Chapter 31

“Duke, come closer. You need to let me rest.”

“How did you ever think of buying that debt?”

At Lionel’s dry question, Marian rolled her eyes in disappointment.

“We agreed to talk about money tomorrow morning.”

“Not on your say-so. You can’t control me with just 250,000 gold.”

“What? Then why did you get in the carriage?”

“I don’t like talking about debts in crowded places. But I can’t help but ask about the details. That’s all.”

“And if I keep my mouth shut?”

“Then I’ll have a lawyer confirm whether the claim was really transferred to you. If it’s true, I’ll repay it within a year.”

Marian pouted her lips slightly. She had thought she’d spend an entertaining night with the Duke, but he was already sitting at a boring negotiation table. She grumbled in reply.

“Fine, fine. I’ll talk about the debt first, just as you wish. I bought Valentin Duchy’s debt because my father is the chairman of the Asilique Merchant Guild.”

“A father who passes burden to his daughter…”

“Passes it? I bought it! My father was troubled by Valentin Duchy’s bad debts, so I helped lighten his load. Besides, I thought I could tie it to a business I’m planning.”

“So if I repay the debt, you’ll use that money for business?”

“No. I never thought you’d pay it back in the first place. Why do you think it’s called bad debt?”

“I said I’ll pay it back… Or do you mean I don’t have to?”

Lionel’s eyes sparkled with hope, but Marian shook her head.

“You do have to pay. But I’ll accept something other than money.”

“What do you want?”

Just as Lionel asked, the carriage slowed and stopped. They were in front of a luxury hotel in Moerven city. When the coachman opened the door, Marian smiled sweetly at the Duke.

“Shall we talk about the rest in the room?”

Lionel hesitated, weighing his options. If he returned to the ducal residence now, he’d never meet Marian again. He only needed to repay the money within the deadline.

But if he kept talking to her now, maybe a way to repay the 250,000 gold debt more easily would open up. Whatever she wanted instead of money, surely it would be easier to provide than gold?

“…Alright.”

Lionel entered the hotel for the first time in a while. He made eye contact with one of the staff, but there was no sign of recognition. Relieved, he followed Marian up to the third floor.

The corridor was long, and the interior spacious. Lionel stood in the suite’s living room, absent-mindedly admiring the well-decorated space. At the sound of the door closing behind him, he spoke as if he’d been waiting.

“Now, tell me. What do I need to give instead of 250,000 gold…”

But in the next moment, Marian’s hand wrapped around his waist. He felt her soft body press against his back and turned to look at her.

A strong perfume stung his nose, and her tightly closed eyelids, flushed cheeks, and bright red hair blurred his vision. Unfamiliar lips boldly brushed his own.

“…Miss Belvard. Wait.”

Lionel turned his head slightly, easily dodging her kiss. Because of the height difference, Marian was standing on tiptoe and naturally wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into him. When she opened her eyes and saw Lionel’s indifferent gaze, she let out a helpless laugh.

“Why? Are you not used to this sort of thing?”

“Of course I am.”

“I’m not a noble lady. I like to play this way. Isn’t it the same for you, Duke?”

“I do like it.”

Lionel admitted frankly and reached for Marian’s dress. His hand caressed the hem, then slowly slid up her waist. Marian smiled, enjoying his touch.

He stroked the thin shoulder straps of her dress and whispered softly.

“I really do like you. I can hardly believe I’ve held back this long.”

He gently pulled down both shoulder straps. Her undergarment, barely covering her chest, was exposed, and Marian gasped with anticipation.

His gaze lingered on her full chest. Next, Lionel calmly untied the skirt laces at the bottom of her corset. Marian admired his skillful hands.

“You undress well, though you didn’t like the kiss.”

“I like kissing too. But I like what comes after even more.”

Following his fingertips, her skirt slid completely to the floor. Nearly n*ked, she looked up at him with heated eyes, and he smiled as he added,

“But not with you.”

“…What did you say?”

