A Peacock Husband of Five Princesses by day, a Noble Assassin by Night-Chapter 86: A wife’s worry

Time dragged on at an agonizing pace.

Laura paced back and forth in the small office adjacent to the alchemy lab, her fingers curling and uncurling at her sides as her thoughts churned restlessly.

Kael had been gone for too long.

She had let him go upstairs alone, reasoning with herself that there was nothing to worry about. After all, it was just a conversation with an old woman—an alchemist who had long retired from the world. What could possibly happen? And yet, experience had taught her that when it came to her husband, things were never that simple.

She knew him too well.

Kael had a habit—no, a knack—for stumbling into trouble, even when he wasn’t looking for it. It was almost like chaos followed him wherever he went, drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

What if something happened?

What if he uncovered something dangerous?

What if the woman isn’t actually an alchemist but an enemy, perhaps, deployed by the Clowns of Ark Organization in order to abduct him?

What if—

"Laura, are you planning to wear down the floorboards?"

The voice jolted Laura out of her anxious spiral. She turned abruptly to see Penelope standing in the doorway, arms crossed as she leaned against the frame, watching her with an arched brow. The alchemist had clearly just stepped out of the lab for a break, the faint scent of herbs and heated minerals clinging to her clothes.

Laura exhaled sharply, trying to compose herself. "Kael still isn’t back."

Penelope blinked, then shrugged as she stepped into the room. "So? It’s only been an hour. You make it sound like he’s disappeared off the face of the earth."

Laura frowned, crossing her arms. "You don’t understand. He has this… talent for getting into situations."

The amused look on Penelope’s face didn’t fade. "You mean trouble?"

"Exactly," Laura muttered, rubbing her temple. "Even when he doesn’t try, it just happens. Every time he left the capital city, he ended up in trouble. And it’s not that I don’t trust him to take care of himself, well, Nyx is there, but…"

"But you’re worried anyway," Penelope finished, tilting her head slightly. "Even though the person he’s meeting is a harmless old woman, who by the way, is one of the most magnanimous and compassionate beings I ever met or heard of."

Laura chewed the inside of her cheek. "It was ridiculous when put like that." She thought in her head. Trouble didn’t always come in the form of physical danger.

"That’s not the point," Laura admitted, sighing. "I just… it’s just…" She struggled to put it into words and Penelope had to interrupt her with a smirk. "So, why are you still standing here, then?"

Laura hesitated. "Because… he asked me to stay behind."

Penelope scoffed. "And since when do you listen to him like an obedient wife? A man is dictating to you what you do? Seriously?"

Laura glared. "Hey, I told you not to look down on my husband."

"Then what? You’re worried about displeasing him?" Penelope gave her a look of disbelief. "Laura, are we talking about the same Kael here? The one who follows you like a puppy everywhere? The man who worships the ground you walk on?"

Laura flushed at the exaggeration, though she couldn’t exactly refute it.

"It’s not that simple," she muttered.

Penelope rolled her eyes. "It is. You’re worrying yourself sick down here instead of going to check on him. So, how about this—I’ll go with you."

Laura blinked, surprised by the offer.

"You don’t have to—"

Penelope waved a hand dismissively. "Please, I could use the excuse to stretch my legs. And besides, I’ve a few things to ask Grandmaster, too."

For the first time in the past hour, Laura let out a small, relieved breath.

"Alright," she said, offering a grateful smile. "Let’s go find him."

Laura and Penelope ascended the stairs leading to the upper residence, their footsteps soft against the wooden floor.

As they reached the doorway, they found the scene entirely different from the troubling scenarios Laura had imagined.

Kael sat comfortably across from Nadia at a modest wooden table, his posture relaxed yet focused. In front of him, a small leather-bound notebook was open, and he was jotting things down in neat, precise handwriting. Nadia, for her part, seemed deeply engaged in their conversation, her expression thoughtful as she gestured subtly with her hands while speaking.

