Chapter 47

"Viscount Cladeu, what a coincidence meeting you here."

"...Indeed. This is such a coincidence."

Gian saw the viscount walking on the road together with his assistant. Gian politely greets the viscount and asked if he has free time to spend with him. Fortunately, Viscount Cladeu agreed. Since they are near Gian's shop, he invited the viscount to have tea with him.

The moment they stepped inside the tea shop, the customers inside turn their heads to look at them. Gian's sudden appearance in the shop gathers the attention of the regular customers—meaning the young ladies from the different noble families. They finally see him again! Though these ladies act like they were not looking at Gian, their eyes were still obviously following his figure.

Gian did not pay them any attention and lead the viscount on a vacant table near the back counter and away from prying eyes. When Amelia saw the young owner of the shop, she respectfully greeted them and gave the menu. After ordering, Amelia left them to prepare their order. Gian also asked Butler Del and Viscount Cladeu's assistant to leave them for a while.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation today, Viscount Cladeu." Gian said.

"It was nothing. But indeed, I was surprised to receive your invitation."

In truth, their encounter earlier was no coincidence. Gian asked Aaron to send his letter of invitation to the viscount to meet him at his tea shop. It was also written in the letter that if possible, Gian and Viscount Cladeu will pretend they meet in the marketplace coincidentally before they can talk with each other. Although he was confused about it, Viscount Cladeu still obliged with Gian's request.

"So this is the famous shop everyone was talking about." Viscount Cladeu commented. "This is indeed a unique and catchy shop. You are really good at doing business, Gian."

"You are flattering me too much, Viscount. Compared to you, I am still lacking and inexperience in this field."

Amelia comes back with their order. Gian ordered a glass of cold honey lemon tea while Viscount Cladeu chose a glass of honey water. After serving the drinks, Amelia left their table quietly. Gian took a sip of his drink first before he speaks again.

"I received a notice that Lady Shannen will be back tomorrow." Gian started.

"That is right. By the way, I wanted to say thank you for arranging all the things she will need for your engagement party. As her father, I am very grateful for your meticulous care towards my daughter."

"You do not have to say thank you to me, Viscount. Lady Shannen will be my fiancee. Of course, I only want the best for her."

"That is very reassuring to hear." Viscount Cladeu said before taking a sip on his own drink. The mixture of sweet and tangy flavor from the drink leaves a unique yet satisfying taste on his tastebuds.

"Then Gian, what other things do you want to talk with me?" Viscount Cladeu asked.

He knew that Gian will not send him a secret invitation to meet up because he only wanted to discuss the preparation of his engagement party. Obviously, this young man wanted to discuss something important with him. Gian shows him a faint smile. He took a sip again on his own drink. His actions are relaxed and refined.

"Viscount Cladeu, I want to invest a huge sum of money to your business." Gian answered straight to the point.

"What?"

"I will invest two hundred large gold coins for each business that you owned, Viscount."

The viscount has a total of ten businesses in this kingdom. This also includes his trading business in the southern port. And Gian wanted to invest a huge sum of money for Viscount Cladeu's business.

Obviously, the viscount was very surprised by his offer. At first, the viscount thought that Gian was only bluffing. Two hundred large gold coins were really a huge sum of money. But Gian was very composed and looks at him seriousness on his eyes. Viscount Cladeu composed himself first so he can think rationally.

"Why?" Viscount Cladeu asked. "Are you planning to own the businesses of the Cladeu family?"

With the huge amount Gian was offering to him, it was enough for half of their business to be put under his name. Currently, Beckie has its businesses under her name. It was because she paid four hundred pieces of small silver coins to saved their falling businesses before. But now a young man was offering to invest a total of two thousand large gold coins to their business. It would not be a problem if Gian wanted to replace Beckie's name on the official ownership document of their businesses.

"Believe me or not, I do not have any bad intention with my offer. Viscount Cladeu, all I wanted to do is to remove the heavy shackle in your life and make a safe and quiet environment for my fiancee." Gian explained.

"Shackle?"

"We both know who is this heavy shackle I am talking about, Viscount Cladeu."

There was only one person who passed through the viscount's mind— His second wife, Beckie.

"Viscount, I know that you are currently in a loveless marriage. You only married her so you can save your falling businesses back then. As a businessman and a father for Shannen, you are not willing to lose all of your businesses not because you are greedy. It is because you wanted to make a stable life for Shannen."

Viscount Cladeu did not speak. He was only staring at Gian with conflicted gazes. He was only a young man who will turn seventeen in three days. But Viscount Cladeu feels like he was talking to a very mature man.

"What do you think, Viscount Cladeu?" Gian asked.

"Gian, you are still young. You are now trying to pry on someone's life." Viscount Cladeu scolded him.

"Indeed, I am trying to pry on your life. But my purpose for doing this is very simple."

"And that is?"

"Helping you to see the truth."

"What do you mean?"

Gian glanced at the cold tea he was drinking with a half-smile on his lips.

"Five years ago, Viscount Cladeu had a business partner named Micheal Sheldon. You trusted him too much and yet he betrayed you by stealing your shared money and left you with a ton of debt."

"You—"

"Currently, Micheal Sheldon is enjoying his life in the Sildeza Kingdom. By the way, Micheal Sheldon changed his identity and appearance so no one can recognize him anymore."

"How...How did you know that?!"

It was not a secret that Viscount Cladeu had a business partner before. But when he was on the verge of bankruptcy, the viscount did not reveal the truth that he was betrayed and deceived by his partner. Instead, Viscount Cladeu hid the truth and told the others that his business partner died. At that time, he does not want the people around him laughed at his foolishness for being too trusting despite the fact that he was a businessman.

"It does matter how did I know that information." Gian said. "In fact, I have more disturbing truth I want to share with you."

Without waiting for the viscount to speak, Gian continued.

"Five years ago, Micheal Sheldon was serious about helping Viscount Cladeu with their business. That was until he met a woman and made a deal with her. The woman paid Micheal Sheldon a huge sum of money in exchange for his betrayal to Viscount Cladeu. Between friendship and money, Micheal Sheldon chose the latter. He took all the money and left the viscount who was on the verge of bankruptcy. When the viscount had no more ways to save his businesses, that woman showed up. She acted like a savior in front of the viscount and paid his debt in exchange for marriage."

Once the word was said, Viscount Cladeu's facial expression was still calm but his hand on the table tightly balled into a fist.

"Just now, your words were too strong. It can also be considered a huge blunder not only for my wife but also to the whole Cladeu family. How can you proved that what you said is the truth?"

"Simple. Micheal Sheldon was a very distant relative of Madam Beckie on her mother's side. Micheal Sheldon's mother was still alive and she was living alone near the northern port. You can order someone to investigate her."

Gian delivered those detailed words confidently, so this information must be true.

Both of them remained silent after that. Gian was watching the lively atmosphere inside the shop. Viscount Cladeu remained seated and his head was lowered hiding the expression he was making. After fifteen minutes, Gian quietly let out a sigh and stand up from his seat.

"I have to go now, Viscount Cladeu. I still have some things to prepare for my upcoming party." Gian said. "About our conversation today... We can talk about it again after the engagement party that will be held in three days' time."

Without waiting for Viscount Cladeu's reply, Gian stepped out of the shop and meet with Butler Del who was already waiting for him outside.