IWCAANM-CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5

“Who issued this certificate of ownership? The Artenbach Bank?”

“Uh, that’s…”

“When the business was canceled, how were you supposed to retrieve your investment? You at least set up some safety measures before investing, right?”

Please, let this all be a bad dream.

“I-I’ll go ask the company tomorrow.”

My fears became reality. The thin sheet of ice that could have shattered at any moment finally broke apart with a loud crash.

“How much did you invest?”

“…Not much.”

“How much exactly?”

“…Ten million Tiga.”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

I didn’t even have the money to fix the roof and was considering selling a gift from a stranger just to cover living expenses.

Even knowing how disgraceful it was for a noblewoman to earn money on her own name.

Above all, my father couldn’t possibly have that much money—ten million Tiga was far beyond what he could afford.

“Where did you get the money?”

“From the Artenbach Bank…”

My father’s voice grew quieter as he noticed how strange the atmosphere had become.

“Father, don’t hide it. Tell me the truth.”

“T-They said there was a pink diamond deposited under Black Swan’s name, so I used it as collateral for ten million…”

I didn’t even have the strength to shout or the will to think anymore. I just sank to the floor. Anna gasped and rushed toward me, grabbing my arm.

“My lady!”

“Schmidt!”

My father hurried over as well, trying to help me up.

“Don’t touch me!”

It was miserable. Wasn’t this punishment far too cruel to be called a trial from the gods?

What had I done in my previous life to deserve this? What terrible sin had I committed?

“Father, do you even know what that jewel is…? Haah, please, just—don’t do anything anymore. No business ventures, no gambling, just stay home. Please!”

Before I knew it, thick tears were falling from my eyes. Perhaps realizing the gravity of the situation at last, my father sank to his knees on the floor.

“S-Schmidt, I’ll go meet that businessman tomorrow and ask for the money back, okay?”

I shut my eyes tightly. My jaw ached from clenching it so hard as I forced myself to speak.

“If you can meet him, go ahead. Try.”

My father picked up the certificate that had fallen to the ground and tucked the piece of paper he’d bought for ten million Tiga carefully into his chest. Then he bowed deeply, insisting he would handle everything himself.

The very next morning, I went to the Artenbach Bank—to clean up the mess caused by meddling with something that should have never been touched.

Up until I left the house, I wanted to believe that Father hadn’t been scammed, that it was a legitimate investment.

Even if he lacked business sense and viewed the world through naïve eyes, surely he wouldn’t be foolish enough to throw away ten million Tiga.

But early that morning, the people lined up outside the bank were all talking about the same thing—Ruev Street, No. 3—and some were crying on the ground, wailing that they had lost their entire fortune.

Even the tiniest shred of hope crumbled into dust. My head spun as I realized we’d fed ten million Tiga—and a pink diamond used as collateral—to a con artist.

‘…How empty this feels.’

Would Baron Deli, the man who once nurtured artists and beautified the Empire, now be remembered only for his past glory?

With a money-hungry ghost at home, how could there possibly be a future?

“Customer number 5.”

I looked down at the small wooden token I’d received at the entrance. The number 5 was written on it.

“How can I help you today?”

I stared at the banker. I was so angry it hurt to even open my mouth.

“Miss?”

I barely managed to part my trembling lips.

“My father said he borrowed money under Black Swan’s name. I’d like to confirm that.”

“May I see your identification, please?”

I handed over my personal identification issued by the Imperial Office and the business registration certificate for Black Swan. The banker told me to wait a moment and went to fetch the ledger.

I tapped my fingers nervously against the desk, then noticed my wrist exposed beneath the edge of my dress sleeve. The cold air against my skin made me instinctively cover it with my palm.

“Sorry for the wait. Let me confirm that for you.”

The banker returned and opened the ledger, confirming that my father had indeed borrowed ten million Tiga under Black Swan’s name.

“When is the repayment due?”

“In two years. The interest must be paid on the last day of each month.”

