/
Chapter 24: Who Is It?
Why didn’t I think the stalker’s hair could be a wig?
I stopped writing my novel and started taking notes on one side of my notebook.
Signalment: A man with long hair that hides his face, tall  and wearing black clothes
“Let’s say his hair is a wig, and he can change his clothes at any time, so it’s out of the discussion.”
I wrote down a list of “tall men” among the people around me
Tobias, Mr. Greg, Jacob, Longhorn, Antris’ attendant, AI…….
“……Stop it, Melissa.”
I drew a line over Alan’s name that I had not yet completed.
Then there are five people left. There may be a real stalker among them. I breathed in with a determined expression.
First of all, Tobias witnessed the stalker and was even mentioned in that threatening letter, absolutely not. Ruled out
Greg, a butcher, is also a stalker’s whistleblower, but he doesn’t have time to follow me. He’s one of the busiest people in Florin, so of course he’s excluded…….
Next is Jacob. He is a Piccom person. Of course, if there are social events, he sometimes comes to the capital, but on the weekend when the stalker appeared, he was definitely with Viola in Piccom. Ruled out because it has a perfect alibi.
Who’s left?
“…Malcolm Longhorn, Antris’ server. It’s just these two.”
Mr. Longhorn sent an expensive dress because of the mistake he made. Even though I had told him it was okay. Perhaps this is not just a favor.
Now that I think about it, the situation in which he suddenly grabbed my wrist at the ball and dragged me to the terrace was somewhat unnatural.
From what I’ve heard, they seemed like a family running a fairly large business. That’s pretty much in line with my hypothesis. It’s because he has enough wealth to easily buy people and has enough influence in the capital
“We may need to see each other again.”
When we met at the National Theater, I was so embarrassed, and as soon as I confirmed that he was not Alan, I was relieved and couldn’t take a closer look. For example, the eyes of the person looking at me or the subtle expression on his face.
His gift was too much for me, so if I just said I wanted to thank him in person, it would be a good excuse to meet him again.
Of course, if he is a real stalker, it would be dangerous, but if I am on guard, I can distinguish whether he is a stalker or not at once. The key is to decide the time and place as safe as possible.
“Next is…”
The server at the Antris coffee shop.
There are many employees of Antris, but there is one person who has become particularly acquainted with me.  A man with neatly slicked-back pomade blonde hair, and pale gray eyes.
It may be because of his strong work ethic, but he is exceptionally kind to me.  One of the reasons I always go to Antris.
No matter what the profession is, it will never be common to find such a thoughtful and gentle person. So…… There are enough reasons to doubt.
It is bitter to doubt the kindness that is shown towards me but it keeps bothering me that the stalker’s letter directly stipulated Antris. Isn’t it the intention to keep me in his sight as much as possible?
Perhaps, the stalker is deeply related to that place—Antris. Antris was where Toby saw him, and Antris was where we talked about New Ditch and my novel.
‘……Are you saying that you’re being stalked?’
Maybe the server took my story seriously, which might sound absurd…….
“…….”
I guess I’ll just have to use the orthogonal method. I can meet him without having to decide the time and place. Even if it’s tomorrow.
I drew a large circle around the word ‘Antris’ server.’
* * *
In the indoor garden of Leopold’s mansion, various flowers were in full bloom  making you forget what season it was. The octagonal glass greenhouse was filled with flowers that were colorful enough to attract attention.
The space was full of the fragrant scent of flowers and tea, and the singing of birds in golden cages hanging was so beautiful that it was reminiscent of another world.
But Alan Leopold’s lips, who was sitting cross-legged in the middle, were tightly closed.
“…….”
Bentley’s face was seen smiling over the three-tiered tray on the table. Alan tried to look indifferent as the least courtesy to the royal family but his  examining eyes were twisted with displeasure because of the prince’s sudden visit. Who was wasting his time to come and drink tea suddenly.
“Are you busy these days?”
Bentley, who ate macarons on the tray without taking off his gloves, asked.
Looking through his disorganized blonde hair and pink crumbs around his mouth, Alan crumpled his forehead and closed his eyes. And added coldly.
“When was I ever not busy?”
“I wanted to celebrate your birthday with you. We’re close friends.”
Ha. Alan let out a scornful laugh. Nevertheless, the prince found it fascinating because he felt it was more noble that rude
Under the orders of the royal family, the two have spent a lot of time together. Since childhood, they learnt horseback riding together and often went hunting. This was intended to build a strong bond between the two children who will lead the future of the kingdom.
Alan was the only child and Bentley didn’t have a brother, so the two seemed to be good friends. However, as the prince slowly began to deviate before his coming-of-age*, Alan began to distance himself openly from him. It had been several years since the relationship between the two had turned into a one-sided relationship like now.
(* This means the prince indulged in lust, drugs and etc)
In fact, Alan was not in a position to criticize the prince’s behavior of rolling around with women or doing all kinds of disturbances under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He didn’t find it interesting but merely gross, so he just didn’t accompany him since neither the prince nor he were saints or monks.
He was just very happy to have a good reason to stay away from the annoying prince. The problem was that Bentley had no intention of giving up on this shallow friendship.
Alan let out a languid low voice.
