Chapter 22
Money.
Who in the world wouldn’t be curious after hearing that word?
“…How?”
“Will you become my master then?”
Theon looked at me with an expectant smile as he asked.
I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten—the vast amount of money Theon had amassed for Callista in my previous life.
When my father, pressured by Kleion’s surprise maneuver, squandered a large portion of our family’s wealth, it was Theon who not only recouped the losses but earned even more with bold yet meticulous investments.
That money eventually paved Callista’s path to victory.
If a man with a golden touch wanted to make me rich, what did I have to lose?
“…Alright.”
At my response, Theon’s eyes sparkled as he beamed with joy.
Yes, money is a good thing. And it’s best earned young and multiplied when you’re older.
I had managed to save a bit from the private funds Theon had freed up for me, but it still wasn’t enough to last a lifetime.
Besides, in just the past few days, I’d become so used to the new maid’s massages that I was no longer fit to live on a modest budget.
“Lend me your ear, please.”
Without hesitation, Theon leaned in and whispered something.
Simple yet precise—his idea was built upon broad forecasts and intricate planning.
“…Do you understand?”
“Hmm…”
I stood still in the hallway, mulling over Theon’s words.
He truly was a genius. With vast knowledge, he predicted the future and maximized profit.
But I shook my head.
His words sparked a different idea in my mind—one that even he hadn’t anticipated.
Theon looked puzzled and asked again.
“…You don’t like it?”
It’s not that I disliked it—it’s just that I liked something else more.
“Let’s do this instead.”
I pulled Theon closer by the ear and whispered a few words.
A brief silence followed.
Then slowly, Theon’s eyes widened. The soft smile on his face stiffened.
“…My Lady.”
“Is it a no?”
Was it that absurd? I nervously glanced at him.
“Where in the world…”
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“…did you learn something like that?”
His gray eyes behind the glasses wavered ever so slightly.
I smiled quietly and answered only in my mind.
A trash crown prince taught me.
“Hrrrrgh.”
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists.
“Hyah!”
But nothing happened. The book remained tightly shut, refusing to budge.
Another cursed magic book. Why were there so many strange and expensive books in this library?
Whoever wrote this must’ve been a pervert—they placed a curse that prevented anyone who found the book boring from opening it.
It’s not my fault you’re thick and hard like a brick.
I glared at the book’s solid cover. On its jet-black surface, in plain white letters, was written: The Genealogy of the Empire – From the First Emperor to Everyone After.
No images, no embellishments—just ugly.
I took a deep breath and strained again until my face turned red. Still, it didn’t move.
“That book won’t open like that.”
A familiar voice called out from behind me. Callista.
I didn’t know how long she’d been standing there, but she was quietly observing me from a few paces away.
“…Sister.”
“Give it here.”
She walked over and took the book from my hands.
Ah, maybe it needed a spell to unlock?
I looked at her, expecting her to cast some grand magic.
Was this a contest between Callista and a cursed book? Would I see glowing blue light?
Whack—!
Huh?
CRASH!
Callista raised the book above her head and slammed it down onto the edge of the desk.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
After three mighty hits, the tightly sealed book flew open with a flutter.
“Remember this. If something won’t obey, hitting it is the easiest method.”
Callista said serenely.
“If that doesn’t work, then you call a technician.”
She calmly handed me back the book as if nothing had happened.
“…Thank you.”
In that moment, I was reminded of Aramis slicing through the cursed walls of Riley’s room with a longsword.
They say masters and their vassals resemble one another.
Callista silently sat across the desk from me. She had already been here earlier—her half-read book lay open in front of her.
“…The smell of chocolate was too strong throughout the mansion. I figured the library would be safe.”
She said, noticing my gaze.
I’d noticed the scent of chocolate as well. It was the Asemore Festival season—a time for sweet treats and gifts for loved ones.
Lovers, family, even master-servant relationships exchanged chocolates and candies. It was also a day many used to confess their feelings to their crushes.
