Her heart grew heavy thinking of Guyzen, but she couldn’t reveal everything to him.

‘Sorry for being such a burden, Guyzen.’

Viare doubted if there would ever come a day when this long journey ended, and all truths were revealed.

On the day Count Alhenbar’s railroad project was announced in the newspapers, Viare visited the east with Guyzen.

When she hinted at negotiations with the east previously, the Duke used her connections to successfully conclude a deal with the Count’s family.

It involved using the Ruschepf family’s exclusive oil drilling rights to supply oil needed for Count Alhenbar’s railroad project.

Thus, Viare was invited to the celebration of the railroad project at Count Alhenbar’s estate.

Guyzen attended as the next head of Cheylo Trading Company, representing the Duke.

Despite the harsh winters, the east was relatively mild due to its mountainous terrain, with flowers blooming all over the streets.

‘How long has it been since I’ve been here…’

The Verdium estate was part of the east, but since turning back time, her only visit had been for the funeral of the previous Duke Verdium.

Unlike her naive past self, Viare’s current visit to the east was burdensome and unsettling.

Even if it was the royal family’s plan, the Duke Ruschepf provided information and clues.

He had a hand in driving Dension and his parents to their deaths, leaving Viare to secretly atone for them.

The Ruschepf family, which she once loved, had long crossed an irreversible river.
As Viare and her partner Guyzen approached the entrance of the banquet hall, they waited for the doorman to announce their arrival.

“Lord Guyzen of the Ruschepf and Lady Viare enter.”

Upon entering the banquet hall, the nobles of Arcan Capital, like those of the east, were quick to scrutinize them.

The fact that Cheylo Trading Company was collaborating with the east’s train project had been revealed just that morning, garnering significant attention.

The welcoming party for the Ruschepf siblings in the buzzing atmosphere was none other than the hosts of the celebration, the Alhenbar family.

“Greetings to Lord Guyzen and Lady Viare of the Ruschepf family.”

“Greetings to Count Alhenbar and family.”

In this formal setting, Viare and Guyzen greeted with even more decorum than usual.

Perhaps the Alhenbar family was the only noble house in the east favorably disposed towards them.

In the Marta Empire, particularly the east, there was a tendency for intense caution and exclusion, with most families not being friendly.

Viare’s ability to build rapport with eastern nobility was due to her prior experience attending their gatherings with Dension before her return.

Thus, under the pretext of aiding her family, Viare could elevate her own reputation.

Her significant contribution to this negotiation had already proven enough.

Substituting coal with oil as the driving force for the trains was a revolutionary move in this era.

Count Alhenbar seemed keen to discuss more business matters with Viare, but his daughter, the young countess, naturally looped her arm through Viare’s, saying,

“Father, may I introduce Lady Viare to other eastern nobles?”

“Yes, that would be good, considering our long-term agreement.”

The young countess smiled bashfully at her father and then, rescuing Viare from him, apologized with a hint of embarrassment, “My father talks quite a lot.”

“It’s alright, Countess. My father is much the same.”

Their fathers’ camaraderie mirrored the daughters’, as they seemed to get along quite well.

The young countess of Alhenbar discreetly whispered to Viare, carefully watching her reactions, but eventually trailed off.