Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 72

Yitzfa was undoubtedly a handsome young man.

The baggy shirt that Mrs. Doug’s butler had found for him on short notice hung loosely on his frame, making him appear somewhat fragile and painfully endearing.

Shivers watched indifferently as the ladies chattered away, each one eagerly suggesting various ways to dress up Yitzfa. The multitude of fashion ideas was dazzling.

Had he not been so confident in his own memory, the Knight Commander might have almost thought he had recognized the wrong person—not only because Yitzfa hadn’t shown any sign of recognition since entering, but also because this forlorn young man bore little resemblance to the last time he saw him at a grand lady’s banquet in Mokwen, where Yitzfa’s demeanor was that of a prized Persian cat.

Though his appearance hadn’t changed significantly, only the clothes and accessories were different, the impression he made was utterly altered, especially his flawless demeanor and manners. If it were someone else, they might start doubting their judgment or even wonder if this was actually Yitzfa’s lost twin.

But Shivers never put much stock in appearances. He believed that a person’s soul didn’t change with their outward appearance. Overemphasis on physical features could indeed cloud one’s judgment.

Just like his penchant for reveling in female attention for his good looks hadn’t changed at all, Shivers thought (not realizing he was doing much the same).

Meanwhile, he harbored doubts about Yitzfa’s motives for appearing here at this time.

Though they had met only once, given Yitzfa’s nonchalant familiarity with luxurious living and rare treasures, it was unlikely he had whimsically decided to play a game of stray dog in this remote mountain town.

Which kingdom’s capital would have idle noblewomen?

The mineral-rich Simis Kingdom, with its highly developed crafts, produced most of the continent’s finest and most luxurious adornments; the Raubna Kingdom, which monopolized the canals, was a hub for merchants from all over, where the latest and trendiest items could be seen; and the academic hub of Lafordzi, undoubtedly the artistic sanctuary of Doran, was home to the top academic institutions. Yitzfa, with his capabilities, could thrive in any of these major nations.

Yet here he was, in the same place as Shivers.

What was here to interest a Fox?

Aside from Thorn Manor, Shivers could think of nothing notable about this place—if Yitzfa was also targeting the manor, it only suggested that there were indeed significant issues at Thorn Manor.

Shivers couldn’t help but think about the physically demanding work he had been doing at night, which left his arms and legs sore.

Yitzfa sat on a velvet footstool. His slender jaw and neck gave him the appearance of a minor. Mrs. Doug had specially prepared a pot of salty milk tea for him, and everyone energetically encouraged him to drink it hot to sweat out any chill.

He seemed a bit shy, and his bewildered demeanor made all the ladies dote on him. Mrs. Doug had already decided to have him try on a coat tailored for her husband.

“That coat’s color matches your hair well,” Mrs. Doug said gently. “I think that shirt is still a bit thin.”

Shivers was considering whether to give him a private signal to talk, when the door was knocked, and a man with a meticulously groomed handlebar mustache followed the maid in.

“I told them, look—they don’t care. They just want to dress up that poor kid in all sorts of pretty clothes and feed him sweets. They won’t be satisfied until they’ve played with him like a doll.” The man laughed. “I came up, and sure enough, it’s exactly as I said. Ladies, please, let him warm up and then let him come down for a talk.”

Mrs. Doug pretended to be offended, retorting sharply, “What are you saying? The child was freezing. Of course, we need to dry his hair and put him in clean clothes. We’re not treating him like a doll. What are you planning to do? Call him down to sit in a smoke-filled room to listen to your talk, then cough up pneumonia?”

Her words clearly relieved everyone, and the ladies all laughed, including Mrs. Dolly.

Mr. Peter raised his hands in surrender. “Dolly and I asked him on the carriage. He’s here to find family. His sister supposedly works at a manor in the west suburbs—Mr. Carl from downstairs talked about expanding his vineyard with them last year. Maybe he has some connections.”

Hearing this, Shivers glanced at Mr. Peter and deliberately avoided looking at Yitzfa’s current expression.

“How do you feel, dear?” A lady holding Yitzfa’s hand asked with concern. “If you’re still cold, don’t mind them. We’ll take care of you. You can find your sister later, when you’re better.”

Yitzfa looked at her, then at Mr. Peter.

“I feel much better,” he said quietly.

Everyone understood his meaning and his desire to find his family, so they let Mr. Peter take him downstairs.

The Dougs’ smoking room was at the end of the hallway on the first floor, next to the study.

Sophisticated homes were designed for relaxation and privacy, with soundproofing and privacy measures in such rooms. If not invited, even making an excuse to wander the hallway now wouldn’t help overhear the conversation inside.

