Chapter 16

However, she was not one to care about others’ expressions.  

The more she frowned, the more Diane’s lips curled upward into a smile.  

Sensing a sinister glint in Diane’s black eyes, she became tense.  

Finally, Diane spoke.  

“I heard you’re also working as a pharmacist?”  

“Yes, that’s right.”  

“Where is your pharmacy located?”  

“It’s in Yelchinga.”  

“The Yelchinga on the eastern outskirts of Conradin?”  

“Yes.”  

She nodded in response.  

Diane seemed to be lost in thought, stroking her chin.  

Suddenly, as if something had dawned on her, she widened her eyes and raised her voice.  

“If it’s Yelchinga… isn’t that where the information guild Basler is located?”  

Why is Basler being mentioned here?  

She stared intently at Diane, eyes narrowed.  

Even Duke Conver seemed surprised by the sudden mention of Basler, his gaze filled with interest as he looked at Diane.  

She answered calmly.  

“Yes, that’s right. You know well.”  

“It’s hard to find such a highly skilled information guild, after all. Hohoho.”  

Diane’s high-pitched laughter burst through her bright red lips.  

The unpleasant sound grated on her nerves.  

“I hear they have many capable secret informants. People who live with other jobs during the day and go out to gather information at night.”  

She looked at Diane steadily without responding.  

Judging by her demeanor, Diane seemed to know that she was a secret informant for Basler.  

‘How did she know? It wouldn’t be easy to find out unless she followed me 24/7…’  

She hadn’t realized Diane’s information network was that good.  

It didn’t seem like she was just pretending to know; there was certainty in her expression and tone.  

Gulp, she swallowed dryly.  

Mentioning sensitive information about the Lesper trading company at the cabin last time seemed to have come back to bite her.  

But she didn’t regret it.  

Seeing Diane’s flustered face that day was worth it.  

Just as Diane was about to speak with a relaxed expression, Duke Conver interjected first.  

“If it’s the same neighborhood, Basler guild members must visit the pharmacy often.”  

“Yes, well. That’s true.”  

For a moment, the gentle smile that appeared on his lips caught her gaze.  

Even with a neutral expression, just slightly raising the corners of his mouth changed the atmosphere.  

It became much more warm and friendly.  

It seemed like all the warm light particles in the dining room gathered on his face.  

Especially since the face that looked like Ray’s was smiling, it felt unfair.  

While she was momentarily lost in admiration of his smile, he spoke again.  

“I ordered an investigation into how Ray grew up.”  

“Ah?”  

She snapped back to reality.  

What is this, a sneak attack like this?  

Did he read my change in expression?  

Duke Conver immediately continued, observing her reaction.  

“I didn’t do it to upset you, Miss Astrid. I just thought I should repay anyone who helped Ray during that time.”  

“……”  

“But it turns out Neil’s parents from Basler took great care of Ray.”  

When Neil’s parents were mentioned, Ray nodded vigorously and spoke up.  

“Uncle Neil’s parents are really nice. Grandpa makes delicious pork stew, and Grandma taught me how to do forward rolls without hurting my head.”  

Hehe, Ray’s face lit up brightly as he chatted, recalling them.  

“Yes, that’s right. I’ve received a lot of help from Neil’s parents.”  

Without them, she couldn’t have imagined raising a child while commuting to the pharmacy.  

Being able to stabilize the pharmacy while raising Ray, becoming a secret informant for Basler, and managing several businesses under a pseudonym were all thanks to their help.  

Diane’s face, listening to Duke Conver’s story, scrunched up as if she had bitten into something sour.

* * *

Inside Bryce’s private reception room.  

Bryce and Diane sat across from each other, drinking wine.  

Chattering, Diane continued to speak in a sing-song manner, her red lips constantly moving.  

“Ray seems to have a good ability to connect with animals and good athletic skills. I guess bloodlines can’t be denied. Hohoho.”  

“……”  

“Considering how sensitive horses are, it must have been difficult for him to ride for the first time, yet he did it without a single mistake today.”  

“……”  

“I’m glad Ray liked it. Well, it must be his first time having his own horse. The first of anything is special, right? I did well this time, didn’t I?”  

Talking about Ray’s pony riding, Diane seemed quite pleased.  

It felt like she had earned points with Bryce for the first time in a while.  

Of course, it was just her delusion.  

Bryce, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.  

