* * *

As time passed and complaints began to die down, people gradually realized that Violet had yet to give a clear explanation.

With the noise quieting, attention shifted to her, and Violet began to explain the ring.

“The unique aspect of this ring is simple. It can store pheromones.”

Instead of disappointment, curiosity flickered across the crowd’s faces.

Speaking in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, Violet continued, captivating her audience.

“Let me give you an example. When bonded partners are apart, they become anxious.”

Those familiar with this concept nodded knowingly.

It was common practice to give a “pheromone shower” when a bonded partner had to leave.

The term referred to covering one’s partner in their pheromones to provide a sense of security.

“The effect of a pheromone shower, however, only lasts up to three days at most.”

For bonded partners, only each other’s pheromones were tolerable.

However, to non-bonded people, those pheromones could be unpleasant, like being overwhelmed by someone wearing excessively strong perfume.

Despite the discomfort, the main issue was that the effect was short-lived.

“But if you were to infuse your pheromones into this ring and give it to your partner, it would become a medium to reassure them.”

“You mean no more pheromone showers?” someone asked.

“Exactly,” Violet replied, nodding confidently. “The effect, once infused, lasts anywhere from a week to a month, depending on the individual.”

Expressions of interest grew among the crowd.

Even those not bonded found the ring fascinating.

“So, is it only available as a ring for now?” someone asked.

“Yes, at the moment. However, we plan to expand to various types of accessories in the future.”

This wasn’t just an ordinary piece of jewelry with intricate engravings or rare gemstones; the ability to store pheromones alone made it a must-have item.

“What’s it called?” someone asked.

For the first time, a smile spread across Violet’s face.

Her voice rose slightly, as if she had been waiting for this question.

“It’s called ‘Pheros.'”

“Name?”

“Yes, I would love for you to name it, my lord.”

That was what Violet had asked Henry the previous night when he had stopped by to check on things.

Requesting him to name the ring had caught Henry off guard, but he had eventually given a rather dismissive answer.

“Pheromone Eros, shortened to Pheros.”

“Pheros is receiving great feedback,” Herze said.

“How much?” Henry asked, flipping through a report.

Herze paused, then replied thoughtfully.

“It’s to the point where we’re worried if we can handle it all.”

The detailed numbers were listed in the report Henry held.

Currently, the Reve Trading Company was only taking orders by reservation.

They were preparing to fulfill the initial orders all at once on a designated day.

“Even before anyone has received the product, the word-of-mouth is spreading steadily. At this rate, the rings we’ve stocked will soon be gone.”

“We have time to prepare more, so there’s no need to worry,” Henry assured.

“Starting with reservations turned out to be a smart move.”

Initially, they had planned to produce a large batch of rings and release them all at once, but Henry had suggested a change: taking reservations to gauge demand and plan production accordingly.

This strategy not only worked but also boosted the buzz around the rings, enhancing word-of-mouth promotion.

“That worked out well,” Henry said, closing the report and meeting Herze’s eyes.

“How does it feel?”

Herze’s lips tightened.

Although she didn’t immediately answer, a mix of emotions flickered across her face.

The trading company had fallen apart after being falsely accused, and the remaining merchants had tried desperately to rebuild it, only to fail time and again.

The world had shown no sympathy, and the system seemed to reward the corrupt.

Watching their enemies thrive while enduring endless hardships had been soul-crushing.

Even while clinging to the faintest hope, they’d often been too afraid to say aloud that they might fail.

And yet, the trading company was truly being revived.

The moment Henry stepped in, everything had started to flow seamlessly.

To think that the company could once again live up to its name, “Reve,” was beyond belief.

“It feels good,” Herze finally admitted, an unusually honest response for her.

Henry offered no more commentary, only a satisfied nod.

His lack of interference was more about trust than disinterest, and Herze acknowledged this with a simple nod in return.

“Keep up the good work. Let me know if you need anything,” Henry said, waving as Herze bowed and turned to leave.

Herze, now responsible for reporting all company affairs to Henry, would be visiting the estate frequently.

Just before leaving, Herze hesitated, then turned back to Henry.

“Thank you.”

“Hm?” Henry looked confused.

It wasn’t like Violet to express gratitude, and he wasn’t sure if he’d heard correctly.

“Oh… right,” he said, only realizing her sincerity when he saw Herze’s flushed face.

Embarrassed, she quickly left, trying to hide her feelings.

“She must really be happy,” Henry murmured, propping his chin on his hand.

Herze’s thanks were rare enough to be memorable, and he felt a sense of accomplishment.

“Well, it was a trading company that was supposed to have disappeared…”

If anyone understood the bleak outlook for the company, it was Herze.

Stopping the Crown Prince from destroying the company had once seemed a hopeless cause, and it was supposed to lead to the company’s quiet demise.

But Henry had changed everything.

He thought of the differences from the original story, listing them one by one.

“The treasure is mine, and the company didn’t disappear.”

And he hadn’t been kidnapped by the trading company in this timeline either.

That made for quite a few significant changes.

“I’m curious to see how things will turn out,” he mused, thinking of the story’s final antagonist.

The original story had two main villains.

Henry was the initial villain, causing Edwyn’s hardships at the start by blocking his pheromones.

The second villain emerged mid-story, playing a much more significant role until the end.

Compared to that figure, Henry’s presence had been minor—an early villain who set the stage for the protagonist’s trials.

Yet Henry didn’t seem fearful or uneasy at the thought of that antagonist.

“Knowledge is power, after all,” he whispered.

---

Knowing the original story well had its advantages.

Henry was aware of the true identity of the villain and all the wrongdoings he had committed.

He even knew what actions he would take in the future.

So there was no reason for Henry to fear him.

He could read the villain’s current state of mind as easily as looking at the palm of his hand.

“He must be flustered. After all, he didn’t expect any treasure to come out of that cave.”

Henry had known from the start that the cave was their doing.

He was aware that it had become a dangerous area filled with threatening individuals, set to erupt at any moment, and that the Lord had taken measures to ensure no one interfered.

For that reason, he hadn’t approached recklessly, fearing he might get caught up in the chaos.

Not touching the box inside the cave had also been a deliberate choice.

Their plan had always been to target the Crown Prince, and they probably hadn’t expected an actual treasure to be there.

“In the original story, Kayla took it…”

Using the power of the Pheromone Stone, Kayla had managed to calm Edwin’s pheromones but ended up becoming fatefully entangled with him, unable to escape their bad blood.

“Now, he’s probably furious with me.”

Henry shrugged as he imagined the man stomping around, venting his frustrations, all because Henry had taken the stone to break the bond between him and Edwin.

“Well, what’s done is done. Nothing can be done about it now.”

They were bound to cross paths eventually.

As long as that man’s hatred for the Crown Prince persisted, he wasn’t likely to have any fond feelings for either Henry or Edwin.

But Henry didn’t mind.

He had more than enough time to prepare for whatever that man would do.

“We’ll meet soon enough.”

A flicker of anticipation crossed Henry’s face at the thought of seeing him in person.

* * *