The Secretary of the Northern Grand Duchess Has Run Away

Chapter 63:  The Black Swan (4)

‘The 1st Anniversary, Erian Hotel Reopening Celebration Party.’

The following evening.

Countless guests visited the Erian Hotel.

Women dressed in modest jackets on the outside but adorned in glamorous ball gowns beneath.

Men entered in full, stylish formalwear.

However, they were not nobles.

Which was precisely why they came to the hotel flaunting their outfits even more proudly.

I greeted each of them with a formal smile, one by one.

While waiting for today’s main guest to arrive.

How much time had passed like that?

A carriage bearing the symbol of Nord’s leading entertainment agency, ‘Nordique’, arrived.

Then, a man dressed in a navy suit stepped out from it.

Clean-shaven with fine dark brown hair.

At a glance, he was a tall and handsome man clearly working in the entertainment industry.

“So there really was a day when Miss Gehenna would suggest attending a party together.”

As he got down first and held out his hand, a youthful hand reached out from inside the carriage.

I knew exactly who that slender hand belonged to.

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet, Robert.”

Gehenna accompanied him with an utterly composed expression.

But the manager looked relaxed, as if he already owned the Black Swan.

“Welcome to Erian.”

“What? The person you wanted to introduce was this one?”

To his puzzled question, I handed him a business card.

“Yes, I specially asked Miss Gehenna. I’ve been very eager to meet you.”

Robert extended his hand to me with a faint smile.

As if he were greeting an old friend.

It was a complete shift from when we had been waiting in the first-floor lobby.

“Seeing you here at the hotel, you look much better in person.”

He pointed at his own face casually as he spoke.

“You looked quite small and unremarkable back at the mansion.”

“They say the setting makes the person, don’t they? And seeing you on the red carpet, Manager, you truly shine.”

At my calmly enunciated words, he let out a small laugh.

“Hearing you talk like that, it’s obvious you’re a secretary of the Grand Duke’s house.”

“Let’s head in. I’ve invited Sir Bennet just to meet you today.”

Bennet Tolkien.

The moment that name — someone even Nordique couldn’t book — was mentioned, the corners of his lips lifted.

“Looks like I’ll get to see a decent stage after a long time.”

Perhaps feeling properly welcomed, Robert narrowed his long eyes even more.

Then stroked his well-groomed mustache with satisfaction.

“Let’s go, Miss Gehenna. I’ll escort you.”

“Ah, yes…”

The Black Swan followed the leading manager, pretending she couldn’t resist.

To the anxious-looking girl, I quietly gave a wink to signal that everything would be all right.

Only then did the next great dancer nod calmly and head for the elevator with composure.

“……”

At last, we arrived at the banquet hall prepared on the eighth floor.

Wide tables and chairs spread across the space.

In the past, it had been completely empty, but now it had begun to serve as a proper party hall.

“How is it, Manager?”

“It certainly lives up to its name as Old Luton’s flagship hotel. It’s no worse than the others in Nord.”

The agency manager assessed Erian with his hands behind his back.

“But it does feel a bit gloomy. Must be because it’s an old building.”

“Thank you for the advice. I suppose I’ll need to consider changing the exterior color before your next visit.”

At my compliant response, Robert tilted his chin slightly.

Then, with a short laugh, he made a blunt remark.

“Is it because of Luton Hall? You’re awfully devoted.”

“I’m not sure what you mean. I simply trust the taste of someone who currently leads Nord’s entertainment industry.”

At my smoothly delivered answer, the manager paused his sarcasm for a moment.

Instead, a faint chuckle escaped, and he willingly offered,

“Never mind, let’s sit. Is this our table?”

“Yes. It’s the best spot for viewing Sir Bennet.”

Despite being only twenty years old, my composure made the manager fall silent.

From then on, as the manager of an entertainment agency, he chose to quietly enjoy the rare chance to watch Bennet perform again.

Soon, the singer of the century, Bennet Tolkien, stepped onto the stage.

At the sight of his handsome and mature presence, the crowd at the party gradually quieted.

“―――――.”

Amid thunderous applause, the singer of the century began to sing.

During this time, we sat at the central table of the banquet hall, enjoying the performance.

However, Robert didn’t seem particularly focused on the music.

He only kept his eyes fixed on the twenty-year-old woman watching Bennet with eyes full of admiration.

“……”

The manager’s uncomfortable gaze finally broke thanks to his secretary, who had been waiting at a distance.

A man who appeared to be in his twenties approached quietly and whispered to Robert.

“Manager, the executives from Gold Morning are here at the back.”

Wearing glasses, a tailored suit jacket, and a luxury fountain pen clipped to his chest.

