Chapter 54

"I hope you haven't forgotten who the true master of this family is."

"Yes, Captain. I will remain silent."

Lady Belmore, the housekeeper, was faithfully following his instructions.

It was inevitable to inform Lady Belmore that an anonymous woman was being held in the basement of the annex. If food was being delivered to the torture chamber that was supposed to be sealed, and women's clothes were mixed in with the laundry, it was only a matter of time before rumors started.

"By the way, why are there still soldiers guarding the annex?"

Elizabeth had expected the unsightly soldiers to disappear along with the mansion. However, it was unexpected that the soldiers were still guarding the annex, and that Leon was practically living there, conducting his business.

"That's a matter related to the military, so it's best not to be curious."

Leon's sharp response made Elizabeth give him a sharp look.

"It's my mansion, so it's my business."

"Winston, it's my business."

The patriarch was saying that it was his business, so she shouldn't interfere. Elizabeth, whose pride was hurt, lowered her voice and argued, even though there were guests present.

"Well, if you had always made wise decisions, I would have trusted you and entrusted all the family affairs to you as before."

She subtly brought up the only mistake her son, who had always made wise decisions, had made. For a while, there were rumors that Captain Leon Winston had a mistress among the mansion's maids. From Leon, who couldn't have been unaware of this, came the words Elizabeth wanted to hear.

"You won't see that woman again. Not only you, but no one else will."

"I'll take your word for it."

Although the added words were unsettling, Elizabeth did not press further.

"I hope it suits Rosalind's taste."

The Grand Duchess, sitting across from Elizabeth at the ornate tea table, smiled gently in response to Elizabeth's affectionate words.

"As a lady, I should refuse dessert, but I can't possibly turn down this cake."

Elizabeth smiled contentedly. She was pleased with the grand and proper yet appropriately witty conversation.

"I was worried that I had prepared everything to my own overly formal taste, but I'm relieved."

"Overly formal? I'm actually delighted. I've heard that your taste is excellent, madam."

It was indeed overly formal, both in taste and in conversation.

Leon watched his mother and the Grand Duchess exchange insincere compliments while sipping his tea.

"Winford Herald also covered that case this time…."

The Grand Duke, who was hearing the behind-the-scenes story of a recent investigative report from one of the newspapers run by Jerome, had a look on his face as if he wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

It was Leon, not his mother, who had invited Jerome to this gathering. He had a strong premonition that the Grand Duke would bring up something troublesome, so he had invited Jerome to divert attention.

However, the conversation began to flow in the direction the Grand Duke wanted.

"Dr. Winston."

The public title for Jerome, who had a Ph.D. in humanities, was Doctor.

"The analysis article in your economic journal last time was quite helpful."

"I'm honored, Your Highness. Which article are you referring to?"

"The development of the Briah diamond mines."

His intention to bring up the main topic was obvious, even if he tried to change the subject. Leon sneered behind his teacup.

The Briah diamond mines. Rumors were rife that the newly developed mines overseas contained the largest diamond deposits in history.

The government of the Briah Republic, which was suffering from financial difficulties, had recently announced that it would hold a public auction for mining rights, setting the stage for the most competitive bidding in history.

The Grand Duke intended to enter this bidding competition. While Leon didn't care what the Grand Duke did, he found it extremely annoying to be pressured into investing.

The Winston family already owned a diamond mine, albeit smaller in scale than the Briah mines. Even if the Briah mines were expected to be the largest in history, Leon had no intention of making a duplicate investment in the same type of luxury asset.

He did have surplus funds, but he had already decided to invest them in the aviation industry, which would eventually replace a significant portion of the shipping industry, and in real estate in the New Continent.

Yet, the Grand Duke Aldrich repeatedly suggested forming a joint venture to develop the Briah mines.

"Baron Chapman is also joining. You know what that means."

Yes, it means the royal family will suck the life out of the Winston family and then discard us.

The Baron was the king's uncle. In other words, the actual investor was the king.

If the royal family participated directly in the Briah Republic's public auction for mining rights, it would cause a stir for various reasons. The royal family, which had only been restored for a few decades after being overthrown by a people's revolution, was quite sensitive to public opinion.

So, the Grand Duke and the Baron were mobilizing distant relatives to get the royal family involved in overseas investments, and they were asking the Winston family to join. A fool who thought it was an honor might have bowed deeply and accepted the offer.

But Leon was not a fool.

The royal family's finances were not in good shape. The Grand Duke's family had a lot of assets but also a lot of debt. The stability of the assets was far superior in the Winston family.

'They want to use the Winston family's money to win the bid and then share the investment returns with the royal family and the Grand Duke.'

His mother, who would be satisfied with just a title, would undoubtedly urge him to participate without considering the consequences. However, the Grand Duke, who didn't seem to want to discuss business with a woman, didn't mention the joint investment to his mother.

"Captain Winston, you can give Rosalind an engagement ring made from the most precious diamond from that mine."

The Grand Duke, who had been discussing the investment value of the Briah mines with Jerome, finally revealed his true intentions to the silent Leon.

"Your Highness, with all due respect, it will likely take at least 2-3 years for the Briah mine development to begin."

Having Jerome, who was stuck in a tight spot, at this gathering was a brilliant strategy. Moreover, his mother, who was oblivious, even became his supporter this time.

"You can't keep a beautiful young lady unmarried for so long. I'm already looking for an engagement ring for Rosalind, so you don't need to worry, Your Highness. From our family's mine, we recently…."

While the other members of the Winston family dealt with the annoying guest, Leon thought about the woman he had left tied up in the annex basement.

'I wonder if she's holding up.'

What if she can't hold up? Leon's gaze, which had been sneering, lingered on the tea table where various cakes from a nearby café were arranged.

'Come to think of it…'

Suddenly, Leon quietly raised his finger. A maid standing by the greenhouse door quickly approached.

Thinking Leon was giving the lilac to the Grand Duchess, he handed it to the maid. Elizabeth, who had smiled at the sight of her son picking the lilac with a boyish innocence, frowned.

"Tell Mrs. Belmore to deliver it to the annex without fail at 6 o'clock."

Moreover, it was not to his liking that his son planned to have dinner alone in the annex tonight.

"Captain, there's an interesting rumor going around these days."

The Grand Duke, who had been watching the maid leave with the lilac, turned to Leon. It was obvious that the topic he would bring up after giving the flower to the maid would be significant.

"Rumors are best covered up with more rumors."

Leon put down his teacup and smiled calmly. He didn't act like someone being questioned about a scandal with a maid.

"I've quelled the vicious rumors about you…."

The Grand Duke knew this was a business deal. He was just putting pressure on Leon because he didn't like his attitude towards the deal. After all, if the scandal about the maid and the dishonorable rumors about him being a womanizer were quelled, it would be good for both of them.

"Feel free to chat with Mother."

Elizabeth didn't hide her proud smile. She was already feeling like a needle in her seat due to the scandal with the maid, but to naturally deflect it as if it were a performance to quell the rumors was impressive. At times like this, she found Leon's cunning appealing.

"Then…."

Elizabeth, who had been waiting for an opportunity to leave the Grand Duke, folded her napkin and placed it on the table.

"I think I should leave now and let the young people enjoy their time. Oh, by the way, I have a new painting from the last royal auction that I want to show you first, Your Highness."

Showing the Grand Duke a highbrow painting was just an excuse. The two were going to discuss the vulgar engagement conditions.

"Your Highness."

Once the Grand Duke left, Jerome revealed his true nature to the Grand Duchess.