***

“Rachel Dukoff?”

The woman who was feeding her horse and resting under a large tree looked up at the sound of my voice.

The questioning tone in my voice was because the person before me was a young girl who seemed more childlike than youthful.

She gazed at me for a moment, then tilted her head and asked me in return.

“Belinda Blanche?”

Only then did I realize my rudeness and promptly dismounted from my horse.

“I apologize, Countess Dukoff.”

The head of the Dukoff family’s stern expression softened slightly.

“I should apologize as well. This meeting was so unexpected that I ended up being rude.”

The girl nodded graciously and gently stroked the head of the horse standing beside her.

It was already well-known that Rachel Dukoff loved horseback riding so much that she would be participating in the royal horse racing competition this year as the youngest contestant.

I naturally chose horseback riding as a topic to continue the conversation.

“I’ve been looking into riding clubs, and the one you’ve joined caught my eye.”

“It’s a club with a long history, so I’m sure it will meet your expectations, Lady Blanche.”

Fortunately, thanks to fragments of Belinda’s memories, I had thorough theoretical knowledge and experience with horseback riding, allowing me to lead the conversation smoothly.

Moreover, Rachel Dukoff didn’t seem to harbor any ill feelings toward me.

I was inwardly relieved and was leisurely waiting for the right moment to bring up my main point.

“You’ve acquired many new hobbies lately. First gambling, now horseback riding. I wouldn’t be surprised if art collection becomes your next hobby.”

The Dukoff family head’s gentle tone was as coquettish as a young lady who had just debuted in society, but I was momentarily at a loss for words.

Gambling was the Rechel family head’s pleasure, horseback riding was the Dukoff family head’s hobby, and art collection was the Cleo family head’s pastime.

If she had mentioned that with my activities, contacting the three vassal families in mind…

“That would be nice too. If you have time, would you like to visit the Cleo estate with me? I hear they have many excellent works.”

I casually suggested.

“…Unfortunately, I have no interest in art appreciation, so I must decline.”

She gently refused my invitation.

However, I wasn’t ready to back down so easily.

With the support of the Cleo family head uncertain, I needed to at least pique the interest of the Rechel family head.

“I’ve heard that Dukoff’s golden scale is fair, yet you refuse without even hearing what I would place on it. Perhaps the scale has tilted to one side since you became Countess.”

When I provoked her lightly, Rachel Dukoff’s smiling face hardened for the first time.

She was intelligent and mature beyond her years, but not skilled enough to completely hide her emotions.

Thinking she had been insulted, she took a moment to collect herself before speaking in a more serious tone than before.

“Lady, I don’t know what you’re planning, but I-no, the Dukoff family—will not support your intentions.”

Finally seeing her true face, I deliberately maintained a relaxed expression and nodded.

“Even if I promise certain benefits?”

The Dukoff family head has traditionally been someone who acts according to profit.

Surely she would show interest in my words…

“Yes, no matter what benefits you promise, my heart will not change.”

…shouldn’t she?

“I want to make this absolutely clear so we don’t have to face each other over this matter again. You naturally wouldn’t know since you have not the slightest interest in family affairs, but I am in this position now because your uncle, Jonas Blanche, supported me during his lifetime. Thanks to him, I was able to become the family head despite being merely a young girl.”

Her face, which had always been confident as if she would never look back at the past, showed a hint of longing.

Seeing that, I realized I had been taking the Dukoff family matter too lightly.

“You’re right, Lady. Dukoff’s golden scale holds the principle of weighing even loyalty on its scales. But that doesn’t mean I’m a beast without loyalty, lower than animals.”

With those final words, Rachel Dukoff swiftly mounted her horse.

“The Cleo family head supported you because you inherited the legitimate bloodline. I’m the same. Because Sybel Blanche is Jonas’s biological son, I will not do anything that opposes his interests. Even if it would bring enormous benefits to my family.”

Her eyes, looking down at me from her high position, shone with firmness.

Although I failed to gain her support, there was still a way.

I met her steadfast gaze directly and replied.

“If I have a truth heavy enough to break the Count’s scale. Are you certain that scale wouldn’t waver?”

