This was tantamount as the direct descendant of the Windsor family becoming a customer of a rival bank!
I suppressed my frustration and whispered to Danae, “Lady Danae, Windsor Bank has enough gold coins. If you need gold coins, please go to Windsor Bank.”
But did she not notice? Danae was still listening to the branch manager’s boasting.
“Hahaha! Milady, if you need gold coins, come to Liten Bank anytime! Liten Bank’s gold holdings are the best in the world! Windsor Bank cannot compare!”
“Yes, I’ll do that,” Danae replied, leaving me in despair.
Duke! Why did you entrust such an irresponsible heiress with this task? I’m disappointed, Duke!
I felt a strong desire to resign. It seemed Duke Viego Windsor lost his senses doting on his sister. That’s how people like him are. They go mad once something catches their fancy!
This won’t do. I should quit my vassal role.
I decided to write my resignation letter.
* * *
“What on earth are you doing!” I protested as we left the bank. “What will people think if they find out even the direct line of Windsor doesn’t use Windsor Bank but uses Liten Bank instead? They’ll think Liten Bank’s credit is incredible!”
But the lady wasn’t listening to me! Danae was calling her handsome secretary, who had been waiting in the carriage.
“Lethe, withdraw 500 billion Fran from my account at Windsor Bank. In cash.”
“Yes, Milady.”
I was shocked. What? How much did she say? 500 billion Fran?
“Lady Danae! What are you doing?”
“Viscount Manus, I don’t have time. I’ll explain only once, so listen carefully.”
“No! I don’t want to hear it! I’m going to resign―”
“What I’m about to do is…”
After hearing Danae’s plan, I was astonished.
“That’s a great idea, Lady Danae! You’re truly the sister of the duke!”
I came to believe in the duke again!
* * *
Liten Bank’s Branch Manager’s POV
Soon after, Danae visited Liten Bank again.
“You’re back.”
“Yes. I realized I need more gold coins.”
I barely contain my laughter. Isn’t this like the direct descendant of Windsor promoting Liten Bank? Viego Windsor is more foolish than I thought. Letting his sister do such foolish things.
Hoping other customers would see this scene, I shouted loudly, “Welcome, Lady Danae Windsor! How much shall we exchange for you this time?”
“Oh, one moment.” Danae signaled, and employees in black suits entered.
I was startled. What?
Thud. The employees placed black bags on the desk and left.
“This is…”
“Money bags. A total of 100 billion Fran.” Danae smiled sweetly. “Please exchange it for gold coins now.”
“Yes?”
“I said, exchange it for gold coins.”
My complexion hardened. Is she testing if we have that much gold? Of course, we do. Isn’t this the largest branch in the empire?
I stood up confidently. “Please wait a moment! I’ll bring it right away!”
That day, the news that Danae Windsor had swept away the gold coins of Liten Bank’s capital headquarters became the talk of the city.
* * *
Allice’s POV
It was the next day, early morning.
“Dad, did you see the newspaper?”
I was having morning tea with Carl in my room.
“Why did Sister Dana do such a foolish thing?”
“Huh?”
“It was like she was promoting Liten Bank.”
“Ah. That article.” Carl sighed, putting down his teacup. “Dana is too naïve. She just exchanged it because she needed it, not realizing the consequences.”
“… Isn’t that stupid?”
“No, no. Dana is too pure to understand the complex interrelationships.”
“…”
“She’s too kind. She thinks everyone is as kind as her. That’s the problem.”
I felt a twinge in my heart. When I ruined the moonlight flower business, dad called me foolish. He said I spoke without knowing anything. Dad really knows nothing.
I was upset, knowing only I knew Sister Dana’s cruelty. No. Miona knows too.
“Allice!”
Just then, Miona entered the room and stopped seeing Carl.
Carl waved happily like the sun. “Good morning, Miona. Another beautiful day.”
“Ah, yes, yes… Hello, Lord Carl.”
I was puzzled. Why was Miona blushing?
“I-I have something to tell.”
“What is it?”
But Miona hesitated, glancing at Carl.
Ah, she must be uncomfortable because of Dad. Well, after all, dad is the father of the lady she served.
I kindly smiled at Miona. “It’s okay, Miona. Speak freely.”
“Well.”
Miona hesitated, then whispered to me, “I heard from other maids that a noble young man sent a love letter to Lady Danae. It seems romantic…”
At that moment, Carl slammed his teacup down. “What did you say, Miona? Say it again?”
“Yes, yes?”
“What did Dana receive? From whom?”
I weakly smiled at the flustered Miona.
Miona, don’t you know that dad has keen hearing?
* * *
Dana’s POV
[I have admired you for a long time, Lady Danae]
What’s this?
Justin Lancaster. That’s Noah’s classmate, right?
[I am worried His Highness the Crown Prince may find out, but I can no longer hide my burning feelings for Lady Danae…]
[Lady Danae, you are my first love]
[Could you please be my last love?]
“Oh my. Look at this.”
Pfft. A laugh escaped me.
Was it because it came from a seventeen-year-old boy? It’s kind of cute. And he seems quite bold too.
Of course, the current Raios wouldn’t care whether I received such a letter or not. But still, he sends such a letter even though he knows all the evil deeds Raios has done till now.
Was it three years ago? Raios had broken all the fingers of a count’s son who had sent me a love letter. And then he ended it by giving consolation money to the count’s family.
After that crazy behavior, love letters stopped coming to me. The disgusting letter from Huan was the only one until recently. But maybe because I broke up with Raios, brave men who heard the rumors seemed to be approaching.
I shouldn’t respond.
At that moment, the door banged open. A blond boy with a frozen expression walked in.
“Noah?”
Next moment, smack! A newspaper flew onto my face.
“You, what is this?”
“…”
I picked up the fallen newspaper and unfolded it.
<Heiress Danae Windsor becomes a major client of Liten Bank!>
<The historic Liten Bank turns even competitors’ immediate family members into customers!>
So he’s angry about this. Well, Noah is a member of the family, so it makes sense.
As I was about to say something,
“…”
Noah was bending down to pick up something.
“Ah, that’s…”
The love letter from Justin Lancaster.
Noah quietly read the letter, then laughed, “Crazy about men.”
…What?
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I truly hope nothing bad happens to that cute young man. Justin Lancaster seems to be a hopeless romantic, but a good guy.