NOVEL NEXT Chapter 85.1
Gender Doesn’t Matter
“Hallow-san.”
“…Yes? Is there something wrong, Leone-san?”
Hallow blinked and turned around when he heard his name called in a low voice. There stood a beautiful, elegant person, with an enchanting smile gracing their stunning face—and behind them loomed a hellish chill. Even if Hallow gasped instinctively, no one could blame him. That’s how terrifying Leopold’s aura of anger was. However, not a single person present tried to stop him. In fact, just as much anger seemed to radiate from all corners of the room. Hallow had no idea what was going on.
With a strained smile, Hallow relied on the instincts honed from his life as a traveling merchant and urged Leopold to continue. He figured that unless he listened to what Leopold had to say, he wouldn’t be able to respond appropriately.
“I believe you are someone I can trust—not just professionally, but personally, too.”
“Thank you.”
“That’s why I can’t understand this. Is this man really one of your employees?”
“…Did he do something?”
Leopold pointed at the employee Hallow had brought along today. Normally, Hallow himself handled these interactions, but he’d decided to bring someone to act as a contact in case he was out on business. The employee wasn’t expected to manage everything, but rather act as a bridge when necessary. Of course, Hallow could have visited the store directly, but the shop had its own busy schedule. If they wanted to discuss things at leisure, the hideout was the better option.
Or so he thought. But somehow, in the short time Hallow had been speaking with Ali, the employee must have triggered Leopold—and, apparently, the entire clan present. Only two people remained blissfully oblivious: the employee himself, and Yuuri, holding a teapot with the same serene expression as always.
“He was so rude to little Yuuri, I couldn’t believe it.”
“…To Yuuri-kun?”
“Huh?”
Hallow voiced his confusion at the same time Yuuri tilted his head at the mention of his name. Yuuri looked as puzzled as if to say, Did something happen? To Hallow, Yuuri seemed as normal as ever, with nothing unusual going on. The oppressive atmosphere of irritation from the others was incomprehensible.
“Um, Leone-san? I don’t think—”
“Yuuri-chan, sweetie, just stay quiet for me, okay?”
“…Okay.”
Yuuri complied without argument, sensing how furious Leopold was—a rarity given Leopold’s usual softness toward him. However, the anger wasn’t directed at Yuuri but at the employee Hallow had brought along. Yuuri glanced over at Kurresh, who was usually the friendly type. Yet even Kurresh wore a smile as cold as a blizzard. What on earth was going on?
Not just Kurresh—Lelei, usually carefree, and the apprentices who often played together all had frightening expressions. Yuuri, seeking clarity, approached the only person who seemed unaffected and gave them a tap on the shoulder. The man, noticing Yuuri’s presence, calmly looked down at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Why is Leone-san so angry? Everyone else too?”
“I’d say it’s pretty justified anger.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, I think it’s totally justified.”
Yuuri noticed that although Brooke was smiling, his eyes were not. Somehow, Brooke too had been rubbed the wrong way. But how had this one employee managed to offend everyone so thoroughly? And how was Yuuri involved without realizing it?
With no choice, Yuuri tuned into the exchange between Hallow and Leopold, sensing that the answer lay there. Any thought of mediation had been abandoned from the start; he was now content to observe.
“This man here said this to little Yuuri: ‘If you were a girl, you could be a bride right now.’ What do you suppose he meant by that?”
“…Pardon?”
“Excuse me, what?”
Leopold spoke with solemnity, and the others nodded in agreement. Hallow widened his eyes in disbelief, while the employee blinked cluelessly, seemingly unaware of what he had done wrong. Yuuri tilted his head again, trying to figure it out—and the moment he did, every gaze turned toward him.
Then.
““““It’s not just something trivial.””””
“Isn’t it a bit much for you all to say that in unison?!”
Still completely lost, Yuuri was left baffled. Meanwhile, both Hallow and the employee stood sweating nervously under Leopold’s beautiful yet menacing glare. One of them finally understood why Leopold was furious. The other had no idea what was going on but sensed the dangerous mood of the group—Leopold included—and knew they were in serious trouble.
“Yuuri is Yuuri. That’s all there is to it!”
“Lelei, that’s not quite making sense.”
“But still!”
“So, the issue is that Yuuri is perfect as he is, right? No need for ‘if you were a girl’ nonsense, yeah, Leone-san?”
“Yes, exactly, Kurre-kun.”
“…I deeply apologize. You, too—apologize now.”
“Huh? Oh, yes… I’m very sorry.”
Though still not entirely sure what was going on, the employee instinctively realized that apologizing was in his best interest. He moved next to Hallow and bowed deeply. Hallow followed suit—after all, the mistakes of his employee were his own. Especially when it came to offending people he intended to maintain friendly relations with, an apology was essential.