Tession suddenly spoke up.
Ah, so Elizabeth didn’t have that kind of authority? Still, she is the only daughter of the direct heir in such an important position……
“W-Why? I do give my opinions sometimes.”
“What kind of matters, may I ask?”
Seriously… he’s more persistent than I expected……
At Tession’s relentless questioning, Cynthia frowned and thought for a moment before slowly speaking. There was only one thing she knew about the Bailey family.
“…R-Ritemper Trading Company.”
“Ritemper Trading Company?”
“Yes! I’m busy discussing matters about Ritemper Trading Company with the elders!”
“The Ritemper Trading Company… the jewelry company that was agreed to be returned from House Lumanov to House Bailey on the condition of our engagement?”
“Yes, that’s the one!”
Cynthia nodded. Since it was tied to Elizabeth’s engagement, it didn’t seem strange that she would be involved.
Then Tession fell silent, lost in thought.
After a moment, his expressionless face curved into a smooth smile.
“Ritemper Trading Company… I see now.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing, Young Lady. If you’re busy, it can’t be helped. Let’s set another date when you’re free.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Cynthia quietly let out a breath of relief.
Dale, did I do well……? I managed to postpone it……!
Across from her, Tession smiled faintly and resumed eating.
Cynthia also lifted her fork with a slightly lighter heart.
A few minutes later, they finished their meal with light, pleasant conversation and stood up.
“I really enjoyed the meal today, Young Lady. I will escort you home.”
“Really? Thank you!”
Cynthia, happy from the good food, swung her slender arms back and forth as she replied and turned toward the restaurant exit.
I’m full, and I feel great!
Then Tession’s low voice came from behind her.
“Young Lady.”
“Yes?”
Cynthia, who had been walking ahead, turned around.
Tession stood still, lightly extending his hand toward her.
Huh……?
“…Yes?”
Not understanding his intention, she tilted her head and asked again.
What… does he want?
Then Tession lowered his brows slightly, looking a bit disappointed, and spoke.
“Aren’t you going to hold my hand on the way back?”
“Oh! I’m sorry! I forgot you left your stick!”
Cynthia quickly ran back and took his hand.
Naturally, he slipped his fingers between hers and interlocked them. Only then did a faint smile return to his lips.
“Let’s go.”
……Ahh, my heart!
How did Elizabeth leave someone like this alone?
Cynthia carefully exhaled and stepped forward.
****
“What on earth did you do!”
Dale shouted angrily.
A few days after her meal with Tession, this was the first thing he said when he summoned Cynthia, who had been rolling around lazily in a large room of the Bailey estate.
Cynthia blinked in confusion.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I’m asking what happened between you and the Grand Duke that day!”
Frowning, Dale roughly pulled at his tie as if irritated.
Why is he so angry? Cynthia blinked, watching him cautiously.
“Nothing happened. You even praised me that day, saying I did well bringing the Grand Duke to Bailey Restaurant under unexpected circumstances!”
“That’s not what I’m talking about!”
Dale pressed a hand to his forehead.
“The processing workload for Ritemper Trading Company has increased. The number of documents requested by House Lumanov has suddenly increased as well! And the staff in charge can’t even be properly contacted anymore.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“The Lumanov family has significantly slowed down the return process of Ritemper Trading Company!”
Slowed it down?
Cynthia blinked slowly, not understanding.
After thinking for a moment, she gave an awkward smile.
“Maybe they’re just being cautious? Transferring a trading company must be complicated and difficult……”
“The process was already at its final stage—only the signatures of the heads of both Lumanov and Bailey were needed!”
“T-Then maybe they found a serious error during the process……?”
“Our Bailey staff are elite among the Empire of Dilrotein. Do you think they would make such a mistake?”
Dale glared at Cynthia with burning eyes behind his glasses.
Feeling a bit intimidated, Cynthia shrank her shoulders and looked away.
So… is this my fault? Hmm, what did I even do last time……
“It seems everything went wrong after Cynthia’s last meeting with the Grand Duke Tession.”
“But even if I think about it, I really didn’t do anything……”
Cynthia muttered.
Dale frowned and leaned closer.
“Apologize.”
“Huh? For what?”
“For anything. If you did anything to offend the Grand Duke, then apologize!”
“I told you, I didn’t do anything worth apologizing for!”
Cynthia stepped back nervously and shouted.
We had a nice meal and everything—what is he talking about!
“No. There must be something you did without realizing that offended him.”
Unfair! He’s not listening at all!
Cynthia shook her head, facing Dale’s firm expression.
“Go to House Lumanov’s Grand Duke residence as soon as possible.”
“…To apologize for something I don’t even know I did?”
“Yes. And!”
Dale leaned in even closer.
“Casually ask about the return of Ritemper Trading Company.”
“C-Casually?”
“Yes. As if you have no particular intention. Very subtly. Naturally.”
Can I even do that……?
Cynthia swallowed dryly and protested.
“But if I go see the Grand Duke now, that would be our fifth meeting! What if he starts talking about marriage……!”
“So you’re just going to leave things like this?”
“I’m not saying I’ll leave it, I just don’t know if I can do it……”
“If the Grand Duke is truly offended, then only a sincere apology will fix it.”
But there was nothing to be offended about! We held hands and came back happily!
“If House Lumanov fully cancels the return of Ritemper Trading Company, everything becomes meaningless.”
Is that even related to me?
Cynthia pressed her lips together and thought of the 500,000 mint check.
I already took the advance… maybe I can just use that as capital and survive……
“And if that happens……”
Dale adjusted his glasses and turned back to her.
“Our contract will naturally be void, and you will have to return the 500,000 mint you received.”
……What?
Cynthia suddenly looked up.
“What are you talking about? Who returns an advance payment? I’ve already been acting as Princess Elizabeth for over a month—pay me for the labor!”
“Did you not read the contract carefully?”
“I did! Very carefully! I successfully avoided being exposed and did everything you told me! I fulfilled the contract conditions properly, so I should be paid for the month!”
Dale raised an eyebrow, as if surprised.
Right? I’m right, aren’t I?!
“…That is a reasonable argument.”
“Of course it is!”
“But you’re forgetting something.”
Forgetting…?
Confused, Cynthia looked at him as Dale smiled faintly.
“You’ve been staying very comfortably at the Bailey estate, haven’t you?”
“…W-Well, yes?”
“And we didn’t charge you for lodging or meals, did we?”
Uh-oh……
A very unpleasant feeling crept over Cynthia.
“The Bailey estate’s lodging fees are quite expensive. Meals prepared by professional chefs are even more so.”
“W-What are you talking about……”
“If the contract is void, then you must pay for those costs.”
“Huh?”
“The elders of House Bailey kindly provided those things for you. But if the contract is broken, they are no longer kindness.”
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