* * *

“He’s said to be buying up every piece of information about you, young master.”

Henry listened intently to Violet’s report.

Just like the information guild, the merchant guild was also sensitive when it came to intelligence.

Although it had only recently been established, Violet had already amassed a wealth of information.

Thanks to her efforts, Henry not only acquired a merchant guild but also effectively established a private information network for himself.

As expected.

Henry hadn’t believed that man would leave him alone.

He figured there would be some form of approach, but he hadn’t anticipated it would diverge from the friendly connections he’d formed with Kayla.

“Where is he staying these days?”

“He purchased a separate residence in the capital and is living there.”

“What about his interactions with others?”

Predicting he wouldn’t remain quiet, Henry asked further.

Violet quickly glanced at her report and nodded.

“It seems he’s meeting people he knew from his academy days.”

“And?”

“…He’s also spreading false information about you, young master.”

“Ah.”

Henry propped his chin in his hand, bored by the predictability of it all.

If he wasn’t planning to approach directly, he should’ve come up with something more novel.

Resorting to mere gossip and spreading false rumors?

Pathetic.

“Should we just observe for now?”

“That’s not an option. Even lies, if believed by enough people, become truth.”

Henry had no intention of leaving Taylor unchecked from the start.

“We need to interfere with him.”

“If you give the order, I’ll act immediately.”

Violet’s proactive stance earned a dismissive wave from Henry.

“There’s a more suitable person for this.”

Violet could handle it, but there were limits.

Confronting Taylor required someone bold enough to express their thoughts directly, and Violet wasn’t at that level yet.

Perhaps she could handle it once the guild grew stronger, but for now, someone else had to step in.

Someone who wouldn’t falter no matter the situation.

“I’ll visit Hena.”

Henry thought of his younger sister.

---

“It’s good to see you after so long.”

Taylor offered a polite smile in response to John, the heir of a baronial family, as the latter clapped him on the shoulder warmly.

They had crossed paths at the academy a few times, but there hadn’t been a trace of real friendship.

In fact, John had ignored Taylor back then, especially when Crown Prince William’s scorn was directed at Taylor.

Now, the cheery greeting felt oddly misplaced.

Still, Taylor had come to this gathering specifically to meet John, so he hid his thoughts and clinked glasses with him.

“I finally have some breathing room.”

“Oh, I heard! That famous merchant guild is yours now. That’s incredible.”

This was precisely why John was so enthusiastic.

After dropping out of the academy and returning to his territory, Taylor’s first move was to establish a merchant guild.

With sufficient funds and a knack for taking from others, building the guild wasn’t difficult.

Now, it boasted shops not only in his territory but throughout the empire.

“What made you think of starting a guild? Most nobles stick to sponsorships. It’s impressive.”

“Impressive might be overstating it…”

Taylor curved his lips into a faint smile.

He couldn’t help but find humor in John’s flattery, knowing full well that the man would likely badmouth him as soon as his back was turned.

Sponsoring a guild was common for nobles, but leading one was another matter entirely.

It invited criticism about a noble stooping to the level of merchants.

“I heard even Prince Timothy has started sponsoring a guild. They’re producing some extraordinary goods. I guess these days, having a guild is a must.”

John’s eyes gleamed, clearly shifting the conversation toward his true objective.

“I’m thinking about sponsoring one myself, but I can’t figure out where to start.”

As a baronial heir with little influence in the capital, John had ignored Taylor at the academy in favor of more powerful connections.

Now that Taylor had risen as the leader of a flourishing guild, John was eager to latch on.

“These days, mediocre products won’t cut it.”

Feigning thoughtfulness, Taylor furrowed his brow before offering vague advice—just enough to seem helpful but withholding the real secrets.

“The quickest and most effective way is to outshine your competition.”

Revealing the truth wouldn’t benefit him. But John, of course, wasn’t one to back down.

“Come on, give me something more concrete. What exactly should I do?”

“Well… the simplest example would be to follow Prince Timothy’s approach.”

“Prince Timothy? You mean that Ferros thing?”

