Chapter 31
Back then, she had been seventeen, and he was eleven.
A sister who was born as nothing but a physical shell and abandoned at the Holy Land under the guise of recuperation.
That was the first time he had ever met the sister he’d only heard stories about.
Noah hadn’t recognized that Danae was his sister.
‘I wasn’t the only one. Even Brother Viego said he didn’t recognize her at first and thought she was a complete stranger.’
That woman had played the part of Danae Winzer for six months.
Those six months were the best time of his life.
Until then, Noah had lived without even realizing how bleak his existence was.
He thought it was only natural to live a heartless life among a father he rarely saw and cold, distant brothers.
But Dana was different.
Dana was the first person to hold him tight, to kiss him on the cheek. She stroked his hair and whispered that she loved him in his ear.
“You’re so cute, Noah. I’m so lucky to have an angelic little brother like you.”
“I might not be able to live without you now, Noah.”
It was the first kindness he had ever experienced.
It was so ecstatic and shimmering that it felt as if beautiful music were playing in every moment he spent with her.
And yet, despite deceiving him so thoroughly…
“When this body was an empty shell, you treated me like I didn’t exist. For you to act like a brother with great sibling affection now… it feels a bit like a deception.”
Noah suddenly clutched his chest. For a moment, his insides burned with an unbearable heat.
He was angry.
“Noah? What’s wrong?”
You’re the one who deceived me. What right do you have to say something like that?
He didn’t even want to look at her. He wished she would just die.
It was then.
“Cadet Noah. A family visitation request has come in.”
Noah snapped his head up.
That woman finally came!
However.
“Noah!”
The person running toward him was a woman with pink hair.
“Noah, you were truly amazing. I was so impressed!”
Alice thrust a bouquet of flowers into Noah’s arms.
“It was really wonderful! As expected, Noah is so cool—”
“Where is that woman?”
Noah interrupted Alice, his voice sharp.
“Where is she?”
“Ah… Danae unnie?”
Alice laughed awkwardly and shifted her eyes.
“Danae unnie didn’t come.”
Noah doubted his own ears. That woman didn’t come?
‘That’s impossible.’
“I’ll definitely attend this year’s public promotion exam. I’ll bring a bouquet.”
She had definitely said that.
“What kind of flowers do you like, Noah? If I remember correctly, I think you liked daisies.”
Yes. So she should have obviously shown up with an armful of daisies like a pathetic fool.
Noah hadn’t doubted it for a second.
That woman always kept her word.
Was it because she had deceived them so perfectly for those first six months?
After that, as if paying for her sins, she hadn’t deceived him about even the smallest thing and had always followed through on what she said.
She was a woman who tried so hard to stay in his good graces; there was no way she would go back on her word now.
“That can’t be right.”
“It’s true. Danae unnie didn’t come. Today, Danae unnie…”
Alice rolled her eyes upward and gave a playful smile.
“I think she went to meet a man?”
“A man?”
“Uh-huh. Lately, unnie has— no, never mind.”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s nothing. Sorry. Just forget it.”
Alice shook her head. Noah grabbed Alice firmly by the shoulders.
“Keep talking. What about a man?”
“Well, that is…”
Alice looked flustered before sighing as if giving up.
“Actually, I’m worried because unnie’s behavior has been a bit strange lately.”
“How so?”
“She must have been very shocked after what happened with the Crown Prince. A while ago, with a secretary…”
One word after another.
The more Alice spoke, the more Noah’s face hardened.
“Brother Viego!”
Viego Winzer, who was about to board his carriage, paused. He turned around with a look of disbelief.
There, Dana was smiling brightly.
“Brother, are you busy?”
Viego didn’t answer. There was no need to.
“Duke. You need to attend the next meeting.”
His staff were hovering around him with anxious expressions.
But Dana spoke brightly, as if she hadn’t heard them.
“It’s a coincidence that we met like this, so let’s talk for a moment.”
He wouldn’t be able to refuse. Dana was certain of it.
‘With everyone watching like this, there’s no way he’d refuse his sister’s request.’
Not if he was the type who valued the Winzer family’s public image.
“Fine.”
As expected, he gave his permission.
Dana pointed to a building nearby.
“Then, at that coffee house over there—”
“No.”
Viego jerked his chin toward the carriage.
“Inside.”
“…Pardon?”
“Get in.”
With those words, Viego held out his hand. It was a gesture to escort her.
Talk inside the carriage?
‘Being alone together in such a cramped space is a bit uncomfortable…’
But Dana soon steeled her resolve.
‘No. If I want to become the Vice Family Head, I need to get closer to Viego.’
She had to win his favor somehow, so she couldn’t afford to be uncomfortable with their time together.
Dana carefully took his hand, which was clad in a white glove.
“You seem very busy lately.”
Dana spoke to him as he examined documents even inside the carriage.
“It feels like it’s been hard to see your face.”
Then, Viego replied without even looking at her.
“Are we the type of people who need to see each other’s faces often?”
“Well, no, but…”
“State your business, Danae Winzer. I don’t have time to listen to you beat around the bush.”
Spoken like a true businessman—time is money, apparently.
‘I don’t think anyone would believe he was a soldier.’
Dana glared at him.
With his platinum hair neatly slicked back with pomade, a pristine suit without a single wrinkle, and polished black shoes, he was perfectly put together to an intimidating degree.
‘Actually, maybe it does show a little.’
After all, where else would you find a businessman with such a sturdy build?
Thinking that, Dana carefully opened her mouth.
“I wanted to thank you. I was able to get through safely last time thanks to you, Brother.”
“I have no memory of doing anything deserving of a personal thanks from you.”
Flip. Viego turned a page of his documents.
“I simply punished someone I found trespassing in my mansion.”
An answer as sharp as a blade. Dana lost a bit of her confidence at his decisiveness.
‘Good grief, really.’
He was a man who wouldn’t even graciously accept a thank you.
Could she ever be recognized by a man like this?
Could she become the Vice Family Head of the Winzer family—a position no different from a partner who would spend a lifetime by the Family Head’s side?
‘Ah, I’m really not confident.’
She lacked confidence, but what choice did she have?
She had to do it.
Only by becoming the Vice Family Head could she obtain the Sacred Artifact.
Only then could she open the Dimensional Gate and end this dreadful possession.
“You must be very busy.”
He didn’t answer. It was his way of saying he wouldn’t engage in useless small talk.
Dana looked at his beautiful face, which seemed to have soaked up the sunlight, and spoke persistently.
“Brother, if there is anything I can do to help, please tell me anytime. Didn’t you say so before? To prove my worth.”
At that moment, Viego looked up.
Their eyes met.
‘Whoa.’
As if she had been struck, Dana abruptly held her breath.
Was it because he was a man who rarely made eye contact?
Whenever they met directly like this, it was almost disconcerting.
“Then it’s perfect timing.”
Viego spoke slowly as he tossed a document onto her lap.
“Read it. And prove your worth.”
“…….”
Dana silently and thoroughly read through the document.
It was a report submitted by one of Viego’s employees…
‘What is this?’
Dana furrowed her brows.
‘A Winter Bank check was rejected?’
