A private room tucked away at the very back of the hotel bar.

As the heavy door closed, the music and voices outside vanished, suddenly.

Earl Rupert Hales sat alone on the sofa, drinking whisky. On the table stood a bottle and two crystal glasses.

"Sit."

Isabella came naturally to the seat beside me.

"Isabella."

Earl Rupert spoke without taking his eyes off his glass.

"I'd like to talk with him alone."

"Papa……"

"It won't take long."

Isabella looked at Earl Rupert for a moment, then turned away without sitting down.

Before she went out the door, she sent me several looks.

Some carried worry, some a warning to be careful. The last one felt like encouragement: whatever you do, don't back down.

She was someone who could say a great deal with a single look.

With Isabella's encouragement behind me, I calmly took the sofa across from Earl Rupert.

Without a word, Earl Rupert picked up the bottle on the table. The deep amber liquor slowly filled a crystal glass.

"Macallan fifty-year."

"A rare bottle."

"Old doesn't always mean good. But surviving a long time says it's worth something."

Earl Rupert set the filled glass down in front of me, and only then did he raise his eyes.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ha Tae-ung."

"Rupert Hales."

Since we each already knew about the other, the greetings were plain.

Earl Rupert said nothing more, and I didn't speak first either.

Earl Rupert was one of the real powers who moved old money, the ones Isabella had warned me about.

He had a different air from the nobles, and from the bosses who ran worldwide organizations.

The moment I met his profound gaze, I almost wanted to bow my head in respect.

"……" For a moment, silence drifted through the quiet private room.

After a while, Earl Rupert raised his glass.

"You became the star of tonight's gathering, I see."

"I didn't intend to."

"The ones who end up at the center without intending to are the more dangerous."

Earl Rupert tilted his glass lightly and swallowed a…