TCBUP 15

Chapter 15 — Land Grab

What he said after a long silence was completely out of the blue.

I’d been waiting for the right moment to leave, so I looked at him with a baffled expression.

“What do you mean?”

“No deeper meaning. Just asking. It’s a bit surprising to run into you downtown after you’ve been gone for so long.”

What is this man even talking about?

I couldn’t hide my confusion.

“So you’re suggesting I came here just to meet you, Your Grace?”

“I didn’t say that. Just said it’s… odd, that’s all.”

Well, considering Sienna’s past behavior, it’s no surprise he’d jump to that kind of conclusion.

That’s why I let things slide quietly at the boutique.

But I needed to clear up these kinds of unfair misunderstandings.

It was a little earlier than I planned, but now seemed like the right time to make things clear.

Even so, I hesitated to speak — because he was so calm.

There was no sarcasm, no hostility. Just pure, genuine curiosity.

Thanks to that, my irritation settled, and I calmed down as well.

“This is my go-to dessert shop. I really love their strawberry shortcake.”

I used to bring Damian here a few times because I wanted to share something I liked with someone special.

He said he didn’t like sweets and never once ate it.

I even had some sent to the ducal estate. I wonder if he ever actually ate any of it.

“That boutique we ran into each other at last time? I’ve been going there since I was little. Strictly speaking, you’re the one who barged in, Your Grace.”

“But since you don’t know many date spots, I’ll concede this one to you.”

Given my circumstances now, I can’t afford to shop at expensive places like Le Duy Flora anymore anyway.

“Oh, and would you like a piece of advice?”

“Advice?”

“No woman likes being taken to the same places a man went with his fiancée. So at the very least, try to make an effort to find places your new lover might actually like.”

His calm, black eyes wavered slightly.

But even that small change told me just how flustered he was.

Sienna had always tried so hard to look good in front of him.

So this was probably the first time he’d seen her speak her mind so openly — no wonder he looked so thrown off.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. I’d prefer not to run into you either, but if we do cross paths again like today, let’s just pretend we don’t know each other.”

Saying it firmly gave me a sense of relief… and a twinge of bitterness.

Strange. Technically, it was Sienna who loved Damian, not me.

But her memories and emotions remained so vividly inside me, maybe that’s why they felt like my own.

“Let’s go, Mary.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Mary glared sharply at Lily, then followed after me.

I wanted to vanish from his sight in a carriage, but I had walked here, so I had no choice but to walk back.

‘The first thing I’ll buy when I make money is a carriage.’

It hurt my pride to be seen trudging along on foot like this.

Maybe that’s why I unconsciously picked up my pace.

This is probably how I’ll always look if I keep running into him.

Plus, once the gossip-hungry nobles who saw me and Damian at the dessert shop start talking, it’ll look like I’m chasing after him again.

And I don’t have any noble friends or acquaintances who could speak up to defend me — I’ll just be at their mercy.

‘I’ll need to adjust my routes to avoid Damian’s.’

Since his engagement had been fixed early on, Damian had never had any other woman besides Sienna — he had no interest in romance or the common sense for it.

He wasn’t particularly devoted to Sienna either, so she had to nag him into going on dates, and the places they went were always ones Sienna liked or had carefully picked.

Most of those were from when she was still living luxuriously as the daughter of Count Hagrives, so I could gladly give them up — but there were a few I just couldn’t let go.

Even if I gave up the shortcake, I couldn’t give up the more affordable handmade chocolate shop, or the vintage trinket store that sold unique accessories.

Or the narrow path behind the temple where the double cherry blossoms bloomed so thick every spring that it looked like a dream.

‘This isn’t a divorce settlement, so what the hell…’

We both have perfectly good legs, so dividing up who gets to go where feels absurd.

Still, I didn’t want another lovely day ruined by running into him.

‘Maybe I’m being petty?’

I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged it off.

So what?

Damian’s with Lily now. He probably wants to avoid awkward encounters with his ex-fiancée too.

