“Wh-what are you talking about? Louise Anne? I am Cecilia Weston. Are you trying to say that I’m some wanted criminal, whoever this woman is?”

“Mother and elder sister Melissa have been consistently dyeing it red, so no one knew. The dye market sent the ledger, so don’t try to deny it. You were quite famous in Hartfell too. In the previous village, you were even wanted for fraud and various crimes. I also found circumstances suggesting your involvement in the deaths of Lady Weston and the Marquis.”

Whitney tapped the wanted poster with her hand. Cecilia’s face turned bewildered. The gazes of the relatives looking at her changed subtly. Even if they were desperate for money, they weren’t completely shameless. Fortunately, it seemed some sense of decency remained in their hearts.

“Anyone can use dye! That alone doesn’t…!”

“Is that really all, Mother? I’ve been waiting for this day. I know everything about what you’ve been doing with the duchy’s funds, how much money you’ve embezzled. Here are the financial statements, take a look. I’m just trying to reclaim my rights. Father’s will stated that when I came of age, I would become the head of the family and lead the Orleans duchy, didn’t it?”

“After he died, I’ve managed the duchy so well, and now you’re saying everything was wrong?”

“If this meeting doesn’t end well, I’ll have no choice but to forcibly take it to trial. Before that, Mother, do you know who’s coming here right now?”

She rested her chin on her hand and smiled. Louise Anne was a wanted figure, with numerous enemies and an enormous bounty.

“If anyone here opposes me, I could implicate them as accomplices and send them away too. Don’t think you can just claim ignorance. I have records of you all receiving money from Mother, so I’ll say you knew but kept quiet.”

“……”

The atmosphere quickly turned silent. Those who had decided to side with Whitney merely observed the situation from the start. They thought there was no need to argue since they had come to cast their votes.

Soon, there was a knock at the door.

“Looks like they’ve arrived right on time.”

She had already contacted the investigative agency looking for her mother through her aunt. They had agreed to visit the duchy to confirm her identity. That day was today, when the family meeting was being held.

Cecilia’s face turned pale as she stepped back.

The door opened, and uniformed individuals appeared. They said they had come based on a tip and looked at Cecilia.

“Is this woman Louise Anne?”

“Yes, the red dye should be in the back of the duchy’s warehouse. Her daughter Melissa is here too, so please check.”

At Whitney’s words, the investigator immediately grabbed her mother’s arm. Realizing she might be dragged away like this, she started screaming loudly.

“You’ve got the wrong person, don’t touch me! Show me proof that I’m that woman! How dare you!”

“The purple eyes seem to match, but we’ll need to take you in for confirmation.”

“Let go! I am Lady Orleans! Cecilia Weston, that was my previous name! Louise Anne? How dare you stick such a tacky name on me!”

“I’ll take responsibility, so don’t worry. If there’s any problem, you can contact the Orleans duchy.”

“Understood.”

As Cecilia was being dragged away, she hurled curses. She didn’t forget to glare murderously as if she would kill them. Having thrown away all pretense of being a duchess, her sharp voice was grating to the ears.

Whitney moved leisurely in a situation that was anything but calm. She nodded to the butler, who then closed the door.

“Well then, now that the unrelated person has left, shall we continue our discussion? Hmm, it seems there are some people here who have no reason to be present.”

Her eyes, like summer foliage, quickly scanned those looking at her. Tilting her head to the side as if pondering while tapping the table with her finger, she smiled brightly and said,

“First, is there anyone who opposes me becoming the head of the family? Of course, even if you raise your hand, it won’t make a difference, but I’d like to know.”

“…Ahem.”

They avoided her gaze one by one and only coughed awkwardly. Seeing that things seemed to have settled down, she clapped her hands once and adjusted her posture.

“Now then, shall we continue our discussion?”

“Are you worried?”

“If you’re talking about the young lady, I’d like to say it’s unnecessary worry.”

“Well, I think so too. With the overwhelming evidence, even a vicious woman like her won’t be able to wriggle out of it.”

“Melissa will also be implicated and have to leave the capital.”

“Just in case, I’ve given them a hint to contact us if any problems arise.”

