Ran held back her desire to run to Eustaf immediately. Instead, she approached the tomb where the soil fell.

"Lady."

Ran shook her head when a man who was covering the soil showed reluctance.

"It's okay, go ahead."

Glancing at each other's words, the men resumed work. The soil begins to cover quickly over the smooth pipe. Ran stared at it and lost in thought.

Four years.

It has been four years since she fell into this world.

Before falling into this world, Ran was a graduate student in her mid-twenties. It was the weekend, and I was driving my own car back to my house.

And then suddenly, she was shocked and everything was dark!

She woke up and found herself in the wrong world. What took a week to figure out was that she became a figure in her writing.

'I named it 'Eternal Love'. At Fifteen years, ······.'

She remembered the contents because of the folder she found while organizing her computer at home.

At first, she wondered, "What is this?" but as soon as she opened the file, she could see what it was about.

It was fortunate that she was able to swallow her laughter and read the text because she remembered the contents as if it had come into play.

'But even if I come in.'

That's a stepmother's daughter who left a deep trauma to Male Lead.

'How come I'm born in this way? Besides, it was a long time ago, right?'

The female lead of the story she wrote is one-dimensional. Male lead was 20 years old when he met her.

Eustaf, the male character, is 17 years old.

There are still three years left before the original story begins. Since you failed 4 years ago, 7 years.

She was possessed seven years before the original book began. So, it was harder to figure out what it was about.

'Ran should've died.'

Ran Romia De Lazia.

A daughter brought by her stepmother when she remarried, and there is not a drop of blood mixed with the Duke of Lazia. In fact, the original author did not even set her name.

I got to know her name when I came here.

However, the Duke, who was so into his new young wife, was willing to admit Ran, so she became the Duke's family.

Then the stepmother gave birth to a new younger brother, Tass, and the harassment of his ex-wife's son, Eustaf, began.

Ran also played a part in it. But it wasn't that bad until she died.

'Originally, I should have been accidentally crushed to death by Eustaf who fell from the tree.'

Then the stepmother becomes half-crazy and begins to persistently harass Eustaf. The tutor he had attached to him was also harsh enough to deal with Eustaf and create a trauma to women.

'But I came in here.'

As she came into this body,

Ran came alive. She then earnestly asked his stepmother, who trembled in anger, to send Eustaf to the Imperial Academy.

His stepmother also praised Lan for being clever in favor of keeping him away.

'In fact, I just wanted to drop Eustaf from that tutor.'

Eustaf seemed to think for a while and there was a backlash from some of the disciples, but eventually left for the Imperial Academy.

'Yeah, I'm sure you wanted to get out of that tutor's hands.' Ran nodded inward.

I thought I had behaved well not to be bad.

'I did·····.'

Eventually, both parents and Tass died in a carriage accident. I knew this would happen, but I couldn't stop it.

They were on their way to see Eustaf in the capital city. The Imperial Academy's festival was being held, and Lan asked her parents.

Let's go to see Eustaf together.

Then, she suffered from a high fever to the point where she lost her mind, and only her parents and younger brother, who couldn't resist long preparations, started and ended up meeting a landslide.

All dead.

'This wasn't it. ······.'

Apparently, in her writing, his family died in a ship accident. So, I thought all I had to do was avoid the boat.

But it wasn't.

Ran wrapped her hands around her face.

It was only four years, but it was four years long. She is not a real family, but they treated herself well with confusion in her memory.

"Noonim."

Ran raised her head with a low voice.

Eustaf was standing. Her younger brother, who is two years younger than her, was already standing next to her.

"You're not feeling well, let's go in now."

He had a cold face to say that he was worried.

Ran looked at his face for a moment and nodded. She turned around and looked at the faraway mansion.

In most areas of the Duchy, it is easy to see duchy mansions at the foot of the mountain range.

The huge mansion, which stands tall against the backdrop of an endless mountain range, was not created by human hands.

It was a work made by a magician's hand. And a huge mountain range standing behind the mansion.