Mr. Peter didn’t invite Shivers, which didn’t surprise the Knight Commander—he was never very popular with his peers.

But there were other ways to manage the situation.

With Yitzfa gone, the ladies suddenly felt a bit listless, though they needed no prompting to enthusiastically continue discussing.

Mrs. Dolly, having been the first to encounter Yitzfa, naturally became the center of conversation, though she wasn’t very knowledgeable about her husband’s business dealings.

“He said on the carriage that his sister had sent word she could introduce him to a job in the city,” Mrs. Dolly explained. “But the poor boy had never traveled far, had little money, and after arriving here, found that his sister was no longer at the address given. Someone told him she had moved to the outskirts, but by then he was cold and hungry and had collapsed by the roadside.”

This conversation elicited sighs of sympathy from the ladies who had always lived in comfort, as they felt deeply for the hardship Mrs. Dolly described. Mrs. Doug, emotional due to her pregnancy, even had tears in her eyes.

“Poor child!” Mrs. Doug exclaimed. “So, he is homeless now?”

“No, Peter and I will take care of him. It’s nothing,” Mrs. Dolly said nonchalantly, yet her expression couldn’t hide a hint of pride—a common reaction when discussing financial matters, as her husband’s family was quite wealthy among her circle of friends.

In fact, one or two others present half-wanted to take Yitzfa in, of course, under the guise of “charity”.

For them, supporting Yitzfa was like owning a prized thoroughbred horse. The expenses were nothing compared to the accolades they’d receive in return.

Besides, in any country, a beauty like Yitzfa was highly sought after. It wasn’t often one encountered such a face, perhaps once in a decade, and those accustomed to the pleasures of life instinctively thought they should possess it while regretting why they weren’t the ones who found him first.

But since Mrs. Dolly had already expressed her intent to take him in, it would be quite unseemly for the others to dispute her claim.

Under a cloud of regret, someone brought up the old topic again, subtly inquiring whether Shivers had plans to extend his stay.

Shivers couldn’t help but laugh—he’d used the excuse of recovering from an illness contracted during winter travels to explain his temporary stay here, and he wasn’t the first to insinuate an invitation.

If he were truly just traveling, such suggestions might be considered, but he had pressing matters to attend to now.

He skillfully steered the conversation back to Yitzfa. “If he only knows about the manor in the suburbs, how do Peter and the others know which one it is exactly? There must be more than a couple of manors outside the city, right?”

“Oh, it’s like this. Peter was too embarrassed to speak plainly earlier,” Mrs. Dolly sipped her tea and explained. “Although we don’t know which specific manor her sister went to, except for Mr. Albert’s family, who went to sea, we pretty much have connections to ask around in the nearby manors. It’s a bit of a hassle to look for a working girl, but it’s not impossible. But Peter is worried that her sister might be in ‘that’ manor.”

Mrs. Doug’s face lit up, hiding her mouth behind her fan as she chuckled. “Oh my, not ‘that’ one, right?”

A lady curiously asked, “Which one are you talking about?”

“The one that never opens its doors,” another confidently said. “One autumn, Richard and some cousins went fox hunting, and it started pouring halfway through. I tell you, they were completely soaked.”

Since there was no place to shelter from the rain in the countryside, they had to follow the river, and they were overjoyed to see a manor. Hoping to borrow a bit of hospitality to dry their boots and cloaks, they approached the estate. However, the servant who answered the door didn’t even let them inside, even though they were willing to pay.

Frustrated, Richard and his group tried to seek shelter in the barns, only to find the peasants as rude and unreasonable as their employer, looking at them as if they were a bunch of thieves. Only a greedy middle-aged woman dismissed them with two waterproof cloths, in exchange for a well-made snuff box and a dead fox they had.

Soaked and muddy, Richard and his companions barely made it back to the city. He immediately complained to his wife, saying he had never been treated so rudely in his life.

Worse, the prolonged exposure to rain caused him to catch a severe fever, causing him to miss two important meetings. The loss in terms of money and energy was immeasurable.

“I’ve never heard of such a place.” Mrs. Doug widened her eyes in shock.

“In my opinion, they’re all a bunch of eccentrics. No need to deal with them,” concluded the lady. “If you’re looking for a job, that’s not a good place at all. You’d be better off coming to my house to organize hats.”

Her words resonated well, as the girls from Thorn Manor indeed often met tragic fates.

But surely, Yitzfa didn’t actually have a sister there. Shivers didn’t know what lies he had spun, but after these conversations, his motives were becoming very clear.

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