Chapter 167
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 167
"Welcome, Viscount."
Under the cover of a moonless night, John warmly greeted Benedict, who had arrived in a visible rush. Benedict, however, lacked the composure to return the pleasantries.
"There is no time," Benedict said, his voice tight. "I would like to dispense with the formalities and get straight to business."
"I agree. Please, this way."
John quickly led him to the drawing room where Bella was already waiting. As this was a top-secret meeting, the mansion’s lights were kept low, and the servants had been dismissed for the night.
Benedict took a seat and sighed, nursing the tea Bella had poured for him. He rubbed his hands together repeatedly, a nervous habit betraying his anxious mind.
"I trust you can guess the reason for my visit."
"Is it about Albert?" John asked.
Benedict merely nodded. He offered no verbal reply, but the fury and worry etched into the hard set of his jaw spoke volumes.
"We cannot allow everything to fall apart like this," Benedict continued. "There must be a way to negotiate. Miss Bella, how are things progressing with Cedric?"
He looked at Bella with desperate, hopeful eyes. To be honest, he was deeply disappointed that she had yet to successfully administer the Angelic to the Duke, but at this moment, Bella was their only bridge to him.
Bella, well aware of her leverage, didn't flinch under his gaze.
"Since the opera, we have been exchanging letters and maintaining steady contact," she replied smoothly.
"But you haven't met in person?"
"As you know, His Grace has been quite busy lately."
The reason for his busy schedule went unsaid. It was almost certainly the investigation that had landed Albert in a dungeon. Benedict ground his molars together before finally forcing himself to speak.
"If Miss Bella puts in the effort to rescue Albert, the Kingsley family will throw its full support behind the Listerwells. You have my word."
"That is a bit vague," Bella countered, her voice cool. "I would like to know exactly what kind of assistance we are talking about."
"I will provide the Viscount with a lump sum of five hundred thousand Dirham, and another five hundred thousand to Miss Bella personally. Furthermore, once this incident is resolved, I will personally introduce your heir, young Aston, to the key figures of the capital. Beyond that, the House of Kingsley will offer favorable cooperation to any ventures the House of Listerwell pursues."
Though they held the same rank of Viscount, the Kingsley family’s influence was vastly superior. They possessed immense wealth and, as vassals to a Ducal House, moved in far more elite circles. John’s face brightened instantly at the offer, but Bella remained cautious.
"You have applied for the brooch, haven't you?"
"Of course."
"Then I have one more request. When Albert is released, I want you to publicly state that not only did I have nothing to do with the Angelic, but that I wasn't even a passenger on the Kingdom. In fact, I want it known that Harriet Listerwell boarded the ship disguised as me."
"That is not difficult at all," Benedict agreed readily. "It costs me nothing to say."
Only then did Bella offer a slight, satisfied nod.
The shock she had felt just days ago, upon hearing that Harriet had begun her exposé, still rankled. Until now, no one had believed Harriet’s claims, which was likely why the girl had kept silent for so long.
But the tides had turned. Now, the social circles were obsessed with Harriet. Bella had been cornered by countless busybodies asking if the rumors were true.
She was furious—at Harriet for her insolence, at the nobility for listening to such a nobody, and at Tez for creating this mess in the first place.
How dare you make a fool of me? Just you wait. I won't let this go.
She clenched her fist so hard her manicured nails dug into her palm. Perhaps it was because the side effects of the Angelic still lingered in her system, but she didn't feel a flicker of pain.
*
In mid-September, as the scent of autumn began to ride the wind, Cedric granted Bella an audience.
He had assumed she was there to beg for help with her precarious social standing, but the conversation drifted in an unexpected direction.
"It truly feels like autumn now," Bella remarked, her tone airy. "Last night was so chilly I found myself reaching for a shawl."
"The heat has certainly subsided," Cedric replied.
"They say it’s easy to catch a cold during the change of seasons. It would be so much better if there were someone to share the warmth with at night."
Cedric let out a light chuckle. "I thought you were back to pretending to be a demure lady, which isn't like you at all, but I find I quite like the conclusion of your story."