“Thank you for the gift. Ray seems to like it a lot. It’s all thanks to you, Lady.”  

“Oh, come on, it’s nothing.”  

Hehe, Diane waved her hand shyly, laughing.  

But the warmth in Bryce’s smile in response to hers was noticeably absent.  

As he quietly sipped his wine, Diane, feeling emboldened by her good mood, moved closer to sit beside Bryce.  

“Bryce, what are you thinking so deeply about?”  

“I was pondering what you said earlier.”  

“Oh… what did I say?”  

A blush rose on Diane’s face.  

Fireworks of various colors exploded in her mind, and her heart fluttered.  

That’s why she failed to notice Bryce’s cold expression.  

“Your information network seems quite impressive.”  

“Oh.”  

Diane rolled her eyes, trying to grasp the meaning of Bryce’s words.  

It seemed to be about what she had mentioned during the meal.  

“Astrid Vaughn seems to have many suspicious aspects.”  

“For example?”  

Seeing Bryce show interest in her story, Diane became more excited and raised her voice.  

“For example… when I first met her, she was gripping daggers tightly in both hands as if she might attack at any moment. Her stance didn’t seem ordinary.”  

“……I see.”  

“And she knew a lot about the secret contracts of our Lesper trading company. How could an ordinary pharmacist know things that haven’t even been in the newspapers? She’s no ordinary pharmacist.”  

“If she’s not an ordinary pharmacist?”  

“Well…”  

Diane hesitated, cautiously watching Bryce’s reaction.  

Without clear evidence, it was difficult to make a definitive statement.  

But since he asked, she had no choice but to answer.  

“Could she be a secret informant for an information guild?”  

“Pfft.”  

Bryce burst into laughter at Diane’s cautious speculation.  

Her face turned red.  

“You think that because Astrid’s pharmacy is in Yelchinga and Basler is also in Yelchinga… or is it? Surely not?”  

Bryce’s lips twitched as if he was struggling to hold back laughter.  

As if it was too unexpected to be true.  

Embarrassed by his reaction, Diane bit her lower lip.  

“Could it… not be? Actually, it’s just my suspicion. So I tried to probe during the meal earlier…”  

Bryce interrupted and disrupted her attempt.  

Diane’s most outstanding skill was her ‘subtle probing technique.’  

Pretending to know while not knowing, pretending not to know while knowing, observing the opponent’s reaction while subtly tugging at the rope—she was always spot-on.  

Though it wasn’t Bryce’s intention, his interruption forced her to abandon her technique midway.  

But she couldn’t openly blame him here.  

It was embarrassing enough to admit she had intended to use such a technique in the first place.  

‘It wasn’t intentional, right? No way…?’  

A moment of doubt crept in, but Diane quickly shook her head.  

“I knew Miss Astrid was close to Neil’s family, but I never imagined she could be a secret informant. It’s a very interesting idea, Lady.”  

A soft, deflating laugh escaped.  

Feeling increasingly embarrassed, Diane eventually opened her fan and started fanning herself vigorously.  

She needed to cool her flushed face.  

It was Bryce who spoke again.  

“I knew from the recent incident that your information network was excellent, but today I also learned that you have a corresponding imagination.”  

“Imagination…”  

Diane’s arm fanning herself grew stronger.  

She no longer wanted to continue that conversation.  

She didn’t even want to think about it.  

“What recent incident?”  

Needing a change of subject, Diane asked, and Bryce, now with a more serious expression, began to speak.  

His tone was chilly.  

“It seemed like you already knew Ray might be my son?”  

“Oh, yes. I heard it through the trading company’s informant.”  

“The trading company’s informant? Does that mean Steven knew too?”  

Steven Lesper was Diane’s brother, and he had become close to Bryce as a business partner.  

Thanks to Steven, Diane was also able to maintain a connection with Bryce.  

“No. Brother Steven doesn’t know. He instructed me to bring any information about the Duke to him first.”  

“……”  

“I found out first… and that’s why I went looking.”  

Diane finally sensed that Bryce’s mood was unusual.  

He had never been particularly kind to her, but he had never been so openly cold either.  

Diane grew tense.  

When she thought she saw a cold light flicker in Bryce’s narrowed eyes, he suddenly spoke.  

“You suggested selling the child?”  

“Ah, that was…”  

Diane’s breath caught in her throat.