“Who is he?”
“I don’t know, they didn’t say that, but it’s not obvious…”
Crucially, Viscount Arlen's daughter appeared with an outsider who was perhaps her husband.
Even though she hadn't officially debuted, the person who knew best about the formalities of a noble family was Ilyin of Arlen.
It was a truth known to few of the guests who attended the Viscount's mansion and which spread to the others who attended the funeral.
“She wouldn’t have brought it without knowing the meaning of it.”
“He doesn’t seem like someone you know.”
Aden knew the whispers between them were mostly about him.
Ilyin also had a few different words reaching her ears, but she knew that the main subject of these whispers was him.
It was his choice to reveal his identity, however.
Ilyin looked at Aden.
Was he really okay?
She learned that he had severed ties with the hot region after becoming the Duke of Biflten.
This particular piece of information could become a fire starter and cause tension between the people there, but Aden smiled at her reassuringly, as if reading her mind.
“Acid Merchant Den,” said Aden, his voice strong and clear.
Viscount Arlen already knew him as part of the Acid Merchant, as the Northern circulation manager.
From what he heard and Milo's report, Viscount Arlen didn't tell anyone about Ilyin's marriage.
He would probably start a rumor about Ilyin, how she ran away from home because she didn't want to listen to her father.
So he would have gotten the uncharacteristic title of a loving father who tried to listen to his daughter, giving up raising the family name just to give her joy.
And later, he would try to find out which family Ilyin married into so he could profit from it.
It was difficult to find someone who could be read so easily after only meeting a few times.
The nobles thought that marrying a merchant was humble.
Aden was a little worried about this, but Ilyin was already holding his hand.
This meant that Ilyin didn't think they should hide their relationship here.
Even though it was a small gesture, Aden couldn't help but feel happy, it meant Ilyin was proud to show it off.
"Ah, a merchant.
I see," said Baron Vitin's daughter, disapproval clear in her tone.
Aden could understand his superficial thinking of how a child of superior position, Ilyin, married a lowly merchant.
Their conversation echoed in the funeral home.
“Then with a merchant?”
“Viscount Arlen’s family…”
Aden's ears tickled as the whispers began again, he listened without any change in his expression.
Word spread quickly of Viscount Arlen's daughter who never disrespected the etiquettes of nobles.
She was escorted by a man whose parentage was uncertain and this man also stood by his mother's coffin while Ilyin was there.
He must be her husband.
The Viscount's family was silent, but that man was definitely chosen by the child.
From the looks of Viscount Arlen, he didn't seem to like it.
Ilyin of Arlen, no, the person who used to be Viscount Arlen's daughter was married to the man with straight black hair and dark blue eyes.
***
After receiving the funeral home, Ilyin began to kiss the viscountess in the coffin who had her eyes closed.
It meant something that she repeated this action that only needed to be done once.
She knew that a commotion like this always happened where nobles gathered – be it a funeral, wedding or any other event.
Soon after, the funeral home became silent as she wanted.
Aden stayed by Ilyin's side until the end of the funeral, he woke up before her in the morning and went to bed later than her.
She didn't even notify her son-in-law, Viscount Arlen.
Since Viscount Arlen was busy greeting other nobles, it was possible that he would neglect the guests who came alone.
After the first day of the funeral, Idith went to Bertha who was leaving the Viscount's mansion.
“I have an order to take you to our lady’s room,” Idith said as she bowed politely.
She did not need to show such a degree of loyalty to someone who was not her master or mistress, but she made a point of being as respectful as possible.
Bertha looked at her with an interested expression.
“Is this an order from Ilyin?”
Bertha could understand half the situation just by looking at Idith's face.
“It is an order from my master.”
But Bertha really only realized half of it, it was Aden's order to bring Bertha to where Ilyin was.
“Oh.” Berta smiled.
‘Conniving, very conniving.’ Bertha thought happily and picked up her cane and followed Idith.
Idith realized that the purpose of the cane was not for walking after taking a few steps and he carefully reached out.
“I will accompany you comfortably.”
It wasn't like an escort, it felt like she was asking for something.