Shion Lan looked at both women with a sharp gaze that made Pearl Jewel and Debi uncomfortable.
Debi lowered her eyes.
'I think I understand now why Milady tried to hide everything from him.
He isn't easy to deal with.'
She could feel Shion's overwhelming presence, making her almost too nervous to speak.
Pearl finally broke the silence.
"Shion... will you believe me?"
Shion looked at her.
"Truth or another lie?"
His voice was filled with disappointment.
"You already lost your chance.
I didn't ask for anything from you, but you still tried to manipulate me.
How do you expect me to trust you anymore?"
Shion stood up.
"When I found you visiting me, I was happy for a moment."
He clenched his fist.
"But then you talked about nothing except business. You deliberately provoked me, trying to make me dislike you.
You knew I wouldn't simply hate you, so you tried to make me ask about your problems instead."
He pointed toward Debi.
"And you even used magic on me."
He looked at Pearl.
"You know I hate that kind of conversation."
Shion's voice grew heavier.
"And finally...
I signed a contract with someone I had known for only a few minutes because I trusted you!
But you didn't even try to explain anything!"
He approached Pearl and leaned toward her.
"You tried so hard to make me invest in your guild without realizing that it was yours."
His eyes narrowed.
"But why me?"
Shion stepped away and sighed deeply.
"Pearl...
I trusted you with all my heart.
Even if I lost my money, I wouldn't have cared.
But you tried to deceive me."
He sat down again.
"Even if I made a fortune from this investment, I'd still feel like a fool."
Pearl's breathing became heavier.
She didn't dare look into his eyes.
Memories of their time together flashed through her mind.
She had always known this would happen if Shion discovered the truth.
But she had never known how painful it would be.
"Lord Lan."
Shion turned his head.
He found Debi who was worried about Pearl.
"May I have a chance to speak for Milady?"
Shion remained silent for a moment before allowing her.
"Go ahead."
Debi took a breath.
"Actually, Milady has her reasons for establishing Ocean's Core and opposing the Jewel Guild.
She needed every bit of help she could get—"
"Stop talking!"
Pearl immediately interrupted her.
Shion's gaze snapped toward Pearl.
Pearl immediately fell silent.
"Pearl."
His voice was cold.
"She is trying to help you.
And you're stopping her from explaining everything to me."
He narrowed his eyes.
"What does that mean?
Do you want to oppose me?"
Pearl shrank into herself.
She couldn't even raise her head.
"Continue."
Shion ordered.
Debi nodded.
"There were many nobles who tried to approach Milady.
So she learned speech magic to deal with them.
But when we discovered that the great Lord Lan possessed enough money to launch the guild properly...
Milady said that you were different."
Debi took a deep breath.
"She didn't want to involve you in her problems.
Because this wasn't simply about money.
It was about the Jewel Guild."
Debi's eyes became distant as she remembered a conversation she had once had with Pearl.
---
"Milady, did you know that Lord Lan has eight million golden coins?"
Debi smiled deeply.
"If we could get him on our side, it would be an incredible opportunity for us."
Pearl's expression immediately turned cold.
"Don't mention that ridiculous idea again."
Debi was confused.
"But I'm telling the truth, Milady.
I know Shion Lan is still young, but he already has the capital we need to launch our guild and expand throughout the kingdom!"
"I know he's rich."
Pearl's expression softened slightly.
"I was there too."
She remembered the bet.
The eight million golden coins she had obtained.
The madness that had begun with a simple wager.
Debi continued.
"If Milady approaches him, you can easily make him fall into the palm of your hand."
"No."
Pearl's gaze sharpened.
"Not Lord Lan.
I won't use such tricks to persuade him."
Debi frowned.
"But he's just another noble.
If someone as beautiful as you chooses him, he'll jump at the opportunity."
"Who told you he's like those bastards?"
Pearl's voice became colder.
Debi hesitated.
She hadn't expected her lady to respect Shion so much.
Pearl continued.
"He isn't a boy who hides behind his father's name."
"He killed members of his own family when they stood against him and the kingdom."
"He didn't allow anyone to belittle him, even if they were ancestors of the Six Great Families."
"He isn't arrogant."
"He speaks easily with others and never deliberately makes anyone uncomfortable."
"He's a poet."
"He's generous."
"He is..."
Pearl continued talking about Shion.
Debi noticed something.
Every time Pearl mentioned Shion's name...
she smiled.
Only briefly.
But she smiled.
"..."
Debi couldn't believe the thought that entered her mind.
She immediately shook her head.
"I hope I can meet that lord someday."
Pearl sighed.
"It will be difficult for you to meet him."
"Why?
I've met many noble families. I don't think he'll be different."
Pearl shook her head.
"He's a true noble.
Even though he isn't from one of the Six Great Families.
He can see what's beneath your face if you try to approach him."
Debi's expression became serious.
"You know we use that magic to make ourselves more attractive.
And he hates people who rely on such things."
Debi understood.
So she waited for the opportunity to meet this mysterious Lord Lan.
---
Back in the present, Debi looked at Shion.
'I must admit it.
He really isn't like the others.
But if he doesn't forgive Milady...'
She swallowed.
'Then all of this will have been pointless.'
Shion finally spoke.
"Well.
I believe you."
"...Huh?!"
Both Pearl and Debi stared at him.
Neither of them had expected that answer.
Shion didn't care about their reactions.
He looked at Pearl.
"It's not my business to ask about your personal troubles as an investor."
He sighed.
"But I feel like a stranger now."
He paused.
"Aren't we friends?"
