46 – Cypress Mosaic

Adriana ​spoke.

“You ​haven’t ​officially ​announced it to ​the ​press ​yet, ​but ​rumors tend to circulate ​in ​social circles first.”

“I ​suppose they do.”

“My ​parents ​have ​also ​expressed ​some ​concern.”

This time, a ​clear ​look ​of discomfort appeared ​in Lorenz’s eyes as ​he brought ​the teacup ​to his ​lips. After ​taking ​a ​sip of tea, ​he asked ​in a slow tone.

“Concern… ​in what sense?”

“They are ​worried that a situation ​might arise ​where ​Mr. Lockhart fails to become the ​successor.”

Lorenz’s gaze turned cold. ​Unfazed, ​Adriana ​continued.

“I ​might ​be being too ​blunt, but, ​well… ​even if we ​were ​to marry, it wouldn’t be ​a union ​based ​on love and ​devotion.”

“Let’s ​be ​clear ​about ​that part. ​I ​agree as ​well.”

Setting down his teacup, Lorenz straightened his ​back and stared ​at Adriana. There ​wasn’t a hint of ​hesitation in ​his pale green ​eyes.

“Then, ​let me address ​those concerns clearly. ​I will ​be ​the successor. ​There ​will be ​no ​surprises.”

“Haha… you ​certainly ​have ​a lot of ​confidence.”

“It ​is not ​confidence. ​It ​is ​simply a fact based on evidence. Wall Street and the press will agree with me.”

Adriana shrugged.

“I don’t personally have those worries. But parents tend to worry excessively over even the smallest possibility.”

Instead of offering a polite, customary [unauthorized copy]word of understanding, Lorenz simply [Read on Read BL Novels]gave a unauthorized copycrooked smile, curling one corner of his mouth.

Even if the Wesley family had produced numerous senators, governors, and diplomats since the last century, and possessed a politician strongly predicted to be a future presidential candidate, they did not match the influence the Lockhart family wielded within the United States. How many presidential candidates had been elected to the presidency with the support of the Lockhart family? To Lorenz, the Wesley family’s ‘concern’ seemed like nothing more than presumptuous fussing.

“To speak plainly myself, what the Wesley family wants from me is political funding.”

Despite Lorenz’s blunt expression, the other woman showed no sign of surprise. She affirmed it simply.

“Of course, that is an important part, but it’s not just about the funds. My parents expect that a marriage between Mr. Lockhart and me would serve as ‘promotion.’ After all, the recognition of the Lockhart Group is far more powerful than the name Wesley. They want to promote their candidate as someone who has Lorenz Lockhart as a son-in-law.”

He couldn’t tell whether she despised or respected her parents for this. However, it was clear that she was the most honest of all the blind dates Lorenz had met, and because of that, she ensured that no time or energy was wasted.

Lorenz gave a thin, cold smile.

“In that case, you’ve found the right partner.”

Adriana responded with a similar smile.

“And what Mr. Lockhart wants from our side is likely political cooperation, correct?”

“That is correct. I want the projects I intend to push forward to proceed smoothly without the interference of cumbersome regulations. I expect you to put in the effort.”

“It seems our interests are aligned.”

The conditions for the previous two blind dates hadn’t been bad either. However, they had shown a strong personal fondness for Lorenz. One of them was a junior from his Ashford days and had been such a fervent follower that rumors had reached Lorenz’s ears even back then.

But he liked that there was no sign of that with Adriana. She, too, undoubtedly perceived this marriage as a thorough business transaction.

“It seems you are someone I can reason with, Ms. Wesley.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Shall we meet a few more times, then?”

“Let’s do that.”

Answering decisively, Adriana gathered her handbag and rose [unauthorized copy]from [Read on Read BL Novels]her seat. Lorenz followed suit unauthorized copyand stood up, extending his hand.

“I will be in touch.”

The two shook hands, like people who had just finished a satisfying business meeting.

After Adriana left, Lorenz slowly drank the remaining tea and gathered his thoughts.

The meeting with Adriana wasn’t bad.

