TPR 09

Chapter 09

Lately, her younger sibling had been acting strange.
It was hard to pinpoint exactly what was different, but something had clearly changed.

Mikhail and Redis both felt this sense of discomfort.
The first to notice the change was Redis.

That day, too, Redis was swinging a wooden practice sword at the training ground early in the morning.
“197, 198, 199… 200!”

Beads of sweat slid down his chin.

“Really putting in the effort, huh.”
“Huff… huff… Hilde?”

Redis, panting and lowering his wooden sword, noticed Hildegart.

“What are you doing here this early?”
“Just taking a walk and happened to see you.”
“A walk at this hour?”

His younger sister usually loved sleeping in. There were many days when she didn’t get up until late.
Getting up this early—and for a walk—was unusual.

“Well, I can’t walk at night, can I?”
“That’s true… But how long have you been watching?”
“Since you were at fifty counts?”

She had been watching him for quite some time.

To make matters stranger, Hildegart was examining him closely, from head to toe.
“Hmm hmm…”
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing.”

The way she looked at him was suspiciously pleased.
After scrutinizing him, she said something completely unexpected.

“Redis, is your goal to win the fencing tournament?”
“Yeah. Why do you ask something so obvious?”
“Just in case.”

“Winning the tournament is just a milestone. My real goal is different.”
“What is it?”

“To join the Royal Guard—the pride of the imperial family!”

A smile spread across Redis’ face.
“Since my older brother will become the head of the family, naturally, I aim for that position. For the sake of honor.”

“I see… that’s your dream, huh.”

Hildegart opened her parasol.
The Royal Guard… it’s been a while since I heard that name.

She looked at him with a proud expression.
“Alright. Sorry for interrupting your training. Keep at it.”

“What? Sorry? You’re really acting weird today.”

Normally, Redis would have shouted, doubting if someone like him could even dream of winning the tournament.
He seriously wondered whether the sun had risen in the west today.

Hildegart left with a faint smile.
Redis wiped his sweat, completely bewildered.
“What the… she was watching me train?”
He couldn’t make sense of it.

Mikhail was experiencing something similar.

He was quietly occupied in the study, working on minor tasks: adding footnotes and annotations to academy textbooks.
“Brother, I’ve placed the books you need here.”
“Thanks.”

Hildegart pulled out five books from the shelf—the exact ones Mikhail needed—and placed them on his desk with a loud thud.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

Mikhail glanced at the titles and couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“…Perfect. As always.”

The books Hildegart brought were precisely the ones needed.
It was amazing.

Even Redis sometimes hesitates and fumbles with the books…

Even Redis, who often helped, would sometimes misplace books while searching for the right one.
But Hilde was different.
It was as if she knew exactly which book was in which shelf.

“Ah, this book might also be useful. I think it’s the revised edition.”
“Really? Thanks. I’ll take a look.”

Mikhail responded calmly, but his curiosity grew.
Did she read a lot without me noticing?

Yet Mikhail spent the most time in the study and office.
It seemed impossible for his younger sister to have read so many books without encountering him.

“How mysterious…”

Hildegart looked at the study and clicked her tongue in frustration.
I thought maybe… but she even sold valuable books for profit.

Even then, leaving some books behind would have been reasonable.
At this rate, she wouldn’t make a fortune—she’d probably end up relying on pocket money from cousins.

Hilde shook her head.
At least the children turned out fine.

From what she had observed, the dukedom had some hope.
Redis was talented enough to aim for the fencing tournament victory on his own.
Mikhail had flawless handwriting and composition skills, showing he’d received proper tutoring.

Even if the family was wealthy, it wouldn’t help if the heirs were incapable. But in this case…

Which makes it all the more important to get money.

Hildegart turned her gaze from the bookshelf.
“Mikhail, I’m curious about something.”
“Huh? What is it?”

“Is there any inheritance left for us to use?”
Mikhail paused briefly.
“Really, nothing but the mansion?”

