Count Diobe sipped the tea in front of him and glanced at the woman sitting across from him.

‘To think that Mr. Wenli was actually a woman…’

Marsha was reading through the documents Count Diobe had brought, wearing glasses.

Seeing the surname Wenli, he had vaguely assumed it was a man. He thought the hotel representative would naturally be a dignified man, but to think it was a woman.

‘No. This might be even better.’

He barely swallowed the hot tea down his throat as he glanced at Marsha. It could be even easier to persuade her. He believed that women were weak-hearted and would readily open their wallets if you just appealed to their emotions a little.

“There are so many pitiful and unfortunate children. Children abandoned by their parents as soon as they’re born, war orphans… It would be wonderful if Representative Wenli could lend her strength to help these poor things. Our Gloria Foundation even receives support from the imperial family…”

Marsha took off her glasses. And slowly placed them on the table along with the documents.

“What about after these ‘pitiful and unfortunate children’ leave the facility, Count?”

“Pardon?”

“Are there no follow-up measures? When they come of age, do they just receive this amount designated as sponsorship money and leave the facility, and that’s it? With this money, they’d struggle to rent even a proper single room in the outskirts, let alone in the capital.”

Marsha was staring directly at Count Diobe. Flustered, the count avoided her gaze and wiped the sweat forming on his forehead with his hand.

“I also have questions about the beggars who can’t adapt to the empire. It’s all vague, with no details on their rehabilitation and subsequent welfare.”

Marsha poured a flood of water over the fragile sand castle the count had hastily built.

Count Diobe’s lips curled inward as he listened to her points. He had thought that if he just roughly drafted a plan and appealed with emotional manipulation, it would be resolved, but his opponent was not to be underestimated.

“Well, that, we’re just at the starting stage… and above all, it’s a good cause…”

“Count. This won’t do as it is.”

Marsha’s voice was firm. There was a faint smile on her lips, but it was merely a minimum courtesy.

“Did you really think you could persuade me with just this much? I’m truly sorry, but I’m not someone who moves solely on emotions. Especially when it comes to business.”

“But it’s about helping the poor people of the empire. Look at these children here. Don’t you find them pitiful?”

Count Diobe thrust several photos in front of Marsha. Marsha slowly scanned through the photos. Among the photos he presented were images of noble ladies, including the empress, holding children.

‘They must have made quite a fuss to take these photos.’

Marsha chuckled and pushed the photos back towards Count Diobe’s side.

“I’ll take care of helping them myself. It’s not that I’m not interested in charity work.”

A gentle firmness pierced across the table. Count Diobe barely managed to calm his flushing face and glared at Marsha sitting in front of him.

‘This impudent… woman, a commoner at that, daring to look down on a noble!’

But she had a lot of money. That was a problem even the count couldn’t do anything about.

The Wenli family operated dozens of townhouses in the outskirts of the empire. Moreover, the one who had built it all was ‘Marsha Wenli’ sitting in front of the count.

Wasn’t there a widespread rumor in the capital that from her grandfather to her father and now Marsha, three generations had held an unbroken stream of money?

It was said that among fallen nobles, some tried to cling to them, making excuses like selling their titles or wanting to marry Marsha. Even nobles who frequented the imperial court were said to be keeping a close eye on the Wenli family members.

‘New money? To think I have to bow my head and speak politely to such people, it’s a matter of losing face.’

Count Diobe grumbled as he stood up. He was not in a good mood, feeling as if he had been insulted by a woman much younger than him.

Marsha still bid farewell to Count Diobe in a kind and gentle manner.

“When the hotel is completed someday, I’ll invite you to the party. Please do come.”

As if you’d want to come! Count Diobe suppressed his rising anger and merely nodded before stepping out of the office.

Still, as he was a guest, Marsha followed behind him to see him off.

Alice, who had been lurking in the lobby, was startled to see her father coming down. He had been bustling about since morning, so he must have come to this hotel.

