Chapter 90

King of the Poverty Lottery, Mr. Zephyr.

He is a pitiful person who has to pay for the debts of his free-spirited brothers.

He is the kind of person who doesn't mind even if his job is to drink tea by the window.

As long as the family in his territory is well-fed, he is satisfied.

It was Grail's monthly anniversary.

It was a tranquil day, cut off from the whirlwind of daily life, as if it were set aside for that very moment.

Wearing black as a sign of mourning, Kishatia headed for the mausoleum.

While the carriage swayed, she gazed at the gently passing scenery. The only sounds were the light clatter of the horse's hooves on the paved road and the wheels. Even the most unremarkable scenery would make her sister's eyes sparkle as she stuck to the carriage window. Even Kishatia, who had been with her for many years, could count on one hand the number of times she had gone out.

Her outings were limited to the annex and greenhouses within the grounds, or the gardens in full bloom.

She rarely ventured beyond the outer walls. If she did, a duke or Kishatia would always accompany her.

Even taking into account the vastness of the Latitche residence, it was clear that the number of times she went out was few.

The Rose Company's carriage, which was designed to accommodate the fragile Albertina, was comfortable with little sway. Even on long journeys, her body did not hurt much.

As they entered the nearby town, Julius called out.

"I have booked a room. Would you like to take a short break?"

"Will there be something to eat?"

Kishatia, who had accompanied her gourmet sister for so long, was quite something.

Living in the dormitory at the academy was tough, and she had received a few chefs from the Latitche family and tried not to eat anything else.

How many times had she been deceived at popular old restaurants in the capital or at evening parties of noble families? She had avoided eating at social gatherings.

She was busy enough, and she knew that she had to be conscious of her meals to keep her body in good shape. But it was also true that she did not want to eat things that did not suit her palate.

"Please rest assured, we have a Rose Company cafe here."

"Then I'm relieved."

The servant with the insincere smile bowed deeply, as if he knew what he was doing.

The place he led her to was a beautiful cafe with white walls and brick contrasts, with private rooms.

The cafe, which was attached to a hotel, also served as a lounge. There was an open terrace, where young women were chatting happily and an elderly couple were pointing at the well-kept garden, creating a warm atmosphere.

It was not a particularly busy time, but there was enough bustle to suggest that it was a popular place.

As Kishatia walked through, all the women's gazes were drawn to her.

Julius was also well-groomed, but he was good at concealing his presence and avoided the gazes.

The menu was easy to read, with simple explanations and illustrations.

Soon after ordering, a warm cup of tea was served. Then the owner of the cafe and the manager of the hotel came to offer their condolences to Kishatia.

She sensed that they had come to assess the next head of the family with a concerned and respectful demeanor.

However, with Albertina's letter in hand, she could not treat them rudely. It seemed that they had judged that it was not a loss to maintain a connection.

The light meal that was brought was delicious. While it was not as good as the Latitche chefs, it was certainly passable.

It was a savory crepe filled with ham, lettuce, and cheese.

The cross-section was beautiful, and the colors were vibrant. The crisp texture of the lettuce went well with the saltiness of the ham and cheese. The crepe made it easy to eat and kept it from getting messy.

(This cheese is good. Albertine prefers something a little sweeter, doesn't she?

Chocolate or cream? A little too rich, maybe? Something like a compote or a fruit-filled pastry would be nice.

Anna was worried that Albertine's appetite had become a little lighter... This would be something she would eat if I suggested it while talking about the Rose Company.

Should I send Mikaelis... no, Jibril to a tea party to increase her snacks?

Mother is busy, and the Fortuna family wouldn't be too pleased if it were a man.)

Kishatia, being in the position of a stepbrother, had a much lower barrier than others.

The biggest factor was that Albertina, to accommodate Kishatia, would take a small bite of food.

She smiled gently, but Kishatia could tell that it was to avoid worrying her.

It wasn't as if she had been doting on and watching her for nothing.

The people around her knew the heat in Kishatia's gaze, but they couldn't help but be bitter about it. The Earl of Fortuna was accommodating in many ways. They couldn't afford to have Albertina dislike him any more.

The Duke of Fortuna, on the other hand, was focused on security. He must have understood that his presence frightened his granddaughter, for he did not go to see her. However, they often met at the palace in Vayu.

By personally patrolling, the Duke of Fortuna kept the people from the Council of Elders and the royal family away from Albertina.

If he were to insert a petty insect, a foolish head would be better. He was enduring the flirtatious glances of the foolish maids. If he went deeper into the palace where Albertina lived, the foolish ones would disappear. There was a line.

