Chapter 120.

An unknown glow emanated from the military blue pupils gazing at me. After much deliberation, I was the one who came to convince him to sign a secret contract with me. Now, it seems instead like he’s pleading with me to sign the contract.

”…… Why?”

Once again, I was gripped by unknown emotions. I wondered what kind of person I was, and really couldn’t believe it.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

Already met the heroine, when will you bring her back to the Duke’s house, is it testing me?

Other than that, there’s nothing I can do about it right now. No matter what Winter’s intentions were, the fact that he was one of the male leads wouldn’t change.

Besides, the one who needs to sign a contract with him is me.

“…… Sign the Emerald Mine Contract.”

I dismissed my doubts and dutifully replied in the affirmative to his suggestion. Then suddenly felt aggrieved again and pouted.

“We can’t sign with other merchant groups anymore anyway, so why don’t we just go to the auction house?”

“Haha.”

Not blinking obnoxiously, he laughed shallowly.

“But let me talk to the butler about that one.”

It wasn’t my intention to do that one, so I immediately drew a line in the sand.

“Instead of sending a butler, I came in person today, not for the Emerald Mine contract, but for a personal commission.”

“What?”

Winter looked at me in surprise. I pulled something out of my pocket and placed it on the table.

“This is ……”

“This is my own diamond mine.”

Said the white envelope as he pushed it that way. Winter’s eyes, seen through the gap in his mask, colored with surprise.

“Is …… a diamond?”

“Hmm. I’ve been thinking hard about it, and I’ll need an agent to handle the whole process of mining, distribution, processing, and sales, starting with the mining.”

“I’d like you to sign something with me separately in that regard.”

With a blank look on his face, he looked at the white envelope I’d left behind. The sudden appearance of diamonds when talking about emeralds took him by surprise.

But no matter how you think about it, this method is the best. Since even Derrick knew about it, it couldn’t be said that the emerald mine was my private property.

The bookkeeping is also handled by the butler. I’m not much of an extravagant person, and it would soon be strange if there was a sudden state of affairs where a large amount of money was unaccounted for. While secretly accumulating secret funds from the people in the dukedom, I also planned to keep in touch with Winter who replaced the duchess.

Since there was a strong contractual connection, he wouldn’t be able to replace the “fake daughter” like a normal model.

It was impossible to know about such a plan of mine, and Winter quickly asked in alarm.

“How could it be done without the family’s involvement ……”

“No one in the family knows I have it.”

I replied, interrupting him gently. As I said, the people who buy and sell information know a lot and suspect a lot. I decided to utilize it in reverse.

“You’re well aware of my situation at home as well.”

Reaching out, I grabbed the end of the white envelope and said.

“This is my secret money, my lifeline.”

Though in reality, it was just a way to become a billionaire and increase goodwill to the fullest. Wasn’t the pathetic struggle of a public daughter who seemed to live up to her name more sympathetic than an ambitious nobleman? Looking up at Winter. Wearing a mask, it was completely unknown what he was thinking.

Only, when he heard the words “lifeline,” he faltered for a moment.

“Not only do I need a diamond mining business agent, but I need someone to keep and manage the resulting money separately.”

“Will you sign with me?”

“In the meantime, I will give you 60% of the gross income.”

This was a groundbreaking offer. The nobles would take 60% of the income directly, and wouldn’t give more to the people who were just working as henchmen for the merchant group.

‘It’s good, it’s perfect.’

I looked at Winter’s swaying eyes and had a premonition that my offer was accepted. He listened to my words in silence, then spoke.

“Ma’am, let me ……”

“Now do you trust me completely?”

Not words of agreement, but a strangely rhetorical question. I froze.

Trust ……?

Why did you suddenly say something like that. I froze and looked at Winter.

–I can return what is owed to the lady.

–Trust is indeed restored.

–So, will you come to my merchant group again?

–Is there anything else we need to meet again?

I thought of the previous conversation with Winter. It seemed like we would never meet again then, and just like that, came back for a personal commission.

What a good memory!

Did you care about that so much that you remembered it?

But unfortunately, the things that I had built up between him and me as “trust” will never happen. How can I trust the male lead who brought the female lead to give me a hard time?

The short-lived marvelous mood slowly fell silent and eventually became cold. There was nothing about Winter that I could trust.

But not being able to say it outright, I smiled faintly, appropriately evasive.

“More like trusting the Marquis than you.”

My secret funds, his true identity. We seized on each other’s weaknesses and trusted each other. Winter’s shaky eyes paused.

“…… There are conditions.”

“What conditions?”

“I want to satisfy my curiosity by making a couple of meetings obligatory.”

“Meetings ……?”

I asked back, surprised. Winter nodded firmly.

“Yes. Instead, I’ll take only thirty percent, as is customary, instead of sixty percent.”

I considered this for a moment. It was strange and burdensome to always want to meet him, but it wasn’t a bad offer for me. I needed to see what he was thinking when he made contact with the heroine anyway.

“…… Okay.”

After a quick judgment, I nodded. Then suddenly extended a hand.

“Please take care of me from now on, and I’ll be counting on you for my money, Mr. White Rabbit.”

Smiling sweetly, I looked at him. A handshake that meant a contract was formed. But Winter didn’t shake my hand. He stared downward at my hand.

What. Is it a bit awkward to shake hands with a man’s appearance?

The moment I thought of my appearance after applying the appearance disguise magic and wanted to withdraw my hand.

Winter grabbed my hand somewhat hastily. For a moment, the hand was trapped in a place much warmer than mine.

“I’m also …… Please take care of me from now on, ma’am!”

Holding my hand, he murmured, his voice lower. At that moment.

[System] Is the favorability of [Winter] confirmed? [2 Million Gold Fame 200]

With a bright light in my eyes, there is a chance to confirm the goodwill. I chose [2 Million Gold] without hesitation.

[System] Subtract [2 million gold] to confirm [Winter]’s favorability.

[Remaining Funds: 68,000,000 Gold]

The gem business has not been officially launched yet, and I have

The funds are still just the winner’s prize money from the hunting tournament. But I don’t care.

[Favorability 52%]

Because Wynter’s favorability has risen.

Was it 44% last time I looked?

It’s now slammed over half, and novelty surged with time, deflated feelings.

With less than a month to go before the debut of the female lead in normal mode, there were only one or two people other than Ikris whose male lead’s favorability was close to half.

It’s downright creepy compared to Normal Mode where you can go up 10-15% in one episode.

It’s pissing me off to actually play it on my phone and be able to end the game and stop it in the middle. I can barely hold back my hard hand. This was reality for me, so there was no way to end the game and stop.

‘No, can’t die!’

While thinking about it, the white letters above Winter’s head changed to ‘Confirm Favor’ again, and I realized that he was still holding my hand tightly up to that point.

“I wish you’d let go.”

I glanced downward, and he jerked his grip loose.

“The …… contract is to be filled out by us and sent confidentially via correspondence.”

“Thanks. I have to go.”

Perfunctory, ready to go back. Winter stood up to see me off.

When he reached the entrance out, he suddenly remembered.

“By the way, have you stayed for the carriage to come in today?”

“The carriage …… to be taken?”

I was at a loss. Winter nodded.

“Yes. It looked like it came alone just now ……”

There was silence for a moment. Damn instantaneous movement. Been here too long and forgot again.

“Add another commission.”

Finally, I said with a red face. Acting as if nothing had happened, pretending it was meant to be.

“Take me to Hermelton Street.”

A low chuckle was clearly heard this time. I had to turn my face away.