CHAPTER 98

'Why is it my fault for being abandoned here? It's your fault for sending me here and doing things! Damn you guys.'

Edith, in the original story, must have been brainwashed like this for the rest of her life. What I was so grateful for my parents for in my previous life is that they were quite indifferent to me. I have to hold on to myself, and I have to take care of my brother. I have to help my family too. If I don't do that, they will think of me as an ungrateful person. however, if they had brainwashed me, I would have lived more miserable.

'In that case, even after possessing Edith, she will still live under the influence of Count Riegelhoff.'

Just imagining it gave me goosebumps. I took the letter, went to the fireplace, and flicked the ashes with a poker. There were still some embers, so I put the letter on top of it and used it as firewood.

'It's better to use their letters as firewood.'

As if not enough to confirm that the letter was completely burnt, I knocked it several times with a stick and completely reduced it to ashes, I yawned for a while, and went back to my bed. I wonder how to say that the windows of this mansion need a better protected without raising suspicion. However, the next day, while I was still in a bad mood because of the letter from the Riegelhoff family, an unwelcome guest announced that they would visit the duke Ludwig.

"Count Sinclair said they would visit here on this Friday.'

Killian's brow furrowed in displeasure as he delivered the news.

"What is Count Sinclair visit for?"

"He said he wanted to meet my father and talk about next year's business, I think it's because of the iron ore distribution rights. But we never know, maybe it's because Lizzy received attention at the founding ceremony last time."

Well, I think it was like that in the original as well. Lizzy, who attended the founding festival as Cliff's partner with the Duke's treasure around her neck, and emerged as a hot topic in the social world with Catherine's support. Count Sinclair just realized that Lizzy, who he sold to Ludwig's family, was worth more than he thought. So he approached Duke Ludwig to claim parental authority in secret.

'Of course, it was impossible.'

Because Count Sinclair already signed their agreement to relinquish all his rights toward Lizzy while he handed her over to Duke Ludwig in exchange for their debt of 30 million sena. Duke Ludwig is not an easy person, so there is no way he could be deceived by the word, 'Parents and children are a match made in heaven.'

"How's Lizzy doing?"

During my last visit, Lizzy was still shivering in her room. This time, she must have been more afraid because she met them at the founding festival.

"She said she was fine, but looking at her condition, she wasn't fine at all. Now Cliff was there at her side, comforting her."

In the original story, Killian also became Lizzy guardian, trying his best to stop and protest Count Sinclair to take Lizzy back. But now Killian is on my side and not Lizzy anymore. I'm glad that this situation has changed from the original, but I still couldn't let go of the thought that my life was like a lamp in front of the wind.

'I shouldn't undermine Killian's favor until the last of my breath.'

I prayed fervently that I could make it through the coming winter and welcomed the next spring.

***

"It's been a long time, Duke."

Count Sinclair, who visited the Duke mansion, greeted the duke warmly. A man with brown hair and a thin body looked younger than his age, but he still looked servile somehow.

'I can't believe he's Lizzy's biological father just looking at him.'

Duke Axel Ludwig coughed heavily as he remembered Lizzy, who had been like an angel.

"It's been a long time since the count didn't come to the founding festival."

"Yes, I'm unable to attend the Founding Festival this year because i have some business at the territory. Did our kids greet you at the founding festival?"

"Of course, haha."

Then Duke Ludwig turned his gaze toward Count Sinclair's children, who he brought with him. he could understand that he brought his eldest son Damian, but it's was weird that he brought his daughter Layla together. Honestly, it was the Countess Sinclair and they children who bullied Lizzy, and among of them, it's was Layla treat Lizzy badly, so Duke Ludwig was not very pleased for Layla come to visit. However, Layla smiled very brightly as she looked at Duke Ludwig. Anyone who saw it might mistakenly and thought that the Duke and Layla were already close.

"By the way. . . . .what brings you here today?"

Duke Ludwig cut his long greeting and got to the point. Then Count Sinclair drank his tea with a smooth smile.

"I'm not sure what to say first, without made you misunderstand me. So, First of all, um. . . . .Shall we start by talking about Count Riegelhoff?"

