“And rumors spread that Uncle Samuel was able to be safe thanks to the lady, so everyone is grateful to the lady.”
“What? Me, really?”
Anna smiled bashfully and nodded her head. Well, she also said that Samuel couldn’t have had a bad heart, and she tried to convince her. Then Anna looked around her, grabbed her by the arm, and headed for a more obscure place. Then, in a quieter voice, she whispered.
“In fact, the maid named Sabina disappeared some time ago.”
“What? Disappeared?”
She said that her name, Sabina, was somehow familiar, but it was a name she had heard from Cliff some time ago. She said then that she would definitely, if the reputation was good, being promoted…!
“What do you mean disappeared?”
“It is literally. All her luggage is here, but the person itself is gone.”
“Oh my god… Still haven’t found it?”
“No, we haven’t. But more importantly, they said that a few days before the child disappeared, she had been telling people around her that she had seen Lady Edith poisoning Miss Rize’s embroidery thread.”
“What?”
Surprised, she screamed involuntarily, and Anna hurriedly blocked her mouth.
“And she said she would tell Cliff soon, but she suddenly disappeared. So everyone was talking about Miss Edith having something to do with her disappearance.”
It was absurd. So, did Cliff ask her to try?
“That, so? Has anything changed now?”
“Yes. Everyone seems to have changed their minds, saying that the lady, who saved Uncle Samuel even though her live was in danger, couldn’t have done anything with the maid who was talking nonsense.”
She just nodded her head slightly, not even thinking about closing her gaping mouth.
“Just in case, I don’t even know what that maid named Sabina looked like. I also heard her name from Cliff for the first time.”
“I’ve been around the lady almost all the time, and there’s no way she’d get rid of a maid without me noticing.”
“Can you say that to Cliff?”
“…I already told him.”
“Thank you.”
Shesighed deeply and entered Chuck Renan’s office again, unconcerned.
“Welcome, lady. Long time no see.”
Renan greeted her with a still emotionless voice.
“Long time no see, Renan. I’m embarrassed to see Renan because I couldn’t help out with the work so often.”
“I was told that this time the laldy almost drowned. There are no windy days.”
“You’re right.”
Another sigh came out. She was not doing this because she really wanted to.
“In fact, until now, I had only heard the general outline of why the young lady couldn’t come out. If you don’t mind, could I hear the story in detail?”
‘Renan, you seem to be holding back your anger…’
Her boss was, well, from her point of view, he was pissed off. He puts in a parachute as a newcomer at the top, but on this fictitious day, she misses her job with various excuses, so he couldn’t find a new person, and it’s like doubling the work. Breaking out in a cold sweat, she told him what had happened. She tried to convey only the facts without putting her feelings in it, but somehow she felt like she was the culprit.
‘Isn’t this why even Renan looks at me strangely?’
While she was worried about that, Renan nodded heavily at her, then he suddenly tilted his head.
“It is a strange thing.”
“Well, it was a strange thing.”
“It’s not the incident itself, it’s because I don’t understand the Duke’s actions.”
“Yes? What about it?”
Her eyes widened as she couldn’t understand more when Renan, an old vassal of the Ludwig family, said that he couldn’t understand Ludwin’s people.
“Why didn’t anyone think of Miss Lise as a suspect?”
“Pardon?”
“In all of these cases, Lady Lise could have been the culprit. Could it be that Lady Edith didn’t notice?”
She hurriedly looked around the office in case anyone heard.
“Renan… Is that what Renan thinks too?”
“Of course. No, no matter who tells the opposite, I think so.”
“…thank you.”
“I didn’t say that to be thanked.”
“I know.”
Again, Renan seemed less influenced by the original author thanks to the unnamed extras.
This simple assumption, which no one in the Ludwig family could easily accept, was coming to Renan’s mind at once. Conversely, wouldn’t it be that the people of the duchy were dominated by the original author because they were close to the main characters?
“Renan isn’t the kind of person to be, but it’s better not to talk about this here and there. As long as you’re a vassal of the Duke’s family, there’s nothing good if Cliff or the Duke hears you.”
