Time Healer Ceres
Chapter 19
He wondered if the man would return so easily after being framed for embezzlement and practically driven out in disgrace.
If it were me, I’d be so sick of the place I wouldn’t even want to look in its direction.
Besides, what lingering affection could he possibly have for a family on the brink of ruin that would make him want to come back?
‘May I truly return?’
But Colin gave a positive answer much more easily than expected.
‘Then, I look forward to serving you once again.’
Colin came from a line of stewards who had served the Drow Barony for generations.
Perhaps, Seres thought, the Drow Barony held a significance for him that was far greater than she had vaguely guessed.
‘Things certainly are different.’
It hadn't been long since his return, but the atmosphere flowing through the house was decidedly different.
Had he reassigned the few remaining employees according to their abilities?
Even to the naked eye, it was easy to see that the household, which had seemed slightly out of sync in various places, was now running quite smoothly.
‘Even the weed-choked garden has changed.’
While it wasn't yet a beautiful garden overflowing with brilliant flowers, the jungle-like thicket of weeds she had first seen was nowhere to be found.
“Here are the income and expenditure statements for this month.”
Seres scanned the pages listlessly, noting the rows of text packed into the expenditure column compared to the sparse income section.
As expected, most of the income went toward loan interest, and they were barely scraping by on the small fraction that remained.
‘…Huh?’
The strange thing was that after Colin arrived, the pittance allocated for living expenses….
“There’s a surplus?”
“We must make one.”
It was astonishing. Agne had always grumbled that the living expenses were never enough.
During the short period she lived with Agne before the woman was kicked out, Seres had frequently heard her suggesting they take out more loans.
She had argued that while a sum large enough to cover Yulia’s treatment might be difficult, a small amount for immediate survival should be possible.
‘I suspected that woman, Agne, wasn’t managing the household properly, but still.’
Even so, could there really be this much of a difference?
Seres cast a look of genuine admiration at Colin the butler.
Whoosh.
“……?”
Right then, Colin strode forward and blew out the candle on the table.
When Seres gave him a look asking what he was doing, he smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling kindly.
“The sun is still out, is it not? It is still bright.”
…The sunset is almost over, though? It’s dark?
“We must save to survive.”
“…….”
…It’s not even ‘frugality is the key to wealth,’ we’re ending on ‘survive’ because our lives are at stake?
Surely it wasn't her imagination that Colin’s eyes seemed to glint particularly sharply as he spoke of the need to save.
‘I heard he was a very gentle person.’
Did his personality change?
Watching Colin carefully tuck away the report he had just handed her, saying he would reuse the back of the paper, Seres let out a short sigh.
* * *
“Guild Master-nim.”
“What?”
Slurp.
“I’m telling you, we got word from the Imperial Family!”
“And?”
Gulp. Slurp, slurp!
“They said you need to attend the meeting in a few days, Guild Master-nim.”
“So, what do you want me to do about it?”
Slurp! Ahh!
“I’m saying this isn’t the time to be leisurely eating something like stew!”
“…Something like stew?”
Black, the number one mercenary guild in the Empire.
Its leader, Skal, was a true regular at the stew shop, Where Your Steps Linger, which sold the soul food of mercenaries.
No matter how busy he was, he made sure to have at least one meal a day here.
He was the very person who had officially warned his guild members about the new restaurant rule Seres had established: ‘In the event of a disturbance, the individual as well as all members of their guild will be banned for one week.’
‘If you’re going to cause trouble at the stew shop, quit the guild!’
At his shout—which was dead serious, not a joke—all the guild mercenaries had no choice but to nod their heads vigorously. None of them were unaware of Guild Master Skal’s love for the stew.
“Did you just say ‘something like stew’?”
“No. When did I say that?”
“…….”
“You misheard me, Guild Master-nim.”
Skal stared intently at the Vice Guild Master, who was shamelessly feigning ignorance, before bringing the stew back to his mouth.
He was already emptying his third bowl, yet the flavor didn't seem to diminish at all. If anything, the deep taste seemed to grow richer the more he ate.
“Guild Master-nim! So, what are you going to do!”
“About what?”
“You’re going to attend, right?”
“No.”
“Ah, why!”
