TISND Chapter 112

Chapter 112

*

Since the day he invested in the Trafon merchant guild, Viscount Forzi had regarded Helena almost like a savior.

Thanks to the profits from his investment, his financial situation had significantly improved.

‘Hello, Duchess.’

Every time he visited the Eskel estate, he never failed to greet Helena.

“That bastard.”

When he was reaping the benefits at my side, he was all too happy, and now he’s trying to get favors from someone else?

If he had a tail, he’d be wagging it like crazy right now.

That wretched man.

The Count glared at the back of the Viscount’s head with clear displeasure.

Trafon. Trafon, huh… Should I invest now?

With his reliable source of funds now cut off…

If he wanted to continue funding that affair, he had to find another way to bring in money.

It wasn’t something he could just drop. It was a matter tied to his very survival.

“Steward.”

In the end, Count Eskel secretly summoned his steward.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Buy shares in the Trafon merchant guild. Make sure no one finds out.”

No one. The Count whispered.

He didn’t want that damned Viscount Forzi to see him jumping in late and trying to get a share.

Going back on his words would be a blow to his pride.

And a few days later—

“Sigh… If only I had invested earlier, how much more could I have gained?”

He had finally purchased shares in the Trafon merchant guild.

As it was a guild sweeping through the empire, its profitability wasn’t bad.

But had he invested sooner, he could have secured far more shares for the same amount of money.

That would have meant at least twice the profit.

Since he was late to the game, he could only obtain a measly portion.

“Hello, Count! Is the Duchess in today?”

Oblivious to the Count’s frustration, Viscount Forzi continued smiling brightly.

The Count, unable to hold back any longer, snapped.

“When will you finally shut that mouth of yours?”

“H-hah, I understand!”

Every time he saw that damned Viscount Forzi, it made his blood boil.

*

Helena faithfully carried out the Countess’s request.

She did not go out of her way to visit the main estate building just to see the Count.

That didn’t mean she never encountered him.

Thanks to Viscount Forzi, who came by almost every day, she inevitably crossed paths with the Count.

The Viscount often boasted about how incredible his fortune was,

to the point where it was hard to find a servant in the house who hadn’t heard about his wealth.

And because he visited the annex so frequently, Helena ended up seeing the Count more often too.

The man who hadn’t set foot in the annex for over ten years was now coming of his own accord.

It was truly astonishing.

“Why the hell is money disappearing so fast?”

Through these visits, Helena sometimes overheard conversations between the Count and the Viscount.

Was there another reason Viscount Forzi was constantly visiting the estate?

He might have been grateful to Helena, but that didn’t mean he’d reveal the household’s secrets to her.

“We’re using stacks of money to keep mouths shut.”

Helena pretended to pour tea while eavesdropping on their conversation.

Stacks of money to keep mouths shut.

What on earth was happening inside the estate?

“Is something the matter, Father?”

“It’s nothing.”

When Helena asked, the Count, of course, did not answer.

Even Rosalith had only mentioned seeing workers frequently entering and leaving the estate,

which meant even his own children weren’t fully informed.

Helena and Bahen could only suspect that Count Eskel was involved in human trafficking,

but they had no clear details.

Would human trafficking even require this much money?

“A girl is of no use in matters like these. Don’t even think about interfering.”

For now, the priority was to gain the Count’s trust.

“I understand, Father.”

Even if she had made money or if Viscount Forzi had gained unexpected fortune, earning trust would not be so easy.

The Count still believed she had simply been lucky.

Moreover, her father had always insisted that a woman should live as a woman and stay out of such matters.

Because of this, even though her older sister Laviel was the eldest daughter, she had been pushed out of the succession fight.

If she were a son, things might have been different, but as someone who had only recently returned to the estate, she was certain her father wouldn’t say a word to her.

However—

“Duchess, Bahen said that the Count has started making moves.”

Helena recalled what Jane had told her not long ago.

“He secretly purchased shares in Trafon.”

If he had swallowed his pride and invested belatedly, it was clear he was struggling financially.