The mountain range was called the Ice Wall, which was why the Duke of Lazia was called the "Lazia of Ice Wall".

There is a beautiful white door in that huge mountain range. A white door sealed by Iveria, the great wise man.

The Lazian family was the guardian of the gate.

A family that is older than the Empire Even though the continents were engulfed in war, and the king and his descendants changed, the family continued to exist here.

'And, of course, it's because the land is barren.' Ran let out a small sigh.

The Duchy of Lazia was barren.

The land is wide.

It is wide, but half of the year is winter. They couldn't farm properly, and there was little land where crops grew.

As a result, the Duke's finances were always tight. 'Now we're on the verge of collapse.'

It was because of my mother's luxury.

-Please give me a greeting.

It was a greeting from generation to generation to the Duchess of the Lazian family.

The Viridescent Crown.

This is because Tiara, which is called that, belongs to the Duchess.

In Duchy, where winter is half, green is a noble color. Moreover, it is a blessing that everything becomes so full that the greenery is so wonderful.

So, it wasn't strange that the crown of platinum with the highest quality emerald of dark green, the name of it was 'the Viridescent Crown'.

And just as the greenery becomes a blessing, the mercy of the Duchess is also a way to spread.

Please give me a greeting.

This greeting came out like that.

But my mother hated the crown. Instead, it produced a new Crown made of ruby or sapphire.

It was a necklace bought according to it, and everything was overflowing with rings, dresses, earrings, bracelets, belts and so on.

And as I said,

'Duke's finances are tight.'

He has to prepare for the long winter, but she buying luxury goods. It was natural to have debts.

'Besides, his successor, Eustaf, is still a minor.' Ran glanced at his brother walking next to her.

Black hair with blue eyes. With dramatic contrast, the eyes look darked.

He was as capable as a sharp impression.

'It's a male character.'

However, since it was Male Lead, he had a lot of hardships. 'For now, the harassment of stepmother and tutor.' There are also events after this.

Baron Lindbergh.

After his parents' death, his uncle takes the post of regent using him as an underage. He condescends as if he were a

duke and turns the duke's property into Baron Lindbergh's.

The baron becomes an earl and eventually forced Eustaf and his daughter to marry him. And when he tries to assassinate him, Eustaf survives with the help of his loyal Knights.

'But he dies.'

Ran thought so and looked at the knight one step away and his gaze chased her.

'You, you're totally staring at me.'

If he could shoot with his eyes, he would have already shot Ran to death.

Ross Wild.

He is a person who will die as he was.

'I have to stop it.'

Ran thought so and spoke quietly to Eustaf.

"Eustaf."

"Yes, Noonim."

Ran felt sarcastic whenever he called her his sister so politely.

'I don't hate being called Noonim, but'

This subtle feeling.

"I'm on your side."

Eustaf didn't stop or answer what she said.

"I want you to know that."

Whether he did or not, Ran continued to talk. There's not much time left until the carriage.

"I guess my uncle is going to make me his favorite Patriarch."

For the first time, Eustaf's steps slowed down. Ran grinned and glanced back at him.

"I'm going to be a Patriarch."

"And?"

Ran's smile deepened after his subsequent questions.

"I won't let my uncle put a finger on the Duchy. And when you come of age, everything will be returned to you."

Ran said so.

The two arrived at the carriage, and now they were going to ride the carriage separately. The fact that they didn't get in one wagon showed the distance between the two.

She bent slightly, greeted her younger brother politely and whispered low.

"May the blue flame bless you."

It is a greeting to the owner of Lazia.

Eustaf didn't even wink an eyelash and reply it low. "May the flame be blessed."

***

Eustaf rubbed his temple slightly.

"What did the fox say?"

When his Knights asked him, Eustaf replied low. "She's on my side."

"So, what would be the meaning of that…?"

Ross kicked his tongue painfully.

"That's what she said herself?"

"Yeah."

"Not even a fox."

"Is that so?"

"That's right."

Ross frowned and tried to say something more, but Eustaf was lost in thought.

Ran Romia De Lazia.

Of course, I didn't forget bullying when I was young. But when I fell from a tree.

