My older sister is a villainous rich girl

Various jewel-encrusted carriages filed in through the magnificent archway, and, guided by temporarily borrowed attendants, the exquisitely dressed nobles, with polite smiles on their faces, stepped into the banquet hall of the Radiant Palace one by one.

Scarlet wool tapestries hung from the dome, while candles and magic lamps illuminated the scene, making the Royal Banner of Lornes, which stood in the center of the banquet hall, appear even more somber.

Attendants moved silently by carrying trays filled with gilded goblets of Buffalo wine. Meanwhile, noble ladies whispered amongst themselves, their eyes sweeping over the faces of every handsome young man in the banquet hall as they discreetly chose their dance partners for the evening.

Perhaps after the banquet, an unforgettable encounter will unfold in some corner.

"Lord Wayne! Your arrival is truly a blessing and salvation for Buffalo, which is suffering in the midst of fire. Tonight's celebration is even greater than when Archduke Laird was alive!" A portly neutron flattered without any restraint.

Wayne changed into a black tuxedo and stood calmly among a group of middle-aged, greasy men, which made him even more handsome and extraordinary, catching the eyes of the young women and married women who had been watching for a long time.

"This victory is all thanks to His Majesty the King's skillful leadership, His Holiness the Pope's generous assistance, and the concerted efforts of all my friends. I only did a small part."

He had long been accustomed to the world of fake smiles and flattery.

Rather than dealing with the sycophants before him, he was more interested in observing the opinions of the southwestern nobles regarding Inofan's death.

“Look, the one who will deliver the decisive blow in this war has arrived.” Wayne looked behind the crowd.

Viscount Frode's beast-like physique could not be concealed by clothing, even by the most skilled tailor.

The body he brought from Bufania had been independently examined by several rebel prisoners and confirmed to be Inofan himself. Therefore, Viscount Freud was not only invited to the banquet at the Palace of Radiance, but would also have a place in His Majesty's bestowal of titles afterward.

After their last joint operation to wipe out the hidden stronghold, Wayne had hoped to see what secrets he would reveal in the rebels' retaliation, perhaps even some clues about his collusion with the rebels. But the other side actually handed over the rebel leader's head, which was far too unexpected.

But this might also prove something from another perspective.

“Viscount Freud, tell us how you killed Inofan. Everyone in Buffalo has been curious for a long time.” Wayne took a gilded goblet from the tray, handed it to him, and then clinked glasses with him. “Congratulations!”

Freud laughed heartily and downed the bright red wine in his glass in one gulp.

In his high spirits, he no longer paid much attention to the proper etiquette expected of a nobleman.

"I was just a little bit lucky and managed to get the help of a few powerful mages from around Sheri City. Inofan thought I was careless and didn't bring many people, so I took him down in one fell swoop."

Some of the Bufanian nobles in the banquet hall did indeed show expressions of envy and jealousy upon hearing this. For example, the garrison commander Holoferner, who had been recuperating at home recently, was clearly thinking to himself that Freud had gotten incredibly lucky.

Count Sivers wore an elegant yet aloof smile, revealing nothing about his expression.

Sandoval, the Southwest Finance Minister who was originally standing on the other side of the banquet hall, and some other nobles noticed the commotion and came over to toast Floyd. For a while, there was a lively exchange of toasts.

Chapter 718 The Curse Comes True Again

Urban hid in the crowd, his gaze lingering on Wayne, intentionally or unintentionally.

Tonight, Wayne Wincher was undoubtedly the star of the banquet hall. All the Buffalo nobles who attended the dinner lined up to flatter and curry favor with him. This familiar scene once again stirred a strange feeling in Urban's heart.

Am I overthinking things...?

After all, so much time has passed, and perhaps my memory has become somewhat distorted.

As far as he knew, Wayne Wincher was indeed a child adopted by Duke Elliott, and no one could say for sure what the details were. Regardless of whether there was anything wrong with the other party's identity, if he were to raise such a far-fetched suspicion out of thin air, he would undoubtedly be making an irreparable enemy of the entire Wincher family.

His fingers tapped unconsciously on the edge of the table.

