NOVEL WEB Chapter 203
Chapter: 203
“…The businesses I have are just the same as yours.”
“Right?”
“Were you thinking about this kind of stuff from the start when you sold them?”
“Isn’t that so?”
While passing a few documents to Ivana, we were having such a conversation.
I had kept it hidden until now, but maybe it was time to be open about it?
After all, the Rose Family wasn’t something Ivana needed to worry about; as long as she gained a profit, that was enough for her.
Plus, I could build a good relationship with Ivana and, on the side, scold the little brats from the Rose Family.
In the end, it was a win-win situation, right?
Anyway.
“What I’m asking from Miss Ivana is nothing special. Just make sure the businesses the Rose Family started recently don’t succeed at all.”
Ultimately, that was my goal.
Sure, there was helping Ivana with her succession, but the main aim was to attack the Roses.
Meeting Ivana frequently while doing a ton of tasks had all been for this one purpose.
“It shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“Right?”
“Most of the businesses I got from Camelia overlap with the Rose Family, and since they are on such a different scale, if we just push through with strength, we should be fine.”
“Still, we’re dealing with a family that’s weaker than even most barons, let alone earls.”
“This is all the Rose Family’s doing, though.”
“Phew….”
Maybe it was because we had talked about businesses often.
I found it easy to communicate with Ivana.
Being a duke’s daughter, she seemed to have a good understanding of the situations in other families, and aside from that, we just seemed to click.
“The Rose Family has become too insignificant to be called an earl family now.”
“Well, considering there’s only one person from that family making it big in the capital.”
“Aside from that, the family itself is just too old. Christina Rose, the current eldest daughter, might be trying to lead, but there’s no real substance there.”
“Hearing Miss Ivana say that makes it a bit scary.”
What I was doing and what Duke’s daughter Ivana was doing were altogether different.
Of course, I didn’t refute Ivana’s words.
Because it was true, right?
It’s not like she was using her own abilities to run her business; it’s effectively the method of a whore selling her body.
As someone who has been running businesses since I was eight, it just seemed like a foolish method to me.
Especially for a once-powerful family like that.
“Is that so?”
“Miss Ivana does seem somewhat intimidating.”
“Uh…”
It was less about being scary and more about having a cold appearance, but isn’t that synonymous?
I decided to just speak honestly.
“Is that so…?”
Hearing that, Ivana seemed a bit disappointed.
Regardless of my honesty, it seemed she didn’t like hearing about her looks.
But the fact was, she really did look intimidating.
If a baby saw Ivana’s beauty, they might be a bit scared, right?
Really.
“Well, I can’t say you’re wrong.”
However, I didn’t retract my words, continuing on.
After all, retracting them immediately wouldn’t change a thing, right?
Given that I had just made a direct comment about her flaw, if I suddenly said I didn’t mean it, Ivana would just feel worse.
Here, I needed to proceed slowly.
“You do have a pretty cold appearance, Miss Ivana, don’t you? Your eyes are red, and your hair is pure white, which gives off quite a chilly vibe.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Ivana showed a similar reaction.
One thing I learned from knowing Ivana since our Academy days is that she can be surprisingly cute.
Being from the North, she loved warm things, had an unexpectedly fondness for cute stuff, and even her usually expressionless face revealed emotions quite well.
Despite her cold looks, there were many similarities to other girls.
Of course, her cold appearance was true.
“But still, you’re incredibly pretty, Miss Ivana. Isn’t that okay?”
“Having a cold appearance is still…”
“Why’s that?”
“I just personally don’t like my impression.”
“Hmm….”
Is it that bad?
Even before, and now too… it feels like Ivana doesn’t really know her good looks.
Previously, when discussing her chest size, she seemed unaware, and now regarding her own impression as well.
I guess that’s what happens when you’ve had it all since the start, huh?
I mean, I was really pretty since birth, too, but even that I’m grateful for because I remember my past life.
