IYWHM Chapter 169

“We’ve arrived!”

The coachman’s shout from afar woke Kisa from her sleep.

Confirming the antique building positioned outside the window, she shook her head to shake off the drowsiness.

To think they had already reached their destination when she had only closed and opened her eyes a few times since departure.

Was this also due to her pregnancy?

She had certainly been filled with tension until the moment she had just boarded the carriage, but the irresistible drowsiness that poured over her had quickly closed Kisa’s eyelids.

In front of this man, no less.

“You slept soundly.”

Seyard, who had been sitting across from her, leaned his upper body forward slightly.

“Are you very tired? If you don’t feel like attending the concert, please just say so. Today isn’t the only day.”

Kisa hurriedly shook her head.

“I’m fine now. I’m fully awake. It would be a waste to come all this way and go back. I’d also like to greet Gabriel after such a long time.”

In truth, she would have other opportunities to hear his performance later, but today was important to Kisa.

At Kisa’s words, the man nodded saying “I see,” and slowly stood up.

Soon after getting out of the carriage, he extended his hand toward Kisa as he always did.

“Well then, shall we go?”

Kisa immediately took his hand, and the smile that appeared on the man’s face deepened.

The place where Seyard’s carriage had stopped was behind the building.

Unlike others, the two people entered the grounds of the Royal Concert Hall, one of Matera’s prides, using the back entrance instead of the main entrance.

The reason the back door, which should normally be closed, was secretly opened was, needless to say, due to the power of the man currently escorting Kisa.

Power, wealth, connections. A person who skillfully handled all these things he possessed to exert tremendous influence even in foreign countries.

Kisa was harboring plans to escape from such a figure not once, but twice.

“It seems we’ll have to part ways here for a while.”

When they entered the concert hall, Seyard said this while looking at Kisa.

“There’s still quite some time before the concert starts, but as expected, quite a few people have gathered.”

As he said, silhouettes of people could be seen at no great distance.

Most had excited faces, filled with anticipation about seeing Gabriel, the most talked-about figure of recent times, before long.

According to the newspapers, today’s performance was completely sold out, so the crowd would swell at a frightening speed and soon double.

Surely among them would be people who would recognize Seyard and Kisa.

If they had to encounter them at least once anyway, there was no need to particularly avoid it—such was Seyard’s thinking.

However, there was no necessity for the two of them to be together.

“Before more people rush in, it would be better for you to move to the lounge.”

The convenience he had obtained from the Royal Concert Hall’s management was not limited to the right to enter through the back door.

They had gladly prepared a separate place to rest for Duke Hillan and his pregnant fiancée.

“It’s a place with little access from people, so you should be able to rest somewhat comfortably until the performance starts. I have things to discuss with the management, and if I happen to meet familiar faces along the way, I’ll exchange some greetings before coming.”

Was he being considerate of Kisa, who had shown discomfort when they encountered the two ladies at the hotel?

After that, Seyard had been considerate to ensure Kisa would have as few encounters with Sorbi nobles as possible.

“……Alright. I’ll see you later.”

Kisa let go of Seyard’s hand, feeling somewhat ambiguous.

His kind consideration, which had once brought her nothing but joy, now felt awkward.

“Yes, then please go ahead.”

When Seyard finished speaking, Kisa’s dedicated servant stepped forward to guide the way.

“Please come this way.”

Kisa followed her toward a corridor with few people.

Besides her, another servant and two bodyguards accompanied Kisa.

A little later, entering the lounge furnished with cozy furniture, Kisa fell into contemplation.

Apart from not knowing how to react to Seyard’s kindness, this situation of being separated from him was welcome for Kisa.

As long as he stayed right next to her, making contact with Gale would be nearly impossible.

But even without Seyard, his people were still there.

From what she could tell, even if Kisa asked them to step aside, saying she’d be more comfortable alone, there was a high possibility they would wait in front of the door.

‘What should I do now…….’

Sitting on the plush sofa, Kisa felt helpless and could only blink.

Over the past few days, the only signal Chloe had conveyed was a blue handkerchief.

Kisa had no idea what kind of plan Gale had, or specifically how he would approach her, and there were no clues to guess.

‘No matter how I think about it, approaching during the performance would be difficult.’

To begin with, Seyard would be right in the seat next to her, and since it was a solo recital, making even the slightest noise would draw the glares of all the audience members.

After the performance ended also seemed quite difficult.

‘There’s no opportunity to separate from Seyard.’

There was no reason for Seyard, who had greeted people in advance before the concert started, to deliberately spend time with others after the performance ended.

