His body trembled with disgust while Harry, who had been silently listening to his discomfort, suddenly blurted out something unexpected.

“The cotton shop district in the West End. You mentioned before that you wanted it.”

“You remember the strangest things. The old folks don’t understand, but that place is positioned to rake in money. Anyone with a nose for profit would covet it.”

“Think of social gatherings as business opportunities and try to build some connections. There’s even a member of parliament at today’s party who’s promoting development in the shop district area.”

“What are you talking about? You build connections. It has nothing to do with me.”

“Well, I’m thinking of transferring the entire shop district to you.”

“What?”

At this sudden statement, Noah sprang up from the sofa where he had been lying on his side.

The West End was an area directly adjacent to the center of social life and the concentrated upper-class district, and the cotton shop district Harry mentioned was a prime money-maker with his funds growing in real time. 

Moreover, it was a place that received goods at near-cost from the large textile factory operated by the Townsend family. 

Thanks to this, this shopping district had no business risk, and the value of the land itself was enormous. Merely owning it was equivalent to a check guaranteeing a rosy future.

For Harry to offer this, Noah worried about his friend’s mental state for the first time in his life.

“Are you in your right mind, Harry? Go get your brain examined.”

“I’m serious. I also have a favor to ask.”

That made more sense. There was no way Harry would give him the West End cotton shop district without conditions. Noah shrugged and approached Harry, who was quietly staring out the window.

Same height, same blonde hair color, same gray eyes. They looked so eerily similar that people meeting them for the first time naturally assumed they were brothers. 

But acquaintances easily distinguished between them because Harry’s eyes drooped downward, giving him a softer appearance, while Noah had sharp eyes. Other differences included Harry’s slightly more sturdy jaw and Noah being more muscular.

Perhaps because they resembled each other like brothers despite not sharing blood, they despised each other terribly when they were young, but over time, they came to trust each other like real siblings.

“What is it? It must be quite the favor if you’re willing to stake that.”

“Lily.”

“What about her? Has she finally decided to divorce you?”

If so, that would be good news. Noah chuckled. The Townsend family and the Berkshire family had a history of conflict going back generations. Noah knew that Harry had been strictly taught from childhood never to associate with the Berkshires.

But ironically, when their wealth became overwhelmingly powerful through the Industrial Revolution, the Townsends were the first to arrange a marriage between their eldest son and the eldest daughter of the Berkshire family. 

The Berkshires, who were planning a railway line crossing the Townsends’ territory, also welcomed this. It was an amusing combination.

Though it was an extremely simplistic solution, the reconciliation between the two powerful families worked better than expected. 

With the business acumen of both families, they extracted substantial government subsidies and now flourished to the point of forming two major pillars of the national economy. 

Well, the relationship between this couple that started it all seemed terribly poor.

“Read this. It’s from the Berkshires.”

[Dear… Lily, the eldest daughter of the Berkshire family, is a physically healthy mature woman… the failure to produce an heir is clearly our mistake… within 3 years after the marriage…]

Noah’s face contorted as he stumbled through the letter, which was written in aristocratic etiquette with flowery language at the beginning and end.

“What? So, the Berkshires are saying they’ll take Lily back to their family if she doesn’t get pregnant within the next half year?”

Harry nodded without any expression.

“They wrote that they’ll take her back out of apology, but it’s just a pretty excuse in the end.”

“You’ve always been quick to catch on.”

“But what’s the problem? Just send her back. That’s good, isn’t it? Your relationship is terrible anyway.”

“No. You know divorce is considered the most dishonorable taboo in our family.”

“That’s true, but in this situation, why are you still going on about family, of all things?”

Noah frowned but didn’t argue further. He vaguely knew that the numerous lessons and training Harry had received since childhood to preserve and prosper the Townsend family were far from ordinary.

Harry had lived a harsh life in the Townsend household, which had an atmosphere 180 degrees different from Noah’s Hamilton family, who traded with America and were relatively free-spirited. 

Moreover, with his nearly obsessive-compulsive temperament, a blemish like divorce would be absolutely intolerable. Poor Harry.

“If you won’t divorce, then treat Lily better. Buy her some spectacular jewelry and flowers today. Whisper that you love her and rock the bed all night. What’s so difficult about that?”

Isn’t this the best solution? Noah thought Harry was foolish for agonizing over such a simple remedy, when a low, sunken voice pierced his ears.

“Pregnancy is impossible.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t have reproductive capabilities. It was damaged when I was about ten years old.”

The matter-of-fact statement from Harry shocked Noah greatly. He was so surprised that his voice trembled like a baby goat.

“So you’ve been like that since you were ten? Damn it! That’s terrible!”

What kind of education and punishment did the Townsend family employ to drive someone to infertility? Noah was stunned speechless.

“Do you… f*ck, can you at least get it up?”

In contrast to Noah, who was pacing around the window area not knowing what to do, Harry didn’t move even a strand of hair. Having dropped such a shocking revelation, Harry ignored Noah’s question and continued in an indifferent voice with a shocking request.

“So, this job. You’ll have to do it for me.”

“Me? What job are you asking me to do?”

“You and I look very similar. Enough for seed theft to be possible.”

Noah quickly caught his meaning.

“What? F*ck, you crazy bastard… Have you lost your mind?”

“You give your seed to Lily, and I give you the West End cotton shop district. That way, we both get what we want. Isn’t it a fair trade?”

* * *

Talk about bad luck. The club in Knightsbridge that Noah frequently visited was closed today due to the owner’s unknown circumstances. 

He wanted to go to another establishment, but it was difficult to find clubs or pubs open at such an early hour besides that one. 

Nevertheless, feeling like he needed alcohol immediately to survive, Noah wandered around for a while and finally discovered a shabby pub open in an alley several blocks away.

“Beer and whatever else you think is appropriate. Give me a quiet spot.”

The bearded owner sized Noah up. From his appearance and attire, he was obviously an upper-class good-for-nothing. His slim frock coat made of expensive material with luxurious decorations was not properly buttoned, and his cravat was disheveled.

The owner would politely turn away prim and proper upper-class patrons, but in his experience, these wastrels surprisingly didn’t cause trouble. They paid cleanly and often left generous tips.

“Sit here, sir!”

The bearded man guided Noah to the best seat in the center, served him a suitable ale and fish and chips, then disappeared.

“A cigarette…”

He desperately wanted a cigar. Fumbling in his jacket’s inner pocket, Noah realized he had left his cigars behind and tore at his hair.

“Mister. Looking for a smoke?”

“Oh, heavens! You’re a savior.”

When the one-eyed man at the next table offered a cigar, Noah brightened and quickly accepted it, lighting it up. In return for the kindness, he pushed over his plate of fish and chips, to which the man repeatedly bowed.

“Phew…”