"Really? But why?" Vanessa asked, her brows knitting together in disappointment.
Sil Bernard gave a slow shrug. "I couldn't tell you. That woman is always tangled up in something or another. If it isn't business, then it's trouble."
He adjusted his glasses, then waved a hand lightly, dismissive but gentle. "Anyway, head back and see how things are progressing. The staff will need supervision by now."
A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips as he added, "And try not to sulk over it."
"…Yes, master," Vanessa replied softly.
She bowed, though her movements lacked their usual energy, disappointment weighing into every motion. A heartbeat later, she straightened and turned for the door. It slid shut behind her with a quiet click, leaving the office and Sil Bernard's knowing smile behind...
Later that evening, Jack went out in search of a drink, something strong enough to rinse the day from his bones. The drinking hall sat on the eastern edge of Fenn, a place that never truly slept. Laughter and raised voices spilled out through its open doors, the air thick with music, smoke, and the clatter of cups.
Inside, nobles and commoners crowded the same tables, shoulders brushing without complaint, titles drowned in ale. For a few hours each night, the city forgot rank and reputation, and all that mattered was the next drink poured.
"Jack! Well, I'll be damned; look who finally dragged himself in."
A man in his late forties lit up as he spotted him, grinning as they'd just picked up a conversation that never ended.
"So? Business been treating ya kind, or roughing ya up?"
Jack chuckled lightly.
"Mr. Levi. Good to see you as well. I'm doing fine, thank you."
Mr. Levi, the man who had spoken earlier, lifted a crystal-clear glass and poured a generous stream of deep-red wine into it. The amber light from the hall danced across the liquid, giving it a warm glow. A small, knowing smile lingered on his face as he slid the cup across the table toward Jack, his movement smooth and deliberate, representing an air of casual familiarity.
"You seem to be having fun. Did I miss something?" Jack asked, his gaze sweeping across the bar.
Around them, nobles and commoners alike were caught up in boisterous drinking contests, challenging each other with laughter, raised voices, and the clatter of mugs. The hall pulsed with energy, a chaotic harmony of revelry that seemed to sweep everyone along in its tide.
Mr. Levi chimed in, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"No, it's nothing like that. Business has been booming ever since that… deranged man stopped showing up. I heard he moved off to some other country or something, but honestly, I think he's a goner; no one even saw him leave Fenn."
Jack smiled, eyeing his drink for a second.
"Who are you talking about? Have I met this person before?"
"Hm?" Mr. Levi muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"I don't know his name," he continued, leaning forward slightly, eyes glinting with amusement. "But I don't think you two have ever crossed paths. The man… he kind of resembles you in some ways, but far more charming. And judging by the way he dresses, he clearly knows his way around fine clothes, unlike someone sitting right here."
Jack let out a soft chuckle. "Hehe… unlike someone here? You mean me, right?"
Mr. Levi's smirk widened. "Yes, who else could I be talking about? But don't take it the wrong way, you've got your strengths too."
Jack shook his head with a wry smile. "Don't make me laugh. I mean… what exactly is so great about me?"
"Heh… ya mean ya can't tell for yourself? Fine, then let me break it down for ya." Mr. Levi's smirk lingered as he was momentarily interrupted by a guest approaching the bar.
"I'll have another Aurelius Reserve," the guest said, their tone serious, and their appearance alone marking them as nobility.
"Of course, just give me a sec," replied Mr. Levi, swiveling smoothly to grab the bottle of Aurelius Reserve—thirty gold and two silver, a price befitting the finest vintage in the hall.
Border noble, huh… Jack guessed, watching the man from behind the rim of his own glass of wine. So what's someone like that doing in a dump like this? Shouldn't he be sipping overpriced liquor in a polished hall somewhere instead?
Maybe the man simply had too much coin to care where he spent it. Or maybe he was just ignorant. Either way, he stood there as the place belonged to him, wearing confidence like a title he never earned. To Jack, it looked less impressive and more like an act — a puffed chest trying too hard to pass for power.
He took a slow sip of his wine, letting the bitter warmth settle on his tongue, never once taking his eyes off the noble. His stare lingered, quiet and sharp beneath the fall of his hair, measuring the man in silence.
"Is there something the matter, sir?" the noble finally said, unable to endure it any longer. "You've been staring at me since I walked in. Do I bother you that much?"
The words came out controlled, but the irritation beneath them was impossible to miss. His fingers twitched at his side, and his eyes narrowed ever so slightly, betraying just how unsettled Jack's unblinking stare had made him.
