My older sister is a villainous rich girl

"Do you know that your life is already on a countdown?"

Wayne suddenly spoke up.

Sandoval, who had just left and returned, was stunned to realize who the uninvited guest in the study was.

"Lord Wayne? What are you doing here?!"

The intense unease that had finally subsided surged back into Sandoval's heart. Compared to the terrible future he might face, the scene before him was just as frightening as when Urban had witnessed it not long ago.

Lord Wayne's sudden appearance in his study—has he already discovered something?

“You know why? Now that I’ve come to you, there’s no point in continuing to play dumb.” Wayne sat down in the head seat of the study without any politeness.

He didn't have any evidence, but bluffing the other party didn't cost him anything.

Sandoval stood stiffly at the door, not daring to come in.

"Sit down. You don't think you can still run away, do you?"

The boy smiled brightly, appearing as harmless as ever, but to Sandoval, he was more terrifying than any legendary demon.

Perhaps he's already surrounded? Countless mages might be lying in ambush outside, ready to swarm and subdue him at the slightest sign of trouble...

Sandoval obediently sat down in the guest chair opposite the desk, placing his hands on his knees, just like every subordinate who had ever been nervous when he received them at home.

“I’ve heard that you have a good reputation outside. Most people in Bufania think you are a very capable person and have the potential to take over as the next governor.” Wayne leaned back in his chair, as if he had already made this place his home.

“No, I just tried my best to complete the tasks assigned by my superiors, and I always have,” Sandoval said conservatively.

"Don't underestimate yourself. With your family background and lack of support, it's not easy to get this far. Earl Sivers must have given you a lot of support."

“Your Excellency the Earl has indeed shown me great kindness, and I will never forget it.”

"Do you think if I were to kill you now to vent my anger, given Count Sivers' character, would he avenge you?" Wayne seemed genuinely curious.

Sandoval was sweating profusely. He hadn't expected this man to be so unpredictable, resorting to threats and retaliation at the slightest suspicion. But what drove him even more desperate was that the answer automatically surfaced in his mind the moment the question was presented to him.

He knew very well the Earl of Sivers' character; he would never treat him any better than others.

For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

Seeing Sandoval's worried and conflicted expression, Wayne knew what was going on.

“I suddenly think this idea is quite good. You and Earl Sivers should be well aware of the situation of our Wincher family. His Majesty the King is probably also troubled about what reward to give me for my contributions. If I suddenly cause trouble at this critical juncture, it might just be what many people want. At worst, when I return to the capital, I can just bow my head and apologize to His Majesty the King, curry favor, and that will be the end of it,” he said calmly.

Given the power of the Winchester family, the king would never punish himself too severely.

The truth is always cruel. In the eyes of the highest-ranking nobles in Lornes, Sandoval's life was no more precious than that of a stray cat or dog on the street; once he died, he was gone.

Evidence? That's something reserved for fairy tales that end with justice, and Sandoval is long past the age of believing in fairy tales.

Under the cold, indifferent gaze of those in power, who viewed him like prey, he finally managed a bitter smile.

Betraying Count Sivers might lead to repeating Upon's mistakes, but offending Wayne Wincher means certain death right now.

"I just want to live."

"—You can live."

While Wayne and Sandoval reached an agreement, Count Sivers, who had been stuck in traffic for two whole hours, finally returned home and angrily smashed several of his carefully tended and precious flowerpots.

The servants scrambled to clear away the wreckage with trepidation, not daring to utter a single word for fear of incurring their wrath. Since the lady had been imprisoned, the usually gentle and polite Earl had become noticeably more irritable.

Only after the servants who had been cleaning quietly left the room without making a sound did Siphus's tense shoulders relax.

He had considered politely sending Wayne Wincher back to the capital and settling things with him later, but while he was willing to be courteous, the kid wouldn't cooperate.

The fact that they sent their advisors to eavesdrop on my conversation with Sandoval means they probably already suspect me, but I don't know exactly how much they know.

