Chapter 1

          2 months ago.

          “If you’re here, come and sit down, Jer.”

          Adele’s demeanor towards the man while seated was especially friendly today. 

          It doesn’t mean that she talked softly or blushed shyly.

          It just means that she did not point to the teacup with a hard chin gesture, or turn over the documents without batting an eye, as she has always done.

          “It took longer than I thought. I assumed you would arrive yesterday because you left Leichen last week.”

          “Ah, I’ve stopped by somewhere.”

          Jerox, who brought in full of documents, her face looks sorry. No matter how much they’ve been friends since childhood, Adele is of a higher status, and he is just a subordinate.

          Where is this top usually?

          Led by Count Sergio, Adele’s father, Yuden is the top of the Southern part of the Tranes Empire, dominating the Southern economy, the most prosperous among the four regions of the empire. 

          And the eldest daughter and the future heir of the Sergio family is none other than the one who is seated, Adelaide Sergio.

         “Did you make any progress? Are any dealings worthy?”

          “This is the textile technology that is renowned for. I brought some samples. Would you like to take a look?” 

          “Well… Okay. I’ll take a look at it later.” 

          “Adele, are you..?”

          Jerox titled his head as Adele seemed not to be interested in what he had brought over. 

          Even though he is wondering if she is the Adele he knows, he pretended not to know.

          “Is there something wrong?”

          “Ah, nothing. I have never seen you postpone your work.”

          “What do you mean by that?”

          We’ll see each other often in the future.

          Adele’s smile was bright and proud. She is called the ‘Flower of the South’, so she learned how to appear in the eyes of other people. 

          “Come to think of it, Adele, you…”

          Yes, it’s worth it to see that kind of reaction.

          Adele lifted her teacup, hiding her satisfaction.

          Waking up at dawn was her lifelong habit, but this is the first time in years that she looked in the mirror before looking at the documents first.

          She didn’t dress up extravagantly, but she made an effort, and she expected for him to take notice.

          “Huh? Why me? Is there something on my face?”

          Adele raised her eyebrows as if asking why, and looked at Jerox carefully through the teacup.

          Her specialty is identifying the psychological state through people’s physical reaction.

          “Jer, are you sick? Perhaps this business trip was too straining.”

          “No. I’m not sick.”

          First of all, those shaky eyes mean that he is nervous. A slightly stiff mouth is also unnatural.

          Above all, swallowing his saliva several times in this brief period of time is….

          ‘Alright, at this point I should help you out.’

          Adele smiled as if she couldn’t help it. Jerox feels like he lacks power to come forward until this time.

          It’s not that she is unaware of Jerox’s nature, she just puts up with it.

          “Jer, I heard you went to Setona before you came here.”

          “Yes? How did you…”

          “Why did you go all the way there? When there’s an abundance of gems here.”

          “Ah, no. It’s just…”

          I’m embarrassed.