SMR 112

~Chapter 112~

“I saw you at the auction. Didn’t you boldly and quickly snatch up the Lowerbury land—the one everyone had their eyes on?”

Harriet had been too distracted by Cedric to notice her surroundings that day, but it seemed Tez had seen everything.

However, since he made no mention of Cedric, she couldn’t figure out exactly how much he knew.

‘No need to mention that information first.’

Without showing her flustered feelings, Harriet lifted her chin slightly, wearing a proud expression.

“Just got lucky, that’s all.”

“Hahaha! I was there with some investors I know, and they were all curious about you. Quite jealous, actually.”

Ignoring the probing look in his eyes, Harriet sipped her tea.

“It was my first time at an auction. Is it always like that—so few women my age?”

“Your very first auction, and you won the most valuable land? Miss Harriet, I’ve thought this before, but you really have the instincts of a gambler.”

Her heart skipped a beat. After all, what she had intended to bid on had been the least valuable land.

Since Harriet only gave him a vague smile without answering, Tez leaned forward, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.

“Most noble ladies pretend not to care about money. They think it looks vulgar to admit it—even though everything they wear is bought with money.”

“And the reason you’re telling me this is…?”

“Because you seem serious about growing your fortune. And I admire that.”

“How flattering.”

Tez chuckled, clearly entertained by her reaction.

“If you’re interested in investment, would you join me at the picnic hosted by Alberman Bank? You’d pick up a lot of useful information there.”

The invitation made Harriet wary—Tez always had ulterior motives—but the idea of attending that picnic was extremely tempting.

Alberman Bank was the largest financial institution in the Astoga Empire. Its annual spring picnic was infamous; only the highest-ranking clients, nobles, and business leaders with major dealings received invitations.

Some even said that every important deal in the Empire was sealed there.

‘Then this man is more of a big shot than I thought.’

She had only ever known him for his reputation as a playboy. She hadn’t realized he had influence in places like Alberman Bank.

On the surface, she and Tez might look like equals, but if he was invited by Alberman, then clearly the gap between them was huge.

Her soap business, the money from Perillas, and even her recent purchase of Lowerbury land weren’t enough to earn her a ticket into such a place.

This was a rare opportunity she couldn’t easily dismiss.

“I’m neither rich nor a high-ranking noble. Would I even be allowed to attend?”

“You’d be attending as my partner. What’s the problem? Besides, the people who go there actually enjoy seeing ambitious young faces.”

Harriet nodded slowly, then asked the question nagging at her most.

“But why me? Don’t say it’s an apology for the past. That’s hard to believe.”

Tez blinked in surprise, then laughed.

“Hahaha! Judging by the suspicion in those eyes, I must really be on your bad side.”

“Wouldn’t anyone be suspicious of such kindness without reason?”

“Oh, but there is a reason.”

He fluttered his long lashes once and leaned closer, speaking softly.

“When a man shows kindness to a woman, there’s always a trace of affection behind it.”

Harriet opened her mouth, hesitating, before countering,

“Not everyone is like that.”

“There may be differences in degree, but in my view, there are no exceptions. Especially not when it comes to Tez Roark.”

Harriet didn’t know how to respond—and honestly, she didn’t care about Tez’s feelings.

‘If every man’s kindness hides affection… does that mean Cedric Kailas’s kindness too…?’

The thought made her cheeks grow warm. She quickly snapped out of it when she noticed Tez smiling smugly, pleased with himself.

“Ahem! Sorry, but I have no intention of becoming anything special to you, Lord Roark.”

“I understand. But don’t be so quick to declare it. I know plenty of women who regretted saying that later.”

“I mean it.”

“Fair enough. But remember—some words in life are always open to being taken back.”

Tez, proud of his other nickname, ‘the man who never loses,’ looked utterly confident Harriet would fall for him someday.

Irritated, Harriet frowned.

“If being your lover is the condition, then I won’t attend the Alberman Bank picnic.”

“Ah, you misunderstand. I’d like to be closer to you, yes, but I never said it had to be as lovers.”

“…What?”

“I think we could be good friends. Of course, if you wanted something more… we could always go further.”

Harriet shook her head furiously, making him laugh again.

“Just as I thought. So, this invitation is simply about building a friendship. Nothing more.”

“Really…?”

“Of course! And if you’re uncomfortable, feel free to decline. I only asked because I thought it might benefit someone like you more than it would me.”

It would be rude to keep doubting after that.

After thinking it over, Harriet finally accepted.

‘It’s an invitation I could never earn on my own. I have so much to learn from real wealthy nobles.’

At worst, someone might flirt with her. But with Tez as her partner, surely he would step in to handle it.

“All right then. I’ll count on you this time as well.”

* * *

Angelique was supposed to be sold only in hospitals and pharmacies. But Albert had always said, “Rules are meant to be broken.”

After all, what lined his pockets wasn’t the official sales, but the off-the-record deals.

So today, as usual, his “shop” was full of customers—some of them quite well-known—waiting to buy directly from him.

Normally, Albert kept things clean and professional, handing over the drugs without fuss. But with the woman in front of him, he hesitated, wanting to get closer.

“By the way, Miss Bella, didn’t you come to one of our parties recently?”

As she moved pills from his silver tray into her pouch, Bella frowned and looked up.

“What are you talking about?”

“We bumped into each other. When you were getting off from the ship.”

He grinned knowingly, but Bella tilted her head, confused.

“Sorry, but I’ve never seen you outside of this place. You must be mistaken.”

“Huh? But it really looked like you. The birthmark was in the exact same spot.”

Albert pointed timidly at the small moles on Bella’s neck and chest.

Her expression immediately hardened.

“You’re saying the mark was exactly here?”

“Yes. And the hair color matched too. Honestly, I wasn’t the only one who thought it was you. Are you sure it wasn’t?”

Bella’s face stiffened, her arm prickling with goosebumps.

“Hair color can be a coincidence. But the same mark in the same place…?”

Albert, still suspicious, added,

“Not just the mark. The way she spoke, her whole aura—it was exactly like you.”

“I said it wasn’t me. And even if it was, I don’t see why I should be interrogated like this. If word spreads you treat clients this way, it won’t be good for your business.”

Only then did Albert realize he was pushing too far, angering an important client.

“Haha, forgive me! That particular customer was unusual, so I overstepped. Let me make it up to you by giving you extra medicine.”

He hurried to open his case. Bella Listerwell was too prominent a figure; if she spread bad rumors, it would hurt him badly.

But Bella calmly slipped her pouch into her bag and shook her head.

“I don’t want more medicine.”

“Please, I insist—”

“No. I want something else.”

Albert frowned slightly. Bella, unbothered, went on,

“Whatever medicine I buy from you in the future—you must keep it secret. That’s the only gift I ask for.”

“That goes without saying. Every sale here is confidential.”

“Words mean little. I want it in writing.”

Albert’s suspicion deepened.

“You’re not… planning to kill someone with this medicine, are you?”

“Maybe I am.”

“…What?”

“But don’t worry—we’ll never get investigated. You’ll profit from selling me the drugs, and I’ll get what I need. That’s all. Simple, isn’t it?”

Albert reluctantly nodded, still baffled. He had no idea what Bella truly meant.