Chapter 103

Chapter 103 An Uninvited “Guest”

“Next time be sure to visit our territory . ”

“Oh, yes . After I finish all my current jobs, I’ll be sure to go . ”

“Then we’ll see each other next time . ”

After that, I continued my quest for a suitable gift .

Tomorrow we’ll be returning to our land, so I hope I can get something today .

In the end, I bought a handkerchief for Sei and Merida at an accessories store recommended by Letty, and got sweets for everyone else just as we had planned originally .

While we were taking the carriage back, I was immersed in immense satisfaction . But when we arrived at the gates, that person showed up .

“Miss Iris!”

Saying this, that person approached .

Ryle and Dida immediately stood in front of me, protecting me from the person in question .

“Ah, I wished to see you…Miss Iris, would you be able to reward me with your attention for a few words?”

This was a person I was familiar with .

“Sir Van…why are you here…”

The moment I said the name, Ryle and Dida’s sense of danger seemed to heighten .

And Tanya had also chased him away previously when he showed up unannounced, so her expression was less than pleased as well .

“As to why…I wanted to meet with you beforehand . When I was told you weren’t home, I went away . So today I took the time to stay here and wait for you . ”

“Even so, you’re being very rude right now . No appointment, coming straight to the door…you’re completely disrespecting the Duke Armenia’s family!”

Tanya responded aggressively to Van’s excuses .

Although Ryle and Dida didn’t come to shouting, they seemed to hold the same opinions and looked quite unhappy with the situation .

“…Forget it, Sir Van . It’s not convenient to talk here . Let’s talk inside . ”

“Miss Iris?”

“I don’t want to cause even more mayhem at the door . Sir Van, I’ll hear you through . Come on in . ”

Although it was said in quite a rude tone, I wasn’t so gentle as to treat an uninvited “guest” like this with courtesy .

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the door .

“What a heavy-hearted reception . ”

That was what Van said the moment he sat down .

Everyone here viewed him with caution and hostility, after all…of course, Duke Armenia’s servants were not so out of control that they would show all this on the surface .

Even in this guest room, Ryle and Dida and Tanya stood by me, as if guarding me .

“Did you think you would be welcomed here?”

“No . I misspoke . ”

“So, what are you here for? I’m returning to my land tomorrow, so please make this explanation short . ”

“…I have a favor to ask of you . ”

“What is it?”

Although I had asked him to keep it simple, he hadn’t even mentioned the word “negotiation” before going straight to the topic . His uncharacteristic impatience surprised me .

Before that, he had come directly to visit me and ask a favor without so much as an appointment . The three beside me right now were simmering with fury, almost ready to pounce within a moment’s notice .

“I want you to be my sponsor . ”

“Ah…”

Although I had seen it coming, I never expected him to say it outright…I couldn’t believe that he was shameless enough to do so!

“I caused you a lot of distress this time, so this might seem rather thick-skinned of me…right now, I’m in a difficult situation . And the Church of Darryl is also a mess internally…if we continue on like this, the situation in the Church might seep out and affect the whole kingdom itself . So as a son of the head of state who caused this turmoil, if I construct a cooperative relationship with you, the victim of this event, and show that to everyone…I think there’s no better way to suppress the turmoil than that . ”

What he said was true . After the previous mess where the pope and his followers were cleared out and held responsible for their actions, the Church itself was a huge mess at the moment .

At the same time, I had also heard that they were investigating nobles who had secretly formed alliances with the pope…but those nobles were only abandoned pawns, small characters not even worth mentioning . Whoever was behind the scenes and responsible for all this couldn’t be traced at all .

“…It’s true that the Church of Darryl’s current chaos is harmful to the kingdom . ”

“Then…”

Van’s eyes, fixed on me, gleamed with the excitement of expectation .

But, I was really sorry for this .

“…But, if I help you, how will I stand to benefit?”

I flipped the question on him with a cold tone .

Translator’s note: Yes, that is the actual end of the chapter . Cliffhanger!