“It really is enormous.”

Looking at the endless garden and majestic castle, I could understand why the Azanie family had so desperately coveted the wealth and prestige of the Hedegen family in the original story.

According to Norbert, since its founding, the Hedegen family had been deeply rooted in the Empire’s economy through military supply businesses, maritime trade, related maritime insurance, and banking.

They also managed various other fields including the wine business and research development for new industries, dominating not only the Empire but also countries beyond the strait.

Carlo, the young head of the Hedegen family, was not only a capable general who brought victory in war, but also the very person who achieved tremendous growth in military supplies and maritime trade industries through that conflict.

In particular, one of his businesses, the bank, was rated more creditworthy than the Empire itself and even served as the dedicated bank for the papal office.

“This is what the Azanie family wanted…”

In the original story, the Azanie family most aggressively targeted the Hedegen family’s bank.

Creating all sorts of charges to excommunicate the Hedegen family, the Azanie family took their largest businesses—the bank and insurance. The imperial family then had the rest of the Hedegen family’s assets confiscated by the national treasury.

Though the male protagonist in the original story eventually reclaimed his family and property, it was mentioned that this was only a tiny fraction of what the Hedegen family had lost, as their pre-excommunication wealth had been so vast and extensive.

“This is our first meeting since the wedding. You look much brighter than at the ceremony. I read about the accident in the news—are you feeling better?”

A woman in a light purple dress adorned with ostrich feathers broke the silence among the hesitant wives, smiling deliberately as she brought up the St. Berte Castle attack.

“The first time?”

Norbert had said the branch managers came to the estate quarterly for reports.

Though rare, it wasn’t unheard of for wives to accompany them. Her saying this was the first time since the ceremony suggested that Lea had never met them during their previous visits.

“Oh, I forgot that you’ve lost your memory…”

Realizing her mistake, the woman set down her teacup with an expression difficult to describe.

“If I’ve offended you…”

“Oh! Not at all. I guess there were many articles about the attack.”

After waving my hands dismissively and asking, the wives exchanged surprised glances.

The woman who had first spoken to me opened her mouth again.

“It made the front page of every newspaper. After all, it wasn’t just anyone’s incident but one involving Grand Duke Hedegen. Oh, I’m Mariette Swinton, wife of Randolph Swinton, who manages the Edenchetter branch. Please call me Mariette.”

“Thank you, Mariette. Did the incident affect the banking business as well?”

“Actually… after news broke that St. Berte Castle had allowed an intrusion, people began questioning the security of Hedegen Bank.”

Just as the original story explained, the fact that the Grand Duke was attacked inside his castle seemed to have raised various doubts about Hedegen businesses overall.

Lea and her family had anticipated this result when attacking his castle, and in the original story, their long-planned scheme succeeded.

Eventually, the Grand Duke’s death marked the beginning of the dismantling of all Hedegen family businesses.

A chill ran up my spine. Though it was the same incident, the impact felt different when discussing it with people I was facing directly, rather than just reading about it.

If the Grand Duke had died that day, everyone sitting here would have fallen along with the Hedegen family, just as in the original story.

Yet everyone here was maintaining their roles and discussing countermeasures.

The thought crossed my mind that saving the Grand Duke had been the right choice, if only to prevent many innocent people from being sacrificed.

“Fortunately, the media outlets sponsored by the Grand Duke are publishing rebuttals, and both the Imperial Police Investigation Bureau and the papal office have quickly investigated and announced that there are no security issues with the bank.”

“…But people must be puzzled that the culprit hasn’t been identified yet.”

When I asked cautiously, Mariette nodded with a worried smile.

“After the Grand Duke’s military campaign, the Empire’s maritime trade surplus recorded unprecedented growth. As a result, not only all the money within the Empire but also foreign investors’ coffers flowed into Hedegen banks. Then the attack happened. Since St. Berte Castle had never experienced such an incident before, it was widely perceived as having the most thorough security. That reputation has been subtly affecting all of the Grand Duke’s businesses.”

Mariette finished speaking and took a sip of tea, pausing.

As befitting a branch manager’s wife, she understood the circumstances well, yet she ultimately refrained from mentioning how suspicions and speculations about me were growing by the minute because the true culprit remained unidentified.

Instead, she looked at me contemplatively before speaking.

“I believe this is a time when the grand duchess’s active involvement is needed. All of us think so.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. St. Berte Castle is simply where the Grand Duke lives, and questioning security in relation to business makes no sense. It’s merely nitpicking.”

Mariette continued in a tone both wise and clear.

“But people, as Your Highness knows, tend to listen more to rumors and gossip. If we cover it with something more sensational, questions about bank security or the grand ducal family will disappear.”

After looking into Mariette’s eyes, which reflected firm conviction, I turned to look at the Grand Duke.

