Deceived 66

Chapter 66

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The sky, bright when they left the mansion, was already tinged with the crimson sunset. Edmund dismissed all the attendants who had accompanied him on the inspection and draped a dark-colored coat over the dress Blair was wearing. It was a raincoat, the kind people often wore in the frequently rainy Eldenvale. He too put on a dark-colored overcoat and pulled her hand, leading her into the heart of the city. Thus disguised, concealing their elegant attire, the two blended in with the ordinary folk.

"Edmund, where are we going?”

"You'll see once we get there."

"Give me a hint, at least."

The man walking ahead glanced back at Blair without slowing his pace. His face held a hint of mischief.

"Haven't you ever wanted to break free from the mold of a noble lady and indulge in a little escapism?"

The clamor of the city roared in her ears. Car horns, unfamiliar languages, and the chaotic tangle of streetlights on the street made Blair gaze up at him, mesmerized.

"It's time you found out for yourself."

Though she still couldn't fathom his intentions, her heart pounded with excitement. Breathing a little raggedly, Blair quickened her pace to keep up with Edmund. And she drifted further and further from the familiar world.

He led her down an alley branching off the bustling main street. On one side of the already narrow path, a group of middle-aged men with bushy beards were gathered together, laughing heartily. Seeing them, Blair felt a little scared and pressed herself close to Edmund. Unexpectedly, one of them smiled brightly and waved his hand.

"Oh, look who it is! Eddie, how long has it been?"

" Long time no see, Mr. Jürgen."

"I almost forgot that handsome face of yours! Since it's been so long, I'll buy you a drink. Come on in!"

"That's alright. I'm with someone today."

"Someone?"

The man, whose rugged face was now filled with a warm smile, shifted his gaze to Blair. She froze for a moment. A mere nod to an elder seemed rude, yet a full noble curtsy felt absurdly exaggerated. After hesitating, Blair clutched the hem of her raincoat with both hands and curtsied modestly.

"Hello?"

A brief silence fell. Then, thunderous laughter erupted from the narrow alleyway, as if it would shake the place apart.

"Eddie, you've brought quite the peculiar companion!"

"Well then, enjoy your time with your sweetheart!"

Edmund responded with a smile and took Blair's hand again, pulling her along. Blair, her face flushed crimson, walked silently beside him.

The place they reached was a shabby tavern at the end of the alley. A sign, hanging precariously with one hinge missing, creaked at the slightest breeze, its carelessly scrawled letters faded beyond reading.

Through the crack in the door, a cacophony spilled out: music devoid of any elegance, boisterous laughter, and the pungent smell of alcohol stinging the nose. Blair instinctively sensed this was a place she had never set foot in before and stopped in her tracks.

"Are we... going in here?"

"Yes."

When she asked cautiously, Edmund merely tilted his head slightly, meeting her gaze. An oddly serene smile played on his profile. Because of that, Blair had no choice but to trust him and step inside.

The coarse air that had wafted from outside doubled in intensity the moment she entered the tavern, overwhelming her. The stench of strong liquor and tobacco, the incessant bellowing that assaulted her eardrums, and the clanging of cheap instruments all tangled together, making the air vibrate. Men, drunk to the point of stupor, clinked beer mugs and bawled loudly, while heavily made-up women brushed past, shoulders grazing. It was a chaotic space, utterly packed, with no room to move.

“…Did you just see that?”

Blair, who had been blinking her large eyes and scanning the surroundings, suddenly grabbed Edmund’s arm tightly. A woman with her chest fully exposed had just passed by a few steps away.

“I saw her.”

“Is it really okay to walk around dressed like that? And no one stops her… Good heavens.”

"Here, it doesn't matter what you wear. Just dress and act however you please."

"They don't ask about your status either, I suppose."

"Thanks to that, there's no discrimination or prejudice. The rules and etiquette you've spent your whole life learning are useless here."

For Blair, raised in a world where etiquette was everything, it was an unimaginable sight. Such unfamiliar liveliness was simply part of everyday life here. It seemed Blair was the only one whose face flushed bright red at the sight of a half-naked woman.

"Your order, please!"

The moment she sat down at the table, a gum-chewing waiter appeared and flung the menu down as if tossing it. Blair's eyes widened. She’d never been treated so rudely in a shop before.

The server didn't seem to care, waiting with arms crossed, and Edmund appeared completely unfazed too.

"I'll have whiskey. You?"

"I... um..."

The handwriting on the menu was so messy it was illegible. Blair, annoyed by the server's short patience as he tapped one foot, soon looked up.

"I'll have the same."

"It's strong liquor. Are you sure?"

"Of course. I'll just drink it slowly."

Edmund finished the order by asking the waiter for a cup with ice. The complimentary, mysterious appetizer was a bright yellow snack dusted with powdered sugar. 

Surprisingly, it tasted quite good despite its appearance. Blair couldn't hide her surprise upon learning it was a cheap snack made from fried cornstarch.

"It seems you’re familiar with this place. Did you come here often?"

"I did."

"Don't the people here know who you are?"

"They probably didn't at first. Now that my face is publicly known, everyone likely recognizes me. Still, their attitude toward me hasn't changed from before."

"They still call you 'Eddie'."

Edmund looked at her and smiled gently. She lifted the corners of her mouth in response.

"I used the name Eddie to hide my identity. It was my childhood nickname."

"Eddie... It's a cute nickname. I don't think I've ever seen anyone call you that."

"It was a nickname my mother often used."

The curve that had touched her lips slowly faded. His birth mother, long gone from this world. A woman who, as the mistress of the Duke of Liberte, had surely lived a life far from glorious. Feeling a strange pity, Blair didn't know what to say to him.

Edmund and Blair had always had to prove themselves, living lives beyond their control. He, as the son of a mistress, she, as the daughter of a woman who abandoned her family and fled. Though their lives seemed different, they were alike in having endured unwanted stigmas and the weight of their families.

‘Should I talk about my mother too? This man might already know. But telling it in my own voice is something entirely different.’

As she hesitated, the drinks they'd ordered arrived, filling the awkward silence. The strong scent of alcohol made Blair frown. Edmund chuckled and added ice to her glass.

"Don't overdo it."

"It's fine. I've always wanted to try whiskey."

The amber-colored liquor clinked against the glass in midair. Blair lifted her glass carefully and took a sip. The moment the strong liquid slid down her throat, her face flushed hot. She barely stifled a cough threatening to burst out, but couldn't hide the grimace.

"My throat feels like it's on fire. But strangely, I don't feel bad."

"That's a relief."

Edmund smiled and added another ice cube to her glass.

"It's only in places where no one asks who I am that I can truly be myself. So, Blair, just for today, do whatever you want. No one here will judge you."

Her heart pounded wildly. The alcohol hadn't even begun to take effect yet, but his voice, settling in her ears, sounded infinitely generous.