But the man called “Dad” merely glanced at Elysion once before coldly turning away and striding off. Elysion seemed unable to even think of following him, just sitting on the ground pointing at the man and whimpering.

I hurried toward Elysion. By now, the man she had called Dad was quite far away.

“Wait here for a moment.”

After telling Elysion this, I ran toward the distant man. Eventually, the gap between us narrowed to less than a hand’s width, and I placed my hand on his shoulder.

“Excuse me.”

At that moment, the man turned his head.

He glanced briefly at my face before frowning.

“Who are you?”

He appeared wary of a stranger approaching him. But I had no time to worry about such things. Elysion, sitting on the ground crying in the distance, was more important.

“You’re Elysion’s father, aren’t you?”

The man’s face contorted even more at my direct question.

“I asked who you are.”

After pondering his question briefly, I opened my mouth. If I was going to speak anyway, revealing my identity would seem less suspicious.

“My father is Count Ophelia.”

“Count Ophelia? Ah. I know of him. But what brings the daughter of such a family here?”

The man asked with a somewhat less guarded tone, and I pointed to Elysion as I answered.

“That child over there, is she your daughter?”

At my words, the man hesitated briefly before narrowing his eyes and responding gruffly.

“She is, but she’s no longer my concern. Why do you ask?”

His voice clearly conveyed annoyance. I felt compelled to end this conversation as quickly as possible. I got straight to the point.

“I heard the child’s mother isn’t around either. If you say she’s not your concern, who will take responsibility for her?”

At my words, the man sighed deeply and looked at me with a somewhat pathetic gaze as he spoke.

“I saw in the newspapers. I heard you’re getting divorced, so you’d better focus on your own affairs. Don’t pry into other people’s family matters unnecessarily.”

In truth, the man was right. I knew it myself. I was being nosy, and it wasn’t my place to interfere.

But then, what about Elysion?

“Please answer my question. Since I’ve already meddled, I deserve a proper answer.”

But the man didn’t respond to my words, just turned his head and strode away.

“Wait, just a moment!”

I ran with all my might, but my wide skirt and high heels made it impossible to keep up with his pace.

As a result, the man hurriedly entered a carriage, which then departed. I watched the carriage disappear from sight with a sense of futility, then turned back toward Elysion.

Elysion was sitting on the ground. Seeing her dejected appearance made my heart ache. Whatever the circumstances, I couldn’t understand how such a beautiful child could be rejected by both parents.

‘How could anyone turn away such a young child?’

Of course, from Elysion’s nuance, her mother might have passed away, but she had certainly been abandoned by her father.

While I felt angry at the immature adult’s response, I also felt sorry for Elysion. I approached her, sat down in front of her, and embraced her small body.

That’s when it happened.

“There you are.”

An unfamiliar voice wrapped around my ears. A deep, profound voice.

Just hearing it made my body tremble involuntarily.

Startled, I quickly turned my head.

At the same time, my eyes met directly with a man whose face was as unfamiliar as his voice.

The man, presumably the owner of the voice I’d just heard, possessed quite a handsome appearance.

His black hair, like Elysion’s, was as deep as the night sky, and his red eyes resembled rubies. However, unlike Elysion’s, they gave a somewhat dangerous impression.

His jawline was sharp, and his features were distinct yet delicate, giving an androgynous impression but exuding an unmistakable masculine aura.

In short, he was a rare beauty.

Meeting his eyes, my body froze involuntarily. Not just because of his handsome face, but because the aura he emanated somehow felt extraordinary.

Lost in such thoughts, quietly holding my breath, the man’s lips parted.

“……Do you know Elysion?”

A calm yet all the more cold question. Tense and having forgotten even to breathe, I could only open my mouth after taking a deep breath to steady myself.

“Are you Elysion’s guardian?”

“I am.”

Elysion in my arms raised her head to look at the man, then quietly grabbed the hem of his pants. He slowly stroked Elysion’s back, comforting her reddened eyes. He did seem to be her guardian. Perhaps the uncle she mentioned was with her father earlier?

The man, who had answered rather stiffly, looked me up and down. Then his gaze stopped abruptly on my face. Just as I was wondering why, his pupils dilated significantly.

As if he was surprised to see my face.

But why?

‘What could surprise him about someone he’s never met before?’

Just as this question arose:

“……Lady Ophelia?”

I couldn’t help but be surprised by the name that flowed from between his lips.

“You know me?”

My family is the Ophelia County, ranking fifth in the Empire’s ceremonial order.

He might know me from occasional mentions in newspapers or magazines. Or perhaps he’d seen me from afar at a ball.

