"We have arrived, Miss."
Raju's house was located not far from Claudio's mansion.
'So you lived in a nice place like this?'
Entering the classically styled building, Birna tried hard to hide her surprised expression.
'I heard you had a lot of money, but I didn't know it was this much...'
As she passes through the grand entrance adorned with gold leaf, she is greeted by an indoor fountain gushing magnificent water jets.
"Would you like to see the young lady's room first?"
Birna looked puzzled at the secretary's words.
"I have... my room?"
"Of course. The master is very attentive."
The room she entered after being guided by the secretary was filled with natural light coming in through the large windows.
Birna's eyes widened at the sight. of the interior that seemed to be a replica of the room of a Princess of a small country, the colorful jewelry on the dressing table, and the dressing room filled with the latest fashions.
"This, this is..."
"Miss, this is the new dress for this season. Would you like to try it on?"
As soon as she let out a soft exclamation, the maids appeared beside Birna and dressed her up to the nines.
Just like the dress that was puffed up, Birna's heart also began to flutter little by little.
"It's all yours, young lady. Would you like something to drink? I'll call the cook."
The attendants of Raju's mansion, including the secretary, treated Birna like a Princess.
Even when she was Princess Claudio, she did not enjoy this level of luxury.
Moreover, when things are chaotic at home like now, she feels like she's worse than a stone on the road that gets kicked by her parents...
"...I love It."
Birna, who had been maintaining her composure as if she were noble, jumped onto the high, soft bed as soon as the maids withdrew.
She even forgot the anger she felt when she had to forcefully give up her room to Marieu a while ago.
'It's mine. It's completely mine. No one can take it away from me.'
As she muttered those words, Birna rubbed her flesh against the soft yet square bedding. Her eyes slowly closed in comfort.
The fact that this was the house of her godfather, whom she hated to even look at, didn't matter at all now.
Rather, Birna licked her lips in regret.
'If I had known this would happen, I should not have looked down on my godfather so much. Then I would have enjoyed this luxury sooner.'
After lying on the soft bed and being attended to by the maids, Birna took a nap and then explored the mansion at her leisure.
"Where on earth did Count Raju get his money?"
But can it be this luxurious?
She heard that even when her family completely fell apart, Raju provided the capital for the smuggling business.
"Even though it is in someone else's name, the real owner of this mansion is of course our Count."
There was also the boasting of the maids who were lined up as if they were flowing.
'Even if he naturalized as a Katzen citizen, how could Valdinain amass this much wealth in a foreign country?'
The more she confirmed his wealth, the more curious she became.
Birna, who wanted to know the secret, finally found a clue that would give her a clue.
"Miss, this is the master's private room, so no one but the master is allowed in. How about I show you the glass greenhouse in the garden?"
The secretary, who never refused anything, did not hide her embarrassed expression when she requested access to the secluded room on the third floor.
"Didn't you hear what my godfather said, that you should listen to whatever I say?"
Birna, who had regained her energy and enjoyed the leisure time she had forgotten for a while, gave the secretary a strong warning.
This is contrary to Raju's good intentions, who broke down all the walls in an attempt to win over his own daughter's heart.
"Ha. But..."
Birna was almost certain.
'There must be a secret recipe here. Huh, if there is such a thing, you should come to us and offer it to us. Is it because you come from humble origins that you keep it to yourself?'
"Yes. I just wanted to look around, but what's so great about it that you're acting all this way? I'm going home now, so call a carriage for me."
As soon as Birna got up, the secretary stamped his feet.
'If you don't come back here again, my master will be angry with me.'
"Then, just a moment? But you will never tell the Master."
"Yes, bring me some water. I'm thirsty."
The small room she entered after shaking off the secretary was a completely sealed room without a single window.
"What? It's nothing."
She had been pouting, but her eyes suddenly lit up and she fumbled around under the desk drawer.
"There was something on my father's desk around here. Huh!"
There was a small device in a very similar place. When she opened it, a black safe hidden under the desk was revealed.
"Ouch, there's a protective spell on it. It's annoying. How am I supposed to open this- Huh?"
Birna was annoyed when she was pricked by a sharp burr that protruded from the safe while she was fiddling with the lock.
But surprisingly, the safe door suddenly opened.
"What. It feels bad even though it's open"
Birna looked inside, unaware that the safe had recognized Raju's bloodline and opened it.
Inside the safe was only one black book with a gold inscription.
"30,000 seom of grain harvested in the Northern Territory. 500,000 gold from the sale of salt in the Southern Territory. 100.000 gold in financial support according to the secret agreement with the Anspiras Counts..."
The details written were unusual.
"This looks like a ledger..."
On the first page, there was a note that looked like someone had scribbled on it.
[This ledger is my personal property. I entrust it to my ever-careful and loyal subject, Roberto Raju, so guard it with your life.
-Alketas]
Even the most stupid of people could not have known the name written at the end.
Birna, her face pale, quickly put the books back in place as if she had seen something she shouldn't have seen.
And then, pretending not to know anything, she closed the safe again, cleaned up the area around the drawer, and immediately left the room.
"Miss! Are you out already?"
"Oh, there's nothing to see? I'm hungry. I'd rather be alone. Please show me to a restaurant."
Birna waved her hand at the secretary who handed her the glass of water he had brought.
"Yes, of course. I will tell them to prepare your favorite dessert."
The secretary smiled as he watched Birna's expression. It was fortunate that she seemed to have forgotten all the morning gloom as she was absorbed in looking around the mansion.
In fact, Birna had long since forgotten the morning farce.
Because she still hasn't recovered from the surprise she felt when she discovered the ledger hidden in Raju's private room.
'The godfather was the administrator of Emperor Katzen's legacy..."
Alketas II died young.
But it seems that his private property did not float above the water...
It seems that Raju has secretly swindled the fortune.
The source of the wealth that never dried up was that very ledger.
'Jason, does Duke Castulo know about this?'
Well, if he knew, he would try to chew out Raju for embezzling his father's fortune.
Although Birna felt contempt for her godfather, who pretended to give back what was his while stealing other people's money, she felt a sense of satisfaction at having taken revenge on Jason.
'I'm glad you treated me like a burden, Jason.'
Birna decided to keep her mouth shut for now.
The Emperor's property.
It was too big a spark for her to touch, and she had no intention of seeking justice for Jason, who had abandoned her on the battlefield and fled.
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