“Lady Eileen. I’m truly glad to see you healthy again.”

“Thank you, Count Thomas. You look healthy too, which makes me feel good.”

Despite the slightly chilly weather thanks to the unexpected white visitor that fell the day before, the air circulating between the two people was warm.

“Did you enjoy your studies?”

“I would have loved to enjoy studying, but unfortunately, I couldn’t.”

“Well, they say if studying is enjoyable, something must be wrong.”

Their playful laughter filled the reception room.

“By the way, Count Thomas. There’s something I heard in Fresher……”

Eileen slowly raised herself from the sofa where she had been comfortably reclining and began to speak.

“I heard that you’re looking for investors. Is that true?”

The playful smile she had been wearing until just now disappeared completely, and only a businesswoman’s gaze remained on Eileen’s face.

“Yes, that’s correct. But since the business seems too far-fetched, no one wants to invest.”

The moment they started talking about business, Count Thomas’s face turned gloomy like a sky full of dark clouds.

“I see.”

Eileen picked up her teacup and took a sip of tea.

“Then our Ceres family will invest, so please proceed with your business.”

“……What?”

However, with Eileen’s single remark, his face began to brighten as though a ray of light had seeped in.

“The Ceres family will provide all the money you need.”

“B-but it’s a business that no one else would even glance at……”

“That’s fine. In return, please make an exclusive contract with the Ceres family for all aspects of your business.”

“O-of course. Thank you so much, Lady Eileen!”

The count, seemingly moved, covered his mouth with both hands and nodded several times.

“I will never forget this kindness. Please take care on your way back, Lady Eileen!”

Count Thomas clutched the contract bearing Eileen’s signature to his chest and waved until the Ceres family carriage disappeared from sight.

“To think someone would recognize the true value of this business……”

All the numerous rejections and contemptuous looks he received whenever he presented his business plan, and all the humiliation he had endured until now were for this day!

Count Thomas hummed a tune.

“Master!”

“Hmm?”

Count Thomas, who had been writing detailed business content for a while after receiving his long-awaited investment, temporarily put down his pen when he heard someone calling him.

“A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

“The only person I was supposed to meet today is Lady Eileen.”

Count Thomas tilted his head.

“W-well, Duke Aaron de Monston says he really wants to meet you……”

Upon hearing the butler’s words, Count Thomas tossed aside his documents and rushed straight to the reception room.

“D-Duke Aaron!”

The sound of heavy breathing echoed from afar, gradually increasing in volume until it reached the reception room. With noisy footsteps, the closed door of the reception room opened, and a pale-faced Count Thomas entered.

“I apologize for coming suddenly, Count Thomas.”

“N-no, it’s fine, Duke Aaron.”

The count took a deep breath and then gestured for the servants to leave.

“But Duke Aaron. What brings you to see me?”

The Aaron de Monston he knew wasn’t someone who would come without an appointment like this.

With a sense of unease, Count Thomas asked cautiously.

“The reason I came to see you today is because I have a proposal I’d like to make.”

Aaron lifted his teacup with an elegant gesture devoid of any unnecessary movement.

“I heard that you’ve devised an interesting business while I was briefly away from Bereut.”

“Are you referring to the dog clothing business?”

“That’s right. Let me skip all unnecessary talk and get straight to the point. The Monston family would like to invest exclusively in Count Thomas’s business.”

The sound of a teacup being placed down resonated between the two.

“What do you think?”

Aaron looked at the count with his head tilted slightly.

“I’m truly grateful for your generous offer, but……”

The count rolled his eyes around and spoke each word with difficulty.

“Someone has already shown interest in my business and offered to invest exclusively, and I’ve already finalized the contract with them.”

Duke Aaron wasn’t known for his gentle temperament. While the count wanted to avoid upsetting him if possible, his promise to the lady took precedence now. Count Thomas swallowed hard and observed Aaron’s reaction.

“Then can’t you just cancel that contract? No matter how much they’re investing, they can’t possibly match the amount the Monston family can offer.”

Aaron’s light purple eyes flashed with displeasure. Under that fierce gaze, the count deliberately avoided eye contact and carefully began to speak.

“W-well, the person who agreed to invest is Lady Eileen of the Ceres ducal family.”

“Eileen of the Ceres ducal family?”

“Yes. She recently returned to Bereut after completing her studies abroad.”

Ah. That rumored only lady of Bereut.

Aaron let out a slight chuckle.

“I understand. It’s unfortunate, but I’ll concede this time.”

If it were any other family, it might be different, but the Ceres family wasn’t easy to defeat. Having quickly reached a conclusion, Aaron rose from his seat languidly.