So it wasn’t strange that the man knew me, but it was odd that I didn’t know him. With such a refined appearance, he must be famous in social circles.

And above all, those high-quality clothes. Though I was wearing a silk skirt, the sheen of the man’s shirt was different. It was clearly extremely luxurious.

I found it puzzling that such a wealthy and handsome man knew me, yet I didn’t know him.

After hesitating briefly at my question, the man finally spoke.

“I saw you at a ball once.”

“I see.”

“But I thought you had married Count Floredo and gone down to his estate. Why are you here……”

Before the man could finish his sentence:

“Levedi.”

It was right at the courthouse entrance. Father was gesturing toward me from there.

“Levedi, the judge says he needs to confirm your identity.”

“Ah…… Yes! I’ll be right there! Father.”

Having just heard that our trials might be delayed because of us, I had to move urgently.

As I stood beside Father after rushing over, a delicate voice targeted me from behind.

Ah, I had forgotten about the child.

“Mommy, where are you going?”

The child’s voice was trembling. Her anxious tone brought on an unnecessary sense of guilt. I hadn’t even cleared up the misunderstanding, and I had done something terrible to the child.

Carefully turning my head, I saw Elysion looking at me with eyes that seemed ready to cry at any moment.

If I kept watching, it would clearly become difficult to break away. Not to mention the trouble it would cause.

So I turned my head.

“I’m sorry. I have to go now.”

The problem was that Father had also heard what Elysion called me.

“Mommy?”

Father looked back and forth between Elysion and me with wide eyes.

It wasn’t just Father.

Glancing back again, the handsome man who was Elysion’s guardian made no attempt to hide his surprised gaze toward me.

Though there was nothing particularly to hide, it was awkward to explain. I hadn’t even cleared up the child’s misunderstanding, and explaining would take too long.

With clenched fists, I smiled and spoke quietly so the child wouldn’t hear.

“You misheard.”

“I see. We’re late, so let’s hurry.”

Father dismissed it casually. I wanted to properly say goodbye to the child, but with Father pulling my arm, I could only turn my head and wave as I walked.

“Take care, Elysion.”

I had done my best by waiting until her guardian arrived. There was no need to feel guilty.

Yet, why did Elysion’s face linger in my mind all the way from crossing the courthouse threshold to reaching the courtroom?

But I soon shook it off.

My own life was already overwhelmingly burdensome without worrying about that child too.

❀❀❀

About two years had passed since I received the settlement from Alex.

And with the divorce, I started a business with the substantial settlement money.

As a result, I was now Rose, the owner of “Black Rose,” one of the top ten trading companies in the capital.

Rose was a pseudonym I created to hide the fact that I, the daughter of Count Ophelia, was running a business.

I also always wore a mask to conceal my identity.

I doubted people would spend money at a trading company run by a divorced woman.

Anyway, perhaps thanks to hiding my identity, the business flowed smoothly without any particular obstacles, and people were amazed at my business acumen.

This led to a question that always followed me.

What was the secret to my success?

My answer was always the same.

“I guess heaven helped me. I was lucky.”

It might sound somewhat conceited, but unfortunately, it was true.

Of course, I had worked hard over the past two years. It was a period of quite harsh patience and effort. I was so focused on work that I hardly spent any time at home except for sleeping.

But there are areas where no amount of frantic effort will help. Specifically, the area of making important decisions.

In business, a single moment’s choice can lead to an upswing, or a single moment’s wrong choice can lead to downfall.

Yet at every moment of choice, the goddess of fortune raised my hand.

That’s why I could only say I was lucky.

Yes, until just yesterday, my belief in this was firm.

But then…

❀❀❀

One day, while practically living in the trading company building and tending to business.

It was when I had woken up after falling asleep upon returning home at dawn after finishing overtime work.

Not long after waking up, a knock on the door completely chased away my drowsiness.

“Miss, it’s Ilina. May I come in?”

Hearing the familiar voice, I granted permission.

“Come in.”

Simultaneously with the door opening, a woman appeared.

A woman with a delicate impression, aqua-colored hair, and matching eyes.

It was Ilina, who had left Floredo with me.

One day, she volunteered to help with my work as I was heading to the trading company, and from then on, she also took a position and worked at the company.

Was she just working? Sometimes I thought Ilina might be a genius. When taught one thing, she not only grasped ten but also learned quickly.

Because of this, she had now become an essential figure in the business.

“What brings you here so early in the morning?”

At my question, Ilina hesitated briefly before speaking.

“Well, Miss, you know that building we recently acquired?”

“You mean the building on the outskirts?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The building Ilina was referring to was probably the one from about a month ago. It was a building used as a factory and employee dormitory to meet the overflow of orders.

