That aside. Actually, the final destination of this trip was Varsen, where you are. But we might arrive even earlier. Why, you ask?

Because of Lucia, who’s shattering my peace.

In the morning, she shed tears looking at the sea,

At lunch, she got angry at that sea,

In the evening, she praised that sea-colored dress again.

Three times a day, she reconciles with the sea, loves it, and breaks up with it.

At this rate, the cruise schedule will speed up according to her whims.

(I’m warning you in advance, this is absolutely not my fault.)

My patience enduring this journey Lucia planned is practically on par with a saint’s. Of course, it’s a short patience fueled by contemplation enjoyed under the sunshine and wine.

I’ve been lying on the deck thinking quietly for the past four days. I’m really not cut out to be a businessman. I should have been born and raised in a philosopher’s or artist’s family. Doesn’t it suit me strangely well?

So do you know what my conclusion after three days is? There are two types of people in the world.

People who turn and manipulate the world, and people who leisurely lie beside them, cross their legs, and recite poetry.

Thankfully, since you’re the first type, I can live enjoying being the second.

Our brotherhood has achieved a remarkable balance. Isn’t it truly beautiful?

Well, if you’ve read this far, it means you’ve exercised patience for once. I can clearly picture the number of wrinkles that will be etched on your brow.

Since we can’t leave such marks on my accomplished younger brother’s handsome face, this older brother will stop writing here today.

Always your counterbalance, and sometimes possessing surprisingly deep insight,

—Rainer de Belliche

Kailen put the folded letter from Rainer in the bottom drawer and stood up, picking up the paper envelope Adeline had sent.

He headed to the washstand partitioned behind the wardrobe in the back of the office while unfastening his cufflinks.

When he twisted the brass faucet, lukewarm water flowed down like a thin thread. After taking off his vest and rolling up his shirt sleeves, he swept his face with his palm.

Wet strands of hair loosely stuck to his forehead then fell away, and water droplets flowed down his attractively smooth bridge of his nose, hung from his chin tip, then dropped.

Collen, who’d been standing in place the entire time Kailen read the letter, approached and held out a clean towel as Kailen roughly shook off moisture with his fingertips.

“Take it.”

Kailen, who accepted the towel and wiped the moisture from his face, unbuttoned his wet shirt one by one. His voice came out calm and even, matching his leisurely movements.

“It seems Mother will arrive in Varsen soon.”

As a subtle crimson light illuminated Kailen’s upper body after he took off his shirt and tossed it onto the side table, the curves of his straight neckline, extended shoulders, and firm chest muscles were fully revealed.

When he turned his body slightly and swept the towel over the nape of his neck, a palm-sized burn scar near his shoulder blades was revealed. The distorted skin tissue on his sculpted back muscles left a strangely discordant impression.

“Did you receive any word?”

His perfectly fitted abs, which made even small movements like straightening his body look dynamic, were beautiful enough to draw admiration even from Collen, a man himself. Looking at his natural physique suddenly made the world feel unfair.

Collen quickly answered the question while inwardly admiring the same man’s body anew.

“No. There’s been no separate contact from the headquarters representative’s side at all.”

Collen had spent a full ten years or so by Kailen’s side. He’d attended the same university with Belliche’s sponsorship and followed him even after joining the company post-graduation.

“Really?”

Recently, aside from about an hour of brief exercise at dawn, Kailen clearly spent most of his day in front of a desk or devoted himself day and night only to dealing with people, just like himself. 

Yet his incredibly solid body, no matter how naturally gifted, resembled a military officer trained over many years.

“Since it’s news from Rainer, it’ll probably be soon.”

Collen, who gathered the shirt Kailen had tossed aside, quietly exhaled.

Well, is that handsome appearance the only thing he was born with? At this point, I’m not even envious.

These days, there were many who openly chattered that individual ability and effort took priority over noble bloodlines. There were also those who cried out for a new revolution, saying discrimination based on birth was a tilted scale and harmful to society’s development.

And Collen himself had been someone who nodded at their ideology. But looking at the man before him now, he couldn’t tell whether it was the world that was tilted or the human being called Kailen himself.

“Anyway, prepare things so they’re not too noisy.”

“Understood. And there was contact from Morten’s side.”

Kailen, who rummaged through the paper envelope Adeline sent while half-n*ked and pulled out a shirt, looked at Collen while threading his arms through the sleeves.

“Lumen’s leadership is strongly insisting on meeting ‘L’ in person, so Mr. Morten says it’s hard to refuse anymore either. Since they’re facing a big task, is this a matter of trust?”

“Well, it is about time to make an appearance. It’s what I expected. That’s why I’ve been backing Raphael Morten all this time, to use him now.”

Kailen had been supporting Lumen’s activity funds under the name ‘L’ all along. 

However, though Lumen being able to inflate their power like this was also thanks to Kailen behind the name ‘L’, now they were making a fuss about trust and solidarity without knowing their place, demanding that side reveal ‘L’s’ true identity.

“Make them anxious a couple more times appropriately, then step forward as planned. Tell them to request anytime if they need support.”

“Understood.”

Kailen’s gaze, while fastening buttons, reached the paper envelope left alone on the side table.

It contained various desserts. There was also something neatly wrapped in paper, and judging by its shape, it seemed to be sandwiches.

Looking at that useless thing Adeline had sent, Kailen muttered.

“…She must have a leisurely life.”

Thud, thunk, clunk.

Collen’s eyes widened as he watched objects pouring into the trash can for scrap paper next to the side table. Kailen’s hand had no hesitation as he dumped the contents of the paper envelope into the trash.

“…”

Famous bakery cake slices that required standing in line for over two hours before the department store on Libello Street opened tumbled out of their prettily packaged boxes and got crushed, then sliced ham, cucumber, and bread napkins covered them in turn.

Collen unconsciously shook his head.

The sandwiches that the madam had clearly made with her own hands and care—fine, he could understand that.

But those expensive things… No, if he was going to do that, he should’ve at least let me dispose of them. When I asked if I should remove it, he answered to leave it, but what’s the point of shoving it in the trash like that?

What did the food do wrong? Those expensive things. What a waste.

Separate from the fact that he still hadn’t abandoned the mindset from those days of going hungry, Collen didn’t like Kailen’s temperament. 

It was a twisted temperament that was truly hard to understand even after watching him for so long. Well, it wasn’t just that temperament he didn’t understand. Everything about his behavior lately was actually disagreeable.

Work is important, but please take care of your body sometimes too.

Collen’s eyes scanned Adeline’s note occupying the top spot in the trash can, and he recalled her beauty, which had been unparalleled since their academy days to the point of being ominous.

“…”

Kailen showed excessive reactions to problems related to her both then and now.

Even twisted affection is still affection.

Though he himself would never admit it and deny it, Collen had eyes to see too.

Collen slowly opened his mouth. He thought he should convey what needed to be said not as a subordinate aide, but as an old friend and as a comrade with the same goal.

“It’s unexpected. I thought you’d handle that woman more usefully. Like you’ve done until now.”

One corner of Kailen’s mouth rose lightly, having grasped Collen’s intention.

“You think so?”

Collen shrugged lightly, saying he knew well how foolish those blinded by love could become, and that he’d expected that from him.

“You even married her. Since it’s come to this anyway, if you just coax her well, she might bring you something useful.”

“Oh, you’re pricing her generously?”

But from Kailen’s standpoint, she wasn’t a woman worth paying that much attention to use. She was just a side branch.

Kailen, who responded indifferently while adjusting his clothes, still had an absurd expression. Then at Collen’s one remark, he wiped all expression from his face.

“…Having her by your side hasn’t changed your feelings, has it?”