Chapter 8
“W-What?! Really?! Madam, I knew it! I knew you had a plan! I trusted your incredible insight!”
“This contract is a scam in the first place.”
“W-What?! A scam?!”
I calmly explained it to Naol.
“Think about it. Isn’t it strange? No matter how foolish our ancestors were, do you think they would have borrowed money under these conditions?”
“Well…”
“Even the previous generation wouldn’t have fallen so low that they couldn’t even afford firewood. Back then, they could’ve borrowed at least 50 million marks from other noble families. So why did they borrow from the Fox Merchant Union, under such unfair conditions?”
“Now that you mention it… something does seem odd.”
“Exactly. There must be some trick hidden in this IOU that we don’t know about. And if we can prove that we were scammed…”
“Then we won’t have to repay the debt!”
“And we can even claim compensation!”
Naol clasped his hands together as if praying to a god.
Admiration filled his eyes.
“You’re truly amazing, Madam! I was only thinking about how to repay the debt quickly, but I never once thought the contract itself might be suspicious. To have noticed that… I’m so grateful that you’ve taken charge of our household.”
He even pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at his tears.
“If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what would’ve happened to this estate… Just thinking about it is terrifying. Madam, you might be proof that the gods have not yet abandoned the House of Valfruga.”
“The important thing is to find proof of fraud as quickly as possible. When was the debt due again?”
“Monday next week… so we have five days left.”
“Good. Suspend all operations for five days and focus entirely on finding evidence of fraud! And this must remain secret, understood?”
“Of course. My lips are sealed. If they find out we’ve discovered something, those fox-like bastards will surely try something else.”
“Good!”
For three days straight, we pulled all-nighters.
Naol and I spent every night searching for evidence that we had been scammed.
“The family seal?!”
“It’s authentic!”
“The contract paper?!”
“It’s genuine!”
“The numbers were altered?!”
“No signs of tampering!”
“Then what on earth is it?!”
In the end, I threw the pile of documents I was holding.
No matter how many times I reviewed them, I couldn’t figure out how the scam had been carried out.
Outside the window, I could see members of the Fox Merchant Union taking a stroll.
I narrowed my eyes and looked down at them.
As if that would let me see through their true intentions.
“Achoo! Why is it so cold here?! And what is that little girl doing?! Isn’t this blatant disrespect?!”
One of the Fox Merchant Union members sneezed.
Honestly, this damn castle. He hadn’t liked it from the moment he saw it.
The duke’s castle was perched high on a harsh mountain, making even riding up difficult. And the one who appeared for the contract meeting was a girl who looked about fifteen years old.
With soft pink hair and blue eyes, she looked like a doll—but she was still just a child.
The Fox Merchant Union completely dismissed Felia.
“If they’re putting a little girl in charge as the duchess, does that mean the House of Valfruga has truly fallen? Do you really think we’ll get the 1 billion marks?”
“Well, they did say they finally have money coming in. If not now, when would we ever get paid?”
The leader of the merchant union, Ruan, smiled.
“Haha! What does it matter if they don’t have money? This castle is collateral! We’re probably the only ones on the continent who’ve taken a ducal castle as collateral! But really, do you think anyone would buy a place like this? It’s white and pretty, sure, but the location is terrible… What’s there around here? Good weather? Attractions? The territory is ruined, and all that’s left in the mountains are monsters.”
“Well, still, it is Valfruga. I heard even the stones used to build this castle are rare materials…”
Another merchant chimed in.
“Rare materials? What do you mean?”
“Something about magic-resistant stone, wasn’t it?”
“Oh please. That’s just the kind of nonsense people say because the Valfruga name sounds impressive! If it were really true, they would’ve already stripped the castle down and sold the bricks when they fell into debt!”
“Fair enough. Then why are you so interested in the castle, Ruan?”
Ruan had appeared out of nowhere one day.
He had inherited the management of the company from the previous head, but none of the Fox Merchant Union members had ever seen him before.
In the merchant world—where connections mattered—this was unusual.
Normally, a successor would be introduced early and shown around to other merchants.
Of course, he seemed capable, considering he had revived the company’s finances and brought them the chance to collect 1 billion marks using an old forgotten IOU.
But Ruan had set one condition before coming here.
If they received 1 billion marks, they would divide it according to shares. But if they failed to collect it and ended up taking the castle as collateral, then he would personally purchase the castle and take ownership of it.
It almost seemed like he was more interested in the castle than the money.
