Chapter 2
Marquis Remington gave Robelletta a disapproving once-over.
“I’m planning to attend the funeral of Grand Duke Alexandros and his wife,” she replied obediently.
The Marquis furrowed his brow. “The head of the family decides whether we attend important noble events. Why are you making preparations on your own?”
At his reproach, Robelletta thought, Oh no. Having just come of age, she was still operating under the Marquis’s shadow—unlike five years later.
“I was going to change clothes and tell you. The House of Alexandros has a strained relationship with our family, so I thought it would cause less concern for Prince Edward if I attended as your child rather than you going in person.”
Robelletta quickly made her excuse, and Marquis Remington found it plausible. Even if not for a celebration, attending a funeral would look good to others.
“True enough. Alexandros was close to Crown Prince Henry, so if I go, Prince Edward will be displeased. But if we don’t go at all, tongues will wag.”
He nodded and led Robelletta to his study. Opening his personal safe, he took out several gold ingots and handed them to her.
“Go and show them the power of our house.”
The Remington family had never been particularly wealthy. They were an old house living on reputation alone. But since Robelletta had begun managing the finances at fourteen, she had amassed considerable wealth—rare gems from abandoned mines won at low bids, a painting traded for a single loaf of bread that turned out to be an unknown masterpiece by a great artist.
Some said she was blessed by the goddess of fortune; others claimed she and her father had swindled honest citizens. In truth, neither was correct. She remembered mineral deposits from ancient documents, and she recognized stolen goods that had changed hands multiple times due to her sharp eye.
Marquis Remington loved showing off. Even when poor, he spent lavishly and gave freely. Knowing her father’s nature, Robelletta silently accepted the gold.
“I’ll be back.”
Leaving the Marquis’s estate, her mood shifted. Years later, the Marquis would move to a grander mansion, squandering the fortune Robelletta built under Emperor Edward’s favor.
The Remington estate was old and dilapidated, though it held her fondest memories of her late mother.
That’s why I wanted to make it mine.
A futile wish. The estate was already ruined by her father’s new wife and stepchildren. Robelletta had no regrets left. Now was the time to act for the future.
The House of Alexandros was in disarray. The previous Grand Duke and Duchess had been dead less than a year when the new Grand Duke and Duchess also lost their lives in a sudden accident.
Officially an accident, but in truth, they were killed by bandits. The couple had been kidnapped while traveling. They demanded ransom, and the Grand Duke pretended to comply while secretly calling for help.
His half-brother, Kallias, led his mercenary band from the western border to eliminate the bandits—but failed to rescue the Grand Duke and Duchess. He retrieved only their bodies.
Thus, the funeral was hastily arranged. Rumors spread that mere bandits wouldn’t have dared touch a Grand Duke—someone must have orchestrated it.
The House of Alexandros supported the Crown Prince, born of the late Empress. Whispers said Edward, born of the current Empress, plotted to weaken his brother’s faction. The atmosphere was grim, made worse by the mercenaries occupying the funeral hall.
The rough mercenaries were intimidating by their very presence. Still in their battle-worn clothes, they looked violent and brutal. Their failed mission left their morale low, and their wary aura was as sharp as drawn blades.
Mourners flinched and backed away. Yet the hall was crowded—there were only five Grand Ducal houses in the empire, after all.
When Robelletta arrived, neither the chief mourner, Michael, nor the acting head, Kallias, was visible. She had come while Kallias was away.
This was when it started. When Michael ran away.
Michael had lost his grandfather, father, and mother within a year—too young to understand death, yet old enough to sense something wrong. He pretended to sleep after complaining he was tired, then snuck away.
Kallias, already wracked with guilt over failing to save his brother, had become obsessively controlling over Michael. Michael’s escape was inevitable. The mercenaries remaining at the estate likely didn’t yet know he was gone.
Robelletta quietly signed the guestbook. Then she handed a pouch to the person receiving condolence gifts.
The recipient opened it and gasped. “This is a very generous offering.”
“Yes, I thought it fitting.”
The pouch contained several gold ingots. Though her donation might not be welcome from a rival house, Robelletta had her reasons. A sum this large would surely bring the chief mourner running.
As she expected, the attendant confirmed her name in the guestbook, then stood and hurried off somewhere.
Meanwhile, Robelletta laid flowers and looked up at the portrait of the late Grand Duke and Duchess. In her previous life, she had never seen the direct line of House Alexandros, whether directly or indirectly.
The deceased Grand Duke, like Michael, had red hair and blue eyes.
As she slowly raised her head, another red-haired man was glaring at her.
“What do you think you’re doing here?”
Kallias made no effort to hide his hostility. His face was unmarked, neat, unsullied—a stark contrast to the last time she had seen him in her previous life.
Robelletta found herself smiling.
“You’re smiling? I suppose a prince-chaser has no conscience.”
“I came only because I received a death notice. I have no other intentions.”
She spoke sincerely, without a trace of shame. But the people of House Alexandros, including Kallias, didn’t see it that way.
“That cunning woman will do something! Throw her out immediately!”
“Exactly! Why would one of Edward’s people come here? To mock their good riddance?”
“Get out, witch!”
At someone’s instigation, people pointed fingers at Robelletta.
“You’d better leave before we drag you out,” Kallias warned.
His hostile gaze and firm stance showed he regarded her as an outright enemy.
I had a suspicion, but Lord Kallias has no memories of the previous life.
If he did, things would be easier—but it didn’t matter. Robelletta was confident she could persuade him. Now was the time to leave a strong impression.
Kallias was close enough to reach out and touch her. Seizing the moment, she grabbed his collar.
It happened so fast that Kallias was pulled forward. When they were close enough that their lips might almost brush, Robelletta brought her mouth to his ear.
“Stay away from Crown Prince Henry. If you want to protect the House of Alexandros.”
“What?”
Kallias covered his ear as if he had heard a demon’s whisper. Her voice lingered, clinging like melted sugar. Even when he wiped his ear, it wouldn’t come off.
