Re: The Villainess Does It With Class

"Milady? Is it really alright to not accompany you?" Erin asked.

She was standing at the side with Mari, seeing me out. The carriage was in front of us and is ready to leave anytime. Uno was also waiting for me, along with the other guards. I didn't tell them what my real purpose was and just said that I wanted to go to the capital and walk around.

"Yes, it's fine. I want to be alone this time so both of you can just stay here," I told them.

I don't really know whether my father knows that I went to the mercenary guild last time and if he did, he never mentioned it to me. Maybe he's giving me space or something?

I turned towards Uno and whispered to him.

"Bring me to the mercenary guild from before.."

"The guild? Milady wants to go there again?" He reaffirmed.

"Yes. There is something that I want them to do," I confirmed.

Uno pursed his lips and sighed.

"Okay."

He really can't win against me. Heh~

The two bowed when I got inside the carriage, wishing me well.

"Have a safe trip, milady."

"Mmm," I hummed with a wistful smile.

The carriage then sped away from the mansion and we're now making our way towards the Capital. 

Just as I told him, Uno brought me back to the same mercenary guild we went to last time. When he helped me to get down, Uno had looked like he was about to say something but maybe he had already thought he wasn't going to change my mind, so he held back.

As soon as we stepped inside the inconspicuous textile shop that had few customers when we came, the staff immediately greeted us. The people at the counter must have remembered who we are and had a look of surprise upon seeing us there. Aisha, the woman from last time who pointed a dagger at us, glanced at the man with an eyeglass.

I forgot his name but he was like the person who acts as a manager of this guild or something. Honestly, the only person I remembered working here is Aisha and the owner of this guild. Has it been that long since I came here? I don't think so…

"Ah, is the lady back here for the same thing as the last time?" The gentleman in the round eyeglasses asked me when he got closer to us.

Now I remember! He is Elric, the round-glasses guy! The level-headed one if I say so myself.

"That's right," I replied, glancing around for effect.

The other customers are either old servants from the nobles' houses that came here to buy fabrics to sew on. Maybe make a mantle or something…

Therefore, almost everyone was looking at me, for it was strange to see a young lady there. I probably look so out of place but whatever… I didn't come here for fabrics anyway.

"Then please follow me to the textile room," Elric uttered good-naturedly and stretched out his arm towards the direction of the room he was referring to.

"Sure," I grumbled and wordlessly followed him.

Both Uno and I trailed after him, ignoring Aisha's curious stares behind our backs. Elric then closed the door behind us and led us back to the same hallway which would bring us to their main headquarters or something. He didn't speak so we didn't utter a single word either and just quietly followed him.

We then saw a group of men, huddling around a table and merrily talking. Maybe about their past experiences or their journey or whatever it was, they just looked like they were having fun. The last time we came here, there were only five to six people but now, there's more. 

There are a lot of unfamiliar faces and there are also familiar ones mixed in them. When we strolled in with Elric accompanying us, the rowdy group had turned to look at us with unrestrained interest. We naturally ignored them. If I was someone else and had felt their boring eyes looking at my every movement, given the fact that they are all men at that, I would surely feel conscious with myself or be very nervous.

But alas, I am so used to stares by now that it doesn't even bother me anymore. I'm just like, whatever, look at me all you want, who cares.

So yeah, great thing huh?

Anyways, for some reason, Elric led us to one of the booths we saw last time. I didn't ask why though and just followed. Uno was as vigilant as usual and stuck to me most of the time. He didn't even drop his guard even when we're already inside the room.

Elric cleared his throat to catch my attention.

"This is how we normally do transactions and the last time was unconventional. I hope the lady understands," he said.

"Mmm." I mean, I really have nothing to say to that.

Now that he said that, that time was really weird. I have no idea how this whole thing works, until now if I add. Elric said this is the right way so it makes sense, I guess.

Elric noticed that I wasn't going to add more so he decided to cut to the chase and ask me what I came for.

"Then let's talk about what the lady wanted. Ah, by the way, did you perhaps receive the report from master?" He sprang that question up out of the blue and boy did it catch me off guard.

I blinked at his question and instantly got flustered when I recalled the whole thing about that report. To cover that up, I averted my eyes and studied the whole room we are in instead. I mean, why would that memory suddenly sprang up to my face, am I right? 

Your master is nothing but a pervert!

"Oh yeah. I did," I muttered in a fake nonchalance and quickly changed the topic-- "Anyway, I wanted you to investigate someone for me. Again."

I don't want to remember what happened that time because, for some reason, shivers just go down from my spine.

"I am listening," Elric muttered.

"There's this one family from a neighboring kingdom, Wisteria. I want you to gather information about the Castello family that lives there. Is it possible?" I inquired.

I was worried because the Kingdom of Wisteria is not located in the Rosenthal empire. It's in an entirely different geological location and they might reject this mission because of that. After all, they have to travel to other lands to meet my demands, and it's kind of understandable in a way. 

Still, I am quite desperate. I really wanted to know whether there is someone out there like me who had been thrown unabashedly in here without their knowledge.