Chapter 5: Part 11

After finishing the day’s work, Eli and Leton returned to his mansion.

The atmosphere here was different from that at Ruby’s mansion, which exuded warmth.

It was practically used as a sleeping quarter, with only occasional visitors cleaning it, and the lack of anything more seemed to add to its desolation.

Nevertheless, both of them spent most of their time in Ruby’s mansion and didn’t think much of it. It was partly because they often stayed there even when they were working, so they weren’t as sensitive to sleep.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Looking at Leton applying ointment to Eli, he spoke. It was a small abrasion from helping with the work, and applying ointment was enough to heal it.

“I’m just grateful to be around Ruby this long.”

Indeed, even to Leton, who watched him from the sidelines, it was better this way than it had been without the Marchioness. Eli might as well have been dead than alive then.

Unbeknownst to the Marchioness, Eli’s schedule had just begun, and ever since he’d moved to Zenfield with Ruby, he’d been arriving at the mansion late at night to do what he had to do.

“Anything special?”

Without taking his eyes off the documents he was handling, he asked.

“Miss Emily sent a letter, and this is an urgent letter from Damon. Lady Grit has sent a letter to her vassals.”

Leton placed Emily’s letter and the paper on Eli’s desk as he spoke.

“What did Mother’s letter to the vassals say?”

Eli glanced at it, then went about his business. He didn’t seem surprised by the news.

“It seems to be about discussions regarding the position of the head of the family.”

It was undoubtedly a discussion about the qualities needed for the head of the family. Of course, if Lord Grit became entangled in controversy, the practical head of the family would undoubtedly be Lady Marie.

Ultimately, it meant that a fight was brewing over the position of the head of the family.

“Mother really likes to stir up trouble.”

At those words, Eli, who was momentarily distracted from signing the papers, looked at Leton. His voice sounded like he was telling a funny story.

“What should we do?”

Eli paused for a moment, thinking, then quickly came to a conclusion.

“First, let’s figure out how the situation is unfolding. Anything else?”

“Everything else seems normal.”

“Even with Arlen?”

“Yes. She remains the same.”

At that answer, Eli paused again.

“…Keep an eye on that side as well.”

However, contrary to his response, he frowned slightly, as if something was bothering him.

“I don’t know if I should ask, but are you sure you don’t have any relationship with Lady Miles?”

“What kind of relationship do you think we have?”

“……It’s kind of weird, to be honest.”

Eli put down his pen for a moment and looked at Leton. It was a sign to keep talking.

“It’s not easy to help someone with whom you’ve been rumored to be having an affair, especially a married marquis, is it?”

“That’s right.”

“Is it possible that Lady Miles has feelings for the Marquis?”

“No, that’s not the case.”

Eli responded firmly. There was no hesitation in his response.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because there’s no such thing. Anyway, it’s absolutely not true.”

He was about to ask the same question but decided against it, sensing that it might be unnecessary. Anyone observing him from the side couldn’t miss the fact that he had no interest in Lady Miles.

“I wonder, too, what the hell she’s up to.”

Eli, with a voice mixed with troublesome emotions, looked back at the documents.

After finishing the last signature, he finally picked up Emily’s letter from the desk.

“We should call people early tomorrow to clean the mansion.”

Reading the letter, Eli issued a command.

“What’s with the sudden order?”

Since most of the mansion was not in use, a simple dusting would make it suitable for use.

“Emily’s on her way here to return a friend’s letter. She must have left after sending this, so she should be here in a few days.”

Eli handed Emily’s letter to him.

Leton took the letter and read it to the end before answering.

“I’ll call people to clean up.”

“Clean and change the bedding.”

“Yes.”

The mansion was lacking in many ways to accommodate anyone other than the two of them.

***
“I suppose you’ll be hearing some good news soon?”

“Is it?”

Marie, with an undisguised joyful expression, looked at Eve.

Eve was dancing with the son of Viscount Ron. After the dance, they exchanged joyful whispers and danced again. To anyone’s eyes, they looked like a couple deeply in love. The son of Viscount Ron was decent in many ways, and both he and Eve seemed to be completely smitten with each other.

‘As it should be’’

Marie sipped her wine, enjoying the sight.