Renan heard her, and he made his face look shocked for a moment, then he burst into a devastated laugh a moment later.
“That lady of the House of Sinclair wields great power in this mansion.”
“Please don’t say things like that.”
She was nervous that I might hear bad things about Renan because of her.
“There’s no way Cliff or Killian couldn’t have thought of that. But… There is no proof that Lise is the culprit.”
“So you think she is innocent?”
“Right, what.”
“Why didn’t the principle of being innocent unless there was clear evidence apply to the young lady?”
That’s what she meant. There were people who could talk, so it seemed like it’s all over the inside, but it’s impossible to show that.
“There were circumstances that seemed to point to me as the culprit, even if the evidence was flimsy, so… I think it’s easy.”
She smiled shyly at Renan. However, the rational and logical Renan shook his head as if the situation was not very convincing.
“Renan, don’t be silly. The Sinclairs could be the culprits, maybe… My own family could be the culprit.”
“Do not worry. I have no interest in anything other than my comfort.”
“Thank god. Then, shall we begin today’s work?”
She smiled and accepted the job from him. It was nice to see the papers after a long time.
“Originally, I was going to ask you from the other day, but it was delayed due to various things happening. From now on, please check the documents related to the Ryzen estate.”
“Ryzen?”
“Yes. This is where Master Killian and Lady Edith will go. It’s a bit far from the big city, but it’s a pretty decent estate.”
When she heard that it was a place for her and Killian to go, a sudden affection for the papers welled up.
“What can I do?”
“You just need to figure out the tax and product situation for the past 10 years and organize them. You can see this as something you know in advance for the lady herself.”
“All right. Thank you, Renan.”
She opened the 10 thickly folded files one by one and figured out the situation of the territory where Killian and she would live. In the meantime, she had seen the tax receipts of some territories, so she could see that Ryzen’s production capacity was not bad. When she thought of Korea in the 21st century, especially Seoul, the population was a little disappointing, but when she looked at the population distribution by age, sex ratio, and productivity by population, she smiled.
‘This is the territory that Killian and I need to grow…’
Her heart skipped a beat at the thought. In her previous life, she should have played some kind of farm training game. No, it’s no use. In any case, they would continue to nurture this estate, which has great potential for development but is still underdeveloped. She was proud and motivated just by imagining it. Using the memories of her previous life, she might be able to raise Ryzen as the best territory in the empire.
‘So please, I hope I can survive safely and leave for Ryzen with Killian.’
She silently prayed inwardly.
* * *
In the Countess Sinclair’s family, which has been trying to expand their power recently, the countess’s tea party was in full swing today. And Layla, who was there, received unexpectedly uplifting news.
“Did you hear that? Edith Rigelhoff almost drowned in the lake!”
“Oh my, my! What’s going on?”
“The yacht malfunctioned. It was an accident that happened in an instant.”
Up to that point, what followed was a story she was very much looking forward to. However, the lady who was spreading the rumor continued a very disappointing story.
“But Killian jumped into the lake and saved Miss Edith. That was so cool!”
“Oh my god…! All of his sons are brave like Duke Ludwig!”
Layla’s face crumpled with anticipation. But she didn’t give up her hope and cautiously intervened in the story.
“So, how is Miss Edith doing now?”
She hoped to hear that she was nearing death, but again her hopes were shattered.
“Oh wow, she almost got in trouble! When he first got her, she wasn’t even breathing. They said she woke up after three days, but fortunately she is fine now.”
Layla involuntarily clutched at her fan.
‘It’d be nice if she just died without having to wait until the end of the year!’
Her breath quivered with anger, but she couldn’t show it. However, an interesting story has been told.
“But you know the yacht malfunctioned, that… It was because someone deliberately tinkered with the control stick.”
“Oh! Who is trying to harm Killian?”
“No. Killian is good at swimming. Who usually dies in boating accidents?”
The tea party table became quiet for a moment at the voice that seemed to be giving a light quiz.
How do you feel?
