“I’m curious.”

“……”

“The Duke of Esteban, who can refuse even the imperial family’s requests if he wishes, is laying such enormous groundwork—I wonder what kind of proposal he’s planning to make.”

He seemed anxious. Perhaps he was worried I might reject his proposal.

But soon, he curved his lips smoothly and spoke.

Just like when we first met and he unhesitatingly proposed a contract marriage.

“Shouldn’t we start a collaboration soon?”

“A collaboration?”

“Of course, they say family collaborations often fail.”

Assel spoke with a playful voice. It was truly befitting a master negotiator. Moderate jokes help create empathy and soften the atmosphere.

“……But we’re not a real family, are we?”

But why? Sudden silence descended upon what I thought would be a smooth conversation, like his smile.

“……”

Just because of that one statement he made.

Perhaps I felt stung by it myself.

Noticing the atmosphere, he quickly changed the subject. As if it had been an unintended slip of the tongue.

“Anyway, that saying doesn’t apply to us.”

“……”

“Moreover, there should be quite significant business connections between us two.”

I immediately understood his meaning.

He was talking about the rivalry between my trading company, Black Rose, and La Fleur under his Diamond Trading Company.

“If two brands that have been in fierce competition were to merge, it would surely attract a lot of attention.”

“……”

“Especially if those two brands are competing for the top position in the industry?”

Our eyes met for a moment. His red gleaming eyes held a completely different light than when he seductively tempted me in bed.

“……”

Full of competitive spirit like a teenage boy’s, they looked surprisingly meticulous.

At that moment, I realized. His proposal to me wasn’t simply for my sake.

He had drawn a big business picture and thrown this proposal at me.

“I think it’s a business worth taking a gamble on. Actually, I’ve wanted to try this for a while.”

His additional words reinforced this certainty.

‘Well, he wouldn’t try to seduce me in everything.’

But why?

“If the business succeeds and strengthens your position, wouldn’t that be like killing two birds with one stone?”

On the other hand, I also wondered if I was falling into his scheme.

In truth, what he had told me in the bedroom last night kept lingering in my mind.

“During that time, never draw a line with me.”

“Who knows? If you whispered that you loved me, even falsely, might I not be able to give you the position of family head?”

“I might even k*ll my half-brother to put you on the throne.”

Assel told me not to draw a line with him.

I remember that everything—his eyes, expression, and tone—was too serious to be just caught up in the moment.

Could this also be part of that scheme? Such a thought flashed through my mind, but I soon dismissed my suspicions.

Despite having other intentions, his current attitude was extremely businesslike.

‘Well, if everything men say in the bedroom were true, the stars in the sky would have disappeared long ago.’

Maybe I’m the only one still thinking about last night. Thinking this way, I felt strangely disappointed. As if the faucet of emotions had malfunctioned.

‘Get a grip, get a grip.’

I tried hard to compose myself. I smiled as if nothing was wrong, just as he always did with me, and replied,

“It seems like a pretty good idea. Our staff has wanted to work with La Fleur for a while.”

Especially Baroness Dupont.

While being excessively conscious of La Fleur, she had shyly brought up the collaboration as soon as we tried to visit House Esteban.

‘Seeing this, it almost feels like love and hate intertwined.’

“Really?”

At his question, I nodded in response, and his expression brightened.

“That’s a relief. I was worried you might refuse.”

“……”

“Since you’ve agreed, shall we discuss how to proceed?”

Saying this, he adjusted his posture. His skill in smoothly leading the other party was impeccable as the head of a trading company.

‘I should have that kind of charisma too.’

I nodded with such thoughts in mind.

“Alright.”

❀❀❀

After finishing my conversation with Assel, I left the office.

Once I climbed into the carriage bound for the trading company with my packed bag, something I had forgotten came to mind.

‘I was going to ask what he discussed with His Majesty the Emperor……’

Focusing on the business matter, I missed asking about something important.

But I could ask later, and the business talk was so interesting that I didn’t notice the time passing, so I didn’t particularly regret it.

While discussing the collaboration between the two brands, Assel proposed creating a collection book.

“We’ll use the camera developed by Diamond Trading Company to create a collection book. If we put models in representative pieces from both brands and compile them into a magazine, it will surely be very popular.”

It was an interesting proposal. Until now, various fashion brands had held fashion shows, but none had formally published a magazine.

That’s because expensive dresses worn by noble ladies lived on their scarcity—even if many were produced, they never exceeded ten pieces.

On the other hand, their designs were complex, with various decorations lavishly attached, making them very difficult to draw.

Naturally, no one attempted to hire an expensive painter to create a fashion magazine.

