The woman spoke with concern in response to the young girl’s bold words.

“…Marquis Marcel won’t be easy to deal with, you know? He keeps multiplying debts, and ah… if you want to hear more, you’ll need to pay silver coins.”

After searching her money pouch, Siara took out a gold coin and handed it to the woman. The woman received the gold coin with obvious delight.

“My, my. So the Duke’s family still has money left? Well, nobles are always busy looking after their own interests while their territory’s people live or die.”

“Talk.”

“If you marry Marquis Hart, you’ll only give birth to children and then die. He uses the children as heirs to the territory and takes everything for himself. That’s why noble women who marry him end up dead.”

“Could you gather evidence?”

The woman’s eyes sparkled.

“That won’t be possible with just this gold coin. I’ll need more.”

“I’ll give it to you, so do it.”

Siara took out all the money in her pouch and handed it to the woman. Seeing the money, the woman smiled broadly.

“Of course I’ll do it for you!”

And so the deal was made.

On the way out, a large man personally escorted her to the brightly lit area. When Siara safely reached the carriage, Sophie spoke with a sour expression.

“What’s this? Going to such a place! Did something happen to you?”

Her eyes showed more curiosity than concern. Siara showed her empty pouch.

“I’ll need your allowance next month too.”

“What! I gave you so much already. What did you spend it on? Were you robbed by commoners?”

“I guess you don’t want to see His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Ugh…”

Sophie glared at Siara with prim eyes.

“So you’re going to keep taking my allowance?”

“You’ll have to give it to me until you see Diego, right? My mind could change, you know.”

“Wow, this is totally pros—!”

“Pros?”

“…Nothing. Sister.”

Sophie forced a smile.

Siara headed straight to the mansion.

With evidence, she could bring Marquis Marcel to noble court. Then the unfair debt would disappear.

It wasn’t particularly for Sophie or the Duke. It was to prepare for the possibility that Siara might not be able to return.

After discovering the two had gone out, the Duchess put Siara in her room with a displeased face.

“You’ll be punished if you come out again!”

Siara could hear her scolding Sophie as she closed the door.

“How could you associate with such an illegitimate child? You should be more selective about who you befriend!”

“…Well, whatever.”

Through the closed door, Siara felt Sophie glancing at her. She mouthed words silently.

Don’t forget our promise.

The door closed, and Siara was confined to her room again. This door would not open until she became engaged to Marquis Hart.

A week later, the mansion was bustling with activity. Looking down from the window, Siara saw everyone cleaning the living room and busily carrying food back and forth.

‘…?’

Just then, the door flung open as the Duchess and maids rushed in.

“It’s your engagement party! Hurry and get ready!”

The maids practically dragged Siara, who remained still. They sat her at the vanity and began applying makeup while the Duchess went to inspect the hall.

‘Were engagement parties always this grand?’

Even for a ducal family, was there a need to announce such an engagement so widely?

At that moment, Sophie entered wearing an elaborate dress. She was very excited but clicked her tongue when she saw Siara with her makeup done.

“Tsk. No matter how they make you up, you’re not pretty. You have no distinctive features. So ordinary!”

“…Not as distinctive as your wig?”

“Eek! My parents still don’t know about that!”

Come to think of it, it was strange. Diego was the one who burned Sophie’s hair, yet Sophie wanted to see him.

‘She probably feels that way because she doesn’t know yet.’

If she knew the truth, she might collapse with foam at her mouth.

Sophie looked in the mirror, stroking her luxurious blonde hair.

“Look at my sapphire-like eyes and glamorous blonde hair. Though it’s your engagement party, Mother is busy because I’m looking for my groom. Understand? You said you won’t have anything left since the territory will go to the Marquis, but we still have our title and mansion.”

“…How carefree you sound.”

“Hey!”

“I told you to call me sister, didn’t I?”

Sophie’s lips protruded. Siara suddenly became curious.

“But if you need a son-in-law to take the family name, why do you want to see the Crown Prince?”

