012. Burger's Desire
'Basilion House'
People called the newly built townhouse in the center of Nowak that. The mansion, so grand and magnificent that it was named after the mythical Sun King, had been busy and noisy for the past few days, with no time to turn off the lights.
New house, new owner, new servants.
Amid the chaos and trial and error, there was a person who held the center firmly, and that was his aide, Grosjean Turret. He was his secretary, errand boy, and advisor who had been by his master's side since he was a toddler.
On a sunset afternoon, he knocked on his new master's door. His hands were filled with urgency.
“Your Excellency, we must leave now. Please change your clothes quickly.”
Behind Grosjean were a white-haired old butler, a young page, and two maids, each carrying a shirt, a belt, a jacket, a basket, and so on.
Grosjean was anxious the whole time because his master had to arrive at the 'Dimitri Club House', where the charity bazaar was being held, by 6 o'clock at the latest.
“The host, Lord Hailston, is a long-time friend of Mrs. Meyer and one of her important investors. He will be very disappointed if you are late.”
The young boy spread out his shirt widely as if urging him on.
“Oh, right, Your Excellency.”
Grojean suddenly lowered his voice.
“We have received a call from the Leichnen family.”
Hardius' hand, which was unbuttoning his shirt, stopped.
“I heard that Miss Bianca will be returning home around the time of your graduation. The priest school at the Convent of St. Bruges is starting its vacation.”
Bianca Leichnen.
Hardius made an incomprehensible face at the name of his former fiancée.
Meanwhile, the young boy felt his arm getting sore. The boy had only just started working and was not yet able to use his skills.
Sweat ran down his forehead. Without realizing it, he wiped the sweat off his shoulder.
The sound of a rustling cloth woke Hardius. Only then did he notice the boy behind him and put his hand into his sleeve. Then he asked.
“What is your name?”
The child flinched at the sudden question.
“Pi, Pip.”
“Pip”
"Yes"
“How old are you?”
“...twelve.”
“You’re so young.”
“Well, he’s still tall. He’s tall enough to reach your shoulders...”
Pip, who had been mumbling incoherently, shut his mouth in fear for no reason.
He's heard that Hardius Meyer is a man of an unknown mind. According to the old servant, his generous smile is just a disguise, and he is actually a very scary person.
“You can talk next time. Don’t just wait.”
Without giving Pip a chance to respond, Hardius threaded the shirt over his arms.
From then on, everything went smoothly, like a machine. Pip buttoned up his buttons and put on his vest diligently.
Pip, having finished his work, took a step back and watched intently as the old butler tied his master's tie. The belt and shoelaces were still the butler's job.
A moment later, Hardius was dressed in a perfect dinner suit, from his bow tie to his dress shoes. Everything from his shiny black shoes to his dark hair was reminiscent of a winter night.
Pip couldn't take his eyes off the man who seemed so perfect that he didn't even belong in this world.
Hardius has been groomed to be that way since birth. He is meant to be a being who inspires pride and awe from the very beginning.
So the admiring gaze did not inspire him at all. His heart was as hard as a rock and had not been beating for a long time.
When the heir to the Meyer family arrived at the clubhouse in the heart of Nowak, the area was in an uproar.
The Count and Countess of Hailston, who organized the bazaar, unusually came out to the main gate to greet him.
A flock of select guests and even reporters on the gossip circuit flocked to the young heir apparent, who would become the center of the social world in the future.
At formal functions, Hardius was always polite and courteous. He was serious and reserved for his age, preferring to listen rather than speak.
Caitlyn Meyer watched her son with a proud look from a distance. When Hardius, surrounded by people from the entrance, slowly arrived in front of his mother.
“You came.”
The two hugged each other affectionately in front of the crowd.
“Sorry I'm late.”
“What are you talking about? I’m the one who called you when you’re busy.”
She smiled softly and placed a hand on her son's shoulder. Hardius laughed along.
They exchanged trained smiles as they walked shoulder to shoulder between the bazaar booths.
