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"Hmph..."
Around noon.
After having a leisurely lunch, I went to work and immediately started reading the newspaper.
'Nothing.'
I couldn't find any articles about Fedan and his boutique, not even on the front page.
The only articles that had been coming out were about the fabric issue, but they eventually faded away without a trace.
'Since there weren't any rebuttal articles or corrections, Fedan probably didn't bribe anyone.'
The most dangerous thing in business isn't having a bad reputation or a great reputation...
'It's the complete lack of interest that's the scariest.'
Because that's how you get forgotten.
'Anyway, he's probably going to be quiet for a while since he failed so spectacularly this time? Or maybe...'
As I was thinking that, I folded the newspaper.
"Boss, I have something urgent to report."
Wig's voice came with a knock.
"Come in."
Wig came in hurriedly, and his expression was serious.
Instinctively, I knew what Wig was going to say.
"What's wrong?"
"Well... Duke Farnese is causing a scene in front of the store."
I got up and walked to the window.
I could see Fedan shouting loudly among the carriages of waiting customers.
"He's saying you used his father to ruin his business."
Oh.
Considering Fedan's usual behavior, it was both surprising and not surprising.
'I thought he'd come soon, but I didn't expect him to throw a tantrum and abandon all pretense.'
I guess he has nothing to lose now.
I gave Wig a cold smile and ordered, "Bring him to the nearby cafe."
I arrived at the cafe first and reserved a private room. A short time later,
Fedan appeared with Wig.
With a face like he had eaten a bug.
I smiled at him and greeted him naturally.
"How have you been? Are you enjoying the painting you bought at the bazaar?"
When I deliberately mentioned the painting, Fedan's face quickly turned red.
"You, you...!"
Fedan, enraged, tried to lunge at me, but Wig stepped in between us.
Fedan instinctively hesitated because of Wig's large size, but he shouted at me as if nothing had happened.
"Why aren't you getting rid of this gorilla?"
"Wig is my assistant, and he has a duty to understand all aspects of my business."
"Aren't you ashamed to talk about what you did in front of him?"
"Not at all. Why would I be ashamed when I haven't done anything to be ashamed of?"
Fedan let out a hollow laugh, as if he couldn't believe what I was saying.
Regardless, I calmly gestured to the seat across from me.
"Sit down comfortably. I'll buy you tea."
Wig pulled out the chair for him.
His actions were very polite, but his impression was menacing, as if he would fold Fedan in half if he didn't sit down immediately.
In the end, Fedan sat down in the chair, muttering curses.
Soon after, an employee came to take our order and left. Fedan, who seemed to have been holding back for a while, shouted.
"This is your doing, isn't it?"
He had long abandoned the minimum politeness he had shown by referring to me as "you."
I pretended not to know what Fedan was talking about.
"I don't know what you're blaming me for. Can you be more specific?"
"Don't pretend you don't know! I'm talking about Cloel Baron selling me East Continent fabric!"
"Ah, that matter."
"You used your father to make him sell me that cheap fabric!"
"I'm sorry to hear about that, but it has nothing to do with me."
"I heard a tip that Cloel Baron met you before he met me?"
"I did meet him. My father tried to sell me the fabric, and I refused. That's all. I didn't expect him to be shameless enough to sell it to my ex-husband."
"Liar! You knew about the fabric and sent the baron to me, didn't you? To ruin my business! Didn't you?"
"I didn't know about the fabric. However, I guessed it, since my father's judgment has never been good."
Of course, I knew that the fabric would cause problems because of my abilities.
But there was no need to tell Fedan about that ability.
And more than anything...
"And even if I really did send my father to you to ruin your business, it's not my fault."
"What kind of logic is—"
"You could have just refused my father's offer, couldn't you?"
At my sharp remark, Fedan, who had been raging, fell silent like a dummy.
"You're the one who accepted the offer, so why are you blaming me? It's not like I threatened you to accept my father's offer."
"......"
"In the end, it's your fault that you ended up like this."
Fedan clenched his fists as if he resented my words, grinding his teeth.
"But you're his daughter, so you have to take responsibility for your father's mistakes!"
He started making ridiculous claims.
But I just snorted.
"I've cut ties with my father, so take that responsibility to my father... no, to Cloel Baron."
It seemed like there was nothing more to talk about.
I got up and added, "And if you cause another scene in front of my store, I'll call the guards for obstruction of business, so be prepared."
"Letizia!"
Fedan was furious, but he couldn't bring himself to grab me.
It was probably because of Wig next to me.
I ignored Fedan's shouting voice and walked away, but then I remembered something and turned back to him.
"Oh, right. Take your time and drink my share of the tea. Your throat must be sore."
At that moment, Fedan's expression beyond the closing door was a sight to behold.
It was a shame to see it alone.
"Damn it! Damn it!"
On the way back to the Duke's mansion.
Fedan cursed and stopped himself from hitting the carriage wall with his fist.
A little while ago, he had been so enraged that he hit the carriage wall, and the driver had interpreted it as a signal to stop and stopped the carriage.
Fedan's fists trembled, and he roughly pulled back the curtain covering the carriage window.
He felt like he would feel a little better if he got some fresh air.
He looked out the window for a long time, trying to suppress his resentment, which was not easily relieved.
Something in the scenery outside the window suddenly caught his eye.
A building emitting an intense light, so bright that it was blinding, in the darkening landscape.
The boisterous sounds and the sound of gold coins clashing were like auditory hallucinations in his ears.
'Casino...'
A place of opportunity where you could turn your life around if you hit the jackpot.
'...If I hit the jackpot there, I could solve this situation.'
As he imagined hitting the jackpot, his anger subsided and hope swelled.
While he was seriously considering it, the carriage stopped.
They had arrived at the Duke's mansion.
However, unlike usual, when the gate opened and the carriage started moving again, the carriage remained stopped for quite a long time.
There was also a commotion outside.
"Damn it, what is it this time?"
Fedan frowned irritably and looked out of the carriage.
"Why aren't you going into the mansion already—"
He stopped speaking when he met the eyes of those blocking the carriage.
Those he never wanted to encounter were standing in front of him.
"It will be difficult if you continue to avoid us like this, Your Excellency."
"You, you are..."
"His Highness Grand Duke Zahir has ordered us to bring Your Excellency."
Zahir the Grand Duke, Deon's subordinates.
Fedan's face, upon seeing them, turned as white as if he had seen a grim reaper.
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