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Chapter 3
“Now I’m completely free.”
I felt completely relieved. There had never been a moment when the heavy money bag in my hand felt this reassuring.
In a good mood, I found myself humming without realizing it.
I quickly climbed into my personal carriage.
It was a private carriage I had prepared in advance for this very day.
Money really is the best.
The sofa inside the carriage was made of the finest velvet and cotton, making it incredibly soft and comfortable.
Just then, a small door connected to the driver’s seat opened. A familiar face appeared.
“Master, you’ve finally arrived?”
It was Luke, the coachman. He wore a warm and simple smile. I smiled back.
“Yes. Let’s stop by the shops I reserved first. I don’t plan on returning to the estate today until this bag is empty.”
“Haha, at this rate, won’t we only get back by sunset?”
After joking around, he drove the horses forward energetically. With the sound of hooves, the carriage began to move.
That evening.
Just as he said, I only managed to return to my new home after sunset, having finally emptied the money bag.
Evan Street Estate.
The mansion with the blue roof located on Evan Street—the main street of the capital—was my new home.
I had worked incredibly hard to save enough money to buy a mansion in the capital.
A whopping 30,000 gold—if I compare it to my past life, that’s worth about 3 billion.
Every time I looked at this house, I was reminded of my struggles, making my nose sting with emotion.
“Welcome back, Boss!”
The servants who managed the estate were waiting in front.
They were people who once had nowhere to go, but I took them in—and now they felt more like family than real relatives.
“What is all this?”
Among them, Daisy—by far the most curious—widened her eyes at the enormous pile of items.
“I bought some gifts for everyone. This is yours, Daisy. This is for Luke, this for Henry, and this one is for Talia.”
I began handing out the gifts one by one.
“Thank you!”
“Oh my! I’ll use it well!”
“Boss, you’re the best!”
Everyone accepted the unexpected gifts with bright smiles.
“But if you’re going to start a business in earnest, shouldn’t you save your money?”
However, Daisy didn’t look entirely pleased.
She was the only one here who came from a ducal household.
Four years ago, our connection began when I helped her while she was being bullied by maids in that household.
“This is all investment. An investment in my people.”
“Hmm… even so, there are way too many things here, don’t you think?”
Daisy tilted her head while looking at the mountain of gifts behind me.
“Oh, these?”
I let out a small exclamation.
“They’re gifts to give to future investors.”
Then I smiled as I looked at the pile.
“Of course, some of them are mine too.”
“But… there are no flowers?”
Daisy widened her already round eyes even more, looking genuinely surprised.
“The Grand Duke Orfeo is famous for liking flowers.”
At her words, I froze for a moment.
“I have no intention of receiving investment from the Grand Duke.”
“Why not? If he becomes an investor, it would greatly help our business.”
Daisy tilted her head again, unable to understand why I excluded him from the investor list first.
“Isn’t he basically worth a hundred people?”
She wasn’t wrong. Rather than attracting a hundred investors, securing Killian Orfeo alone would be far more beneficial.
Killian Orfeo.
The man most trusted by the Emperor, and a great mage.
Killian Orfeo was rising to success day by day in the empire.
He had earned merits in war, excelled in diplomacy, and contributed to the empire’s golden age.
And every business he touched became a huge success…
A man perfect in every way.
He’s basically a cheat character.
The balance was completely broken—and for good reason.
Because he wasn’t human.
He was a demon.
The very one who made a contract with the original female lead and sent her back in time—and the hidden mastermind.
With his help, Edith returned to age nine and succeeded in developing a cure to save Stella.
Up to that point, he seemed like just a helper…
But like all demonic contracts, his intentions were far from pure.
[Upon contract, Edith Diel’s soul shall belong to him.]
Even though Edith had nothing, he presented that kind of contract.
A soul contract? Seriously?
Even as a hidden villain, he reeked of scam.
And you want me to work with someone like that?
I absolutely refused.
A few days passed.
The investment contracts for my clothing business were steadily piling up.
Good. Let’s keep this going.
