The Kentonis Company And The Hero (2)

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Cordelia froze for a moment. Then she immediately smiled so as not to show her agitation.

“My, how embarrassing. You saw right through me.”

“It would be stranger not to notice your beauty and noble bearing.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Then please, for my sake, do not take offense. Regardless of status, we have been visiting everyone in this manner for this matter.”

Letting the flattery slide while implicitly saying please don’t be angry—we’re treating everyone this way, Lord Kentonis responded with a knowing smile.

“No, no. Given the situation, I understand. According to my ears, a certain noble lady has been chosen as the unprecedented second Holy Maiden, and will compete with the first over who is more suitable… In that case, there must be many things you cannot publicly reveal.”

“As expected of Lord Kentonis. You truly have good ears. As you surmise, I have indeed been chosen as the second Holy Maiden.”

Everyone involved had been strictly ordered not to reveal it until an official proclamation was issued. But for the head of a newspaper deeply tied to noble society, it was apparently obvious.

(This man probably knows far more confidential information than we realize… all the more reason to stay on good terms.)

Smiling politely while probing each other, Cordelia and Lord Kentonis locked gazes. The subordinate beside him stared wide-eyed, apparently unaware.

“Of course, our company protects our clients’ secrets. Should anyone accidentally let word leave this room… they would not get away with merely losing their head.”

The subordinate trembled and nodded repeatedly.

(That reminds me—his nickname was ‘the sharp-witted scheming gentleman’…)

Despite his gentle smile, he was clearly ruthless.

“Welcome back. How did it go?”

Isaac, who had obediently waited in the carriage, greeted them. His eyes lit up like a large dog reunited with its owner. For a moment Cordelia thought she saw a tail behind him and rubbed her eyes.

(Is it my imagination, or is he becoming more puppy-like by the day?)

In the game he was stoic and melancholic, yet now…

(Well, it’s cute anyway. When your favorite is alive, that alone is precious.)

“Yes, details remain to be finalized, but we can entrust noble-class publicity to them. …Also, Your Highness—Lord Kentonis already knew. Everything. That I was chosen as the second Holy Maiden.”

Isaac frowned.

“I knew someone connected to him existed within the palace, but that he already knew… as expected of Lord Kentonis.”

“Will you search for the leak?”

“No. The delay in issuing the gag order was our fault. This time we overlook it.”

Though he said “this time,” cold light flickered in his eyes. Next time, the culprit would surely be hunted down thoroughly.

“More importantly, where to next?”

“Next, I plan to visit the Pernot Company and the Sphida Company for the general public. Since the healing assembly targets commoners, those are actually the main ones.”

Unlike Kentonis’s aristocratic paper, Pernot and Sphida boosted sales among commoners through gossip and sensational topics. Both were known for very strong-willed leaders.

(I hope this goes well… I have a bad feeling.)

Recalling their replies, Cordelia quietly sighed.

—and that bad feeling would soon prove correct.