Ruan looked up at the castle with a faint smile.
“Because it is Valfruga, isn’t it?”
That was his answer.
A white castle built atop a snow-covered mountain.
It was beautifully refined, but anyone who studied imperial history knew how strong a fortress it became in wartime.
During the age of chaos, when the Empire was invaded by northern forces, the House of Valfruga had defended against 100,000 soldiers with only 1,000 men from this very castle.
It was the Empire’s gatekeeper. Its blade.
The House of Valfruga was that kind of family.
The Fox Merchant Union looked at the castle again with renewed eyes.
Anyone born in the Empire would know the name Valfruga.
And that was the very family they were about to destroy with their own hands.
One of them spoke nervously.
“Is it really okay for us to push them like this for repayment?”
“It doesn’t matter. They’re already a ruined duchy.”
Ruan replied firmly.
“I’ve said it many times already, but if anyone lacks confidence, they may leave now. However, remember this—we are collecting 1 billion marks.”
At his words, greed once again filled their eyes.
One billion marks.
Even split among them, that was still 100 million each.
Enough to support a family for life without ever working again.
‘Right. They’re already ruined anyway.’
‘Even if Valfruga was once great, what can they possibly do now? Nothing.’
‘If I just close my eyes for a moment, my family will never struggle again.’
A silent agreement passed among them.
Naol and I ultimately failed to find any evidence of fraud.
Even reading picture books to Ruse was postponed as we buried our heads in documents, but nothing came of it.
The most common method of fraud—after all—was forging seals, signatures, or written content.
Naol, after reviewing the IOU for the hundredth time, finally said with certainty:
“I really don’t understand. The copy we have is identical. I’ve been away from this field for a few years, but my eye for this hasn’t dulled.”
Ugh… I’m going crazy.
Time kept passing, but we had nothing.
Naol said worriedly,
“Madam… it’s already Saturday. We have two days left to produce results. Should we try to borrow money to extend the deadline?”
“Do you think they’d extend it?”
“No…”
“Then no.”
“…Yes, Madam.”
We both collapsed onto the office floor, completely exhausted.
‘The original story only talks about the romance between the heroine and the male lead. Why doesn’t it include things like this too…’
I want a proper biography of the male lead!
Who did what, when, where, how, and why the scam happened!
Tell me the five W’s!
When I read the original, I complained that it was overly detailed in some parts, but now I desperately wish I had that information.
Honestly, I want to send a pigeon to the author and ask.
“I know I’ve been scammed, but I don’t even know how I was scammed, and it’s driving me insane.”
“So true… should we just hand them counterfeit money or something…”
“Madam, if we get caught, we’ll be arrested… counterfeiting is a serious crime…”
We both let out a long sigh at the same time.
“At this point, there’s no other choice.”
I stood up from the desk with determination.
“Huh? As expected of you, Madam. You had a secret plan all along!”
This method wasn’t something I was confident about, so I didn’t want to use it—but things had come to this.
Either we fail this way, or we fail that way.
If we’re going to fail anyway, we might as well try something.
“We’ll have to use the blank bullet operation.”
“Blank bullet…?”
Ah, right. There are no guns in this world.
“There’s something like that. Naol, do you trust me?”
“Of course, Madam. I always trust you.”
“Good! Then summon the Fox Merchant Union. Before that…”
The Fox Merchant Union, suddenly summoned, looked confused.
Especially since the atmosphere in the reception room was completely different from before.
I was fully dressed in extravagant jewelry, and behind me stood soldiers lined up with stern expressions.
Even if they knew our situation, humans were still influenced by appearances.
As always, Ruan spoke first.
He seemed to be the representative.
“I understand there’s still time left… so I assume you’ve managed to gather the money? As expected of a ducal house.”
“No. I haven’t gathered the money. Because there’s no need to.”
I said calmly.
Today’s concept was a noble and dignified duchess.
With my elaborate hair, arrogant gaze, and a heavy necklace weighing down my neck.
I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I had to try everything I could.
“Pardon?”
Ruan looked puzzled, then repeated the situation.
“Madam. You understand that if you fail to repay us, you must hand over this castle, correct? Even if the merchant union takes the castle, are you truly fine with that? We intend to sell it immediately to recover our money. Many noble houses would want a castle belonging to House Valfruga.”
“You need not worry about that. Rather, should you not be the ones concerned?”
I rested my chin on my hand and rebuked them.
“How dare you scam the House of Valfruga. Did you really think you would get away with it?”
