The Art of Reforming Villainous Men - Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Translator: Yonnee
—
Adeline tucked the pendant back inside her clothes and left the room.
Her steps down the staircase—where she would have fallen in her previous life—felt surprisingly light.
After descending the stairs, she called for her personal maid.
“Nadia, prepare the carriage. I’m going out.”
“You’re going out, Milady? I don’t believe you had anything scheduled… Where are you planning to go?”
“Yes, a plan.”
Adeline smiled brightly.
“To get rid of the things standing in the way of my life.”
Among them, the one she needed to meet first was obvious.
‘Jack Hatzfeld.’
The man who knew everything about the Zeller family’s debts and assets.
A few hours earlier, Adeline had sent Jack a message asking to meet.
But the reply she received was predictable: he could only meet if he had no prior engagements, and today, his schedule was too busy.
Of course, she had anticipated this response.
‘He was the same in my previous life, so I wasn’t expecting to meet him easily.’
The problem was that Adeline didn’t have the luxury of waiting for Jack to find time.
Therefore, she had to take a different approach.
She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall and smiled faintly.
“That’s today, I believe?”
The charity party hosted by Lady Tilleman.
* * *
Victoria Tilleman.
Also known as Lady Tilleman, she was a well-known figure referred to as the matriarch of the capital’s high society.
In her youth, Victoria had captivated people with her stunning beauty and exceptional conversational skills.
As she aged, her unique dignity and splendid background allowed her to continue wielding significant influence over high society.
Jack Hatzfeld had set foot in Victoria’s garden today precisely because of that influence.
With neatly combed black hair, and a frame that made him appear a head taller than most of the men in the garden, Jack’s presence was impossible to miss.
His cool, gray eyes swept over the garden’s decorations and the crowd, exuding an air of indifference. His gaze did not seem particularly amused.
“Still as flashy and noisy as ever.”
“You say that, but this isn’t your first time attending one of Lady Tilleman’s parties.”
As a rebuttal to Jack’s muttering, Warwick spoke up, tucking away his glasses into his breast pocket.
“So perhaps you could ease up on the expression. People are watching, after all.”
“Let those bastards watch all they want. It’s not like they don’t know who I am.”
While Warwick chuckled warmly, Jack responded only with a cynical smirk.
In truth, cynical didn’t quite capture this man’s demeanor—ferocious would be a more fitting description.
A faint scent of tobacco clung to him, impossible to hide.
No matter how well his expensive tailored suit fit him, his sharp features and cold expression gave off a raw, untamed aura that made it hard to mistake him for a refined gentleman.
His manner of speaking was equally unsuited for high society.
Which was to be expected.
“A man who’s not even a noble pretending to be one—now isn’t that laughable.”
The surname ‘Hatzfeld’ was an unusual one in the Crawford Empire, a combination rarely seen.
This alone was enough to reveal Jack’s origins—he was a wealthy businessman from the Mathes Principality.
Yet, regardless of how unwelcome barbarism was in noble settings, Jack was always invited.
Even now, several nobles who recognized him approached with smiles and eager words.
“It’s so difficult to see you these days, Mister Hatzfeld. Do you remember me?”
“I heard you discovered diamonds at the mine you purchased recently!”
“I’m hosting a banquet at my villa next week. Would you be interested in attending?”
The flood of voices made it hard to keep track of what was being said.
Familiar glances, filled with admiration and ambition, met his eyes.
It was only natural.
After all, who could afford to ignore one of the capital’s top ten wealthiest individuals?
‘…Though there are exceptions.’
He recalled the letter he had received just hours earlier.
Its elegant and refined handwriting, characteristic of nobles, ended with the neatly written name ‘Adeline Zeller’.
The letter’s scent seemed as if it would carry the fragrance of magnolias, rather than the usual pungent ink.
It was said that handwriting often reflected its owner, and in this case, it appeared to be true.
Adeline, the heir to the Zeller family, had a stunning appearance and a graceful demeanor. Her long, flowing golden hair and deep green eyes made her an unforgettable figure.
—It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mister Jack Hatzfeld. My name is Adeline Zeller.
Jack recalled the moment he had first been introduced to Adeline at the Zeller mansion.
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