The banquet at Radiant Palace was already in its second half. Men and women in high spirits danced arm in arm, while the already tipsy noblemen talked and laughed loudly. He noticed that Sandoval, the Minister of Finance of the Southwest, whispered something to Wayne, and then quietly left the most powerful corner of the banquet hall.

Urban stopped tapping on the table, his hand idly tapping.

He glanced casually at the other corners and, seeing that no one in the room was paying attention to him, got up and followed.

Minister Franz's task for him was to find a way to kill Sandoval.

He didn't know what kind of grudges or conflicts of interest lay behind this; the infighting among nobles always stemmed from the same few reasons, nothing new or surprising. If the other party had a need and the reward was substantial, that was enough for him to take action.

Sandoval is the last target; after eliminating him, Franz will help him regain his viscount title.

His magical skills were poor, but killing someone wasn't limited to direct combat.

Maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far, Urban left the banquet hall through a side door, bypassed the flower room where the plants grew exceptionally lushly despite being neglected, passed the statue of a girl holding a flower basket, and crossed the circular fountain made of white stone. He saw Sandoval walk into the garden behind the palace.

The bushes, taller than a single-story building, are arranged in a shape resembling a secret palace. Many young men and women who are having a pleasant conversation at a banquet often choose to meet in a more secluded place. This quiet and beautiful garden, which can also shield the view of outsiders, is naturally the best choice.

Although Urban was somewhat surprised that Sandoval didn't seem like such a frivolous person on the surface, his deliberate distancing himself from the crowd suited his wishes perfectly. The royal guards were all immersed in revelry tonight, and their vigilance was inevitably lax; just like now, there wasn't a single person to be seen in the garden.

He carefully crept in along the edge of the bushes.

……

"Oh no! Something's happened! Something's happened!"

What's going on outside?

"How could something like this happen again at Radiant Palace! The curse... it must be the curse coming true again!"

A sudden commotion erupted among the crowd not far away. Just as Wayne was about to send someone out to see what was happening, General Kent walked in with a grim expression. "Urburn is dead, in the back garden."

Wayne paused in his swirling of the wine glass.

"Take me to see it."

Although he managed to stop the whispers among the nobles at the banquet, rumors could not be stopped, and the news spread throughout Fania within the next day. At a time when his campaign to quell the rebellion should have been a celebratory banquet to mark a perfect end, his advisor died mysteriously, leading everyone to speculate whether someone was secretly targeting him.

Looking at Urban's almost unrecognizable state, Wayne frowned deeply and remained silent for a long time.

“A couple having a secret rendezvous in the back garden accidentally discovered the body and immediately reported it,” Kent explained to him. “About an hour ago, two guards saw Urban leave the banquet hall, but assumed he was just going to the restroom and didn’t ask any further questions.”

"So the time of death must have been within this hour. I've ordered the Palace of Radiance sealed off inside and out. The murderer might still be nearby," Kent concluded.

"Could you provide a detailed list of everyone who left the banquet hall during the event?" Wayne asked.

“We are investigating, but since the guards of Radiant Palace are all our own people brought from the capital, they are not familiar with the faces of the Bufanian nobles, so it is difficult to guarantee that their memories are not wrong.” General Kent was silent for a while before saying, “Some people also say that the curse of Grand Duke Laird still remains in Radiant Palace. It is said that there have been many such bizarre deaths, and in the end, they were all left unsolved.”

curse……

He did feel an unsettling atmosphere the moment he stepped into the Radiant Palace, but after checking inside and out over the past few days and settling in, he hadn't noticed anything unusual.

As for Urban, he had previously hinted to himself that he was going to cause trouble for Count Siefus, and Goethe had been very direct in pointing out that he was an executioner who did the dirty work for Minister Franz. Was his death related to the task Franz had given him?

As a representative of the local nobility, Count Sivers also appeared in the garden.

He first showed a look of shock, then a look of worry.

"Lord Wayne, for your safety, I suggest you move out of the Radiant Palace for the time being. The curse of Duke Laird has been circulating in Buffalo for a long time. Even if you don't believe it, others will."

