A few days had passed since then, and currently, Cordelia was in the midst of exploring the capital, and she happened to stop by the brothel for a mere moment.
Her handmaiden, Lilibeth, was holding a bag full of coins. It was Cordelia's supposed payment to the gigolo that she has yet to give.
"Apologies, my lady. But your gigolo is not available at the current moment..."
"Ah... Is that so?" Cordelia was in the middle of speaking with the brothel owner at the moment.
But somehow, the owner seemed to be uneasy and sweating from nervousness as she wore a tight smile before Cordelia's presence.
"Yes, my lady." The owner smiled. "Your regular gigolo is not free for the time being."
"I see." Cordelia murmured to herself. "It has already been the second day that he's not available..." She pursed her lips, her eyes dazing into a blur.
'I was going to ask him for more advice... But he's always occupied.' She shook her head.
'My... Then to whom shall I seek for advice for the mean time?'
"Yes milady, our apologies. Your is very very busy at the time being, you see... But I'll do make sure to let him know that you came by."
Cordelia's eyes subtly became sparkly again. "You'll do, will you?"
"Of course, madame!" The lady grinned. "You are one of our valuable customers in this house. We shall do anything we best could for you."
"Then please do say that I—" Cordelia halted before she could even finish her words.
'That I would like to speak to him again for more counseling...' Was what she wanted to say. However, she quickly realized that those words would reach Leon's ears as soon as she says that. Cordelia certainly did not want that.
'I can't let him know that I'm seeing a gigolo and going through counseling just to pursue him...' She rambled in her thoughts. Her high pride would not even allow her to think of that without cringing.
'If he were to find out that I'm going through all this trouble just to get him to like me, I am quite sure that he'll first think I'm a desperate fool...'
"Madame..?" The voice pf the brothel owner pulled Cordelia back to her reality.
"Ah... yes, yes, please do tell him I came by." Cordelia put on a smile, forcing her smile so naturally yet beautifully.
"I will madame." Grinned the brothel owner.
"And do tell him that I am looking forward to our next meeting."
"Rest assured, I'll surely let him know madame Elvoye." The brothel owner enthusiastically waved her hand all around, bidding Cordelia goodbye with a big smile on her face as she went back to her carriage.
As soon as Cordelia had reached the door of the carriage, she too, turned around and waved goodbye. Seeing the bright expression of the brothel owner's face, she sure did seem very happy.
She thought the owner was happy because of more frequent customers. But what she didn't know was that the brothel owner was only smiling because Cordelia was about to leave.
"Goodness." Whispered the brothel owner.
"What would have happened if she really were to find out the truth." Muttered the lady.
"If she were to know that the gigolo she's been seeing is her husband... then all hell would break lose." Quietly whispered the lady.
"Don't worry, madame Elvoye! I'll bring your message to him." She grinned one last time.
"WHAT?" Leon looked up with a glare, looking at the letter in Cedric's hands.
"The owner of that brothel wrote in this letter that the madam dropped by the brothel yesterday..." He trailed.
"And earlier, looking for the gigolo. " He paused, looking hesitantly at his master, who's face remained stern and cold, that made him hesitant whether he should continue his sentence or not.
Ahem. He cleared his throat.
"To say it precisely," Cedric gulped, standing steadily as he did so. "The madam, was looking for you, master."
"She's looking for the gigolo. Not me." Leon remarked.
"Yes... Which is you."
Leon quickly shot him a glare.
"Ah— I mean...." Cedric put on a tight awkward smile as he averted his eyes away from Leon.
'Why is she looking forward for a meeting?' Leon frowned, wondering in his thoughts.
'What could be her reason this time?'
"And?"
"Pardon?" Cedric turned back to Leon, staring at his master with a slight glint of confusion. He didn't expect him to be this interested.
"What else?" Leon asked.
"Ah," Cedric cleared his throat yet again. "That is all, master."
"....."
"Perhaps... she has in mind of doing the things you always do with her as a gigolo?"
"....." Leon stared at Cedric in brief silence, his eyes glazed with disbelief. 'Does he think we're sleeping together whenever I meet her as a gigolo..?'
"Ha." He softly scoffed.
'Perhaps...'
'I must have forgotten to tell him that all we do is merely talk.'
'I only give advices that she'd use to please me, the same person whom she got such suggestions from.' Leon lightly frowned, finding it ridiculous.
His calloused fingers brushed against his lips. 'How funny it is, yet ridiculous. No, it's rather fascinating.' He thought, huffing softly as he did so.
'Is she going to ask me for advice again?' He pondered as he tapped his fingers on his desk.
"Are you planning on meeting her soon in the brothel as a... gigolo?"
"Cedric."
"Yes, my lord?"
"Stop saying that phrase."
"...What phrase do you mean, my lord?"
"As a gigolo." Leon spoke with a face evident of displeasure. 'It's making my skin crawl.'
"Stop saying that," He said, cringing as he recalled the phrase once more. "It's irksome."
Cedric's lips formed a thin line, pressing his lips in, as though preventing himself from saying that very phrase for another time. "I understand...."
"Ah." A breath left Cedric's lips as his eyes moved behind Leon, staring outside the large window where he could see Cordelia's carriage arriving at entrance of the castle. "It seems like the madam has returned, my lord." He said, turning to Leon.
