"Audrey, don't forget about tonight's ball."
Countess Hall said to her daughter, setting down her bone china teacup.
"Tonight's ball will be attended by royalty and Duke Negan."
"...Alright."
Audrey obediently agreed after hearing this, but resistance welled up from the bottom of her heart.
For a moment, even the mellow black tea in her cup seemed to become bland.
If royalty would be attending the ball, that meant she would inevitably encounter several princes.
The other princes were one thing.
They were just arrogant with a chauvinistic disdain for women.
Especially the Third Prince, who kept pestering her, always chatting about boring topics he thought were clever, forcibly trying to appear humorous... Just recalling it made Audrey feel uncomfortable all over.
"Audrey, I know you don't like those few from Sodlark Palace."
Her mother said earnestly, "But your coming-of-age ceremony is approaching.
During this period, there absolutely cannot be any lapses in etiquette, alright?"
"Please don't worry, Mother."
Audrey responded with a smile. "I understand everything."
"Also, once you come of age, you should find something to do. Do you have any ideas..."
"Tap tap tap!"
A series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, accompanied by startled cries from the servants in the hallway.
"Bang!"
The golden retriever's four paws skidded on the floor as it pushed the door open with its nose, tail tucked between its legs as it rushed in, a visibly panicked expression on its dog face.
"Woof!"
Susie opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but seeing that the Countess was also present, she could only let out a loud bark and burrow under Audrey's skirt, trembling, just like when she used to act spoiled before gaining intelligence.
"What's going on?"
Seeing Susie's behavior, the Countess showed some displeasure. "Has your dog become this ill-mannered now?"
"It's nothing, Mother. Susie was probably frightened by something."
Audrey quickly explained, reaching out to pat the golden retriever soothingly.
She also found it strange.
Susie's trembling transmitted through her hand as she stroked her, clearly showing genuine fear.
But she was now a Beyonder creature. An ordinary person couldn't possibly cause such a strong reaction in her.
What exactly had she encountered?
"Really, you're far too lenient with it. In this regard, you're exactly like your father..." The Countess chided her, and seeing the dog stubbornly refusing to leave, she helplessly stood up.
"In any case, remember to perform well tonight."
"Don't worry, Mother."
After seeing her mother out of the room, Audrey closed the door and turned around.
"Audrey!"
Susie spoke up on her own before being asked.
"That terrifying person came again! He's become even more frightening than before!"
Terrifying person?
Audrey took a moment to understand who this description referred to.
"You mean Mr. Anderson?"
Indeed, Susie had appeared very afraid when she saw him before... Animal instinct?
"Yes, him! He made me come find you!"
The golden retriever opened and closed her mouth anxiously and fearfully, vibrating the air.
"He said he needs to see you about something!"
Mr. Temperance wants to see me?
Audrey thought with surprise and some confusion.
---
Reception room.
"Black tea isn't necessary. I can't tell good from bad anyway."
Silas said.
The Beyonder guards at Earl Hall's residence were at most Sequence 7 and couldn't detect him at all.
After receiving Audrey's welcome, he'd concealed himself slightly and entered openly.
"No, it still needs to be prepared. Otherwise, it would be too impolite."
Audrey smiled as she poured him a fresh cup of black tea.
Counting the brief glimpse at "Mr. A's" gathering, this was their second meeting since that incident.
Because she knew his Tarot Club identity, she naturally felt trust and closeness toward Anderson.
At her feet, Susie huddled, not daring to move. On the table where the two sat facing each other, the curious Luna crouched, her tail hanging off the table's edge, swishing back and forth.
Two people, one cat, one dog.
"I apologize, I don't understand noble etiquette, so I'll speak plainly." Silas got straight to the point.
"Miss Audrey, are you interested in cooperating to open a factory?"
"Open a factory?"
Audrey asked strangely.
Mr. Temperance is actually interested in developing industry?
"That's right. I've taken in some homeless vagrants in the East Borough..."
Silas began to explain.
He omitted some key information, only saying that he currently needed to open a factory to support these people.
Audrey found it both amusing and touching.
Mr. Temperance is usually so crazed and cold at the Tarot Club. Who would have thought he had such a kind side...
"Do you need a lot of money right now?"
She asked.
"Lack of money is one aspect. Mainly, I don't have the relevant channels or technical expertise."
Silas said frankly, "I heard your family is one of Backlund's wealthiest, your father is a banker and very capable.
You shouldn't be short on money, right?"
No, I am short...
Audrey thought to herself.
She still owed pounds to Mr. Fool's blessed, and there was also a Beyonder item at the Tarot Club waiting for her to purchase.
Even wealthy as she was, she inevitably faced some financial difficulties.
Although there were still considerable assets nominally belonging to her, they were all under trusteeship and couldn't be used freely.
However, Mother just said I should do something after coming of age... If I could get their support, perhaps it could work?
Audrey thought it over.
Opening a factory to give East Borough's poor a job so they wouldn't starve to death.
Not for profit, but just so long as the surplus could maintain the factory's operation... Basically speaking, it was a form of disguised charity.
Moreover, compared to openly putting on airs with empty gestures, this method could actually get money into the hands of those who needed it.
After all, they would only receive wages after actually performing labor, rather than filling out forms and having money flow through procedures into unknown people's hands.
Not a bad approach at all...
Audrey made her judgment.
"Mr. Anderson."
She looked up and asked, "I think your idea is very good, but there are still quite a few problems with implementation.
For example, I need to convince my parents that your organization is reliable and legitimate.
Also, opening a factory costs quite a bit. It can't all come from me..."
Audrey's father was a successful businessman. Growing up in that environment, she understood some basic principles.
"You won't have to put up all the money yourself."
Seeing hope, Silas nodded.
Actually, he'd only recently thought of a source of cash: the properties left behind by the Aurora Order.
Setting other things aside, just the building where Mr. A held gatherings was worth quite a bit.
After all, it was a detached property in Queens Borough. If sold well, it could fetch over ten thousand pounds.
"That would be best."
Audrey nodded. "Let me think about how to convince my parents..."
At her feet, Susie had somewhat recovered from her tension.
She raised her head and immediately saw a black tail sweeping back and forth at the table's edge.
Rationality and instinct appeared simultaneously.
The former reminded her to be mindful of the current setting, while the latter urged her to capture the moving prey.