It is good for a businessperson to have ambition.

Because that ambition leads the business to greater success.

However, that’s only true when capable people have capabilities.

When someone with only ambition but no ability starts a business to fulfill their greed, they become blinded by that greed and ultimately walk the path to ruin. 

 Was Brother Bershua incapable?

That wasn’t the case.

Brother Bershua maintained high grades at the academy and was physically skilled enough to join the marquis’s knight order right now.

However, Brother Bershua lacked just one ability. 

 Self-control.

His flaw was his nasty personality — he wouldn’t be satisfied until he got what he wanted immediately, and he wouldn’t feel better until he removed anyone he disliked from his sight.

And that was an extremely serious defect for inheriting House Masipacius. 

 Being patient and observing the market.

That was one of the most important qualities in business. 

 However, unfortunately, she had no intention of inheriting Masipacius.

She planned to completely cut ties from the moment she left the family.

Though it was somewhat regrettable to lose Masipacius’s wealth, she was certain that wealth would soon disappear once Brother Bershua became the head. 

 But now, right before her eyes, she found hope to keep Masipacius on the path to success in the future and have that Masipacius as her backing. 

 “Of course…… it’s not that brother is lacking somewhere……” 

 From the moment Brother Rubert confirmed she had absolutely no attachment to the position, he had been mumbling to himself with a very serious expression.

And that well reflected his complex feelings that, for some reason, Brother Bershua shouldn’t become the head. 

 But if I’m not there, you’re there, aren’t you?

Without realizing it, the corners of her mouth began to rise. 

 She opened her mouth toward her brother who kept muttering worried words beside her. 

 “But, the eldest son doesn’t have to succeed, right?” 

 Hearing those words, her brother’s body flinched. 

 Right, you’ve thought about it too, haven’t you? 

 “That’s true but Father also…… and Brother also……” 

 Hearing Brother Rubert’s words, she shrugged her shoulders. 

 “You know better than I do that these days, succession isn’t just the head’s concern unless it’s a historically prestigious house like House Posilia. You always attend the heads’ meetings that I’m prevented from attending for various reasons.” 

 Hearing those words, Brother Rubert’s face fell into even deeper contemplation. 

 “Then Brother Rembro……” 

 No, could Rembro realistically become the head?

How could someone who follows Bershua like a brother become the head! 

 She looked at Brother Rubert with frustration in her eyes.

Then, as if reading the meaning in her eyes, her brother flinched his shoulders and carefully avoided her gaze. 

 The personality that had been suppressed by other siblings since childhood is shining in a bad direction here…… 

 “Well, if that’s really what you think…… just let Brother Bershua or Brother Rembro be called Marquis Masipacius.” 

 She decided to give Brother Rubert some time.

After all, it would take great mental preparation to betray his brother who had been telling him ‘you must help me!’ since childhood and aim for his successor position. 

 So she and Brother Rubert stood up and began walking toward the castle where their rooms were. 

 “By the way, Rowenloa. What’s your goal?”

“Hmm…… becoming independent from Masipacius.” 

 Hearing her words, Brother Rubert shook his head. 

 “Not that. Don’t you have anything like what you want to do, or what you want to study……” 

 Hearing his words, she couldn’t say anything.

Until now, her only goal had been to safely preserve her life while becoming independent from Masipacius. 

 “Well, you’re still young. It’s not too late to start thinking about it now. You’re entering the academy next year, right?”

“Yes. I received an admission letter from the academy you brothers attended.”

“It’s the best academy in the Empire. Maybe you’ll find…… a goal while studying something there?”

Hmm.

Since she had already learned everything, there probably wouldn’t be any new goals. 

 She nodded as if agreeing with his words while thinking that. 

 After returning to her room, she lay down and thought for a long time. 

 What should I do if I successfully become independent from Masipacius?

In my previous life, I never thought about the future because I was too busy enduring the difficult and painful things that came at me. 

 I don’t want to become the head of Masipacius.

Though I had thoughts about ruining the family, if Brother Rubert becomes the head, I’ll modify that plan while watching his progress. 

 I don’t want to become a scholar either. 

 Goodness, to think I’d be worrying about my career path at this age.

So she fell asleep after thinking for a long time about her uncertain future. 

 And from the next day on, she was very busy. 

 ***

 About a month later, she was scheduled to enter the imperial palace with her father. 

