"You're quite something, Duke."
Yuan mocked Gillen with a cold expression. It definitely felt like sarcasm, but Gillen couldn't even guess what had set him off this time.
"Not only do you claim the moral high ground of a loving father, but you also secure the room next to the man you like. And all without violating a single clause in the contract…"
Yuan continued, glaring at Gillen.
"But whatever you're hoping for tonight will absolutely not happen."
With that, Yuan entered his room and slammed the door shut.
What was I hoping for tonight, you crazy guy… Why are you getting all huffy and storming off on your own…
Gillen covered his dazed eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Having been through this a few times, it wasn't as shocking as before.
"Nabard."
Gillen called to his aide standing behind him.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"If this is the lord's wife's room, there must be a door connecting it to the lord's room, right?"
"Probably so…?"
"Then ask if there are any thick planks lying around the lord's castle."
"Pardon?"
"Two thick planks—no, tell them to bring as many as they can find. I'm going to block that door."
"…Are you serious?"
"…Never mind."
The loyal aide Nabard casually ignored Gillen's sigh and began directing other servants to bring Gillen's luggage into the room.
Gillen crossed his arms and stared at Yuan's firmly closed door. Though he had brushed it off lightly, Yuan mentioning marriage and a proposal in front of Cecilia meant he was serious. That, in turn, meant he would soon put his words into action.
'That's absolutely not happening.'
Gillen gestured to Nabard, who approached closer.
"Red alert, Nabard."
"Pardon?"
Nabard's eyes wavered.
"We need to completely crush 'Ten-Bird.'"
Gillen declared resolutely.
Codename "Ten-Bird." It referred to Yuan. To others, Gillen explained it as meaning "a bird that swoops in from ten directions," but in reality, it was just a shorthand for a much ruder term.
During the first week when Yuan appeared almost daily, Gillen, exhausted, gathered his servants and declared:
"This won't do. From now on, we'll establish a codename and tiered emergency alerts!"
When Yuan, aka Ten-Bird, appeared: Silver alert.
When Ten-Bird was approaching Gillen: Black alert.
When Ten-Bird was about to encounter Cecilia: Yellow alert.
Finally, when Ten-Bird had already approached Cecilia: Red alert, the highest emergency level.
Thanks to the efforts of Gillen and many others, they had managed to prevent a red alert until now, but the situation had finally reached an irreversible point.
Though the specifics weren't clear, all the servants believed Gillen had a good reason for disliking Yuan. Their master was not one to hate or ostracize someone without cause.
Nabard shared this belief. He viewed Yuan as Gillen's rival and assumed Gillen was planning to make Cecilia the future empress.
'As expected of our Duke. He seems like a kind man uninterested in power, but even that is calculated.'
Nabard silently reaffirmed his loyalty to Gillen, which was a boon for the duke.
"If it's a red alert, what should I do?"
Nabard asked in a hushed voice. Gillen led him into the room. The door soon closed, and secretive whispers drifted from within.
*
When dinner time arrived, everyone gathered in the lord's castle dining hall. A feast was laid out on the long, grand table. The awkward atmosphere between Yuan and the guests eased slightly in the presence of fine wine and delicious food.
"Despite the sudden visit, thank you for your warm hospitality, Marquis Hampton."
Hexion raised his glass high. The others followed suit, lifting their glasses once before drinking.
Gillen glanced around and seized the moment to speak.
"Your Highness, I actually brought a gift for you, and I think now would be a good time to present it."
"A gift?"
Hexion looked at Gillen curiously. Gillen smiled lightly and gestured to Nabard, who stood behind him. Nabard stepped forward, holding a long, black box.
"It's a noble rot wine from the Sobain Kingdom, produced in the unprecedentedly bountiful year of Moore 587. They say no wine as fragrant and sweet has been made since."
"Moore 587 Sobain wine is quite famous. You're giving me something that precious?"
"It's precisely because it's precious that I'm giving it to you. It's an honor that Your Highness is spending this summer vacation with us."
After twenty years of transmigrated life, Gillen could sweet-talk even a young crown prince with ease. And since this flattery was part of the buildup for countering the red alert, he had no reason to hold back.
