Chapter 36
Ian silently listened to the woman in front of him. The red-haired woman, who had pulled her hair over one shoulder, was even chattier than he had expected—enough to make his ears hurt.
“The Empire is really wonderful. Places like this are common here. In La Beauna Caïssa, you rarely find such grand salons.”
“……”
“There are so many people here, it’s easy to make money. If I had known, I would’ve moved to the Empire sooner. But then again, Caïssa has its own charm.”
As she rambled on by herself for a while, she noticed Ian’s gaze and smiled with her eyes. Stroking her long hair, she asked,
“Marquis, do you… perhaps dislike His Majesty the Emperor? I mean, my father?”
“What are you talking about?”
Ian didn’t bother to hide his discomfort at the dangerous question. Asking whether a citizen of the Caesar Empire dislikes the Emperor—especially upon first meeting—was unthinkable. It wasn’t something one should ask, even as a joke among close friends. And calling him “Father”… even if true, that was a name this woman, Helen Fitz, should not be casually using.
“It’s just… the way you look at my hair as if you find it unpleasant. This hair color is the symbol of the royal family, after all.”
It wasn’t the right answer, but it was close. Ian had indeed felt an odd displeasure when Helen Fitz’s red hair reminded him of Prince Jared. But he had no intention of voicing that thought. Instead, he warned her.
“You should be more careful with your words, my lady. Unlike the countries you’ve been in, the Empire enforces laws against royal defamation very strictly.”
Helen’s expression briefly changed at the mention of “royal defamation.” She quickly covered it with a smile and said,
“But wouldn’t I be exempt? I’m royalty too, in a way.”
Ian clicked his tongue inwardly. It was clear she was deliberately making provocative statements.
“Lady Helen, let me be clear. Unless one bears the great name of Caesar, I do not treat them as royalty. So do not expect to gain an advantage in this deal by flaunting your lineage.”
He was drawing a firm line—warning her not to wield her illegitimate status as a weapon. Helen fiddled with a ring on her left hand. It bore the engraved image of a lion, the symbol of the Caesar Empire. However, it wasn’t the roaring lion depicted on royal flags, but a crouching one. The ring glinted in the light.
“You’re right. I don’t have the Caesar name. But the Emperor’s blood runs in me. And just wait—I’ll have the great Caesar name one day. I promise you, it’s not far off.”
As long as the Empress stood firm beside the Emperor, that day would never come. Ian, however, chose not to voice his doubts. Instead, he steered the conversation toward the actual purpose of their meeting.
“Let’s move on to business, Lady.”
“Fine. That’s why we’re here, after all. But how rude of you. A gentleman should at least listen politely when a lady speaks.”
“……”
“Don’t make that face. I was just about to bring up the deal.”
“That’s a relief.”
Helen glanced sideways at Ian, clearly irritated by his unwavering demeanor. Men who did business with her were usually thrown off, either by her background or her bold, nontraditional personality. But this man—he seemed like a stone, completely unaffected.
‘Not the type to lose himself over a pretty face… This might be tough.’
Straightening her legs and posture, Helen decided it was best to skip trying to dominate him and get to the point.
“Sapphires are all the rage in the Empire right now, aren’t they? But from what I hear, the Parden family has practically monopolized them.”
Ian nodded. In truth, the sapphire business was the very reason he had agreed to meet Helen Fitz. In the Empire, the cutting and distribution of sapphires was the main business of the Parden family—Graham Parden’s key concern.
“Mysticus sapphires from the Kingdom of Caïssa are known for their quality and unique hues. They’re in high demand even within Caïssa, making export difficult—but not impossible. And as I mentioned, I can provide access to those exported from Caïssa.”
Mysticus sapphires were a specialty of Caïssa, strictly regulated by the state. Even high-ranking nobles couldn’t smuggle them abroad freely. But Helen had a route—her mother, the only mistress of the Caïssa king, held the title of Countess of Revidon and had partial control over sapphire exports.
“Very well. I’ll pay the deposit and commission stated in your letter. In return, you will do business exclusively with the merchant guild I specify.”