“…If you had said those words while placing even a single flower at Jonas’s funeral, my heart might have changed. But everything is too late now, Lady.”

With those final words, the Dukoff family head immediately turned her horse around.

Only after confirming that her horse had disappeared did I press my forehead and sigh.

Oh, Uncle. Just how many good deeds did you perform during your lifetime?

To change Rachel Dukoff’s mind, I would have to reveal the fact that Sybel killed my uncle.

The problem, however, is that currently there is no evidence of his crime.

Except for his confession.

Of course, I already had a plan to extract his confession.

But there was just one puzzle piece missing to execute the plan.

That was Sybel’s motive for murder.

‘I shouldn’t reveal the fact of Uncle’s poisoning before knowing that.’

And that meant gaining Rachel Dukoff’s support would be difficult for a while.

But that wasn’t the only disappointing news.

When I returned to the Blanche estate, Vivian, with her hair tied in two low braids, was waiting for me.

Vivian’s face, which should have been as proud as a student returning with perfect exam scores, looked unusually gloomy.

Surely she must have been recognized for her abilities at the Magic Tower, so why did she look like that?

I glanced at Cheshire, who was standing nearby, and he leaned toward my ear and whispered.

“The Magic Tower suspected that Vivian wasn’t the creator of the healing potion. In their eyes, Vivian is only a 4th-rank magician who was, until recently,y merely an apprentice. It’s a reasonable doubt. Well, there’s also the political reason that if a non-Tower magician created such an amazing potion, it would diminish the Tower’s authority.”

Then Vivian, hanging her head like a mole digging a tunnel, muttered dejectedly.

“They’re right. Come to think of it, I didn’t even conduct proper tests… Acting like I’m something special just because I completed one bottle…”

No, how dare they! They fail to recognize a gem and now they’re crushing this child’s spirit!

It felt like nothing was going well these days.

I swallowed a sigh and thought of Terry, who hadn’t been in contact for several days.

‘I hope Terry brings some good news, at least.’

***

At a tavern in Barbet County.

A short-haired girl with a youthful appearance rested her chin on the shoulder of her companion and whispered.

“What’s written there that made your face turn so pale, sis?”

Her companion shuddered and pushed the girl’s chin away rather coldly, saying,

“Don’t call me sis, it gives me the creeps.”

At those words, the girl pouted before scanning the appearance of the person sitting next to her with playful eyes.

Short ash-gray hair and an androgynous appearance.

Wearing pants as well, she looked every bit like a handsome young man.

Because of this, the girl spoke freely without caring about others’ gazes.

“Alright, then I’ll call you bro.”

“Hey!”

“What’s wrong, bro?”

Terry got goosebumps at how easily the other changed forms of address.

‘Does this kid get possessed every time they disguise themselves? How can they call me “bro” without even blushing?’

If you asked any passerby, ten out of ten would point to the girl and call her a cute little sister.

But she is not Terry’s sister.

‘She’s my little brother disguised as a little sister.’

There was no one more helpful than Jerry for gathering information while hiding one’s identity in unfamiliar territory.

That’s why Terry had asked her brother to accompany her on this mission.

It cost quite a sum, but Jerry was worth every penny.

“The person presumed to be the notary is staying at the Parzen Hotel.”

“I heard he occasionally gambles? Since all sorts of people pass through gambling halls, I might be able to get close to the target.”

“Sis, today I want to disguise myself as a noble lady. So give me some pocket money. I want to shop at the boutique.”

Jerry changed his disguise daily, blending seamlessly into any location to gather information about the notary they were seeking.

He was certainly unparalleled in information gathering, but the problem was that the preparations required quite a sum of money.

Terry resolved all this with the promissory note Belinda had given her.

She had quite a struggle using double fake identities to ensure Belinda’s name wouldn’t be revealed, but she thought there wouldn’t be any problems.

That was until Belinda’s letter arrived suggesting they gamble their entire fortune.

Finally, Terry, facing the crisis of losing all her assets, sighed deeply and clutched her head.

Jerry, who had been watching with his chin propped up, suddenly spoke.

“Bro, what do you like so much about that noble?”