After Baron Florence came down to this city, Montreille, Felix never met Julia again. All exchange of letters was completely cut off.

However, Felix de Tolomiès was a man who found possibility in the impossible. After lavishly pouring out bribes, he finally succeeded in secretly exchanging correspondence with Julia.

“My love Felix, please. Get me out of here. I’m going crazy missing you. I’ve been locked in my room for days now, eating only water and hard bread. If you truly love me……”

Once contact was established, Julia began sending several letters a day. It was no use trying to persuade her to stop sending them for fear of being noticed by others.

The contents of the letters were initially filled with affection and declarations of love, but as time passed, they gradually changed to complaints and lamentations.

After a few more days, letters started coming saying that it was because of you that I ended up like this, so you must save me somehow.

At first, Felix also tried to get Julia out using normal methods.

But by this point, he could only think of somehow silencing Julia’s whining. Now he was willing to make any reckless move for that purpose.

Felix spoke as politely as possible.

“I heard there was an unfortunate incident at the royal ball I was unable to attend previously. I deeply regret that your daughter has been placed in a difficult situation because of it.”

Baron Florence tried hard to hold back from snapping at him.

‘Who’s fault is it that she’s in a difficult situation? If you had any conscience, you shouldn’t have brought an unmarried woman into your home when you already have a wife!’

He silently swallowed his anger.

In fact, he had vaguely sensed that his daughter and Count de Tolomiès were overly close. He had let it slide only because he never imagined the count would take his daughter to his own home.

To some extent, there was also an expectation that the friendship between the two would bring benefits to the Florence family. So he deliberately pretended not to know even though he knew.

As a result, this disaster occurred. Since there was something that pricked his conscience, he couldn’t entirely blame others.

Felix carefully continued speaking.

“I know it’s presumptuous of me to interfere… but Miss Florence is a beautiful and intelligent young lady. It’s too much of a waste for such a talent to be cooped up at home.”

Baron Florence replied in a sunken tone.

“I will take responsibility for teaching my daughter well myself. Please don’t worry, as I will make sure there is absolutely no need for you to concern yourself, Count.”

The implication was to cut off relations with his daughter from now on.

Felix de Tolomiès clasped his hands together with a seemingly good-natured smile.

“Please don’t do that.”

He continued speaking with a cunning look.

“I would like to maintain a close relationship with both Baron Florence and your daughter in the future.”

In the end, Baron Florence failed to maintain his composure.

Seeing the baron’s sharp gaze, Felix decided to change his strategy. He had already prepared bait that the baron could not refuse.

“The auction for mining rights to the Nancy silver mines will be concluding soon. If you wish, I could share the profits from there with you, Baron.”

Baron Florence’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean……”

“Among the nobles participating in this auction, there are hardly any who can match my wealth. There is Duke de Lenoir, but he doesn’t seem very eager to acquire the silver mines. So it’s only a matter of time before the mining rights fall into my hands.”

Felix tempted the baron in a sweet voice.

“Once I obtain the mining rights, I will share a considerable portion of the profits from the mines with you, Baron. If only you would allow me and Miss Florence to continue our good relationship……”

He trailed off, furtively gauging the other’s reaction.

Sure enough, Baron Florence’s eyes wavered. It was evidence that he was being shaken.

The baron asked in a trembling voice.

“Can you really promise to do that?”

“Of course I should do at least that much for my lover’s father.”

Felix smiled and extended his hand to the baron.

The baron fell into contemplation. It was too sweet an offer to refuse.

While it might seem laughable to great nobles like Count de Tolomiès or Duke de Lenoir, even a portion of the profits from the mines was precious to a newly ennobled aristocrat like him.

Baron Florence had not even been able to participate in this auction due to his low rank. He had been secretly resentful about that.

It felt like it meant that he, as merely a baron, could not be part of mainstream high society.

If he took this hand now, not only would he gain a share of the future profits from the mines, but he could also maintain a close relationship with Count de Tolomiès, a high-ranking noble.

But if he rejected this gesture, it might be the end of relations with the House of Tolomiès forever.

Of course, his daughter’s chastity was important. But was it really more important than enormous financial gains and the future of the family?

Felix added, thumping his chest:

“Ah, don’t worry. I will make absolutely sure there are no problems for Julia’s future. I will take responsibility for Julia somehow later on.”

It wasn’t said with any great sense of responsibility. He was just boasting a little to look good in front of his lover’s father.

However, Baron Florence interpreted this somewhat differently.

Felix de Tolomiès was one of the highest-ranking nobles in this city. Such a person said he would ‘take responsibility for Julia’s future.’

The baron was a realistic person, so he didn’t expect Julia to become the Countess de Tolomiès.

But high-ranking nobles often finished relationships by marrying off women they had kept as mistresses to good families through their connections when they grew tired of them.

Perhaps when Count de Tolomiès parted with Julia, he might find her a good marriage match. Wouldn’t that be good for Julia too?

Baron Florence quickly made his decision.

“Well then, Count.”

He was a born businessman. If he had decided to take a risk, he had to extract as much as he could.

This was especially true when he was paying the enormous price of his daughter’s chastity.

The baron bombarded Felix with all sorts of questions.

Was he really confident he could acquire the mining rights, how would the profits be distributed, had he prepared countermeasures to prevent gossip in high society, and so on. There were countless things to negotiate.

***

I heard about Felix’s movements from Marie.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, madam.”

Half an hour ago, intelligence had arrived from an informant at the fixer’s office. It was intelligence that Felix had gone to Baron Florence’s mansion.

I shook my head.

It was obvious what Felix was discussing at Baron Florence’s mansion.

In my first life, as soon as he acquired the Nancy silver mines, he rashly gave half of the profits to Baron Florence.

The only difference in this life was that Felix met with Baron Florence directly before the final bid.

He probably boasted to the baron that he would win the mining rights. Only then could he promise future profits to the baron and request that Julia be released.

Now he would try to pour more money into the auction to fulfill his boast.

I finished organizing my thoughts and stood up.

“I need to meet Viscount Willem.”

***

That night, Felix was out late. Madam Louise was also conveniently absent.

Thanks to that, I was able to safely meet with Viscount Willem.

“I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

Viscount Willem said with a tense look.

In fact, since everyone knows he is Duke de Lenoir’s confidant, I should avoid contact with him as much as possible if I want to be cautious.

However, I had no choice today since I also had something to deliver.

I moistened my lips slightly with tea and said:

“My husband went to Baron Florence’s house today.”

“I heard about it.”

Viscount Willem nodded.

I continued speaking as I set down my teacup.

“He probably proposed sharing the profits from the mines with Baron Florence. Since that deal can only be realized if he obtains the mining rights, he will likely try to pour more money into this auction.”

“What about the exact amount?”

“I don’t know yet. But I can estimate the upper limit.”

I placed the documents I had prepared beforehand on the table.

The documents showed newly calculated bid amounts. They took into account all the assets Felix could pour into this auction and the extra funds he could immediately raise through short-term loans.

“No matter how much money he wants to spend, he won’t be able to use more than this. Madam Louise and I will stop him.”

Viscount Willem frowned as he looked over the documents.

“It’s quite a large sum. It’s not an amount we can’t handle, but I’ll have to ask His Grace the Duke if we can readily offer this much.”

“You must offer it. If you don’t want to hand over the mines to that man.”

And if you want to prevent Julia from ever returning to high society.