Realizing this, Ian extended his hand to Helen. If Mysticus sapphires could enter the Empire steadily, it would give him a foothold to intervene in the Empire’s sapphire industry. The Parden family might take a hit—but Ian didn’t care. That was his exact intention.
“Oh my. I’d heard you were skilled in negotiation, but seeing it now…”
“However, you must not trade with anyone else—no families, no organizations. Not a single crate. If you do, you’ll be liable for damages.”
“What, an exclusivity clause? That’s a little unfair…”
Helen trailed off, eyes gleaming with expectation. Ian chuckled, seeing through her ploy. As far as he knew, she wasn’t in a position to make demands. Right before arriving in the Empire, she’d nearly gone bankrupt by boarding the wrong ship.
“You need money, Lady. And you’ll have a hard time finding someone else willing to pay this much commission and deposit.”
Helen flushed, as if her secret had been exposed. She’d believed her situation wasn’t known in the Empire—but apparently, that wasn’t the case. What if this gets back to His Majesty? Anxiety crept in, but she quickly put on a composed expression.
“…Fine. You’re right—I do need the money. I’ll accept your terms. But I have two conditions.”
“Go ahead.”
“First, keep my business troubles—no, let’s say temporary setbacks—confidential. Once I get your deposit, everything will be resolved anyway.”
It wasn’t a difficult request, so Ian nodded. Helen continued immediately.
“You’re handsome, Marquis. And the head of a prestigious family. You’re just the kind of man I’ve been looking for.”
Startled by the sudden compliment, Ian glanced at her with a frown. Helen burst into laughter at his cold expression.
“Relax. I’m not asking you to date or marry me. I just want to use you a little.”
“……”
“The Empire’s high nobles are backward, for all their royalist pride. They avoid me just because my mother isn’t the Empress—even though my father is the Emperor.”
It was only natural. Helen Fitz was the Emperor’s only illegitimate child, but she had no standing in the Caesar Empire. Her mother was a foreign noblewoman and a royal mistress, without titles or land in the Empire.
Helen herself had lived abroad for most of her life, so the people of the Empire viewed her as a foreigner. She didn’t even have a proper noble title—only the surname “Fitz,” traditionally given to imperial bastards. And the Emperor hadn’t once summoned her to the palace. It was no wonder the nobility didn’t see her as they did the former Emperor’s illegitimate children.
“There aren’t many houses as noble as the Lloyds in the Empire. So I need your help to build some connections. Attend a few parties with me. If I’m seen as your partner, they’ll have to acknowledge me.”
Helen understood her limitations. So she needed the support of a powerful noble like Ian.
“It won’t hurt you, will it? You’re a man, after all. As long as I’m not some lowly courtesan, it won’t damage your reputation. Honestly, the world’s ridiculous.”
The unexpected condition made Ian pause. It wasn’t a difficult request—but he was about to get engaged. Naturally, Aisha came to mind, and his expression darkened. Seeing this, Helen narrowed her eyes playfully.
“Ah, do you have a fiancée? Are you the type who gets nervous around her? How dull.”
“……”
“If you won’t be my partner, the deal is off. I’ll find someone else, even if it takes time.”
Her teasing tone was filled with amusement and confidence. It wasn’t the first time. Men who dealt with her often ended up so smitten that they neglected their fiancées or wives. Watching noblewomen—usually so composed—cry in jealousy was always satisfying.
‘Wouldn’t be so bad if he fell for me too. He’s got decent qualifications for marriage.’
Helen sized Ian up, already imagining the possibilities. She didn’t think he’d refuse—he seemed too invested in the deal.
“If you’re adding a condition, I’ll set terms too. I’ll accompany you to five events. No more. And I won’t lift a finger to help your business beyond that.”
As expected, Ian didn’t reject her proposal—but he wasn’t a fool. He’d spotted the trap in her vague “help me network” request.
‘She wanted to use business as an excuse to keep me around. He’s not stupid… which might make him even more appealing.’
Helen leaned forward slightly, a glint in her eye. But Ian only stared back, his expression unchanged.
