The shop owner shouted toward people. When attention focused on them, the man hurriedly bowed his head deeply and left.

Running to an empty alley like that, he spread the newspaper and read the front page article again.

It was a feature article reexamining Janet and Wilton Company.

Janet Wilton has a thorough spirit of social contribution to the extent of volunteering for several years. She has a big enough heart to endure prison life to protect the duke. She has broad vision and is strategic enough to revive the crumbling Wilton Company.

And…… she’s completely different from the former president, Tailey Wilton, who embezzled Wilton Company’s funds and fled.

“D*mn it!”

The man wearing a hat, Tailey, tore up the newspaper and threw it away. Ptui, he spat on the illustration of Janet in the torn newspaper and stomped on it with his feet. Still, his anger wasn’t relieved.

“After making me end up like this, who gave permission……”

Tailey clenched his teeth tightly. His eyes filled with rage rippled as if they could kill someone at any moment.

***

Wilton Company after the storm had passed was recovering faster than expected. This wasn’t accomplished by the strength of just Janet and Rihanel alone.

Major shareholder Jasmine didn’t withdraw their stocks but rather bought more. This move instilled strong confidence in investors, helping those who had been wavering to steady their resolve.

Carsia Reynes, who dominated high society, also frequently used trains instead of carriages, which led to more people focusing on the value of railways themselves rather than viewing railways as objects of stock speculation or money games.

Thus, Wilton Company was gradually recovering.

“This will be difficult. Investment for the future is good, but now isn’t the right time. Tell them to postpone new railway construction for later and focus on operating the existing lines.”

“Yes, boss. This is a proposal for youth-oriented products from the western headquarters.”

The secretary handed Janet a document along with her response.

Janet quickly scanned the document the secretary handed her. She who put down the document nodded lightly.

“It’s good. But it needs more focus. Tell them to make a brief report on appeal strategies, such as limiting seasons or applying gradual discounts. Include partnership strategies as well.”

“Yes. That’s all the reports for today.”

At the secretary’s words, Janet nodded and asked one question.

“How is the lawsuit preparation against Mr. Tailey Wilton going?”

“Data collection and content organization are complete, but we’re still searching for Mr. Tailey Wilton. He probably doesn’t have money either, so where could he have gone…… But we should be able to find him soon, right? Besides Wilton Company funds, there are other places he reached out to, and since gambling debts were revealed after he fled, it seems there are many others besides us chasing him.”

“Miss Vanessa Wilton is the same?”

“Yes…… She’s still unable to speak, shocked that Mr. Tailey fled abandoning her.”

“Yes, thank you for the report.”

When Janet smiled lightly, the secretary bowed and left the president’s office.

Then a woman who had been waiting outside the door strode inside.

It was Letsy.

She who had been snorting while looking at the closing door as if seeing a competitor turned toward Janet. And she said energetically.

“Now I’ll make my report!”

Janet burst into small laughter.

When Jansa and Wilton Company merged, Letsy came to oversee the travel department. Upon entering a much larger company, she worked even harder at her duties, saying she didn’t want to look small. Janet was nothing but grateful for that sight.

“We’re preparing a western tour for about twenty people. We’re also targeting young people, so we’re considering creating synergy through connection with train products.”

“That’s a good idea, Letsy.”

Entrusting work to Letsy wasn’t just because she was a founding member of Jansa. It was because she had the ability to lead the future travel department.

With her bright personality, she was excellent at dealing with people, and with her sparkling thinking plus the meticulousness ingrained from working as a servant, she was truly a perfect talent. Janet was convinced of this again seeing how she held the center of Jansa when Janet was busy with Wilton Company affairs.

“That’s all for my report.”

“Yes, good work. Then I’ll be going now.”

Janet got up from her seat and put on her outer coat. Letsy tilted her eyebrows and asked.

“You said you’d be away for about a week?”

“Yes.”

Letsy wanted to tell her to stop because she felt sorry for her.

However, she knew she didn’t have the right to do so, and that Janet wouldn’t listen even if she tried to stop her.

In the end, all she could do was cheer her on. Letsy clenched her fist and raised it.

“Have a good trip!”

“Yes, thank you.”

Janet smiled and left through the door.

The place she who boarded the carriage headed to was the Reynes ducal residence.

Huon who opened the door lowered his eyebrows. Though Huon didn’t mix emotions when working, even he found it difficult to speak to this woman.

But what could he do? He brought out the answer that was prepared.

“The master is not present. As I mentioned, he went to the south, so we’ll contact you when he returns.”

These days he was delivering rejections like this every day. Rihanel was actually in the house, but he said it to imply that Janet shouldn’t come anymore.

Even though he said he was in the south, seeing how she came back several times, Janet didn’t seem to believe those words either.

So each time she nodded saying she understood, sadness lingered on her face.

However, today her answer was different.

“Yes, so I’m going to the Reynes territory. I came to tell you that.”

“Today?”

“Yes. I’m going to the train station now and departing immediately.”

Huon tried to hide his expression, but inside he was restless. He thought she knew that the master going to the Reynes territory was just an excuse. Wasn’t it?

While Huon was wondering whether he should confess that it would be useless to go there even now, he closed his mouth seeing Janet’s expression.

“……I understand.”

“Thank you.”

Janet left the mansion, and Huon walked to the carriage with her for the send-off. Getting on the carriage, Janet told him.

“Tell Rihanel this. That I’ll wait like that time nine years ago. This time until the end.”

There was no wavering in her eyes. She seemed like someone who wouldn’t fall even if her master’s large body leaned on her, but would hold him firmly. Huon hurriedly headed to Rihanel’s room.

Rihanel standing by the window watched Janet’s departing figure through the curtains. She who always turned back and glanced behind her every time looked like she had no lingering attachment this time.

Was she not coming back anymore?

The curtain crumpled in Rihanel’s hand.

Janet Wilton could only be happy if Rihanel Reynes wasn’t there. He hadn’t known he would end up pushing her away for such a dog-like reason. He hadn’t known even more that Janet would keep visiting him like this even when he pushed her away.

Every time he saw the brown hair inside the bonnet through the window, he had to suppress the urge to jump outside. He even had the crazy thought of pretending it was an accident and jumping out the window. It was one of the things that came from countless imaginings of what methods there were to inevitably reveal himself before her.

Knock knock, then a knocking sound was heard.

“Come in.”

“Lady Reynes just visited.”

“I know. Did she say she won’t come anymore? To eat well and live well in the south?”

Rihanel looked down with self-mockery. Even though he knew Janet wanted to shed the name Reynes, addressing her with it under the guise of courtesy felt more regretful than usual today.

“No, the lady said……”

Huon’s expression was urgent unlike usual. Rihanel raised one eyebrow.

“She said she would go to the Reynes territory today. And she told me to tell you that like that time nine years ago, this time she’ll wait until the end.”

At those words, Rihanel’s face became blank.

That time nine years ago. He knew the content she was talking about referred to the days after the night of Philodis.

Janet waited for Rihanel in front of the promised tree for several days. Not knowing that Rihanel had completely forgotten that promise, she kept waiting for him who didn’t come.

However, Rihanel never went to that place in the end. The sight of disappointed Janet he saw in her memories was vivid.

But she would go to the south and wait until the end.

If you say that, how can I not go?

When I know how long you waited for me there. When I saw it with my own eyes, how can I…… leave you alone there again?

“When did she say she was departing?”

“She said she was going straight to the train station.”

“D*mn it.”

Rihanel shot up from his seat. And he hurriedly put on his outer coat and left through the door.

* * *