“Oh, what happened to meeting that kid? I thought you said you wanted to meet that kid from Erndorf in person.”
“Yes, I met her.”
It's a light voice that's neither too heavy nor too light.
“So, have you talked about the broken engagement?”
"Yes."
“Will she just accept it?”
“There was nothing awkward that my mother was worried about. My partner also wanted to break off the engagement.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Caitlyn gently dusted off her gloves.
“By the way, have you talked about the issue of immigrating to the New World?”
“I gave her a hint, but I couldn’t give her any specifics. It gives the impression that I’m kicking her out, and it’s taking away the land she's lived on.”
“That’s true...”
As she nodded, she thought back to the time she had loudly declared to Hannes and Richard that she would send the child far away to the New World.
“But what if you go for it strongly? Why do you have to make things so complicated with compensation and alimony? You even bought the land. Why don’t you just kick her out?”
A sheet of paper was handed to her as she muttered as if talking to herself.
“What is this? A broken engagement... agreement?”
“We decided to discuss matters related to the breakup and put them into a contract.”
Before Caitlyn could even respond, a cold voice continued.
“The other party has agreed and will faithfully fulfill her duties as a fiancée until the engagement is broken off. She also said that she will faithfully follow His Majesty the King’s orders at the graduation ceremony. It is not too late to decide on the issue of moving to the New World after the engagement is broken off.”
What the hell is the problem?
Those eyes, as indifferent as the paper, asked that question. Caitlyn stared blankly at her son before turning her eyes back to the paper.
“A divorce agreement... That’s a good idea.”
Caitlyn muttered as she put the papers into the envelope.
A group of people from afar recognized the two and approached them with welcoming faces. The mother and son, caught up in the crowd, gradually moved away from each other as they shook hands and greeted each other.
As is typical of charity bazaars hosted by the nobility, each booth was filled with luxury goods and rare items.
From gilded ornaments and ivory statues to ancient books and small handicrafts, these are expensive and luxurious things that ordinary people cannot even dream of.
Of course, Hardius wasn't interested in any of those things.
Neither magic shows nor card games for entertainment caught his interest. The Meyer family is a noble family that has accumulated wealth over several generations, and the family's symbol is a languid boredom without vanity or materialism.
Hardius accepted a glass of champagne and stood beneath the ornate arabesque columns. He waved a hand in greeting to those who approached him, his boredom hidden by his pleasant smile.
He planned to wait for the right time and then leave the venue.
The 'right time' came when an elephant appeared in the middle of the hall. The people applauded and cheered as a turbaned performer rode the elephant and performed the show.
Caitlyn called out to Hardius as he was about to leave through the exit.
“Are you going?”
"Yes"
“Before that, I have something to tell you. I’ll just have to take a moment.”
They headed toward the balcony again, shoulder to shoulder.
In the already dark night, dozens of bronze lamps twinkled like stars, illuminating the surrounding area.
“Did you hear the story about Bianca?”
“...Yes. I heard she's coming back to Nowak for the graduation ceremony.”
“Before that, we need to make room on our side first. So that you and Bianca can meet naturally. Do you know that Archduke Leichnen is very upset?”
"Yes."
“Come visit him sometime and say hello.”
“I will do that.”
Caitlyn was momentarily speechless at the concise answers that followed. Hardius looked down at his mother with a face that said, 'Is there a problem?' Caitlyn blinked diligently. Her rosy lips drew a soft curve again.
“You’d be surprised to see Bianca. When she was little, she was a bit chubby and sassy. When you think about how she used to act like a boy...”
Caitlyn waved her hand and said, “Oh, my.”
“But now, she’s completely different. It’s as if God has cast some kind of magic on her, and she’s become so beautiful. Even I, a woman, feel excited when I see her.”
“I really wonder how it would have changed.”
The moment Hardius answered, the balcony door opened wide. Several ladies came walking towards the railing, laughing, and when they recognized the two people, their faces lit up with joy.
