Chapter 47
The story goes back one year.
Until that time, the Curze barony and the Winter duchy had maintained a cordial relationship.
Even after his wife passed away, the Duke did not abandon his loyalty to the Curze family. He supported them in every way possible when they were in trouble.
Even when Frank Curze ruined business after business due to his obsession with ventures, the Duke still provided support. Even when he squandered money on gambling, the Duke overlooked it.
Even when Frank’s greed exceeded his station, even when his behavior tarnished the Winter family’s reputation, the Duke forgave him—because he was his wife’s younger brother.
“Because he was Noah’s and my uncle, he basically received a free pass.”
But that free pass didn’t last long.
He was caught red-handed swindling me out of my assets behind my back, manipulating my lack of sense when it came to money.
Not only had he gradually pilfered valuables, but he had even forged documents and transferred my land into his own name.
“My lord! Embezzlement? No! That was something Sienna gave me out of gratitude!”
“Even when you failed at business! Even when you wasted money on gambling! Even when you were too drugged to live like a man, I forgave it all. Do you know why? Because you were Noah and Sienna’s uncle. But now, an uncle covets his niece’s property? Do you truly wish to be torn apart by my hand?”
Instead of repenting, Frank shifted the blame onto me. At that, Father’s anger flared.
“For the sake of my late wife, I overlooked you many times, but this ends here.”
“As long as I live, you will never set foot on duchy lands again!”
Grandfather and Grandmother came a few times afterward, but when they tried to defend Frank, Father was utterly disgusted.
After that, anyone bearing the name Curze was banned from stepping into the Winter duchy.
And yet those very people came running the instant they heard Father was gone.
How transparent could they be?
“Sienna! I—I truly am sorry about that. I just lost my mind for a moment! You know how much I adored you.”
“You adored my share of the inheritance, you mean.”
“No, never! I was just immature then, thoughtless. After my business collapsed, I lost my senses for a while. But I meant to give it back. I wanted to succeed and repay you several times over. That’s the truth.”
“So, did you succeed with the wealth you stole from me?”
“Well, the timing wasn’t right…”
“And when exactly does the timing get better?”
I sneered, laughing coldly.
Noah, who should have stopped me by now, chose to remain silent. That silence meant: Go ahead. Let loose.
“Ahem, ahem. Everyone, calm yourselves.”
In the end, it was Grandfather who stepped in.
“Sienna, that was the foolish mistake of my son. I apologize.”
The words then leave at once rose to the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t bring myself to say them in front of the elderly man.
“I know Frank’s mistake caused you to shun us. I’m sorry we keep coming like this. But this time, we truly came because we were worried about you. We thought of Isabel, who left us too soon…”
At the mention of my late mother, I sighed.
They always do this. They know Noah softens whenever Mother is brought up.
I glanced at Noah. His expression had fallen dark and low.
“We only came out of worry. At least it’s a relief to hear you’re still in contact with the Duke.”
“……”
“Since we’ve confirmed the Duke is safe, we should leave… but I came in such haste that my body isn’t well.”
He winced, saying his back hurt.
“So, I ask—could I stay until I recover from the travel fatigue?”
“…As you wish. I’ll have a room prepared.”
“Thank you, Noah. Isabel must be rejoicing in heaven, seeing how you’ve grown.”
At their shameless invocation of Mother’s name until the end, I couldn’t endure any longer. I pushed back my chair and stormed out.
In the guest room assigned to him, Frank unpacked his things and rubbed his hands together.
“Wow, the Winter estate is just as splendid as ever.”
He looked around with greedy admiration.
“No, perhaps even more luxurious now? They might be wealthier than the imperial family at this rate.”
His fingers caressed the ornaments with covetous touch.
“Well, with Noah at the helm, of course. The man knows how to make money. I wonder how much more he’s earned in just a year.”
He clicked his tongue and smacked his lips.
“No time to sit around.”
After steadying himself, Frank checked the corridor outside. Finding it empty and quiet, he slipped next door to where his parents were unpacking.
He lowered his voice.
“Father, Mother. Listen carefully. This is our last chance.”
“Yes.”
“Before the Duke returns, we need to coax Sienna and strike it big. Understand?”
“Will that even work? Did you see her temper? Talking back like that—I don’t know who she takes after. The Duke spoiled her far too much.”
Grandmother Jeneca shuddered at the memory of Sienna’s fierce glare.
Grandfather Alfred agreed, adding,
“She’s shockingly rude. How could such an ill-bred child be born into the Winter family? Tsk, tsk.”
“But that makes her easier to handle. No matter how wild a dog, in the hands of the one holding the leash, it becomes a lamb. If we coax her well, she’ll listen.”
Frank’s reasoning wasn’t wrong.
If it had been the Sienna of last year—or even just three months ago—it might have worked.
But Frank, unaware that Sienna had changed, brimmed with confidence.
“Sienna won’t live long. She’s been given a terminal prognosis.”
“Is that true?”
Alfred’s eyes widened.
“That nuisance, finally—?”
“Shh! Watch your tongue! What if someone hears?”
Jeneca scolded her husband, though she too looked shaken.
“It’s certain. I got word.”
Frank recalled the mysterious figure who approached him at a gambling den a few days prior.
The person hid their gender with a robe and altered voice.
‘You’re said to be the Winter lady’s uncle, is that right?’
‘Yes, but who are you…?’
The figure stepped close and whispered confidentially:
‘The young lady is unwell. Shouldn’t you hurry to her side?’
‘I already know her health is frail, but…’
‘It’s more than that. She was given three months to live. Her days are numbered.’
With that, the stranger vanished, cloak fluttering.
Now that I know Sienna’s condition, I can’t let this chance slip.
And that woman—yes, it was a woman. Though she had hidden her gender, her soft tone, and the hand and wrist visible beneath the robe gave her away.
If she knew the Winter household, she surely knew why Frank had been cast out. Yet she had given him such information?
Whoever she was, she clearly bore a grudge against the Winter family—or wanted to stir chaos.
She’s telling me to make a move.
If her words were true, Sienna had at most three months left.
A dying heiress, and the Duke absent from home—surely this was a gift from the heavens.
“I’ll take responsibility for persuading Sienna. Father, Mother, just keep Noah distracted. Then the enormous fortune before Sienna will be ours before winter arrives.”
Gulp. All three nodded at once, as if they had rehearsed it.
After finishing with his parents, Frank returned to his room and searched his clothes.
He unfolded a piece of paper, remembering that day.
‘Oh, one more thing.’
The mysterious person, who had seemed about to leave, had turned back and handed him an admission ticket to an auction house.
‘Attend this. Bid on the item I mentioned there.’
Along with the ticket, they placed a gold bar.
Unable to resist money, Frank eagerly accepted it.
‘If everything goes well, I’ll pay you three times that amount.’
‘…Why are you doing this?’
‘Because all of this is necessary.’
From beneath the hood, lips curled in anticipation.
With that cryptic remark, the stranger disappeared, never to show themselves again.
I don’t know why she asked me, but what does it matter?
He had nothing to lose.
“She said the money comes when the day arrives.”
Which meant he would see her again then.
When I do, I’ll find out who she is and hold it over her head. She looked wealthy enough—how much could I bleed her for?
Frank snickered wickedly and tucked the ticket away.
“Well, the auction’s still a ways off.”
For now, persuading Sienna came first.
