"Baron Ren, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for not being able to prevent my father from committing the acts he did. Believe me, I'm paying the price for not acting in time. However, the next matter I want to address will depend on your willingness to forgive me"
Liam's words were serious and carried a melancholy in his expression. At times like this, I found myself puzzled, unsure of how others would react. Personally, even considering Barton's hidden motives, I still believed he deserved the consequences of his actions. Attempting to take someone's life is a line we should never cross.
However, I didn't hold Barton's whole family accountable for his mistakes. While there was a possibility that the family shared his views, it didn't seem to be the case. Rumors had reached my ears that the Montague family sought to restore their honor. Under Liam's leadership, they had changed their business, importing goods between countries, apparently facilitated by Liam's connections. However, Barton seemed not to care about these connections.
"I understand perfectly, Marquess Liam. I bear no blame for your father's mistakes. Moreover, I've heard rumors that you're committed to restoring the Montague name's honor"
As I spoke, I directed a gentle smile at Liam, observing his surprised reaction to my words. He quickly composed himself, bowing his head in gratitude.
"Thank you for your understanding, Baron Ren"
Liam said with gratitude. I must confess I was somewhat surprised to see Liam bowing before me. In this world, honor holds immeasurable value, and when a nobleman bows his head, it means he is temporarily setting aside his pride to show his true intentions. However, the way he continued to address me genuinely bothered me.
"Alright, before we proceed with the next matter, what do you think about setting aside the titles? I'm sure we'll feel more at ease that way"
I said with a smile, hoping my suggestion would be well-received. Upon hearing my words, Liam pondered briefly before responding.
"If you want, we can do that. Feel free to call me just Liam, please"
Upon hearing Liam's words, a smile spread across my face, impressed with how easy it was to talk to him. Somehow, he proved incredibly receptive, though another possibility could be his lack of confidence to make demands.
"Alright, Liam. Please, call me just Ren"
I requested, receiving a nod of agreement from Liam. After this brief exchange, I decided to get to the main issue since I hadn't yet heard the reason for Liam's visit.
"Putting that aside, Liam, what was the reason for your visit to my residence? Is there something you need or want to tell me?"
I asked, seeking to get to the heart of the matter. After my words, Liam took a deep breath and fixed a serious gaze on me.
"Right, as you may already know, my family is now in the business of imports between countries. I came here to ask and inquire if you're interested in affiliating with us to export the products you sell to other countries"
Liam said. Even though he sounded confident, his face showed clear concern. Probably came here expecting the deal to get denied. With that thought in mind, I started to think about what I'd do. Personally, I didn't see any reason to turn down Liam's request. Besides it probably being beneficial for me, it'd also help Liam's family financially. Watching Liam, a young guy a bit younger than me, I noticed his legs fidgeting non-stop, probably without him even realizing it. His expression was anxious, even before getting my response.
"Alright, Liam, how 'bout we do a trial partnership for a month? If all goes well, we can officially seal the deal"
I suggested, while keeping a close eye on him. When Liam heard my words, his expression quickly changed from surprise to happiness. Just as I expected, he really wasn't expecting me to accept his proposal.
"A-Are you sure about this?"
Liam asked, getting up from his chair. Then he seemed to realize his overreaction and blushed before sitting back down.
"I mean, are you really gonna do this?"
I let out a subtle laugh, seeing Liam blush even more with that reaction.
"Yeah, I'm sure. This partnership can be beneficial for both of us. Personally, I don't see any reason to refuse"
I assured, emphasizing my decision to accept Liam's proposal. Upon hearing my words, Liam put on a big smile and extended his hand to me, asking for a handshake as a gesture of gratitude.
"Thanks a lot, I promise I won't let you down"
Liam said with determination. Hearing his words, a soft smile formed on my face, and I promptly shook his hand, reinforcing my confidence in the partnership.
"You're welcome"
I replied warmly, and then Liam and I continued our conversation with the purpose of getting to know each other better. During this dialogue, Liam shared a bit about his past, as well as his plans for the future. Something quite interesting he mentioned was the history of the Montague family. Initially, the head of the family would've been Liam's mother, as she was the firstborn. However, due to the family's resistance to having a woman in power, she ended up marrying Barton, who came from another house, less famous than the Montagues but still respected.
Liam explained that his mother didn't hold any grudges against me. Apparently, she didn't even love Barton, as the marriage was arranged. Though I wasn't very familiar with this kind of situation, I learned that this world also witnessed many arranged marriages instead of love marriages. Either way, all I could do was pray that my partnership with Liam would be enduring in the future.