“Huh? Prince Hardius? And Madame Meyer too...?”
Hardius greeted them politely and took a step back to allow his mother to talk to the women.
His eyes, which had been scanning the venue without any interest, suddenly stopped somewhere beyond the podium. After finishing talking to the women, Caitlyn tilted her head toward her son.
“Why is that?”
“...It’s nothing.”
Caitlyn looked at the place where her son's gaze had been just before with a suspicious look.
Could it be that he was looking at a woman?
There were many beautiful girls at the event who were enough to make one lose one's soul. It would not be strange for a young man of twenty, full of energy, to be dazzled by women.
But where his gaze rested, there was no woman. All she could see was a music box salesman sitting there yawning, looking bored.
Well, that can't be true.
Hardius is a thoroughgoing ascetic. His mother, Caitlyn, trained him thoroughly to be like that. She is satisfied with the sight of her son not being swayed by mere desires and emotions, but at the same time, she feels strangely uneasy.
No, he has no interest in that country girl.
Caitlyn blinked, shaking off the absurd thoughts.
“By the way, what are you going to do about the agreement? When will you be signing it?”
“I intend to handle it as quickly as possible.”
“Yeah, there’s no benefit to dragging it out. You never know how a person’s heart can change. That kid doesn’t seem to have any desires right now, but...”
“I’ll take care of it, Mother.”
The moment Caitlyn was taken aback, the door opened again. People with faces as if they had been reminded of the elephant show were pouring out onto the balcony. They recognized the two people and greeted each other.
“Then I will go first.”
Hardius took advantage of the chaos and noise to slip out from the balcony.
Actually, Caitlyn wasn't completely wrong. She saw one thing clearly: Hardius was really fixated on the music box.
The field's steps did not go straight to the exit, but stopped in front of the display case. The merchant was delighted.
“This piece was dedicated to Pope Benedict III. It was made of the finest elm wood.”
He handed over the music box as if he were looking at it. Unlike before, his eyes, which seemed to burn strangely, were fixed on the spinning mechanical device.
But what he is really seeing is a 'remnant image of memory' evoked by the music box.
A girl who was furrowing her brows as she looked at the music box on the ivory stand, wondering if she could touch it.
The eyes that had been sparkling like a mischievous child suddenly lost their light when she discovered her fiancé, who had suddenly appeared on the other side.
She bowed her head and knees slightly to greet him politely. However, her blue eyes were filled with cold indifference and arrogance. It was like an arrogant declaration that she should do it if he wanted to.
Perhaps it was a natural reaction. From the first banquet, everyone, including him, treated her like floating dust.
Yet Hardius was displeased. He was astonished and dumbfounded.
What do you want? Did you really expect me to welcome you?
The child turned away coldly, as if she had never been interested in music boxes. It felt like it was directed at him, and he felt bad again.
At the same time, he realized why he had suddenly suggested a music box to the attendant two days ago when he was wondering what to put on the display stand.
Music boxes were considered the ultimate luxury item among the noble ladies of the time. He thought it would be the perfect spectacle for a proud, snobbish commoner child.
After a while, Hardius had his servant operate the music box.
Contrary to what he had expected, the tone was so mournful and sad that he thought it was so cheesy and pathetic that he was thinking of ordering it to be turned off right away.
But at that moment, emotion appeared again in the eyes of the child who had been dying colorless.
Was it sadness? Or sorrow? Or maybe hatred or resentment? It had an unidentifiable, turbid color, but it seemed to be directed at Hardius.
The sadness pierced his heart and brought about sadistic satisfaction.
Yeah, he definitely enjoyed it.
Those eyes that couldn't contain the emptiness at every banquet.
“How about it? It would be a great honor if the one who will become the head of the Meyer family would take it.”
The merchant lifted his wares proudly. A heavy desire gripped the small wooden box.
Two days later, Bippy Dilson rode his horse briskly toward the zelkova forest, a music box lavishly wrapped in silk at his side.