Cheston nodded lightly at Aaron’s words. It was something the young lady wouldn’t be happy to know, but if they realized the royal family was behind it, even they couldn’t be careless with the investigation.

“More importantly, have you found out anything about that accident?”

“I’ve been asking around if there were any witnesses, but it seems difficult.”

“If we could just confirm the Orleans Duke’s involvement, it could be passed to the noble court.”

Cheston felt regretful.

‘I wanted to give her one last big help.’

He had no doubt that she would become the head of the family. That’s why he felt even more disappointed. He was tempted by the thought that perhaps they could continue their relationship in a form that would be more mutually beneficial.

“If you’re that disappointed, hold onto her.”

Aaron, who had keenly noticed the emotion reflected in his eyes, suggested subtly. At those words, Cheston raised his eyebrows and shook his head.

“That would be greedy.”

“What’s wrong with being a little selfish? I think you can afford to be, just once.”

Aaron was unusually persistent. He spoke as if Whitney was Cheston’s lifeline. It wasn’t wrong, but why should the young lady have to stay in a place where she could barely breathe just because she had reached out to him first?

The price was too high to impose his selfishness on her just because she had extended her hand to him first.

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, go check on the duchy. She probably won’t be coming back today, so stay around and make sure she returns safely.”

Cheston waved his hand at Aaron. However, Aaron didn’t leave and pointed to the window. Cheston’s gaze turned back at his action.

“An urgent message…”

He opened the window and checked the letter brought by the bird. His blue eyes, which had been slowly reading down, sparkled with light. Seeing those eyes, Aaron flinched and stepped back. As the hot sunlight shone on him, his blue eyes seemed to gleam eerily with madness.

“…Did something happen?”

“I try not to be greedy, but opportunities keep being handed to me.”

“Pardon?”

At Aaron’s question, Cheston stood up. Imagining Whitney’s face when he brought this, he wanted to go as soon as possible.

‘Is this becoming the last gift?’

He tightly gripped the letter and then changed his hasty steps to leisurely ones. Aaron, not understanding what was happening, followed closely behind him, his mouth opening and closing.

“I’m going to the duchy, cover for me as you see fit.”

The corners of Cheston’s mouth, who had put on his cloak, kept rising. He barely suppressed his surging emotions as he got into the carriage to leave the annex.

Whitney took advantage of a short break to come out to the duchy’s garden. Every one of them now clung to her skirts, begging her to give them a way out.

They were truly ridiculous people. Whitney brushed back her hair, trying to calm her anger. No matter how hard she tried to understand, she simply couldn’t view them on the same level.

‘I need to finish this quickly. It’ll take a few days… Should I send a letter?’

He would probably be curious about how things turned out. She considered it but soon shook her head. It would be enough to let him know when she returned, so it was better to inform him when everything was definitely settled.

This is really the end now.

She had also achieved the conditions for breaking off the engagement that she had set with him, so when she returned, she would have to talk to him about the engagement. Her head became complicated at the period that had come faster than expected.

‘Why are you feeling regretful? This is natural.’

Whitney lightly slapped her cheeks with her hands, trying to gather her thoughts. It wasn’t good to be distracted now. If she made a mistake, problems could arise again, so she needed to block all of Cecilia’s escape routes and clearly establish the sources of the duchy’s fund flows.

“There’s still a long way to go.”

She thought she had taken a step forward, but it still seemed far off. Whitney’s mind cleared as she took a walk, and she was about to turn back to return.

But at that moment, why did Whitney’s mind conjure up Cheston, even though she knew it couldn’t be? Her head turned at the faintly wafting scent.

“Come to think of it, you seem to find me quite well.”

“…How, no, what brings you here? You couldn’t have come because you thought I might not have become the head of the family… I didn’t give you that little trust, did I?”

He chuckled and took out a letter from his breast pocket. Whitney took the letter held out to her and looked at him.

“Did you come to give me this? I think you could have sent it by bird.”

“I thought the contents shouldn’t fall into anyone else’s hands.”

She examined the contents of the letter. Her green eyes gradually widened, and then she looked at Cheston again.

“…Oh my.”

His blue eyes shook violently. Tears fell from Whitney’s eyes.