly this guy had done in Fisalia.
At the very least, that "son-in-law" status didn't seem to have affected him—he was still the same as ever.
"You'd better get straight to the point. I want to see exactly what labels you're sporting now."
What labels could there be? Aeron was just a monk of the Order of the Deep (retired), bodyguard to the Blessed Maiden (inactive), boyfriend of Averardo Vault's Employee of the Month (unclaimed), partner to a bard (solo now), son-in-law of Fisalia (order picked up)...
"Alright, let's change the subject, Second Miss."
"Wow, you're not even going to bother making excuses, you bastard."
Ignoring Carlotta's jab, Aeron decided to retreat after that summary. Just as he tried to put on a serious face and launch into his specialty—spouting nonsense—Carlotta didn't give him the chance.
"Listen, Aeron. I'm not questioning your judgment." Carlotta's voice was lower now, but her gaze never left him.
"Where you go, what identity you use—that's your business."
"Uh... then why are you angry?"
"Oh, am I?"
You clearly are.
But saying that to Carlotta's face was definitely not something Aeron dared to do.
"What I need to confirm is whether your relationship with Montelli can still—"
Carlotta spoke the first half of the sentence naturally and smoothly, but for some reason, the second half remained unspoken.
"Continue?"
"...Correct."
Carlotta acknowledged Aeron's completion of her thought, her gaze drifting slightly. Admitting this was harder than she'd imagined, but the words were already out, and she had no intention of taking them back.
That irritated feeling had been lingering since earlier—she wanted to dispel this mood quickly.
"I get it. Going to Fisalia makes sense. The 'son-in-law' identity makes sense. Keeping everything secret—that makes sense too from your perspective. These are all understandable things."
"You don't have to phrase it so unpleasantly..."
"Then, as your business partner, don't I deserve at least an explanation?"
Facing Carlotta's smiling-yet-completely-humorless eyes, Aeron truly didn't understand. They'd always joked about this before—he never expected the Second Miss was actually a potato mine that would explode the moment he stepped on it.
Well, in situations like this, one needs to erect some defensive cover.
"...Second Miss, do you remember why I left Ragunna last time?"
"Sent on a pilgrimage. What, want me to return that self-incriminating letter you wrote?"
"As much as I'd like that, that's not what we're discussing now."
And honestly, why would you suddenly bring that up?
"Think about it—why would someone who was supposed to be sent on a pilgrimage end up with the Fisalia family instead?"
"According to what we used to say at Porto-Veno Castle... this was Fenrico's arrangement, and Fisalia accepted it."
"Correct."
Aeron nodded, leaning slightly forward with his elbows on his knees as he began explaining the current situation to Carlotta.
"The pilgrimage route should have been to Penitent's End, so why would that Fenrico send me to Fisalia?"
He posed the question but clearly didn't expect Carlotta to answer, continuing himself in a measured tone tinged with contemplation.
"Cantarella and I discussed this, but honestly, I can't come up with a definite answer. So we must prepare for the worst-case scenario. At the very least, this matter mustn't involve Montelli, and certainly not you, Second Miss."
Hearing Aeron's words, Carlotta fell into silence.
Previously preoccupied with Carnevale matters, she hadn't considered this deeply. Now it appeared that Aeron's very presence in Fisalia was suspicious in itself.
"So what does this have to do with your 'son-in-law' identity?"
"...That's none of your concern."
Seeing Aeron stubbornly refusing to answer this question, Carlotta decided not to press further.
The earlier inexplicable irritation had largely dissipated now, and Carlotta admitted she had been somewhat unreasonable before.
After all, she only needed to confirm Aeron's stance, so why had she felt so agitated earlier...
"...Regarding Fisalia matters, if you don't wish to speak of them, I won't ask. But I still need to know whether your 'identity' will affect our agreed-upon matters."
Carlotta paused, then added: "Naturally, I'm referring to the subsequent tasks in Ragunna."
Aeron could sense the shift in Carlotta's mood—the sharp urgency had vanished, replaced by a more cautious, confirmatory attitude. He wiped the casual expression from his face and sat up straighter.
"Rest assured, Second Miss, this definitely won't cause any impact. Do I look like someone who'd casually sell myself out?"
"Aren't you exactly that?"
Well, it seemed his credibility with the Second Miss indeed needed improvement.
Still, hearing Aeron's words, the last remnants of Carlotta's irritation finally dissipated completely.
Looking at Aeron's face that seemed to say "think what you will," she suddenly felt her earlier anxiety and hidden anger had been rather unnecessary.
Why bother holding grudges against him?
Though he appeared careless and often acted unexpectedly, upon closer examination, Aeron simply habitually solved problems in his own way, always trying to contain trouble and risk within his own sphere.
Hadn't it always been this way?
"You have your own judgment. I understand—you truly possess unique talent in this regard."
But just as she relaxed, the fatigue accumulated over all this time began washing over Carlotta.
"Tired?"
Carlotta paused her movements, keeping her eyes closed as she gave a slight nod.
"It's just these past few days... I've expended some unnecessary energy on these Carnevale matters."
Aeron said nothing more. After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke: "Tell me, what can I do? Consider it my apology for being absent for so long."
...An apology?
Carlotta slowly opened her eyes, a sudden glimmer flashing through her gaze.
She had been waiting for him to say exactly those words.
"You said it yourself."
Though it wasn't Aeron's original intention, since he had made Carlotta worry for so long just now, she still wanted to unilaterally give him a little... small revenge.
Thinking this, Carlotta tilted her head and glanced at Aeron with her smiling eyes, saying in a cheerful tone:
"Come with me. Let me see just how far this sincerity of yours can go~"
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