Instead of shifting his primary source of income to human trafficking, he was desperately pulling money from all over.

Just how dire was his situation?

“A woman doesn’t need to be curious. Just answer when spoken to.”

The Count had drawn a clear line.

Helena decided it wasn’t the right time to act.

Fine. She wouldn’t interfere unnecessarily. She would stay quiet.

But she couldn’t just gather information—she had to become a key player.

That was the only way to untangle the web of threads.

“Viscount, instead of idling here, get to work.”

“Understood, Count.”

With that, Count Eskel left the annex.

“Um, Duchess. I should be going as well.”

Women were only meant to answer when spoken to.

They were deemed useless.

Helena smiled coldly.

“Thank you for visiting so often, Viscount.”

“Not at all. It is my honor.”

When she first returned to Eskel, she had hesitated at the thought of bringing down her own family—her father and her household.

But seeing how her father remained the same as ever, her resolve solidified.

A man who categorized even his own children based on their “usefulness”—

She would judge him by the same measure.

Someone who dealt with people through wealth, not warmth, deserved to be treated the same way.

“Viscount Forzi.”

Just as he was about to leave, Helena called out to him.

“Yes, Duchess?”

“I hope you will visit more often.”

“…Pardon?”

“Thanks to my connections from Frantor, I receive many letters.”

Helena continued,

“Some of them are from merchants. I need someone to discuss their contents with.”

“I—I would be honored!”

In an era where information was as valuable as money,

offering to share insights from merchant leaders was an opportunity too good to pass up.

The Viscount’s face lit up with excitement.

Shortly after he left, Helena summoned Jane.

“Yes, Duchess?”

“I need you to send letters to Countess Emphirem and Bondestel immediately.”

“What kind of letters, my lady?”

Helena smirked.

“I’m going to turn Viscount Forzi into a wealthy man.”

—

What Helena did was simple.

She provided the Viscount with as much information as he visited for, allowing him to earn an equivalent amount of money.

Their conversations revolved around trade.

Yet Jane couldn’t understand why Helena wanted to make the Viscount rich.

“Why are you doing this?” Jane asked.

“Wouldn’t it be better to increase your own wealth instead?”

“If I did that, Father would try to take my money for himself.”

“But the Viscount is one of the Count’s closest allies. He doesn’t have a good reputation either.”

Jane frowned.

“And yet, you want to make him richer?”

“I’m not after money right now—I’m after credibility.”

Helena explained.

“My father is desperate for money. I need him to see that I am useful.”

“…Oh!”

“That’s why I’m not building my own fortune, but increasing the Viscount’s instead.”

“But that man…! Many servants have suffered because of him.”

At Jane’s protest, Helena chuckled.

“Jane, why do you think I advised the Viscount to invest in trade?”

“…Why?”

“There’s no business as lucrative as overseas trade.”

Helena continued,

“But there’s also no business as risky.”

“That’s true!”

“As profits rise, so do pirate attacks.”

And then she added,

“There are also plenty of cases where ships sink due to accidents.”

Though melting glaciers had opened new trade routes, the seas were still treacherous, with fierce winds and storms.

“But… they say even when the rich go bankrupt, they’re still rich.”

“And there’s another saying—greed brings ruin.”

Helena said with a smile.

“He made money easily just by listening to rumors. That means losing it all will be just as easy.”

And soon, her father would meet the same fate.

“There’s nothing more frustrating than watching a fortune slip through your fingers.”

“…”

“My father will come to me after hearing about the Viscount’s success—just like he did with the Trafon merchant guild.”

Jane studied Helena, then hesitantly spoke.

“Duchess.”

“Hm?”

“This might sound obvious… and maybe even offensive.”

“What is it?”

“Just now, you looked a lot like the Count.”

“…I looked like my father?”

She had never thought of herself as resembling him.

Not in appearance, not in personality.

Could she really be like him?

Helena tilted her head in thought.

Pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders, she shivered.

Even though summer was approaching, she felt colder than ever.

Just a little longer.

She absently rubbed her numb hands, trying to feel something again.

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