Something has changed since then. She sent letters and pocket money regularly.

She was also the only family member to visit the Academy.

'I thought she was trying to look good to me, the next Patriarch.'

Just as her mother possessed his father with her beauty, that's how she tries to charm herself. Glittering soft, milky hair, dark green eyes like a summer tree.

The appearance of ripe fruits and sunlight, which cannot be seen in the north, is certainly rare.

He fiddled with the ring around his neck.

This was Blue ring, the symbol of Duke.

This ring, which is sealed with the Spirit of Blue flame, burns people when they are not Patriarch.

The person wearing the ring can borrow the power of the spirit. It's a greeting to the Patriarch.

-May the blue flame bless you.

That was the reason.

"But Ross, I'm still a minor. I'm not old enough to succeed to the position."

"It's an emergency, isn't it?"

"Yes, but if my uncle insists on regency."

Ross crumpled at the words.

"The raccoon?"

"I could see he drooling. That's probably why he approached Ran earlier."

That's what Ran herself said.

Swallowing back his words, Eustaf recalled her again. 'What should I do?'

"There are too few options."

Eustaf said so, smiling bitterly and letting go of his hand touching the ring.

"I think it's best to separate Ran from Uncle." Ross nodded at the words, too.

"I think that would be the best."

Ran checked her appearance.

The black mourning dress made her face look paler. Ran grabbed the lace veil with her hand.

A web-like veil covered her face half.

'This is how you can't see the expression.'

Standing at the door of the conference room, Ran checked her thoughts for the last time. The meeting would soon begin, and the agenda would be the next Patriarch issue.

'I can do it.'

A confidence to throw away her uncle's from Duchy and become a Patriarch.

Ran herself had it.

'Blue flame.'

She was able to get that ring.

'Of course, I'm not 100% sure.'

The spirits here have names.

Just as humans have their own names, spirits have their names and their names are hidden.

This is because it is possible to control the spirit if you know the name.

And she is the original author.

Of course, she knew the name of Blue flame. So, wear a ring and call her name.

Then it won't burn yourself.

The owner of the flame.

It also means the patriarch of the Lazian family. It was a way that no one could raise objections.

'Well, I might end up with a pedigree problem later, but I'll keep it for a while. It's all about being recognized right now!'

Perhaps everyone will be surprised and turned upside down, and if you aim for the gap, you will be able to do something.

Ran thought so and took a deep breath and lightly put her hand on the door knob.

She herself opened the huge door without a sound. "Sorry for being late."

When Ran greeted lightly, the disciple raised themselves. There are three families who serve the duke as a household butler.

Wild.

Lance.

Illuminati.

All three families were Patriarch.

Even if served, in this era when estate was not as common as before, only formality remained.

'In other words, the second and third are well placed in the Knights of the Duchy or administrative posts.'

Along with the others in key posts stood Baron Lindbergh, his uncle.

Originally, he should also be a butler of the duke, but he was avoiding the oath of loyalty under the pretext of his uncle.

"We got together early."

Eustaf said so and pulled out the chair. Ran nodded lightly to him under the black veil and sat down.

Then Eustaf sat down, and everyone who gathered sat down.

Then,

Cough*

Baron Lindbergh coughed in vain, drawing attention.

"Why don't we go straight to the agenda? There's only one reason why we're here."

Some frowned in their hearts as he tried to draw the meeting by being the first to speak, even though Eustaf or Lan had yet to speak.

But Eustaf said nothing and nodded.

"That would be good."

Baron Lindbergh bowed his head with a somber face.

"I am very heartbroken that her husband and my little nephew have left. But the Duke is still alive. I have two nephews left."

He coughed again and said,

"But Eustaf is still an underage, so I think Ran should be Patriarch."

Then Baron Lance frowned and said,

"Ran has inherited the Duke's last name, but she is not of the Duke's blood. But how does she become Patriarch?"

"Uh! It is the Lord's will to enter Ran!"

Baron Lindbergh raised the authority of the former state. Baron Lance tried to say something more, but Ran slightly raised her hand.