The glossy finish made it obvious everything he wore was brand new.

“Gold Morning newspaper?”

“Yes, sir. It seems they recognized you at that table over there.”

Robert stood up from his seat for a moment.

Then, with sharp eyes, he gave me a quick nod of apology.

“I’ll go say hello to some acquaintances.”

“Of course.”

While he stepped away—

Gehenna, dressed in her gown, glanced at me.

“You’re quieter than I expected.”

She had spoken so resolutely about meeting him, her eyes full of resolve.

But now that we were sitting together, I must have seemed too polite and composed for her liking.

“You’re calmer than I expected, too.”

“Yes, he always gives me that filthy look whenever he sees me. I’ve gotten used to it.”

Gehenna let out a deep sigh, seemingly well aware of his glances.

“If the imperial performance goes through this time… I can’t imagine how much worse he’ll get…”

For now, it was mere harassment, but it would only grow more intense over time.

Because I knew it all too well, I kept a blank expression too.

“He does seem like someone with suspicious tendencies. Considering how often his secretary changes.”

“How did you know Robert’s secretary had changed…?”

At my question, the Black Swan widened her eyes.

Her reaction was that of a woman who had spent her life purely devoted to dance—so very innocent.

“You could tell just by looking at the stand-in secretary who approached earlier.”

I glanced briefly at the manager’s secretary waiting from a distance.

“He’s probably not the original secretary, but someone from a different department.”

“How can you tell?”

Gehenna stared at me as if I were some secret agent from an intelligence bureau.

In response, I gently pinched the lapel of my suit jacket and replied.

“Most secretaries don’t use such expensive fountain pens. The nibs are too sharp, so they often end up tearing documents when working in a rush.”

By contrast, the fountain pen clipped to my own jacket was clearly very old.

Not just me—other secretaries from wealthy families, like Tobang, also tend to use well-worn pens they’ve been accustomed to since childhood.

“That’s fascinating. I’m one of his company dancers, and even I didn’t know who his secretary was…”

“It was probably a female secretary before.”

At my words, Gehenna nodded quickly.

As if excited to be part of an entertaining spy operation.

“You’re right. I’d heard that too.”

After acknowledging her comment, I turned to face the young man returning to the table.

The secretary’s expression looked quite sour.

“I’d heard the secretary had already been changed a couple of times before. Looks like it’s happened again.”

“That confirms it, then. What he must be up to in his own office…”

A man who’d made it into the papers for womanizing even in the future.

And in the past, he had already changed his secretary three times.

For someone as much a perfectionist as him to keep replacing his right-hand staff—what could be the reason?

It was simple.

“Sorry about that. They’re friends from my hometown, you see.”

Before long, Manager Robert returned to his seat.

He sat down with a cold, blank expression.

“Seems you know quite a few people at Gold Morning as well.”

“This industry’s all about connections, isn’t it.”

Robert crossed one leg over the other and silently lit a cigar.

I gestured to the manager to bring over the whiskey I’d prepared in advance.

“I saved this to serve to a good guest.”

With fox-like, slender eyes, I offered a sly smile.

And sure enough, as if recognizing the value of the liquor, he let out a short laugh.

“What makes you bring out something this precious for me?”

“This industry’s all about connections, isn’t it?”

When I repeated his own words back to him, Robert stared at me silently.

Then, like a wolf meeting one of its own, he let out a dry chuckle.

“It’s been a while since I met someone I could really talk to.”

Gehenna’s lips parted on their own at the sight of how quickly my expression had turned sly and smooth.

To a woman who had spent her entire life in dance, the appearance of a man who had spent his entire life hosting must have been unfamiliar.

“Well then, I now understand your efforts quite well.”

At last, the manager began to open his heart little by little to my efforts.

It seemed he had already heard some favorable things about me from the Gold Morning executives.

‘Of course, all of them are close to Mansachs.’

“But even I can’t help the secretary of Lady Echina, who is on bad terms with Archduke Eric.”

He accepted the whiskey I poured for him at a leisurely pace.

The premium liquor was poured generously—more than halfway up the glass.

“You should give up on Miss Gehenna.”

“Come now, how could I ever compete with Sir Eric, the heir to the Grand Duchy?”

I let out a small laugh and filled my own glass as well.

Then, taking a bold sip, I looked at him with a forlorn expression and said,

“I merely poured your glass with the hope that, once the eldest son becomes the family head, you might look upon me a bit more favorably.”

“You certainly have a sharp sense, just like someone who runs a hotel should.”

It seemed he was quite pleased with the implication that I had sought him out to establish a connection to Eric.

