Chapter 62
“By the way, Sir, your discernment is remarkable. Not only our young count—rising to such a position at his age—but the ventures you’ve chosen, each and every one, are astonishing…! The prospects are exceedingly bright. The Countess Pillais was very… very! pleased, saying that thanks to your information, she’ll be handling some proper money for the first time in a long while.”
“The Countess’s reaction is reassuring—it gives me confidence in my choices. She’s someone who knows how to read the flow of capital with precision.”
“Though there did seem to be one puzzling aspect… Something even I find a bit curious… Why invest so competitively? You have no other siblings, so even without growing your personal assets to this extent, you would inherit the title quite comfortably.”
As Meyer had pointed out, Hitaon was conducting all of these investments not in his family’s name, but in his own. Investments focused not on the prosperity of his house, but on growing his personal wealth. Meyer was asking the reason for that now.
“That’s true. But I need a more certain justification.”
“A justification, sir?”
“Yes. A justification so solid that no matter what kind of disgraceful act I commit in the future, no one will ever be able to drag me down from my position as head of the family.”
Hitaon’s gaze lingered far off, on a pair—a man and a woman. Broil and his fiancée. He blinked his thick lashes slowly and, in their figures, saw himself and Luirene superimposed.
In a place like this, pale and glowing like a forest in paradise, Luirene would be more lovely than anyone. Even if it looked that way only to his own eyes, it didn’t matter. In all the world, just one person recognizing her true worth was enough.
The celebration ended, and Hitaon waited for the line of carriages to depart before setting off, gradually leaving the county estate behind. The carriage had barely been moving long when it came to an abrupt stop. He opened the window connecting to the driver’s seat and heard Mikale’s voice.
“Someone is asking for help. I’ll go check briefly.”
Hitaon gave the order and drew back the curtain, opening the window. Nearby, a carriage had stopped at an angle, as if pulled over in haste. Mikale went over briefly, then returned to the window to report.
“It’s a carriage of the Tourso Duchy. The wheel seems to be damaged.”
“A spare carriage?”
“From what I gathered in conversation, things are difficult on several fronts.”
Anyone else, but why Tourso of all people? From the handkerchief to their conversation earlier, there were plenty of questionable elements, but he couldn’t just abandon someone in distress on the roadside. That he’d departed a little late to avoid heavy traffic had led to this misstep. Hitaon clicked his tongue soundlessly, then stepped down from the carriage and approached.
“Lady Tourso. Hitaon Glair.”
“Sir Glair?”
“I heard your carriage has run into trouble.”
“Yes. The wheel is giving us problems, it seems.”
“If it’s all right with you, please take my carriage. I’ll escort you to the Tourso estate.”
“Your carriage, sir?”
“Looking at the situation, securing a spare carriage or returning to the Pesche estate both seem difficult.”
Hitaon escorted her and brought her to his own carriage.
“Depart for the Tourso estate.”
“Thank you, Sir. I’m in your debt. If not for your consideration, my journey home would have been delayed considerably.”
“It would be remiss to pretend not to see someone in difficulty. Please make yourself comfortable until we arrive.”
Panae immediately grasped the true meaning behind those courteous words. The hand he’d extended was one he would have offered to anyone, not just her—no need to take this kindness as anything special, he was drawing the line plainly.
Truly, this was the first time. A man like this.
No matter how she probed and prodded, he remained utterly indifferent. At first, she’d wondered if it was a brazen ploy—a way to prick her pride and sear his presence into her mind. But Hitaon Glair truly seemed to hold not a single pinch of interest in her. That indifference, paradoxically, only provoked her stubbornness further.
“Are you aware, Sir? Since the riding competition, you’ve become quite the sensation in society.”
“You mean me?”
“Yes, heh heh. Whenever the young ladies gather, they fall over one another to speak your name. The impression you made at the recent ball was striking as well.”
“I don’t recall doing anything to draw particular disfavor.”
“Handsome men are naturally the subject of conversation just by standing there.”
“Such excessive praise—I hardly know what to do with myself.”
His words said one thing; his expression held no trace of feeling. That aloof face only heightened his appeal. His detached attitude, utterly unconcerned with how others assessed him, instead read as the confidence of someone who knew his own popularity better than anyone.
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