"Take phoenix flower petals, for instance. They are moderately priced when fresh, but once processed into syrup, their value quadruples in most markets," Nadia was explaining, her voice calm but instructive. "Or the Xyrelm sap. It can be used to make pancake syrups, but instead, you should be creating Xyrelm candies. It has higher profit margins and longer shelf life. Unlike pancake syrups, candies are enjoyed by kids from all types of economic statuses. You just have to create a premium version for the rich, and an economic version for the commoners. And lucky for you, right now, you were near the Helsinki Mountains, which have an abundance of Xyrelm trees. Coming to next thing that is available around…"

Laura, who had arrived with a worry, instead found Kael fully immersed in a serious business discussion, one she could see genuinely intrigued him.

However, the conversation paused as the presence of the two women disrupted the quiet flow of business talk. Kael’s pen stilled over the pages of his notebook, his gaze shifting to his wife. Nadia, ever the gracious host, also turned toward them with a questioning look.

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Penelope gave an easy smile, lifting a hand in a small, almost dismissive wave. "Sorry for interrupting your little trade lesson, but I actually need some advice for my experiment."

Kael leaned back in his chair, setting his notebook aside. He studied Penelope for a moment before giving a slight nod, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Laura hesitated for a second before stepping forward and sitting at the table as well.

Nadia took the moment to rise from her seat. "Well, if we’re all going to be discussing alchemy now, I suppose I should bring out more tea."

As she walked toward the small wooden counter, Laura turned her gaze toward Kael, her fingers lightly brushing against the edge of the table. "Sorry," she murmured, the word barely audible, yet meant just for him.

Kael shrugged, leaning his cheek against his knuckles. "I don’t mind," he replied.

To anyone else, it was a casual statement of understanding. But Laura knew him better. There was a stiffness there—a subtle, unspoken displeasure that lingered beneath the surface.

He’s annoyed.

Laura’s eyes flickered over to Nadia, who was now carefully pouring steaming tea into delicate ceramic cups. The elderly woman moved with practiced grace, a quiet warmth in her gestures.

For the remainder of the day, Kael kept to himself, retreating to the guest room provided by Nadia.

The room was modest but comfortable—wooden furnishings with a warm scent of aged parchment and dried herbs lingering in the air. A single window overlooked the quiet streets of the town, where the afternoon sun cast golden hues over the rooftops.

He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting between the strange encounter with Nadia and the revelation of the Moonstone crest on the cloak. He had more questions now than ever before, yet no clear answers. Was Nadia truly related to his family? Or was he thinking too much into it?

There was no way to know for sure, and pressing further might only push her away.

A knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Dear?" Laura’s voice filtered through the wood, gentle yet concerned.

He sighed, sitting up. "Come in."

Laura entered, her golden hair catching the dim light as she closed the door behind her. She studied him for a moment, taking in his pensive expression. "You’ve been quiet all day."

Kael shook his head, leaning back on his hands. "Not really. We basically have nothing else to do to become busy with."

Laura crossed her arms, unconvinced. "That’s not it. Something’s bothering you."

He considered brushing it off but knew she wouldn’t let it go. Instead, he exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "It’s just… Nadia."

Laura raised an eyebrow, moving to sit at the edge of the bed. "What about her?"

Kael hesitated. He wanted to confide in her—tell her about his suspicion of Nadia’s possible relation to Moonstone House, but how would he explain it to her if she starts questioning too? He definitely cannot say about the chest or the cloak.

After quick thinking, he spoke vaguely. "She reacted quite strangely when I told her my full name. When she heard I was from the Moonstone House, her hands trembled. And when I mentioned my mother, she looked like she was about to become emotional. She said she knew someone from Moonstone House but didn’t say who. I just couldn’t help but wonder… you know…"

Laura frowned, tapping her fingers against her knee in thought. "So, what are you going to do?"

Kael sighed. "Nothing. Not yet. If there is something and she wants to tell me, she will. Moreover, I need to find another opportunity to talk with her."

Laura studied him for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright. But if something feels off, promise me you won’t handle it alone."

He smirked. "Afraid I’ll get into trouble?"

Laura gave him a pointed look. "You always get into trouble."

Kael chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine. I promise."

Satisfied, Laura leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. For a brief moment, the weight of the day faded, replaced by a quiet warmth between them.