“Did you say you’re a director of Hays Trading Company?”

Phil turned the business card he received from Lloyd over and over. The gold border on the card was impressive.

“Yes. I mainly deal with railway-related business.”

Phil inwardly rejoiced. Railways accounted for quite a large portion of Hays Trading Company’s business. It meant the man in front of him was a man with deep pockets.

“But for what reason did you come looking for me?”

“I have something I’m curious about.”

Lloyd didn’t beat around the bush. It was partly because he wasn’t used to politics, and partly because of his personality of stubbornly pushing towards his goal.

“Something you’re curious about… I wonder what a director of Hays Trading Company could be curious about regarding me. I’m not related to Hays Trading Company at all.”

Phil was relaxed. He was skilled and experienced in dealing with people.

“I know. That you’re someone with no connection whatsoever to Hays Trading Company. But it would be different if we’re talking about the Hastings, right?”

Phil put more force into the corners of his mouth, creating an even deeper smile.

Why would the Hastings come up here? No matter how he looked at the man’s occupation, appearance, and name, it was difficult to find any connection to the Hastings.

‘I should have investigated about the Hastings’ surroundings before coming.’

He regretted again what he had regretted several times since meeting Jane. But it was too late to regret, and even if he could turn back time, he would have given up due to lack of money to investigate.

‘I’ll have to find out myself.’

Phil was on edge.

“Why do you think so?”

“I met Jane.”

Not the Duchess, but Jane.

Hearing those words, Phil concluded that Lloyd was very close to Jane. There was even a subtle affection in his pronunciation.

“Ah, yes. Well, I’ve known the Duchess since she was young.”

“Then you must know Jane well.”

Phil realized that Lloyd had something he wanted to ask him. Probably about Jane.

‘This is a windfall.’

Phil had a lot to tell Lloyd about Jane.

“If there’s something you want to ask, please speak freely. But I’m quite a busy person, you see.”

Phil ostentatiously tapped the watch on his wrist. Lloyd looked at the worn leather watch.

“I’ll give you as much money as you want. Why did you come here? For what reason did you meet Jane? What did you talk about when you met?”

Lloyd had grasped what he wanted. Phil liked the clean conversation that didn’t need to go back and forth.

“Let’s do this one by one. One by one. Before that, there’s something I need to make clear. I’ll have to charge about five thousand marks per question, can you afford that?”

“Let’s start with fifty thousand marks.”

He had more than enough money. Not only was Lloyd’s family wealthy, but there were also the enormous profits from Hays Railways.

Especially as a key figure in the railway company, Lloyd received quite substantial dividends.

Lloyd took out his checkbook and immediately wrote the amount and held it out. Phil barely managed to restrain his hand that was about to reach out eagerly.

When you receive a large sum of money, you have to divulge that much information. And once you spill a fifty thousand marks worth of story, it’s over. You can’t sell the same story twice.

That’s why Phil had been keeping his mouth shut until now.

If it’s an item that can only be sold once, you should find the person who will pay the highest price.

Jane, Cain, Lloyd.

Jane said she wouldn’t buy, and it was uncertain when he could meet Cain. The answer was settled on Lloyd.

Selling the whole story for fifty thousand marks. It didn’t seem to add up.

“One hundred thousand marks.”

“Alright.”

Lloyd didn’t care how much it was. If he could find out about Jane and the man’s relationship and remove him to make her even a little more comfortable, he was willing to pay twice the price the man in front of him had asked for.

Lloyd wrote out the second check without hesitation and held it out. Phil carefully stuffed the two checks into his bosom.

And he spilled out the tragedy of the Whitneys and the Hastings. Of course, he omitted what he had done.

“…How could such a thing…”

Lloyd’s face turned red, then blue, and finally turned gray.

Phil laughed inwardly. Seeing the man’s reaction, he definitely won’t think the money was wasted.

“I’ve told you all the stories I can give you.”

After spilling out all the secrets he had kept, he felt relieved and anxious at the same time.

Belatedly, he became curious about why Lloyd was interested in Jane, but what did it matter.

Whatever the man did with this, it had nothing to do with Phil. He was after money in the first place, and now that he had money, he could just leave the capital.

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

Phil asked. If the man would just pay, he was planning to make up stories even if there were none.

But there was no response from Lloyd. Looking closely, the man’s eyes were blank.

‘He’s in shock and lost his mind.’

Out of gratitude for the man who had given him a large sum of money, Phil allowed him to stay in his room a little longer.

