The Duke’s mansion had many spacious rooms, but Siara’s room resembled a small storage closet. She clicked her tongue while looking around the room that seemed more suitable for a maid. At least there was a window, if that could be considered fortunate.

‘Borrowing a large sum from Marquis Marcel using the territory as collateral! Marquis Marcel Hart. I thought he was just an old man with a taste for young women, but he’s actually after the Duke’s territory?’

If that were the case, the Duke’s other debts were likely connected to him as well.

Just then, she heard servants whispering outside.

“About Lady Annie. Will she become the Marquis’s wife? Wow, an illegitimate child moving up in the world! Should we try to get on her good side now?”

“That’s not it. Women who marry Marquis Hart don’t live more than three years. Nobody wants to go there. And do you really think the Duchess would allow a good marriage for an illegitimate child?”

“Wow. The Duke is frightening too. Are they watching her to make sure she doesn’t run away?”

“Shh! She might hear you.”

‘I already heard everything.’

The servants seemed to be monitoring this room in case Siara tried to escape.

Siara stretched out fully on the worn bed.

‘Why would I run away? I’d be caught immediately. When I do leave, I’ll go somewhere you can never find me.’

She wasn’t Annie anyway, so family ties couldn’t hold her back. She felt nothing for them.

Just then, an unpleasant young woman burst through the door. Sophie, was that her name?

Sophie gritted her teeth when she saw Siara lying comfortably on the bed.

“Hey, you!”

Siara stared intently at Sophie’s hair. Her hair had been completely burned before, but seeing it intact now, she must have somehow obtained a wig that matched her original hair color.

Siara grabbed her hair firmly.

“Eek! What are you doing?”

“‘You’? You should call me ‘sister.'”

When Siara tried to remove the wig, tears welled up in Sophie’s eyes.

“Stop! Stop it! Our parents still don’t know I’ve lost my hair!”

“Then don’t act so disrespectfully.”

“Fine! I’m sorry, sister! Happy now?”

Though Siara could have made her grovel, she released Sophie’s hair.

Sophie took out a mirror and fixed her hair. Siara was curious about what she looked like without the wig but decided to leave her alone.

“Ah. I’m hungry.”

Having missed her meal, Siara was starving. She had come home, but no one had fed her.

Sophie, with a disgruntled face, called a maid to prepare a simple meal. It consisted of soup filled with meat and warm bread with slices of ham and vegetables.

“Wow, even when they’re going bankrupt, they’re still a ducal family. Look at this food.”

“…Since everything will be resolved when you get married, why save money?”

“You?”

“Sister.”

Sophie wore an extremely displeased expression. However, Siara found Sophie’s face delightful to watch.

Sophie made a strange face watching Siara eat with her cheeks stuffed like a squirrel. When their eyes met, she cleared her throat.

“Hmm! By the way… you, I mean, sister. I saw you with His Highness the Crown Prince…”

“We’re in the same class.”

“Are you friends?”

“…Yes. Friends.”

Sophie’s eyes sparkled. She grabbed both of Siara’s hands tightly.

“Sister! Please introduce me to the Crown Prince! I’ll buy you anything you want to eat!”

“Anything…?”

The Duke and Duchess probably gave Sophie an allowance. So Siara held out her palm.

“Then give me your allowance. I can buy what I want to eat myself.”

“Huh? …Allowance?”

When Sophie tried to back out, Siara waved her hand.

“Forget it if you don’t want to.”

“No, no. I’ll give you my allowance.”

“…And give me your clothes too. What I’m wearing now is cheap and not good. Don’t you think it’s worse than what the maids wear?”

“It is rather poor.”

Siara held out her palm.

“Money. And you need to come outside with me.”

Sophie gave Siara the money pouch she was carrying. Siara told Sophie:

“Tell the servants you want to go out with me.”

“Where are we going?”

Sophie gave her a suspicious look.

“Don’t worry, I’m not running away.”