"Hm?" Jack muttered, feigning confusion before lifting his gaze. "…Are you talking to me?"
His voice came out faintly sharp, carrying just enough edge to reveal the disinterest he felt toward the noble, even as he pretended not to understand.
"Never mind. I thought you were looking at me, but I guess I was wrong," the guest said, offering a quick, awkward apology.
Strange… I was sure he had been staring at me since I arrived. Is my intuition failing me, or… am I already feeling the wine? That can't be… I've only had a cup of Aurelius; the effect should take longer, like it always does.
He shifted his gaze from Jack back to Mr. Levi, who was nearly finished preparing the Aurelius Reserve behind the counter, the faint clink of glass and gold keeping time with the guest's uneasy thoughts.
I guess I had more than usual… the noble thought, trying to steady himself.
"Sorry to ask, but are you doing alright?" Jack said in a flat, measured tone.
The noble pivoted toward him, forcing a composed expression like when he first arrived. Then he nodded. "Yes… I'm just feeling a little dizzy. A bit of water should fix me right up."
Jack chuckled, a dry, teasing sound.
"Water? You can't be serious. You look pale as a ghost. You need to go home and rest before everything goes completely down the drain… if you catch my meaning."
"I suppose you're right…? But there's no need to worry about me. My… partner—cough—I mean, my assistant will handle everything on my behalf, so you don't need to concern yourself with me."
Jack stayed silent for a moment, tilting his head to glance over his shoulder, scanning the room for the man the noble had called his assistant.
"Assistant?" he finally said, his voice low and measured. "I don't see him anywhere." He let his gaze sweep across the space again, finding no one who looked remotely like an aide. "Are you sure he's here? Or maybe he left ahead of time, leaving you behind for a… final drop?"
"No, that could never happen. I know my assistant, he'd never do something like that without my permission."
The noble swiveled his gaze toward a fine-looking lad, probably in his teens. But something about him seemed off. Perhaps it was the softness of his features, which suggested he might be a lass rather than a lad. Yet the tailored outfit he wore gave the unmistakable impression of a lad.
"There he is," the noble said, gesturing with a small smile as his assistant, seated across the hall, returned the gesture with a polite nod.
"That's him?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
Before the noble could respond, Mr. Levi interjected, sliding a freshly poured glass across the counter. "Here ya go, fine sir."
"Thank you," the guest said, turning slowly as he received the Aurelius Reserve. His hands were steady but cautious, holding the glass as though one wrong move could ruin everything.
....
The noble, having paid his bill, departed, leaving Jack and Mr. Levi behind in the bustling hall.
Mr. Levi let out a weary sigh. "I'm glad that's over… Now it's time for me to close up for the day."
But glancing around, he realized it wouldn't be easy. Every table was filled with drunks or patrons enjoying themselves, laughter and clinking glasses echoing through the hall. Chasing them out now would feel like a shameful interruption to the fun. Yet Mr. Levi had no choice; he needed to close before the next disaster struck, before the so-called crazy guest murderer returned and ruined his business just as things were finally stabilizing.
What he didn't know, however, was that the so-called murderer was already there… sitting directly in front of him, disguised as Jack.
"Oh… But what about all the people in here? You can't just kick them out?" Jack asked, his tone grave as he glanced around the crowded hall.
"That's exactly what I'm going to do," Mr. Levi replied, eyes narrowing at the revelers. "Lend me a hand and clean up the drunks in here. I'll take that half, and you take the other."
"Why me?" Jack asked, taken aback by the sudden demand.
"Because you're like a son to me," Mr. Levi said, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "And what do children do for their parents? They help out with the business, no matter the cost. But refuse, and I'll have to charge you for that wine."
Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "You're funny, you know that… But I suppose you're right this time, even if only half of what you said is true."
Moments later, they began ushering everyone out, one by one. While a few stubborn guests tried to linger, Mr. Levi threatened to call the city police, reminding them that in Fenn, even nobles weren't exempt from the law. A crime was a crime, no matter how highborn, yet somehow, the authorities had never managed to catch Kevin.
On Jack's side, things went far more smoothly. Everyone cooperated without protest, leaving the hall with warm smiles on their faces. Even the noble from earlier departed with the corners of his lips lifted in a drunken grin, having overindulged in the Aurelius Reserve.
Tonight, Jack wasn't in the mood to complicate Mr. Levi's life by showing up as Kevin.
By the time the hall emptied, all the patrons had gone home... Jack booked a carriage for himself, too lazy to make the journey on foot, and settled back as the wheels creaked over the quiet streets of Fenn.