Chapter 16

“By doing so, I completed the acquisition of the gallery shares,” said Aneta, who sent a deputy to Lord Bennet as soon as the day broke, as she had told Madam Lefevre, and could only receive a report on the results after lunch.

After checking the documents prepared during the acquisition process, she handed them back to him.

“Thank you for your hard work. Can you finish all the procedures by the end of today?”

“Of course. Please trust me.”

“Please take care of the remaining tasks as well.”

“Yes. Then I will go to the gallery now.”

After bidding farewell, the deputy left the mansion to deliver the documents he had received to Madam Lefevre.

The person who visited Adenauer’s mansion shortly after was Serce, who had announced his visit the day before.

Having heard from Isabel about his arrival, Aneta naturally recalled yesterday’s events as she walked towards the reception room.

As the whole story, including her reflexive actions, unfolded, Carlos could not hide his astonishment.

Recalling his frozen expression, Aneta quickly pushed aside her emotions and opened the door to the reception room.

“You’re here?”

She greeted Serce, who was sitting on the couch, scanning the interior, and turned his head.

He was the first guest she had received since returning to the mansion. Thanks to this, the kitchen staff was busy preparing tea and food with great care.

Knowing that they couldn’t hide their excitement since early morning, Aneta decided to give them a little more time to showcase their skills.

“Are you going to see the paintings first?”
“Even if I say no, I don’t think my opinion counts, do you?”

“Exactly.”

Aneta acknowledged it gracefully. Serce, who received in return what he had done to her yesterday, chuckled as if there was nothing he could do about it.

“You’re not going to offer me tea?”

“That will come later. The staff are very busy moving around for you.”

“If that’s the case, that’s fine. Where should I go?”

“Follow me. I’ll show you.”

Aneta gracefully stood up and led Serce out of the reception room.

Walking down the corridor, almost after ten years, Serce fumbled through memories that were coming back vividly.

Seeing her back as she walked ahead, he saw a glimpse of her younger self. It must be a memory from the day they first met.

Unlike back then, when they were forced to guide and be guided by each other due to being the same age, now both of them voluntarily treat each other with respect.

“You have a reliable guide.”

“Don’t fall for me just yet.”

In response to his playful remark, Aneta retorted teasingly, and they both laughed.

Stopping in front of a corridor lined with paintings, Aneta said, “Here we are.”

As Serce stopped in his tracks, he lost his words for a moment while looking at the endless corridor, feeling excited by the priceless spectacle before him.

“Aneta, I think we need to get to know each other better, and I’d like to be able to come and go as I please in your mansion,” he said with sincere words, seemingly entranced by something as he approached a painting.

Instead of responding, Aneta stepped back so as to not disturb him.

Such behavior from Serce was quite familiar to her. Perhaps if Erez hadn’t targeted Aneta at the reception, she would have shown a similar reaction just by looking at his necklace.

With arms crossed, Aneta watched him as he immersed himself in the artwork. Seeing his contemplative gaze, it seemed better to leave him alone to enjoy it fully.

In between strokes on the paintings lining the corridor, the passion of the artists was vividly infused, making it an enchanting sight to behold.

His gaze, sharp and focused on his contemplation, left nothing to be desired. His dark eyes moved around restlessly.

It was some time after Serce finished his contemplation that Aneta, who had patiently waited, led him back to the reception room.

Whether Serce sat there absentmindedly or not, Aneta, seated across from him, called for a servant to bring tea.

He snapped out of his daze when a colorful and dazzling tea tray was placed in front of them along with tea.

As Serce pondered over the numerous varieties before him, unsure where to start, he suddenly mentioned something that came to mind.

“Oh, what happened with the acquisition of the gallery shares?”

“I bought them for a slightly higher price than the market value.”

Aneta replied as she savored the aroma of the tea in her cup.

“It was a bit of a surprise. I thought Lord Bennet would demand an absurd amount of money as if calling the shots.”

Although he said that, Serce knew why Lord Bennet didn’t make excessive demands.

Lord Bennet must have been afraid of the consequences after pocketing the money. Therefore, he couldn’t afford any frivolous actions.

“He would have if it weren’t for you.”

Coincidentally, Serce agreed with her.

“Anyway, by now, all the procedures should be completed.”

The gallery was now completely in Madam Lefevre’s possession. Aneta was delighted with that fact.

She still didn’t think it was an excessive gift. Even if it wasn’t planned, such spending wouldn’t even dent Adenauer’s finances.

“What about the newspaper issue?”

“I sent a messenger to Hermione to complain.”

“That reporter, Jaime, seems to have caught the attention of the higher-ups completely. He won’t even dream of a promotion.”

“I heard he was immediately fired. It’s not the first time he caused trouble, and they’ve been discussing his treatment, and now that they had a reason, they promptly kicked him out.”

Thanks to that, Rita’s journalist mentor also changed. Aneta, who considered it a good thing, pursed her dry lips with a somewhat cool attitude.

After that, the conversation between the two continued in a similar atmosphere as before.

Serce finished preparing to leave as the sun began to set.

