Chapter 42

 

Iona whispered at a level that the other people couldn't hear.

 

“Have you seen the face?”

 

"Yeah, I think if we follow them when they leave, we'll be able to find out more."

 

"Act as if you're showing kindness as much as possible when you meet them. For the purpose of just making a good impression on the family of the woman who will become your wife, without any other ulterior motives."

 

Now that Iona had done enough to gain their trust, Leroy's role is important from now on.

 

The person who owns the problematic land will likely see it as needless trouble after hearing about what just happened.

 

It was natural for Leroy not to want to appear unfriendly to Count Mordlov over such a thing. However, it is not possible to do only good things for Nils by returning the property she has accumulated free of charge.

 

'Then the Duke would appear like a savior and offers to buy the land back for a fair price. As if he was planning to earn points by fixing the faults of his future brother-in-law.'

 

Leroy had been acting like a man who wanted to look good to the woman he was going to marry, and he was kind enough to buy that wasteland on a whim.

 

Perhaps his good intentions will not be questioned.

 

Iona and Nils were famous for their bad relationship, but Leroy, who had not been to the capital for a long time, was not aware of the seriousness of it.

 

The other party was more likely to be impatient with the thought of closing the deal before Leroy found out about it.

 

Leroy also asked about the next step with an interesting expression, as if he wasn't particularly worried about failure.

 

“So, what are you going to do with the mines that have been dried up?”

 

When he asked what the 100,000 gold was going to be used for, Iona only explained that she would buy land that would later become valuable and put the count in trouble.

 

But it turns out it was a silver mine in the Siam region.

 

He was curious about where Iona had found value in that abandoned mine.

 

Iona replied with a calm face.

 

“The cost of mining is high, so the balance is not right, but the mine itself is not dry. If we can increase production, we can resume operations.”

 

“There must have been a reason why the mine was abandoned until now, but is there an innovative solution to overturn it?”

 

Leroy waited for an explanation with a puzzled face, but Iona's mouth did not open anymore.

 

Leroy asked, narrowing his eyes.

 

“Is it a trade secret?”

 

“I just found out about a new extraction method by accident, but I'm not an engineer. If you're curious, I'll introduce you to someone later.”

 

Looking around, Iona shrugged lightly.

 

It was because there was a possibility of raising doubts that even experts did not know.

 

She only knew in advance how this mine would be revived in the future.

 

Although doubts were left about her ambiguous attitude, Leroy did not inquire further into the circumstances.

 

Instead, he carelessly pushed a nearby crystal dish toward Iona.

 

The end of the cigar had been burnt to the point of danger.

 

"Oh, thank you."

 

After saying thank you, Iona gently shook the ashes.

 

It was a skillful movement that could not be seen as a beginner.

 

Leroy, who was obsessively watching her finger, suddenly asked.

 

“Were you a smoker?”

 

“I am not enjoying it. But in situations like this, it makes it easy to feel solidarity.”

 

“Where did you learn it?”

 

"That… … .”

 

Iona immediately hesitated without answering.

 

It seemed unwise to mention her static in this situation.

 

“It’s because I started my social life early.”

 

Leroy looked at Iona, who was avoiding an answer, for a moment in silence.

 

It felt as if he knew who she had learned cigars from.

 

The reason he brought up this question in the first place was because he expected the answer to some extent.

 

When Leroy was alone with the crown prince and heard the story of a hidden lover, the crown prince was smoking cigars at that time as well.

 

Suppressing a strange feeling of displeasure, Leroy held out his hand to her.

 

“Can I Borrow it for a moment?”

 

Although there was no clear reason for his sudden request, Iona understood what he was saying without difficulty.

 

Iona narrowed her brows slightly and said.

 

“I put my mouth on it.”

 

"I don't care."

 

At his answer, Iona obediently handed him a cigar.

 

She thought he was a non-smoker because she had never seen him smoke something like this, but maybe she just didn't know.

 

Iona slowly looked back at her past memories in search of traces she had missed.

