HBTSS 82

Chapter 82

Momentarily captivated by his beautiful smile, I realized too late that something was off about what he was saying.

“What?”

“If you’re still deciding, please put me on that list.”

With an elegance beyond words, he took my hand and kissed it.

Though the touch was gentle, the deep green in his eyes flickered with a possessive intensity.

“I’m someone who never forgets kindness.”

As he spoke, his lips slowly curved into a pleasing line.

The smile was extremely alluring.

His series of actions were so natural and fitting that I couldn’t even critique them—I just stared blankly.

‘What is he even saying all of a sudden?’

My mind, catching up belatedly, churned over his words in confusion.

“Now… I’m a little useful, aren’t I?”

“Useful…?”

Suddenly, a conversation from five years ago came to mind—when he said he wanted to join Tara Transport.

“If I’m useless, I’ll make myself useful. Willingly.”

‘He mentioned usefulness back then too.’

I opened my mouth, wanting to finally say what I couldn’t back then.

“From back then until now… you’re not that kind of person to me.”

His gaze stiffened subtly at my words.

“So even now, I can’t even be that useful?”

“You’re not an object. You’re… to me—”

A debt erased by others, another obligation to settle.

And the protagonist from the original story.

A being who is grateful to me, yet sometimes difficult to understand…

Countless words tangled in my throat and refused to come out.

But Lennox, as if determined to hear me out, remained silent and stared at me.

As if some crucial truth hung on my answer.

“You’re… the poor boy.”

Flustered by the intensity of his gaze, I unintentionally let part of my genuine feelings slip.

“Right… so it was you.”

He let out a slight, rueful laugh.

“What can I do… the poor boy is nowhere to be found now.”

“…Yeah, that’s true.”

Now, no word could express the distance between us as much as ‘poor.’

If anything, it seemed the word suited me instead.

‘Ah, how embarrassing.’

Lennox sank deep into the sofa, then slowly lifted his gaze to sweep across the drawing room.

My face heated up as his eyes landed on the surroundings.

The drawing room hardly lived up to the grandeur of a mansion—it had been stripped of anything valuable to repay debts.

‘He always looked so magnificent.’

After five years, to show him this state was mortifying.

As he surveyed the room, his expression gradually hardened.

“Has something happened in the five years I was gone?”

The green in his eyes froze as he looked at me, clearly unsettled.

‘What do you mean, “something happened”?’

I couldn’t tell him it was because we fell into debt with the duke after he refused the countship—too easily misinterpreted as passing the blame.

‘My pride would take a hit.’

I said firmly:

“You don’t need to worry about it. This is my matter.”

Lennox’s green eyes darkened.

Soon, he rose from his seat, as if further conversation was pointless.

“…If you don’t intend to tell me anything, then at least think carefully about my proposal today. If it comes to etiquette, I won’t lose either.”

Watching him leave, I mulled over the strange words he had left behind.

‘He won’t lose in etiquette?’

It sounded like a challenge aimed at someone.

Lennox wouldn’t know about Alfeo’s partner proposal—so…

‘Does that mean he knows etiquette better than me?’

…Somehow, that bruised my pride.

And the fact that it seemed true only made it worse.

After he left, the mansion became lively.

“Who should I go with?”

“It’s a royal banquet, so maybe with the prince?”

“I agree with that.”

“Ugh, it’s too grim! I’d rather go with Len.”

I glared at the four women whispering behind me.

Why were they choosing my partner for the royal banquet? Was my opinion not considered?

Lisa noticed my gaze and approached with a smile.

“Which gentleman would you like to go with, Count?”

“I don’t know.”

Neither option seemed satisfactory.

One hid their motives too well, the other made me uncomfortable.

‘He’s not the boy I knew.’

Lennox had returned as an adult I didn’t recognize. His tone remained polite, but that was all that was familiar.

Everything else was different.

I still didn’t know how to treat him when I looked at him.

Thinking of what had just happened, my body stiffened.

‘At least he hasn’t remembered… that’s a relief.’

Yes. Now was not the time. Since he hadn’t regained his memory, there was work to be done.

“Lisa, to the study for a moment.”

“Yes~.”

Inside the study, I spread a map before Lisa.

“Could you check the marked areas on this map and capture some footage? A landscape painter will go along too.”

It was time to start rowing with the currents of a new venture.

Back at Blake Castle, Lennox immediately sought Enzo.

The first time they met on the battlefield, Enzo’s life was saved. Among the information guild, he was the most capable. He introduced himself as such.

Then he clung to Lennox, promising to repay that debt.

But he hadn’t given Lennox the most important information.

“Enzo.”

Enzo, spotting the cold expression, jumped up from idling in the garden.

“When did the Jacquelin family fortunes start declining?”

“That… it’s been a while, about five years ago?”

Lennox’s gaze chilled like an icy spear.

Enzo felt the prickling hair on his arms rise.

“And you haven’t reported it until now?”

Under Lennox’s sharp stare, Enzo quickly checked escape routes and protested.

“You only asked me to report on the Jacquelin family’s relations!”

He made a circle with his hands.

“I work as much as I’m asked. That’s the Master’s instruction.”

Lennox laughed bitterly in disbelief.

“As much as you’re asked?”

“Yes, yes.”

Enzo responded with a light smile.

“How much money have you taken from me?”

“Well… I don’t really remember…”

“You wouldn’t, given how much you took.”

BAM!

Enzo, unable to dodge, was kicked in the shin, falling to his knees.

‘It felt like a tank ran me over!’

The shock was immense.

“Find out within a day.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“….”

Lennox stared coldly at him, as if to say he shouldn’t have to spell it out.

“If you weren’t so useless, I would have left you to die right there.”

“Ahaha, so you want me to find out why the Jacquelin family fortune declined over the last five years?”

“Finally, you understand.”

The air, once suffocatingly cold, lightened. Contrary to Enzo’s expectation that Lennox would leave after stating his purpose, he merely watched him.

“But why are you working under me?”

“For the money—”

“I know that’s not it.”

Lennox’s lips curved into an elegant, dazzling smile—even for another man, it was breathtaking.

Yet his gaze was sharp and cold.

Enzo laughed awkwardly.

He had grown into a terrifying man, unlike before.

‘Better hide it.’

It was a secret that wouldn’t benefit him anyway.

“Oh, one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“Find out who Clemens will attend the banquet with.”

“…I’m not a mind reader! How am I supposed to know?!”

“You took the money, so at least read people’s hearts.”

Enzo looked at him with so much to say but kept silent, afraid of another kick to the shin.