But what if we created an original through a camera and then copied and printed it multiple times?

Such costs would be reduced, allowing for a cost-benefit expectation.

The only problem was that it hadn’t been long since the White Velvet launch show.

‘I wonder if the other employees will welcome it too.’

While Baroness Dupont was a workaholic who lived one day like others’ three, the rest of the employees might find it a bit tiring.

‘I’ll have to provide good overtime pay.’

Lost in such thoughts, time flew by, and the carriage eventually reached its destination.

❀❀❀

Ilina, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, looked noticeably thinner even from a distance. Her slender cheeks had become a bit more hollow, and the dark circles under her eyes were much darker than before. I could easily guess what had happened during my absence without even seeing it.

“Ilina.”

At my call, Ilina, who was supervising the site, turned her head. Recognizing me with my mask covering my eyes, she made a surprised expression and hurriedly covered her mouth.

After being unable to say anything for a while, she finally, cautiously uttered,

“……Master Rose?”

Her eyes were filled with undisguisable surprise. Of course, she would be. I had taken a month-long vacation for my honeymoon, then suddenly fallen into a coma, and now suddenly appeared.

Moreover, Ilina had visited the mansion for a sick call, so I could only imagine how she felt.

By now, Ilina had stepped closer to me and murmured with a still disbelieving look,

“……Is it really you, Master Rose?”

Since I was wearing a mask, she seemed to suspect that someone else might be playing a prank. I chuckled and nodded.

“Let’s talk briefly in the office.”

❀❀❀

“My goodness, what’s going on?”

As soon as we entered the office, Ilina exclaimed in surprise.

“Are you, are you feeling better?”

She asked with a worried look, and I nodded.

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Ilina’s eyes filled with relief.

“……That’s really fortunate.”

“More than that, I’d like to hear how the trading company has been while I was gone.”

Her expression changed. After thinking for a moment, she sighed deeply and answered,

“Well, everyone was completely exhausted. Including me.”

“……”

“How much work did you usually do alone?”

“……Hmm, was it that much?”

“Anyway, we only realized your value after losing you.”

“……Losing me?”

“Ah, of course not completely lost… anyway, I’m glad you’re back.”

Something was odd in the middle of her statement, but since the conclusion was good, it must be fine?

Ilina’s words, which somehow felt like she was sending me off, gave me a strange feeling, and she quickly added, seeming to notice my expression,

“I’ll bring the reports first!”

❀❀❀

The contents of the reports Ilina brought could be roughly summarized as follows:

‘Sales have increased a lot.’

I remember that Black Velvet, being so new at launch, didn’t have such great profits right after launching. But perhaps because Black Rose had established itself somewhat as a fashion brand, after the fashion show, sales increased exponentially. Partly due to the release of new products from Black Velvet, but the launch effect of White Velvet seemed greater.

Because a younger customer base had been newly secured compared to Black Velvet.

The problem was that the workload had increased proportionally…

“This afternoon, there’s a meeting with Henden Trading Company, which supplies materials. After that, there’s a dinner appointment with Scalrow the jeweler……”

“What about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow is also fully booked except for the morning hours.”

“Oh dear……”

“Here are documents with brief briefings about them. Make sure to read them before the appointments.”

I nodded and picked up the documents. Despite being called “brief” briefings, perhaps because there were so many people to meet, they didn’t look simple at all. Just looking at them gave me a throbbing headache.

It seemed that taking almost two months off work was the problem. Because of that gap, various appointments and work had piled up.

“Thank you for your hard work. Especially for doing my work while I was gone—I should give you a bonus later.”

Life returned to Ilina’s haggard eyes.

“A bonus sounds good.”

The corners of her lips curved upward, showing her mood had drastically improved at the mention of a bonus.

Ilina openly loved money. I liked her honest aspect, but sometimes I wondered about her, rarely taking vacations to earn money.

She likes money, but she doesn’t seem to spend it much—what is she saving so diligently for?

But apart from my curiosity, it was necessary to avoid excessive involvement in private matters.

‘……Still, I wish she would rest a bit.’

I should send her on vacation after this quarter’s settlement.

With such thoughts, I skimmed through the documents Ilina had handed me.

❀❀❀

Butterfly Garden.

The garden of the Crown Princess’s palace.

After Estelia returned from her long study abroad, this place, which had been quiet for three years, was rarely bustling with activity.

Because a tea party was being held.

This party had selected and invited only ten key figures from social circles, and everyone took great pride in being invited.

Perhaps that’s why. Usually, it was customary to arrive after the host at parties, but this place was an exception.

