She stared blankly at Brother Rubert sitting in front of her. 

 I’ve decided to become the head.

I’ve decided to become the head.

I’ve decided to become the head. 

 Brother Rubert’s last words kept echoing endlessly in her head. 

 It took her quite a while to understand the meaning of that sentence, and she cheered inwardly. 

 To think Brother Rubert decided to become the head.

Moreover, brother didn’t say ‘I want to become the head’ but ‘I’ve decided to become the head.’ 

 It was the strongest expression among all the expressions of intent she had heard from brother until now. 

 While desperately trying to hide her rising smile, she looked at Brother Rubert sitting in front of her.

Brother was looking at her with quite a serious and tense expression. 

 “……That’s a good choice. Honestly, I can’t tell you it will be an easy path. However, I think you suit the position of marquis better than Brother Bershua.” 

 Hearing those words, Brother Rubert hesitated before opening his mouth again. 

 “So although it’s shameless…… I’d like you to help me, Rowenloa.” 

 At his words, she quickly began turning her thoughts.

If Brother Rubert really becomes Marquis Masipacius, if she’s lucky, she might be able to maintain ties with Masipacius even after becoming independent from them. 

 “If I help you, what will you do for me?” 

 She hardened her expression and looked at Brother Rubert.

Though his face was wrapped in slight tension and bewilderment, his eyes were shining brighter than anyone’s. 

 This was the first goal set by him who couldn’t even properly express his opinions because he was overshadowed by his other siblings.

There was no way he would reject her help. 

 Because right now in this household, there was no one suitable to help him except for her. 

 “What…… can I…… do for you……?” 

 Brother seemed flustered by her question and briefly avoided her gaze to focus on the floor.

Though he didn’t seem to have expected her question, fortunately there was no sign that he was offended. 

 “If I become the head, you will be my eternal little sister.” 

 Hearing those words, she felt her pupils shake severely. 

 Ah, getting flustered here would mean failing the negotiation. 

 Brother Rubert saw her like that and showed a warm smile. 

 “This means…… even if you become independent from Masipacius, Masipacius won’t abandon you. Even if you abandon me, I won’t abandon you.” 

 Brother’s words were extremely warm.

More than any words she had heard in the marquis mansion until now. 

 But why did his words hurt her heart the most? 

 As she blankly stared at Brother Rubert like that, brother suddenly stood up from his seat with a surprised expression. 

 “Ro……Rowenloa, are you crying?” 

 At brother’s words, she hurriedly felt around her eyes with her hands.

Something wet moistened her fingers. 

 “No, that…… why is this……” 

 Without realizing it, she had been shedding tears.

Brother carefully approached her and wiped her tears. 

 “……I’m sorry.” 

 Meeting his gaze at a closer distance than ever before, she showed a weak smile.

“It’s okay.” 

 It was the moment when she got her first family. 

 ***

 Around when her tears dried, Brother Rubert sat down again and began explaining his plans to her.

She could guess from hearing those stories that brother definitely didn’t bring up that topic to her easily. 

 Brother talked to her excitedly for a long time about his vision for Masipacius, saying he wanted to create a family where anyone with ability could be recognized for their abilities, expand the business to establish a scholarship foundation and nurture talented individuals to create lots of people from Masipacius who could do great things in this Empire. 

 While talking with brother for a long time like that, suddenly a loud voice was heard from the corridor. 

 “So why only her!” 

 ……Isn’t this Bershua’s voice?

Since Rembro fears Bershua, they wouldn’t fight, and it doesn’t seem like Bershua would fight with Leila either…… 

 She and Brother Rubert carefully opened the door to observe the situation outside. 

 “How could you not tell me about something like this!” 

 Surprisingly, the person standing in front of Bershua was Father.

Father waved his hand with an annoyed expression to shoo away the servants who were watching carefully from around them.

“So, it’s just that that child has entered the imperial palace before and has good relations with the imperial palace, so we who are in the disadvantageous position will try to use that point a bit more to take control of the conversation……”

“Then, take me too.”

“I told you this is an important meeting…!” 

 Father seemed about to raise his voice at Bershua but then quietly took him around the corner of the corridor and disappeared from view. 

