In the Place where the Golden Rose Was Broken - Chapter 2
“More importantly, what’s the next schedule?”
“It’s Baron Theron.”
“Finally time to meet that leech.”
Roches habitually shook his head at the choice of words he couldn’t quite defend, despite Arcturus being his benefactor’s grandson, a close friend, and his boss.
Of course, Arcturus had his reasons for referring to him as a ‘leech’. First, Baron Theron had never been officially associated with Arcturus. Looking at his business direction, there would likely be no connection with Arcturus even in the future.
Yet, he had been persistently requesting a meeting with Arcturus for a whole month.
Baron Theron couldn’t sit still for a moment. The sight of the large-bodied man fidgeting his thighs, biting his nails, and glancing at the door wasn’t very pleasant to see.
Of course, Baron Theron wasn’t this restless without reason.
This was a meeting with Arcturus Cloen that had finally been arranged after months of effort.
Due to their different business fields, Arcturus and Baron Theron had no points of contact where they might run into each other.
More accurately, it would be correct to say that Arcturus was completely uninterested in the art business run by the Theron family.
To persuade someone like him…
Baron Theron had gone over the words he had prepared in his mind dozens of times.
That’s when it happened.
Without warning, the tall door that reached the ceiling opened, and someone entered.
“D-Duke Cloen!”
Baron Theron jumped up from his seat. His posture was like that of a soldier standing at full attention.
Arcturus Cloen, who entered with his secretary, looked a bit disheveled, unlike his usual neat appearance. His hair, usually slicked back with pomade, was messed up.
“Y-you must have been outside for a long time!”
Baron Theron smiled, trying to keep the conversation flowing smoothly. Although it was still early autumn, the weather was unpleasant with lukewarm gusts of wind. If he had been outside for a long time for weapon testing, it was somewhat understandable that his hair had been messed up by the wind.
“Well…”
The guest who had been waiting for a long time opened the conversation like this, so he should have given some kind of response.
Arcturus Cloen said nothing.
He glanced at Baron Theron with an indifferent gaze, then lightly perched on the edge of the office desk. It was a rude attitude, like he was dealing with a subordinate, but he didn’t even seem to try to hide his rudeness.
In many ways, the person in need had no choice but to give in. Putting aside immediate needs, there was nothing good about being on Arcturus Cloen’s bad side in this country.
Baron Theron decided to swallow his slight humiliation.
“I, I’m grateful that you agreed to meet me.”
“29 days.”
Arcturus Cloen spoke only after hearing his servile words of gratitude.
But the words that came out of the man’s mouth as he took out a cigarette from his pocket were a mystery to Baron Theron.
“Pardon…?”
“It’s been 29 days since the Baron persistently requested a meeting.”
“Ah, haha… I see.”
“At this point, I’m curious too. I wonder just how important this matter is.”
His red lips curved into a smile, creating dimples in his cheeks. It was a smile full of mischief like a boy’s, but the Baron could tell that he wasn’t really playing around with him.
Arcturus Cloen was still perched on the desk, looking down at Baron Theron, without inviting him to sit comfortably or offering a handshake.
The arrogant man blew smoke while holding the cigarette between fingers calloused at every joint. He said nothing, but Baron Theron felt Arcturus Cloen’s eyes, staring at him through the hazy cigarette smoke, seemed to be urging him to answer.
“I know you’re focused solely on the arms industry… but I’ve heard that you’re planning to slowly expand your business in various directions. Especially since I know your maternal grandfather has a great interest in the arts…”
“So…”
Interrupting Baron Theron’s words in a leisurely voice, Arcturus took a deep drag of his cigarette and briefly lowered his eyes as if in thought.
His attitude was too relaxed, while simultaneously showing no curiosity about what the other person might say next. As though the person he needed to reject didn’t even exist before him.
“You mean you want me to collaborate on the art business you’re promoting, Baron.”
In fact, it wasn’t that he hadn’t expected the Baron to say something like this.
