BPFP 73

Chapter 73

Life’s Fourth-Time Baby Makes a Flower Path

“This mansion of Marquis Piorn will become our first home.”

The Marquis of Piorn was a family with considerable influence as a member of the Council of Nobles, but he had failed miserably when it came to raising his children.

“His eldest son, the heir, is a complete wastrel.”

Marquis Piorn had one son and one daughter.

Unfortunately, his son was a hopeless delinquent.

As if being obsessed with women and alcohol weren’t enough, he was also a gambler—the worst kind of wastrel imaginable. The reason the Marquis of Piorn’s mansion was being put up for sale was because of the enormous debt his son had accumulated.

One might wonder whether a family as prestigious as a marquisate couldn’t afford to pay off such debts. But the Piorn family wasn’t wealthy. They were a family renowned for scholarship.

The reason they held a seat on the Council of Nobles was because of their exceptional academic accomplishments.

The problem was that their successor, the heir, had completely abandoned his studies. In fact, his younger sister, Brianna, possessed far greater academic ability.

In imperial society, it was uncommon for a woman to become the head of a family, but it did happen when circumstances made it unavoidable. For example, when there was no son to carry on the family line.

But the Piorn family had a son who could inherit the title.

As long as that son was alive, no matter how talented Brianna was, she could never become the head of the family.

Not unless her brother committed a crime and was sent to prison—or died.

‘Brianna became twisted because she resented a society that wouldn’t even give her a chance simply because she was a woman.’

In her third life, Elia had brought Brianna into her group as an ally, and the two of them had even devised strategies together. Brianna had wanted a world where she could freely demonstrate her abilities.

‘Brianna, this time, I’ll create an opportunity for you.’

She could help Brianna, acquire the marquisate’s mansion, and accomplish both at once.

It was an opportunity she couldn’t possibly pass up.

The Marquis of Piorn’s mansion was located in the heart of Noblesse Town and occupied a large estate.

It was also the ancestral home of a prestigious family that had maintained its position for several hundred years.

In other words, Marquis Piorn’s son had nearly ruined the foundation his ancestors had built.

Noblesse Town was where the great aristocratic families lived. Even the capital residence of the Javier Ducal Family, the Empire’s second ducal house, was located there.

And Elia intended to plant the flag of the Cartellani Ducal Family right there.

Her heart swelled at the thought of showing everyone that the Cartellani Ducal Family was the noblest of all nobles.

“The Marquis of Piorn’s mansion is larger and better than the Javier Ducal Family’s residence.”

That was the part Duke Javier disliked the most.

“He worked tirelessly to get his hands on the Marquis of Piorn’s mansion.”

For example, he had arranged for the heir to become a wastrel.

Dylan, Marquis Piorn’s son, hadn’t always been a delinquent.

When he was young, he studied fairly diligently and was well-mannered. But after coming of age, the promising young man began behaving recklessly.

All because he made the wrong friends.

Duke Javier deliberately placed people around Dylan. He meticulously planned everything so that Dylan would fall into a life of pleasure and indulgence.

Once a person has experienced the pleasures of women, they can easily become addicted.

Little by little, they guided Dylan down the path of ruin. By the time he was twenty, he had been completely corrupted.

He put his studies aside and spent all his time going out with his disreputable friends.

He ignored his family’s affairs, drank constantly, and even began bringing courtesans into the family home.

Unable to tolerate it any longer, the Marquis became furious and banned courtesans from entering the mansion.

Dylan then began spending even more time outside, and eventually, he got involved in gambling.

He had effectively become the person most responsible for leading the marquisate toward ruin.

“In the end, the Marquis sells the mansion and chooses to return to his territory.”

The Piorn family’s original territory was located at the westernmost edge of the Empire.

Because of their son, they were forced to abandon their life in the capital and spent the rest of their lives secluded in their territory.

Of course, Brianna was the exception.

She was deeply dissatisfied with an imperial society that refused to acknowledge her worth.

She had even been forced to quit the Academy because she could no longer afford the tuition.

Some time later, just as Elia had expected, Marquis Piorn sought out a broker to put his mansion up for sale.

It was a quiet visit.

“Sell my mansion for me.”

The broker accepted the documents the Marquis handed him and smiled pleasantly.