She frantically looked for a place to hide. Fortunately, there was a large statue nearby. It was big enough to hide behind. Alice peeked out from behind the statue, observing her father’s movements.

Behind her father, who seemed quite angry, followed a young woman. She was clearly no ordinary woman at first glance.

She held a cane in one hand and wore comfortable everyday clothes rather than an elaborate dress. However, she wore no flashy accessories at all. It was a look that naturally mixed restraint with a free-spirited air.

Marsha, who had come out to the hotel lobby, politely greeted Count Diobe.

“I’ll see you again, Count.”

Despite her rather friendly tone, the count turned away with a huff. Seeing the cold wind blowing fiercely despite it not being winter, Marsha let out a light sigh.

“…Though we didn’t work together, let’s never meet again.”

Marsha’s eyes, which had seemed purely gentle, sharpened. The foundation was clearly suspicious.

Though they had gone on and on with flowery rhetoric about helping the poor, empty wagons always rattled the loudest. It showed signs of being hastily established and sloppily put together all over.

Starting her business, she often had to clash with many people, especially older men. If it weren’t for the backing of the ‘Wenli’ family, the trials Marsha would have had to face would have doubled.

It wasn’t a pleasant sight to see them silently despise her for being a woman, only to take a step back when they considered the Wenli family’s wealth and business.

Marsha turned around only after seeing Count Diobe get into his carriage.

‘Is he gone?’

Alice slipped out from behind the statue and looked around. Both her father and the extraordinary-looking woman had disappeared.

“Who are you looking for?”

“Eek! You startled me!”

Turning around in shock, she found the woman she had been watching standing right behind her. The woman approached Alice with a bright smile.

“We’re not accepting guests yet…”

“I-I’m sorry. It was so beautiful that I couldn’t help but wander in here.”

“Well, thank you for the compliment. It’s nice to know my efforts were noticed.”

She abruptly extended her hand to Alice.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Marsha Wenli. And what’s the name of our handsome young man?”

“Um… It’s Allen.”

Something seems off for a man, Marsha thought briefly, but quickly dismissed it. The world is wide and people are diverse. Whether this was their true self or a facade could only be known through their own words.

Marsha asked in a deliberately friendly voice.

“Since you’ve come in here by such strong fate, how about a tour of the hotel?”

“No, no. I’ve intruded on an uncompleted place and caused trouble. I’ll take my leave!”

Alice bowed deeply in embarrassment and quickly exited the hotel lobby. She felt like her identity would be exposed if she kept looking into Marsha’s eyes.

“I didn’t mean to pressure you…”

Marsha turned around sheepishly, scratching her cheek with her finger. She thought that if someone was interested, they would come back someday.

When she went back up to her office, a new guest was sitting on the sofa.

The person sitting on the sofa was dressed in a way rarely seen among women in the empire.

She wore a large, loose skirt and a baggy jacket and shirt that men would typically wear. If seen briefly on the street, one might mistake her for a man. A fedora was tilted atop her short, curly hair.

Marsha brightened and sat down next to the woman. Then, as if teasing, she leaned in close and stared at the woman’s face.

“Hello, darling.”

“Who calls their friend like that? You’re probably the only one in the empire.”

“Doesn’t that just mean you’re special, Gabrielle?”

Marsha playfully poked Gabrielle’s waist with her elbow. As their eyes met, Marsha and Gabrielle laughed like children.

“The person who left earlier, was that Count Diobe? I heard he’s been busy lately, establishing a foundation and seeking sponsorship.”

“That’s right. He came to ask me for sponsorship too.”

“Nonsense… I wonder what expression he’d make if he knew whose people we are.”

“Now I’m curious. How about it, Gabrielle? Should we secretly expose him?”

“Don’t ruin things before we even start.”

Gabrielle put her index finger to her lips. Marsha knew as well. For now, they had to keep quiet and move discreetly.