Hearing Ivana talk about her insecurities made it difficult to comprehend.
“I actually think Miss Ivana’s looks are amazing.”
“…?”
So I offered her that compliment.
An objective compliment isn’t enough; this was a subjective one.
Usually, girls love compliments that reflect personal opinions during chats.
Having interacted with many girls in the past, and with all my close friends being girls, it’s only natural I’d know how to flatter them.
“I like your cold impression, but I also really like pretty people like you, Miss Ivana.”
“Uh… Is that so…?”
“Of course, it’s normal to like pretty things, right?”
I’ve always been someone who loved beauty.
Whether it be gemstones or beautiful clothes, none could compare to a pretty person’s looks.
“Well… uh….”
“Why’s that?”
“…Nothing.”
“Don’t you like pretty things more than ugly ones?”
So I just asked.
This was common knowledge after all.
Everyone in the world prefers beauty over ugliness, and I simply liked it a bit more than the average.
The worship of beauty and such has been around long before I was even born.
“Is that not so?”
“Strictly speaking… I probably would prefer pretty things more…?”
“Phew…. I knew that!”
“…Yes.”
Finally, Ivana acknowledged it.
See, everyone feels that way, right?
“Anyway, the conclusion is that you are extremely pretty, Miss Ivana.”
“…Alright.”
“I really mean it, you know?”
“…Yes.”
She looked as though she didn’t quite believe me.
But convincing Ivana during moments like this shouldn’t be too difficult.
After all, we were in a Room Cafe, and it was just the two of us here, right?
“Why are you doing this?”
“Uh… just because?”
I moved closer to Ivana.
It was amusing and fun how often this scenario unfolded whenever we came to the room cafe, but…
This was all because Ivana looked beautiful.
If she hadn’t, there wouldn’t have been a reason to have business talks so often or even meet at all.
Even aside from Ivana, there were many people to discuss business with.
“I have a strong preference for beauty.”
I leaned in even closer and stated that.
Up close, her beauty shone even more.
Her fair skin was more striking, and her unique red eyes were more pronounced.
“So that’s why it’s nice meeting like this… just the two of us.”
“…Huh?”
“If you didn’t have a look that fit my preferences, I wouldn’t have even asked you to join the club during our Academy days.”
“Why…?”
“Everyone around me is pretty, right? Even my maid Rize is honestly gorgeous, and all the girls in the club were beautiful.”
“…….”
She couldn’t refute me.
That’s simply how it was; my surrounding girls were indeed pretty.
The reason Rize had been my maid all this time, and why I kept in touch with my friends from Academy was all because they were beautiful.
“I invited you to that club because I was attracted to you, and we’re still connecting after graduation because of that.”
“I see….”
“It would be a shame to let someone as lovely as you go.”
“Why are you getting closer….”
“Because you’re pretty?”
“Not….”
I kept inching closer to Ivana, reducing the space to just a fist’s width.
Ivana was gradually leaning back, but with the wall behind her, she couldn’t retreat further.
Despite her cold appearance, there was something adorably cute about her.
“Do you dislike it?”
“I never said that…. I’m just taken off guard.”
“Then, is it okay if I get a bit closer?”
I sought her permission.
I couldn’t just rush in without the prior experience like with Rize.
After all, I hadn’t done anything like this with Ivana often, it was more like I just hugged her before.
Except for a few hugs with Rize and Karen, I hadn’t done this with anyone else.
“…….”
Ivana nodded shyly.
Not many would know that the heir of the Nordal Family could display such a cute demeanor.
“…….”
The way her eyes fluttered when we locked gazes, the slight flinch of her shoulders when I placed my hand on hers, and the reddening of her face from embarrassment.
“I’m sure other people can never see or even imagine this.”
And honestly, it made me happy that such a lovely person wasn’t rejecting me.
I liked women, but I doubt the other girls, including Ivana, liked women for the same reasons as I did.
And to still not reject me was evidence that my looks surpassed that kind of expectation.