'Basilion House'
People called the newly built townhouse in the center of Nowak that. The mansion, so grand and magnificent that it was named after the mythical Sun King, had been busy and noisy for the past few days, with no time to turn off the lights.
New house, new owner, new servants.
Amid the chaos and trial and error, there was a person who held the center firmly, and that was his aide, Grosjean Turret. He was his secretary, errand boy, and advisor who had been by his master's side since he was a toddler.
On a sunset afternoon, he knocked on his new master's door. His hands were filled with urgency.
“Your Excellency, we must leave now. Please change your clothes quickly.”
Behind Grosjean were a white-haired old butler, a young page, and two maids, each carrying a shirt, a belt, a jacket, a basket, and so on.
Grosjean was anxious the whole time because his master had to arrive at the 'Dimitri Club House', where the charity bazaar was being held, by 6 o'clock at the latest.
“The host, Lord Hailston, is a long-time friend of Mrs. Meyer and one of her important investors. He will be very disappointed if you are late.”
The young boy spread out his shirt widely as if urging him on.
“Oh, right, Your Excellency.”
Grojean suddenly lowered his voice.
“We have received a call from the Leichnen family.”
Hardius' hand, which was unbuttoning his shirt, stopped.
“I heard that Miss Bianca will be returning home around the time of your graduation. The priest school at the Convent of St. Bruges is starting its vacation.”
Bianca Leichnen.
Hardius made an incomprehensible face at the name of his former fiancée.
Meanwhile, the young boy felt his arm getting sore. The boy had only just started working and was not yet able to use his skills.
Sweat ran down his forehead. Without realizing it, he wiped the sweat off his shoulder.
The sound of a rustling cloth woke Hardius. Only then did he notice the boy behind him and put his hand into his sleeve. Then he asked.
“What is your name?”
The child flinched at the sudden question.
“Pi, Pip.”
“Pip”
"Yes"
“How old are you?”
“...twelve.”
“You’re so young.”
“Well, he’s still tall. He’s tall enough to reach your shoulders...”
Pip, who had been mumbling incoherently, shut his mouth in fear for no reason.
He's heard that Hardius Meyer is a man of an unknown mind. According to the old servant, his generous smile is just a disguise, and he is actually a very scary person.
“You can talk next time. Don’t just wait.”
Without giving Pip a chance to respond, Hardius threaded the shirt over his arms.
From then on, everything went smoothly, like a machine. Pip buttoned up his buttons and put on his vest diligently.
Pip, having finished his work, took a step back and watched intently as the old butler tied his master's tie. The belt and shoelaces were still the butler's job.
A moment later, Hardius was dressed in a perfect dinner suit, from his bow tie to his dress shoes. Everything from his shiny black shoes to his dark hair was reminiscent of a winter night.
Pip couldn't take his eyes off the man who seemed so perfect that he didn't even belong in this world.
Hardius has been groomed to be that way since birth. He is meant to be a being who inspires pride and awe from the very beginning.
So the admiring gaze did not inspire him at all. His heart was as hard as a rock and had not been beating for a long time.
When the heir to the Meyer family arrived at the clubhouse in the heart of Nowak, the area was in an uproar.
The Count and Countess of Hailston, who organized the bazaar, unusually came out to the main gate to greet him.
A flock of select guests and even reporters on the gossip circuit flocked to the young heir apparent, who would become the center of the social world in the future.
At formal functions, Hardius was always polite and courteous. He was serious and reserved for his age, preferring to listen rather than speak.
Caitlyn Meyer watched her son with a proud look from a distance. When Hardius, surrounded by people from the entrance, slowly arrived in front of his mother.
“You came.”
The two hugged each other affectionately in front of the crowd.
“Sorry I'm late.”
“What are you talking about? I’m the one who called you when you’re busy.”
She smiled softly and placed a hand on her son's shoulder. Hardius laughed along.
They exchanged trained smiles as they walked shoulder to shoulder between the bazaar booths.
