Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 165
Nigel pushed Ulysses aside and strode forward. Someone grabbed his sleeve from behind.
“Sir…”
The fierce momentum he had been carrying softened momentarily at the pleading look in their eyes. He brushed the dust off his clothes.
Then, he gently placed his hand on the doorman’s shoulder and asked,
“Is that enough?”
The doorman, intimidated by Nigel’s menacing gaze, remained silent.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back out soon.”
Would it really take more than five minutes to deal with just one woman? This meeting would be over before a single dance ended.
As Nigel took long strides into the hall, the brief quiet was replaced by the return of artificial liveliness.
Viscount Lope quickly rushed over to greet him.
“It’s been a while, Young Marquis.”
He dropped the formal knight’s title ‘Sir’ and always referred to Nigel as the Young Marquis of Rosencrantz, whether Nigel was present or not.
Nigel stared at him.
‘What’s this about?’
Nigel didn’t pay attention to social etiquette or the affairs of the duchess’s family. He had only heard of the name Viscount Lope and had seen his face a few times but never considered it worth remembering.
On the other hand, Viscount Lope couldn’t imagine that Nigel might not remember him. He amiably placed a hand on Nigel’s shoulder and leaned in close, to an almost uncomfortable degree.
“I’ve been watching from afar. How dare that fellow act so presumptuously toward the heir of the Rosencrantz Marquisate! I apologize on his behalf for his rash behavior. The Young Marquis is welcome here, even if you arrive in your nightclothes. I made that very clear, but tsk, tsk…”
“Is this your mansion?”
“Pardon?”
“Has the appearance of His Grace, the Duke of Pierce, deteriorated so much? Hmm, I didn’t think so.”
Nigel tilted his head, rubbing his chin, as if genuinely puzzled. Viscount Lope’s face turned as red as if it had been doused with hot embers.
“Young Marquis, you have such a sharp sense of humor! His Grace the Duke has been busy with matters today, so I’ve been filling in for him. As you know, my daughter is the hostess of today’s party, hohoho.”
Just as he always referred to Nigel as the Young Marquis, Viscount Lope invariably introduced the Duchess of Pierce as his daughter first.
At that, Nigel finally recalled who Viscount Lope was. The hand that had been ready to strike now hovered near his shoulder before dropping. He nodded.
“Ah, so that’s how it is.”
“Yes, indeed. Now, as I’ve granted you permission to attend, please enjoy yourself as if you were in your own home.”
Nigel acknowledged this with a nod of thanks but didn’t stop walking. Viscount Lope trailed behind him at a slow pace.
“And if you get the chance, perhaps you could attend our party sometime…”
“Excuse me, Your Lordship.”
“Hm? What is it?”
Nigel stopped at the central staircase and looked back at him.
“Are you planning to keep following me?”
“Um…? I was just trying to be courteous…”
“As you can see, I’m here on business, not to indulge in leisure.”
Nigel pointedly gestured to his uniform, which he now impulsively used as an excuse.
Viscount Lope quickly masked his surprise and waved his hand dismissively.
“What work, on such a lovely spring day! A young man should know when to enjoy himself!”
Lovely spring day. Know when to enjoy yourself.
Those were the kinds of words that could easily aggravate a knight who was often ground down by work around this time of year.
But Nigel had no intention of wasting his precious time engaging in a verbal sparring match.
“True, young people’s amusements.”
Nigel grinned mischievously.
“And it’s said that the second floor is usually more exciting than the first, isn’t it?”
If the first-floor hall was a blatant display of aristocratic entertainment, the second-floor rooms were more focused on intimate pleasures.
The Viscount, who had once swept through parties, quickly grasped his meaning.
“Hm? Ahaha, you’re a spirited one… Reminds me of my younger days!”
“Which is why I’m asking.”
Nigel tapped the head of the large lion statue carved into the staircase.
“Are you planning to accompany me to the second floor?”
“…?”
“Forgive me, but that’s not quite my preference. Perhaps your grandson might have some experience in that area.”
“…!”
Viscount Lope’s face, previously full of question marks, quickly twisted in anger.
He sputtered furiously at Nigel, who had already turned and started ascending the stairs.
“T-That’s preposterous! My… my grandson only ever dallies with women!”