Pearl's eyes trembled.
Shion's expression softened.
"I feel like it's difficult for you to handle everything on your own.
And that makes me feel as though I've been pushed out of your life."
He approached her again.
His eyes were filled with genuine concern.
"Little Pearl."
"!!!"
"If you don't want to talk about anything, I'll respect your decision.
But don't forget..."
He pointed toward himself.
"I'm here whenever you need me."
"..."
Pearl couldn't say anything.
Shion gave her a warm smile.
Then he turned toward Debi.
"Give me the contracts."
Debi handed them over.
Shion carefully studied the documents.
"Only one million golden coins?"
He looked at Pearl.
"Are you sure you don't want more?"
Pearl couldn't answer.
Debi finally spoke.
"Actually, we only need half a million.
So one million is already more than enough for us."
Shion nodded.
"Then that's fine."
He signed the contract.
"If something happens, just ask me."
He stood.
"See you soon, little Pearl."
"..."
Pearl remained silent.
She eventually left the room, her heart beating rapidly as she hurried out of the academy.
---
Shion left shortly afterward.
He took a deep breath and felt the fresh air fill his lungs.
"I hope she's okay."
Normally, Shi Yun Lan would have commented on his strange behavior.
But Shion remembered the thread of the curse between them.
He shook his head.
'I really miss his comments.
But there's nothing I can do, right?'
He continued walking.
Then he passed a window.
His reflection appeared in the glass.
"..."
Shion stopped.
He touched his reflection.
"Being the Stellar Summit means becoming the opposite of everything around you and becoming stronger."
"When darkness rises, light shines.
When coldness exists, warmth begins.
When evil appears, good emerges."
He stared at himself.
"I've been a liar for a long time.
The Radiant Star...
My biggest lie.
It's living proof of the lies I've created.
That's why I didn't notice anything strange when Pearl first spoke to me.
We're both liars."
"But..."
He remembered Debi.
"I felt something different when she spoke for Pearl.
At first, I didn't trust her words.
But there was something about them...
The feeling of truth."
His expression became serious.
"If what she said is true, Pearl might be in danger because of her family."
He closed his eyes and sighed.
"As she doesn't want to talk about it...
I shouldn't interfere too much."
Shion continued walking.
Then he encountered someone familiar.
"..."
The academy director, Tim Ayr.
Shion immediately became nervous.
"I think I spent quite a lot of time in there."
Tim didn't even react.
"You were under the effects of my magic.
You didn't spend much time."
"What?!"
Shion was surprised.
Tim simply continued.
"You still have to work.
There are six hours left until the end of the day."
"..."
Shion had no choice but to return to his punishment.
---
Midnight — Jewel Family
"Is that all?"
Pearl stood before her father in his office.
She answered calmly.
"Yes.
I couldn't get his investment, and—"
Her father slammed his hand against the desk.
"Aren't you two friends?!
How did he leave us and work with another guild?!
Does he even disrespect us?!"
Pearl remained calm.
'He invested in me because we're friends.'
But she kept her professional expression.
"We're merchants in the end.
I think he received an offer he couldn't refuse."
Her father sneered.
"An offer he couldn't refuse?
He signed with an unknown guild!
That means he no longer respects us!"
He sat down.
"What's the name of that guild?!
I'll destroy them!"
Pearl shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't identify the woman.
The other merchants didn't know her either.
I think she's either new or an outsider."
"Darling, may I come in?"
Her father's expression changed instantly.
"Of course, honey!"
"..."
Pearl had seen that transformation countless times.
Yet she still couldn't accept it.
Her stepmother entered the room.
"Little Pearl!
How are you?"
"!!!"
Pearl trembled.
Disgust filled her chest.
Her father noticed her reaction.
"You girl! Your moth—"
"I'm fine, father's second wife."
"..."
Silence filled the room.
Her father ignored Pearl's disrespect, as he had become accustomed to it.
"What is it, dear?"
Her stepmother smiled.
Then she looked at Pearl.
"Our Pearl was with Shion and another woman in the office."
She smiled wickedly.
"So I think she can tell you who that woman was."
"!!!"
Pearl's father looked at her furiously.
"Pearl!
What do you mean by that?!"
Pearl didn't hesitate.
"I was with Lord Lan and another woman.
So what?"
Her stepmother smiled.
"Don't you know her?"
Pearl looked at her indifferently.
"Do I have to know her?
How can you sit with people you don't know?"
"I was sitting with Lord Lan first.
The other woman entered after he called her."
"And you didn't try to get to know her?"
"It would have been obvious if I talked to her.
So I asked the other merchants.
They didn't know her either."
Her stepmother smiled.
"Why didn't you simply act normally with her?
It would be normal to approach her and make friends.
We're merchants, after all."
Pearl's expression became cold.
"She is like you.
So I don't want to know her."
"Hehehe."
Her stepmother laughed.
"Really?
How does she resemble me?"
Pearl answered without hesitation.
"She approaches men and seduces them during the first meeting."
Slap!
The sound echoed through the office.
Her stepmother's hand remained against Pearl's cheek.
"How dare you?!"
Pearl slowly turned her face back.
Then—
SLAP!
Her father struck her as well.
Pearl touched both cheeks.
"How dare you, Deci's daughter?!"
"...!"
Pearl's eyes widened.
Her father's voice was cold.
"Get out!
Now!!"
Pearl remained silent.
She lowered her gaze.
Then she walked out of the room.
Behind her, the door closed.
And for the first time that night, Pearl's professional smile completely disappeared.