 As soon as the tea party at House Posilia ended, her father sent someone to her.

And he demanded that not only him but she also attend the audience with His Majesty the Emperor. 

 So from the day after the tea party ended, she had been spending busy days studying the basic etiquette of the imperial palace.

After about three weeks of intensively studying palace etiquette without even proper time to eat, one day, she finally had a moment to rest.

While leisurely getting up and reading a book, someone knocked on her door. 

 “Miss. Miss Leila is here.” 

 Hearing those words, she frowned.

How rude to disturb her leisurely morning. 

 “Tell her I’m busy and to come back later.” 

 Hearing those words, Mylene nodded and opened the door again.

Then after seemingly talking about something for a while, she sighed and came back into the room. 

 “Um…… she says it’s urgent and she must see you now……” 

 Hearing Mylene’s words, she walked toward the door with a frown.

And she flung the door open.

When the door opened, she saw Leila wearing a pretty dress and looking at her with a rather serious expression. 

 “……Sister Rowenloa?” 

 Haa–

She frowned at that sight. 

 “I believe you were told I’m busy and to come back later?” 

 Hearing her words, Leila’s body seemed to flinch, but then she raised her head as if having made some decision. 

 “I have something I want to consult about……” 

 She sighed at Leila’s words. 

 “Then you should have sent a maid ahead to ask if my time was available.”

“Brother Bershua said…… that sister isn’t doing anything now so it should be fine to go……” 

 She sighed and let Leila into the room. 

 “Um…… I’d like to talk with just the two of us……” 

 This is getting ridiculous.

She gestured to Mylene to step out for a moment. 

 “So, what is it that’s so urgent you need to consult with me about?” 

 Leila looked at her and then gulped.

Then she squeezed her eyes shut and opened her mouth. 

 “I…… I like Young Duke Posilia!” 

 She looked with dry eyes at Leila who was confessing her feelings to her with her eyes tightly shut. 

 So.

What do you want me to do about it? 

 As if her silence was unexpected, Leila carefully opened her eyes to look at her expression.

Then she visibly became flustered. 

 “Um…… aren’t you surprised?”

“Should I be surprised about who you like, Miss Leila?” 

 Hearing her words, Leila made a pitiful expression. 

 “I just……” 

 She hesitated for a while before continuing. 

 “I thought sister also liked Young Duke Posilia!” 

 Hearing those words, she gave a hollow laugh.

Regardless of whether she really liked Young Duke Posilia or not, she couldn’t understand why she had to lose her precious leisurely morning time to Leila. 

 “If we like the same person…… that would be troublesome for both of us…… and we’ll both be entering the same academy as Young Duke Posilia in a few months……” 

 She replied to her words. 

 “Then, if I say I like Young Duke Posilia, will you give up on him?” 

 At that, Leila looked at her with a startled expression. 

 “Or did you come to ask me to give up Young Duke Posilia for your sake?” 

 Leila’s eyes shook greatly. 

 “Either way is fine. Young Duke Posilia is a good person. However, I’m not interested in love yet. So if you’re going to keep talking about this, would you please leave my room? I have busy matters to attend to.” 

 Hearing her words, Leila brightened and replied to her. 

 “Then, you really don’t like Young Duke Posilia?”

“I do think I’d like to be friends.”

“No. Please say it clearly. That you don’t like Young Duke Posilia. I think that would make me feel better……” 

 Leila urged for her answer with a face that said she absolutely had to hear her definitive response.

Though Leila’s behavior seemed strange, right now recovering her stolen morning time came first.

Perhaps because yesterday’s events at the Posilia ducal mansion had been more tiring than expected, her mind was filled only with thoughts of getting rid of Leila, Young Duke Posilia or whatever. 

 “Let’s say that.” 

 Having gotten the answer she wanted, Leila stood up from her seat with a flushed expression and bowed to her. 

 “Thank you, sister. Please rest well!” 

 Ha, telling me to rest well after disturbing all my rest time. 

 ……But what is this uneasy feeling?

It feels like something like this happened before…… 

 So Leila left her room with light steps.

Though it seemed to become slightly noisy outside after she left the room, she just thought ‘the brothers must have come to meet Leila’ and focused again on the book she had set aside earlier. 

 And then, Brother Rubert came running to her with an urgent expression.