“Do you remember the man we met at the party?”

“Are you talking about Mr. Jen Baker?”

“You remember.”

Belus responded in surprise, as if Margaret had achieved something remarkable.

“I heard vaguely about him being an excellent investor and businessman at the recital.”

“Yes, I invited him to the party because I recently received good investment information from him…”

Belus, who was talking cheerfully, suddenly closed his mouth with a worried look, making Margaret, who was surprised, cautiously ask, “Why are you like this?”

“It’s not easy to raise investment funds.”

Belus sighed with a self-deprecating smile.

“There are ways to involve family, but if I do that, the results won’t be solely achieved by my own efforts. My capabilities are so weak, and I worry about when I can produce results that the Duke will be satisfied with.”

With a fragile look, Belus continued, and Margaret, who felt sorry for him, asked carefully, “How much is the investment fund, exactly?”

Belus, looking around, gestured for Margaret to come closer.

Margaret’s face turned red as if it would explode when she slightly raised her head a beat late. Belus whispered the investment amount to the trembling Margaret.

“It’s not a huge sum, but it’s a bit too much for me to raise alone.”

Belus, standing upright again, said with a bitter smile.

Without even making eye contact, Margaret, feeling like her heart would burst, said, “Th-Then, how about I help you?”

Belus raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t expect this reaction at all.

But all of this was expected. Otherwise, what reason would Belus have to seek out Margaret?

In the carriage on the way home, Belus hummed a tune.

[I didn’t wish for such a thing. And, shouldn’t I handle it all with my own strength to gain the Duke’s recognition?] [I, I can keep it a secret. A-and I’d be very happy if I can help. So, please wait a little. I’ll prepare quickly.]

Margaret’s face, saying she would be happy, seemed sincere.

Belus, who wanted this situation but felt Margaret’s sincere and pitiful efforts, couldn’t help but think, ‘What am I doing?’

Belus remembered the day he first met Margaret.

That day, Belus only observed basic courtesy and didn’t particularly treat her affectionately. Nevertheless, from that day on, Margaret liked him.

Even later, even though he behaved recklessly, she consistently wished for him.

‘But still, the reason that woman ties herself to me must be because of this face.’

In the end, Belus thought that Margaret didn’t genuinely like him.

‘If I had to be objective, am I like some jewel that woman wants?’
Loving someone is similar to wanting a jewel. People want to possess the one they love. However, according to Belus’s experience, there was a significant difference between constantly thinking about a dazzling gemstone ring and continually picturing the face of the person you love.

“Anyway, that woman wants my status, and Grandfather wants that family’s title. I’m the only pitiful one stuck in the middle.”

So, using her to this extent wasn’t really a big mistake. Belus even planned to contribute part of the investment funds under Margaret’s name.

If it were anyone else, it would be unthinkable, but Margaret was different from other people.

After all, she was Belus’s fiancée and renowned for her gentle nature and lack of interest in business matters.

So, even if it were revealed in the future that Margaret had also participated in the investment, everyone would probably think it was because of Belus.

“She’ll get a share of the profit dividends as well. So, she won’t lose anything if that woman benefits from me.”

Belus felt no remorse towards Margaret.

“Hmm.”

Humming a tune and leisurely looking out the window, Belus spotted a lady walking gracefully with a wide-brimmed hat.

“Oh?”

Black hair, modest attire, and proper posture. In an instant, Belus, thinking of one person, urgently shouted, “Stop right there!”

Startled, the coachman quickly stopped the carriage.

Thanks to that, the complicated path became even more intricate, but Belus paid no attention to such matters and chased after the lady.

Being taller than most people had the advantage of having a relatively clear view even in the crowd.

Without taking his eyes off the lady, Belus, using his naturally good physique, pushed through the crowd to catch up.

“Debora!”

Belus grabbed the woman’s wrist and shouted. Even sweat beads formed on his face as if he were desperate.

“Gah!”

The startled woman turned around. Belus’s pupils widened.

Although her head seemed dark due to the hat, the woman’s hair was plain brown. Moreover, her face looked nothing alike. How could he mistake such an ordinary woman for Debora?

“Wh-Who…?”

The blushing woman, looking at the handsome Belus, stammered. Belus laughed as if amused.

“Another stutterer? I don’t want to meet any more stuttering women today.”

“What?”

Having released the woman’s wrist, Belus, wearing an ecstatic smile, said, “I’m sorry, miss. I must have mistaken someone. Have a good day.”

Belus left the woman there and turned away.