Knock knock.

As the knocking sounded, the man who had been frowning at a pile of documents turned his eyes toward me.

“Mind if I interrupt for a bit, Professor?”

Leaning on the door of his office within the residence, I held up a cake box.

“You look tired. Times like this call for something sweet. And to celebrate our first asset acquisition.”

“Ah, then let’s take a short break.”

While he made coffee, I instinctively checked his affection level.

[PROFILE]

Name: Nox Green
Age: 28
Occupation: Youngest economics professor at the academy, investment expert
One-liner: Money.
Affection: 24%
Your first impression: A spoiled noble lady.
Current status:
– Trustworthy partner

‘His affection dropped?’

I was sure it had been at 30% the last time I checked.

I hadn’t changed, and I hadn’t done anything to lower it.

Thinking it over, I realized we’d only spent time together for work.

‘Maybe I focused too much on business?’

It wasn’t just our investment project.

I’d also helped with other investments he was handling.

And I practically acted as his teaching assistant for his academy lectures, preparing his materials and everything.

But apparently, that wasn’t enough.

‘His affection rose quickly in the beginning, so I got careless.’

What should I do now? I thought showing him a smart and capable side of me was the best way to increase his affection…

Maybe I need a different approach?

While I was worrying, something seemed off about Nox.

It was like a cloud was hanging over only him — his expression was dark and sunken.

“Professor? Is something wrong?”

He let out a long sigh and then pulled something out from the drawer.

It was an envelope with a red seal — instantly ominous.

“What’s that?”

“…Our building is being forcibly seized by imperial decree.”

Thud.
The strawberry shortcake I brought to celebrate our success fell to the floor.

It was probably completely ruined, but I couldn’t care less at the moment.

Time seemed to stop as I looked between him and the red-sealed letter.

No wonder things had been going unusually well lately.

Something felt off — like my life was going too smoothly.

“Forcibly seized? What are you talking about?”

I snatched the letter from Nox’s hand.

“By His Majesty’s order, this property and its associated buildings shall be seized for the development of a public welfare facility.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“Sigh… I never imagined this would happen.”

As I stared blankly at the letter in shock, Nox took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

“What about objections? We can’t just let them take it!”

“It’s an imperial decree. There’s no way to fight it.”

“Then compensation? This is private property. There has to be some compensation, right?”

“Who knows. Even if there is, it won’t be enough to cover our investment.”

“What about the tenants? Those restaurants were so popular, they had months-long waiting lists. Their business will be destroyed…”

“They won’t have a choice. They’ll have to leave.”

“This can’t be happening…”

My legs gave out and I slumped into a chair.

Our first fund — the one that was supposed to be the beginning of a bright future — was now a complete failure.

And not just my money — all of it was going up in smoke.

Including Damian’s money.

I had imagined how great it would feel for Damian to find out it was my project that succeeded, to see the surprise on his face.

But now? Forget surprise. I’d be lucky if I didn’t have to get on my knees to apologize for losing his money.

‘He will be surprised… but in a bad way. Or maybe he’ll just say he expected it.’

My head was spinning with thoughts until it began to throb painfully.

As he looked at me in silence, Nox let out a sigh laced with resignation.

“This sort of thing isn’t even rare. It happens all the time — nobles and royals stealing land.”

“It’s so unfair. There’s got to be some legal recourse.”

“The law always favors those in higher positions.”

His voice, low and bitter, held barely concealed anger.

Had he experienced something like this before?

My complaints died in my throat.

“You’re a noble, so you probably wouldn’t know what it’s like.”

“Noble or not, no one has the right to steal someone else’s property. It’s wrong, period…”

But my voice grew quieter and quieter.

Because I was a noble too, it felt like a hollow excuse to pretend I could understand him.

Nox’s green diamond eyes flickered faintly.

But unlike usual, they seemed to shine with a dark, heavy light.

I was suddenly afraid to check his affection level again.