When Arcus returned to the drawing room, all of his earlier momentum was gone.
That was only natural—after all, Catherine and her parents had witnessed his thoroughly undignified behavior. Anyone would want to slump their shoulders after that.
What saved Arcus was the fact that Catherine and the Marquis couple had fully reconciled.
Even now, the three of them were curiously sampling the coffee Rita had brought and chatting pleasantly. Watching them, Arcus let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"—Lord Arc… Lord Arcus?"
"Ah—sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment."
Realizing he'd been called, Arcus straightened himself and looked forward.
Before him, the Marquis and his wife were smiling kindly.
"First of all," the Marquis said, "allow us to thank you for saving our daughter."
As the couple bowed their heads, Arcus and his father Alan hurriedly waved their hands.
"P-please, raise your heads!"
Compared to their daughter's life, Lucian said with a laugh, lowering one's head once or twice was nothing at all.
He was clearly a man who valued proper conduct. Arcus found that reassuring—though having a great noble bow to him was still terrible for his heart.
With Catherine's help smoothing things over, the conversation finally shifted to what Arcus considered the real main event: business negotiations.
"Your Excellency," Arcus began, "the primary reason we contacted you was to inform you of Lady Catherine's survival."
Then, with a serious expression, he continued.
"There were certainly suspicious circumstances. However, the fact remains that Lady Catherine was expelled from the kingdom and taken under the protection of our territory. As such, she is now a resident here. That means we cannot return her to you without proper legal procedures."
"That is reasonable," Lucian nodded.
"Which brings me to my next point," Arcus said. "For the time being, we would like your understanding regarding Lady Catherine's employment as a civil servant in this territory."
Lucian replied that he had already heard the full story from Alan and Catherine—and instead of objecting, he bowed again to express his gratitude.
Arcus had expected that Catherine would have explained matters already. Still, hearing it from her did not excuse him from stating it properly himself.
Having each fulfilled their obligations, the two men bowed—until Catherine intervened and made them both raise their heads.
They spoke amiably about Catherine's daily life and how capable she was as a civil servant. Then, judging the timing right, Arcus spoke again.
"There is, in fact, something I would like you to see."
He held out the sample Catherine had been holding earlier.
"This is the miniature carriage Catherine brought."
Lucian frowned slightly. At Arcus's urging, he pressed down on the carriage's cargo compartment—
"Hm? The way it flexes feels uneven."
His brows rose as he lifted it.
In truth, the flex wasn't uneven at all. The difference came from how Lucian applied force—the leaf springs attached to each independent wheel absorbed the pressure.
"How was the carriage you rode here?" Arcus asked.
"Oh! That one was quite comfortable."
From there, the presentation of the improved suspension progressed smoothly. The Marquis and his wife had experienced it firsthand, which made them highly receptive.
Above all, Arcus's words became the decisive blow.
―― I do not wish to use Lady Catherine as a tool.
As expected of a marquis who ran a large trading company, Lucian immediately grasped the implications. He could easily imagine the flood of orders this innovation would bring.
On top of that, Arcus had properly stated—something Lucian already knew—that Catherine was formally employed. That adherence to principle carried weight.
"The thought of having her work more like an engineer than a civil servant pains me," Lucian said.
"She seems to enjoy it," Alan replied calmly. "And it's good experience."
The conversation continued peacefully—until it finally reached the core issue.
"I understand that you wish to sell us this technology."
Lucian's narrowed eyes belonged unmistakably to a man who had survived countless battlefields. Not the kind of battles Arcus fought—but commercial and political ones just as brutal.
A great noble.A seasoned politician.The head of a massive trading consortium.
That man was now speaking to Arcus—an impoverished viscount's son from the frontier—as an equal.
Lady Flora and Catherine couldn't hide their surprise as they glanced between the two.
"Lord Arcus," Lucian said, "or perhaps I should say Sir Arcus. What price are you considering?"
"I have no intention of charging you for this technology."
At that blunt declaration, Eleonora leaned in from the side.
"Huh?!"
She was immediately suppressed—switching back to Catherine in an instant.
In contrast, Lucian merely narrowed his eyes further, clearly appraising Arcus.
"There is nothing more expensive than something given for free," he said calmly.
"I agree," Arcus replied. "However, we are not asking for money."
He took a deep breath and continued.
"Instead, we would appreciate it if you could dispatch several engineers. Of course, once dispatched, their wages will be fully covered by us."
"Engineers?" Lucian repeated.
"Yes."
Arcus explained that Catherine alone could not bring everything she envisioned into reality. Skilled professionals were essential.
This was their greatest future investment.
Securing talented engineers was far more valuable than short-term profit.
"…And you aren't concerned that I might send you apprentices in name only?" Lucian asked.
"In that case," Arcus replied without hesitation, "I would simply sell an even more impressive technology to someone else. Perhaps one of Your Excellency's rivals."
The air in the drawing room tightened.
"Are you trying to use my daughter?" Lucian asked.
"With respect," Arcus said, "she is currently a civil servant of our household."
Catherine sat on edge.Lady Flora watched her closely despite her calm demeanor.Alan wore a gentle smile that said Whatever happens, happens.Keith stood silently by the door.
Then—
"Hahahahaha!"
Lucian's booming laughter shattered the tension.
"Indeed—there truly is nothing more expensive than 'free.' Very well. I cannot spare my finest craftsmen, but I will send engineers worthy of your expectations."
"Thank you," Arcus said, bowing deeply.
Only then did Catherine finally exhale, the tension draining from her shoulders.
Before everyone, Arcus and Lucian shook hands firmly.
"Forgive my boldness," Arcus said.
"I wouldn't have guessed this was your first negotiation," Lucian replied with a grin.
Arcus smiled back.
(No way I can say that in my previous life I survived negotiations by cleaning up my boss's disasters…)
Keeping that thought to himself, Arcus concluded the talks with a smile.
The agreement was set: the technology would be shared, and engineers would be dispatched.
Their role was finished.
"Well then," Arcus said, standing, "we'll leave you to enjoy your family time."
Alan rose as well. "Please relax until dinner."
As Arcus reached for the door—
"Sir Arcus."
Lucian stopped him.
"You mentioned even greater technologies earlier. For example?"
Lucian's smile brimmed with curiosity.
"Well… this technology itself can still be improved. And there's refrigeration—well, freezing. A box that allows food to be stored frozen."
(What else…? Classic routes would be toys. Oh—and cosmetics.)
"And this is still conceptual, but a new balm for washing hair, and something that makes skin smooth—"
"Sir Arcus," Lady Flora cut in, leaning forward. "When will that be ready?"
For the first time, Arcus learned that a woman's passion for beauty transcended worlds.
Under Lady Flora's relentless smile and pressure, Arcus glanced desperately at Lucian for help—
—who looked away.
(He ran.)
"When will it be ready?" Lady Flora pressed.
"I—I'll begin as soon as possible!"
"Please do," she said sweetly.
Having somehow escaped, Arcus fled the drawing room and let out a massive sigh in the hallway.
"Arcus…"
"Father. Don't say anything."
Alan merely sighed.
"Make some for Grace and Clarice too."
"I know."
"And also—"
Before he could finish, several maids came running down the hall.
"Don't run in the mansion—!"
"Young master! Is it true you're making something that smooths skin?!"
"Where did you hear that—!"
Too late.
Alan's wry smile beside him was infuriating.
"I'm really looking forward to it!"
"My hands crack so badly!"
"When it's cold, my skin flakes!"
As the maids excitedly shared their woes, Arcus muttered under his breath—
"So this is what walking the royal road feels like…"
—but no one heard him.