Did she mishear? Marian frowned at him just as Lionel gently released her arms from around him. He walked past her toward the door, warning,

“This is as far as the game goes. Don’t even think about following me out, unless you want to embarrass yourself in that state.”

“So you undressed me just to leave like this? Wait, hold on!”

Just before Lionel turned the doorknob, Marian managed to grab his arm. But as he turned the knob without hesitation, she cried out,

“We haven’t finished talking about the debt yet!”

“Right, it’s not over. But you’re not willing to talk seriously, are you? Just thinking nonsense.”

“Can’t we talk calmly after… you know, after we’re done? Why are you so cold? I thought you’d like this sort of thing.”

Marian’s voice was crestfallen, but Lionel remained unmoved.

“Sorry, but no.”

“Why? Am I really that unappealing?”

“Don’t take it personally. It’s not that you’re not attractive… Let’s just say, for convenience, it’s because of the difference in status.”

He spoke lightly, almost jokingly, and Marian’s frustration boiled over. She finally shook off his arm.

“Fine! I thought you were the same kind of person as me, but I’m disappointed.”

“We might have been alike before. But now, I can’t help that I’m not interested. Maybe I’ve finally grown up.”

“Ha, maybe you’ve found someone you like?”

“Does it seem that way? Well, think whatever you want. I’ll be going now…”

“Wait!”

Now Marian grabbed the doorknob instead of his arm. Her brass-colored eyes were no longer hazy. Lionel quietly looked down at her, seeing that she was truly ready to negotiate.

Marian got straight to the point.

“I want your mine, Duke. The copper mine in Valentin Duchy.”

At her words, Lionel finally released the doorknob. He looked at her, discussing business confidently even half-n*ked, and let out a small laugh.

“Alright, shall we sit down and talk?”

He calmly returned to the living room, and Marian suppressed the urge to retort, letting out a deep sigh. She left her discarded clothes and went into the bedroom to change into new ones.

Finally, seated across from each other on the sofa, the two began a real business discussion. Lionel, not at all like a debtor, spoke with ease.

“Our family’s land has various resources, so why copper in particular?”

“The other resources have their own value. But I need copper most. I plan to use it to make something else.”

“What do you plan to make?”

Instead of answering, Marian took a small object from her pocket and placed it on the table. At the familiar sound of metal, Lionel’s lips curled up.

“A bullet. For a pistol?”

“That’s right. For now, I can only make them this size. But with more raw material, I could produce much larger types.”

The small bronze bullet had a smooth, well-finished surface. Whether it was truly high-quality could only be tested by firing it.

Lionel tapped the bullet with his fingertip and said,

“Handing over the entire copper mine for 250,000 gold would be a huge loss for me. I’ve heard there’s still plenty of reserves.”

“So, you’re refusing?”

“No. I’m thinking of transferring just the mining rights, maybe exclusively to the Belvard family, for about two years. How does that sound?”

Marian paused, looking at him. Two years of mining rights were worth roughly 300,000 gold. Considering the original debt was 250,000, it was a fair compromise.

“That’s fine, but you’re calculating so quickly that I’m getting anxious. I feel like I might be getting the worse end of the deal.”

“It’s just a feeling. I’m not trying to fight you. In fact, I’d rather make you a partner. Ah, of course… a business partner.”

“…Enough about that. I’ll never ask you to sleep with me again.”

Marian replied curtly, but Lionel smiled gently. If this deal went through, following her away from the party would have been worthwhile.

“Miss Belvard, why don’t you set a date to visit the ducal residence? We can have a leisurely meal and discuss other business.”

“Alright. I was planning to stay in Moerven a bit longer anyway.”

“Then I’ll send someone to you soon.”

With that, Lionel stood up with a relieved expression. The late-night meeting was over.

Marian hid her disappointment as she watched him leave for real. She secretly hoped he’d change his mind and turn back.

But Lionel left the bustling hotel behind without a second thought and returned to the ducal residence.