"I told you I would be honest with you, Your Grace."
Bella flashed him a charming, flirtatious smile before taking a delicate sip of her tea. All the while, Cedric watched her in silence.
"I hear there have been some troublesome rumors lately..."
"Rumors? Oh, are you referring to the summons?" Bella smiled sweetly, shrugging off his unspoken question. "The truth always comes out, so I’m not worried. Honestly, Your Grace, you already know, don't you? You know who boarded that ship impersonating me."
Cedric didn't answer, but his smile deepened slightly. Bella shot him a look of playful annoyance.
"Of course, I know Your Grace won't reveal the truth. After all, it involves the Late Duke’s memento. Still, don't you think it was quite malicious of Harriet to go so far as to disguise herself as me?"
"I cannot speak to her intentions," Cedric said. "It seems there is a history between you two, but it is of no concern to me."
"Yes, I suppose you would say that. It doesn't matter. What matters to me is that you, at least, know I am innocent."
Seemingly fearless, Bella maintained her confident, seductive poise.
Cedric tilted his head slightly. "Then what is the reason for your visit today? I assumed you had come to ask for a favor, but since that isn't it, my curiosity is piqued."
"Does Your Grace only meet people when there is a reason or a purpose? If I must give a reason... perhaps it is simply because I wanted to see you?"
Cedric laughed again. He was reminded of a certain woman who had recently rebuffed him when he had said the exact same thing to her.
"Is that so? To be honest, out of every ten people who visit this office, all ten have an objective. Hearing that you came simply because you wanted to see me is quite refreshing."
"Oh my! You must have been so lonely..." Bella lowered her brows, feigning sympathy for his plight.
The two continued their superficial dance. They avoided the heavy atmosphere of High Society and the shifting political landscape, choosing instead to discuss the weather, scenic spots for dates, and recent hobbies.
Naturally, the topic eventually turned to friends and family.
"...So, my family is quite harmonious," Bella said. "We stay in frequent contact with our extended relatives as well. Honestly, when times are difficult, blood is the only thing one can truly trust, isn't it?"
"...Most would agree."
Cedric paused for a heartbeat before replying. Bella didn't notice the weight of that fleeting silence—or rather, she misinterpreted it entirely.
"Oh, right. This topic must be uncomfortable for you, given the trouble with your cousin, Albert..."
"Not to the point of discomfort."
"Hmm... Isn't it strange for close relatives to turn their backs on each other like this? Your Grace has no siblings, so Albert is practically a brother to you, isn't he?"
Cedric found Bella genuinely amusing. She had a knack for making him laugh, though in a very different way than Harriet did.
"Then, when your cousin is in a crisis, do you feel sorry for them?" he asked.
"I've always felt sorry for his face," Bella quipped.
At her sharp joke, Cedric couldn't contain himself and burst into laughter. Bella joined him, her giggles harmonizing with his. To any observer, they looked like a perfectly matched pair.
Still smiling, Cedric said, "Unless Albert comes here himself and kneels to plead his case, it is difficult for me to be the first to extend a hand. He was the one who started this quarrel, after all."
"Ah, because of the brooch...!"
Bella nodded as if she finally understood. she looked up at him cautiously, adding, "But tell me, could Harriet possibly be involved with Albert? Otherwise, how would she have known the brooch was there?"
"I am not entirely sure how Miss Harriet became involved. I simply expressed my gratitude since she was the one who recovered it for me. In any case, it is a certainty that Albert stole it."
Cedric brought his teacup to his lips, the smile still lingering.
While he drank, his expression was hidden, but Bella was now convinced that Cedric harbored feelings for her. The final words he spoke as he set down the cup only solidified that conviction.
"...Please convey what I just said to Albert."
"What? I—!"
"If your visit had truly been without purpose, I would have been more pleased," Cedric said, his gaze turning seductive and subtly alluring. "But well, this wasn't bad."
Cedric was smiling, even though he had seen right through her.
No man who wanted me has ever been this aloof, Bella thought. This is quite refreshing.
She let out a soft laugh and nodded. Her task was done; the negotiation was settled. All that was left was to relay the message to Albert.