“With you? How would a deal with you be different from a deal with the Arcel family?” 

“Because I’m proposing this as Ciela, not as part of the Arcel family. That makes it very different.” 

Count Blanchett raised an eyebrow and folded his hands. Even if what she said about being mistreated by her family was true, as a direct member of the Arcel family, her words sounded like sophistry to him. Just as he let out a weak nasal breath and seemed ready to refuse, Ciela spoke. 

“Do not worry. The Arcel Marquisate will never benefit from this.” 

At her strangely firm and determined words, Count Blanchett tapped his thumb against his other hand, thought again and finally nodded in agreement. 

“Very well. I’ll grant you access to the craftsmen under Blanchett. However, I don’t see this as a reward for telling the truth. Is there anything else you want?” 

“There is something I wanted to mention when we drew up the contract. I want the craftsmen to be those with experience in refining mana stones.” 

The process of extracting the latent magic from luminescent stones was not much different from refining mana stones. Only two specific steps were added, and the latent magic could be used in a variety of ways. 

‘However, the process of refining mana stones is notoriously complex.’

Therefore, craftsmen with extensive experience in refining mana stones were essential. 

“A craftsman with experience in refining mana stones?” 

“Yes.” 

Count Blanchett’s eyes widened in surprise. 

“Could it be that you’ve discovered a mana stone mine?” 

Although a new mana stone deposit had recently been discovered, the scarcity of mana stone deposits within the Empire remained a significant problem. 

“No, the mineral I intend to refine is something else.” 

“Hmm. May I ask what kind of mineral it is?” 

‘Then why would she need craftsmen experienced in refining mana stones?’

Narrowing his eyes, he watched Ciela carefully. As someone who had gone through countless experiences, he trusted his instincts. Ciela’s calm smile seemed genuine, but there was a strange “smell of money” about her, as if she were on the verge of something profitable. 

“I plan to refine luminescent stones.” 

‘Has my intuition finally failed me?’ 

Frowning, he asked cautiously, holding on to a glimmer of hope. 

“Have you ever refined one before?” 

“Not even once.” 

Even though she knew how, Ciela swallowed the rest of her words and smiled calmly amidst the shocked looks directed at her. 

“I heard someone has been buying up all the luminescent stone mines in the realm lately…” 

“That would be me.” 

“Ha… I can’t believe it.” 

Count Blanchett groaned and covered his head with his hand, which glistened in the chandelier light. 

“Do you really think you’ll be able to refine luminescent stones?” 

Since the discovery of the Luminescent Stones, countless people have attempted to refine them, but all efforts have failed. In the end, they were simply called ‘Luminescent Stones’ because they glowed in the presence of mana. 

“How about changing your request to something else while there’s still time? Stop buying Luminescent Stones – or rather, there may not be any left to buy at this point – so perhaps you should find a way to sell them off.”

He offered his advice sincerely, with genuine concern, but Ciela’s expression didn’t change. Instead, she turned the tables and made a suggestion. 

“Luminous stones can be refined, just like mana stones. If you don’t believe me, would you like to make a bet?” 

Straightening her posture, she continued to speak.   

“If I fail to refine the Luminescent Stones to harness their latent magic, I will increase the amount I pay you each month by 10%. On the other hand, if I succeed, you will have to reduce the fees for distributing the mana stones through the Blanchett family’s trading network by half.” 

“Ha! Very well. If Luminous Stones can truly become like Mana Stones, it will benefit us as well.” 

As Count Blanchett unclasped his clasped hands, a faint glimmer flashed in Ciela’s eyes. 

“Good. Then let’s draw up the contract right away.” 

* * * 

After finishing the contract, Ciela and Rune left the Blanchett estate. While Rune secretly glanced at Ciela, who looked out of the carriage, he thought about how to pass on the information about the Luminescent Stone Mines to Calix. 

“Are you worried because I bought up all the luminescent stone mines?” 

Feeling his gaze, Ciela turned to Rune, who was sitting across from her. Her playful smile deepened when she saw his eyes twitching, obviously unsettled by her hitting the mark. 

“The only thing you should be worried about, Rune, is the fact that the value of the mana stone mines I agreed to hand over to Calix might decrease.” 

“Yes. I trust that’s the case.” 

Despite his words, Rune looked far from convinced. Watching him, Ciela leaned back against the carriage. 

“That’s because I know how to refine luminescent stones.” 

“What? Is that true?” 

“I don’t do things that cause loss.” 

A meaningful gleam flickered briefly between her half-closed blue eyes before disappearing just as quickly. 

Only then did Rune adjust his glasses and relax his shoulders. 

‘The count always had a habit of making big bets when he thought he had a winning hand.’ 

Rune realised that everything Ciela had done had been deliberate – from bringing up the bet, to discussing the trading network, to skilfully withholding certain truths without resorting to lies. 

“But why the trading network of the Blanchett family? Once it becomes known that there is a resource that can replace mana stones, I’m sure other trading networks will line up to work with you.” 

“Ah, that’s because…” 

Ciela brushed the hair that had fallen over her shoulder behind her ear and parted her lips to speak. 

“As someone who maintains an outwardly friendly attitude towards the Arcel family, I can’t openly take the lead in the Luminous Stone business.” 

She needed someone who, unlike her, could take the lead in the glowing stone business. Knowing the truth, the Blanchett family, with their uniquely strong family ties, seemed the perfect candidate to willingly take on the role. 

‘In this way, the Marquis d’Arcel will surely be driven to frustration.’ 

Remembering the Count, whose anger had flared to a fever pitch, Ciela turned her gaze to the window. 

“A rather entertaining picture is beginning to take shape.”

Rune found himself watching her with renewed interest. 

