If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 35

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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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If the Villain’s Secretary Suits Me
Chapter 35
Just as Randolph inhaled sharply and hastily turned his body, the man whose mere presence exuded oppressive weight had already finished shaking hands with Victor Noel and was seated across from him.
Unlike Victor Noel, who stood there with a vacant expression brushing dust from his ashen hands, the man regarded Randolph with a cool gaze and nodded.
“Let’s begin.”
Aden.
He was the kind of person who became the master of any room he entered.
***
***
The branch office came into view in the distance.
“It went as expected.”
Scott, the legal expert from the Third Branch who had accompanied Aden, scratched his forehead.
“The Viscountess only made emotional appeals, and the son’s side was, well… less language and more noise. I couldn’t even tell what he was trying to say.”
“When you and Laklan conducted the initial negotiations, did they display the same attitude?”
“Fortunately or unfortunately, they weren’t quite that foolish. But when people stand before the representative, they tend to become a bit more foolish than usual, so that much was within expectations. For the record, I’m also a bit smarter when the representative isn’t around.”
“I see.”
That “I see” meant “stop spouting nonsense.”
Scott chuckled and pointed at the meeting minutes with his fountain pen.
“Well… regardless, the noise is actually beneficial for La Mare. The Viscountess just flatly refuses everything, but the son can at least bring land to the table. He was completely blinded by the marquis title.”
“The weaknesses of the Viscountess that he demanded are abundant enough that there’s no need for further investigation.”
“Yes, that’s right. So shall we proceed?”
Aden was always quick to respond.
But this time, no answer came. Scott’s eyes widened.
Glancing discreetly at Aden, he found him tapping the window frame with his long fingers.
“Normally, he would have ordered me to proceed immediately. That would be the ‘rational’ choice.”
From what Scott had observed, Aden didn’t seem to particularly like nobles.
He was exceptionally cold when dealing with them and showed no mercy at the tip of his pen.
Yet at the same time, Aden was someone with a remarkable ability to judge what would be profitable.
Victor Noel had something he wanted and something he could sell. His demands were painfully clear, and above all, he believed they held the advantage—making him an ideal target to exploit.
So it should have been the right move to set aside personal feelings and shake Victor Noel’s hand.
“Then why is he hesitating?”
Just as Scott tilted his head in confusion.
“One moment.”
“Yes, sir.”
Aden’s communication device flickered. Scott tactfully closed his ears and focused on reviewing the contract.
“This is Aden.”
-Representative! It’s Lenox! I have information about the Protagonist from a former member of Fang!
Lenox, who usually rambled, got straight to the point.
Aden’s brows furrowed.
Aden furrowed his brow.
“I’m listening.”
-First, the Protagonist’s debt stems from her father. Most of it is gambling debt—the principal is 20 million Gold, with monthly interest of 500,000 Gold. Yet she’s never missed a single payment. It appears the Protagonist has paid every last bit of it herself.
“Yes, and?”
-But here’s the thing: her father incurred the debt in the first place because of her older brother. It’s a famous story among the Fang organization. He conspired with a con artist, established a shell company, pressured his younger sister to invest her entire fortune into it, then embezzled the funds.
“Do we have evidence?”
-We’ve secured it. At the bank branch where the shell company was registered, we found transaction records under her brother’s name and forged seals. I’ll send you copies shortly. As for how we obtained them, I’ll explain when we meet in person.
“Good work.”
-I’ve also silenced the former Fang operative who provided the information. The details on how I managed that can wait until we meet.
After ending the call, Aden closed his eyes for a long moment, then opened them.
Randolph Maurel.
There was no doubt—the man he intended to sell his niece to was Victor Noel.
To make Victor Noel, who was shackled by the clause prohibiting those with grounds for marriage disqualification from inheriting titles, into a marquis, he was attempting to push Iliana Grecia as his fifth wife.
A man who had bound Iliana Grecia with the chains of debt, and now gripped the other end of those chains to manipulate her.
“Scott.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Postpone negotiations with Victor Noel indefinitely.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Victor Noel and Randolph lacked proper understanding of La Mare’s internal affairs and spouted only vague nonsense.
In other words, Iliana Grecia had never actually leaked any real information.
Yet it was clear she was suffering because of it.
She could have escaped the pressure to hand over information and become a viscountess.
That’s what Aden thought.
