Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 180: Journey to the Manor

"I’ll consult it with the church," Theo had said, though Damien wasn’t sure what that meant.

Curious about the battery solution, he planned to ask him later.

While completing everything would take time, Damien had already compiled and handed over the key data needed for the embezzlement case to Theo.

"With such clear figures, even if my stepmother tries to defend him, Lord Castellani will still be condemned. Damien, thank you. Sebas, make sure to thank everyone and arrange for bonuses and time off." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Understood."

The Dalehaven family’s staff and retainers had worked tirelessly day and night. Even Leonide and his peers would receive rewards and vacations. Damien planned to discuss it with everyone soon.

"Well, tomorrow, I’ll head to the main estate to confront my stepmother. As I mentioned, Damien, I’d like you to accompany us as a precaution."

Sebas’s investigation had revealed that the stepmother, not the younger brother, was the mastermind behind the embezzlement.

More specifically, her family had orchestrated the scheme, hoping to use the debt of gratitude from this incident to send their daughter—or someone else—into Lord Castellani’s house and take it over.

Lord Castellani is a prominent figure with mines in his territory and he was likely being targeted for his influence. Evidence suggested his stepmother’s family had coaxed him into embezzlement.

So, tomorrow, they planned to confront the stepmother at Theo’s family estate with the evidence they’d gathered.

Damien was to bring his phone to generate any missing data on the spot, though it was mainly a precaution. Theo and Sebas could handle most situations on their own.

"I got it. It might be a bit inappropriate to say, but I’m looking forward to seeing your main family estate," Damien said.

"It’s nothing special—just a normal house," Theo replied, smiling wryly at Damien’s barely concealed excitement.

Since Damien’s role was mostly to accompany them, he couldn’t help but feel like a tourist.

He had briefly considered using the opportunity to greet Theo’s father but he was told that such introductions should happen in a more formal setting later.

While formal occasions made him nervous, Damien agreed it was the proper thing to do.

For now, the greeting would have to wait.

As Damien was joining as just another retainer, he felt relaxed about the whole affair.

"Should I get to bed early tonight? We’re leaving after lunch tomorrow, right?"

"Yes," Theo replied. "I plan to join you for dinner tonight, so we can discuss the finer details then."

It had been a while since Theo had come to Damien’s room—things had been so hectic recently.

Damien felt his excitement rising.

With anticipation for the evening, he left Theo’s office.

...

Someone was shaking him awake.

"Let me dream a little longer," Damien thought groggily. In his dream, he was enjoying being showered with affection by both Theo and Leonide. Both of them had just kissed his cheeks, and he couldn’t be happier.

"Master, please wake up. We’ve arrived," came Ithnan’s voice, whispered near his ear.

Ithnan? Arrived where...?

...

Damien jolted awake, almost banging his head against the carriage wall, only to be caught by Thalatha.

"Sorry, and thanks. Ithnan, thanks for waking me up, too."

Damien vaguely remembered leaving Theo’s estate by carriage but must have dozed off from the gentle rocking.

He probably overdid it last night while spending time with Theo, given how rare the opportunity they had been.

He’d been feeling sleepy all morning and, unsurprisingly, had passed out.

"Master, here," said Tis’a who is seated across from him and handing him a damp towel.

When Damien looked confused, Tis’a pointed at his own mouth.

...Drool.

How embarrassing.

Thankfully, his fancy outfit—dressed up by Leonide and the others—was drool-free. Considering he couldn’t manage to dress like this alone, he was grateful.

For this trip, Damien was accompanied by the five Dragonewt brothers.

Leonide and the others might have been too recognizable, and Zima couldn’t come due to being a slave.

Damien had wondered why the Dragonewts weren’t ruled out for similar reasons, but Theo insisted on their presence "just in case" as bodyguards.

And not just one—they all came as a group.

It felt a little overprotective, but Damien knew he was naïve and clumsy in certain situations, so he didn’t mind.

"Master, your hand, please," Ithnan and Thalatha said in unison.

Damien was helped out of the carriage by Arba’a and Sitta, one on each side.

In front of them stretched a grand garden, and beyond it stood a white manor.

At a glance, it looked at least twice the size of Theo’s estate.

Its pristine white walls gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, either because it was new or meticulously maintained.

Given that it was a gift from the king, Damien thought it must have cost a fortune.

The area was filled with carriages, but, as planned, Theo’s carriage was not among them.

Theo had already gone directly to the estate with Sebas and his retainers.

Here, it was just Damien, the Dragonewt brothers, and...

"Lord Damien, this way," said Svetozar, Theo’s retainer—the same man Damien had accidentally kicked in a sensitive spot before.

It was Damien’s first time seeing Svetozar without his armor. He was a charming man with light red hair which radiated a refreshing demeanor.

Unlike most of the people in Theo’s household, Svetozar is just an ordinary human, which is a rare sight. He seemed to be around Damien’s age, perhaps slightly older.

Svetozar had been assigned as their guide today. Given their awkward history, Damien felt both apologetic and hesitant to defy him, though he had no intention of doing so anyway. Sebas’s choice of Svetozar seemed spot-on.

Following Svetozar, Damien and the Dragonewts left the carriage area.

The plaza was bustling with people chatting or being escorted by their guards. Most of them were there to visit Theo’s father for greetings or petitions.

Those with connections to the Dalehaven family or higher social standing were escorted elsewhere.

Damien chose to blend in with the surrounding people as a precaution, so he disembarked with the general visitors.