His master had been forced to distance himself from women by his uncle Dennis, and having become a duke at a young age, he was always busy moving forward. The one who first made him pause was the first woman he ever loved. His feelings for Ciela were born at that moment.

But… 

If the future lady really becomes the Duchess of Icarus… 

The thought alone made Rune’s heart beat faster and his throat tightened as he swallowed hard. 

‘I hope his master will try a little harder.’ 

This was exactly the time to make use of his extraordinarily handsome face. Rune thought of His Lord turning into a cat and sneaking into places where only family heads were allowed, when… 

“By the way, is Calix very busy?” 

“Pardon?” 

Rune, startled by the unexpected question, answered reflexively and looked at her with wide eyes. 

“Last time and this time he said something urgent had come up, so I was wondering what kind of work is keeping him so busy.” 

The original plan was to stop at Calix and the Blanchett estate before spending some time outside. However, when the carriage arrived at the Arcel estate, only Rune was present, and the only message was that there were “urgent matters” to attend to. 

“There are indeed many unexpected matters he has to deal with.”

“He seems very busy.”

She continued to act as if she trusted him, but wasn’t the excuse a little too insincere and half-hearted? 

Up until the day before the meeting, everything seemed fine. But on the day itself, there always seemed to be a ‘sudden’ problem. And it was always a problem that the head of the family had to deal with personally. No matter how hard they tried to keep things quiet internally, if this kept happening, something was bound to leak out. 

‘But so far, nothing had leaked out.’ 

The doubts she had suppressed resurfaced, swirling in her mind once more. 

‘What could be the real reason he couldn’t come?’ 

Ciela glanced at Rune, whose shoulders were visibly tense and stiff, before she leaned her elbow against the window frame of the carriage and rested her chin on her hand. 

Suddenly she remembered the hunt. 

The cat that looked like Titi. The scratches on Calix, in the same places where the cat had been injured. Calix coming from the direction of the cave. And the scent of sunlight on him. 

The overlapping circumstances were too numerous to be dismissed as mere coincidence. 

‘If this cat is Titi and Calix is… Calix is…’ 

Unable to finish the thought, Ciela bit her tongue hard. 

‘That’s impossible.’ 

Logically, it made no sense. 

‘No matter how advanced magic was, it was not possible for a human to turn into a cat.’ 

The known limits of magic only extended to illusions that could make someone appear that way. 

Ciela took a deep breath, filling her lungs to the brim. When she stepped back and thought rationally, she felt ashamed of herself. 

‘I know it’s impossible, and yet here I am, caught in such an absurd leap of logic.’ 

Why had her mind gone so far? Rubbing her face dry in frustration, she suddenly froze, holding her breath. 

‘As she wondered why Calix suddenly couldn’t come…’ 

Her face, where her palm had rested, began to itch. She exhaled deliberately and shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. Silencing the noise in her head, she looked out the window and noticed that they had entered a busy part of the city. 

“You can drop me off here.” 

Now that she had secured the craftsmen, there was a lot of work to be done. Rather than waste time at the Arcel estate, it was better to get started and finish as soon as possible. 

After briefly watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Ciela turned and headed off to meet Ken. 

* * * 

A streak of red blood trickled from her nose, pooling at the tip of her chin before dripping onto the pristine white paper below. 

“Ah, a nosebleed…” 

“Meow?” 

Titi, who had been purring contentedly in the sunlight, immediately approached Ciela with a single stride. 

“It’s alright, it’s alright.”

She reassured her, dabbing at the blood with a handkerchief and holding her nose. 

She couldn’t remember having a nosebleed like that since she’d eaten the fairy apple. 

‘Well, I’ve been busy with my schedule.’

A false identity was used to complete the business registration process and to solve the problem of hiring staff. The method for refining luminescent stones was also shared with the artisans after they signed confidentiality agreements. In addition to the many other matters that needed attention, she sacrificed sleep to review documents and continued to interact with the young ladies in between her busy schedule.    

‘No wonder I get nosebleeds.’

She let out a self-deprecating laugh and put down her pen. 

Since the remaining tasks could be left to Zion, she considered taking a break and glanced at the clock. 

‘I guess I won’t be resting after all.’

As Ciela exhaled deeply and tried to stand up, she felt a heavy weight settle on her lap. 

“Meow!” 

As if to say rest! Titi looked up at her with a fixed gaze. 

“Nooo… Nuna has to go out right now, so I don’t think I can.”

“Meow?” 

“Still not going to rest?”

Titi tilted her head to the side and gave her big, twinkling eyes like Puss in Boots. 

‘Ha, I really have to go…’ 

“Meow.”

Drips. 

Despite holding her nose, blood was dripping from both nostrils. 

Once Titi’s nosebleed had calmed down, she managed to get into the carriage and set off. 

‘Titi was particularly sweet today.’ 

The thought of comparing someone as lovely as Titi to Calix almost made her apologise to the cat. 

‘Still, the look Titi gave me before I left was a little unsettling. I hope nothing’s wrong.’ 

She had never caused any trouble before, so everything should be fine. With that vague thought, she got out of the carriage and was about to enter a quaint little café on a quiet street when a shopkeeper stopped her. 

“I’m sorry, but we’re not open today. We’d be grateful if you could visit us another time.” 

“I heard that there’s a meeting of noblewomen here today. Is that not the case?” 

“Oh, that’s right. Let me show you inside.” 

Following the servant inside, she saw a woman sitting gracefully by a sunlit window. The woman, with milk-brown hair braided and bound, seemed to sense someone’s presence and turned her head. 

“It is a pleasure to meet you. Are you Miss Grace, the founder of the Cat Lovers’ Club?” 

As Ciela greeted her first, the woman’s blue eyes trembled slightly. 

“That voice… Could it be, my lady…?”