What Lorenz needed most was not more wealth or a partner to expand the scale of his business. He needed policy support for future ventures, including Project Tempest, and a political network capable of standing against Catherine Lockhart. He needed a partner who could fill that gap, which was currently his only weakness, and Adriana possessed the optimal conditions he desired.

Lorenz, in turn, could provide exactly what she and her family wanted.

It could be called the most ideal, perfectly wonderful arranged marriage.

Although he had suggested meeting a few more times before deciding, that too was merely a customary procedure. The most important thing was the conditions.

And yet, why did he feel so unenthusiastic?

Even though everything lined up, he wasn’t pleased. He couldn’t understand his own heart, which kept trying to pull back as if there were something about this marriage that repelled him.

Was it because he was rushing into marriage too quickly, as Margaret had said?

But he had only reached this point because he had been devoted to his work; it wasn’t as if he had been waiting to find a ‘good’ partner. Since the time he had matured, he had already braced himself for the fact that marriage was merely a business tool. No, for Lorenz, it was a natural step and an obvious duty that didn’t even require bracing. He wouldn’t have wanted a marriage from which he could gain no benefit.

Then what on earth was it?

There was no reason to hesitate.

Was she not the optimal partner he desired, one who would solidify his position as successor?

A headache began to form, accompanied by a pulsing sensation in his temples. Lorenz, staring intently at the cooling tea with his fingers tightly interlaced, unconsciously turned his head toward the window. The autumn sky of New York unfolded at eye level. A clear, transparent blue that hid nothing and whose depth was immeasurable. It was a color that resembled someone’s eyes.

■

Immediately upon returning home, Lorenz Read on Read BL Novels[Read on Read BL Novels]changed his clothes and headed to Lucas’s room. It was for the visit our sitethirty minutes he spent with the child every day.

When he opened the door, Lucas and Elian were sitting across from each other at the table by the window. It was Lucas’s snack time. Seasonal fruits, such as pieces of peach, fig, and seeded grapes, were on the table. With a light breeze blowing through the open window and the lazy afternoon sunlight streaming in, the two looked incredibly peaceful and close. Lorenz stood still for a moment, taking the scene in.

He had only just arrived in the room, but the floating debris that had been swirling chaotically in his mind seemed to have already settled calmly into place.

“You’re here? You’ve arrived a bit early.”

Elian, seeing Lorenz just standing at the door, stood up and greeted him. Lucas also climbed down from his chair and bowed politely. Responding to their greetings, Lorenz gestured for them to continue with the snacks.

“Hmm, the roads were quite empty today. Thanks to that, I arrived early.”

He didn’t know why he told such a meaningless lie.

The distance from the hotel where he met Adriana to the mansion was not far. Normally, twenty minutes by car would have been sufficient, but today, traffic on Madison Avenue was severe. Lorenz, who had been anxiously checking the road conditions as if being chased by something, eventually got out of the car two blocks away. Though it was only two blocks, he couldn’t stand the congestion and walked home. This was despite the fact that there were more than thirty minutes left until his promised time with Elian. It was an extremely rare occurrence for Lorenz, who disliked being exposed to the public.

Feeling awkward about the lie he had told, Lorenz rubbed the back of his neck and entered the room.

However, the chair by the door where he always [unauthorized copy]sat was gone. As Lorenz [unauthorized copy]looked down at the empty spot, he looked up at the sound of Elian’s voice.

“Here, over here.”

“……”

Lorenz’s gaze followed the tip of Elian’s finger. His chair had been moved next to the sofa.

“Lucas moved it.”

“Lucas did?”

His questioning green eyes turned toward the child this time. The child, who had been pressing the last piece of peach with a fork, also stopped and looked at Lorenz.

“I think it means he wants us to sit together over here from now on.”

The child didn’t make any particular gesture at Elian’s explanation. However, he didn’t make a gesture of denial either.

Lorenz was seized by a strange sensation. His chair, moved from the door to the center of the room, right next to the sofa where Elian and Lucas always spent their [unauthorized copy]time together. It was just that, Read on Read BL Novelsyet it felt as if a tremendous meaning was embedded in it.

Was this proof that the child had accepted him that much?