You've Come at the Right Time

"I'm surprised. I didn't expect you to dismiss the maid as well."

Baron Cinderas chuckled, personally poured a glass of wine, crossed his right leg over his left knee, and relaxed as naturally as if he were in his own home.

Ignoring etiquette and deliberately acting aggressive—his aim was to gain the upper hand in the conversation. It seemed this Baron was looking down on me... Angel silently laughed and said:

"Compared to me, Baron, you should be more concerned about certain rumors. I trust you'll ensure that everything said remains within this room."

The Baron had just lifted his wineglass when his hand froze in midair.

"No wonder that merchant from Desi was interested in you. Your personalities are, hmm, very similar..."

A moment later, Cinderas set down his glass and spoke with equal parts surprise and curiosity.

"You mean Dwayne Dantès?" Angel poured herself a glass of white wine as well. Looking at the clear liquid worth more than ten pounds a glass, she reluctantly took a small sip. "So, Baron, are you here because of Kauim Company's shares as well?"

"That had indeed been my original plan. After being rejected by Dantès, I intended to approach the matter from another angle—for instance, by persuading him through you, or at least having you convey the price I was willing to offer... But that is no longer necessary."

The Baron clasped his hands together on his knee and spoke slowly.

"An hour after he decided to donate all the shares to the Church and use them to establish a Student Aid Fund, I learned of it. Therefore, many of the 'methods' I had prepared were no longer suitable to continue... I had originally thought that, having returned from Intis and not yet established yourself in Loen, you would be