About Your Pride and My Prejudice

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

“With all due respect, Sir Alan.”

Even though it was a regular weekly meeting, there was an unusually heavy atmosphere in the conference room where Alan Leopold and six executives had gathered.

“Why don’t we withdraw at this point?”

“Well.”

The sudden downturn in the office’s atmosphere coincided with the complete withdrawal of Leopold’s Lunoa division from the railroad investment, precisely because of the unanimous vote of the Principality’s Parliament.

“After all, it’s better to go back to our country……….”

“I feel the same way, sir.”

After a moment of silence, the two men spoke. It was not unreasonable for Leopold’s executives, who had followed Alan into the Principality, to come out like this. The purpose of coming to the Principality of Lunoa was because there was a railroad investment which was in its final stages.

That was definitely the reason why they decided to establish a business unit here in the capital of Lunoa, not anywhere else. The blueprint to successfully expand the business in Lunoa and secure Leopold’s position outside the kingdom was based on the success of the railway investment. Even that success wasn’t just a matter of time.

A scandal broke out between Alan and Brigadier General Riemann, to be exact, his daughter. There was no disgrace like this because it was even published in the newspaper and caused a lot of stir.

Alan Leopold was a truly respectable leader. Not only did he lead all the work himself to stabilize the business with his natural insight, but there was no one who did not acknowledge him who struggled day and night to please the old foxes.

He made a mistake because he couldn’t soothe a woman’s heart. The young boss, who was expected to be a leader of Sourne’s top businessmen by everyone, no longer has a way to turn a blind eye to the bud of dissatisfaction that grew through the cracks of solid trust.

Indeed, his story with Marcela was nothing compared to the devotion Alan had put to the business so far, but he caused the worst of it with his absurdly poor response. This was an inexcusable big loss. Nevertheless, he ignited the controversy even more with an attitude that showed no remorse or showed no sign of correcting the incident.

Some of those who praised Alan’s natural prowess and leadership began to click their tongues, linking his young age with childishness, others were no different. If they lose any more points here, everyone will turn relentlessly. Basically all of these people are businessmen.

“What do you think, sir?”

“…….”

Alan was briefly silenced by the six gazes directed at him.

The night when he rejected the proposal of Marcella, who was no less than the leader of the Duchy,in a rather rough way. Everything had already been foreseen since then. Nevertheless, the cancellation of the investment was an unbearable humiliation. It was all the more so because he had lived a life where absurd exclusion could not exist.

The real problem, however, was dozens of subordinates who had moved together to the Lunoa division.

Alan made a mistake that greatly demoralized his employees. It was only natural that an indescribable sense of disappointment struck the new business unit, as he had to miss the investment that is equivalent to the goose that lays golden eggs right in front of his eyes, for absurd reasons.

The practitioners, who had enjoyed many things under Alan, believed in his determination and followed him all the way to the Principality. However, at a time when patience was running out due to living in a foreign country, even the future of the business, which was the only support, became uncertain.

They were shaking like a ship in a storm.

“You’ve done enough to prove your competence. There’s no problem going back to the kingdom and continuing it.”

“That’s right, we lost the backbone of our business, but to hold onto it more in the Principality…….”

At that moment, Alan, in a low voice, finally opened his mouth.

“My inexperience has troubled you.”

The courteous apology stopped the uproar in the hall. Alan spoke, making eye contact with each of the executives who waited impatiently for the words to follow.

“Without excuse, it’s all my fault.”

This was the worst crisis that the new business unit he led was facing, and it was the most urgent task, above everything, to correct the fallen prestige and silence the resentment of the employees. The director of this division is himself, not his father. In order to reassure the staff, he must stand up first.

However, Alan had no intention of withdrawing the business unit as it is. This was the cornerstone for the later swallowing of Leopold as a whole. Did he not go through a long time of hard work and struggle to stand in this position? It was impossible to back down without any results.

“At a time when the investment is already out of hand, I thought about what attitude would be most constructive as a director. I decided to view this situation as a kind of strategy of taking one step back for two steps forward.”

“Strategy….”

“There is always a way. That’s my belief. At the moment, I think it’s the most appropriate response to change the course.”

“……Instead of presuming that the investment has left your hand, how about making an effort to make up for it (to Marcella)?”

At that time, one of the executives couldn’t resist and spoke.

“This has made us realize how fragile the parliament of the Principality is. If we do what the parliaments want, the withdrawal of this decision might be as simple as the decision to restrict investment. What do you think?”

This middle-aged gentleman was clearly demanding to go according to the will of Brigadier Riemann. Moreover, the tone was strangely authoritative, as if trying to guide a young superior.