The table became quiet.

She got up from her seat and spoke slowly.

"I know there are a lot of people who are concerned about me being a Patriarch. But it is also true that Eustaf is still a minor."

Ran looked back at Eustaf. His face looked blurry because of pale.

"So, I'd like to hold a temporary Patriarch position for just two years until Eustaf reaches adulthood."

A temporary Patriarch.

There was a slight murmur for that new word.

"As soon as Eustaf becomes an adult, I'll hand him the position of Patriarch. And if anyone is complaining about my lineage being a problem."

Ran took a light breath and told Eustaf.

"Can I borrow your ring for a moment?"

A cold silence filled the room.

Eustaf looked at Ran for a moment and slowly took off his necklace and handed it to Ran.

Baron Lindbergh looked at the symbol of Patriarch with eager eyes.

Blue ring.

If you can't put that in, you can't be a true Patriarch. Ran took the ring out of the necklace.

The blue jewel sparkled.

Without hesitation, she tucked the blue ring into her finger. At that moment, a blue flame suddenly broke out. "No way!"

"Oh, my God!"

Some flinched and got chilled on their back, and some got up from their seats.

Eustaf also grabbed her by the wrist without realizing it. 'Istarif! Calm down!'

Ran shouted loudly in her heart. The flame that seemed to swallow her slipped back into the ring.

Silence filled the hall.

Ran raised her hand so that everyone could see it, feeling her hands shaking.

Her finger is twinkling with Blue flame. Everyone looked at it with a frightened face.

Eustaf's blue eyes also shook loudly.

Everyone seemed to have stopped breathing. "Nonsense!"

It was the Baron Lindbergh who screamed.

"What doesn't make sense, uncle?"

Ran answered calmly.

"That ring, that ring, it can't be worn unless it's of blood. You can't use it unless you're a Patriarch."

"That's right. You can't use it unless you're a Patriarch. So, I think Blue flame recognized me as a temporary Patriarch. A man who has successfully handed over the position to the next Duke."

"Such·····."

Lindbergh's voice trembled.

If Ran is a patriarch, she is a woman who shakes without her own power.

So, she can control as much as she wants. You can get your son to marry her. Or you can marry herself because the blood doesn't mix.

However, as long as she became the owner of the ring, Ran gained the authority not to be shaken at will.

'No, not yet.'

Lindbergh bit his lips.

At least a little girl.

If the qualifications are found to be poor due to being pressed for the position of the Patriarch, there is no place to lean in the end.

Moreover, the duke's debts are piled up.

He doesn’t know about that girl, but he was the one who introduced the duchy to a loan shark. Also, she owes himself.

Lindbergh suffered from dry lips and said,

"That's right. You've admitted by Blue flame." Isn’t she supposed to be on his side anyway?

It was just a little way back. Lindbergh regained his composure.

"Is there anyone who disagrees?"

No one raised a disagreement. No, I couldn't believe the sight that happened in front of my eyes.

"Then I'll wrap up the meeting with Ran being the interim leader."

After Lindbergh spoke loudly, everyone breathed out as if they had been released from magic.

Ran also lost strength from her shoulders. She pulled the ring from her finger and handed it back to Eustaf.

"You don't have to call me Duchess. You don't have to give greeting. Cause I'm only temporary."

Ran said so and looked at everyone. Everyone is looking at herself with suspicious faces and strange faces.

Not all three families pledge loyalty to themselves. 'Wilde is definitely on Eustaf's side.'

Baron Lance is so upright that he doesn't deserve to betray the Duke.

'What's left is ······.'

Ran turned to Count Illuminati.

The count, whose reddish-brown hair looks like a lion, is in his early 40s. A man of unknown person That's how she described him in the original.

Count Illuminati, the duke's sidekick, was also a relative of closest succession except for Baron Lindbergh.

However, he is not a person who openly covets power like his uncle.

'I wish you could be the strength of Eustaf.'

Ran smiled at him thinking so, but the count did not respond.

'Hhhhhh, but I'm the original author? I don't know all the basic settings?'