When Sophie insisted on going with Siara, the servants couldn’t stop her. Unlike with Siara, it was natural they couldn’t go against Sophie, who would become the future Duchess.

Siara hummed a tune while riding in the family carriage. Sophie looked at her with anxious eyes and said:

“Where are we going?”

“I need to find out who made Duke Rowan go into debt.”

“…What good would that do? We can’t solve it anyway.”

“I have a feeling those people are connected to Marquis Marcel.”

“What? Really?”

Sophie was surprised. But soon she snorted at Siara.

“Why would the prestigious Marquis Marcel do such a thing? The thoughts that come from an illegitimate child’s mind…!”

Suddenly, Sophie’s mouth froze and wouldn’t move.

“Mmph!”

Siara smiled brightly at Sophie.

“Watch your words or you might never speak again.”

When Siara flicked her hand, Sophie’s mouth was released.

“Gasp.”

Sophie’s eyes widened.

“You can use magic?”

“…Do I need to explain that too?”

Only then did Sophie remember that Siara attended a magic school. But since there had been rumors about her irregular admission due to her lack of ability, Sophie thought this was just a lucky coincidence.

Soon the carriage entered the town. The Duke’s territory was quite vast, but the further toward the outskirts they went, the worse people looked. Their cheeks were hollow like people who couldn’t even afford gruel. The children were nothing but skin and bones, looking pitiful.

“Hmm. Do they collect a lot of taxes?”

“Are you asking me?”

When Sophie asked, Siara nodded.

“Yes.”

Sophie scratched her head. She was just a 15-year-old student. However, befitting the heir to a ducal family, she was studying territorial management at school. She had also heard quite a bit from the Duke.

“I know that because Father has debts, he collects twice as much as usual.”

“What percentage?”

“Eighty percent.”

“…Soon all the territory’s residents will starve to death.”

“But Father said he would reduce taxes after you marry Marquis Marcel.”

“No? He won’t be able to. If the territory goes to Marquis Marcel, do you think the Duke will have any authority?”

“…Is that so?”

“Eventually, nothing will be left.”

Sophie’s face grew serious. The Duchess’s extravagant spending and the Duke’s gambling. They didn’t seem likely to stop spending money despite claiming they had none. Sophie’s face fell.

“Then there will be nothing left for me to inherit?”

“Don’t worry. You can marry an elderly nobleman.”

Sophie exploded in anger.

“Do you think I’m like you?”

The carriage stopped. There weren’t many merchants selling goods even in the marketplace.

Looking at their gaunt faces, Sophie said:

“I-I’ll stay here!”

Sophie remained in the carriage while only Siara got out at the market.

Siara looked around and entered a dark alley. The alley contained prostitutes and drunken passersby, causing Sophie to open her mouth wide.

“What is she doing? What business could she have in such a place?”

Siara knocked on the door of a large house. A big man came out and looked her up and down.

“What is this? You look too young to be selling your body.”

Siara searched her pocket and held out a silver coin.

“I’d like to get some information…”

The man looked around Siara, then spoke respectfully.

“This way, please.”

She followed the man who guided her not into the building but elsewhere. After walking through winding paths, they arrived at a brightly lit home. There was a middle-aged woman there, and when the man whispered something to her, she smiled. The woman had wrinkles on her face, but she must have been quite pretty when she was younger.

“Please come in.”

“Okay.”

The woman, seated on the living room sofa, was about to bring out wine when she saw Siara’s face and raised the corner of her mouth.

“Would you like some milk?”

“No, I’m fine. Besides… you probably know my face.”

At those words, the woman smiled.

“I do. The eldest daughter of the Light ducal family.”

Sure enough, there were information brokers even in this rural corner.

“Duke Rowan has debts.”

“Yes.”

“I heard they’re gambling debts, but to me, it seems like Marquis Marcel’s doing.”

“…”

“I’d like to hear about Marquis Marcel.”

“Hmm… Is that because your fiancé is curious? Or…”

“I’m going to eliminate Duke Rowan’s debts.”