“Oh, what happened to meeting that kid? I thought you said you wanted to meet that kid from Erndorf in person.”
“Yes, I met her.”
It's a light voice that's neither too heavy nor too light.
“So, have you talked about the broken engagement?”
"Yes."
“Will she just accept it?”
“There was nothing awkward that my mother was worried about. My partner also wanted to break off the engagement.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Caitlyn gently dusted off her gloves.
“By the way, have you talked about the issue of immigrating to the New World?”
“I gave her a hint, but I couldn’t give her any specifics. It gives the impression that I’m kicking her out, and it’s taking away the land she's lived on.”
“That’s true...”
As she nodded, she thought back to the time she had loudly declared to Hannes and Richard that she would send the child far away to the New World.
“But what if you go for it strongly? Why do you have to make things so complicated with compensation and alimony? You even bought the land. Why don’t you just kick her out?”
A sheet of paper was handed to her as she muttered as if talking to herself.
“What is this? A broken engagement... agreement?”
“We decided to discuss matters related to the breakup and put them into a contract.”
Before Caitlyn could even respond, a cold voice continued.
“The other party has agreed and will faithfully fulfill her duties as a fiancée until the engagement is broken off. She also said that she will faithfully follow His Majesty the King’s orders at the graduation ceremony. It is not too late to decide on the issue of moving to the New World after the engagement is broken off.”
What the hell is the problem?
Those eyes, as indifferent as the paper, asked that question. Caitlyn stared blankly at her son before turning her eyes back to the paper.
“A divorce agreement... That’s a good idea.”
Caitlyn muttered as she put the papers into the envelope.
A group of people from afar recognized the two and approached them with welcoming faces. The mother and son, caught up in the crowd, gradually moved away from each other as they shook hands and greeted each other.
As is typical of charity bazaars hosted by the nobility, each booth was filled with luxury goods and rare items.
From gilded ornaments and ivory statues to ancient books and small handicrafts, these are expensive and luxurious things that ordinary people cannot even dream of.
Of course, Hardius wasn't interested in any of those things.
Neither magic shows nor card games for entertainment caught his interest. The Meyer family is a noble family that has accumulated wealth over several generations, and the family's symbol is a languid boredom without vanity or materialism.
Hardius accepted a glass of champagne and stood beneath the ornate arabesque columns. He waved a hand in greeting to those who approached him, his boredom hidden by his pleasant smile.
He planned to wait for the right time and then leave the venue.
The 'right time' came when an elephant appeared in the middle of the hall. The people applauded and cheered as a turbaned performer rode the elephant and performed the show.
Caitlyn called out to Hardius as he was about to leave through the exit.
“Are you going?”
"Yes"
“Before that, I have something to tell you. I’ll just have to take a moment.”
They headed toward the balcony again, shoulder to shoulder.
In the already dark night, dozens of bronze lamps twinkled like stars, illuminating the surrounding area.
“Did you hear the story about Bianca?”
“...Yes. I heard she's coming back to Nowak for the graduation ceremony.”
“Before that, we need to make room on our side first. So that you and Bianca can meet naturally. Do you know that Archduke Leichnen is very upset?”
"Yes."
“Come visit him sometime and say hello.”
“I will do that.”
Caitlyn was momentarily speechless at the concise answers that followed. Hardius looked down at his mother with a face that said, 'Is there a problem?' Caitlyn blinked diligently. Her rosy lips drew a soft curve again.
“You’d be surprised to see Bianca. When she was little, she was a bit chubby and sassy. When you think about how she used to act like a boy...”
Caitlyn waved her hand and said, “Oh, my.”
“But now, she’s completely different. It’s as if God has cast some kind of magic on her, and she’s become so beautiful. Even I, a woman, feel excited when I see her.”
“I really wonder how it would have changed.”
The moment Hardius answered, the balcony door opened wide. Several ladies came walking towards the railing, laughing, and when they recognized the two people, their faces lit up with joy.
