Episode 8. Bullshit
Adel froze the moment she entered Hawks House. Even if sailors managed to wash their worn clothes, that's all they did—yet amid those shabby outfits, an incredibly luxurious gentleman's suit caught her eye. The problem was seeing the face of the man wearing it as well.
The rogue feigning innocence, Gray Roer Valoneck. Why was he here?
Adel unwittingly frowned behind her glasses.
"Adel!"
Meanwhile, Ruan—the child who had been watching from the corner of the shop with sparkling eyes—rushed over and hugged her.
"Yeah, Ruan."
"Did you come to see me?"
"No."
"Then?"
"I came to collect."
"Just say you came to see me."
"But I did come to collect."
"Ugh, Adel, really.... Hmph."
"What're you saying, you little punk? Have you been eating?"
"No. Not yet...."
"You trying to starve yourself to death?"
"I ate too much breakfast."
The child whined pitifully but still wouldn't let go of Adel's arm.
Adel was somewhat dry in her affections, but she was someone the homeless street child could cling to. She spoke curtly but never found him a nuisance, and she even gave him honest work.
"How's the paper selling?"
"Sold a ton today too!"
"Good. And the savings?"
"Doing great! Did it this morning too. Wanna see?"
"No need."
"But Adel, can I buy just one apple pie today?"
"Huh? Why buy something like that?"
"I've wanted it since yesterday."
Adel pried the child off her arm and crouched to meet his eyes.
"No. Ask Hawk to make you one."
Ruan looked crestfallen and glanced at Hawk. Then he whispered cautiously to Adel.
"Hawk's apple pie tastes bad, but he takes all the money anyway. Total conscienceless jerk. Better to buy two from Growing's outside with that!"
Hawk glared from afar as if he'd heard everything. Adel laughed inwardly but kept a stern face before the child. She pinched Ruan's nose lightly.
"Idiot. That's not pie cost—it's rent."
"But I buy ice cream here every day!"
Adel glanced at Hawk then shook Ruan's nose vigorously.
"Ow! Ow! Addie! It hurts!"
At "Addie," Adel flinched, released his nose, and whispered.
"Listen up, Ruan. Hawk's a softie deep down. If you buy one pie with your own money, he'll give you free ice cream the next day. I've told you—spend money thinking long-term."
"How's today's me supposed to know about tomorrow's freebie?!"
"Then who knows? Why don't you get it no matter how many times I tell you."
"Hing."
"Fine. Let's bet on it."
"Really? Yay!"
The child nodded eagerly, thinking it a game. But Adel set all the bet conditions firmly before standing.
"I told you not to call me Addie outside, right?"
"Ow, my nose hurt too much!"
The child who'd yelled it added softly, almost inaudibly, "Sorry, Adel." Only then did Adel smile for real. She patted the child's small bottom.
Alright, time to get to work properly. As she stood, her eyes met Gray's as if he'd been waiting.
She'd known he was staring the whole time. But she ignored it. What did it matter? They had no connection anymore.
Ah, not entirely—no connection, huh. Since I might one day turn your family upside down, enjoy your rogue play while you can.
"Ruan. I'll go collect."
Adel headed straight for the bar where Hawk stood. A junior security officer, there to protect her while collecting taxes, followed behind.
"Hello, Hawk."
"Not hello."
Hawk was sullen. Adel ignored it and got to business.
"Have you prepared what you owe?"
"Ugh, creepy. Can't you do something about that weird speech?!"
"I'm on official duty right now."
Meanwhile, the security officer recognized Gray beside her and hesitated in surprise. Gray Valoneck wasn't the type to be in a dingy place like this. But he quickly accepted reality and bowed politely.
"Hello, Lord Gray."
"Yes. Hello."
Gray just blinked in response. Then he turned to Adel, as if pressuring her to greet him too.
Valoneck, huh. Adel gave a perfunctory nod. One corner of Gray's mouth curled up slyly.
Hawk watched the two from behind the bar with interest. Though Gray was a high noble, he'd never fussed over etiquette here. Even with fellow nobles, he acted casually like with sailors, lightening the mood.
So Hawk saw Gray as shrewd. Someone who adjusted pace to time, place, and his goals.
Yet here he was, demanding manners. From Adel only, blatantly. And smirking awkwardly at the apparent snub.