Thinking so, Ran erased her smile.

"Then let's end the meeting. I'll make time for those of you who want to stay and talk."

Ran closed the meeting by saying so. But everyone didn't move. Everyone has a story they want to tell to Ran.

She sighed and said slowly.

"Then let's meet one by one in the back room." Eustaf stood up from his seat and said,

"Come with me."

Ran nodded.

The small room at the back of the conference room was designed for intimate conversation, and was simply decorated with soft colors.

Ran sighed, sat on the creamy sofa and offered him a seat. "Sit down."

Eustaf sat down and crossed his legs. Ran scattered her gaze to him from his legs to his head.

'Male Lead will do it.'

He was much more handsome than I imagined, but he was just like I thought.

I don't know how he can do that.

"How did you do that?"

"Huh?"

"I mean the one with Blue ring."

"Well, I told you. It's just recognized me as a temporary Patriarch."

At Ran's words, Eustaf's blue eyes narrowed.

"If that's possible, no one would have died wearing blue ring."

"Because I'm a Lazian too, I was registered, and... I wasn't sure."

At Ran's words, Eustaf's movement paused for a moment. "It's a gamble."

"Gambling to burn to death."

"There seemed to be no other way than that."

By borrowing his uncle's hand, he would certainly be hostile to Eustaf. Even if you're not yourself, that's what happens around you.

Eustaf still seemed suspicious, but soon returned to his expressionless face.

"So, what are you going to do now?"

"We'll have to pay off the debt. Finance matters are the most urgent."

"What about me?"

"Go back to the Academy and finish graduating." "If I refuse."

"What do you think I'm gonna do without you?" Ran smiled lightly and said,

"You may leave Lord Ross."

"To Noonim."

"I'm just saying it's okay to keep on eye. Not to do anything in vain."

Eustaf looked at Ran for a moment. Is this a trick to keep Lord Ross away from himself?

It's not easy to get a reliable escort.

'Of course, the Imperial Academy is protected by magic.'

That's why the Duchess has not been able to reach out to him.

"All right."

Eustaf nodded. You can leave Ross here, and you can take someone else with you.

"But one thing."

"Huh?"

"Why are you doing this?"

Ran smiled strangely at Eustaf's words.

Because I'm sorry for being so hard on you in the original? I can't say this.

"Because we're family."

The answer is not false, either.

Until Female Lead comes.

Until she comes and falls in love with him and becomes happy.

I was going to do my best to cheer for they.

'And I'm going to look for the second male lead.'

Why did I put Male Lead and Second male lead into harm's way?

A 15-year-old, middle school sophomore grew up with black dyes growing in her mind.

Ran regretted slowly in her mind.

'But first, let's take care of the light.'

It's not until a long time later that Female Lead finds, but Ran decided to drag in advance now.

It was a mine on the ice wall.

Mana Stone.

There is a wizard in this world. Well, as you can see from the story of Iveria, the great sage who raised the ice wall, built the gate, and built the house. Wizards are quite common, so all Lords over the count had one or two wizards.

However, there is no wizard in the Duchy of Lazia. The reason was simple.

This was because Iveria, the great wise man, banned the wizard from entering within 10 kilometers of the ice wall.

The old taboo and silent rules were still perfectly handed down. So, when you say "a wizardless duke," it refers to the duke of Lazia.

However, even the aristocrats without wizards wanted to see the benefits of magic, and what was designed to do so was magic supplies.

There is a rock called Mana Stone, which contains mana. Using it, the wizards designed the magicians to work without continuing to inject mana.

Soon, however, interest in magical items waned. First of all, the purity of the mana stone is not high, so it is because it is consumed a lot, so considering the maintenance cost, it was better to hire a wizard.

As a result, it was said to have failed, but the faint lighting, which requires little power from the mana stone, lasted quite a long time, and some places used mana stone

instead of candles. Only the existence of magic tax works that managed to make magical items has continued.

'But the mana stone on the ice wall has a huge number of reserves and a very high purity.'

