For the Lady's Wise Regression - Chapter 71

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 71
“That’s a rather amateurish question for a professional journalist.”
……
“I’ll help you. This once. But you’ll fabricate the alibi yourself.”
“……May I ask just one question?”
“Don’t expect an answer.”
At Vanessa’s words, the middle-aged man glanced sideways at his ruined office before turning his gaze back to her.
“Is this personal, or for the public good?”
Vanessa let out a dry laugh at that.
“You’re just like me.”
The middle-aged man’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I accept all your conditions, madam. And I’ll provide you with my findings each month, by name.”
“You calculate quickly for a journalist.”
“……So you knew that much about me.”
Indeed.
This middle-aged man at the Parcal Newspaper had once been a merchant.
He’d been robbed of every business venture by House Leonard and cast into the streets.
Vanessa turned, as though her business was concluded.
“Four days. Find a suitable office by then. I’ll cover the expenses.”
……
No reply came, but acceptance was not difficult to discern.
A merchant had become a journalist.
For a single noble house alone.
Half a lifetime devoted to exposing the corruption of House Leonard.
He’d uncovered corruption of that magnitude, only to strike a wall and collapse.
For a mere newspaper to touch a noble house, one had to be prepared for the office to be razed a dozen times over.
In short, one needed deep pockets.
But the Parcal Newspaper had no money.
Nothing but a lack of money.
She didn’t know why the man harbored such venom for House Leonard, but well. The enemy of one’s enemy is an ally.
After all, I knew exactly whom the author had bitten in their past life, what information they’d used to wound them.
Since I was going to spend money anyway, I might as well buy a newspaper.
For House Leonard, being crushed by wealth would wound their pride far more than anything else.
All the preparations were in place.
Mareo was receiving rigorous education under his father, Duke Sharoze, and the business ventures she’d marked in advance would bear fruit.
Both intellect and wealth were secured.
And as of today, information as well.
All the cards needed to bring House Leonard crashing down were now in her hands.
But she had no intention of destroying them in one blow.
At least for as long as I suffered. During those agonizing hours.
To do that……
‘In my past life, they made me a cripple. This time, it will be reversed.’
Let them experience every torment I endured.
***
Having finished her appointments, Vanessa returned to the Ruscliffe Residence and made her way to Ian’s study.
Knock, knock.
Beyond two light raps, Ian’s voice reached her.
“Come in.”
It hadn’t been long since their marriage, yet the contract terms had already grown blurred.
Though they were still meticulously observing the No Contact Restriction.
“Sorry. I couldn’t find Denian.”
The moment Vanessa opened the study door, she offered her excuse for breaking the contract condition.
She knew even as she spoke that it was a pretext, but she made the excuse anyway. She didn’t understand why she wanted to tell him directly.
Ian’s golden eyes moved once to regard Vanessa, then returned to the documents without further comment.
The scratching of his pen across paper sounded slowly through the room.
“Nothing special here…… Eat this while you work.”
Vanessa set a shopping bag on the edge of his documents, careful not to disturb his work.
“……Dessert?”
“Yes. Bought it on La Fond Dunève Street. It’s new—limited edition.”
……
Ian stared at the shopping bag for a moment, then set down his pen.
He rose slowly from his chair and passed by Vanessa.
“Tea.”
Without waiting for a reply, he reached into a cabinet set against the office wall and retrieved a teacup.
She’d heard in passing that he sometimes took tea alone in his study, but this was the first time she’d witnessed it herself.
“……something like that.”
Vanessa answered uncertainly and settled onto the office sofa with an awkward stiffness.
Only a few months ago, they’d discussed the Contract Marriage sitting right here.
The circumstances were similar then, but there had been no tea.
Ian poured the tea slowly instead of answering, then set two steaming cups down on the table, one on either side.
Afterward, he shifted the shopping bag from where it sat on his desk to the exact center.
“Go ahead.”
The moment those words left his mouth, the soft sound of sipping echoed through the room.
“……It’s good. What kind of tea is it?”
“Herb.”
Despite his taste running to sweet things, his preference in tea leaned toward something clean and simple.
After studying the shopping bag for a moment, Ian withdrew a dessert from within.
