I was surprised.

  Yeah, to be honest, I thought about Perez when I saw Larane and Avinox a little while ago.

  But that’s just a glimpse.

  "Tia?"

  As I stood still without approaching anymore, Perez walked toward me.

  And for a moment he looked at my expression with a smile and asked.

  "By any chance, were you finally thinking about me?"

  "Oh, no!"

  I’m doomed.1

  I denied it too loudly.

  When did you get to read other people’s minds when you looked like a statue with a straight face?

  Perez opened his eyes wide due to my strong denial and soon smiled again, bending his eyes finely.

  "Why, why are you here?"

  Perez answered my question, lifting a box of cake in his hand.

  "I thought of you on my way somewhere."

  "You always tend to relate me to sweet food, Perez. Of course, I like sweet food, but……"

  I suddenly had a question while talking.

  “But where are you going, passing the Lombardy mansion?”


  "To meet a close classmate at the academy."

  As far as I know, it was Lignite Luman, Avinox’s brother, who was his best friend at the Academy.

  Then he’s on his way to the Monak Top.

  The Monak Top branch is also in the Capital.

  It’s near the Palace.

  I squinted and asked again.

  "Are you sure you’re on your way?"

  When I poked, Perez kept his mouth shut and just smiled.

  That’s the face he makes when he can’t even lie to me.

  “Well, you must have something difficult to tell other people too.”


  I said with a shrug.

  "Thank you, I’ll enjoy the meal."

  The cake box handed over from Perez was quite heavy.

  "Your hands are big."

  I can never eat this alone.

  I pointed to the closed door and asked Perez.

  “Would you like to go get a cup of tea? With cake.”


  "……Can I?"

  Perez raised his eyebrows, surprised.

  "What! Perez, what’s wrong with your reaction?"

  “Because I didn’t make an appointment in advance.”


  I thought it was because I said a long time ago, ’I’m busy, so contact me in advance’.

  I opened the door with a small sigh, beckoning to come in.

  "……Did you have guests?"

  Perez looked at the teapots of two people still on the table and asked.

  "Avinox Luman came and went."

  "Avinox? Why?"

  "It turned out that Avinox was dating Larane. It’s a secret to other people."

  I said it without saying anything important.

  "Oh?……"

  Perez nodded quickly, surprised.

  I picked the right tea leaves and made tea again.

  "As expected, Caramel Avenue’s dessert is the best."

  Eating a lot of sweet custard cream seemed to relieve my fatigue.

  Perez also took a bite of the same cake mine and nodded in agreement.

  So we sat side by side and finished the cake one after another.

  Eventually, there is only one small cream pie left on the plate.

  It’s embarrassing to blame him for buying a lot.

  Perez was patting his stomach with satisfaction and said.1

  "Tia, you got something on your mouth."

  "Oh, really?"

  At the words, I looked around.

  But I couldn’t see anything to wipe my mouth.

  I was thinking about wiping it with my sleeve.

  "I’ll clean it for you."

  Perez reached out and swept my mouth with his fingers.

  It was so natural and outspoken that I missed the right time to stop it.

  I looked at Perez in a daze.

  I could feel Perez’s fingers slowly touching my lips.

  At that moment, things in Ivan suddenly came to my mind as if they were on fire.

  That thing in bed.2

  Apparently, my face is on fire, too.

  When a woman has cream on her lips, it is common to steal it with your fingers.

  At least, that was the case in books or news about romance.

  Yeah. It’s such a common and sometimes cheesy scene.

  My heart was beating too hard, facing Perez now.

  Perez’s finger brushed my lips were as hot as fire, and I couldn’t take my eyes off Perez’s mouth, licking the stolen cream.

  He must have noticed that, too.

  When I see a smile hanging on his red lips.

  "……"

  I scooped up the leftover dessert with the fork I had put down.

  I heard Perez laughing low next to me, but I focused only on the cake.3

  Of course, this time, I’ll be careful not to get anything in my mouth.

  * * *

  Gallahan visited Pellet Corporation after a long time.

  Not long after returning from Cheshire, there was still a lingering feeling, but Gallahan’s face was full of life.

  It was because he had such a good thing ahead of him.

  Arriving in front of Clerivan’s office, Gallahan knocked without hesitation.1

  "Come on in."

  As if waiting, the voice of Clerivan immediately came.

  "Sir Clerivan."

  "Here you are."

  Clerivan said with a smile, offering Gallahan a seat.

  "You look happy."

  "Aren’t the harbor open soon? What I’ve been busy preparing since last year will soon become a reality. My heart beats so fast that I can’t sleep."

  Gallahan’s green eyes sparkled.