Given that both his paternal and maternal families had made great contributions to the war and had close ties with the royal family, the Cloen ducal family name alone would have sufficient influence even in completely different business fields.
Moreover, Arcturus Cloen was the only direct descendant of his prestigious paternal and maternal families, and a living war hero himself. As such, many people wanted to join hands with Arcturus Cloen in business.
But this was the first time someone had been so persistent in requesting a meeting, so he had thought this time might be a bit more novel.
“It’s true that my grandfather has a deep interest and knowledge in the arts.”
Arcturus, barely containing his boredom, feigned a bit of politeness and delivered his prepared rejection.
“But my grandfather is currently in poor health and has stepped away from business, and I’m now leading the company and the family.”
“…Duke.”
“And as you well know, Baron, I have no interest in the arts.”
“B-but I heard that you once had a deep interest in the arts, Duke.”
“There was such a time, but not anymore.”
Arcturus didn’t spare Baron Theron even a glance. He stared meaninglessly at the gray, burning end of his cigarette while exhaling smoke.
It was time to end this tedious conversation.
“I’ve said all I have to say. You may leave.”
Although Baron Theron hadn’t left yet, Arcturus sat down in the chair in front of his desk and began looking at documents as if he had already left.
Baron Theron clenched his fists as he looked at Arcturus Cloen. Like he said, he had been persistently requesting a meeting for quite a long time. After being so persistent to finally secure this meeting…
If he left like this, there would never be another chance.
“Duke Cloen.”
When Baron Theron called out to him in a voice barely suppressing his humiliation, Arcturus Cloen shifted his gaze from the documents to him. His eyes held an indifference, seemingly wondering why he was still here. Arcturus leaned back in his chair and silently waited for Baron Theron’s next words.
He took something out from his pocket and approached right in front of Arcturus’s desk.
“There’s going to be a performance by the Swan Ballet Company that I’ve acquired.”
What he held out was a ticket for the ballet company’s performance.
“Please come to see the performance just once. After seeing the performance, your thoughts will change.”
“I commend your persistence to the point of tenacity, but what can I do? I’m going to be continuously busy…”
“Come like you’re having an outing with your grandfather. You can come with your lover too.”
It was indeed annoying, but Baron Theron’s persistence was praiseworthy. Arcturus looked at the ticket placed on the desk and then stared at Baron Theron’s face.
“Even if you don’t intend to invest in my business right away, at least after seeing the performance…”
“……”
“You’ll at least consider having a longer conversation with me.”
What to do about this…
Even if he went to see the performance, there was no chance his thoughts would change. It was also a great annoyance.
It was already commonplace for businessmen to keep dancers as mistresses under the guise of sponsorship.
Just by him watching the dancers’ performance, all sorts of sensational scandals were sure to arise. Although scandals wouldn’t impact his business, it was clearly a troublesome and annoying situation that he didn’t need to go through.
“You seem quite confident.”
“I have a good reason to be.”
For the first time since facing Arcturus, a smile full of confidence appeared on Baron Theron’s face, which had been tense throughout their encounter.
***
The waiting room for the dancers was not very bright except for the soft reddish lighting. This was also true for the special waiting room for the étoile, meaning the protagonist and top dancer of the stage.
Karen had her eyes closed quietly, entrusting her face to the makeup artist’s hands. Ironically, the only time Karen, who was never satisfied unless she performed even the smallest movements perfectly, could relax was right now, just before the performance.
“Karen is perfect today too.”
At the words of Tony, the étoile’s personal makeup artist, Karen looked at herself in the mirror with an awkward smile.
“Tony, everything’s good, but…”
Karen, who had been carefully examining her face, cautiously opened her mouth.
“Could you apply the eye makeup a bit darker?”
“Huh?”
“It seems too plain…”
Tony, who was holding the brush, widened his eyes with a strange expression. He had applied makeup to Karen’s face countless times, but this was the first time she had asked to be made prettier like this.
“Well, I never thought I’d see the day when you’d make the same request as the other girls.”
“…I’m sorry.”