At those words, Sophie’s face turned bright red.

“Are you asking because you don’t know? You might see him every day at school, but I can’t. If I had even a bean-sized amount of magical power, I would have entered the magic school too. …When His Highness becomes Emperor, I won’t be able to see him or get close to him anymore, so I should at least familiarize myself with his face now, shouldn’t I?”

“Hmm, so you need backing?”

“Yes! It’s good to be close to someone powerful, right? That’s what they taught us at school.”

She wasn’t a complete fool, it seemed.

Sophie dismissed the maids and spoke while looking in the mirror.

“Besides, I like His Highness. He’s handsome and cool. Who knows? If His Highness comes to like me, he might pay off all our debts.”

“Is the Crown Prince a fool? Paying off debts just because he likes someone.”

Sophie bristled.

“Hmph! You might not be able to dream like that because you look so ordinary, but I’m different! Do you know how many men like me?”

Perhaps it was from living a thousand years? Sophie, whom Siara had thought was arrogant, now seemed cute for her age. She felt somewhat proud of her.

‘But Annie wouldn’t have thought so.’

No one would have understood Annie’s loneliness in this large mansion where she had no allies. Even the employees looked down on her.

Sophie cleared her throat and looked at Siara with downcast eyes.

“So, did you find out if Marquis Marcel is connected to Father’s debt?”

“…I need to be able to go outside, but I can’t.”

“Ah. As expected, what could someone like you do? I think it would be much better if I just seduced His Highness. Even if there is a connection, what would you do about it? He’s going to be your fiancé.”

‘I could break off the engagement, but there’s no need to tell Sophie that.’

Sophie wasn’t on her side. She was family worse than strangers, so there was no need to tell her too much.

Siara spoke, giving up.

“Right, what power do I have? I should let go of this matter now.”

“Good thinking.”

Sophie went to the window and opened the small window wide. Resting her chin on her hands, she scanned the male nobles with her eyes.

“Ha, look at this party to find my fiancé, and girls have come too. Everyone looks so glamorous. Look at those diamond necklaces sparkling! Hmph! …If we didn’t have debt, I would have worn an even more glamorous dress. Then my appearance would have shined even more!”

Sophie’s lips protruded. Seeing this, Siara shook her head.

“I think men who rush to you just for your appearance need to exercise restraint.”

“Why?”

Sophie jumped up and approached Siara. Though she was two years older, she pushed her finger against the forehead of the shorter Siara.

“Well, there wouldn’t be any men rushing to you for your appearance.”

“I told you to call me sister, didn’t I? I guess you don’t want to see Diego.”

“Ah, fine. Sister.”

Sophie closed the door and left. When Sophie left, the room seemed a bit quieter. Siara stood up and looked out the window.

“Finally, I’ll see Marquis Marcel’s face.”

What to do with this greedy old man?

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Even though the maids in this house typically disrespected Siara, the maid who entered was quite polite.

She bowed to Siara. But the way she held her maid uniform and bowed respectfully made her look like a noble paying respects.

“I think you should go to the party hall now. I’ll guide you. And if you need anything, please tell me…”

She spoke properly despite not making eye contact. Her plump body and awkward smile made her appear very timid, but she seemed better than the arrogant maids.

“Alright. You’re reliable. What’s your name?”

“I’m Mariam.”

Mariam smiled brightly. Her smile was warm and pretty.

Siara followed Mariam to the hall. Since her dress didn’t drag on the floor, no other maids accompanied them.

Mariam walked slowly, occasionally glancing back to see if Siara was following.

“…How is school life?”

“Hmm? Very good.”

It was a bit strange that Mariam asked something that even Annie’s biological father didn’t inquire about.

“…Are you going to marry Marquis Marcel?”

It was an excessively impertinent question for a maid to ask. However, Siara found it interesting to have such a conversation in this household.

“Just because I’m engaged doesn’t mean I have to marry him. I won’t.”

“But even if you refuse, the Duke will bring another man…”

“I know.”