The guards at the scene were indeed shaken upon hearing this. With their glorious return to the capital imminent, none of them wanted to become the next target of the curse.

“No need to worry, I invited a cardinal from the Vatican, a mere curse is nothing to fear.” Wayne glanced at Mellen, who was led in by a guard, and nodded in acknowledgment.

"After discussions within the Cardinals, the Vatican decided to build a cathedral in Bufana. This Bishop Melen Savedra is the twenty-first in the Cardinals, and he will remain in Bufana."

As he spoke, Wayne carefully observed Count Sivers's reaction.

The Papacy wields considerable influence in the Kingdom of Lornes; even the king must be crowned by the Papacy to ascend the throne. However, the former Duchy of Milstein lacked faith in the Church; previously, the city of Buffania did not even have a formal church, with only a few scattered priests preaching and providing medical assistance.

The construction of the Buphania Cathedral is now intended to spread the gospel of God and to resist the corruption and temptation of dark magic. Since the Vatican has proposed this, Count Sivers has no reason to refuse, no matter what he thinks in his heart. Otherwise, he would be disrespectful to God and harboring wicked thoughts.

“This…this is wonderful!” Count Sivers breathed a sigh of relief. “Your Excellency Bishop Savedera, I entrust Buffania and the Palace of Radiance to your care.”

Chapter 719 Sandoval

Melen Savedra's expression was subtle.

As soon as he received the news, a group of royal guards forcibly blocked his way and invited him to Radiant Palace. However, cultivating a good relationship with Wayne was originally part of Elfman's plan, so it was not unreasonable for him to do it himself.

"I need to perform a ritual to detect the presence of the curse. To avoid any interference, please have everyone who is not involved leave the garden first."

Wayne gestured for the guards to step back, walked over to Mellen, and quietly explained the basic information he had gathered.

Finally, he asked, "Does the Vatican have magic specifically designed to counter curses?"

"Most people don't understand that curses are also a special kind of magic. But just as vision depends on the eyes, without the corresponding sensory organs, even if an object is right in front of you, you can't see anything. And in this world, only the blessing of God can give form to a curse, so—"

Mellen spread his hands, "Actually, the Vatican doesn't have any ritual for detecting curses."

Wayne looked disappointed.

However, he had always suspected that this matter had little to do with the curse.

“There was no trace of magic on him; he died from pure physical torture. Assuming there is a direct culprit, that person likely had a personal grudge or public outrage against Urban, which is why they vented their dissatisfaction in such a violent way,” he said. “Before the completion of the Bufani Cathedral, could Bishop Melen move into the Radiant Palace? At least that would help stabilize morale.”

In the eyes of ordinary people, the Vatican is almost synonymous with God's spokesperson, and it is almost effortless for them to fabricate some mystical claims, let alone heretics like Elfman and Mellen who are so audacious that they do not care at all about forging oracles.

"can."

The celebrations at Radiant Palace inevitably ended somewhat abruptly, but the residents of Buffalo remained immersed in the festive atmosphere.

Under Wayne's orders, the curfew was lifted that night, and almost all the citizens of the city took to the streets to enjoy the colorful flames of the bonfires in the square and the magical performances, which caused some congestion on the nobles' return journey by carriage.

Sandoval sat in Count Siefus's carriage, his unease barely concealed between his brows.

"What's wrong? Were you scared just now?" Count Sivers suddenly asked.

"No!"

Sandoval subconsciously denied the slight fear in his heart and turned his gaze to Count Siefers in the opposite seat.

He had served this person for a very long time, but some secrets remained absolutely forbidden to him.

“I was just thinking… a cardinal from the Papacy will be stationed in Buffalo in the future, and with the expansion of the Church, the situation in Buffalo may change more.” He hesitated for a moment before saying, “And that Bishop Mellen seems to have a good personal relationship with Wayne Wincher.”

“It’s certainly surprising that he’s allied himself with the Papacy,” Sivers scoffed. “But that’s not something we need to worry about. Once he returns to the capital, others will be concerned for him.”