In short, what has been impossible so far has been possible. It was like bringing coal, or oil, to the harmony fuel market.

'Besides, me, the original author, can go one step further.'

The mana stone, which rises to a hexagonal shape just like crystal, is as transparent as ice due to its high purity.

The first ice crystal found by Female Lead is colorless and transparent. However, mines do not have only transparent ice crystals.

'Red and blue Mana Stone.'

This mana stone was the reason why the great wise man Iveria kept the wizards away from the ice wall.

The mana from this mana stone has a completely different character from the current mana, and it deteriorates the mana accumulated by the wizard.

In other words, the moment You come into contact with the Mana Stone, the wizard cannot use magic, and if they do, it will become a nuisance.

That's why she warned them not to approach the ice wall. 'They can't handle humans.'

In the magical system of Dwarf and Elf, the species living at the western end, it is like a mana stone.

'In other words, we can interact with people of different races.'

Ran smiled in her heart. Minerals that could only be handled by the Dwarfs or the elf were traded at a considerable price.

'Cause the North can't start a fast-food business anyway.'

The oil industry will be secured, but the relay trade will not be bad.

'But first step is mine, so....'

Thinking of it, Ran sighed.

'Where was it located?'

At that time, Eustaf said, cutting off her thoughts. "Noonim."

"Huh? Yeah."

"I'm going to get going."

"Academy, you will be graduating, aren't you?" "Because Noonim is Patriarch now."

"It's temporary."

"May the blue flame bless you."

"Don't!"

Frowning, Ran raised her hand.

"That greeting is too much. Blue flame is yours. Just a normal greeting."

Ran added, Slowly.

"And we are family."

At the words, Eustaf looked straight at her and said, "I've never thought of you as my family."

Throb.

It's so heart-breaking.

Ran smiled awkwardly and said, "Is that so?"

Eustaf greeted her reaction as if nothing had happened and left the room.

Ran sat down helplessly.

'Not family.'

At this rate, I might be kicked out by Eustaf as soon as he put handed his position as a Patriarch.

But even if that happens.

'Do what you have to do.'

Still, should I save some pocket money...

Ran thought so and pulled the string so that the next person could come in.

The week-long funeral was over, and it was the day that Eustaf returned to the capital's academy.

Ran knew well that as soon as he left the mansion, he would be monitored for every move.

'Sir Ross.'

Ran swallowed a sigh when she saw him say something earnestly to Eustaf several times.

After Ross finally moved away from Eustaf, Ran was able to approach him.

"Have a safe trip."

"Yes, I wish you all the best."

Ran looked at the blue ring on his neck and smiled at Eustaf again.

"with your grades, you should be first in rank."

It was a mean remark, but he answered without hesitation. "If you want."

"Is that just because I want?"

When Ran asked again, Eustaf laughed and went into the carriage.

Ran stepped back, and horseman politely closed the carriage door. The horseman lightly lifted his hat to greet her and whistled.

The horse began to run lightly, and the carriage quickly drifted away. It was not until he was completely away that Ran sighed and turned around.

"Sir Ross."

"Yes."

Hazel-colored eyes looked straight at Ran as if they had something to say.

"While Eustaf is gone, I want you to be my escort."

Ross looked down without replying, as he had already spoken to Eustaf.

"Nice."

Ran sighed again.

"Then let's get to work."

***

'I'm dying.'

When I asked the butler to bring all the accounting documents, Ran was eager to work.

'But it's a bad situation.'

The situation was worse than I thought.

'It's been mortgaged by a private lender, haven't you?'

The Duchy of Lazia is spacious and has a lot of useless land. But there's no way he's mortgaged a useless piece of land.

'The only granary I've got is a mortgage. If we don't have this, we'll all starve. I'm starving.'

Of course, the repayment period is still about half a year away, but interest was due every month.

Moreover, the finances are negative.

Minus.

Negative means that there is currently no lump sum money to respond to, and that a lump sum of money will be spent on mining development, even if it is a visionary, it is not difficult to know.

'Shall we sell some of the mining rights?'