Just the interest alone would consume half my monthly living expenses. Finding enough to keep Black Swan running would be almost impossible now.

After thanking the banker weakly, I stood up. Maybe I could survive by hiding my identity and working as a waitress while secretly running Black Swan. Or perhaps I could tutor noble children in etiquette.

‘As if anyone would hire me.’

The more I thought about it, the more miserable I felt. There was no word from Father, who’d gone to confront the con artist, and the sound of people’s sobs echoed endlessly around the bank. Then—

A carriage plated in gold stopped in front of the Artenbach Bank. Everyone nearby turned to look.

The door opened. The emblem engraved with two crossed swords and a black panther’s head gleamed fiercely—it was unmistakable, even at a glance.

A polished black shoe stepped down first.

A sleek black suit that emphasized long legs.

A dark green shirt, dyed in a shade so expensive only nobles could afford it.

A vest stitched entirely with golden thread.

And a jacket casually draped over his arm.

‘The Duke of Artenbach.’

It was my first time seeing him up close. If I compared it to my previous life, it felt like meeting a celebrity in person.

Jet-black hair like a starless night, and golden eyes said to bring fortune just by looking at them.

The Duke ignored the stares around him and reached out toward the carriage.

A small hand emerged first. Then, slowly, a young boy stepped down.

“My lady! There you are!”

Anna’s voice called from behind me.

“This isn’t the time to be here! That child who visits our counseling office—Guild just sent word! He’s not a bourgeois child, he’s the Duke of Artenbach’s—”

Anna froze when she followed my gaze toward the carriage. She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream.

“Yeah. I just found out too.”

The boy holding the Duke’s hand and stepping out of the carriage was the same cheerful kid who’d always called me ‘Auntie’ with a bright smile.

‘You idiot, you stupid Schmidt!’

He’d been so natural and polite that I never imagined he could be the Duke’s child.

In other words—Black Swan had used the Duke of Artenbach’s pink diamond as collateral without permission, borrowed money from the Artenbach Bank—which also belonged to the Duke—and then lost it all to a scammer.

We’d borrowed the Duke’s money from the Duke’s bank, using the Duke’s gem as collateral.

‘Should I run?’

If I lived deep in the woods, maybe no one would find me.

No, someone of the Duke’s status could hunt me down even if I fled the country.

Anna shook me, snapping me out of my panicked daze.

“My lady! My lady!”

My senses returned, and I instinctively turned toward the carriage—only to meet the boy’s eyes, as if fate itself had set it up.

“Auntie?”

The familiar voice made me whip my head around. Every nerve in my body screamed danger.

“Auntie, it’s you, right?”

The voice came closer. I grabbed Anna’s arm and started walking briskly away. She followed stiffly, like a wooden doll.

“Auntie, where are you going?”

I was older, so my steps were faster. If I just ignored him—

“Catch them.”

A deep, commanding male voice struck my ears. In an instant, knights appeared out of nowhere, surrounding Anna and me.

Cold sweat trickled down my back. I hadn’t done it myself, but the guilt was enough to crush me.

“Auntie, why are you running away?”

The boy’s smiling face somehow looked terrifying now.

As the knights closed in, we backed away step by step—until we were close enough to reach out and shake hands.

Anna had completely lost her composure. Her face was pale, her eyes unfocused.

“R-Running away? No, I was just going to open the counseling office, that’s all…”

The boy’s cheerful expression slowly stiffened.

“Why are you talking like that? You always spoke to me comfortably before. Even though you knew who I was.”

My heart dropped. The Duke, arms crossed, was staring right at me.

“Sh-should I? Haha… ha.”

“I like that better too! When Father goes to work, I’ll come straight to your counseling office.”

I couldn’t bring myself to answer.

“But why are you here, Auntie?”

The boy looked up at me with pride and said,

“Because of the diamond! You said I had to bring an adult, remember?”

Why—why did it have to be today of all days?

“So I came with Father! To get the diamond back.”

And that father… was the Duke of Artenbach himself.