We had bought a cheap building on the outskirts of the capital and renovated it for use, but what about it?

“Has something happened there?”

A sense of unease swept over me. Ilina was skilled at handling matters on her own. If she brought an issue to me, it was likely serious.

But fortunately, she shook her head.

“It’s not that. Just something a bit strange happened.”

“Something strange?”

I was curious about what could be so strange that she would barge into my room in the morning.

Taking a deep breath, Ilina carefully began.

“Well…… Miss. Don’t be surprised.”

“Why are you being so mysterious?”

Just as I was starting to feel impatient, Ilina approached me and whispered in a small voice.

“I overheard real estate agents talking today by chance.”

“Hmm?”

“Well…… they said our building’s value has tripled in just one month.”

At that moment, I couldn’t help but doubt my ears.

Though I had already experienced the magic of my settlement money multiplying tenfold through business, even for me, a building’s value tripling in just one month was unprecedented.

“What, tripled?”

The money I’d earned so far was at least the result of labor, but this was money gained without doing anything.

The shock was different.

“Yes.”

“How on earth did that happen?”

“I was so curious about that too, so I asked. And the real estate agents said……”

Ilina began whispering in my ear.

And soon, after hearing her words, I couldn’t help but be astonished.

Ilina said the reason the building’s price on the outskirts of the capital had skyrocketed in a month was because of Duke Esteban. Apparently, Duke Esteban had bought up and developed the area around my building.

Hearing this, I suddenly became suspicious of my previously successful business. I began searching through the list of investors and discovered that the number one major shareholder, a mysterious wealthy merchant, was connected to Duke Esteban.

In other words, the success of my business was:

‘Not heaven, but Duke Esteban helped me?!’

Assel Esteban, the duke, was the Second Prince—the current Emperor’s brother and a hero who had returned alive from the north, where few survived.

Moreover, the “Diamond Trading Company” he managed held the undisputed top position among the Empire’s numerous renowned trading companies. According to public speculation, his annual income alone could buy several castles and still have money left over.

But why would such a man help my business?

More importantly, was my business truly successful because of his help?

This was both puzzling and important, so I eventually sent a letter to the Esteban ducal residence.

It was a letter requesting a visit. The reply came a few days later. The content of the letter was concise.

“Noon on the 23rd works for me. —Duke Esteban—”

It was a unilateral notification, but making an appointment with him is difficult. I had no choice but to adjust to his schedule. I told Ilina to clear all appointments for that day.

Several days passed, and finally the morning of the 23rd dawned.

❀❀❀

The rolling carriage stopped in front of a large, magnificent gate. How long after the shaking from that impact subsided did the coachman present my identity, and the large door opened?

The carriage entered through the open door, and I couldn’t help but admire the interior of the mansion that was revealed simultaneously.

The Esteban ducal residence was said to be as splendid as the imperial palace, and its reputation was indeed no exaggeration.

Aside from the large main building, water shot up from elaborate stone fountains everywhere, and rare flowers were scattered like stones in the garden.

While I was marveling at this wealth, the carriage door opened as we approached the main building.

As soon as I got out of the carriage, an elderly gentleman in a sharp black suit approached me. After bowing politely, he gestured toward the main building and said:

“Are you Rose, the head of Black Rose Trading Company?”

“I am.”

“The master is waiting for you inside.”

And so, I entered the main building, escorted by the butler.

❀❀❀

After climbing numerous stairs, we reached what seemed to be the third floor. The butler stopped in front of a large, ornate door and knocked.

“Master, your guest has arrived. It’s Rose, the head of Black Rose Trading Company.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened quickly, almost urgently.

Simultaneously, a voice was heard from inside.

“Show her in.”

Was it just my imagination that the voice somehow seemed familiar? Well, what connection could I possibly have with a man like Duke Esteban?

With such thoughts, I entered the room.

“……You’ve arrived.”

Looking at the face visible through a mask with only the eyes exposed, I once again had to suffer from a strange sense of déjà vu.

Dark hair as if it had swallowed darkness, and ruby-colored eyes with a dull light.

Overall, he possessed an incredibly aristocratic and masculine aura, while his features were as exquisite as if carved by a master craftsman.

I definitely seemed to have seen him somewhere before.

‘I can’t remember.’

Was it just my imagination?

But there was something unsettling about dismissing it as mere imagination. Usually, such a handsome face would be hard to forget once seen, so I couldn’t have seen a face I hadn’t seen before.

Then perhaps…

“Have we met before?”

Forgetting I was even wearing a mask, I ended up delivering what sounded like a cheap pickup line that wouldn’t work anywhere.

Of course, without any intention of hitting on him.