“You’re here.”

Kaius rose leisurely from his seat, buttoned his jacket, and approached them.

“This is Elia Camellon, the owner of Elia Company.”

After Edward’s introduction, Ariel slightly bent her knees in greeting, and Kaius politely extended his hand to her. Meeting his eyes up close, Ariel was flustered as the memory of last night’s kiss came to mind, but she barely managed to erase the memory he had reminded her of. She was not Ariel, but Elia Camellon.

Elia Camellon, Ariel repeated the name as if chanting a spell, and as she raised her lace-gloved hand, he lightly kissed the back of it.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Elia.”

Faced with a situation where she was unintentionally deceiving him again, it took considerable courage to meet his eyes. Only when his gaze shifted to Edward did the tension in her stiffened shoulders release.

“Edward, I’d like to speak with Lady Elia alone. Could you excuse us?”

At those words, Edward turned to look at her, and Ariel nodded slightly. She was somewhat prepared for his request to meet her. Before leaving, Edward whispered very softly in her ear.

“Don’t forget the time.”

Nodding slightly, Ariel sat down in the chair Kaius had pulled out for her.

“What did you want to see me about?”

Ariel asked about the matter at hand as soon as she sat down.

Kaius, staring at the woman before him, was struck by an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

Was it because of her uncommon eye color?

The strangely stimulating golden eyes reminded him of Ariel in the portrait. Kaius’s gaze touched her golden hair and slowly moved downward. The habit of examining people was a habit brought on by long years on the battlefield.

The build was roughly similar.

The hair length too.

Even the scent he caught when pulling out her chair was the same.

And she’s close with the palace magician?

…No. That’s too much of a stretch. Ordinary women don’t take interest in things like company management. Ariel would probably be no different.

“…Duke?”

“Let’s order food first.”

“A cool coffee is enough for me.”

“Now, please tell me your business.”

It didn’t take long for the ordered coffee, wine, and cigar case to be placed in front of each of them. But even after that, Kaius leisurely sipped his wine without speaking, so Ariel spoke first.

Kaius started with a light question.

“Did you develop Elia spices yourself by any chance?”

“Yes.”

“That’s impressive.”

“I don’t think you asked to see me just to compliment me.”

Kaius raised his eyebrows at Ariel’s rather bold retort, but soon let out a chuckle.

“Why do you hide your face?”

“…”

“If you reveal your face to me, it could help your business in the future.”

Frustrated by his continued irrelevant remarks, Ariel slightly lifted her face covering and drank her cold coffee. At that moment, Kaius’s eyes turned to the window. Bothered by her golden eyes that kept drawing his attention, he tried to check her face reflected in the glass window, but it was not dark enough outside to make it out yet.

“I have my reasons for covering my face. Let’s stop that talk and please get to the point of why you wanted to see me.”

Despite sending a reply to meet in Kaldenbach a month later, the fact that Kaius came in person like this meant there was an urgent matter that couldn’t wait. Yet why was he beating around the bush like this?

Is it a matter difficult to bring up?

“If that’s how you feel, I’ll ask directly. Do you produce the ingredients for the spices yourself as well?”

“We produce the key ingredients ourselves.”

Inside the Malava territory, they were growing pepper trees, and on the outskirts, they were producing plants like rosemary and basil. While protecting the pepper trees, they had built lodgings at the borders of the territory for people without homes to live and work there. This time, they planned to expand that further.

Hearing that they produced the key ingredients themselves, Kaius made up his mind.

“Sell me Elia Company. Only the ownership will change, and you can continue as the representative focusing on spice development as you do now. I’ll set a price that won’t disappoint you.”

At these unexpected words, a short gasp escaped between Ariel’s lips. Her face covering fluttered with that breath.

Like the successful businessman he was, Kaius chose the fastest and most efficient path.

If that happened, there would be no need to struggle to make deals, and since all the hotels he owned would use the spices, sales would increase considerably.

“How about 3 million Lumans (about 30 billion)?”

Kaius proposed an enormous sum again, as if to remind her who remained silent. Surprised, Ariel unconsciously set down her coffee cup with a clatter.

Should I sell?

It was such a large amount that the thought naturally arose. If pepper production couldn’t be increased, it would take decades to recover that amount.

“I’m very grateful that you value my company so highly, but I have no intention of selling.”

The words of refusal were very firm, and her eyes were resolute.

Kaius, who had lit and put a cigar in his mouth, stood up and leaned askew against the open window. The long puff of smoke slowly escaped outside.

