Deborah, alone in the car, quietly admired the scenery outside the window.

Perhaps because she was always in the mansion, this scenery still felt unfamiliar.

‘It’s so grand, I feel unnecessarily overwhelmed. I wonder what it will be like in summer?’

Deborah would probably have to stay with the Baker family for about a year, so she would be able to enjoy the summer here.

‘The capital’s summer is nice. It’s not too hot.’

Just as she was enjoying the view outside with a subtle smile, the pendant Zen had given her fell to the floor.

“Oh my.”

It seems Deborah hadn’t attached the pendant properly when she put it on.

‘I’ve never made such a mistake before.’

Deborah lowered her head to look at the floor.

‘Where is it? Where… Ah. Here it is.’

After fumbling around for a while, Deborah’s hand grasped the pendant.

Immediately raising her upper body, Deborah hurriedly examined the condition of the pendant.

Fortunately, because there was a soft carpet on the floor, not even a small scratch was made on the pendant.

‘How strange.’

Deborah thought as she attached the pendant to her left chest again.

It was odd that while it hadn’t fallen when she walked from her room to the car, it fell when she was just sitting still.

‘But strange things happen in life sometimes.’

Deborah didn’t think much of it and attached the pendant to her chest. Deborah didn’t know then.

That there was a man carefully watching the car leaving the Baker mansion at that moment.

The Baker mansion was bustling with preparations for an unexpected guest. And not just any guest, but a guest of the Delta Marquis family.

“Move quickly.”

“No small mistakes will be tolerated.”

The servants of the Baker family were all experienced enough to earn high wages.

They moved in perfect unison and were able to complete all preparations earlier than expected.

“They have arrived.”

Sedrick called for Zen, who was waiting in advance in the reception room. Zen frowned and asked.

“What about Deborah? Did she leave?”

“Yes. That person came earlier than the scheduled time, so it was close.”

“Hah.”

Zen massaged his temples, suppressing the throbbing headache.

‘At least they didn’t run into each other, that’s good.’

He couldn’t meet Belus with such a frown on his face. He had to act like a kind person, knowing his place, like a gentlemanly pet.

‘There’s nothing I can’t do.’

After calming his mind, Zen got up and went to the main entrance. Just then, Belus, who was handing his coat to a servant, widened his eyes and said.

“You didn’t have to come all the way here?”

“How could I not? It’s an honor to have you visit.”

As Zen spoke with smiling eyes, Belus also smiled ecstatically.

Belus didn’t glance around once on his way to the reception room.

The Baker family mansion was a grand mansion, more magnificent than most noble residences. But Belus was not just any nobleman.

He was neither curious about this place nor did he find it particularly impressive.

“Sorry for visiting suddenly. I’m not usually like this, but it was a bit urgent.”

“What brings you here?”

Belus languidly crossed his legs and said.

“I’m tired of beating around the bush, so I’ll be frank. Soon, our elder brother will approach the Baem representative and bring up investment talks.”

Zen’s eyes widened. Belus, who was looking at him with satisfaction, smiled like a beautiful snake and said.

“But you should reject that.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, yes. You must be surprised. I understand.”

Belus frowned and raised the corners of his mouth. His dimples, which weren’t usually visible when they met at night, were clearly visible.

“It’s good to receive a lot of investment money. That’s how business is, right? Especially since it’s from the eldest son of the Delta Marquis family, you wouldn’t want to miss it.”

Giggling softly, Belus suddenly looked at Zen with a blank expression.

“But I really hate sharing what’s mine with others.”

Belus didn’t seem to have any intention of taking his eyes off Zen, as if examining his complexion, and Zen endured his blatant gaze with an upright posture.

“Ah, I misspoke. My brother isn’t ‘others’.”

Belus smiled brightly as if he had never given such a sharp look and said.

“My brother and I, we’re really close. You know how even in families there are siblings who don’t get along? But we’re not like that.”

Belus leaned back fully against the backrest and spoke languidly.

“He’s a good person, our brother. So I also want our brother to do well. Well, even if I didn’t wish for it, our brother would continue to do well anyway.”

By this point, praise for Greg should have come out of Zen’s mouth.

Saying that he’s the role model for all nobles, and a proud elder brother. But Zen only listened attentively to Belus’s words.

‘This kind of reaction is new.’

Perhaps Zen decided to keep his mouth shut because he didn’t believe Belus’s claim about being close with his brother.

