A Peacock Husband of Five Princesses by day, a Noble Assassin by Night-Chapter 54: Melissa’s loneliness
As the evening settled in, Kael and Laura returned to the mansion, both feeling content after their delightful day together.
They stepped through the grand entrance, still basking in the glow of their memorable date. The air was cool, and the mansion’s quiet atmosphere welcomed them back as they made their way to the main hall.
"Today was perfect," Laura said, glancing at Kael with a smile as she removed her footwear.
Kael nodded, his own smile matching hers. "It really was."
As they entered the foyer, Hester, the mansion’s stewardess, was waiting to greet them. The elderly woman was always polite, with a well-practiced demeanor that came from three decades of serving the noble family.
"Good evening, Master Kael, Lady Laura," Hester greeted, bowing slightly. "I hope you had a pleasant day."
"We did, Hester," Laura responded warmly. "Is there anything we should know? Anything urgent?"
Hester straightened, her tone professional. "Lady Amanda has left for the palace, as is usual with her duties. Lady Seraphina has gone to the church for her daily service as a healer. Lady Melissa has stayed in her room, and I have yet to see her since lunch. Also, there is an invitation from the palace for a royal banquet tomorrow evening."
Kael raised an eyebrow at the mention of the banquet. "A royal banquet, huh?" he murmured, his mind immediately wandering to the image of the teenager he met at the restaurant. If a princess of an empire comes to their doorstep, no monarch of a Queendom won’t send her back without calling for a royal banquet.
"Sounds like something important," Laura added, her expression thoughtful.
Hester gave a small nod. "Indeed, Milady. It’s likely related to the upcoming diplomatic matters."
Kael let out a sigh, realizing they would need to prepare for that, but for now, he wanted to focus on someone else he left behind. "Thanks for the update, Hester. I’ll take care of things from here."
Laura, ever loving wife, placed a hand on Kael’s arm. "I’ll head to my room and freshen up. Let me know if you need me for anything," she said softly.
Kael smiled, nodding. "Of course. I’ll be with you in a moment."
Kael’s footsteps echoed softly as he walked down the hallway to Melissa’s room instead of his own. He knocked lightly on the door before stepping inside. The room was quiet and serene, filled with the scent of lavender from the potted plants by the window.
Melissa was curled up in a comfortable chair by the fireplace, a novel in her hands. She didn’t even look up when Kael entered; her focus was entirely on the book in her hands. She might have been this way for hours, it seemed.
"Is that novel really so interesting?" Kael asked, a hint of amusement in his voice, though there was a touch of concern in his tone.
Melissa looked up from her book, surprise flickering across her face. "Ah, dear…"
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.
She then placed the novel down on the table beside her and shrugged slightly, becoming calmer. "It’s not much different than any other, really. But sometimes, a story is just something to get lost in," she replied, her voice a lot calmer, but Kael sensed a quiet loneliness in her words.
Kael walked further into the room and pulled up a chair beside her. "You’ve been here all day, haven’t you?" he asked gently, his voice full of understanding. "I heard from Hester."
Melissa nodded slowly, her gaze shifting to the window, where darkness took over the surroundings of the estate. "It’s nothing new," she said with a soft sigh. "With everyone else busy with their own responsibilities, I often find myself here alone. The estate needs managing, of course, but after that... it’s just books and more books."
Kael felt a pang in his chest at the thought of Melissa spending so much time alone. He knew her responsibilities in the household were many, but it seemed as though she was quietly retreating into her own world to avoid the loneliness.
"I should’ve spent more time with you today," Kael admitted, a bit of guilt creeping into his voice. "Laura and I were out, and I left you here... I didn’t mean to. She was just angry at me and Amanda. I just thought of improving her mood. But I forgot that you will…"
Melissa raised a hand, offering him a small, understanding smile. "It’s fine, Husband. You had a right to enjoy your day. And it’s not as if I’ve never been on my own. I’ve gotten used to it by now," she said, though her voice faltered a little at the end, betraying the underlying sadness she hadn’t fully expressed.
Kael could see that, despite her words, there was something more beneath the surface. As he remembered how much he enjoyed his date with Laura, his guilt for Melissa only amplified multi-fold.
"Still, I want to make sure you’re not alone, not like this. You deserve some fun too, you know?" He could sense that Melissa had been quietly enduring her solitary moments for a while now, and he wanted to offer her something more to look forward to. "I’m free for the next few days," Kael began, his voice soft but sincere. "How about we go out together? Anywhere you’d like to go?"
"Going out together?" A small frown tugged at her lips at his offer. She was clearly thinking about it but hesitated in the end. "I appreciate the offer, Husband. But... Not right now. Maybe in the future," she replied quietly, shaking her head slightly.
Kael understood. There were deeper reasons, he suspected, why she preferred to stay home. The main reason: she was bored. Unlike her siblings, she didn’t have any work. She manages the estate’s finances, but it is not like Moonstone House holds any territories or businesses. The estate matters were mostly handled by the Stewardess, and Hester was good at her job. As a result, she mostly spends her time reading books or knitting.
Still, he wanted to lift her spirits in whatever way he could. He smiled warmly and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "That’s fine. Just be patient for a few more months. Once I hit the Gold tier, I’ll open my own guild. You can manage it for me. I think it’ll be a good opportunity."
Melissa looked at him thoughtfully, her brow furrowing slightly. "But, guild management isn’t something you can start without a lot of money," she pointed out. Her voice was calm but practical, the weight of the reality behind her words evident.
Kael nodded, understanding her concern. "You’re right about that. But don’t worry, I’ve got plans. But, before that…"
Kael leaned forward, pulling out a small, leather pouch, from his storage ring. He handed it to Melissa with a smile, the pouch making a soft clink as it settled into her hands.
"Here. This is for you," Kael said. His voice was calm but tinged with a sense of purpose.
Melissa’s eyes widened as she took the pouch, feeling the weight of it in her palm. She carefully untied the strings and peeked inside. The sight of gold coins made her eyes widen even further.
"I earned more than 5,000 gold coins this time," Kael explained. "I spent about 1,200 gold coins when I was out with Laura. The remaining 4,000... that’s yours to manage."
Melissa didn’t speak for a moment, her fingers gently caressing the gold coins inside the pouch. She looked up at Kael, her expression one of surprise and appreciation. "This... this is a lot more than I thought you would earn from the quests," she said softly, her tone filled with a mix of gratitude and quiet disbelief.
Kael chuckled, a lighthearted glint in his eyes. "It might not be a huge amount overall, but compared to what I was making just a month ago, it’s definitely more than I could’ve imagined. And that’s what my confidence is built upon."
Melissa smiled faintly, but her gaze didn’t leave the pouch in her hands. She knew how hard Kael had worked for that money. He was ambitious, yes, but he was also thoughtful when it came to his family. He wouldn’t recklessly pour every money just to start some business. If he were that kind of person, he would have done that by now.
However, what are his plans to start a guild? Even if he earns 10,000 gold coins per day, it wouldn’t still be enough.
It was then Kael pulled something else from his coat, something much smaller. Melissa looked down to see an idol—one shaped like an ugly black cat.
"This," Kael said, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "is made of adamantine alloy. It’s worth a fortune, and I’m sure I could sell it in an auction for at least a million gold coins. That’s more than enough to fund a decent-sized guild for a couple of years, no problem."
"Million?"