Despite the unpleasant incident, Wayne Wincher's departure was a foregone conclusion, and Sivers tactfully stated that he would continue his investigation in Buffalo after Wincher returned to the capital.

Of course, the result will only be that nothing comes of it, just like everyone who has died from Laird's curse before.

“That aide seemed to have come to the garden with me.” Sandoval recalled the moment when Urban stumbled upon his conversation with Sievers, and the terrified expression on Sievers’ face still lingered in his mind.

“Wayne Winche probably already suspects us, which is why he’s had his staff keep an eye on us. But he doesn’t have any evidence, and unless His Majesty the King approves, he can’t do anything to me.” Sivers loosened his tie in annoyance, still feeling an uncontrollable surge of anger within him.

For him, this was the first time someone had made him feel as if he were being watched by a venomous snake, with no idea when he would be bitten. In the past, he should have been the one giving this experience to others.

"But His Majesty the King may not always trust us."

“We don’t need him to trust us, we just need him to distrust the Wincher family.”

Count Sivers gave Sandoval detailed instructions on the capital powers he needed to contact, escorted him to his doorstep, and then left.

Sandoval was his chosen successor as the next governor of the Southwest, not because of his outstanding abilities, but because only Sandoval could properly handle many of the hidden matters for him.

A dove perched on the windowsill, silently watching Sandoval, looking exhausted, take off his coat and sit down at his desk to continue his official duties.

But for a long time, his pen tip didn't move an inch.

After a long silence, he let out a helpless sigh, supporting his head with his hands, feeling as if a jumble of chaotic thoughts was about to overwhelm his mind. If he had previously harbored a sliver of hope, everything now undoubtedly told him that there was no turning back.

Offending the Wincher family might make his future path more difficult, but if he dared to betray Earl Sivers, he would immediately repeat Urban's mistakes. Even if he became the new Governor of the Southwest, he would only continue to be a puppet controlled by Sivers.

Until one day she loses all her usefulness, just like the Countess and her family, she becomes a tool for Sivers to clear his name.

He needs to prepare some things in case of unforeseen circumstances.

That wasn't because he wanted to betray, but rather a backup plan he had to keep in order to protect himself.

Thinking of this, he immediately got up and left the study.

The dove, which had been motionless in a fixed position on the windowsill, suddenly shifted, and Aikos reappeared in the same spot.

Wayne did suspect Siefers and Sandoval, but for him, suspecting someone didn't require evidence, so he didn't need to sit in the Radiant Palace waiting for others to come to him; he could come and get it himself.

At the exact moment the guards saw Urban leave the banquet hall, Sandoval had just said goodbye and excused himself for a short while, returning to the banquet hall with Count Sivers about fifteen minutes later.

Wayne didn't think anything was unusual at the time; it was common for nobles to want to find a quiet place to talk alone at banquets. But the fact that Urban wanted to target someone close to Sivers was too much of a coincidence.

As far as he knew, Sandoval was of low-ranking noble birth, but his outstanding abilities earned him the favor of Count Siefus, who made him his confidant.

This was an anomaly in the aristocratic circles where family background was the norm, especially since Sivers didn't seem like an open-minded person who was not bound by social conventions.

If it is indeed because of his reliable abilities, then Sandoval must have solved some very troublesome problems for Siefus to gain his trust, which means that he may have key secrets about Siefus.

Chapter 720 An Unexpected Visitor from the Capital

Compared to other noble residences, this detached house was not very large, and Wayne did not see many servants along the way. The furnishings were also very simple and unpretentious.

The study was filled with all kinds of books, and the official documents on the table were almost overflowing.

Wien walked to the table and looked through it; it was a portion of Bufana's tax accounting, consistent with the data he had received from Minister Franz.

His Majesty the King hoped that Buffalo could provide more revenue, but Minister Franz knew that the Southwest Province was in no condition to bear a heavier tax burden. The money was not in the hands of those who needed it, nor could it circulate to where it should.

From this perspective, it's impossible that Count Sivers, who had cultivated the Southwest for decades, was completely unaware of the situation of the common people; he simply chose to ignore it all along.