However, one thing that caught his attention was the increase in stuffed animals in Albertina's room.

Apparently, they were being gnawed on by Chappie on a regular basis, but they continued to increase every time he visited.

It seemed that the Duke of Fortuna was sending them.

(...No, Albertine is already seventeen, right? They suit her and are cute, but they're not the kind of gift to give a lady.)

He recalled the seemingly simple-minded and rugged Duke.

It was a childish gift, but perhaps to him it was a negligible error. Was a grandchild an eternal child to him?

The fact that they were beautifully seated next to Albertina's bed and on the chest in her room suggested that she liked them. It was also possible that she did not know the sender.

Once, the Earl of Orcott sent a brooch made of a pearl the size of a thumbnail and an emerald the size of a child's fist.

Since they were a fairly large noble family, it was impossible not to accept it. After all, the Orcott family was the royal family's in-laws.

Frowning at the glittering jewels, Albertina twisted her mouth and made a clearly displeased face at the love letter disguised as a condolence note.

It seemed that the Orcott family's foolish son had jumped the gun.

She had enough self-control not to throw it away on the spot, but it was returned in a way that would not cause a rift with the Duke of Fortuna.

She was more concerned with Albertina's obvious displeasure than with the response to the royal family's in-laws.

Well, whether or not Albertina would be pleased, it was generally the age when girls enjoyed jewels and dresses.

After finishing the light meal, she got back into the carriage.

Their destination was a small hill in the Latitche territory. The Latitche Duke family's mausoleum was located in a place with a good view. The former heads and their companions were buried there.

Recently, a young head had been laid to rest, and the place was kept clean.

Albertina was given a beautiful blue lily.

She had said she wanted to go, but her complexion was still poor, and there was some concern about whether she could make it to the mausoleum.

There was a slope leading to the mausoleum, and carriages were not allowed to enter. It was already part of the cemetery. The mausoleum itself was a grand and large structure, so it was a considerable walk.

Albertina sometimes seemed to think she was healthy. However, after being bedridden for more than two weeks, her physical strength had dropped considerably. Before confirming with the royal family, she had not received permission from her doctor to go out.

The young woman with the precious eyes of the royal family, who was considered important as a mother, was very selective about her food and living quarters.

Kishatia, for one, was reluctant to introduce Albertina to the desires of the branch families, which were like demons and devils, unless it was a place free of stress.

To borrow Julius' words, "We'll wait until she's properly disciplined."

Kishatia thought it would be fine to treat her as if she were being "re-educated."

"Oh, a stray dog in mourning clothes. This is the mausoleum of the Latitche Duke family. Hey, who are you? Who invited such a lowly blood to this place!"

As soon as he saw Kishatia, Maximilian, Duke, came over with a lewd, low-class smile.

A plump, ordinary-looking man who made one question whether he shared the same Latitche blood as his father. His hair was brown and his eyes were blue, but his impression was completely different.

No matter how much he was a son, Kishatia, the son of the main family, was not someone to be looked down upon.

As expected, the representative of the branch family was this man.

He was a light-headed man, weak to provocation. The lighter the palanquin, the better, as the saying goes.

(I'm grateful to the Earl of Kreutz. The truly troublesome, rational, and intelligent one was the one who had been persuading and convincing him...)

The messenger who came was a mysterious masked man, sometimes a strangely effeminate knight.

He was slightly puzzled by the messenger's unusual choice, but he always handed over a letter in a place where there were few people and left quickly.

Thanks to him, she was able to gather the necessary information even though she did not frequent social gatherings. The rumor of his wide network of contacts was true.

Kishatia also met him, but he was not treated like Maximilian. She knew that some of them were in favor of the Earl of Kreutz. However, she had confirmed that they would not oppose her, even if they did not support her. The Earl of Kreutz himself was a big factor in personally supporting Kishatia as the Duke, saying that he did not need any more responsibilities.

As Zephyr, who was busy, he would refuse to be involved in the backlash of the lackluster succession battle.

The investigation of the attackers of the Latitche Duke's residence, Grail's funeral, the inheritance and succession of the Latitche Duke's family, and the support for Albertina and Kishatia were piled up.

Dealing with such fools was one of them.

"Your Grace Maximilian, I am the legitimate son of the Latitche Duke's family. Shouldn't you be more careful with your words?"

"Legitimate son!? You're the laughingstock of the baron's family! I heard you were sold for money!"

The moment Grail was gone, his attitude changed.

His words were impressive, but his laughter was vulgar. It was understandable that he was not even allowed to approach the mansion.