‘This man isn’t the type to be clueless like John or Derek. He’s probably even quicker on the uptake than Eric?’

But Belus wasn’t lying.

He liked his brother and wanted him to do well. But apart from that, he wanted to have at least one thing that was more impressive than his brother.

It might be called childishness. But if jealousy could be controlled at will, would it be called jealousy?

Belus didn’t deny that he had a complex towards his brother.

But he had never openly shown it either. If someone tried to comfort him by badmouthing his brother or giving him cheap praise, he would want to rip out their tongue.

‘So keeping your mouth shut was the right thing to do, Zen Baker.’

Belus, with his hands interlocked, tilted his head to one side and said.

“I told you before. Information that everyone knows has no power. Isn’t this a similar case? If everyone invests, I don’t particularly benefit, right?”

“Not everyone in Gratian will be able to invest.”

Zen explained calmly in a low voice.

“There aren’t many people who have the capital to make a large investment while being confident of seeing meaningful returns at present. Especially in times like these, people move money more conservatively.”

“Hmm. But if Delta moves, wouldn’t everyone come running like a pack of dogs?”

“That’s why he’ll invest under an alias.”

Zen was careful not to make his tone sound like he was teaching, showing caution.

Belus smiled with satisfaction at his attitude of speaking correctly while being careful.

“Yes. My brother would definitely do that. But then I’m going to tell everyone at the club.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m going to tell everyone that my brother invested in Baem.”

Belus smiled ecstatically again, his dimples deeply etched.

“If that happens, you’ll lose all the trust you’ve gained from Eric’s people. You told them Baem wasn’t worth much, didn’t you?”

“But if that happens, the benefits Lord Delta would gain will also decrease.”

“I don’t care.”

Belus leaned his upper body forward and said.

“As I said before, what’s important to me is not sharing what’s mine with… well, others.”

Belus’s words were full of contradictions. He says he likes his brother, but he’d rather tell others than share with him.

Zen, who had been wearing a confused expression, soon composed himself and said calmly.

“This doesn’t seem like something you should be discussing with me. You should meet with Baem’s representative…”

“Hah. Why are we being like this between us?”

“What do you mean…”

“I know you’re Baem’s source of capital.”

“…”

Belus lowered the end of his eyebrow towards Zen, who remained silent, and said.

“Honestly, a small company like Baem couldn’t possibly fill the pockets of those old men in the parliament, right? If Baem’s president knew any shame, he should be licking your shoes.”

“…”

“But you’re a gentleman, so you wouldn’t make him do such things…”

Belus’s index finger stroked his soft chin. To Zen, who lowered his gaze as if in thought, Belus said.

“Did I push too hard?”

As Zen looked at him again, Belus began to move his lips.

“I promise a larger investment than my brother. It’s true that my brother has more money than me, but he can’t invest all of it in Baem.”

Belus smiled, curving his eyes, and continued speaking while looking into Zen’s eyes.

“And I’ll let you meet my grandfather. Of course, only if you move according to my wishes.”

“Is that true?”

Zen asked as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Of course. My brother might not be able to, but I can. And if you make a good impression on our grandfather, both my father and brother will become good connections for you.”

Belus chuckled and said.

“Think about it, Mr. Baker. If you help me, you lose nothing. You’ll get a big return on your investment in Baem, and you’ll also form a connection with the Delta Marquis family. Of course, you might fall out of favor with my brother who’s saving Baem, but so what?”

Belus extended his hand and said.

“Isn’t it enough if you do well?”

His attitude was confident that his hand was obviously better than Baem’s representative.

And as Belus expected, Zen took his hand. Belus smiled with satisfaction.

“You thought well. Really.”

Looking at that beautiful smile, Zen thought.

‘He’s acting exactly as expected, without even a slight deviation.’

Zen had anticipated everything.

From Belus’s contradictory behavior that ordinary people wouldn’t understand, to his relaxed smile now, thinking everything was going according to his plan.

“Ask Baem’s representative how much my brother offered. And tell him not to worry because I’ll definitely give more than that. That way, you’ll save face too, right?”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“No need for such formalities between us.”

Belus said, leaning his body fully against the backrest. As Zen slightly smiled and raised the cooled teacup to moisten his lips, Belus said as if doing him a favor.

“And I’d like to invite you to the upcoming departure party, if that’s alright?”

Zen slowly raised the corners of his mouth.