 “Brother, please wait here for a moment. I’ll go look.” 

 So she carefully moved her steps toward the corner where they disappeared.

She could see Bershua and Father talking in a place at the end of the corridor where others’ gazes couldn’t reach. 

 “Didn’t I tell you this is an important meeting. This isn’t something to be stubborn about.”

“But…… shouldn’t you at least convince me?” 

 Hearing those words, Father sighed. 

 “Bershua. I know what you’re thinking right now. But that kind of thing you’re thinking absolutely……”

“Father, you always told me that it’s right for the eldest son to inherit Father’s position. You know better than anyone what people around will say about Rowenloa when she enters the imperial palace with you.” 

 Hearing those words, Father seemed at a loss for words and couldn’t easily open his mouth.

However, he couldn’t say he would take Bershua to the imperial palace with her, nor could he say he wouldn’t take her to the imperial palace.

Because this business was, in Father’s view, 100% certain to succeed.

“Until now, I’ve lived diligently believing only Father’s words to inherit the marquis position. But why……” 

 Hearing those words, Father placed his hand on Bershua’s shoulder and began patting it in a comforting gesture. 

 “I know well what you’re worried about. However, my thoughts about succession haven’t changed. This is for your sake.” 

 At those words, Bershua carefully raised his head to look at Father. 

 “If you go to the imperial palace with Rowenloa, people will say whatever they want about me favoring or trusting that child. However, if this business succeeds, your name will become widely known in this Empire. I’m saying I plan to entrust this business to you. Rowenloa is just a tool for that.” 

 Goodness, calling his daughter a tool……

What a dysfunctional family.

Poor me. 

 Then Brother Bershua’s face seemed to relax a bit. 

 The story has changed slightly from the previous life.

In the previous life, this business was conducted under Father’s name.

But in this life, they say they’ll start the business under Bershua’s name. 

 It seems he was worried about my reputation gradually improving among the nobles. 

 Well, even so, the one making the final decisions will still be Father in the end.

Bershua doesn’t have the ability to operate such a large business yet. 

 Hearing those words, Bershua quietly nodded.

Then Father smiled and patted such Bershua’s shoulder. 

 “That’s right. Having such ambition is important. Not letting others take your position is very important in business too.” 

 Hmm—

Though he says that, if he continues to show such greed for pursuing his own interests even after becoming the head……

Only people like her will remain around Bershua. 

 If that happens, Masipacius’s future was too obvious. 

 “Now, let’s go back. Leila must have been startled by the sudden loud noise, so we should reassure her.” 

 So they moved their steps again toward where she was.

She quickly ran into her room to avoid encountering them. 

 When she entered the room, Brother Rubert looked worriedly at her as she caught her breath while panting. 

 “……What happened?” 

 At his question, she realized she had overlooked the biggest problem.

Father has no intention of passing this family to anyone other than the eldest son. 

 Though these days they say they reflect the opinions of the so-called vassal families allied with Masipacius when deciding succession, if Father insists so firmly on eldest son succession, there would be no family that could oppose it.

Because if Bershua really becomes the next marquis, it was too obvious that the heads of families who opposed would roll. 

 Brother Rubert was not inferior to Brother Bershua in any way.

He’s not bad at studying, and his personality is even better than Brother Bershua’s. 

 She needed to make everyone acknowledge Brother Rubert.

And at that moment, one brilliant method occurred to her. 

 Right, I’m going to the imperial palace soon, aren’t I? 

 The corners of her mouth slightly turned upward, and she spoke to Brother Rubert. 

 “Brother, don’t you want to visit the imperial palace?” 

 Soon, the Crown Prince’s birthday is approaching.

The Crown Prince will come of age through this birthday, and those invited will head to the imperial palace to attend the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony. 

 Certainly in her previous life, Masipacius wasn’t invited to the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony.

And the reason was Bershua. 

 “Hehehe……” 

 Hearing her laughter, Brother Rubert stepped back. 

 “Imperial palace……? Never mind the imperial palace…… do you know you’re really scary right now……?”

“Not scary, brother. Call me smart.” 

 With this method, she can turn crisis into opportunity.

Indeed…… I’m smart.