Even before the host arrived, the invited ladies and noblewomen who had already arrived formed small groups and engaged in various trivial conversations.

From formal greetings asking how they had been, to how they had spent their time, and how wonderful today’s party was.

Various topics were exchanged, but the flow went relatively smoothly without major issues.

Then suddenly, when one woman brought up a topic, a cold gust swept through the place.

“Have you all heard the news? Count Ophelia’s daughter is coming to the party today.”

“……!”

In an instant, everyone’s gaze turned to the woman who had spoken, and their eyes widened.

“What are you saying? Lady Ophelia?”

“My goodness, if it’s that woman……”

The women at the gathering one by one covered their gaping mouths with fans.

The impact of the name Levedi Ophelia in social circles was truly immense.

A woman who was revered as the flower of social circles for her beautiful appearance and proper demeanor until just before her marriage.

But now, she was also someone who had suddenly declared divorce, shocking the people of social circles.

A true lady should obey her husband and father, but she had violated that rule.

While everyone was in shock, one young lady suddenly raised her voice,

“That woman is coming here? What nerve does she have to come after making fools of us?”

The voice belonged to Olivia Garnet.

Eighteen years old this year, she was the only daughter of Count Garnet. Her father held an administrative position in the imperial court, and her brother was the vice-captain of the Imperial Knight Order.

With curly brown hair and green eyes, she was popular in social circles for her cute appearance and cheerful personality.

Particularly, she was famous for being an ardent fan of Levedi Ophelia.

Not just her, but many among the ladies of her age group were fans of Levedi.

That is, until ‘that incident’ happened.

“Lady Garnet is right, I can’t believe the nerve of that woman……”

The one agreeing was Camilla April, the lady of House April, who was also one of the ladies who admired Levedi.

However, after ‘that incident’ broke out, Levedi was almost buried in social circles, and naturally, having followed her became a source of shame.

That was why they were angry.

“Lady Eppel, how did you know about this?”

Olivia, who had been particularly vocal about being a fan of Levedi, was especially alert at the news of her coming.

She looked at Viscountess Amelia Eppel, who had first brought up the topic, and asked.

She was originally from House Richard Baron, and currently was Viscountess Eppel.

With curly orange hair and orange eyes, she was famous as a social butterfly in the social circles.

Perhaps that’s why she could attend this secretive tea party hosted by the Crown Princess despite her low status.

Amelia showed a troubled expression and answered,

“Well, I… I saw the guest list when I was coming in just now.”

“Was there such a thing?”

A noblewoman, not Olivia, asked in surprise, and the women began to whisper among themselves.

Amidst the commotion, Amelia nodded.

“Yes, I happened to see it held by a maid guarding the front when I went to wash my hands.”

For a moment, everyone fell silent, and then shock spread among the women.

“My goodness……”

“How did she get invited to this party?”

“That’s right. Wasn’t this only for those who received direct invitations from Her Highness the Crown Princess?”

“Surely, Her Highness couldn’t have invited her.”

The women began to whisper. The commotion only calmed down after Grace, the Duchess of Filiche, the oldest and highest-ranking person at the gathering, stepped forward.

“Everyone, that’s enough. Have you forgotten that this is the imperial palace?”

House Filiche was the second highest-ranking family in the Empire after House Esteban.

Additionally, she had been the maid and only friend of the late Empress, and currently was also the godmother of Princess Rachel.

In other words, no one at this gathering could ignore her.

As her calm voice cut through the room, the commotion miraculously subsided.

“Who to invite to the party is entirely at the discretion of Her Highness the Crown Princess. How can you not know that gossiping about it casts a shadow on her reputation?”

“……”

“Also, she is no longer Lady Ophelia but the Duchess of Esteban. Duke Esteban is His Majesty’s only blood relative. Everyone should show appropriate respect.”

Complete silence eventually settled in the place. But everyone seemed to be reluctantly holding back.

Especially Olivia, who pouted invisibly. She was displeased with everything.

‘After all the humiliation I suffered because of that woman……’

The ladies who had made their debut as debutantes with her at sixteen were largely divided into two groups.

Those who, like her, liked Levedi Ophelia, and those who liked Matilda Rolls.

Among them, the latter group was at odds with Olivia, who liked Levedi. But Olivia didn’t mind much.

Because compared to the pretty and smart Levedi Ophelia, Matilda Rolls looked dull, and her actual behavior was excessively cunning.

Even those who liked Matilda admired her cunning and calculating demeanor…

Perhaps that’s why. Among the young ladies in social circles, there were more who claimed to be fans of Levedi than Matilda.

But a situation came where that tide completely reversed.