Oh ho, Hawk smiled. The scheming young lord's honest reaction.
Anyway, Adel placed the black pouch on the bar.
"Hand over the agreed amount."
"Wow, you really talk like a thief."
"Do thieves issue receipts these days? I even give those."
Hawk grumbled playfully.
"Yessir, yessir, milord. Wouldn't dream otherwise. Fetching the money, whoopsie."
Hawk headed to the back makeshift office. Of course, he didn't forget to glance at Adel at the bar and Gray leisurely sipping coffee beside her.
After Hawk left, Adel opened the ledger on the bar. Gray kept sipping his slightly cooled coffee. Glancing—no, staring openly—at Adel.
The boisterous chatter of sailors filled the old shop. A ticking clock sound drifted from somewhere. The flow of time felt palpably clear.
Gray placed his index finger on an "Addie's News" and spun it. Adel's gaze followed the strangely sticky trail of his long finger. But it soon returned to the ledger. Gray smiled softly.
"Even at 2 shillings, it'd sell well...."
Adel showed no interest. So Gray leaned his upper body fully toward her.
"Right, Addie?"
Adel paused her pen briefly. Wondering his intent, she turned to Gray. He was smiling. Like that first time on the balcony, radiantly.
What a jerk. Adel looked away and wrote today's date in the ledger.
"I'm on official duty."
"Ah, duty. But hey, is it okay for a court clerk to pursue private profit? Like publishing a news pamphlet?"
"Deputy Director Mensha of the treasury and Director Conel of civil affairs both manage family businesses alongside court work."
"That's asset management—not as labor-intensive as making a paper."
"I don't make the pamphlet myself either—I have someone else publish it. Like a textile factory owner directing workers. I just manage, so I don't see much difference from the directors' asset management."
Gray turned fully toward Adel and loosely crossed his arms. Watching her silently fill the ledger in profile, he twitched an eyebrow.
"Now I get why Hawk shudders at your speech."
"......"
"So when do you finish duty, milord."
"......"
"I'd like to talk briefly after. Very important matter."
Gray mimicking her speech made Adel's brow furrow slightly. Only then did she look at him openly.
Sunlight slanted through the nearby window. In the diagonal beam, Adel's glasses glinted. The faint tint revealed the shape of her eyes clearly within.
Gray looked up at her for quite a while, as if searching for the pink flicker like night torchlight in those delicate eyes.
Between harbor warehouses, in the narrow space, the two faced each other.
"I'd like something in your news pamphlet."
Though wrapped in light tone, Gray's proposal wasn't trivial. Adel pondered briefly before answering concisely.
"No."
"Why?"
Gray found her refusal intriguing. He'd vaguely assumed she'd accept.
Not immediately, but negotiate, find appealing terms, and ultimately follow his lead.
Not baseless confidence. Her impression suggested it.
A woman using stiff speech at work to avoid losing initiative to rough men.
A woman pretending cold but feeling responsibility for the weak—like street kids or drowning girls.
A woman who stiffened slightly when her fatal flaw was caught, then grew rigidly stubborn when lightly dismissed.
Ultimately, that type. Acting unique, but fundamentally textbook.
Sentimental and timid, pretending otherwise.
Or more simply, just prideful and petty.
So this must be her pride phase.
Gray figured he'd play petty with her until she entered reasonable negotiation bounds. She was fun too—not shrinking before his exploring gaze, like at Full Moon.
"How about hearing it first and judging? If it fits, print it."
"No need."
"Ho, inflexible type?"
A soft provocation. But Adel ignored it.
"Doesn't matter what type I am. Your info won't go in my paper anyway."
"Why so certain?"
"You're no sailor."
Gray smiled with his mouth curling high, as if hearing something fascinating. Then he reached out and grabbed Adel's glasses frame.
The startled Adel swatted his hand away quickly. Gray stood still, watching his retreating hand.
He wanted to question why he'd grabbed the glasses, and why she swatted so desperately. But strangely, no thoughts came.
Anyway, she was sensitive about her eyes, and he'd erred. Not advantageous mid-persuasion. Gray made an excuse.
"Wanted to speak looking into your eyes. Then you'd see my sincerity. It's good info."
Adel's still impassive lips moved small but clearly. 'Bullshit.'
No sound, but Gray understood perfectly.
Haha, Gray laughed. Gutsy, huh?