 

Because of that, Iona only noticed after a while that the way he smoked a cigar was strangely clumsy.

 

“It’s poisonous, but it tickles my throat.”

 

After spitting out bad reviews, he turned his cigar in different directions and observed it, frowning. It looked like a child was curiously looking at an unfamiliar object.

 

Looking at him, Iona asked him with a puzzled face.

 

“… … Are you sure this is not your first time?”

 

Leroy only nodded in response.

 

Startled, Iona rose from her seat and reached out to him.

 

“Give me back.”

 

Leroy easily avoided Iona's approach by blocking her arms back.

 

Iona approached his seat and tried to steal it again, but this time also failed.

 

It wouldn't be difficult to take it away, but she had no choice but to be careful because they could get hurt by the embers.

 

Iona said as if she was frustrated.

 

“It's addictive, so it's a hobby that doesn't do anything well. If you're not used to smoking, please don't bother touching it.”

 

“Isn’t that something that is also treated as a medicine?”

 

“I once saw a rat in a mine that died after gnawing on a cigarette. A thing like that would not be good for the body.”

 

“But you do everything that is harmful to your body... So why can't I? ”

 

With that said Leroy took a long breath of smoke as if showing off. He had a smirk on his lips that seemed to be incomprehensible.

 

At that Iona asked, tilting her head.

 

“Why?”

 

“… …”

 

“As if I were more precious than you… … .”

 

She didn't really mean it that way. She just wanted to make fun of his overreaction.

 

If there was one, who often got into trouble, it was her, not him. Unlike Leroy, she was often injured outside.

 

Confused by his speculation, the opponent stood still with a stiff face.

 

Come to think of it, it was an ambiguous situation for her to affirm or deny.

 

Leroy knew at least that she really like this.

 

Never thinking of herself...

 

Instead of embarrassing her anymore, he decided to back off at this point.

 

"I was just kidding."

 

“… … .”

 

“If you think it's bad for your body, then you'd better quit this stuff. It won't be easy with time...”

 

"Alright."

 

After a lengthy conversation, Leroy raised his eyes and looked at Iona.

 

It was a proposal he simply brought out because he did not like the traces of others left on her, and he was also unaware that this was an act of meanness.

 

He knew how much the smokers around him depended on it.

 

However, contrary to the expectation, Iona replied that she would do so, without any hesitation.

 

Leroy asked blankly.

 

“… …What?"

 

"I'll stop if you want. In the first place, it was only to the extent that I only do it occasionally, when I needed it. It is not difficult.”

 

Then she added a short condition.

 

“But in return, the Duke, please do the same.”

 

Leroy looked into Iona's eyes and swallowed slowly.

 

She really was a woman with a knack for misleading men.

 

“… … I guess you didn't like it too much.”

 

Leroy said with a selfish smile.

 

Iona brushed it off and took the cigar away from him when he was careless.

 

She dropped it on the crystal saucer and then threw it all over the water.

 

Leroy paused in the same position for a while as she finished cleaning up and returned to her seat.

 

Blinking his eyes a few times, he clenched his fist lightly as if he were conscious of his empty hand.

 

Just in time, those who had gone out were returning.

 

As he straightened his posture again, Leroy thought that perhaps the relationship between the prince and Iona was not as deep as he had guessed.

 

'What do the parties concerned think?'

 

He was about to bring her all sorts of presents that could help her,

 

At this point, rumors about him and her, would have spread deep into the imperial palace.

 

Leroy wondered if the crown prince would still be that relaxed after hearing the rumors.

 

'Aren’t you a person with a good stomach enough to embrace my woman?'

 

Recalling the prince who underestimated him, Leroy laughed.

 

Putting a man and a woman in their prime together and hoping they wouldn't have s*x. It was a judgment not to be taken lightly.

 

If it were him, he would never have done the stupid thing of marrying the woman he loves to another man. It was the stupidest thing a man could do. She was not just an object to play with, she was a person too.

 

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