“As luck would have it, there is someone currently looking to purchase a mansion in the capital. Shall I proceed immediately?”

“Who is it?”

The broker pulled a document from his desk drawer and held it out.

“Take a look.”

The moment Marquis Piorn checked the document, his eyes widened.

“The Cartellani Ducal Family is looking for a residence to stay in while they are in the capital?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Proceed with it.”

Marquis Piorn readily accepted.

There were many jackals circling the Marquis of Piorn’s mansion.

The property was situated on prime land and was itself a historic residence.

The Marquis did not want to sell his ancestral home to greedy opportunists.

If it was the Cartellani Ducal Family, however, he felt he could entrust the mansion to them without worry.

There was no other family as devoted to the Empire as the Cartellanis.

Still, he found it somewhat puzzling.

They had remained secluded in the north for such a long time, and now they were looking for a mansion in the capital.

‘Is the sleeping beast finally preparing to rise?’

Whatever the reason, the fact that they were looking for a residence in the capital meant that they were considering expanding their influence into the capital.

‘The Council of Nobles is currently being led by Duke Javier.’

He also knew very well that Grand Duchess Christina had joined hands with him.

But not every member of the Council of Nobles was on their side. Roughly half of them supported Empress Marianne.

Marquis Piorn had managed to remain neutral, but he could no longer continue doing so.

The families that had maintained neutrality alongside him had begun leaving one by one, joining whichever faction they preferred.

They were joining either Grand Duchess Christina’s faction or Empress Marianne’s faction in preparation for the coming struggle for the imperial throne.

Above all, Marquis Piorn had a tremendous responsibility to protect his family.

‘I cannot be the one to destroy my family.’

His only son, Dylan.

The marquisate was now in a position where it had to repay the considerable debt Dylan had incurred through gambling.

The broker spoke.

“I’ll inform the Cartellani Ducal Family that you are willing to sell. What price do you have in mind?”

“As you know, the value of our mansion cannot truly be measured in money. It has stood for generations.”

“I know. I know that very well.”

“Tell the duke to decide the price himself and inform me of his offer.”

Marquis Piorn was effectively saying that he would accept whatever amount the Cartellani Duke offered.

“Understood. I’ll pass that along and contact you afterward.”

“And I would appreciate it if you kept the fact that you met with me a secret for the time being. I want to settle this as quietly as possible.”

“Of course, Your Excellency.”

If word got out that the Marquis of Piorn’s mansion was on the market, there would be a long line of potential buyers.

Then he might have to engage in a fierce bidding war.

Marquis Piorn had no desire to get involved in such a messy struggle.

“I’ll be going now. Contact me when you have news.”

“Have a safe journey, Your Excellency.”

After seeing Marquis Piorn off, the broker turned around with a smile and slipped a ring off his finger.

In an instant, his face changed completely.

“It’s amazing every time I see it.”

Someone suddenly appeared from behind him.

“Lily, could you make a little more noise when you approach?”

“Were you startled?”

“No.”

“Tsk. You could at least pretend to be surprised.”

“Enough with the nonsense. How did it go?”

“I put him to sleep quietly. Don’t worry.”

“Wake him up and bring him here. We have to take over this place from now on.”

“Okay.”

Astonishingly, the broker was actually Lapis.

Using the information she had received from Elia, Lapis had investigated which broker Marquis Piorn was likely to seek out.

But she had no way of knowing exactly whom he would choose.

There was no particular broker who had a relationship with Marquis Piorn.

So she had stationed Lily nearby as a watcher.

That was how they discovered which broker he would approach.

Lily woke up the broker she had put to sleep and brought him over.

The broker, having no idea what was going on, found himself sitting across from Lapis.

Lapis grinned and pushed a building sales contract toward him.

“Sell me this building.”

“What?”

“I said sell it to me. I’ll give you a generous price.”

As she spoke, she pulled a pouch of gold coins from inside her clothes and held it out.

The broker’s eyes grew as wide as saucers when he saw the gold.

“You’re going to sell it, right?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Then sign here.”

The broker hurriedly signed the documents.

“From now on, this place belongs to me, so I’d appreciate it if you packed your things and left immediately.”

“Y-Yes, of course.”

Thinking that he had just stumbled into an incredible windfall, the broker hurriedly packed his belongings and left the building.