Allen was startled by his secretary’s report and double-checked.

“Did you say Duke Courtois is jumping into the Bertan railway project?”

“Yes, it’s news sent by telegram from the Duke’s residence.”

“What does that bastard know about business? He should just focus on preserving his existing wealth.”

“Well…”

The secretary reported to Allen the contents of a telegram from a spy planted in Duke Courtois’s residence and the information he had gathered himself.

There was an explorer of unknown lands called Marquis Martainpolo, who apparently knew more credible information about Bertan than even high-ranking imperial officials.

“Marquis Martainpolo, wasn’t he known as an eccentric?”

“That may be so, but he’s an informant who knows the public sentiment well, having traveled to the remote areas of Bertan. He said that Prince Buttan of Bertan will soon ascend to the throne.”

“What?”

Allen fell into a state of panic. This was something he hadn’t even heard from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He had only heard that there was intense competition for the throne among the emperor’s sons.

“It’s said that when Prince Buttan ascends to the throne, he plans to lay railways across the entire continent of Bertan first.”

“So Duke Courtois intends to monopolize that project?”

“I don’t know the details. What’s certain is that not only imperial people but also leaders of merchant groups have been frequenting the Duke’s residence daily.”

Bang-! Allen slammed his fist on the desk.

He must have overheard the conversation between himself and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Bellis banquet. Otherwise, it made no sense for him to suddenly jump into the Bertan railway project.

‘You think you can block my path? You vile bastard!’

Did he think anyone would easily give up their business rights? Now that he knew about it, such a thing would never happen.

“Find out everything about the companies bidding for the Bertan railway project.”

“Yes, sir.”

He only knew how to kill people on the battlefield all his life, yet he dares to meddle in money-making affairs without knowing anything.

It was laughable to see someone who was nothing without the wealth inherited from his parents trying to outdo him.

‘If only I had Hamilton Trading Company’s memorandum at a time like this, it would be like having wings.’

Although it was somewhat regrettable, there was no need to be impatient. Judging by Sara’s recent absence, it seemed she was making diligent efforts to find the memorandum in her own way.

‘Terran Courtois, I’ll teach you a lesson. You won’t dare to act up once you become a pauper, barely surviving on the pension from the imperial family.’

Allen stood up and walked towards the window. However, the line of people in front of Hamilton General Store was an unpleasant sight.

‘That damned riding outfit.’

Not only was the riding outfit novel, but Grace Bizac’s sales strategy was also praiseworthy.

Not content with publishing a photo of Queen Vivian of Lubeck, who won the Royal Equestrian Competition, in the newspaper, she lowered the price to sell it to the general public.

Rumor had it that she had even set up a workshop, greatly speeding up the supply of goods.

‘No, Grace is going to make Rivet the Crown Princess anyway, so what does it matter.’

Since he had commissioned Rivet’s dress from her, she would meet his expectations this time as well. For her, it would be a great benefit to create a Crown Princess with her own hands.

The problem was Terran.

‘This is a golden opportunity to make Terran a pauper.’

Allen struck the wall with his fist.

* * *

As soon as day broke, Lea went to see James.

“He’s not in the study.”

“Oh my! I’m sorry.”

James apologized, his face flushing red, making Lea feel sorry instead.

“When you get old, you become absent-minded like this. Now that I think about it carefully, the Duke told me to throw it in the incinerator a few days ago.”

“So did you burn it?”

“No, we don’t incinerate every day. Besides, it rained a few days ago, so we’ll probably do it today.”

“Thank you, James.”

Lea immediately headed towards the incinerator.

However, as she was heading there, something felt odd. Could James be trying to fool her?

‘No way! James isn’t that kind of person.’

He was someone who valued rules strictly and was respectful to his employers.

As he said, having done the same job for a long time, his memories must have become mixed up, causing confusion.

This time, Lea headed to the incinerator with Chainer instead of Pauline.

“Chainer, we’re looking for a bundle of letters tied with string, okay?”

“Yes, sis!”

Chainer had somehow acquired a small shovel and was continuously digging through the ashes of the incinerator.

The problem was that the ashes were being blown towards Lea by the wind.

“Cough, Chainer, could you stop stirring up the dust?”

“Oh? Sorry.”

But when Lea looked up and saw Chainer covered in ashes, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

It was because Chainer, who worked hard at everything, was just too cute.

“Oh, right! Did you finish making the lace dress?”

“Really? I should go to the workshop to see it. You’re so thoughtful, our Chainer.”

“Am I helpful to you, sis? I give lots of money to my grandpa. Grandpa and the uncles have become nice.”

“How so?”

“They don’t cut off people’s arms anymore, don’t sell weird drugs, and even got married.”

Lea suddenly felt a lump in her throat at Chainer’s words.