We need to find the mine first.

Baron Lindbergh was still staying at the mansion. As soon as Eustaf left, he wanted to meet Ran right away.

'I hated it because I had a lot of work to do.'

Then Ran beat her head with a flagpole.

The duke is big, and of course there are many working families. There are four people in charge of the operatives.

The butler, the maid, and the servant in charge of all the affairs of the mansion.

An administrator in charge of the affairs of a territory. An accountant in charge of accounting.

A knight in charge of armed forces such as soldiers and knights Among them, accountants are trash.

A human being who pocketed public funds into his own pocket.

'Why did you turn the accounts into a trash? Oh, really!?'

That's the most important part.

Well, it was so easy for the duke to collapse.

Fortunately, the rest of the people were deeply loyal to the duke.

'Especially the Knight Commander.'

Ran saw Ross. The Knight Commander was his eldest brother.

"Sir Ross."

"Yes."

"Can I have the Administrator and the Knight Commander?"

At Ran's command, Ross asked, without a word, after calling the two men.

"What are you going to do?'

"The accounting is terrible."

"The Duchess was extravagant."

"Yes."

Ran nodded gently at the sarcastic remark that your mother had done something wrong. It's true.

"The problem is that selling such jewelry is a bargain. It's expensive--"

He paused for a moment, and Ran continued. "How much do you know about the financial situation?" "I know it's tight."

"It's not tight enough."

Ran knocked on a bundle of papers.

"It looks like our accountant has definitely deceived you. Well, you weren't the one looking into the accounting books."

You would have thought it was not aristocratic. If an accountant could borrow money, or if he could respond, he would have thought so.

I didn't think it was a big deal to use private loans. "I'm scared…that sense of crisis."

Ross's expression hardened slightly at her words. "How dare an accountant lie to you?"

"That's right."

With a nod, Ran swallowed a bitter smile.

I think it's a tight aristocratic way of thinking, but I didn't say that. This is the North, and they are honor-conscious.

You can't understand the trick of cheating your boss before the temptation of money. People who are as attractive as rare animals and will disappear without a protective shield of good superiority.

Ran smiled.

Eustaf is an excellent shield.

Ross frowned at her smile, and there was a knock on the door.

Knock knock.

"Come on in."

Pushing the chair back slightly, Ran spoke clearly. The administrator who opened the door and came in was a woman about the middle of her 40s.

The knight in his early thirties was dressed in armor. "I see the Lord."

Elizabeth, the administrator, greeted first, followed by Blaine, the Knight Commander.

Ran felt lighthearted because he seemed to follow the words of not to say formal greetings to Lord.

"Both of you sit down."

Administrator Elizabeth and Knight Commander Blaine glanced at each other.

They met at the door, but neither of them knew why she called them.

'Of course, it's not like I don't have a clue.'

Elizabeth looked at the young lord in front of her. When Ran was wearing blue ring, Elizabeth was also there. I don't know what's going on, but the ring was definitely in her hands.

It didn't even burn Ran.

Ran has said several times that she's a temporary Patriarch, but what if she's lowering herself before she cringes her claws?

As soon as she ascends to the throne, she examines the accounting books and calls the administrator and the chief of the Knights.

'It's not what an ordinary 19-year-old girl would do.'

Elizabeth thought so and gently lowered her eyes when her eyes met Ran.

"Suddenly, I'll call two people and they'll wonder what's going on. To put it bluntly."

Ran tapped her finger on the specialized document. "The duke's debts are enormous."

"Oh my, How much?"

Elizabeth asked again. Ran smiled bitterly and said.

"If I say, ‘I have to sell my estate and my title,’ can you guess how much is it?"

All three people in the study swallowed their breath at Ran's words. But soon Elizabeth protested.

"That can't be! I also looked at the accounting data. Of course, it's tight, but the benefits are-"

"It was fraudulent accounting."

"Fraudulent accounting?"

Blaine asked the first term he heard. Ran gathered her fingertips and said, standing like a tower.