“My birthday is not a big deal, I was busy with work.”
“Work”?
Bentley’s half-closed eyes opened wide as if he was interested.
“On your birthday, you went out before dinner. You weren’t in the mansion or the office either.”
“….You came to see me during that heavy snow?
“Where did you go? Are you trying to make an excuse that you went on a business trip through that heavy snow?”
The prince, who moved his upper body forward, made eye contact with grayish-blue eyes seen over the tray. Alan did not avoid his gaze, but no other emotions other than boredom were read from him.
For Alan, who lived in solitude since he was born, loneliness wasn’t something he had to endure.  Rather, he thought that it was indispensable to life, close to the air.
That’s why he felt tired and displeased with people approaching him. Pretentious, sometimes disgustingly pesky, useless, and unproductive. That was the ‘relationship’ defined by Alan. The prince, who always showed unwavering friendliness, was no exception.
Alan, holding the teacup, said.
“I told you not to come without contacting me. Is getting hit by the wind a hobby?”
(T/N: meaning he walked through the snow on his birthday for nothing)
Is it a trend? Alan, who thought of Monica, shrugged a little.
It was a cold voice like the winter in the north, but the prince smiled as if he were familiar with it.
“You said it well.”
The long, horizontally torn lips soared to the fullest.
(T/N: He is smirking)
“Didn’t you create a new hobby? If that’s the case, I hope we can have some fun together.”
“…….”
“Is it a girl?”
Bentley shoved the half macaron into his mouth and raised his arm. The maid, who was standing with a teapot, hurriedly left the greenhouse at the prince’s gesture.
At the same time, Alan opened his mouth.
“Don’t cross the line, your highness.”
Bentley shook his head at the cold voice.
“What did you say, Alan?”
“Mind your business. Didn’t you hear that?”
As Alan growled fiercely, the prince made a fuss, busily sweeping down the golden shoulder decorations.
“Woah……! I like it when you treat me like this.”
Bentley asked again, with his gleaming golden-brown eyes.
“Who is it? What are you hiding?”
“You’re persistent.”
“Who the hell did you spend your birthday with?  Huh?”
“Whoever I hide, it’s none of your business.”
Alan replied coldly.  But, obviously, he admits it strangely. It was difficult for the prince to control his wild curiosity.
“Ms. Elwood?”
“Are you crazy?”
Monica Elwood, a distant relative of Leopold, had been introduced by Alan. It was not long after the two boys became friends. Not recently, but there have been several times when the three of them ate together.
But Alan denied it straight away.
“She’s family.”
“What’s wrong with being distant relatives? She’s a beauty.  It seems like there are rumors on the streets lately”
When the prince added in a calm tone, Alan, who was tilting the teacup, put the cup down with a sharp sound. His face, as cold as ice, was like pure white porcelain.
“Can’t you just tell me a little bit? I’m going crazy with curiosity, Sir Alan.”
“Stop being crazy. Because it looks like I’m going to be angry.”
“You are hiding something delicious.  I can’t even sleep at night.”
The prince, who whined like a joke, laughed long.  He was tenacious, as if he wouldn’t back down easily.
It was obvious that Alan’s return to work would be delayed any longer if he did not soothe him roughly. He let out a languid sigh and answered indifferently while stroking the pure white cravat.
“I’ve got a new hobby.”
The one who is meticulous and had the family business left to mange is acting suspiciously—there is no way he would pick up a mere hobby especially during an important time when he is busy launching his new business to prove his worth to the family
Originally, it was a luxury to have a leisurely daily life, but it was the first time he was busy like these days. He was working on a murderous schedule between his business preparation and existing work with the determination to do it perfectly.
Bentley, who could not understand such a truth, immediately smiled.
“It’s nice to hear that!  It’s not good to be immersed in work.  Sometimes you have to get some fresh air.”
It is not something that the prince should say—who left all his work to the chieftain and the prime minister, but Alan answered with sincerity in his own way.
“I am already doing that. I even cut down on my sleep time because of my hobbies.”
Alan, who was touching his stiff eyelids, suddenly smiled. With that picturesque smile, Bentley forgot his words for a moment.
“So will you go back now, your Highness?”
When Alan waved the bell on the table, the servant ran and bowed his head.
“Call a horseman.”
“…I’ll go”
The prince, smiling despondently, stretched out and raised himself. At least he heard an honest answer, so it wasn’t in vain.
“I’ll come again”
Bentley, who turned around leaving Alan holding a teacup without an answer, thought,
I must find out what my noble friend’s hobby is.
Still, he was just having a boring and somewhat dreary day because of his father’s scoldings.
“How interesting.”
There will be no more pleasant entertainment than this.
***
Comments from Korean readers:
Oh, my.
Hobby: Stalking.
Read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.eu
The combination of the crazy and the crazy!
Talking informally (to the prince) all of a sudden? That’s great. Male lead who has power is great.
Prince is really doing useless things.
Alan, the part where it’s “Planning Fox”…When there’s someone else (maid), he speaks formally but alone, he speaks informally…I think they usually talk informally, but maybe because he is perfectionist, and meticulous. I think he feels different
T/N: fyi Alan was talking formally to prince only till the maid was there, as soon as she left he switched to talking informally