Hildegart remembered Leonhardt as a strict and meticulous head of the family.
He was so precise that, when she debuted in society, he scheduled her week in 30-minute increments, frightening her.

Could such a man have carelessly sold off the mines?

He must have left some precautions.

Hildegart looked at Mikhail with hopeful eyes.
“Well… there is something.”
“Really?! I knew it…”

“But we can’t use it.”
“Why?”
“Someone else manages the assets.”

“What?”

Hildegart’s face stiffened.

Mikhail raised a hand, which wasn’t holding a quill, helplessly.
The younger sister realized one thing.
Hmm? His fingers… the family signet ring is missing?

This was crucial.

The family signet ring.
It allowed the duke to exercise all the rights of the family.
Only the head of the family could wear it.

With the ring, sealing a document meant “an order from the duke that must be obeyed without question.”
In short, the signet ring was like the king’s seal for the family.

Even for managing the family’s finances, the ring was usually required.
And now someone from another household had it?

“The ring is kept by the aunt. I’m still underage…”
It’s been taken?!
“Hopefully, it will be returned next year.”

“Yeah, right!”

Thinking of Mikhail’s weak smile, Hildegart slammed the table in the glass greenhouse.
No wonder everything’s in shambles! How could selling some land and mines leave the mansion like this?

The family signet ring’s power was guaranteed by the imperial family.
Its imprint was registered in the imperial noble records, so it couldn’t be replaced by anything else.

We have to get it back no matter what!

“Ah… Miss?”
“…”

Hildegart hid her reddening fists.

“Tea is ready.”
“Thanks.”

Robin, the last remaining servant in the dukedom, quickly sensed the youngest duchess’s mood.
Quietly approaching, she placed the tray down.

“Is something troubling you, Miss?”
“Well… troubled might be an understatement.”

If only a few things had gone wrong, she could have started there. But every beloved spot she looked at had been ruined, and she didn’t know where to start.

Hildegart looked at Robin, a young woman with round navy-blue hair.
“Robin, I’m curious about something.”
“Yes? What is it?”

She kept her composure.
First, she needed to understand who this “aunt” guardian really was.

Taking a deep breath, she picked up her teacup.
“What kind of person do you think our guardian ‘aunt’ is?”
“Ah, the Countess Solberg?”
Robin’s expression darkened slightly.
“She is someone to be grateful for, yes.”

“Huh?”

Her tone was vague. Robin forced a smile.
“Go on. Anything is fine.”
“Anything? Well…”

The explanation was simple.

Countess Solberg came to the dukedom five years ago.
When the previous duke and duchess passed away, leaving only the children, she, a distant relative of the late duchess, officially became their guardian through the noble court.

Although a dukedom guardian seemed powerful outwardly, there were many restrictions.
She was forbidden from auctioning or running businesses, and thorough tax audits followed.

Especially for a noble house like theirs, even an exceptional aristocrat would hesitate to step in.

“Back then, the Countess acted. Since she qualified, Mikhail accepted her guardianship.”
“So it wasn’t designated in a will?”
“No. The late duke and duchess passed away suddenly… there wasn’t time to prepare a proper will or guardianship succession.”

“Still, isn’t it risky to hand it over so easily?”

Robin smiled wryly and shook her head.
“If there hadn’t been a guardian, Miss Hildegart and Master Redis would have been sent to another dukedom, growing up without knowing each other.”

“…I didn’t know that.”

“From Redis’ perspective, there was no other choice.”

Five years ago, Mikhail was eleven—trusting and relying on a passerby.
And he had just been separated from his younger siblings…

No wonder she immediately obeyed the ‘aunt’.

Hildegart pressed her palm to her forehead.

“But honestly, it’s hard to say anything good about the Countess.”
“Huh?”

“You know… last year, she cut the budget, disbanded the knights, and fired the servants.”
“…What?”

Hildegart shivered as if struck by electricity.
Budget issue? Could it be…

“So the person managing the dukedom’s finances, the tax revenue of the duchy…”
“Yes. That’s Countess Solberg.”

Clang!

The teacup slipped from Hildegart’s hand.