"In short, Fraud. For example, -"

Ran thought for a moment and gave the simplest example. "I don't buy things, but I write down that I bought them." Ran opened a document and pushed it to Blaine. "Last year, 3,000 verats were paid to equip the Knights." Blaine hurriedly pulled the document at the words. It really says the payment is 3,000 verat.

He protested without realizing it.

"No way!"

It was money that he had never received a penny. On the contrary, he has raised the long list of requests to change the tattered equipment, but no money has come in.

"I thought so. Besides, if you look over here, you've spent a lot of money buying horses, but you don't do that much, do we?"

Elizabeth's face turned pale.

"There must be something similar going on in the administration."

"I know. Elizabeth has a separate record of the funding request. Thanks to you, it was easy to find compared. But."

Ran smiled coolly.

"Bunuch accounting is always accompanied by embezzlement, malpractice and fraud."

We don't have any in stock, but it says we bought it. I have a terrible business trip.

If then,

-I don't even know how to touch it?

Of course, that kind of thought follows.

"But Lord, how will you believe us?"

In Elizabeth's words, Ran pointed her finger to her eyes. "I didn't leave my eyes open while I was here."

Elizabeth shut her mouth. It is strange to say that Ran has observed and made a decision on her own, but it is strange to believe that she believes it alone, which is suspicious of the Lord's eyes.

Besides, I didn't hate that you believed in me. "So, I'm going to run out the accountant."

She waved her palms lightly from side to side near her neck.

"But that doesn't mean the debt is gone. What's fortunate is that 6 months from now will be repaid? And it hasn't been decided whether to pay in installments or lump-sum payments."

Blaine frowned.

"Then what are you going to do?"

When asked by him, Ran looked up for a moment and said,

"For now, we need to get rid of the accountant, investigate and confiscate the property, but there's something we need to do before that happens."

"Please tell us."

"I'd like you to search the northern mountains." "Ice wall?"

In this situation?

He had that face, but Ran smiled and said,

"Yes, I mean ·····."

Ran groped for the location of the mine. After Female Lead fell here, it was discovered while wandering through the mountain range, so it won't be that far from the "door."

"I want you to concentrate on finding the cave near the door."

"Near the door?"

His face became hard.

"Yes, I wish I could come with you."

Ran said so and shrugged her shoulders.

'Door'

It is the source of the story and the beginning of the Lazian family.

Iveria, the great wise man, made three things while sealing the darkness.

This mountain range called the ice wall.

Door, the core of the mountain range.

And the Sky castle that was built for the Lazian family, the gatekeeper.

So, the door was a symbol of fear and awe in the north.

Of course, the Blue Knights, the Knights of the Duke of Lazia, was close to the door, but I would not want to ask you to investigate near the door.

"But!"

"Please do a thorough investigation. There's a secret plan in the cave to save the Lazian family."

"Is that so"

Blaine nodded without much concern.

"All right, I'll start a team."

"I'll leave it up to you, but I ask only those who can keep silent on whatever they find in the cave."

At Ran's words, Blaine glanced at her and bowed his head. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Yes."

Saying so, Ran gestured to Blaine to leave. He got up, greeted politely, and left the study.

And Ran looked at the remaining Elizabeth and said,

"Actually, there's nothing to gather evidence for. Just looking inside is full of loopholes. I've probably been doing it for years, and it's not a problem, so I'm sure it's been a hassle lately."

"But you still want to document it."

Ran nodded at Elizabeth's words. Elizabeth looked at the documents on the desk and said, "Please send everything to my room."

"Please."

Ran said so and told Elizabeth to go out.

Then she called her servant to move some documents to Elizabeth's office, and Ran’s work increased.

'I’m tired.'

Sneaking at Ross, he had a face that wouldn't lift a finger for herself.

"A cup of tea."

When Ran opened a finger and said softly, Ross called the maid. Ran pressed her forehead with both hands and waited for the tea to be brewed.

'I'm tired.'

On second thought, she passed through the numbers that filled her head one by one. The maid quietly poured tea into the tea cup.

Ross asked as soon as the maid left.

"Did you send it on purpose?"