I smiled in satisfaction at the sight.
Along with the contracts, the investors sent letters thanking me for the gifts and asking detailed questions about the business plan.
Has Elisa not started her business yet?
I hope she starts soon.
That way, the downfall of the Adelheit family would come faster.
Meanwhile—
After hearing a report about Edith, Duke Adelheit and Caleb burst into laughter.
“That brat is starting a business?”
It was the most ridiculous thing they had heard all year.
They had placed her under surveillance because it seemed suspicious that Edith Diel left the family so willingly after being expelled.
“Would you like to hear a more detailed report?”
“No need. What’s the point of listening to such nonsense?”
The duke scoffed, though he was slightly curious.
To start a business, capital was essential.
He didn’t know where she got it, but since Edith had never handled family affairs, it couldn’t have come from within.
“Where did she get the initial funds?”
“It seems she sold the necklace Lady Stella gave her while she was alive.”
“How outrageous!”
The duke’s face twisted in anger.
Not only did she throw away her family registry papers and leave, but she even sold a gift she received while pretending to be Stella’s real sister?
And used that money to start a business?
“That’s why she left the family so confidently.”
Caleb looked just as furious.
“There’s no woman more despicable than her!”
“Do you require further reports?”
At the aide’s question, the duke snorted.
“She’ll fail soon anyway. Listening further would just be a waste of time.”
Still, something about it bothered him—like a hangnail irritating his skin.
What if Edith actually succeeded?
Since when did she change?
She used to walk around with her head lowered like a sinner.
But at some point, she started holding her head high, acting shamelessly.
She even began entering the study without permission—something she never did before.
At one point, he even suspected she was possessed by the spirit of his sister, Blanche Adelheit, who died 20 years ago.
No… Edith Diel was a fake!
She must have acted strangely out of fear that her identity would be exposed.
Even so, his unease didn’t fade.
A cold glint passed through the duke’s blue eyes.
“Then it’s better to make sure she can’t even sprout.”
If there’s anxiety, you eliminate it at the seed.
“Your morning newspaper has arrived.”
A delivery man came by the estate.
My habit of reading newspapers to grow my wealth continued even now.
I casually unfolded it.
On the front page was the Grand Duke Orfeo. On page two—an annoying story about the Adelheit family.
Seeing my name in the headline, I grew curious and skimmed the article.
[Breaking News: ‘Fake Daughter’ Edith Diel Who Deceived Adelheit Permanently Expelled]
Diel was my nanny’s surname.
Now, I was officially recognized as her daughter.
If someone asked how I felt about it, I would immediately answer:
It feels absolutely amazing!
I hoped I would never be entangled with the Adelheit family again.
Beside me, Daisy smiled contentedly.
“But miss, your photo turned out really well.”
“Right? Even I think I look healthier.”
Who knows when the paparazzi took it, but the photo was fairly recent.
Back then, I was so lifeless I didn’t even bother cutting my hair…
After recalling my past life, I gradually regained energy and cut my hair short.
Imagining the Adelheit family fuming over my healthy appearance, I smirked and tore out page two.
I don’t need to read what I already know.
I tossed it into the trash and started reading from the front page again.
My gaze landed on the man on the front.
“…He really is handsome.”
“Right?”
Daisy agreed.
Without realizing it, I stared blankly.
The man in the photo was unbelievably handsome.
Platinum blonde hair, and violet eyes that seemed to enchant anyone who looked at them.
Even in a photograph, he shone as if bathed in all the light in the world.
Though expressionless, his smile—if he showed one—would surely be breathtaking.
Having me on page two suddenly feels a bit embarrassing…
If I met him in person, I’d probably look like nothing in comparison.
“Wow… he’s really handsome. I wish I could see him in person just once…”
Daisy murmured, completely smitten.
Then her brown eyes sparkled—as if she had just come up with a brilliant idea.
I suddenly felt very uneasy.
“If you form a business relationship as investor and entrepreneur… wouldn’t you get to meet the Grand Duke in person?”
