“That’s wonderful. It will have a very positive impact not only on passengers and Wenner Railways but also on the Rosier Hotel and the Rosier family.”

“I can only hope so.”

“It will certainly be so. Perhaps it will even become the hotel that represents Vertis in the future. Mrs. Wenner, you might go down in history as the first female head of family who greatly prospered the Rosier family business……”

The conversation between the Wenner couple and the royal family was in full bloom when a court official’s announcement was heard from outside the banquet hall.

“Your Majesty, His Highness Grand Duke Merriott has arrived.”

Soon, a middle-aged man slowly revealed himself inside the banquet hall.

A broad forehead, prominently protruding brow bones, a sharp jawline, an indifferent gaze, and tightly closed lips. And his well-groomed blonde hair, which had patches of white that only made him look more stylish.

Though showing signs of age, one could easily imagine that he had been an exceptionally handsome man in his youth, with a rather cold impression.

And that image…… bore a striking resemblance to Hugo now.

Perhaps not to Hugo in his teens, but certainly to the grown man he had become.

Not just his face and physique, but even his aura.

As his deep brown eyes, which seemed to contain nothing, indifferently turned toward the Queen, Yvonne, watching the scene, could be certain.

‘That’s him……’

Hugo seemed to be thinking the same thing, as muscles gradually tensed along his angular jaw.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

Grand Duke Merriott went straight to the Queen, knelt on one knee, and respectfully greeted her by kissing the back of her hand.

An exceptionally low voice and a slow, leisurely manner of speaking that made him seem detached from all worldly matters.

Even that resembled Hugo, and Yvonne couldn’t help but be continually amazed as she looked at the middle-aged man.

“You’ve finally arrived, Grand Duke Merriott. I wonder if I’ve ever waited for you as anxiously as I did today.”

Since the Queen usually teased him about his tardiness, Grand Duke Merriott maintained his indifferent expression as he lowered his gaze slightly to check his pocket watch.

Noticing his intention, the Queen smiled and shook her head.

“Today, I don’t mean to make things difficult for the Grand Duke. I say this because there’s someone I urgently want to introduce to you here.”

The Queen’s gaze immediately fell on Hugo.

“This gentleman here is Hugo Wenner, the head of Wenner Railways and the husband of Count Rosier. Lord Wenner, please greet Grand Duke Merriott.”

At her words, Hugo slowly rose from his seat.

As Grand Duke Merriott slowly turned around to face Hugo—

Grand Duke Merriott’s eyes, which had indifferently settled on Hugo, gradually widened.

Hugo was equally surprised to face someone who looked so much like him, as if looking in a mirror.

For a while, the two men stared at each other without speaking, but their confused thoughts were clearly visible in their expressions.

“I’ve thought this every time I see Lord Wenner, but seeing them together, they really do look identical. Enough to believe they’re father and son……”

Grand Duke Merriott’s gaze turned to the Queen at her subtle remark.

The Queen calmly nodded while maintaining eye contact with the Grand Duke, who seemed to be asking, “Could it be?”

The other royal family members present also maintained a calm demeanor, as if they had anticipated this situation.

Grand Duke Merriott narrowed his brow in disbelief and blinked slowly for a moment before his gaze returned to Hugo.

He searched for traces of the woman he had once truly loved in Hugo’s black hair and eyes.

There was so much he wanted to ask.

However, there had been just as many people who had approached him claiming to be his son, so Grand Duke Merriott tried to maintain his composure.

“Grand Duke…… Merriott.”

“……My name is Hugo Wenner.”

The young man with piercing black eyes introduced himself indifferently.

Unlike all those “sons” who had been overly joyful or even tearful when claiming to have found their father, his attitude suggested that he wasn’t pleased to meet him at all.

Grand Duke Merriott, who usually exuded a relaxed atmosphere, swallowed hard, uncharacteristically.

“Hugo Wenner….. Yes, a name I’ve seen several times in the newspapers. One of the wealthiest men, they say.”

