Jane knocked on the door of the lodging.

“Thank you for coming.”

Phil opened the door wide and greeted Jane cheerfully. Jane entered the hotel room, nodding in response.

The hotel had separate bedroom and living room. Jane glanced at the tightly closed bedroom door before walking to the living room. Simple drinks were prepared on the table in the living room.

“You liked lemon drinks when you were young.”

“Did I?”

Jane gave a perfunctory reply before sitting on the sofa.

“Let’s get to the point quickly, Phil. We’re both busy.”

Jane didn’t even glance at the lemon drink placed in front of her.

She was only thinking about ending the conversation as soon as possible and going home.

She felt uneasy about rushing out without being able to help Joseph with his studies because Phil had suddenly contacted her during dinner time.

Phil stared intently at Jane, who had an displeased expression.

He was constantly weighing Cain and Jane in his mind.

Which one would be more advantageous to deal with?

‘The young lady Jane was easier to handle than the young master.’

While outwardly addressing her respectfully as “Duchess,” Phil still thought of Jane as a 20-year-old youngster.

To someone like Phil who had climbed up from the bottom, Jane was just a pampered child who knew nothing and easily fell for others’ lies.

‘Yes, young lady Jane would be better than young master Cain.’

At first, he was angry at Cain for not meeting him after calling him to the capital. But now he saw it as an opportunity.

“I have some truly incredible information.”

“Information?”

Phil leaned forward, taking his back off the chair.

“Yes. High-level information you can’t hear anywhere else. I’ll sell it to you, Duchess. How much will you pay?”

Jane swallowed a bitter laugh. Through Norbert, Jane had confirmed that Phil had received a large sum of retirement money from the Hastings ducal family.

If he wanted, it was enough money to form connections with daughters of ordinary noble families.

It seems he’s lost all that money.

Judging by how he brought up money right away.

Phil’s eyes gleamed with greed. Jane’s spine tingled at those snake-like glittering eyes.

However, Jane smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“Phil, why is a smart person acting so foolishly? If you want to sell, you should show the goods first.”

Phil’s eyes narrowed. He was perplexed by Jane acting like a skilled merchant.

‘People do change.’

The Jane that Phil knew would have said he must be desperate for money and offered to give him a few coins first.

“You’ve changed a lot.”

Phil anticipated that dealing with Jane wouldn’t be easy either.

“Seven years have passed, Phil. You’re not exactly the same as before either.”

Jane slowly looked Phil up and down. He frowned at her evaluating gaze. Judging that time was not on his side, Phil hurried to make the deal.

“There’s nothing to show for the information… Let me ask you a question. Have you ever thought the circumstances of Earl Whitney’s arrest 7 years ago were strange?”

“Of course it was strange.”

Phil froze in place. He had expected Jane to be greatly shaken when he brought up Earl Whitney. But her reaction was far from what he anticipated.

Jane remained calm.

A look of bewilderment flashed across Phil’s eyes. He pretended to clear his throat to buy time before speaking.

“I know a few facts about that incident.”

“So?”

“Pardon?”

Phil blinked.

“Duchess, did you understand what I said correctly?”

“Yes, I did. You want to tell me something about the incident involving my family 7 years ago, Phil.”

He managed to nod with a dazed expression.

“You want to sell me information related to that incident, right? Isn’t that so?”

“Precisely. How much…”

“I’m not buying.”

Jane said firmly and stood up. She had heard everything she needed to hear from Cedric. She wasn’t curious about any new information Phil might have.

And she could guess why Cain had called Phil.

‘Cain was investigating the incident from 7 years ago.’

She wasn’t sure how much he knew, but the fact that he summoned Phil from far away meant he was likely close to the truth.

‘Perhaps he needed a final confirmation. So that’s why.’

That’s why he apologized to her even while bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound.

“Duchess, you’ll regret it if you leave. You’ll feel sorry towards Earl Whitney.”

Hearing Phil speak, she could easily guess what information he had.

The betrayal of Duke Hastings.

Jane stared at Phil with a cold gaze. Phil closed his mouth at the pressure in her eyes.

“No one will buy that information, Phil. Enjoy some sightseeing and go back.”

“The, the Duke will be interested!”

Phil couldn’t let go of his hopes. No, his judgment was clouded by Jane’s unexpected reaction.

“Then wait and see. You won’t get even a single gold coin.”

Jane left the hotel without looking back.

Lloyd was watching her carefully.

* * *

Cain was having a pleasant dream. It was a dream of when he first met Jane.

It was when Cain was 10 and Jane was 6. Invited by the Countess, Cain visited the Whitney earldom.

Usually, Duke and Duchess Hastings rarely took Cain along when visiting other houses. Cain also didn’t like going with his parents.

Because he had to sit pretending not to understand the boring conversations adults had.

Cain understood all the conversations that ranged from politics to economy to culture.

Sometimes he would find contradictions in the conversations, and mentally refute illogical arguments.

If he accidentally spoke out, he would inevitably be scolded by his parents when they got home.

So Cain usually avoided going out with his parents. His parents also respected Cain’s opinion.

For Cain, outings with his parents were not good memories.

But the day he first went to the Whitney earldom was different. That day remained a shining day for Cain.

That day was special from the morning.

His parents woke Cain up early in the morning and had him dressed up. It wasn’t just dressing up. It was literally flower-like adornment.

The servants washed Cain as if laundering very delicate silk.

After washing him thoroughly from head to toe with gentle hands, waiting for him was a servant holding a diluted oil with a flowery fragrance.

After applying the oil, a barber neatly trimmed Cain’s hair and he changed into clothes bought recently. Everything from underwear to socks was brand new.

His hair was slicked back with pomade and a handkerchief was even tucked into the small pocket in front of his shirt.

His shoes were polished to a shine.

The maid who stood Cain in front of the mirror asked. His reflection in the mirror looked quite dashing.

At this high praise from Cain’s mouth, known for his keen aesthetic sense and pickiness, the maids squealed in delight.

Cain covered his stinging ears with his small hands as he was led to the carriage by Norbert’s hand.

He was disappointed, having thought they were going to the royal palace.

Boredom showed in his eyes, annoyance in his swaying feet, and irritation in the hand propping up his chin.

Those negative emotions didn’t disappear even when greeting Earl Whitney, or when arriving at the emerald-adorned reception room.

Duchess Hastings patted Cain’s back. Still, Cain’s sullen face refused to brighten.

Neither the snacks served nor Countess Whitney’s piano performance satisfied Cain.

I just want to go home.

But that thought didn’t last long.

The child who appeared with her hair in two braids changed Cain’s mind as quickly as flipping one’s palm.

The child who appeared in a yellow dress was like a baby chick.

Even her eager tiny steps resembled a chick that had just been born, following its mother hen.

The child stood in front of him. She had walked so vigorously that her braids swayed greatly even after she stopped.

Forgetting she had already introduced herself, Jane introduced herself again. Cain couldn’t help but smile at her naive behavior.

Jane’s eyes widened. The child’s eyes were clear and transparent like glass marbles. She stared at Cain for a long time with those eyes. Then she smiled brightly.

Cain had a strange experience then.

The meaningless chatter among adults faded away. Even though it was daytime, the surroundings darkened and only where Jane was shone brightly.