Chapter 13
“Something serious? Why? Did Teddy run away or something?”
“No, no, that’s not it… it’s just… it’s just… someone else has started buying Hepria cotton!”
“Huh?”
Cecenia tilted her head and looked at her. What was she talking about? Hepria cotton had almost no demand. Who would buy it?
“Really…?”
Did someone else read the market? In the past, no one except Cecenia had ever bought Hepria cotton. People used to mock her for it. But now, someone was purchasing it?
‘Has something started to change from the past?’
“But the person who bought it… the person who bought it…”
Lisbet, panting for breath, shook her head.
“It’s Lady Elzer.”
“…What? My sister?”
“Yes. She suddenly started buying it three days ago.”
“Why?”
The question came out instinctively. This had never happened in the past.
“I don’t know… but I heard she bought up all the cotton you couldn’t purchase.”
Was that even possible? Was Elzer really that smart? The Elzer from the past had laughed at Cecenia for buying Hepria cotton. She had stood by their father, calling it a foolish endeavor. And yet, now she was buying it?
‘Is she eyeing my business?’
That didn’t make sense. To everyone else—to all the merchants in the empire—Cecenia’s purchase of Hepria cotton was something to scoff at.
‘No. She can’t be that smart. Or… is she trying to corner me?’
Whatever the case, Cecenia had to meet Elzer.
“Where is she?”
“She’s in her room.”
Feeling that something was off, Cecenia left the room.
‘I thought everything was going surprisingly in my favor, but was it all leading up to this ridiculous situation?’
Her steps quickened. It must be a coincidence—just a coincidence. Thinking this, she arrived at Elzer’s room.
“Lady Cecenia.”
“Will you let her know I’m here?”
“Yes.”
The maid in front of the door knocked without much reaction.
“Lady Elzer, Lady Cecenia has requested to see you.”
“Let her in.”
A particularly cheerful voice. As soon as the door opened, Cecenia stepped inside. Elzer, who had been leisurely getting her nails done, smiled and waved.
“What brings you all the way to my room?”
“I have something to ask.”
At those words, Elzer raised her hand. The maid doing her nails, as well as everyone else in the room, quickly left.
“What do you want to ask?”
“Did you buy it because of me, Sister?”
“Buy what?”
“Hepria cotton.”
At that, Elzer smiled and clapped her hands.
“So, the rumors have already reached you.”
“So, did you buy it because of me?”
“Because of you? I just read the trend. That’s always been your problem. You think you’re the smartest person in the world, that you’re the only one with insight.”
“…So you just bought it based on the trend?”
“Yes. Why not? There’s no rule saying you’re the only one allowed to buy it, is there?”
She seemed like a different person. Even her eyes were different. The Elzer who had always been lost in grandiose dreams now had sharp, intelligent eyes.
“…I see.”
“What’s wrong? Do you feel like something has been taken from you?”
“…”
“You acted so confident, but now you’re worried? Seeing how quickly you ran to find me?”
Elzer, looking at her well-manicured nails, stood up and patted Cecenia on the shoulder.
“But you know, business is about money. I can buy more than you. In the end, I’ll win.”
“…”
“Not just this. Everything you do—I’ll take it all. So don’t fool yourself into thinking this will make you the heir to the marquisate.”
“…What?”
“You’re thinking it right now, aren’t you? That this will be your big break, that Father will acknowledge you and make you the heir. But it won’t work this time.”
Cecenia’s head spun.
“This time?”
“Yes. This time.”
The feeling that something was wrong wasn’t a mistake. Elzer had already anticipated that this business move could make Cecenia the heir. How did she know?
“No way.”
“Huh?”
“…You, Sister, you…”
As Elzer tilted her head, Cecenia’s expression hardened.
“You… already know everything, don’t you?”
“Know what?”
“The things that will happen.”
“Of course. I’m smart. Unlike you. You can’t win against me.”
Cecenia had clearly declared she would give up the marquisate. And yet, Elzer still assumed she would take it. That meant… she knew the future.
That this business move—using Hepria cotton—would prepare her for an unexpected winter chill, leading to a massive success. That she would gain their father’s approval and claim the marquisate. Elzer already knew all of this.
And her words were strange.
“You… did you come back?”
She spoke without thinking. Something felt off. The things Elzer knew—she couldn’t have learned them just by being smart. There had to be another reason. But at that moment, Elzer’s face froze.
“Came back? What are you talking about?”
Elzer, who had been mocking her, suddenly stiffened and looked at Cecenia.
It was a suspicious reaction, no matter how you looked at it.
“I asked if you’ve come back in time.”
Normally, if someone asked this, they would laugh and call it nonsense. The Elzer she knew—the one in her memories—would have scoffed and called her crazy.
But Elzer said nothing.
And that was when Cecenia realized why Elzer had suddenly started buying Hepria cotton. Why she was speaking so confidently.
‘Because she knows the future.’
Everything that had been unexplained now made sense with that one assumption.
“I was right. You came back, didn’t you? You…”
“Wait… did you come back too?”
Finally, Elzer spoke, her face turning pale.
“This is… this is really interesting. Elzer, why? Why did you come back?”
“…”
Elzer gave no answer.
“Tell me. You killed me, right? You should have lived happily. So why? Why did you come back? Was it to torment me again?”
“Shut up and leave.”
“Don’t even try to deny it now. No wonder something felt off. You, Sister, you wouldn’t buy Hepria cotton. You have no business sense. You wouldn’t copy me. So why? Because you knew the future.”
Cecenia chuckled.
“So you came back and all you’re doing is copying what I did before. Is that the only way you can beat me?”
“Don’t worry. In the end, I’ll take everything. The future isn’t just yours to know, Cecenia. You’ll die by my hands again. Unless you want to avoid that, stay locked in your room. Maybe then… I’ll spare you out of pity.”
“You must be nervous. Your words are getting longer. But Sister… if you came back, doesn’t that mean you died too?”
Elzer flinched.
“What…?”
“If you had been happy, you wouldn’t be here, would you?”
Cecenia smirked.