Grand Duke Merriott’s gaze, which had been pretending indifference and uttering words he didn’t mean, turned to Hugo again.

“Your parents…… must be very proud.”

Hugo’s expression gradually grew cold as he read the Grand Duke’s intention.

Grand Duke Merriott’s desperate eyes were seeking an answer and Hugo’s cold face.

Everyone, including Yvonne, was anxiously watching the situation.

“I’m not sure about that. My mother took her own life over ten years ago. And……”

The word ‘father’ wouldn’t leave his lips.

Hugo paused for a moment and moistened his dry lips.

“As for my father…… I’ve never seen him once in my life.”

At that moment, Grand Duke Merriott’s reddish-brown eyes noticeably wavered.

“Your mother, then….. What was your mother’s name?”

It was an urgent and sudden question, unlike his previous attitude of trying to maintain composure and continue the conversation naturally.

Among all those who had come to him claiming to be his son, none had correctly mentioned her name—a woman who had briefly appeared in society thirty years ago before quickly disappearing.

Grand Duke Merriott’s Adam’s apple dropped deeply again when—

“Denver……”

The black gaze resembling his own turned toward Grand Duke Merriott.

“Her name was Janice Denver.”

※※※

Inside the reception room specially prepared for the three of them by the Queen’s consideration.

A heavy silence hung over the small but splendid golden space for a while.

With a round table between them, Grand Duke Merriott kept staring at Hugo, Hugo avoided his gaze by looking elsewhere, and Yvonne looked back and forth between the two men, hoping their conversation would continue.

After an awkward and stifling silence continued for some time, surprisingly, Hugo was the first to speak among them.

“If you have nothing to say, I think it would be best to return to the hall. I know this behavior is extremely rude, Grand Duke, but……”

Hugo’s indifferent gaze finally turned to Grand Duke Merriott as he rose from his seat, drawing out the end of his sentence.

“I’ve lived a life without knowing manners, and as a merchant, I’m particularly bad at enduring wasted time.”

“Hugo……!”

Yvonne tried to stop Hugo in alarm, but his gaze remained fixed solely on Grand Duke Merriott.

Grand Duke Merriott merely looked up at Hugo’s face blankly, like someone reminiscing about something, still saying nothing.

“……Then I’ll be going.”

Hugo turned his back immediately and walked away without hesitation.

“Hugo!”

Just as Yvonne was looking back and forth between Grand Duke Merriott sitting beside her and Hugo gradually leaving, unable to decide what to do—

“……I wished to see you at least once before I died.”

Grand Duke Merriott’s voice, which seemed calm yet wasn’t, resonated softly in the quiet space.

At that moment, Hugo’s footsteps stopped briefly in front of the door.

“I dreamed of this moment, over and over.”

“……”

“But now that I face you…… I have no idea where to begin.”

Hugo’s body was still facing the door, but his feet couldn’t move hastily.

After watching him pitifully for a moment, Yvonne slowly approached Hugo.

“Hugo….. No, Theodore.”

When Yvonne gently took Hugo’s hand and called him, his gaze slowly turned to her.

As she had expected, Hugo’s eyes were wavering as much as Grand Duke Merriott’s.

Though Hugo was pretending to be indifferent, it was clear that he too found this situation overwhelming.

“I’ll understand whatever decision you make. All I want is…… for you to have no regrets about your decision.”

Regrets like turning away from his newly found biological father without hearing any explanation or expressing any resentment.

Finally persuaded by Yvonne’s words, Hugo’s footsteps slowly returned to the table.

After looking down indifferently at Grand Duke Merriott, who wouldn’t take his eyes off him as if wanting to engrave his image in his memory—

Hugo finally gritted his teeth, revealing the deep resentment he had buried all this time.

“……My mother waited only for you. But in the end, she was coldly abandoned and hanged herself.”

Janice Denver’s death was a tragic memory for both men.

Hugo asked Grand Duke Merriott with resentful eyes as the Grand Duke tightly closed his eyes, as if the mere recollection was painful.