In fact, the intentions of the other five were not particularly different. Even if he had Leopold’s blood, he was only a 20-year-old young man. Until now, they had been supportive of Alan’s possible succession, but it was not unreasonable to lose the successor’s position if he continued this reckless move.

“I have no intention of going back on that matter.”

“No, do you mean you don’t have any regrets after all that personal matter caused this much damage?”

“Nothing.”

It was a polite but firm answer. The executives were flustered with embarrassment.

“Huh, it’s true that there’s a woman whom he has been hiding…….”

“Shh, he can hear you.”

They lowered their voices hastily. It was not that Alan was not qualified to ask the executives to explain the issue, but he was reticent because he knew the news had been reported to the kingdom.

It would have been a judgment that there would be no need to blush. The fierce rebuke from Leopold’s head will soon be placed on the successor’s table.

However, the discontent that began to grow once spread like fire. Close aides were always sceptical of Alan’s charity work in the Principality, and now there was no reason not to express outright animosity.

“Then, from a strictly strategic point of view, of course, the charity work would be stopped, right?”

“I think it’s self-supporting to insist on an incomeless charity in this situation, Sir Alan.”

“We support charity work in our country, but here in Lunoa…….”

Five executives, except the youngest executive, took turns talking bitterly.

Even if he was the son of a great family, he was a foreigner here. Even though he was unfairly excluded by the law improvised by Parliament, he could not even express his injustice because he was not a citizen of this country.

With resentment, the charity work should be stopped, but executives had no choice but to click their tongue as the young head was increasing the support for the poor and orphans of the Principality.

It is unbecoming of an entrepreneur to devote time and money to good deeds that would do nothing good. In Lunoa, where there was nothing more to gain, this kind of service would have been less than low-quality self-comfort.

Under this circumstance, it was only natural that there was a joke that Alan Leopold had become a toothless lion due to the shock of missing the railroad investment. When these backbiting stories were circulating, rumors about his secret lover also appeared, and Alan paid no heed to them.

But he was stubborn.

“There is no going back to the kingdom.”

“What does the Lunoa division without railroad business mean! Enough of the jokes, let’s finish it.”

At last the executive raised his voice. Alan, who threw a silent look at him, just shed a small laughter.

How did I get here without going crazy?

“I’m just looking farther away than I’m about to see right now. Charity is also part of the plan, and it will prove that this judgment is not wrong. You just have to believe.”

“…….”

“If you have any other questions, I’ll answer them here now, so ask.”

Despite being attacked outright by the executives, he was straight and elegant without a fault. It was such a noble look that they even felt relaxed. As if he was born just to reign.

Even at the young age of twenty, the one mistake he made suddenly becomes irrelevant.

“Maybe that rumor…….”

Then one person managed to open his mouth.

“I heard that the reason for rejecting Lady Marcella was because of another woman, but she…….”

“It is true that there is a woman I am seeing. Aren’t I in my prime?”

“…….”

“Of course, it’s not to the point of ruining the business. For now, I’m going to make up for the current situation by strengthening the trade side. I’m confident.”

Alan’s blue-gray eyes, which naturally turned the topic, gleamed sharply.

“If you don’t trust me, you can go back with your luggage right away.”

His performance in the Hwa Empire was convincing. In fact, Alan was a model for all employees, and there was something that made them want to believe that he would quickly regain his reputation as an unexpected variable after being excluded from the investment that was the heart of Lunoa’s business division.

It was strange for a young man who had not lived half of his life to have this kind of heart.

‘As expected, is it because he is a Leopold?’

The businessmen, who had calculated the gains and losses, decided to watch their young superior a little longer. No matter how wrong it was, Leopold’s name was behind him. There would be nothing to lose by delaying the task of defining his attitude.

While several more regular meetings were held, busy days continued as usual except for the return of the two executives to the kingdom.

It was the day before the inspection of the border area where the traders of the principality were gathered. A young servant came to Alan’s office. He was reviewing the agenda with the two executives.

“Excuse me…… m’lord.”

“Can’t you see we’re in a meeting?”

The executive who handed over the documents scolded him sternly. But the servant stood restless.

“What’s going on?”

When Alan asked reluctantly, he staggered over and whispered in his master’s ear. It was shortly thereafter that Alan’s brow, which was listening in silence, was badly distorted.

“Sir Alan? Did anything—”

“I’m sorry, but I’ll take my leave first.”

When the two men closed their mouths under sudden pressure, the servant hurriedly came up with a coat and helped him him prepare.

Alan’s lips twisted coldly toward the door.

“……I’m going crazy.”