“Huh? Prince Hardius? And Madame Meyer too...?”
Hardius greeted them politely and took a step back to allow his mother to talk to the women.
His eyes, which had been scanning the venue without any interest, suddenly stopped somewhere beyond the podium. After finishing talking to the women, Caitlyn tilted her head toward her son.
“Why is that?”
“...It’s nothing.”
Caitlyn looked at the place where her son's gaze had been just before with a suspicious look.
Could it be that he was looking at a woman?
There were many beautiful girls at the event who were enough to make one lose one's soul. It would not be strange for a young man of twenty, full of energy, to be dazzled by women.
But where his gaze rested, there was no woman. All she could see was a music box salesman sitting there yawning, looking bored.
Well, that can't be true.
Hardius is a thoroughgoing ascetic. His mother, Caitlyn, trained him thoroughly to be like that. She is satisfied with the sight of her son not being swayed by mere desires and emotions, but at the same time, she feels strangely uneasy.
No, he has no interest in that country girl.
Caitlyn blinked, shaking off the absurd thoughts.
“By the way, what are you going to do about the agreement? When will you be signing it?”
“I intend to handle it as quickly as possible.”
“Yeah, there’s no benefit to dragging it out. You never know how a person’s heart can change. That kid doesn’t seem to have any desires right now, but...”
“I’ll take care of it, Mother.”
The moment Caitlyn was taken aback, the door opened again. People with faces as if they had been reminded of the elephant show were pouring out onto the balcony. They recognized the two people and greeted each other.
“Then I will go first.”
Hardius took advantage of the chaos and noise to slip out from the balcony.
Actually, Caitlyn wasn't completely wrong. She saw one thing clearly: Hardius was really fixated on the music box.
The field's steps did not go straight to the exit, but stopped in front of the display case. The merchant was delighted.
“This piece was dedicated to Pope Benedict III. It was made of the finest elm wood.”
He handed over the music box as if he were looking at it. Unlike before, his eyes, which seemed to burn strangely, were fixed on the spinning mechanical device.
But what he is really seeing is a 'remnant image of memory' evoked by the music box.
A girl who was furrowing her brows as she looked at the music box on the ivory stand, wondering if she could touch it.
The eyes that had been sparkling like a mischievous child suddenly lost their light when she discovered her fiancé, who had suddenly appeared on the other side.
She bowed her head and knees slightly to greet him politely. However, her blue eyes were filled with cold indifference and arrogance. It was like an arrogant declaration that she should do it if he wanted to.
Perhaps it was a natural reaction. From the first banquet, everyone, including him, treated her like floating dust.
Yet Hardius was displeased. He was astonished and dumbfounded.
What do you want? Did you really expect me to welcome you?
The child turned away coldly, as if she had never been interested in music boxes. It felt like it was directed at him, and he felt bad again.
At the same time, he realized why he had suddenly suggested a music box to the attendant two days ago when he was wondering what to put on the display stand.
Music boxes were considered the ultimate luxury item among the noble ladies of the time. He thought it would be the perfect spectacle for a proud, snobbish commoner child.
After a while, Hardius had his servant operate the music box.
Contrary to what he had expected, the tone was so mournful and sad that he thought it was so cheesy and pathetic that he was thinking of ordering it to be turned off right away.
But at that moment, emotion appeared again in the eyes of the child who had been dying colorless.
Was it sadness? Or sorrow? Or maybe hatred or resentment? It had an unidentifiable, turbid color, but it seemed to be directed at Hardius.
The sadness pierced his heart and brought about sadistic satisfaction.
Yeah, he definitely enjoyed it.
Those eyes that couldn't contain the emptiness at every banquet.
“How about it? It would be a great honor if the one who will become the head of the Meyer family would take it.”
The merchant lifted his wares proudly. A heavy desire gripped the small wooden box.
Two days later, Bippy Dilson rode his horse briskly toward the zelkova forest, a music box lavishly wrapped in silk at his side.
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