He left Lloyd alone and headed to the bedroom. Now that he had received all the money he was going to get, he was about to leave.

He stuffed clothes into a small bag. His excited hands didn’t stop, and he was so busy humming a song that he didn’t hear Lloyd leaving.

* * *

“Did you have a good talk?”

As Lloyd came down to the hotel lobby, the employee who had kindly guided him earlier approached.

“Oh my, Lloyd sir, you don’t look well.”

Lloyd didn’t even pretend to hear her words. The employee came closer to examine him. He was in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any moment.

She reached out her hand to support Lloyd. Thwack, Lloyd slapped her hand away.

“Ah!”

He hit so hard that the employee’s hand immediately swelled red. Lloyd came to his senses at the scream.

He met eyes with the employee who looked resentful. Only when he saw her holding her hand did Lloyd realize what he had done.

“Ah…”

Lloyd recognized the situation and immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking about something else… Please go to the doctor immediately for treatment. Send the medical bill to Hays Railways… No, to my personal office. The address of my personal office, that is, the address of my personal office… The office address should be on the business card I gave earlier.”

Lloyd had become a completely different person from when he arrived at the hotel. He was rambling and couldn’t even make proper eye contact with the employee.

It was an unstable appearance enough to cause worry, forgetting even the unpleasantness of being hit on the hand. The employee shook her head.

“It’s alright. Shall I call a carriage for you?”

The employee was kind to the end. Lloyd gladly accepted her kindness.

“Please do.”

The quick-witted employee led the way and Lloyd slowly followed behind her. It was an action close to unconsciousness.

The door opened and he went out, there was a carriage in front and he got in. Lloyd mindlessly stated his destination, and when he came to his senses, Jane was in front of him.

“Lord Lloyd? What brings you here?”

A small ripple occurred in Lloyd’s eyes. Lloyd jumped up from his seat and looked around. He was in the reception room of Somnium House.

‘When did I come here?’

Lloyd sighed and quickly sorted out the situation. In his fragmentary memories, he remembered saying, ‘Take me to Somnium House,’ and ‘I came to see the Duchess.’

Even though he wasn’t ready to meet Jane yet, his unconscious desire to comfort her in her pitiful situation had led him to Somnium House.

“Ah, I came to check on Cain, I mean the President’s condition, and kill two birds with one stone. Um… to also talk about the railway test run.”

It had already been a week since Cain collapsed. It was too late to say he just came to visit a sick person. So Lloyd added other reasons as well.

“Cain… seems to need more time. Would you like to see him while you’re here?”

Jane called a maid and personally poured the prepared tea into Lloyd’s cup.

“No.”

Lloyd quickly refused and then embarrassedly rubbed the back of his neck.

“No, I mean… I meant I’d drink the tea first and then go see him.”

“I see.”

Jane didn’t attach much meaning to Lloyd’s words.

Lloyd pretended to drink tea while secretly observing Jane. She was as beautiful as when he first saw her.

Her red hair that made her white skin shine even more, her elegant hand holding the teacup, her smile that made others comfortable, and even her gentle breathing made Lloyd’s heart flutter.

“What did you want to say about the railway test run?”

Jane asked just as the conversation was about to become awkward.

“We’ve developed a train with greatly improved engine performance this time. And we’ve set the date for the test run.”

Lloyd was elated because Jane showed interest in the train he had made. So he went on and on explaining about the engine that even ordinary people wouldn’t understand if they heard it.

“…How amazing this is… Ah, I’m sorry.”

Belatedly feeling Jane’s blank stare, Lloyd closed his mouth.

“No, it’s fine. By the way, you really seem to like it a lot.”

“Yes, I like it. Very much!”

Lloyd shouted loudly as if making a confession. Jane’s eyes widened.

“Ah, I mean I really like trains. I like them very much.”

In fact, it was his true feelings for Jane that had unconsciously burst out.

“It seems so. I can feel it even without you saying it. Shall we go see Cain now?”

Jane said, confirming that Lloyd’s teacup was empty.

“We should. But Duchess.”

Lloyd’s voice lowered a notch.

“My offer to come to me anytime you need help is still valid.”

An abrupt statement, but Jane couldn’t respond right away. Because his voice and expression were too serious.

As Jane just blinked her eyes, Lloyd smiled. Then he left a very meaningful remark.

“Whether it’s your business or your family’s business, I will actively help.”