Leaving the bewildered Scott behind, Aden descended from the carriage that had arrived before the Third Branch.
He intended to speak with his secretary. In other words,
“We’ll continue this conversation another time. For now… it seems neither of us is in the right state to talk.”
The conversation he had postponed.
But then.
“Director.”
The only person waiting for him in the Conference Room was Laklan.
“Where is Miss Iliana Grecia?”
“Would you prefer a short explanation or a long one?”
“The short version would be preferable.”
“About ten minutes ago, she received a call from Randolph Maurel and left, saying she had an urgent matter to attend to.”
Laklan added in his characteristic monotone to Aden, whose brow had furrowed.
“Ah. This morning, she happened to encounter him in front of Julius Noel’s residence. I suspect he memorized her contact information from the business card she showed him then.”
“Understood. We’ll hold the meeting later.”
Aden left the Conference Room immediately.
Scott, who had followed belatedly and brushed past Aden, turned to Laklan with a bewildered expression.
“What in the world.”
Laklan shrugged his shoulders.
“I should have just given you the longer version.”
***
Iliana sat in a tea house near the Third Branch.
Even among the sparse patrons, she had chosen the most secluded corner.
As she sipped her tea with a soft slurp, a bell chimed at her ear.
“Where… ah.”
Randolph hastily opened the door, spotted Iliana, and cleared his throat while straightening his posture.
He recalled what his wife Tessa had told him.
“Remember, darling. We’re not the ones who need that girl—we’re the ones bestowing status and wealth upon someone with nothing! Don’t show desperation, and make her realize on her own just how fortunate this opportunity is.”
When you thought about it, this too was a negotiation.
Following Tessa’s wise counsel, if he wanted to mold Iliana to his will, he needed to position himself as the one extending a helping hand.
Though he’d lost the initiative at first, he could seize it back now.
Randolph, believing he’d concluded his recent negotiation with La Mar reasonably well, resolved to handle this encounter with aristocratic grace.
If she acted stiffly like this morning, he would demonstrate his dignity.
“Good day, Uncle.”
“Ah… yes.”
Yet to his surprise, Iliana greeted him first with impeccable courtesy.
“I didn’t get to speak properly this morning. How have you been?”
“W-well, I’ve been fine.”
What was this?
They’d been estranged for nearly a decade. Even if she didn’t know about Father’s debts or the hidden terms of the marriage agreement, their relationship had never been warm—hadn’t he himself turned away Ruben and Iliana when they came seeking help?
Yet Iliana smiled innocently, as though she knew nothing. Now it was Randolph who found himself flustered.
“Father used to say that you were clever and talented with writing, unlike him.”
“…R-Ruben said that?”
“I had no idea you’d become an aide to the Marquis Estate. It seems your abilities were recognized. Congratulations.”
Randolph had never believed Iliana was a proper secretary.
He’d met her superior, Aden, after all. Even now, the eerie feeling he’d experienced when their eyes met remained vivid.
He couldn’t imagine such a man entrusting important work to a twenty-year-old from the countryside.
“Th-thank you. So you’ve become the secretary to the guild master of such a large Merchant Guild—you must have worked hard, ahem, quite diligently. That’s wonderful.”
“Not at all. I’ve only just started, and I’m still learning. I make mistakes sometimes.”
“Everyone is clumsy at first. As you gain experience, you’ll gradually become more comfortable with it.”
“I hope so.”
Yet the flow of conversation kept drawing out habitual pleasantries befitting a working professional.
It proved far more difficult than his original plan to belittle and strike down Iliana.
The exchange was gradually shifting from familial conversation toward the probing phase of a business meeting, though Randolph’s anxiety prevented him from noticing.
‘As if Father would have praised you.’
Iliana suppressed a smirk as she observed Randolph.
To this uncle who had somehow fallen into the role of a dignified relative—a role that suited him not at all—Iliana dangled her bait with considerable composure.
“But it is difficult, truthfully. Somewhat frightening, even. Working in the Capital City without any connections.”
At last, the conversation found its proper course!
Randolph’s eyes gleamed as he seized the moment, about to broach the subject of marriage.
“Exactly? So here’s the thing….”
“So I was thinking of going into business with my husband.”
“Mar… What?!”
“Business.”
“Wait, you have a husband?!”
Randolph let out a startled cry.

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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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