Please Answer Me - Chapter 132

“What is this?”

“It’s silk.”

Hark tilted his head slightly. He had expected something special, but it was just silk. Silk was widely produced in Lysa, and the quality of Lysa-made silk was unmatched anywhere else. If anyone heard that Rashid was trying to sell silk to a merchant in Terra, they would laugh out loud.

Rashid opened the lid of the box. “Take a look.”

So far, Rashid had never failed to satisfy with the items he proudly presented. With some curiosity, Hark peered into the box. He quickly realized why Rashid had shown him this particular silk.

It was indeed silk produced in Lysa, but the originally white fabric had been dyed in beautiful colors. With his experienced eye, Hark immediately recognized the exceptional dyeing technique. Not only were the colors vivid, but the intricate and varied patterns were also unparalleled. Moreover, even though dyeing could degrade the value of the fabric if it wasn’t done well, every piece of dyed silk Rashid had brought was in the most fashionable colors currently favored by royalty and nobility.

With his long experience as a merchant, Hark could instantly tell that these would sell out as soon as they hit the market and that demand would far outstrip supply.

“Hmm, it’s just silk, isn’t it? The quality seems good, but silk like this is common in Lysa…”

Still, as a seasoned merchant, Hark couldn’t just leap at the opportunity without first doing some calculations. He looked away, pretending to be uninterested, and played it cool. Rashid was the one asking for a favor, so Hark intended to use this advantage to negotiate the most favorable terms.

“You don’t seem to like the goods. In that case, I’ll sell them to another guild…”

But as Rashid was about to close the lid of the box, Hark hurriedly stuck his hand under it. Rashid had anticipated this move and stopped just in time, saving Hark’s hand from being crushed. However, by doing so, Hark had already admitted a humiliating defeat.

“…Are you just looking to get into the royal palace?”

Rashid smiled brightly. “Yes, as long as you can arrange that, I will sell this silk to you exclusively for five years.”

“Ten years.”

“That’s too greedy.”

“Then, seven years.”

“Perhaps I should consider selling to another guild…”

“Fine! Five years it is!”

Hark sighed inwardly as he glared at Rashid, who was clearly a step ahead of him in this negotiation.

This guy should have been my son-in-law!

“One more question: Why do you want to get into the Lysa royal palace?”

At Hark’s question, Rashid swirled his drink in his hand, watching the red liquid as he replied, “I’ve heard so much about the Lysa royal family, but I’ve never seen them in person. I’m curious to meet them.”

“Even if you enter the palace, it’s unlikely you’ll see any of the royal family. The court’s etiquette is very strict, and even I haven’t seen the royals up close. It’s easier to think of them as living in a different world. Don’t get your hopes up.”

“I see.”

“Oh, and…” Hark scrutinized Rashid closely before continuing, “If you want to avoid drawing attention, it’s better to change a few things before entering the palace.”

***

After the banquet, Rashid took a bath to wash away the fatigue of the long journey. As one would expect from a country boasting such advanced civilization, the plumbing system here was perfect. The private bath in his room had hot water on demand, available whenever needed. Rashid often envied the advanced infrastructure of this place.

After his bath, Rashid wrapped a robe around himself and began drying his hair. His reflection appeared in the darkened window, and he recalled Hark’s earlier words.

“If you want to avoid drawing attention, it’s better to change a few things before entering the palace. For example, that long hair…”

Indeed, such long hair would attract attention in the palace, where men typically kept their hair short, not reaching past their ears. In Arden, however, men often grew their hair long according to tradition, though some did choose to cut it short. Hair length was not a significant issue in Arden, so following Hark’s advice wouldn’t be a problem.

But…

“I like your long hair.”

He remembered Rosetta’s words as she lay in his arms after a fierce storm had passed. Rashid had also loved her golden hair, as light and voluminous as clouds. When they became one, their golden and black hair would tangle together on the sheets.

She had also said:

“I love the cool, soft feel of it against my bare skin. And besides, it’s something only I know about. No one else.”

Her smile had been so beautiful that Rashid couldn’t resist and climbed back on top of her. Despite her exhaustion, Rosetta had initially protested but soon wrapped her arms around his neck, surrendering herself to the pleasure he offered.

As his thoughts drifted naturally to the blissful nights they had shared, Rashid felt a pang of longing. He missed the intense closeness, the sweet sounds she made with every movement, and the way her face would crumple and melt in tears by the end.

The vivid memories of those sensations flooded his mind, and Rashid gritted his teeth. He tried to suppress the growing heaviness in his lower body with sheer willpower and a long sigh. Just as he was changing into his clothes, someone knocked on the door.

“Riga.”

It was Mark, who had come to see him late at night. Mark suddenly thrust something forward, which he had been hiding behind his back.

“I thought you might need this.”

In his hand was a bottle of wine, along with two glasses.

“…You didn’t steal that, did you?”

At Edirne Castle, Mark often sneaked alcohol, avoiding Thelma and Madam Hosson’s watchful eyes. He would steal wine from the cellar at night and cooking wine from the kitchen during the day, slipping a bottle out unnoticed. While it was technically theft, it was something both Thelma and Madam Hosson tacitly allowed. However, this wasn’t Edirne.

“Of course not! I specially requested this from the kitchen. What kind of person do you think I am?” Mark grumbled as he set the glasses on the table.

Rashid sighed as he watched him uncork the bottle and pour the wine. “Mark, I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t really…”

“Is that so? Have you already forgotten when we finished an entire cask together in the wine cellar?”

“……”

Rashid fell silent. As Mark had mentioned, Rashid had indeed met him in the wine cellar late one night. More accurately, Rashid had already been there drinking when Mark sneaked in to steal wine. Upon seeing the dark figure in the corner, Mark had nearly fainted in terror.

“Aaaah! A-a ghost… Riga?”

Mark opened his mouth wide upon realizing the shadowy figure was Rashid. Rashid was sitting on the floor, leaning against a large wine cask, drinking alone. Several empty bottles lay scattered around him.

“…Riga, what is all this?” Mark gestured to the empty bottles as he asked. 

Rashid replied, “I thought drinking might help me sleep.”

At that time, the aftermath of the fire had mostly been dealt with. With the busy period over, chaotic thoughts had started to creep back into his mind. For the first time, Rashid had considered why humans drank. They drank when they were happy, but also when they were in pain. If alcohol’s purpose was to help forget pain, even just a little, then it was worth trying once. With that thought, Rashid had gone to the wine cellar. The problem was that no matter how much he drank, he didn’t get drunk.

“But it doesn’t seem to make much difference.”

“Why didn’t you drink in your room?”

“I don’t want to go back to my room. I keep thinking of her.”

Though he hadn’t gotten drunk, the alcohol had loosened his tongue. Rashid was still haunted by terrible visions. Whenever he was alone in his room, Rosetta seemed to appear everywhere, speaking to him, smiling at him. Even though her scent had long faded, she was still there.

“When you’re troubled, you should drink with someone, not alone. You should have called for me earlier!” Mark plopped down beside Rashid and joined him in drinking.

That was the last time Rashid had drunk. The next morning, Thelma had nearly fainted when she discovered they had emptied an entire cask between them.

“Are you feeling conflicted now that we’re here? Have one more drink with me and then get a good night’s sleep. That’s why I went through the trouble of getting this wine.”

Rashid squinted at him. “So, you didn’t just want another drink?”

“Of course not. I got this wine just for you, Riga!”

Since Mark insisted, Rashid decided not to press further.

“By the way, I never would have guessed you were such a ladies’ man. I always thought you didn’t interact with other women at all.”

Rashid almost spat out the wine he was drinking at that comment.