I No Longer Have Love to Offer You - Chapter 29

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

As she spoke these words with a smile to the young man before her, Mirabelle couldn’t help but feel she’d said something similar very recently.

“Yeah, it has been a while. Since graduation, right? How many years has it been?”

“About five years.”

In the reception room of the Albert Trading Company, Mirabelle was meeting with a familiar face. The young man with navy blue hair and turquoise eyes was Killian Lowe, one of Mirabelle’s most important friends.

“The capital is quite far from here, isn’t it? I’m so glad you came.”

“I treated the trip as half business, half vacation. Made for a nice break.”

Killian had always been perceptive about people’s feelings, careful to keep conversations from becoming burdensome. While his words weren’t lies, Mirabelle suspected they also contained consideration for her feelings.

And she guessed that was also why he deliberately avoided mentioning her divorce.

“Actually, my family came with me. I’d like to introduce them if you have time.”

“Really?! I’d love to meet them!”

Killian had married a few years ago and apparently already had one child. The still-earnest-looking man must have built a happy family.

“It’s been a while for you too, Albert.”

After enjoying his reunion with Mirabelle, Killian turned to address Albert as well.

“Oh? You could see me too? I thought maybe I’d become invisible since you were only talking to Mirabelle.”

Albert, seated on the reception sofa beside Mirabel, teased in response. Having maintained their friendship since their academy days, such banter between the two men was probably commonplace.

“Well. While there’s much to discuss after so long, our time is limited. Shall we get to the most important matter?”

At an appropriate moment, Killian shifted the topic. Along with the change in subject, his demeanor shifted too. Where before he’d exuded sincerity and kindness, now there was a hint of sharp seriousness.

“I’ve reviewed the proposal you sent ahead. Personally, I think it’s a meaningful challenge. But getting noble society to accept it will be difficult.”

On the reception table lay the proposal that had been sent to Killian. A plan devised by Mirabelle and subsequently refined.

“I know. The men especially will oppose it. The current system suits them just fine.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Even so, I want to push forward with this plan. More than anything, it’s something I personally found desperately necessary after going through my divorce.”

“……”

At Mirabelle’s response, the severity in Killian’s gaze softened.

“I figured nothing I said would make you give up, Mirabelle.”

Saying this, Killian took a document from his bag—a contract regarding work with Mirabelle.

“If we’re doing this officially as a job, we should properly sign a contract.”

“…Are you sure? I know it’s strange for me to say this when I’m the one asking, but I thought you might refuse.”

“Why?”

“Your office is in the capital, isn’t it? Taking this job would mean being away for a long time. You’re so responsible. I thought you might say you can’t leave your office unattended…”

Mirabelle had believed Killian was the only one she could ask for this job. That feeling hadn’t changed. And she’d been sure Killian would understand her thinking. But whether he could actually take the job was another matter especially with the distance issue being so hard to resolve.

“Mirabel, fortunately my office is staffed with excellent people. While I am the director, work would continue smoothly even if I stepped away. Besides…”

As Killian paused, Mirabelle watched him. His gaze shifted to the proposal on the table before meeting her eyes again.

“My wife has a friend who’s suffering from unfair treatment too. There’s only so many people I can personally help. But if this plan succeeds, that could change. My wife said she’d fully support anything that could help women like you and her friend.”

Continuing, Killian added:

“Even as a lawyer, the number of people I can help is limited. And clients still need to come up with fees, right? With your proposed system, women wouldn’t need to prepare those funds themselves. If that worry were removed, many more could use these services.”

Killian’s calm voice conveyed his thoughts. Perhaps there were people even he had wanted to help but couldn’t.

“Plus, if I play my cards right, this could be quite profitable?”

As if to lighten the mood, Killian did something uncharacteristic—he smirked.

Mirabelle was taken aback by his expression, but the next moment, relief spread through her chest as if releasing tension.

“Killian, has becoming a lawyer made you a bit more unscrupulous?”

“Has it? Well, I may have learned that you can’t always be perfectly principled.”

As he spoke, Killian turned the contract toward Mirabelle.

“Looks like we’re settled then,” Albert said, watching the two review the contract’s contents.

And so, the proposal Mirabelle had submitted through the trading company’s system was set in motion.