He went to the table and wrote a letter to his backer in the capital, reluctantly including a valuable property under his name. Wealth can be slowly accumulated through power, but without power, no amount of wealth is of any use.

He had already lost too much to Wayne Wincher. Perhaps the death of that kid would cause endless trouble, but his continued existence made him even more uneasy.

A few days later, a reply from the capital arrived in Siphus's hands.

At the same time, what arrived in Buffalo were His Majesty's rewards and an envoy who had come specifically to urge Wayne to return to the capital.

……

"Lawrence, it's you again?"

Wayne was speechless.

"Why can't it be me?" Lawrence patted Wayne's shoulder with pride. "Wayne Wincher! You have lived up to the reputation of the Wincher family, and you have not betrayed my trust. You are truly my dear friend!"

General Kent and Earl Sivers, along with their entourage, stared expressionlessly at Prince Lawrence, who was beaming with pride like a peacock displaying its plumage.

Although there had been rumors that Lord Wayne had a good relationship with the two princes, seeing it with one's own eyes was still surprising.

"This is a task I worked very hard to get," Lawrence remarked.

Please focus your energy on what you should be focusing on!

Chapter 721 Dangerous Pawn

Because they were foreign conquerors and the battles had gone too smoothly, King Lornes had not personally inspected Buffalo. Prince Lawrence, who was nearing adulthood, was the most distinguished visitor since the Battle of Mist Moon, and so the nobles of Buffalo began to have their minds set on something.

The banquet at the Radiant Palace, which had been abruptly halted due to Urban's unexpected death, resumed, albeit with much tighter security. At Wayne's invitation, Cardinal Melen Savedra, representing the authority of the Papacy, also oversaw the safety of the Radiant Palace.

Several royal retainers accompanied Lawrence to Buffalo, providing him with constant protection.

"Wayne, what's the point of these aristocratic banquets? Haven't we attended enough in the capital?" Lawrence quickly grew bored under the constant flirtatious glances from the noble ladies. "Are there any other fun places to go?"

Lawrence's situation is different from Wayne's. As Wayne is being groomed to be the next heir of Duke Winchester, it is no secret that Chris has already arranged a marriage for her. If these ladies are too enthusiastic about Wayne, their families may offend Duke Elliott, who dotes on his daughter.

Lawrence, as the second prince born of the same mother as the crown prince, came from a noble family, was handsome, and did not have to worry about too many responsibilities, making him the most desirable target for the nobles of Buffalo.

The noble ladies, whose numbers had doubled compared to the previous banquet, tried every means to get close to Lawrence. All sorts of excuses came up, such as losing an earring, pretending to quarrel with a companion, or accidentally bumping into him while walking by. Their seemingly reserved demeanor betrayed them with their eyes that practically wanted to stick to Lawrence. It was so clumsy that it made people want to laugh.

Wayne seemed to find the amusement quite amusing.

"The ladies of the capital and the ladies of Buffalo each have their own merits; how can they be lumped together?"

Lawrence gave him a disdainful look. "If you dare to say that to Chris's face when you get back, I'll acknowledge you as my big brother."

...Does your brother know that you've been going around claiming other brothers?

“Your Highness Lawrence, how is His Majesty the King doing lately?” Count Sivers, standing to the side, put on a friendly smile and struck up a conversation with Lawrence. “If you wish to tour Bufania, Your Excellency Wayne has been busy with official duties and has little free time lately, so he is probably not familiar with the surrounding area. Perhaps I could send a guide to show you around.”

“Alas, my advisor, Mr. Urban, is also from Buffalo. He must know many fun places, but unfortunately…” Wayne gave a forced smile.

Siphus also showed a regretful expression upon hearing this.

"What?" Lawrence was unaware of this.

After Wayne explained for a few minutes, his eyes lit up. He was clearly more interested in the rumors of Laird's curse than in the dead stranger.

"Wayne, do you think there really is a curse here?" He rubbed his hands together, eager to try.