Thanks to that, he allowed himself to smile slowly and took a sip from his glass.

“That much I’ll consider. I may be of commoner birth, but I do have a barony under my wing.”

“I truly respect you.”

As the strong liquor slowly warmed his body, the manager exhaled a thick breath from his nose.

Even his mustache seemed to dance proudly.

“How about our dear Miss Gehenna pours the next one?”

Now that he had finally concluded I was on his side, he turned a deep gaze toward the Black Swan once again.

“Me…?”

“Yes. I’ve heard that liquor always tastes best when it’s poured by a beautiful woman.”

The Black Swan bit her lip with a conflicted expression.

However—

That would no longer happen from this moment on.

“I’ll pour it. Miss Gehenna isn’t in the condition to be serving drinks right now.”

Because tonight—

Would be the manager’s last supper.

“……”

Robert looked up at me with a chilling gaze, as if to ask who I thought I was to interfere.

The Black Swan, too, glanced at me nervously, worried I might be reprimanded.

But I leaned in close and whispered naturally in the manager’s ear.

“I noticed it earlier during the handshake—there’s a nasty bruise on her wrist. She’d have trouble lifting a bottle.”

“…Is that so?”

Only then did Robert clear his throat.

Then, turning back to the dancer with a softened expression, he said,

“If you were hurt, you should’ve said something.”

“I stretched my hand out wrong while falling, and it swelled a bit. It’ll heal quickly.”

Gehenna wisely played along with my words.

Thanks to that, we were able to continue the drinking session with him without incident.

“Well then, it can’t be helped. We can’t keep an injured person at the party, now can we?”

Even after drinking heavily, Robert rose to his feet with practiced ease.

With the opportunity now gone, he immediately began preparing to leave.

“Let’s go, Miss Gehenna. If you’re hurt, you should get some rest.”

“Yes, understood…”

I stopped them just before they could leave.

Then I called the manager over to bring the gift I had prepared in advance.

“Please wait just a moment. There’s something I’d like to give you before you go.”

I handed a neatly wrapped box each to Robert and Gehenna.

“You’re quite the well-prepared fellow.”

Robert, clearly accustomed to such gestures, unwrapped the box without much reaction.

He then checked the white jacket inside.

“This looks like something fashionable from the Grand Duke of the North’s house, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right. I selected a brand that would best suit your reputation, sir.”

Recognizing its value, he wore the jacket with a satisfied expression.

Then, feeling something unfamiliar in the inner pocket, he slipped his fingers inside.

“There’s something in here?”

“Most likely a spare button.”

Robert opened the small paper envelope he found inside.

After checking the contents, he nodded and tucked it back into the inner pocket.

It seemed he was pleased with the gift—he handed his original jacket to his secretary.

“Miss Gehenna, you should check yours too. We’ll be getting in the carriage soon.”

Clearly uncomfortable with the idea of riding in the same carriage as a drunken Robert, Gehenna calmly checked her own gift.

“It’s a wrist band.”

The dancer slowly slipped the band over her slender arm.

Then, seeing how absurdly loose it was, she looked at me blankly.

“…Ah. It seems I may have misjudged the size.”

Facing away from Robert, I allowed myself a sly grin.

“It seems you’ll need to come by the fitting room for just a moment so we can adjust the size.”

At my apologetic tone, the manager furrowed his thick brows.

So, I politely added with a bow.

“It won’t take long at all—would you mind accompanying me to the fitting room for a moment?”

Robert immediately parted his lips, ready to argue.

But he fell silent at Gehenna’s quick-witted approval.

“Manager, then how about I just take my gift here and head home? You could go ahead first.”

The manager hesitated, caught off guard by the dancer defying his wishes for the first time.

But he couldn’t lose his temper in the middle of the banquet hall.

As someone who valued connections, he couldn’t afford to lash out in an official setting.

“…Very well. Let’s do that.”

Robert looked at me with a chilling smile.

Then, brushing past Gehenna, he headed toward the hotel elevator.

“Then I’ll see you at the office tomorrow, Miss Gehenna.”

The dancer’s arms trembled like a swan that had just leapt over its fence for the first time.

As if she feared the storm that would follow.

“It’s all right.”

I stepped closer to her side.

And with one hand elegantly covering my lips, I whispered,

“Come to the dry cleaner’s near the office in two days.”

The dry cleaner’s.

At the seemingly random words, Gehenna looked up at me in confusion.

“The dry cleaner’s…?”

To that, I gave her a smile I’d never shown her before.

A smile belonging to a sly courtier who had handled all the filth and foul deeds of an aristocratic political arena.

“Yes. On that day, the manager will be removed from his position.”