“……”

He was leaning against a tree on the shaded lawn, listening to the branch managers’ reports.

Under his light golden hair, sharp sunlight filtering through green leaves played across his face, which combined slight boredom and languor.

At that moment, the Grand Duke’s cool eyes looked at me.

“What.”

The instant our eyes met, he silently mouthed the question as if asking what was wrong.

I quickly shook my head and turned back squarely toward Mariette.

I could feel his gaze on my back but didn’t dare turn around.

“What do you think, Your Highness?”

Mariette set down her teacup and asked for my opinion.

For me, determined to fulfill the grand duchess’s duties admirably and gain people’s recognition, this was an excellent proposal.

The only issue was whether the Grand Duke would permit it.

Plus, the Imperial Police Investigation Bureau would still be watching me since I hadn’t completely escaped suspicion.

Even so…

“Your Highness. Would that be all right?”

“Of course!”

Isn’t the direct approach always best?

“I plan to be actively involved if there’s anything I can participate in. If there are good causes, I’d love to join.”

Besides, having unintentionally harmed the Hedegen family’s businesses, I should make efforts to compensate.

I’ll do everything I can, materially and emotionally, to help the Grand Duke accumulate more wealth than he has now, then receive alimony and leave.

I have a conscience too—I shouldn’t contribute to his ruin and then take everything.

I’ll double his honor and wealth, then run away!

“I’ve heard that I haven’t been active for a long time, and I’ve felt bad about that. Please help me a lot.”

When I smiled brightly and exchanged glances with the ladies, Mariette looked at me with surprise.

“Thank you so much, Your Highness. I don’t know how to express my gratitude…”

Feeling that I shouldn’t accept thanks when I hadn’t done anything yet, I shook my head.

Somewhat awkward about their behavior, I recalled Norbert’s explanation about the branch manager couples.

“Langchester Bank is the name of the bank operated by the Hedegen family. The branch managers who oversee the Langchester Bank branches and their wives are all of noble origin and have also invested huge sums in the bank. Their wives, in particular, are prominent figures in society. Of course, there are also hostile relationships for that reason.”

“While there are nobles who fully support the Hedegen family, there are also forces that kept the Hedegen family in check under the pretext of supporting the Crown Prince. Fortunately, Her Majesty the Empress, who has real influence in the imperial family, highly values the Hedegen family’s achievements and shows intimacy with the Grand Duke, working to prevent conflicts among the nobility.”

Norbert didn’t specify who these hostile forces were, but the Azanie family was certainly at the forefront.

However, listening to Norbert’s explanation, I couldn’t help but question the imperial family’s role.

Even if the Azanie family took the Hedegen family’s assets, much had also been confiscated by the imperial treasury.

In the original story, the Azanie family was portrayed as the central villain to be defeated, but in reality, the imperial family was closely connected to Count Azanie.

That is, the Emperor at that time…

“…Are there any rumors about what the current Emperor thinks of this situation?”

“Ah, that… You don’t know yet, Your Highness. His Majesty has been ill for a long time with no signs of recovery. The Empress is temporarily taking his place while preparing for the Crown Prince’s ascension.”

“So there is a Crown Prince.”

“He’s around the same age as Grand Duke Hedegen. I heard they were childhood friends.”

I knew it! The Emperor in the original story did refer to the current Crown Prince.

In the original story, when the Emperor met the male protagonist Clint, he said:

“I never imagined I would meet the nephew of my dead friend like this.”

He said this with a sneer, still holding a grudge against the deceased Grand Duke Hedegen, which was why he wanted to prevent his nephew Clint from reclaiming his fortune.

Though they might have been close as children, judging from the original story, they didn’t seem to have positive feelings toward each other.

However, the papal office and the supreme court sided with Clint, who had sufficient evidence, which meant they weren’t enemies of the grand ducal family.

This suggested that the Azanie family and the imperial family were working together, though it wasn’t clear whether this extended to the Crown Prince or the Empress.

The Empress was already dead in the original story, so there wasn’t much description of her.

In any case, if the Azanie family and the imperial family were jointly spreading rumors about Langchester Bank and other Hedegen businesses, we should first protect the bank, which the Azanie family was most focused on targeting.

“Langchester Bank’s position will never be threatened again. Did you mention this because there’s something that might divert the Empire’s citizens’ attention?”

After asking the question and taking a sip of tea, I saw Mariette smile as if she had been waiting for this.

“As it happens, there’s a charity event hosted by the papal office. Would you like to participate? The Langchester Bank branch managers’ wives, including myself, have been participating every year.”

“I’d love to!”

No sooner had I answered joyfully than I felt a large hand grip my shoulder exposed above my dress.

“What would you love?”