“Perhaps,” Wayne said ambiguously.

"Then this prince will have to carefully unravel the secret of that curse. Just you wait and see! I'm not someone who'll be easily fooled by those fabricated rumors."

Count Sivers' greetings to His Majesty the King were completely ignored, but that was not what worried him more.

“Your Highness Lawrence, isn’t your task to bring Lord Wayne back to the capital as soon as possible? If we linger in Buffalo for too long, His Majesty the King may be displeased,” Sivers could only offer a subtle reminder.

He didn't want Wayne to have another excuse to delay in Buffalo for another ten days or two weeks.

Lawrence's face darkened. "Hmph, he doesn't care about me, his son. All he cares about is that woman of unknown origin. Besides, my father hasn't even said when I should go back. Who are you to tell me what to do?"

Siphus was speechless for a moment.

"How is Mrs. Cherry doing lately?"

Wayne suddenly remembered that this man was a mole within the rebel army. But now the rebel headquarters was gone, the leader was dead, and the remaining rabble had either been wiped out or scattered like birds and beasts. Why did Mrs. Cherry seem to have no reaction at all?

"Why do you care about her? That woman isn't worth a second of my time. Only my father is senile and thinks he's found true love. Ha! What a joke."

It seems that Lawrence and Mrs. Cherry don't get along.

Wayne didn't seem to care about his angry, sarcastic demeanor. The fact that Lawrence hadn't resorted to petty tricks to harm Lady Cherry was already a testament to his consideration for the bigger picture. "I've been away from the capital for so long, and nobody's told me about what's going on there. So, I had no choice but to ask you?"

Lawrence's expression darkened as he recalled Mrs. Cherry's smug demeanor. He now realized that there were people in this world more despicable than Richard.

“That woman…” He paused, then looked at Sivers: “You should go away.”

Sivers raised his hand to indicate that he understood the other person's feelings and tactfully stepped back a few paces.

“She has been inseparable from my father every day lately. He takes her with him wherever he goes. Many noblewomen in the capital are also vying to curry favor with her. I’m afraid they have already regarded her as the real queen and don’t care about my mother at all.”

Although Lawrence harbored deep resentment towards his parents and brothers, those he hated were still his closest family members, connected by blood.

From his complicated and frustrated gaze, Wayne could sense that he actually wanted to help the Queen and Richard, but he didn't know how.

Perhaps his initiative in requesting permission from His Majesty the King to come to Buffalo was also to prove his usefulness.

“Lady Cherry can’t make any decisions,” Wayne said. “She has shallow roots, cannot interfere in politics, and cannot gain the support of the kingdom’s nobles and army.”

"Therefore, she is nothing more than a toy in your father's hands, a pawn used to determine who is more 'loyal' to him."

Those who fawned over Lady Cherry did not genuinely love her; they were merely pandering to His Majesty's power. Everything Lady Cherry had gained was at the behest of His Majesty, and she would lose everything if she fell out of favor with him.

However, Wayne still couldn't see through that lady.

Lady Cherry shared a bed with His Majesty the King, and if it were for revenge, she could strike at any time; in terms of threat, she was even more dangerous than any of the rebels. But even as the rebel stronghold was nearly destroyed, Lady Cherry remained inactive and made no move.

Or perhaps she plans to go along with it, pretending to have a clean past, forgetting everything, and content to enjoy a life of luxury and wealth in the capital with His Majesty the King? After all, even if the rebels have a chance to succeed, they probably won't offer her more than the King can.

Chapter 722 Can I spend the night with you...?

Wayne and Lawrence chatted casually about things in the capital while pondering their current predicament.

His Excellency Elfman, the Principal of the Cardinals, stationed the Papal Inquisition at the rebel headquarters, isolating the area, which should now only be called a "ruin site".

When the long-dormant dark magic was activated, the once imposing underground fortress inevitably collapsed and fell under the enormous impact, eventually being almost entirely buried in the deep pit at the bottom.