"Yes? Why are you suddenly talking about Count Riegelhoff?"

"Well, i know the reason why the Duke married Killian to the Count Riegelhoff daughter. It's the iron ore distribution rights, aren't you?"

There were a lot of reasons for that, but the most important reason was the iron ore distribution right. This was because Count Riegelhoff, who had the largest distribution rights for sword-making raw materials, would be in big trouble if he joined Archduke Langston. However, because the external reason was simply 'strengthening the alliance', Duke Ludwig couldn't nod his head carelessly.

"It's not just that. . . ."

"I'm not here to question the reason. Rather, I came to relieve the burden of the duke."

Count Sinclair's face was overflowing with confidence.

"The last time we visited, i just said that we were going to get iron ore distribution rights, but now it's almost confirmed."

"Where is the iron ore?"

"Latis of the North. You must know that iron ore was found there, right."

"I know. But I thought it would take a while for the mine to be developed."

"No. Count Morento, the lord of Latis, lied. He was afraid that Latis would become a battlefield."

Duke Ludwig stopped sipping his tea and looked straight at Count Sinclair in surprise.

"Then. . . . !"

"The terms Count Morento set were a bit strict. But starting next year and 10 years ahead, we, the family of Count Sinclair, have the right to distribute Latis Iron Ore."

Since Latis iron ore is already known has a good quality, if the Sinclair family gets the distribution rights of Latis iron ore, it will be a big change for the Sinclair family to raise their status. Also, it would have been better if the Sinclair family had interests related to iron ore, not gem mining or distribution rights, if he wanted to join forces with the Ludwig family who were close to the military.

'But from where Count Sinclair got the money. . . . ?'

As the Duke of Ludwig knew, the Sinclair family's finances were not as good as before. Count Sinclair smiled with an embarrassing smile, as if he noticed that duke Ludwig had a suspicious sign on his face.

"Of course, I received some funds from the imperial treasury, but I did not cheat the Duke. I was able to obtain distribution rights because I agreed to hand over 30% of the distribution profits to Count Morento."

If it was 30% of the distribution profit, it was a huge price. As for Count Morrento, he made money just by sitting still.

"Congratulations on getting the iron ore distribution rights for Latis and not the other way around. But why are you telling me this?"

The Duke of Ludwig asked again in a calm manner. However, what the reason for Count Sinclair's mentioning Count Riegelhoff and says that they have acquired the right to distribute iron ore. No, now I think I know why Layla Sinclair was here.

"Your Highness the Duke. Count Riegelhoff can't even be called an imperialist anymore. And he is also no longer an ally of the Duke."

"Hmmmm. . . . "

The Duke of Ludwig agreed on that. Perhaps all the nobles who attended the Foundation Festival knew that.

"The Count Riegelhoff, because of the man's tricks, the Duke and your son Killian suffered great losses.

If you hadn't talked about alliance and trust, would you accept the daughter of Count Riegelhoff's to be Killian's wife?"

"Haa, that's. . . . "

The Duke of Ludwig couldn't say anything since a while ago. Because everything Count Sinclair said was true.

"Killian had a hard time because of my foolish judgment."

"As the duke already knows, Count Riegelhoff is a cunning man, but who knew that he would betray his daughter, even though you took her as a hostage? Besides, you pretended to care about his daughter outside."

"That's right."

The Duke of Ludwig shook his head and sipped his tea again. I felt like his insides were burning.

"That's why I'm telling you."

Count Sinclair leaned forward and lowered his voice a little.

"How long are you going to keep that useless hostages?"

I thought that was the story.

"They're already married, so why not?"

"Isn't it time to push that good thought, Your Highness the Duke? So you won't look like you're under Count Riegelhoff's tricks, right?"

Count Sinclair only poking the most important part of Duke Ludwig.

"Isn't Count Riegelhoff one of the forces that must be eliminated one day, along with Archduke Langston? But you're leaving Edith Riegelhoff at the duchy? Is that the correct elimination?"

Count Sinclair touched the part that was already bothering the duke, and a deep frown appeared between Duke Ludwig's eyebrows.