And then, Francis urged his brother.

“Go. You won’t be asking for it right away anyway.”

“…”

“Go investigate. You need to confirm whether my words are true or false. You also need to carefully select the maids you want.”

Francis smirked.

“Come back when everything is ready.”

It was a tone that unmistakably confirmed his belief that his brother would come back to him again.

Kay had an intuition that the investigation would likely confirm Francis’s words.

With a slightly changed look in his eyes as he stared at his brother, Kay got up from his seat.

“…”

His brother is being helpful.

And after looking at Francis for a moment, he asked.

“…Why are you looking into ‘Reyna’?”

“…”

Francis, a bit surprised, widened his eyes and looked at his brother.

“How do you know about that woman?”
Francis slyly smiled, “Are you interested too? What brings you here?”

“…”

Kay recalled the embarrassment he had to endure explaining his brother’s romantic endeavors in front of the master not long ago. One of Kay’s eyebrows creased with shame.

Without missing a beat, Francis cheerfully continued, “Kid, you’ve got your eyes on her too. Rare beauty, isn’t she, that young lady.”

The surprising and grateful feeling toward his brother disappeared in an instant. Kay looked at Francis with thinly veiled eyes, as if pitying him.

“If she’s a beauty, does it mean you’re not interested in her backside?”

Rising from his seat, Francis casually laughed, putting his hands in his pockets.

“Well, still a kid? How can you date while covering up in front of a beauty? It’s the strategy of proactive men, and beauties often have many men vying for their attention. The proactive ones seize the opportunity.”

“…”

Kay chuckled involuntarily at Francis’s nonchalant remark.

Seeing the scornful expression, Francis frowned slightly, looking at his brother with a face suggesting slight displeasure.

“What’s with that face?”

Kay winked at Francis with a sly smile.

“It’s better not to meddle with that woman.”

He tapped his brother’s shoulder and walked past him, leaving a final word.

“It’s just in case you end up dying, heed my words.”

“Hmm…”

After Kay left.

Francis, who had been holding his chin, adjusted his posture and leaned his head against the sofa back. With a clenched fist, he tapped his fingers.

“…”

‘Reyna’ has not been seen by anyone since the return of ‘Arthur Kyung’… How does Kay, who ‘came back with Arthur,’ know ‘Reyna’?

Francis released his fist and placed his hand on his leg. Then, he looked at the door where Kay had left.

He reacted to the words ‘beauty, that woman.’

Does he have a ‘past’ with her?

Smart.

“Rembrandt Kyung. Are you there?”

“Yes, Francis. Come in.”

Rembrandt welcomed Francis, who had come as an agent, with a smile as always.

Holding a stack of documents, Francis approached her with a smile.

“Kay visited today. He came to talk about Arthur Kyung.”

“Oh, really?”

Rembrandt showed mild interest.

“He said he was your younger brother. Did you have a good conversation?”

Ever since the return of the Crown Prince, Rembrandt had been wanting a chance to talk to ‘Arthur’ separately, without going through the Marquis. However, Arthur’s official stance was to refuse any private meeting apart from official duties as a General, so Rembrandt had been waiting for the right opportunity to approach him discreetly.

Last time, Kay had given a rather negative impression of Arthur, but Rembrandt had hoped for a chance to converse with him personally.

“He’s my brother, as he said. Did you have a good talk?”

Rembrandt showed gentle interest.

“Kay said he was worried about your well-being. Keep his words in mind, just in case.”
To meet, they could have met, but Rembrandt believed that he should approach Arthur in a way that doesn’t disturb his sentiments as much as he wanted to see them for a long time. Upon hearing from Francis that Kay, his younger brother, is Arthur’s closest aide, Rembrandt considered using this connection to indirectly reveal his intentions.

During this time, as Kay happened to come first, Francis, who knew Rembrandt’s intentions, didn’t miss the opportunity. Francis conveyed the conversation he had with Kay.

Listening quietly to his story, Rembrandt smiled.

“…I see. The maids…”

“Yes. Depending on who he brings in, it will become clearer, but it seems like he wanted maids who could take care of Lady Christina up close.”

Rembrandt quietly pursed his lips.

So.

Since ‘Reyna’ would have the lady of the Marquis as her maid, is he trying to cut off her connection with the lady of the Marquis through her?

A peculiar and somewhat similar interpretation came from Francis’s mouth.

“There might be friction with the Marquis, but there seems to be a possibility that ‘Lady Christina’ could side with Arthur Kyung.”

In ordinary cases, ‘Lady Christina’ would have inherited the servants of the Marquis, namely Christina’s mother and the lady of the mansion.

However, the desire to bring in maids who only receive orders from Arthur Kyung suggests an intention to create a suitable distance between ‘Christina’ and the lady of the Marquis, pulling her towards Arthur Kyung to operate independently.

“…”

Does this align with what ‘Reyna’ wants?

It was not clear who is causing trouble for her right now, whether it is Julius or Arthur Kyung.

Since Reyna did not answer Rembrandt’s question.

In any case, there was a need to meet her again and confirm.

Next, Francis continued, assuming that the situation on this side would be conveyed to the royal family through Rembrandt Kyung.

Rembrandt showed a troubled and awkward smile.

“…As expected, they see me as a surveillance measure for the Empress.”

Francis said.

“Yes. So, for now, I casually mentioned that I could help with some servant work. If Arthur Kyung has any servants he wants to bring into the mansion, Rembrandt Kyung can advocate for the ‘favor of the royal family’ and help him, so if you’re interested, look into it.”

Rembrandt laughed.

“Well played. Did it convey a friendly message?”

Francis also laughed with a wry smile.

“Yes. Since you are neutral and in a position similar to Prince Consort rather than Empress Maria, I suggested looking into it. I told him you wouldn’t believe me if I said it. He probably started investigating using his own means by now.”

Rembrandt expressed his gratitude sincerely.

“It’s much more comfortable with you around.”

“Don’t mention it.”
And Francis, with a document file tucked under his arm, handed it to Rembrandt.

“As a side note, everything you entrusted to me is done. Anyway, we’ll have to wait for Arthur Kyung’s response.”

There were several tasks entrusted to Francis by Rembrandt, and judging by the talk of them being completed, along with the fact that it was handed over, Rembrandt could understand what the result of these tasks was.

Rembrandt, who received it, unfolded the documents and smiled.

“I should treat you today.”

“I won’t refuse.”

What Francis had prepared were resumes and recommendation letters for the servants that Rembrandt was getting ready to send to the Marquis’s mansion.

In fact, they had been preparing to place servants in Julius’s Marquis Mansion before Kay even arrived.

This was because Rembrandt felt the need for servants who would serve as his eyes and ears and act as overseers for Julius, the Marquis. Therefore, he had been gathering people to bring into the mansion.

The reason Francis could present Rembrandt’s proposal, expressing the ‘favor of the royal family,’ to Kay was that they had already been preparing to bring servants into Julius’s mansion.

Rembrandt began to move in preparation for fulfilling the promise to find Reyna.