Wayne also sent people to clean up the site, hoping to find something useful, but he didn't have much hope. He always felt that the rebels had long been prepared to cut off their own arm to survive, and had moved the truly important secrets ahead of time.

He recalled the letter on the table that mentioned the king would recall him to the capital if he made too much progress.

It may seem like I've run out of options, but that doesn't mean all the leads have been exhausted.

At least in the capital, he still has his old friend Bulwer and the mysterious Lady Cherry. If he starts by investigating them, he should be able to find something. However, if things develop to that point, he might have to confront the king directly.

Getting rid of Mrs. Cherry wouldn't be too difficult, as long as her true identity is exposed.

However, compared to the strength of a weak woman, the king's greed for power is clearly a greater hidden danger. Without Lady Cherry, there might soon be another lady used as a pawn by the king to test others. On the other hand, even if the rebels, whose stronghold has been destroyed, have a chance to rise again, it will be difficult for them to cause trouble again in the short term.

Meanwhile, in Buffalo, Wayne's suspicions about Count Sivers had reached an unprecedented level.

So he wasn't really in a hurry to return to the capital; he wanted to test Siefus one more time. Lawrence's insistence on staying to unravel the secret of Laird's curse suited him perfectly.

He knew the king's purpose in sending Lawrence wasn't so simple; the king was never one to consider his children's feelings. With himself having just won a resounding victory in Buffalo and enjoying unparalleled fame, Lawrence's timely appearance on behalf of the royal family was clearly intended to bolster their prestige.

Thinking of this, he patted Lawrence on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Lawrence, if you can really break the Laird Curse that even I can't break, everyone in the entire capital will look at you with new respect!"

“Of course! That’s exactly why I’m here.” Lawrence was completely fired up. “The previous pope said that God’s will is for the right people to be in the right places, and I think I’ve received divine revelation!”

Wayne glanced at Bishop Melen, who was standing in the distance, and said, “Don’t say that in front of the people of the Vatican. They will treat you as a heretic who is blaspheming God under the guise of divine pronouncements.”

The church forbade missionaries from drinking alcohol, so Bishop Mellen simply watched the nobles drinking and making merry with a kind and compassionate gaze, making him seem very reliable at first glance.

Noticing Wayne's gaze, Mellen nodded to him and Lawrence.

"I can't stand those church staff who have more rules than the royal family." Lawrence's momentum suddenly faltered, and he complained with dissatisfaction, "If Archduke Laird really left a curse, it should have been directed at the church staff first."

“Have you forgotten that one of us is the son of an enemy monarch, and the other is the son of a general who destroyed a nation?” Wayne’s tone remained unchanged. “Therefore, we should try our best to cooperate with Bishop Melen and not act alone.”

"When our three greatest enemies gather together, the chances of the curse taking effect are at their highest, because a curse is a special kind of magic imbued with the resentment of the caster. Legend has it that once cursed, the only way to truly remove the negative effects, besides the blessing of the gods, is to fulfill the wishes of the one who cast the curse. Otherwise, a part of the caster's soul will forever remain in the curse, becoming the source of the curse's power."

This is what Bishop Melen told him.

Even within the Vatican, knowledge about curses is a top-secret matter, accessible only to the highest levels of the Inquisition.

The Vatican claims that curses resolved by chance are divine blessings, but very few curses are actually certified by the Vatican. There have only been two such cases in recent decades, and in both cases, the problem was eventually resolved after the Vatican sought help, resulting in a happy ending for all.

As for those problems that the Vatican cannot solve, it's simple: by not acknowledging them as curses, the Vatican's prestige will not be damaged.

For example, the curse of Archduke Laird has been a popular belief for many years, but neither the Papacy nor the official government of the Kingdom of Lornes has recognized it.

Although Lawrence didn't really believe in curses, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous listening to Wayne's serious tone.

"What is Grand Duke Laird's wish? What if he wishes for all his enemies to die?"