"Shall I ask her maid where they went?"
"No need. It's already written in the letter." Leon uttered, putting his hands down on the pile of documents on his desk.
"Yes, but you seem unwel—"
"It is because of this wound that has yet to heal." He murmured, his eyes no longer on Cedric, but on the paper in front of him. Leon swiftly glided the quill on the paper as he signed the document.
"I shall quickly call for the physician again to tend to you later."
Leon's hand halted as his eyes rose to net Cedric's. "Don't." He said.
"What? But you need to be checked by the physi—"
"There is no need for that."
"But—!"
"Cordelia can do it."
"But the physician would be much more—"
"You may call the physician later."
"Then... must I delay your treatment?"
"Cordelia is capable enough to change the bandage for the time being."
"But why not just call the physician now..?"
"....." Leon silently stared at the documents with a strained face. "You're asking too many questions for my liking, Cedric."
He sighed in response. "...Understood, master."
"....."
"Could it be that you just want the madam to change your bandage for you, just so you could have an excuse to be alone with her?"
Leon's brows immediately furrowed, turning to Cedric. "You ask too many questions." He said, annoyed. His ears red from burning.
"What is that other letter in your hand."
"Ah, this letter is..." He looked at Leon looking rather hesitant. "It's from lady Vivian."
•
Cordelia looked at him by surprise. "P-Pardon?" The subtle shock was barely evident in her eyes. She was surprised because it's been a short while since she heard that certain tone and coldness that lingered in his voice.
"Need I not repeat myself. I'm asking you where you've been." The shiver she always felt before came back, as she met his sharp glare.
"I went with my handmaiden to buy a new set of jewelry..."
"Hah." A scoff left Leon's lips, red from his biting.
'The letter was indeed right.' He thought, his gaze turning into a glare.
"I-I've come to give you this—"
"I do not have the appetite, nor do I need anymore food." He uttered averting his eyes back to the papers on his desk.
"I do not have the appetite to eat anymore of that."
Cordelia grew quiet. "Then I'll leave it here in case you get hungry later."
'Why are you trying so hard to please me?'
Leon held the bridge of his nose. "Take it away."
"Then—" Cordelia swallowed a breath, giddy and hesitant. "Do you have something particular you have in mind?"
There was a change in him that she quickly noticed. It was as if he had become more strangely distant. So much so that she couldn't help but be confused of his sudden change.
"The chefs assigned should be responsible with that matter." Uttered Leon.
Cordelia sighed in defeat, taking the tray back. The courage she built was slowly cowering down, even her pride. The meals she made for him were rejected, and her effort became of nothing.
"I shall do that." She spoke quietly as she took the tray back into her hands. Her voice was quiet enough that it could barely even be considered above whisper.
"Is that all?"
"Yes... I wanted to give you something to eat, but it seems like you are not in the mood at the moment."
"If you have nothing more to say, you may take your leave. I am occupied with documents, and with you being here is no help at all."
Her heart churned. For it seems as though all the progress she made with Leon vanished so unexpectedly. "Then... I'll take my leave."
Cordelia turned around with a dull face, sighing in defeat as she took steps farther from Leon. But before she could take another step...
"Hold on." His voice quickly made her halt.
"Yes?"
"I have something to ask you before you go."
"...." Cordelia wondered why she was nervous for a mere question. But she knew very well that it was his intimidating presence that made her so nervous.
"Go ahead. What is it that you wish to ask?"
"Where did you go earlier?"
"That..." She grew quiet. "I went to the brothel..."
"For what?"
"...To give my payment." She spoke so reluctantly.
"And you're planning on going back there?"
"....." She remained silent, pondering in her head.
"Yes, I must settle my payment before I stop my visits."
'So she plans to stop her visits.' He thought in relief. But he couldn't help but furrow his brows.
But was his relief because of finally being freed of the burden of pretending to be a gigolo? Or was it because he was assured that she would not be able meet another gigolo other than him?
"You can order Cedric and he can give the payment on your behalf."
"Can I...?"
"You can." He said in an abrupt manner.
"But... I want to go so that I could personally express my gratitude to that person before I stop my visits..."
Leon's frown slowly ceased, softening. He knew it wasn't about her sleeping, because he was the one she was meeting the whole time.
'She wants to express her gratitude to a gigolo? For mere advices?'
Somehow, it felt as though he was really the one receiving that gratitude of hers, and it made his heart abnormally tender.
"Is that all your purpose?" He asked.
"Yes." Said Cordelia. "That is all." She added.
"Where did you go after you went to the brothel?"
"To the jewelry shop."
"What did you do there?"
'Why does this feel like an interrogation...' She thought.
"I bought a new set of jewels."
"From?"
"The jeweler, of course."
"Was it a man?"
'Ah...' She breathed, having a thought of realization. 'Is that why he's suddenly acting so... strangely?'
'Though that could definitely not be the case...'
'As far as I recall... he only said he'd ask one question...' That thought funnily lingered in Cordelia's mind.
"Yes, it was a man." She softly answered, the corners of her lips slowly raising into a faint smile. Cordelia slowly opened her lips and spoke in a light voice.
"Are you perhaps jealous..?"