That happiness wasn’t a result of her actions, but of Chainer’s blood and sweat.

The two of them searched the incinerator thoroughly again for the bundle of letters. Suddenly, Chainer stopped in her tracks and started crying.

“Why are you crying?”

Lea was greatly surprised. She had never seen Chainer cry so sorrowfully before.

“Sis, I can’t have a baby.”

“What?”

Lea’s legs gave way and she staggered.

Who dared to touch the innocent Chainer? If she caught them, she would make them suffer.

Was this how an older brother felt about his little sister? It was heartbreaking.

Lea gripped Chainer’s shoulders with all her might and asked fiercely.

“Who is it? Who touched you?”

But Chainer just kept crying, shedding tears and snot, unable to answer properly.

“It’s big bro Luke.”

“Luke?”

I thought he was a good man, but he seduced an innocent child and did that!? Lea’s limbs trembled.

“Tell me everything Luke did to you.”

This wasn’t something to be overlooked. If Luke had done something terrible to Chainer, she would definitely put him in jail.

“He kissed my forehead, but I still can’t have a baby. I need to have a baby to marry big bro.”

“!?”

Lea collapsed on the spot like a curtain with its strings cut.

“Chainer, let’s… go now. It doesn’t seem to be in the incinerator.”

The two of them, covered in black ashes from head to toe, just blinked at each other.

* * *

Lea, still covered in ashes, went to find James again, and he was shocked.

“James, it’s not in the incinerator.”

At Lea’s deflated voice, James turned pale. As if he had a secret that shouldn’t be revealed.

He paced back and forth busily, trying to recall his memory, and then suddenly walked towards Lea as if he had finally remembered properly.

“This time I really remember, miss.”

“Yes, you should.”

Having no energy left and with her mental strength half depleted because of Chainer, she had no strength left to respond.

“It’s in the bottom drawer of the Duke’s bedside table. I put it there just in case. For you to read when you have time later.”

Seeing James’s eyes sparkle, it seemed to be true this time.

Lea gathered her strength again and headed to the bathroom, holding Chainer’s hand.

With the help of a maid, Lea and Chainer bathed for over an hour. After bathing, they ate frantically like people who hadn’t eaten for several meals.

‘Grace’s arms and legs have no strength at all.’

Lea trembled all over from the muscle pain that engulfed her entire body.

Chainer, who had dug with her, returned to her usual self after eating, but Lea didn’t even have the strength left to speak. Seeing this situation, Madame Armand pleaded tearfully.

“Miss Bizac, please stop searching. Because of me…”

‘Don’t cry. My head feels like it’s going to split, Madame Armand.’

Of course, these were words she couldn’t utter out loud. Still, she had to say something to Madame Armand.

“I’m doing this because I feel I must.”

“Pardon?”

“There are things like that. Um, if I ever have a difficult time later, then Madame Armand, no, Marie can help me then, right?”

“Of course. I will repay the kindness you’ve shown me even if it costs me my life.”

‘There’s no need for that, I just want to punish the bastard who abandoned his wife. It’s like vicarious satisfaction.’

After midnight, Lea headed alone to Terran’s bedroom.

‘The bottom drawer of the bedside table next to the bed.’

She caught a glimpse of Terran sleeping towards the bed. Lea tiptoed towards his bed, barefoot without even wearing slippers.

She soon pressed her body to the floor and crawled slowly on her elbows.

At times like this, Grace’s small body was incredibly advantageous. Lea reached out and grabbed the handle of the bottom drawer.

Squeak-! A loud noise breaking the silence.

‘No!’

This meant she would have to open the drawer second by second, causing inconvenience. But unable to give up, she opened the drawer very slowly.

It seemed to take almost twenty minutes to open it without making a sound. When the drawer was finally fully open, she unhesitatingly put her hand in and felt around inside.

‘Come on out, bundle of letters.’

But nothing could be felt.

Then a single piece of paper stuck to the bottom caught her hand.

‘Is this it?’

It didn’t matter if it wasn’t the bundle of letters. Even a single page of a love letter would achieve her purpose.

She hoped it was what she was looking for. Lea took out the paper and checked its contents.

‘Huh? What’s this?’

As she was feeling bewildered, her body suddenly lifted into the air and was then thrown onto the soft bed.

“Eek!”

Her delicate body was wedged between Terran’s knees. If so, then Terran hadn’t been in the bed from the start.

He must have been watching this ridiculous scene from somewhere.

“This time, I didn’t call for Grace. You came here on your own with these small feet.”

Terran said, touching Lea’s bare feet.

“Terran, about that. There’s a reason…”

As Lea struggled to get up, Terran chuckled and swiftly took off the shirt he was wearing, revealing his robust shoulders.

“There’s only one thing for a man and woman to do late at night. We’ll hear about the reason afterwards.”