“If that’s all you wanted to discuss today, I’ll take my leave now.”

“That money would be difficult to earn even if you worked for decades.”

“I’m well aware.”

Yet she still refuses?

It was a situation he couldn’t understand. It was an amount most people couldn’t even dream of seeing in their lifetime.

While Kaius was contemplating whether to raise the amount further, Ariel took out a pocket watch from her handbag. The artifact’s effect had about an hour left.

“Tell me the price you want.”

“No. Regardless of the amount, I won’t sell.”

Ariel intended to grow Elia Company as the foundation for Letiana’s development. For that, she needed to retain ownership until the end.

“If that’s your purpose, it’s just a waste of time now. I’ll…”

“Wait a moment.”

Kaius called out to Ariel, who had just risen from her seat.

“We’re not done talking yet.”

As he stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray and returned to his seat, Ariel sat back down with a faint sigh.

“I considered Elia Company’s spices to have sufficient investment value and tried to acquire it, so please don’t misunderstand. If you don’t want to, we’ll stop talking about that.”

Ariel nodded, accepting his words.

“Have you heard of ‘Le Cordon Bleu’ by any chance?”

“I can’t not know about what gossips are calling the great clash between the Empire’s pillars, House Elbartan and House Lantiano.”

Kaius nodded briefly, interlaced his long fingers, and continued.

“I want Elia Company to partner with Kaldenbach and take charge of the steak section.”

It was such an unexpected proposal that a small exclamation escaped Ariel’s lips. In the past, this competition had made enough noise to grace the front pages of newsletters.

The result then was a draw.

She remembered people had said it was a draw in name only, but in reality, it was as good as a loss.

“If we win, I think it will be a very good opportunity for both of us. What do you think, Lady Elia?”

This was a good opportunity for Elia Company to grow by several levels.

The timing was also very appropriate, as work to increase production had just begun. Also, if she could help him win, it might ease some of the burden on her heart.

“If that’s the case, we’d be happy to.”

Kaius said that since he would be leaving Letiana tomorrow, they should finish the agreement today. Ariel agreed with that opinion, so she called a waiter to bring paper and pen.

Kaius’s eyes gradually narrowed as he confirmed Elia Camellon’s signature. The handwriting was too similar to Ariel’s. Kaius scrutinized her appearance once more and moved his seat next to her.

“My pen isn’t working. If you’re done using it…”

Kaius knocked over her half-full coffee cup. It was deliberate, disguised as an accident.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Ariel took off her wet lace gloves. At that moment, Kaius’s gaze focused solely on her left wrist.

“Fortunately, we’re not late.”

Listening to Kaius and Lemon’s conversation in front of the hotel, she heard they weren’t going straight to the palace. Thanks to that, Ariel had planned to take a roundabout way to the palace, but decided to go back directly.

On the way back, the artifact’s effect wore off, and Ariel put on the artifact she always wore before arriving at the palace. Meanwhile, she briefly explained the contents of her conversation with Kaius to Edward and handed him the agreement. Edward kept all of Elia Company’s documents.

“It seems you’ll keep clashing with Duke Elbartan in the future. Are you thinking of revealing the truth?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure yet.”

We won’t see each other after a year anyway, so is there a need to reveal it? As Ariel pondered for a moment, she leaned back against the carriage seat, feeling tired from the tension, and her eyes began to close.

She had dozed off briefly, and when she woke up, the carriage had arrived at the palace’s main gate.

“If you’re awake, let’s go. I’ll walk you back.”

As dusk began to fall, Ariel started walking side by side with Edward.

“Edward, when I arrive in Tris, I want to learn how to use carrier pigeons…”

It was then that the sound of clopping hooves was heard. Thinking it was a knight patrolling the outside of the palace, she continued walking without paying attention, but Edward stopped first.

“It’s the Duke.”

At those words, whispered like a breath, she unconsciously looked up, and a slowly moving horse blocked the path in front of the two. On the horse was a man who shouldn’t be here now, Kaius.

How…?

Ariel’s eyes trembled anxiously at the unexpected situation. Too surprised to even remember to breathe, she unconsciously gripped Edward’s arm tightly.

Kaius’s gaze, which had been calmly observing Edward, slowly moved down and stopped at her hand with visible veins. After impassively staring at that hand, Kaius’s gaze shifted to Ariel’s face.

As their eyes met, Kaius smiled gently.