To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 35

Ian quietly listened to the woman in front of him. The red-haired woman, with her hair swept over one shoulder, was much more talkative than he had expected. It was almost enough to hurt his ears.

“The Empire is really nice. Places like this are everywhere. In Labeana Caisa, it’s hard to find such a fine social hall.”

“There are a lot of people, and it’s good for business too. If I had known, I would’ve moved to the Empire earlier. Oh, but of course, Labeana Caisa has its own charm.”

The woman kept talking to herself until she noticed Ian’s gaze. She gave a small smile and asked while playing with her long hair.

“Marquis, do you perhaps dislike His Majesty the Emperor my father?”

“What are you saying?”

Ian didn’t bother hiding his discomfort. Asking a citizen of the Caesar Empire whether they disliked the Emperor was a serious offense. It wasn’t a question one asked even as a joke among close friends, let alone during a first meeting. And calling him father Even if it were true, the woman Helen Fitz should not have said such a thing.

“Well, it’s just You looked at my hair like you really don’t like it. This hair color is a symbol of the Imperial family, right?”

It wasn’t the exact answer, but it was close. Ian had felt a strange discomfort when Helen’s hair reminded him of Prince Jared. But he had no intention of saying that out loud, so he gave her a warning.

“My lady, you should be careful with your words. In this Empire, unlike in the countries you’ve lived in, insulting the royal family is a very serious crime.”

Helen’s expression briefly changed at the words “insulting the royal family,” but she quickly smiled again and spoke lightly.

“But shouldn’t I be okay? I’m royalty too, in a way.”

Ian clicked his tongue silently. It was obvious she was saying risky things on purpose.

“Lady Helen, let me make it clear. Unless someone carries the great Caesar name, I don’t treat them as royalty. So don’t expect your birth to give you any advantage in this deal.”

He drew a firm line. It was a warning he had no intention of treating her, an illegitimate child, as royalty, so she shouldn’t try to use that as leverage. Helen played with the ring on her left hand. It had an engraved lion the symbol of the Caesar Empire but not the roaring lion of the royal banner. This one was crouching, quiet.

“You’re right. I don’t have the Caesar name. But it’s true that His Majesty’s blood runs through my veins. And just watch. One day, I’ll carry the great Caesar name too. I promise. It won’t be long.”

As long as the Empress stood strong beside the Emperor, that day would never come. But Ian didn’t express his thoughts. Instead, he steered the conversation toward the purpose of their meeting.

“My lady, let’s stop here and talk business.”

“Fine. That’s why we met, after all. But you’re not very polite, are you? A gentleman should listen to a lady, you know.”

“Don’t make that face. I was just about to start talking about the deal anyway.”

“Good.”

Helen gave him a sideways glance. Most men she did business with were either surprised or charmed by her background or personality. But the man in front of her seemed like a rock he showed no interest in her at all.

‘He’s not the type to fall for a pretty face. This might be tricky.’

Helen uncrossed her legs and sat up straight. It seemed clear she couldn’t gain the upper hand, so getting to the point would be better for her too.

“Sapphires are all the rage in the Empire, right? But I heard the ones here are basically monopolized by the House of Parden.”

Ian nodded. That was the real reason he agreed to meet Helen Fitz. The sapphire trade and processing in the Empire were largely controlled by the House of Parden specifically, Graham Parden’s top priority business.

“Mistycus sapphires from the Kingdom of Caisa are known for their quality and unique color. They’re in high demand within Caisa, so exporting them is hard. But not impossible. As I mentioned, I can help you get access to exported sapphires.”

Mistycus sapphires were a special product of the Caisa Kingdom. The government strictly controlled their export even high-ranking nobles couldn’t easily smuggle them out. But Helen Fitz had a way. Her mother, the king’s only official mistress, was Countess Larisa of Revidon. That gave her some influence over sapphire exports.

“Very well. Then I’ll pay the contract fee and commission you mentioned in your letter. In return, work with the merchant group I name.”

Understanding this, Ian reached out his hand. If Mistycus sapphires could enter the Empire steadily, he could start to take part in the Empire’s sapphire trade and processing. The House of Parden would likely suffer, but Ian didn’t care. That was part of his plan.

“Oh my, really? I heard you were good at business, Marquis, but now I see”

“However. You must not make deals with anyone else no other families or groups. If you sell even one box elsewhere, you’ll owe me damages.”

“What? A monopoly clause? That puts me at a disadvantage”

Helen trailed off and gave him a hopeful look. Ian saw right through her and gave a short laugh. He knew she wasn’t in a position to bargain. Before arriving in the Empire, she had nearly fallen into deep debt due to a poor business decision.

“You need money, my lady. And besides me, who else will pay that contract fee and commission right now?”

Helen blushed slightly. She thought her problems weren’t known in the Empire but apparently, that wasn’t the case. What if His Majesty finds out? She felt anxious but quickly composed herself.

“Fine. I do need quick money. I’ll do the deal. But I want two conditions.”

“Go ahead.”

“Please keep my recent business failure or, let’s say, ‘temporary trouble’ a secret. Once I get your payment, I’ll be fine anyway.”

It wasn’t a difficult condition, so Ian nodded. Helen continued without missing a beat.

“You’re handsome, Marquis. And the head of a prestigious family. Just the kind of man I’ve been looking for.”

Ian looked at her as if to ask what she was talking about. Helen laughed at his cold expression.

“Relax. I’m not asking you to date or marry me. I just want to use you a little.”

“High-ranking nobles in the Empire praise the royal family but still have such outdated thinking. Just because my mother isn’t the Empress, they avoid me even though my father is the Emperor.”

It was only natural. Helen Fitz was the Emperor’s only illegitimate child, but she had no real standing in the Empire. Her mother wasn’t from the Empire’s nobility and had received no titles or land. Helen herself had spent most of her life abroad. To the Empire’s citizens, she was practically a foreigner. And her surname Fitz was only given to illegitimate royal children. Without it, she wouldn’t even be considered a noble. The Emperor had never once called her to the palace.

“There aren’t many noble families in the Empire as powerful as House Lloyd. That’s why I want your help. Attend a few parties with me. If they see me as your partner, they’ll treat me differently.”

Helen clearly understood her position. That’s why she needed the help of someone like Ian a high-ranking noble from a powerful family.

“It won’t hurt you much, right? You’re a man, so as long as you’re not seen with a woman of very low status, no one will care. Life really is unfair, isn’t it?”

Ian stayed silent. It wasn’t a difficult condition. But he was engaged. Naturally, he thought of Aisha, and his face tightened. Helen noticed and narrowed her eyes.

“Oh, do you have a fiancée? Are you the type who worries about her feelings? That’s not very attractive.”

“If you don’t agree to be my partner, this deal is off. I’ll find someone else, even if it takes longer.”

Her playful tone was full of amusement and confidence. It had happened before men falling for her and abandoning their wives or fiancées. Watching elegant, proud women cry after losing their men always gave her a cruel thrill.

‘Wouldn’t be bad if this man fell for me. With his status, even marriage wouldn’t be so bad.’

Helen looked Ian over, lost in her imagination. She was sure he wouldn’t refuse. He seemed very eager to secure this business deal.

“If you want to add that condition, let’s also limit the number of times. I’ll attend five events with you. Just as your companion. I won’t help with your business in any other way.”

Just as she thought, Ian didn’t reject her condition. But he wasn’t a fool he saw the trap in her offer.

‘So he saw through my plan to keep him close under the excuse of business… He’s not stupid. Which might make him more interesting.’

Helen sighed inwardly and leaned forward slightly. But Ian just kept looking at her with the same unreadable expression.

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