Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

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

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Chapter 101

“Frankly, I didn’t expect to see you again,” the proprietor said, settling into the creaky chair with a risky squeak. “Tell me, what’s with the head?”

“Just a minor disagreement with someone,” the rabbit-headed shopkeeper replied succinctly.

The proprietor chuckled briefly. “I’ve known you long enough, Louis. If someone else got tangled up in trouble with you, they wouldn’t be the ones coming out on top.”

The rabbit-headed shopkeeper spread his hands helplessly. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk about. Heard any news lately?”

“About what?”

“Witch Elena.”

Hearing this name, the burly proprietor didn’t show the typical signs of fear or disgust that most would. Instead, he straightened up and looked Charlie over again from head to toe with a meaningful gaze.

“You’ve grown up,” he teased. “A witch. I should remind you, those women are trouble.”

“Cut the imagination. I’m not involved with her in that way. But since you mentioned her, it means you haven’t seen her around. Or is your tavern really going out of business? Is no one coming by anymore?”

“Fuck off! You’re not going to provoke me. Every time the auction draws near, all sorts of creatures come out of the woodwork. What’s one witch? She’s been causing a stir on Dock Street, which made the patrols tighten up. Even the old drunks dare not go out for a midnight tipple.” The proprietor raised an eyebrow. “Are you planning to catch her? Lift a curse or get revenge? I know people…”

“No, I just wanted to remind you to be careful lately. Now that you’ve got a family, don’t be as reckless as before. Thank heavens. I always thought you looked so fierce, no woman would dare marry you, and you’d be a bachelor for life. I even secretly saved some retirement money for you, hid it behind the third brick from the left under the southeast iron door.”

The proprietor’s eyebrows shot up. “You little brat—wait, how did you know I got married?”

“When did you learn to bake bread?”

The two looked at each other and couldn’t help but laugh.

“And you even changed the sign. Only a fool wouldn’t notice, Brooks.”

More than a decade ago, that scruffy bachelor didn’t even bother to come up with a name for the tavern. He just welded his own name onto it. Later, when business expanded, his wife’s name was added by his own hands.

“She’s a good woman,” the proprietor said with a rare, gentle expression when he spoke of his wife. “She’s in the bakery. Let me call her out to see you.”

Charlie shook his head. “No need.”

“My old friend, she should meet you.” Brooks insisted. “Besides, you’re a rabbit now. What’s there to fear?”

“What about besides the rabbit head?” Charlie calmly countered. “The voice, stature, and mannerisms? Have people mistaken me on the street already? He comes to Fortuna City often, doesn’t he? Has she seen him?”

The proprietor fell silent.

“Occasionally. He usually stays at the old mansion… Sometimes he comes here to glance around.”

Brooks looked up at him. “Every time I watch him, I imagine your face. Every single time, Louis.”

So even though it was hard to believe, he recognized the visitor’s identity immediately.

“He’s Louis,” the rabbit-headed shopkeeper corrected again. “I am Charlie.”

“Alright, alright, if you insist… Although you’re all furry now, you’re still exactly the same. I swear, not even other twins are as identical as you two.” His voice was very low, almost a whisper. “Last time I saw him, he had a brooch on his chest.”

The rabbit-headed shopkeeper slightly raised his face. “Where—”

“Right here.” The proprietor seemed to know what he was thinking and waved his hand dismissively. “I wouldn’t go to White Bridge. Couldn’t even get into those events if I tried. It was once, right after some gala. He must’ve been in a rush back from there, still in his event clothes. Just popped in to grab a loaf of bread.”

Each member of the Black Gold Family had specific ways to indicate their status in formal settings, generally through attire and jewelry.

The proprietor continued, “I don’t get it. You both hated family politics as kids. Now one of you has run away for a decade without showing his face, and the other has returned to climb the family ranks. What are you really planning?”

Before Charlie could respond, the proprietor went on. “But whatever it is, you don’t have to tell me. I’m just glad you could stop by for a visit.”

He looked at the rabbit-headed shopkeeper, finally changing the way he addressed him. “Really, Charlie. Louis occasionally visits too, and I’m always happy to see him.”

Brooks hadn’t had a drink today, but the emotional atmosphere made his face glow red as if he were drunk.

Aside from a few people deep inside the old mansion, probably the entire city of Fortuna only knew that two little boys had once lived there, possessing different souls but forced to share the same face and name, and even this incomplete identity was viewed with contempt for a long time.

Brooks, coming from a poor sailor background, didn’t understand the complex inner workings of large families, but he knew that children without parents wouldn’t be happy.

Although he didn’t know exactly which family’s children they were, if they were cherished and loved, why would twins who still spoke in youthful voices be left alone in Fortuna City under only the care of servants, without any relatives?

So even though they lived inside that wall, in a large house with servants that others outside could only dream of, the young Louis still preferred to climb over the wall and head to the docks to watch the laborers load and unload for hours.

Brooks never asked him what was so interesting about the dull routine at the docks, because what mesmerized the boy wasn’t the workers or the crates, but the ships from afar. He knew Louis would eventually leave. Those luxurious silk clothes, books, and toys from White Bridge that came every quarter were just a heavy, useless anchor to him.

