Upon hearing the Duke’s response, Rose finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“I thought he might reject us.”
Fortunately, the Duke did not dismiss Gwen’s party.
Although the Duke was reluctant, he intended to learn about Gwen’s intentions during the meal.
Gwen’s party walked in one by one, but Frederick seemed a bit off.
He couldn’t take his eyes off Julius.
Julius quickly noticed Frederick’s heated gaze.
“What, is he infatuated with me?”
Frederick, with a smoldering face, winked at Julius.
“Wow!”
Frederick couldn’t control his racing heart when the beautiful princess winked at him.
“Princess winking at me. It must be an honor.”
It couldn’t be anything less than an honor for his family.
Although he had heard rumors of Mederion’s princess being beautiful, seeing her up close exceeded his expectations.
“Seeing such a beautiful woman for the first time in my life…”
He stared at Julius, completely captivated.
Julius, finding Frederick’s reaction amusing, winked again.
“Oh my!”
Frederick, as if bewitched, sat across from Julius.
Julius, with a confident smile, subtly revealed his neckline by sweeping his hair to one side.
It’s unimaginable what might be hidden under the scarf.
He looked at Frederick with a subtle gaze.
Frederick, under Julius’s gaze, couldn’t control the corners of his mouth.
Before long, the servants brought carts with food.
They placed bread and appetizers on the table.
Gwen’s wife and Frederick, who were ordinary nobles, were fascinated by the luxurious menu.
Gwen, who worked as the butler for the Wens Viscount family, was accustomed to such scenes, but the others were not.
“There’s not much prepared, but enjoy.”
As the Duke spoke, they each picked up a fork, and the sound of utensils clinking softly echoed.
“I heard the news. You left the Wens Viscount family.”
The Duke spoke first.
“Yes.”
“It’s very unfortunate. I thought you would remain buried in the Wens Viscount family.”
Upon the Duke’s words, a bitter expression crossed Gwen’s face.
“Things in the world never go as planned.”
He calmly responded, even to a topic that could be emotionally challenging.
“I also find it regrettable.”
The Duke, without taking his eyes off Gwen, wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“So… what led you to work with Rose?”
The atmosphere wasn’t pleasant.
It was a clearly questioning tone.
“Lucas, if you speak like that, the guests will be scared to eat. How can they enjoy the meal?”
Julius tried to soften the atmosphere.
Gwen sent a grateful look to Julius and then began to speak.
“It’s okay. I would have been curious too. Your Excellency, it might be difficult for you to distinguish whether I am an ally or an enemy.”
He reassured and spoke calmly.
“Feel free to ask anything until Your Excellency’s curiosity is satisfied.”
Upon Julius’s signal, the Duke finally looked around.
The surrounding air was as cold as ice.
Gwen’s wife and Frederick, as well as Rose, were all watching his reactions.
“…I might need to talk to Gwen separately after the meal.”
There was no need to ruin the carefully arranged atmosphere.
“I apologize. Let’s not worry and enjoy the meal.”
The icy atmosphere thawed.
Julius looked at the Duke admiringly as he showed an unexpectedly mild attitude.
“Maybe it’s because of Princess Serbiate?”
He might not want to show a violent side to the woman he likes.
“Since we’re gathered like this, let’s all raise a toast.”
Julius raised his wine glass.
Starting with him, Rose, the Duke, and Gwen’s party also raised their glasses.
The dinner that day was relatively successful.
After the meal, Gwen and the Duke were left alone.
“I’m not sure if the meal suited your taste.”
“It was excellent. I don’t know how to repay such generous hospitality.”
Gwen replied with a modest smile.
The Duke sharply stared at Gwen who was smiling.
“But, it’s quite surprising. I truly didn’t know you would be with Rose.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Since you know better than anyone about the relationship between the Wens Viscount family and me.”
His gaze towards Gwen was unpleasant.
“I find it unexpectedly. I didn’t know you would be with Rose after leaving the Wens Viscount family.”
“I see.”
“Yeah. You must know well about the relationship between the Wens Viscount family and me.”
The Duke’s eyes on Gwen were not friendly.
“I apologize. I never fully understood.”
The Duke sharply retorted.
“So… what led you to work with Rose?”
The atmosphere was not pleasant.
It was a clearly questioning tone.
“Lucas, if you speak like that, the guests will be scared to eat. How can they enjoy the meal?”
Julius tried to soften the atmosphere.
Gwen sent a grateful look to Julius and then began to speak.
“You are free to resent me. However… I cannot entertain the idea of withdrawing from the business now that I’ve come.”
It was a gentle tone, yet determination was evident.
“I want to make Rose’s business successful, just like Your Excellency. Rose is a natural-born entrepreneur. You accurately see the path of wealth.”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