“…Did you just speak casually to me?”
“No. You misheard me, Guild Master-nim.”
Lot, the Vice Guild Master, was bursting with frustration.
The Imperial meeting was right around the corner, yet the man who called himself the Guild Master could be so nonchalant!
The other mercenary guild masters had been busy for a month, getting clothes tailored for the meeting and selecting the staff to accompany them!
Most of all, what worried him most right now was….
“Are you really not going to attend the meeting? You’re joking, right?”
“No, I’m serious.”
“Ah, seriously! Why!”
“Hey.”
“Ah, I don’t care! If you don’t attend this time either, I’m writing my resignation!”
“You say that like you haven't written one before.”
“Why are you refusing to attend this time?”
Black was the most famous mercenary group in the Debrica Empire.
Because of that, Skal, the Guild Master of Black, was frequently dragged into the affairs of high-ranking officials, whether he liked it or not.
Requests often came in for him to attend Imperial functions as well as meetings concerning important agendas.
However, the number of times he had actually attended such meetings in person could be counted on one hand.
More often than not, he would use all sorts of excuses to send Lot, the Vice Guild Master, in his stead.
It was always Lot’s job to endure the piercing glares of other guild masters who wondered if he was acting high and mighty just because his guild was ranked number one.
“Not this time! They specifically requested your attendance because there are so many truly important agendas!”
“Even so, they just say the same things every time. Don’t they just want us to handle all the defense on our own?”
They were already frantic enough with the recent increase in monster sightings from the Black Forest; what kind of damn meeting was he supposed to go to in such a busy situation?
Skal, who had emptied the stew bowl until not a single drop of broth remained, set the bowl aside and clicked his tongue repeatedly.
“Besides, huh?”
Had there ever been a single time he’d seen anything good while attending a meeting where all the nobles were gathered?
What kind of meeting could he possibly have with those people who only ever shouted about their own interests until their veins popped?
Despite the long hours spent, the conclusions reached were never any different from the previous ones.
The mercenaries were to do all the dangerous work.
And threats that if even the slightest harm came to the nobles, all benefits given to the guild would be revoked.
“Why should I bother attending when it’s obvious it’ll just end with me hearing that kind of nonsense?”
“Yes. Because everyone else attends to hear that kind of thing.”
“You’re going again this time.”
“Ah, seriously!”
He wasn't a petulant child, so why was a grown man acting like that! Lot slammed his forehead against the table as if he had a headache.
“But you know.”
“Yes?”
Had he changed his mind?
“Doesn't the stew taste even better than usual today?”
“Oh, for heaven's sake. What are you talking about all of a sudden…!”
Thump, thump.
“I’m serious.”
Ignoring the Vice Guild Master who was banging his head against the table again, Skal looked anew at the empty plate he had finished.
Was the taste somehow deeper today?
Furthermore, after eating, his body, which had felt sluggish since morning, somehow felt refreshed?
“What kind of nonsense is that! You say that every time you eat!”
“No. Today feels a bit more… By the way, this guy is really crossing the line today, isn't he?”
“Ah, I don’t know! I’m resigning!”
Thump, thump.
“Hmm.”
Perhaps he needed to eat one more bowl to solve this mystery…?
“Hey.”
At Guild Master Skal’s call, the person carrying food to other customers approached with a bright smile.
It was Jay, the maid of the Drow Barony.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“One more bowl.”
“Understood.”
“By the way, are you a new employee? I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you.”
“Ah, Mark-ssi got hurt a bit last night.”
“Hurt? Mark?”
“Yes. So our young lady and I are running the shop in his place.”
An urgent message had come from Mark early this morning. It was news that he had accidentally tumbled down the stairs last night.
Skal’s jaw dropped at the news that his right arm had snapped, and as a result, he wouldn't be able to hold a ladle for a while.
“The chef is injured.”
Not only Guild Master Skal, but other mercenaries eating nearby also cast surprised looks at Jay.
They had thought it strange that Mark was nowhere to be seen today, but they had simply assumed, ‘He must have a lot to do in the kitchen.’
But Mark wasn't in the shop at all right now?
“Then what about the food?”
If Mark wasn't here, then who made this stew they were currently eating?
Had there been stew made in advance?