“Exactly. He acquired the Grand Mage’s treasure and used it to produce items tied to it. Everyone knew the treasure was his, and the new products drew attention. That’s how he carved a niche for himself.”

Nodding along, John seemed convinced by Taylor’s explanation.

“That does make sense.”

Henry Timothy had always been seen as just the heir of the Timothy Duchy—nothing more, nothing less. Despite his prickly demeanor, he hadn’t stood out much, unlike Edwin.

But recently, he had shaken the capital by not only claiming the Grand Mage’s treasure but also revealing that he, previously thought to be a beta, was actually an omega.

His imprint with Edwin, a dominant alpha, further turned heads.

The guild he backed was now thriving, offering unique products with impressive effects.

“Prince Timothy has really come into his own lately.”

John couldn’t hide his envy.

Born into a prestigious family, Henry seemed to possess both luck and privilege.

How else could he have claimed the treasure?

“An omega, imprinted with a dominant alpha no less—how fascinating.”

John, also an omega, briefly entertained thoughts of what might have been.

He’d overlooked Edwin before, and now he regretted it.

“Then why don’t you take him?”

“…What?”

“You can break the bond with the treasure, right? Take the treasure, sever their bond, and claim the alpha for yourself.”

“Come on, that’s absurd. What makes you think he’d even look my way?”

John waved the suggestion off, but Taylor leaned in, his voice low and persuasive.

“Think about it. If you had a dominant alpha by your side, you wouldn’t need to sponsor a guild at all.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Taylor had to admit that the method he proposed was indeed the fastest way to infiltrate the center of power.

John’s inability to completely refute it caused Taylor’s lips to twitch in smug satisfaction.

This wasn’t the first time Taylor had made such a suggestion.

Frankly, relying on John alone wouldn’t get much done.

That’s why Taylor had planned to rope in a few others to set his schemes into motion.

“I happened to see the two of them recently, and they didn’t seem all that close. Didn’t you say Duke Timothy forced the bond on him? What you see on the surface isn’t always the whole story. So, if you—”

“Hah, you really don’t hold back, do you?”

Taylor’s enthusiastic attempt to convince John was abruptly cut off.

Annoyed by the interruption, Taylor turned to see who had dared to interfere, irritation flashing in his eyes.

A woman he hadn’t noticed earlier stood before him.

Her unfamiliar face bore such a striking resemblance to someone that it instantly clicked in his mind.

“I heard someone’s been trying to sow discord between Duke Timothy and Duke Lorenz.

That must be you.”

“What?”

“Your merchant guild’s reputation precedes you. Plenty of dirty tricks there. It’s no surprise your guild’s attitude reflects its leader’s character.”

The woman’s cutting words lashed out mercilessly, leaving Taylor reeling.

He instinctively regarded her as an enemy even before learning her identity, his sour mood solidifying the sentiment.

“And who might you be?”

“Hena.”

Without a hint of hesitation, she revealed her name, leaving no room for doubt.

At her boldness, John whispered just loudly enough for Taylor to hear,

“She’s Lady Hena, Duke Timothy’s younger sister.”

Taylor froze.

He had unknowingly badmouthed an older brother in front of his younger sister.

Although he had carefully checked the guest list before attending, he had never anticipated encountering Hena Timothy here.

“I was simply offering advice to John after hearing some rumors—just to help him, of course.”

“What rumors? That my brother and Edwin Lorrenst don’t get along? Who told you that? John, did you know about this?”

“No! This is the first I’m hearing it—from Taylor, that is. I had no idea.”

Quick to extricate himself, John denied everything, leaving Taylor stranded in a storm of accusations.

It wasn’t the first time John had betrayed him, but Taylor was beyond anger now.

It was almost laughable how insignificant John had always been, yet he still managed to cause such a mess.

But Taylor knew he had more pressing concerns—like the piercing gaze of Hena Timothy.

“Publicly apologize for tarnishing the dignity of the Timothy family.”

At her uncompromising demand, Taylor bit his lip, trying in vain to mask his discomfort.

The room was filled with onlookers, including John, who had already retreated to a safe distance.

The humiliation was crushing, and Taylor had no choice but to comply.

* * *