He straightened his clothes and looked back at Aneta, who came out to see him off as he climbed into the carriage.

“If you don’t mind, I hope we can have more time like this in the future.”

“Why? Because of the paintings?”

Aneta tilted her head in surprise at his indirectly raised question. The fading sunset cast shadows on her face.

“Well, to some extent.”

“It sounds like there’s another reason.”

“Well…”

He didn’t flinch when she sent him a questioning glance at his vague answer. Seemingly having no intention to speak, he shrugged his shoulders and got on the carriage.

“Thanks for today; it was enjoyable.”

***

“I heard the Lord Raphaeli spent a pleasant time at Adenauer Marquis’s estate today.”

Carlos, who was busy assisting Russell with paperwork, was startled by the unexpected news.

A surge of jealousy stabbed him in the chest.

Russell felt sorry for Carlos, who froze without even lifting his head.

It was the same for Aneta. Many envied her for what she had, but Russell saw it differently.

Her outward composure masked an inner self that was as dry and desolate as drought-ridden land.

Could money truly fill that emptiness?

It was an absurd thought.

She was gifted with talent and possessed a vast fortune, but she was intertwined with all sorts of pain. Therefore, she had no room to accommodate the emotions of others.

“It wasn’t sarcastic; it was the truth.”

Russell silently observed Carlos, lost in his thoughts. How did he end up falling in love with her? As he pondered the question, a bitter laugh escaped his lips.

Carlos was consistently mesmerized by Aneta’s confident yet delicate manner. It was doubly unexpected that things turned out this way.

“My brother, of all people, is falling behind a rival.”

Observing Serce’s unilateral change in attitude, Russell finally labeled him as a competitor today.

“I’ll make sure you have some time alone soon.”

Russell spoke as if it were his duty to help.

Carlos looked at him expectantly but was also worried.

“If it’s something that would make Aneta uncomfortable, I’ll decline.”

“Just don’t worry about such concerns. Just give her time to breathe while I take care of things.”

He figured he would have less time to deal with Viscount Folter’s punishment soon enough; he thought it would be fine.

***

“My Lady, are you going to wear these clothes?”

The maids’ faces were filled with concern as they looked at the clothes, which seemed more suited for commoners. They hesitated to touch them, wondering if it was appropriate to dress their mistress in such attire.

“There’s no reason not to wear it. Besides, even if you dislike it, there’s no choice. It’s an order from His Majesty.”

Aneta received an order from Russell to visit the commoner’s district instead of going to the palace. The outfit she received along with it made the maids hesitant.

She picked up the plain dress without any decorations or patterns. At least the fabric seemed decent.

“This should make me look reasonably well-off, even among commoners.”

Feeling the texture with her fingertips, Aneta began to undress, declining the help of the maids who came up behind her.

The design was simple enough that she could put it on with her eyes closed, so she didn’t need anyone’s help.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“If anything happens, I’ll be…”

“Why did His Majesty order you to visit the commoner’s district?”

Even after changing into the outfit, the maids’ concerns did not seem to diminish. When their blameful gazes turned towards Russell, Isabel, who had been silent until then, stepped forward.

“That’s because Her Lady is the head of the Health and Welfare Ministry, so refrain from hasty remarks.”

As the saying goes, clear water at the top ensures clear water below.

Russell wanted those higher up to see and experience more than those at the bottom. This was why he had Aneta, the minister, take on the task.

He had no regrets. Real change could only be brought about by those in power, not the powerless at the bottom.

“His Majesty has arranged for a guide and escort to accompany you, so you don’t need to worry.”

Isabel gently reassured the maids. However, contrary to her words, she approached Aneta and handed her something.

“But, My Lady, just in case, I think it would be wise to take this with you.”

Aneta looked down at what Isabel had handed her. Wrapped in a pouch was the self-defense bead she had carried during her travels.

It had cost her a fortune for its size, and when the button inside was pressed, it delivered an electric shock.

Aneta looked at it with a complicated expression before placing it in one of her pockets. She wondered if she needed to take it, but she knew that refusing would only reignite the maids’ worries.

“My Lady, the carriage has arrived.”

As the coachman’s voice echoed from outside the door, Aneta quickly finished the rest of her preparations and headed out.

Following Russell’s instructions to send a discreet carriage, the carriage standing in front of the mansion was easily visible from the street.

Not knowing where it was obtained, Aneta examined the carriage with a sense of unfamiliarity when suddenly the closed door opened.

Seeing a familiar figure revealed through it, Aneta spoke up.

“Carlos, why are you here?”

He dressed not much differently from her in ordinary clothes, she replied.

“I’ve been assigned to be your escort today.”

She hadn’t been told who her escort would be, which made her think it was still undecided. But it seemed that it had been decided from the beginning.

“What about those piles of documents?”

“Vernon is taking care of them.”

Aneta smirked at the mention of his cousin’s name.

“It smells like someone’s got a taste of power.”

“Indeed.”

“I didn’t think you’d be so bold, though.”

“Because I don’t want to lie to you.”

He just showed up and said what was there. Carlos said so, extending his hand toward her.

“Shall we go, My Lady?”