“At least until Her Majesty the Empress’s message comes down, we must maintain silence. We’re just innocent civilians who came to the capital to make money, after all.”

“No. You should speak accurately.”

Marsha raised her body that had been buried in the sofa. The sunken sofa gently returned to its original shape. Her face, which had been full of mischief, was now filled with seriousness.

“We came to the capital for Her Majesty the Empress, right?”

The two agreed. Knowing the meaning behind those words, Gabrielle leaned back on the sofa, stretching her arms to either side. Slow words flowed from her leisurely posture.

“Yes. We are… the last legacy left by Keira Rowen Melpiram.”

**

Alice barely calmed her racing heart and looked around. The city center was no different from usual.

‘I really wasn’t caught, right?’

Marsha, was it? She was smiling kindly, but there was something fierce about her. Judging by her behavior, she didn’t seem to be a noble.

People who readily extend their hands and greet strangers are usually closer to commoners than nobles. Perhaps she was one of the new rich who have been coming up to the capital recently.

‘Should I head home soon… Father said he’d be home late, but I feel uneasy.’

She scratched her head with the wig on, wandering the streets. Having come out on a rare outing, she wanted to breathe in the outside air a little longer.

She peered at passing people, eavesdropped on gathered people’s conversations, and moved from the center towards the outskirts.

As she was slowly observing her surroundings, carried by the crowd, a small commotion caught Alice’s eye.

“No, I said it’s not possible!”

“Please tell me the reason. We have both evidence and witnesses. If you want, we’re willing to cooperate with the coverage…”

“I told you, it’s not possible. Even if you write it, it’ll get blocked from above. You’re one stubborn young lady, really. Please leave quickly.”

It was near the back door of a major newspaper company. Being turned away at the front of a newspaper office was a common occurrence.

She had heard from Jake that they often had headaches due to people bringing in ridiculous stories claiming to be exclusive scoops. Was this another such case?

The woman being turned away was holding a fairly thick envelope of documents. She pleaded once more to the reporter, but the door closed mercilessly.

“What’s the matter, miss?”

Alice deliberately lowered her voice and asked with kindness. She had to perfectly act as Allen as usual.

The woman finally turned her head towards Alice. With that movement, her long navy blue hair swirled and touched her back. Her appearance looked neat to the point of being disciplined.

‘An academy student?’

She was wearing a rare pants uniform. Noble women attending academies wore neat dresses called ‘uniforms’. Could she be a female student from the military academy that was said to have newly admitted students?

“What is it?”

The woman immediately took a defensive stance. Her attitude clearly showed that she detested men who approached like this. Alice hurriedly spread her hands to show that she had no strange intentions.

“Excuse me. I should have greeted you first. My name is Allen. It’s not common to see a commotion in front of a newspaper office.”

Allen checked the small sign fixed to the back door. It was one of the largest newspaper companies in the empire. It was also a newspaper friendly to the imperial family and nobles.

“For a place like this to turn someone away… it must be one of two things. Either the incident is too small, or too big to be published as an article. My guess is the latter…”

“That’s correct.”

The woman nodded, her eyes wide.

If it was a big enough issue for an academy student to seek out the press, what could it be? The allegations of corruption at the military academy that Jake had previously mentioned flashed through Allen’s mind.

“Then I’ll tell you about another newspaper. I know a good place. This one is friendly to the empire and nobles, so if it’s related to that side, it might not be suitable for publishing an article.”

Jake. That guy was trustworthy. Moreover, he seemed to have been inquiring everywhere to uncover that incident, so it would be perfect.

“I’ve given you my name, may I ask for the lady’s name?”

The woman standing in front of Alice tensed her body, assuming an angle. It was the disciplined posture often seen in soldiers. And then a voice, chopped like with a knife, flowed out.

“Imperial Military Academy, 1st year, Cecilia Gwen Icastel.”