“I apologize, Duke Aaron.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Count. It’s my fault for learning the information too late.”

“Then please take care on your way back, Duke.”

The count seemed concerned that Aaron might be upset. However, Aaron simply offered a light greeting and left the count’s residence with an indifferent expression.

“Master. You’re back? Did the contract go well?”

Liam, the servant who had been waiting for Aaron, opened the carriage door to welcome him.

“No. Lady Eileen of the Ceres ducal family beat me to it.”

“What?”

When Eileen’s name came from Aaron’s lips, Liam’s expression rapidly hardened.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s not certain yet, but regarding the diamond mine development rights in the Kingdom of Hailo that you’ve been working on for several months……”

Liam continued with difficulty, chewing on his lips.

“Rumors say that Lady Eileen is also coveting those development rights……”

“Ha.”

Aaron clicked his tongue briefly and then roughly loosened his cravat that had been tightly constricting his neck.

“B-but the representatives of the Kingdom of Hailo have probably decided to sell the development rights to you, Master!”

As coldness spread across Aaron’s face, Liam exaggerated his voice to lighten the mood.

“Let’s hope so.”

I don’t want to lose twice.

Aaron swallowed a bitter smile as he watched the count’s residence gradually fade into the distance.

* * *

The last remnants of dawn as rays of sunlight seeped through the window cracks one by one.

“My goodness. To think that you of all people, Miss, would be awake at this hour! Surely the sun isn’t rising from the west today?”

Gabriel, the head butler of the Ceres family, looked at Eileen with round eyes while covering his mouth with one hand.

Of course, his eyes were filled with mischief.

“Gabriel……  It’s true I sleep late every day, but sometimes, very rarely, I do wake up early, you know?”

Eileen, who had been strolling around the mansion in comfortable clothes after waking up early today, stopped in her tracks and glared at Gabriel.

“I’m joking, Miss. These things happen occasionally.”

Gabriel let out a hearty laugh. As his laughter spread throughout the lobby, Eileen’s sharp gaze softened a little.

“By the way, Miss. It’s still chilly at dawn, and you’ll catch a cold dressed like that. Would you mind waiting just a moment while you have this?”

Gabriel pulled out a small chocolate bar from inside his jacket and asked. Already feeling quite cold, Eileen nodded and extended her hand.

“Then Miss. Please wait just a moment.”

He placed the chocolate bar in Eileen’s hand with a respectful gesture, then slightly bowed his head and quickly walked away.

“Please wear this for your walk.”

Shortly after, Gabriel returned with a cloak lined with thick fur on the inside.

“Thank you, Gabriel.”

“Not at all. I’m simply doing what’s expected of me as the head butler.”

Gabriel shook his head lightly.

“You’ve changed a lot, by the way. When you were younger, no matter how much I expressed my concern, you would draw a line saying you were fine and I shouldn’t worry.”

Gabriel said while gently wrapping the cloak around Eileen.

“I, I did? I don’t remember?”

“Really? Well, I suppose you might not, since it was when you were very young.”

He looked at Eileen with a distant gaze, seemingly lost in memories.

“R-right?”

Despite vividly remembering her childhood, Eileen rolled her eyes around and avoided his gaze, pretending not to know.

“By the way, have you chosen which party you’ll attend?”

Gabriel cleared his throat and asked.

“Party?”

Eileen tilted her head and looked at Gabriel.

“Since you opposed it, your safe return party was canceled, wasn’t it?”

“A safe return party… I’m not some war hero……”

Eileen trailed off and sighed softly.

“You may not be a war hero, but aren’t you the only lady of not just the Ceres family but all of Bereut? You’re more precious than most war heroes.”

Gabriel’s hands were gentle as he fastened the buttons, but his tone was dripping with playfulness.

“If you’re not going to host a party, you should at least make an appearance at another noble family’s party. Don’t you know how important social parties are?”

Ah, that’s done now.

Having fastened the cloak to keep out even the slightest breeze, Gabriel smiled with satisfaction.

“Do I really have to go?”

What a bother.

Eileen looked up at Gabriel with drooping eyes.

“Of course. Because you are a lady.”

Even though Eileen blinked her clear, transparent green eyes that were as pure as morning dew, Gabriel answered firmly, befitting his role as head butler, at least in this moment.

“Then, could you choose which party would be good for me, Gabriel?”

“How about the Benston family’s party? It’s relatively quiet for a social gathering, and their chef is excellent, so you’ll surely enjoy the meal.”

A quiet party with delicious food.

Gabriel, who knew exactly what Eileen wanted, offered the best option.

“Hmm. Is that so? Then I’ll go to the Benston family’s party.”

* * *