Eventually, he did leave, but the other child stayed behind. It was only then that Brooks first met the other Louis. He indeed looked exactly like his brother, but was quieter, uninterested in dock workers, and didn’t like mint candies.

But that wasn’t their biggest difference.

Brooks thought the biggest difference was that this Louis never mentioned his brother—although the previous Louis also rarely did, sometimes he would say things like, “I really want him to try this too. The teacher won’t let us eat outside stuff”, and then quickly pretended to be pitiful, begging Brooks to keep a secret about his brother and the candies.

And later, Louis refused to acknowledge that he had a brother or that he ever had one.

“Louis has always been the only one.” He said this to the proprietor. “Brooks, you should stop drinking. You’re always drunk and messing up your memories… It’s still me. I just don’t like mint candies anymore.”

Not just him. Others said the same.

“Did the Wolf family really once have a child placed in Fortuna City? Why didn’t we know about this? Such a big family…”

“Of course, you didn’t know. It was an illegitimate child. A naive young lady was deceived by a man, and after the irresponsible man ran away, she was pregnant and had to secretly give birth outside.”

“It can’t be. The Wolf family is so rich.”

“Of course they’re rich. Look, it’s clearly the family’s disgrace, yet they gave him such a big house. Several times a year, they transport two big trucks of stuff into it from the port.”

“Why did that man run away? What fool would do such a stupid thing?”

“Because the young lady was already engaged to a son from another family when she got pregnant. He had to run. Otherwise, they would have skinned him alive and fed him to the hyenas.”

“That child is…”

“Shh, he’s not the disgraceful illegitimate child anymore. Did you see the carriage he was in last time? The door had the Wolf Family’s crest. It means he’s been acknowledged.”

“Wow…”

“Was he only fourteen when he was recognized and brought back from Fortuna City? What exactly did he do to return to his family?”

“Did he change his name? After all, his original background wasn’t very glorious.”

“Did he change it? No, I heard he didn’t change his name.”

“I can confirm he didn’t change it. It’s still Louis.”

“He’s still called Louis.”

These rumors hadn’t stopped in the streets and alleys since the Wolf Family’s grand ship docked in Fortuna City and took a boy away.

As the saying goes, even the king’s bed hides three mice, revealing which type of slippers his favorite mistress wears, let alone these historic families.

Although Fortuna City was a place of mixed characters, it rarely saw any significant figures, so even many years later, it was still a point of pride for someone to recognize Louis, who was taken from here to White Bridge, and they tirelessly (and supposedly secretly) tell those around them, “Look, that’s Louis from the Wolf Family.”

As a subject of gossip, it was impossible for him to not be annoyed by this kind of behind-the-scenes pointing, but he couldn’t just beat up such people and throw them into the water to feed the fishes—technically, he already has the power to do so, and even the sheriff wouldn’t dare touch him, but not everyone had the potential to be a tyrant.

Not to mention, the more such families were involved in despicable deeds, the more they cared about their reputation, always willing to appear amiable and approachable in front of others, and they imposed strict controls on the young members of the family, not allowing them to openly commit such acts.

So, for the past two years, even Louis’s carriage had been custom-made, just to avoid public gossip.

Over time, his position had become more secure, past the need for ostentatious displays of status and grandeur, and he no longer engaged in the foolish act of flaunting his status in busy markets.

It wasn’t until he left Dock Street and the number of pedestrians gradually thinned that he had his attendant instruct the coachman to stop.

“I’m going to buy something. No need to wait for me.” After saying this, his attendant, who had been with him for several years, nodded as usual and put on his hat for him.

It was getting dark, but the streetlights weren’t on yet, and walking the streets for a while at this time probably wouldn’t attract too much attention.

Louis wore a casual cape coat, and if he were carrying a suitcase, he would look like a tourist who had just disembarked, looking for a place to stay.

He expertly turned a street corner, and a gust of wind blew towards him. Not far ahead, a store’s sign, missing a screw, dangerously swung back and forth. Underneath, a crack in the door leaked a warm orange light, making that small patch of the floor seem warmer, tempting passersby to push the door open.

But he suddenly stopped, looking up at the still-swinging sign.

For some reason, Louis felt an odd emotion welling up inside him, unclear whether it was joy or sorrow, only knowing that it was so intense that he hesitated for quite a while before finally pushing the door open.

The cheerful sound of a wind chime rang out, and hearing the noise, Brooks, the proprietor who was tidying up the tables, straightened up and turned around, staring at Louis, who stood at the door, stunned.

The young man’s slightly curly golden-copper hair reflected a soft halo under the light. His eyes were slightly elongated, his skin pale, and his features not particularly striking, but they combined to give him an extraordinary sense of mystery, making him look like he shouldn’t be here, but rather in an illustration of some distant ancient country.

Brooks’ first reaction was to look behind him, but the store door had already been closed again, and he saw nothing.

Louis felt bewildered. “What’s the matter?”

“Oh, Louis, it’s you.” The proprietor took a step towards him but then remembered he was still holding a small porcelain dish, hurriedly put it down. “It’s nothing.”

Then he very much protested too much once again. “Nothing at all—when did you come back?”

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