"Shall we all enjoy it together tonight? Cecil, you like noble rot wine, don't you?"
Noble rot wine, made from grapes affected by noble rot, was richly sweet and popular among noblewomen. It paired especially well with foie gras, to the point that it was said the year following a noble rot wine bumper crop saw twice as many geese perish. Picky royals and nobles exchanged such jests.
"I like it with dessert… Let's have it after dinner."
Cecilia, who had been casually responding to her childhood friend Hexion, belatedly raised her tone upon noticing Yuan and the lord's castle servants. Hexion laughed, amused.
"Why so formal? Speak comfortably. The Duke has known we're close for ages, and the Marquis will let it slide too. Right, Marquis?"
Hexion asked playfully. The corners of Yuan's mouth lifted faintly and stiffly.
"Of course. Cecil's comfort is what matters most."
"…Right, well said."
The ever-jovial smile on Hexion's face faded. Likely because Yuan had casually called her "Cecil." He might be innocently carefree, but he wasn't stupid. It meant he hadn't forgotten Yuan's earlier marriage proposal to Cecilia.
Gillen smirked inwardly. It was a great start.
His plan was simple. If stopping Yuan was difficult, he'd advance Cecilia and Hexion's relationship. The first step was getting Hexion tipsy. Of course, he couldn't get him blackout drunk, so he chose a wine with a moderate alcohol content. A slight buzz would loosen the mood and help Hexion realize his true feelings for Cecilia.
Cecilia, inheriting Gillen's constitution, could hold her liquor well. Even if Hexion forgot his actions the next day, Cecilia, perfectly sober, would remember everything—especially any hints of Hexion's affection. That would make her noticeably more aware of Hexion, her friend and potential romantic interest. Then they'd quickly progress to marriage…
"Cecil, have you thought about marriage?"
Yuan shattered Gillen's daydream in an instant.
"Well, Yuan, to be honest, I haven't thought about it seriously at all."
Cecilia replied cautiously.
"We only spent a few days together ten years ago, and even then, you were the only one talking about marriage."
Having read the original story, Gillen knew what had happened between them. Hexion, however, was different.
"What happened ten years ago that you spent 'a few days' together?"
Hexion asked with a smile, but everyone at the table caught the subtle thorn in his question.
"Let me explain, Your Highness. Ten years ago, I was sent by the old master of the magic tower… I mean, sir, to repair the defensive walls and barriers along the western border."
At fifteen, the arrogant young wizard was already hailed as the next master of the magic tower, taking on major commissions. But on his way to the border, he encountered bandits. Those bandits were kidnapping village children for human trafficking. Cecilia was among those children.
"Cecil, you were kidnapped?"
Hexion, shocked, examined Cecilia closely. Though it was a story from ten years ago, he couldn't help but worry. Cecilia laughed.
"Only briefly. And I let myself get kidnapped on purpose."
As a regressor, Cecilia knew those bandits were lackeys of Duke Gallret. Duke Gallret was the mastermind who would bring down the Blake family in the future. Human trafficking was the Gallret family's secret source of funds and connections, and Cecilia aimed to cut that off early. So she willingly walked into the tiger's den.
Of course, Gillen knew all this. To respect Cecilia's resolve while ensuring her safety, he had assigned the Blake family's covert operatives to follow her before she embarked on her reckless plan. They were to intervene immediately if she was in danger.
Fortunately, Cecilia successfully took down the bandits as in the original story, and there she met Yuan, the secondary male lead. Whether that was fortunate was debatable… But Gillen, knowing Cecilia wouldn't get a scratch, still worried and regretted it countless times.
'My daughter was so brave back then…'
Gillen shook his head slightly, ending his reminiscence.
"You let yourself get kidnapped? What does that mean?"
"Ten years ago, Duke Gallret got caught for human trafficking, went to trial, and paid a huge fine, remember?"
"Right, Duke Gallret used bandits for human… Cecilia Marianne Blake, don't tell me!"
Hexion's eyes widened as he pieced it together.
"I was the one who reported it. Yuan and I got caught together back then. That's how we became friends."