Dia already thought she had entered a grand mansion that she wouldn’t be able to see in her entire life. However, now that this impressive room was claimed to be Dia’s own, it felt even more unfamiliar. It might have been easier if someone else claimed it.

‘Now that it’s called my room…’

It felt like there was a price to pay. She already had a lot of money to repay.

‘How can I repay it?’

Initially, the method of repayment was clear. But now, she was not so sure. Todd, who came before, told Dia that the contract terms hadn’t changed, but things seemed to have changed, even if not too drastically.

‘Mr. Baker probably wants the title of Viscount Blythe.’

However, Dia couldn’t hand over the title unless she married him and bore his child.

‘If it’s not the title he urgently needs, does he hope I become a socialite, as he mentioned sometime before?’

Does Zen want Dia to become a prominent figure among the nobility as his fiancée, standing out in high society? Is that all she needs to do?

‘But can I do that?’

Dia wasn’t confident. Since the day she met Zen, she had been deceiving herself into thinking she would be able to repay the debt, that the future ahead would be better than what she worried about. Just vague assurances…

‘No, it’s not vague. I’ll surely be able to repay it. Surely…’

Dia deceived herself again. Then, she took a step. Once inside the room, lifting her foot felt heavier.

Debora cautiously observed Dia’s face and slow pace, trying to deduce her thoughts. If Dia, as known in the stories, was comforting herself, trying to hide her anxiety, she might be reassuring herself that everything would be fine, even though it wasn’t.

‘So it’s both pitiful and admirable.’

Debora couldn’t give Dia an incredibly great happiness. However, she had resolved to avoid a future with no dreams or hopes and do her best.

It might be the best effort of an insignificant maid, but since it’s the best, perhaps small fortune might come, not just avoiding a huge misfortune.

‘Is that too ambitious?’

Still, who knows? Maybe Debora, by comforting this pitiful, admirable, and beautiful Dia, could make her a happy person.

‘Yes. I don’t know.’

With that thought, Debora also comforted herself.

After driving west for a while from Dover, they reached a place called Sideon. In the past, this area was fertile farmland, but when the region faced a fallow period, the landowners who didn’t want to leave the land fallow sold it to entrepreneurs.

Ten years ago, mentioning Sideon would immediately bring to mind the fragrance of grains for the people of Grazian. But now, it was different.

When the name Sideon was mentioned, frowns naturally appeared. Black smoke, a disgusting smell, noisy clamor, the coughing of sick people.
This place won’t be able to show a vibrant landscape even after winter passes. It continues to be confined to a colorless world, emitting a foul smell and loud noise.

In any case, Baeum’s factory was also in this area. Baeum’s middle managers hadn’t been so tense in recent times. It was because their young boss appeared with a stranger without giving any prior notice.

“Welcome, sir.”

The factory manager and several department heads who hurriedly came out of the office greeted. Todd just nodded lightly and didn’t introduce Zen.

Thanks to that, people had to awkwardly bow their heads individually, and Zen responded with a casual greeting.

‘Even if the boss comes alone, it’s burdensome.’

‘What on earth is going on?’

They couldn’t complain or express their curiosity. They just imagined how relatively decent companies welcome guests and acted accordingly.

“Please come into the office.”

“Is a factory tour difficult?”

Zen looked at the factory pouring out black smoke as if a fire had broken out and an unpleasant smell was spreading. He spoke while observing it.

“It’s not impossible, but I don’t recommend it. The air is bad, and it’s noisy.”

“Yes, you’ll end up throwing away your clothes.”

As the factory manager and employees spoke hesitantly, Zen raised his hand to show them and silenced their mouths. The factory manager’s black face turned red, probably embarrassed that his speech was blocked by a peer’s gesture.

“Let’s talk in the office.”

When Todd, pointing towards the office, nodded his head, Zen took the lead. The employees, who had never seen such a scene where a guest took the lead in welcoming, exchanged glances.

‘What’s his identity?’

Even with such exchanged glances, the correct answer couldn’t be known. Before it was too late, they moved their feet.