I had never received any, so it had never meant much to me. Still, the scent was pleasant.
“The smell makes you crave it—even when you haven’t seen the real thing.”
Fair point.
Satisfied with her explanation, I nodded.
She glanced at my open book and asked:
“Studying history?”
“I’m memorizing family trees. About the imperial family and the noble houses.”
Theon said it was essential—knowing which noble families run businesses is key to investing.
“A necessary subject. How much do you know so far?”
I wasn’t sure if she was being polite or genuinely curious.
“…Not much.”
I answered vaguely.
I had spent a considerable amount of time in the imperial palace in my past life, but always under Kleion’s watch. I didn’t get to interact with people much, so there were gaps in my knowledge.
Callista tilted her head and asked:
“Do you know the current Emperor and Empress?”
I nodded.
Emperor Alik Pavus Bayan and Empress Litania—I had met them many times in my past life.
Kleion had introduced me as his fiancée, and the Empress, knowing full well how unnatural the match was, still presided over the ceremony.
The Emperor, passive and spineless, simply nodded along.
They must have thought the Duke’s second daughter could lend Kleion enough power to seize the throne.
And in the end, Kleion, now emboldened, killed his father and took the crown.
“What about the Crown Prince?”
“…”
I froze. Kleion’s face flashed vividly in my mind.
‘Harper Luferne, you can’t step on land I haven’t granted. If I say die, you die. If I say be buried, you’ll lie where I allow it.’
That was the last thing he said to me—before he lost his own head.
It’s strange to think about. I had a hard life, yet I outlived most people in my past life—Vittori, Theon, Sawyer, Clarissa, Kleion… all of them died before me.
“…Prince Kleion.”
I finally said. Callista nodded.
“Do you know his reputation?”
“No.”
But I did.
Incompetent, violent, obsessively possessive.
“He always tried to do everything himself instead of delegating, which led to failure.”
“If you want to rule, you must place people where they function best. That’s leadership.”
As a child, his messes were often cleaned up by the Emperor and Empress.
“That support only ruined him further.”
He had a fearsome face, a long scar, and no left eye.
“His looks were charming enough, so many noble ladies liked him.”
Ah, so this was before he lost his eye.
“Then?”
“Hmm?”
“There’s one more. Don’t you know?”
One more?
I blinked.
“There’s a second prince. It’s in the back of the book.”
…Oh.
I had forgotten because he left no impression.
Prince Killian Bayan. Kleion’s younger brother.
The second son of the Emperor and Empress, he never appeared in social circles due to his poor health.
His mother kept him hidden, and even most nobles didn’t know his face.
He died at eleven, during a hunting trip with Kleion. A monster attacked.
Kleion returned to the palace, scarred and missing an eye.
“The First Prince gave his life to save the Second Prince.”
That’s what the people praised for a while.
Coincidentally, the tale resembled the founding emperor’s myth—avenging his brother’s death and building a city on the bloodied land.
Thanks to this, Kleion gained the title Reincarnation of the Founding Emperor and was later named crown prince.
After that, no one mentioned Killian again.
By the time I ran away, he had already been dead for years.
“Just know he exists. He’s around your age. You might see him someday.”
Callista said casually and pointed to the next page in my book.
“Start with the Duke of Litra’s family tree. Their succession line is messy.”
She turned back to her book, but I couldn’t concentrate for a few seconds.
A single thought passed through my mind—something I had never considered before.
If the Second Prince had lived, could he have prevented Kleion from becoming Crown Prince?
Until now, I had believed the only thing I could do was run away and deny Kleion any excuse to attack Luferne.
But maybe… there was a way to cut the problem off at the root.
I shook my head.
Killian, a weak child overshadowed by his brother—his mother and maternal family powerless. How could he have beaten Kleion?
They weren’t rivals.
Maybe if Grand Duke Cartlane, the Emperor’s cousin, inherited the throne, things might’ve been different.
I pushed away the thought and followed Callista’s advice, studying the tangled Litra family tree.