A normal person would have only expressed condolences without causing a stir.

He must have thought that he could play either side depending on the situation.

It was true that he had been sold for money. Grail, who had offered to take Kishatia and Latine, had paid a considerable amount of money.

It probably also meant, "Don't do anything unnecessary in the future." It wouldn't be strange if he had left a written record, given his meticulous nature.

The problem was that the rooms where such documents might be kept were all sealed and could not be opened. The private rooms of Grail, the study, and some other rooms.

It seems that they were automatically sealed upon Grail's death. Grail, who often went on expeditions to the battlefield, must have been prepared for any eventuality.

Thanks to this, the branch family that tried to break in forcibly and without permission did not achieve much and fled.

"Indeed, the original baron's family may have given some assistance as a token of gratitude for adopting a foster child.

My father did not like to owe debts, and I was too young to know the details..."

"Hahaha, I see! Just as I thought! You're nothing but a lowly creature! A person like you is not fit to be the heir of the prestigious Four Great Dukes!"

"That's a different matter. Do you intend to mock my father?"

"It's not mockery, but the truth! It's disgusting for such a dirty blood to enter the Duke's family!"

"But it was the decision of my father, who was the head of the family. Can you change that decision based solely on the closeness of blood?

If we follow that rule, the closest would be the Earl of Kreutz."

"That's right! The Earl of Kreutz, my younger brother, would be the most suitable. He is well-regarded by His Majesty and other nobles!

But if he declines, there's nothing we can do... Grail's brother married into another family and is out of contact, so it's difficult.

In that case, considering the family and history, I would be the most suitable, wouldn't I?"

Saying that, the blue gem on his raised hand was shining.

It wasn't that it would be good just to wear it, but even though his clothes were of high quality, the combination was mismatched. Each item was too assertive and lacked cohesion.

The blue gem ring was quite old in design. The gem itself may have been good, but the scratches were noticeable, which would lower its value.

"Well, it's out of consideration for Grail's stepson. How about I transfer a title to you?

The Latitche Duke's family manages various territories and titles!"

"I decline. Why should I assume that I must transfer what I am to succeed to someone else?"

"Hah! It's beyond you!

Don't get too full of yourself just because you're close to Lady Albertina. She is a noble lady of pure blue blood. A person like you is not worthy of her."

Ah, I see—Kishatia's smile deepened.

He thought there must be something behind the offer of a title, but it seemed that he not only wanted to exploit the branch family, but also wanted to make a connection with Albertina.

He probably couldn't even get close to her, despite his position as a Duke and a branch of the Latitche Duke's family.

"I see, I didn't know she not only ignored you but also disliked you."

"What!?"

"I thought you were unusually aggressive today. Did the merchants reject you harshly?"

Kishatia smiled awkwardly, a smile that showed his composure, which was both alluring and chilling.

Maximilian's cheeks flushed, and his face turned red and black in an instant.

He turned red with anger and was about to pounce on Kishatia.

It was probably because the management of his territory was in trouble.

The Maximilian territory owned a mine. The mine, discovered about a hundred years ago, produced good gems and was once a top asset in the country. However, the recent mining output has been stagnant. It seemed that the good stuff had been exhausted and the mine was running dry.

Furthermore, the fact that Albertina had created inexpensive substitutes for gems, such as transparent colored glass, through the Rose brand had further reduced the demand for low-quality gems, even though they were expensive.

His pride as a noble was above average, but it was only arrogance.

The Maximilian family was rich on the surface, but in reality, they were in a tight spot.

Owen von Maximilian, who had been raised as a noble from childhood, had no concept of restraint or frugality. If he didn't have it, he would squeeze it out of his subjects, and if that wasn't enough, he would borrow from elsewhere.

He never reconsidered his own lifestyle. And his son, Van, who had grown up watching him, was no different. His decline was as clear as day.

If Van had been a rational and intelligent person, it would have been better, but he was rough and acted on impulse, causing problems. His arrogant character and impulsive emotions led him to have a bad relationship with the daughter of a viscount's family, whom he had engaged to for her dowry. He was a problem child who forced himself on her with his status.

Therefore, Grail naturally judged him to be incapable and did not provide any assistance. He did not start a new initiative or change his lifestyle.

In the end, the fact that he was a historical noble and a Duke was what he clung to.

"No, that's just a coincidence! Those merchants took advantage of the Duke's death to put on airs!"

What a wonderful boomerang.

Not only did he put on airs, but there was a direct order from Albertina.

Kishatia had come here by carriage. On the way, he had a light meal at a cafe associated with