CHAPTER 08
I went straight to the point, holding out the sponsorship contract to Lennox.
“You know what this is, right? I believe you’ve already received it.”
“…Yes.”
“Then why are you rejecting it?”
“Because it’s strange. Taking in someone you’ve never met and offering them support…”
Lennox blinked slowly as he replied. His voice was quiet, but his tone carried an odd weight.
‘I already have a bad feeling about this…’
This kind of person was always the hardest to deal with in sales—someone who didn’t know much, but had an unusually sharp instinct.
‘And if he’s stubborn too…’
Then it was a complete disaster.
Unfortunately, this situation seemed to check all the boxes.
“Do you know the term noblesse oblige?”
“No.”
“It means wealth and power come with social responsibility. Supporting a child like you is part of that.”
“…But.”
Lennox went silent for a moment.
With his eyes lowered, he seemed to be calculating—figuring out how much he could say.
Eventually, he spoke again.
“Isn’t this just a special privilege granted only to me?”
‘In other words, he suspects there’s a hidden agenda behind this.’
He was right.
Because everything I was doing was for my own survival.
“So, you’d be fine with it as long as you knew what the intention was?”
If I suddenly said I planned to support someone else, this sharp and suspicious kid would find it even stranger.
“Depends on what it is.”
Lennox looked directly at me.
I instinctively adjusted the mask covering my face and replied,
“Your potential.”
Specifically, the kind of potential that no one could defeat.
I simply didn’t want that power to be used to end my life.
“Based on my experience supporting many talented individuals, I can say you possess a rare gift.”
“…What kind of gift?”
I paused for a moment.
‘The potential to become the strongest in the world…’
…Would only make me seem even more suspicious if I said it aloud.
‘What should I say, then?’
Looking at his face, I gave in and went for the blunt approach.
“You’re good-looking.”
“…”
Lennox’s gaze turned icy cold.
Even someone as shameless as me couldn’t help but feel intimidated by that look.
‘But I can’t give up here.’
Children without parents were essentially bound to their sponsors. A sponsor had nearly the same rights as a guardian.
‘Like with marriage, for instance… or marriage.’
At the very least, I could prevent him from ending up with Melin.
Ignoring his frosty stare, I pushed forward.
“People say a woman’s weapon is her beauty—but they’re wrong. The real beauty-as-a-weapon users are men. Especially in the Seriel Empire.”
He still looked unconvinced, so I continued explaining.
“I’ll give you an example. Diamonds are incredibly expensive. There are several reasons, but the biggest is scarcity. It’s hard to get—rare. Understand so far?”
“…So far, yes.”
Good. It’s going smoothly.
“Now, in the capital, good-looking men are hard to find. And among them, you’re exceptional. In other words, you’re rare. Appearance is the easiest way to attract people. If that’s not a talent, then what is?”
“…”
He still didn’t look convinced, so I added softly,
“Charisma—the ability to draw people in—isn’t something easily acquired, Ren.”
God, this was embarrassing.
Even as I spoke, I felt the urge to disappear from sheer secondhand shame.
‘Still, it’s not exactly wrong…!’
Though, maybe not something I should be telling him.
I couldn’t exactly say, “You’re naturally good at manipulating people,” now could I?
Seeing his pretty, stubbornly pressed lips made me sigh.
“So, would you feel better if you paid something in return?”
At my words, Lennox looked down and fell silent, thinking. Then, slowly, he nodded.
“…A little.”
“But you don’t have anything. What are you going to offer in return?”
I leaned back on the sofa, arms crossed, looking smug.
“Surely you’re not foolish enough to reject this support when you have nothing?”
“…”
Lennox clenched his fists tightly, unable to reply.
‘That’s it!’
Just a little more push, and he might sign.
So I slowly spoke again.
“If you’re such a foolish child—”
I pointed to the door.
“Go back where you came from. Maybe that world suits you better.”
At my words, Lennox lifted his head and glared at me, biting his lip.
‘Yes, I’m doing this for myself… but it’s good for you too!’
Seeing his reaction made my insides burn with guilt.
After pushing him this far, there was no way he’d look at me positively.
‘There’s no way I can ever let him find out who I really am…’
His green eyes were blazing now.
But… I wasn’t wrong, technically!
Why was I the one feeling guilty when I’m the sponsor here?
We continued our silent staring contest until Lennox was the first to lower his gaze.
He clenched his jaw like he was holding something back and then spoke.
“You’re right. I don’t have anything. So…”
Don’t tell me… he’s going to reject me again?
If he did, I had no plan B. That would mean he really planned to return to the backstreets.
I waited anxiously for his next words.
“I’ll repay your kindness however I can.”
“And what exactly can you do?”
“Anything.”
His clear, determined eyes stared straight at me.
‘You don’t even know what I might ask for…’
Still, his face looked like he could handle anything, and I silently raised the white flag.
Not that I was planning to make him do anything. What I wanted was for him to live a peaceful, happy life—not one filled with revenge.
That would be enough.
“Alright… then let’s make the contract under that condition.”
I wrote down the clause Lennox mentioned and handed him the contract.
Lennox quietly signed as I instructed.
‘It’s done!’
The process had been a bit rough, but the contract was complete.
Internally doing a victory dance, I calmly tucked the contract away.
The burden on my chest lifted completely—it was such a relief.
* * *
After handing the sponsorship contract to Callisto, I returned to the Count’s estate.
Now that I had the contract, it was time to estimate the financial support he’d need.
‘How much exactly would this cost?’
In a world with a rigid class system, the first condition for happiness was a respectable social status.
“How much was a title again…?”
Fortunately, in the Seriel Empire, noble titles could be bought with money.
At that moment, Julia Grisel—the new head butler I’d summoned—responded to my muttering.
“What level of title do you wish to purchase?”
The cheapest was a junior baronet. But right now, the Seriel Empire was at war.
Five years ago, the Emperor—who had ruled peacefully for two decades—suddenly declared war on the surrounding countries.
Honestly, that was only the beginning of his strange behavior, but that wasn’t important right now.
‘What’s certain is that war and happiness don’t go together…’
So it’d be best to buy a title that grants exemption from conscription.
That’s when a memory hit me, and I shot to my feet.
“That’s right…!”
I remembered where Lennox’s lost memories had returned.
It was the battlefield.
Dragged into a war soaked in blood, Lennox recalled the death of his parents and brother—right before his eyes—and resolved to take revenge.