It was a small cake, white as snow.
“……You bought this because of me?”
At his words—because of me—Vanessa felt a pang of guilt for her uncharacteristic behavior and hastily set about clearing away the empty bag.
“Partly. I got the Imperial Seal easily thanks to you, after all.”
“Partly.”
The tone with which he echoed her words was no different from his usual manner.
Not knowing quite when a servant had come through, Ian handed Vanessa a small dessert fork.
She couldn’t fathom why there was only one, but his gesture carried an easy grace.
“I bought this for you to eat.”
“I know.”
The hand extended toward her showed no sign of withdrawing.
Vanessa released a small sigh and accepted the fork.
With a soft clink, the cake’s shape crumpled slightly.
She took a bite, working it in her mouth a few times, then extended the fork back to him.
“I didn’t realize the two of us would be sharing.”
“…….”
“Eat. If the gift-giver doesn’t eat, it’s hardly a gift at all.”
At that, Ian slowly accepted the fork, and Vanessa raised her teacup to take a sip.
“……It’s quite good.”
“Is it? I’m glad—I worried it might not suit your taste, so I didn’t buy anything else.”
“…….”
“Finish it. It’s yours.”
The fork that left Vanessa’s mouth entered Ian’s in exactly the same way.
‘……So indirect contact is acceptable?’
Watching this, Vanessa mused while sipping her tea.
His standards were peculiar indeed.
Direct contact wasn’t permitted, but this was fine?
Was that why he’d remained single until forty in his previous life? His criteria were so rigid that he probably couldn’t find anyone who met them.
Vanessa glanced sidelong at the way Ian sat.
‘……What am I looking at? Have I lost my mind?’
She quickly redirected her gaze and watched the cake gradually disappear.
“……Does it taste good?”
His pace quickened slightly.
So he really does love sweet things. Judging by his appearance, you’d never guess it.
When she asked with a note of amusement in her voice, the fork stopped abruptly.
“……Yes.”
After that, he moved more slowly than before.
When she looked at his face, his ears were flushed.
What was this? Was he embarrassed about liking sweets? It wasn’t like this was something new.
If he liked them this much, I should buy them for him more often……
Vanessa paused mid-sip, her cup still at her lips.
‘……Am I actually losing my mind? Buy them more often for whom?’
This was simply gratitude for easily obtaining what he desired—nothing more than that.
It was merely a token of thanks since Ian had been helpful with the Revenge.
Vanessa conjured up the excuse quickly and set down her teacup.
“Right, once it goes public, orders will flood in like a tidal wave. You’re confident about the supply?”
She deliberately changed the subject.
This was business, this was commerce, and the gift that followed was simply—simply a courtesy in return.
“We’ve secured a reasonable amount for the Initial Stock.”
“How much?”
“Five hundred units.”
“……A month’s worth?”
Vanessa asked, her mind blank.
Five hundred units. Put simply, that was enough to supply five hundred nobles. But a month’s worth—
God help her.
Ian’s head nodded again.
Vanessa’s mouth fell open.
The Imperial Seal had been pressed less than a day ago, and five hundred units were already prepared—a full month’s stock. That could mean only one thing: they would never run short of supply.
A spring that would never run dry.
They’d struck a vein of gold that bled money endlessly.
Perfectly. Without a single misstep.
This would shift the balance among the ducal houses within the Empire.
If business acumen held firm and this momentum continued, House Ruscliffe would rise to second position overnight. They would forge deep ties with countless figures in politics and society.
Vanessa swallowed hard.
“……That’s extraordinary.”
It was genuine admiration.
She had merely provided the recipe.
It was Ian who had done the cooking, plated the dish, and brought it to the table.
Perhaps that was why the Jeongjeong Flower business had never suffered a single blemish in her past life.
Ian’s fork stilled at her words.
“Extraordinary.”
He echoed her words again.
His gaze, which had lingered on the dessert, slowly rose.
Their eyes met in the space between them.
“It’s you, Vanessa. I had the means, but you were the one who saw how to use them.”

“Without you, it would have taken far longer to find a way to exploit it like this.”
It was a measured compliment.
But those words struck something deep within her.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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