The silently meeting gazes became tensely drawn.
‘He seems to have known from the beginning that I have a different purpose for coming here.’
No matter how you looked at it, he seemed like a fox-like man.
LaMain, who had been staring at him without even blinking, gently smiled at the corner of her mouth.
“It seems Duke has an exceptionally sharp intuition.”
“It’s not about having a good intuition; it’s about quick judgment of situations.”
“What does that mean?”
Duke Haribo’s straight lips twisted into a languid smile.
“As I mentioned before, I have always been interested in medicines and herbs, and I have a deep knowledge in that regard.”
“…….”
“I thought you came to give a positive response to my proposal. Am I wrong in thinking that?”
Though he posed it as a question, it was a gaze filled with confidence.
As if he had peered into her mind.
It was an accurate judgment, unable to find any flaws.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
As LaMain lightly replied, the smile on the man’s lips deepened.
“But I didn’t come to offer a formal business partnership.”
“Not a formal business, what do you mean?”
Their eyes met intensely.
And the lips, which had been slightly pressed together, moved slowly.
“Firstly, I need to tell Duke Haribo about the misunderstanding you have.”
“…….”
“I do not possess extensive knowledge about medicines and herbs, as you may think.”
Duke Haribo’s face showed no change in expression.
“There are people who have been researching medicinal herbs for a long time.”
Only now did Duke Haribo, who slightly blinked his eyes, press his lips firmly and asked, “Those achievements were made by others, not me?”
At the moment of descending silence, when a slight weight began to be felt,
“It’s a very hopeful and refreshing story.”
The man, who instantaneously changed the air with a light voice, smiled faintly.
“May I ask who those people are?”
“For now, I would appreciate it if you acknowledged their existence.”
To the swift refusal, Duke Haribo nodded lightly.
“Their identities are not crucial for me.”
“…….”
“Whatever route it may be, if I can obtain what I’m interested in, that’s enough.”
The man who wiped away the smile from his composed face changed his gaze abruptly.
“What proposal do you have for me?”
The sharp gaze fixed on the deeply embedded red eyes.
“I will provide information on herbs and methods of making medicine.”
“…….”
“I hope Duke can secure capital investment in medicine production, material supply, and distribution routes.”
LaMain concluded her words with a calm voice.
“Paying for and securing distribution routes is not difficult.”
For him, a wealthy businessman, it was a matter of course.
“Yes, I know. But there’s one more condition.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Duke Haribo spoke in a leisurely voice.
“I want to proceed with all of this secretly.”
The man, who stared into her eyes with a resolute gleam, tilted his chin slowly.
“If we proceed secretly, we won’t be able to grow the business.”
“Rather than importing and selling the expensive medicine you’re bringing in right now, this side seems to be a more profitable business.”
As if agreeing, he nodded, keeping his lips tightly closed.
“Regardless of how you sell the manufactured medicine, at whatever price, I won’t intervene.”
“…….”
“But please provide me with a certain amount of the manufactured medicine.”
Not money, but medicine. Duke Haribo furrowed his brow slowly.
“I’m curious again. Why does the lady…”
“Didn’t you say that you could obtain what you’re interested in through any means?”
Duke Haribo, who had been interrupted, gazed at her as if pausing for a moment.
But soon, he formed a faint smile on his lips.
“Yes, that’s correct. Also, the proposal you gave me is quite intriguing.”
“Fortunately.”
“But it might be difficult for me alone to proceed secretly, as you wish.”
The man’s eyes deepened as if in contemplation.
“I’m only proficient in official distribution routes.”
Looking at the earnest gaze of LaMain, he put a subtle smile on his lips.
“But I know someone who can help.”
“Who is that person?”
“It’s Lady Gemma Smith, the marchioness.”
Listening intently to the unfamiliar name, he concentrated on her.
“Among the new items brought into this kingdom, there are hardly any that haven’t passed through Lady Smith’s hands.”
“…What does that mean?”
“It means that she quickly brings in items secretly, distributes them, and later hands over the exclusive rights to nobles.”
“Ah…”
LaMain, who had slightly widened her lips, quickly bit down on them.
“Given the long time she has spent in her profession, she understands the importance of keeping secrets, and the lady values trust above all.”
It was a very satisfying statement.
“But she demands a worthy compensation. You don’t have to worry about that part.”
It meant not to worry about the money.
“First, it would be good to meet the marchioness and try our luck. Let’s arrange a meeting with her and you together.”
LaMain nodded slowly.
“When that part is confirmed, shall we write up the contract?”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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