In fact, a few hours ago, he had told Kisa that when the performance ended, they should quickly show their faces to Gabriel and then return to the hotel.

Considering all these circumstances, now was truly the optimal time for Kisa and Gale.

‘But I wonder how Gale, who lacks information, will judge the situation…….’

It would have been good if detailed information could have been conveyed to him through Chloe, but no method was visible at all.

It was at this moment, when Kisa was inwardly pondering what actions would benefit Gale, that it happened.

“Are you there?”

Along with the sound of knocking, a hoarse voice was heard from outside the door.

The servant standing at the door exchanged glances with her colleague once, then opened the door slightly.

“What’s the matter?”

Then the man with the hoarse voice replied in a somewhat swaggering tone.

“Well, what is it. I saw lights on in a place where there shouldn’t be anyone, so I wondered what was going on. Who are you people and what are you doing here?”

Even at the unexpected visitor’s arrival, the servant explained with a calm attitude.

“I don’t know what you mean, but we’ve received permission to use this lounge for today.”

“No, I haven’t heard such talk……. To begin with, this room is a place that hasn’t been used at all lately.”

“You’ll know if you inquire with the management.”

“My goodness, are you sure you really got permission?”

After the dubious question, complaints followed in low voices about how they didn’t have time and when would they ever go there and back.

When there seemed to be no sign of the conversation ending quickly, the dedicated servant who had been next to Kisa joined her colleague.

“Who exactly are you? For what reason are you disturbing us?”

As the number of people participating in the conversation increased, the door opened further outward than before, and Kisa could see the uninvited guest’s appearance beyond the bodyguards.

He was a middle-aged man with a small build and a mustache.

Wearing clothes that were worn out in places and unclean, he shrugged his shoulders with a troubled expression.

“We are workers hired at this place. You know, repair work? The building is old and we’re planning to renovate this entire concert hall in a few days, so we came out for that.”

Only then did Kisa realize that he had companions, and at the same time recalled the scene she had seen while coming to this lounge earlier.

‘There was an area that was blocked off to prevent entry.’

She had passed by without much thought then, but thinking about it now, that too seemed to be due to repair work.

“So how is the repair work related to our use of this lounge?”

When the servant pressed him, the middle-aged worker scratched his head.

“My goodness, how should I put this……. Preliminary inspection? So we need to look around every corner of the building from time to time in preparation for repair work.”

“From what I hear, it doesn’t seem like something that must be done at this exact time?”

“Well, that’s true, but…….”

“Then wouldn’t it be fair to say that you’re disturbing us, who have legitimately received permission to use the lounge, because you find it troublesome to come here again later?”

Even though she didn’t want to hear it, their argument reached her ears, so Kisa secretly swallowed a sigh.

Her head was already complicated enough, and the noise prevented her thoughts from progressing.

At this rate, it would be better to tell the workers to quickly inspect the room and leave, so she got up from her seat.

‘Huh?’

A figure behind the middle-aged worker entered Kisa’s field of vision.

A man wearing similar clothes to the person in front, who had been standing silently without saying a word from the beginning.

Not only was he wearing a hat pressed down low, but he was also looking down at the floor with his head deeply bowed, yet Kisa immediately recognized who he was.

The time she had spent with him had been considerable.

‘Gale!’

From any perspective, it was that person Kisa most wanted to meet right now.

Feeling her heart begin to pound rapidly, Kisa remained silent for a moment.

Looking around at her companions, she was the only one in this room who had noticed Gale’s identity.

‘While everyone’s distracted by that worker, I need to quickly meet with Gale separately.’

Swallowing dry saliva, Kisa acted without delaying for long.

“That’s enough.”

Kisa approached her dedicated servant and said.

“Let’s just let these people do their inspection. I’m fine with it.”

“But…….”

Kisa lowered her voice so only she could hear.

“While I go to the bathroom, please let them finish looking around and leave quickly. And please also watch to make sure no valuables disappear.”

Perhaps sensing the irritation in those words, the servant didn’t object further.

“Yes, leave it to me.”

After telling the other servant to get something simple to eat since she was getting hungry, Kisa left the lounge and headed toward the bathroom.

The two bodyguards still followed Kisa, but they couldn’t quite follow her into the bathroom.

When Kisa was left alone and wondering if coming to the bathroom had been the right decision, the window leading outside opened.

“Miss.”

Gale, who had smoothly entered through the not-so-large window, greeted her while removing his hat.

“It’s been a long time.”