  Clerivan smiled a little at the sight of Gallahan.6

  "……Then let’s go through the plan again."

  For such a long time, Clerivan and Gallahan put their heads together to review the papers.

  Gallahan, who finally confirmed that all preparations were complete, nodded with a proud face.

  "I would never have done this on my own without Pellet Corporation. Although I’m called the Lord of Cheshire, but of course there’s something I don’t know. Thank you so much, Sir Clerivan."

  "Instead of investing, our pellet business’s ships will not pay a berth fee at the Cheshire harbor in the future, right? And we’ve shared the profits of the port, so it’s not something to thank you for, Gallahan."

  "Haha, is that so?"

  Gallahan smiled awkwardly and carefully packed the papers.

  Clerivan, who was watching the scene, said, taking off his glasses.2

  "But it’s been a while since we’ve sat face to face."

  "If it’s a long time ago……”


  Gallahan, who tilted his head, asked, clapping his hands.

  "Oh, you mean when I went to ask you about the ready-to-wear business?"

  "Yes, that’s right. At that time, you were difficult to have a proper conversation with me, but looking at your skillful appearance now, I think a lot of time has passed.”


  Clerivan said with a small smile.

  Gallahan’s face turned slightly red, perhaps because he thought the smile was making fun of him.8

  "At that time, I was afraid of you, I couldn’t help it."

  Gallahan smirks about what happened back then.

  "……How about now?"9

  Clerivan asked in a low voice.1

  “There is nothing to be afraid of now. Now I know how kind and friendly you are."

  "Do you mean I’m……?"

  "Yes, Sir Clerivan takes very good care of the people around you."

  Gallahan answered cheerfully.

  "That’s the case with this port. I’m worried about Cheshire, so you gave me your hand."3

  "I didn’t do such a good thing……"

  "I know, it’s a great opportunity for Pellet Corporation."

  Gallahan said, staring directly at Clerivan.

  "However, I’m being well aware of how much the Pellet Corporation has taken care of the convenience of our Cheshire as we proceed with this work. If it was really for profit, you wouldn’t have done it."

  Clerivan did not give an answer.

  Gallahan smiled loosely as he looked at Clerivan, who sat silently.

  "Thanks to you, people in Cheshire will have a much better life. Large commercial districts will be developed around ports, and now that there is something else to do besides farming, the local people don’t have to starve during the bad harvest. It’s all thanks to Pellet Corporation."

  Gallahan bowed his head briefly.

  It was a thank-you greeting.

  Clerivan, who watched the scene silently, spoke quietly, fiddling with his earlobe, which was somewhat red. (Don’t misunderstand it :D)9

  "……I’m glad it was helpful."1

  * * *

  After leaving the Lombardy mansion, Perez returned to the Capital.

  As Tia had noticed, ’I was on my way’ was a lie.

  On the way to the Monak Top, he saw a Caramel Avenue, and he thought of Tia, so he bought a cake and wanted to deliver it.

  Of course, Caramel Avenue was also offering a delivery service, but Perez pretended not to know it.

  He thinks he should give the cake to Tia because he already bought it.

  The meeting was delayed because of it, but Perez’s priorities were clear, so it didn’t matter.

  Lignite and Nossier who was waiting greeted Perez.

  "How’s the business in the South?"

  "It’s going on without a hitch. It’s also much easier, perhaps because of the incident about logging Triva trees in the North."

  "What about the payment?"

  "Will be dealt with soon. Isn’t it Sussew? It"s being settling quickly."

  Perez nodded slowly to Nossier’s satisfactory report.

  But not everything was smooth.

  "Investigations into the Pellet Corporation did not yield great results. There is really nothing to find out.”


  Lignite trembled as if he was bored.

  "Clerivan Pellet is clean, except he’s frighteningly bold and has accurate eyes."

  He used to say that, but Lignite was also somewhat reluctant.

  Merchants usually get their hands dirty as much as they earn.

  But Clerivan Pellet was not.

  Nevertheless, Pellet Corporation’s superiority continues to win and win every day.

  Rather, that raised the alarm in Lignite’s head.

  "How can he be so successful in every business he touches? I heard he did another job this time."

  "Pellet Corporation?"

  "The harbor that was built in Cheshire was funded by Pellet Corporation. I think they’re going to distribute goods to the East through them."

  "To the East?"+

  "It’s because the road is rough, but there’s no market that’s as good as the East. most of the goods coming in from the center are very expensive. The Pellet Corporation will make money."

  Even after hearing that, Perez didn’t say much.

  "Perez?"

  He called Perez, who was lost in thought, but there was still no answer.

  "Eastern…… Avinox……"3

  Perez just mumbled words that didn’t make sense.