Everything was falling into place. The family’s honor, position, and arranged marriage.

What had not yet returned were Marie’s authority and freedom within the Grit Marquisate.

She started thinking about this when facing the constraints imposed while preparing for Eve’s marriage. Even as she prepared Eve’s dowry, she needed permission from Eli for everything except her personal assets.

There were still many places where the Grit Marquis’s original power was controlling her.

To restore everything, Marie had chosen to send letters to their vassals. The vassals were sure of their faith in her. That’s why she didn’t fear a fight within the family.

“Lady Miles, you were here before me.”

A few days later, Marie stepped out of the carriage, spotted Arlen, and smiled brightly.

“Lady Marie.”

Arlen also greeted Marie warmly.

“I’m sorry I took so long to get here, but I couldn’t just come out without proper preparations. It’s one of the reasons why meeting beautiful people is both enjoyable and worrisome. Don’t you think so?”

“You flatter me.”

As the two exchanged pleasantries, a carriage pulled up behind the Marquis of Grit’s carriage.

“Oh, there’s Lady Brayle and Lady Dwight; thank you for coming.”

Marie greeted those who arrived with her.

“It’s an honor to be invited.”

“Me too.”

Marie looked at the people who might become the future Marchioness Grit with a satisfied gaze.

She had no intention of pushing Eli out of his position as head of the family in a power struggle. Besides, he was the only child who could succeed the title of Marquis Grit

She was just trying to get things back to the way they should be by showing the vassals the respect they deserved. A good son who puts his family first.

And the only way to do that was to get back a daughter-in-law worthy of the Marquis of Grit.

Marie’s ideal daughter-in-law was undoubtedly Arlen Miles. However, seeing Arlen’s lukewarm response and judging by Duke Miles’s demeanor the other day, he wasn’t too keen on the idea of giving her daughter’s hand to Marquis Grit.

Therefore, Marie decided to give as many opportunities as possible for the Grit Marquisate to find a suitable daughter-in-law.

The women who had gathered here at her invitation were all ladies of families with some influence in the Luben Empire.

Of course, Marie was most particular about how much help they could give the Marquise of Grit.

“Thank you all for taking the time during your busy schedules. I invited you because I needed your insights. Shall we go in?”

Saying that, Marie led them into the jewelry store.

“Lady Grit, we’ve been expecting you.”

The owner of the jewelry store, Cash, welcomed Marie as if he had been waiting.

“It’s an honor to meet you in person this year.”

“It’s my pleasure; not that I doubt your eye, but there’s something to be said for the pleasure of picking your own.”

“I understand. His Lordship, the Marquis of Grit, came and made his choice in advance.”

“I see.”

As he spoke, he moved to the back of the jeweler’s shop.

“You can sit this way.”

In a VIP room, Marie and the others took their seats.

The ladies looked dumbfounded, having never been in a place set aside for special clients before. Of course, there was a faint hint of excitement in them.

“Then get it ready.”

“Yes, please wait a moment.”

Marie’s words caused them to pause.

“Oh, there are some gem mines in the Marquis of Grit. We have a contract with a jeweler here to supply them, and in return, they send gifts from here to the Marquis of Grit every year whenever we have a new find.”

“I see.”

Lady Brayle and Lady Dwight agreed, doing their best to hide their wide eyes.

“I used to let my son pick it out for me every year, but since I’m in the capital, I thought I’d pick it out myself this time.”

“Here it is.”

The jewelry store owner brought in boxes filled with jewelry and displayed them on the table at just the right time. The boxes were filled with different kinds of gems, enough to fill the wide table.

“Are these… from multiple mines?”

The inquiring voice seemed to tremble. Marie responded with a faint smile—a smile that conveyed the obviousness of the situation.

“Would you choose something that suits me from here? As young ladies, you probably know the current trends well.”

As Marie picked a gemstone, Cash pointed to a selected one and handed it to her, resting it against her neck.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Yes, it suits you very well.”

Lady Brayle and Lady Dwight complimented her with sparkling eyes.

“What about this one?”

As Marie gestured to the one she had picked up, Cash brought a new one to show her.

“It’s lovely!”

“Indeed.”

“If you say that, I can’t choose anything else.”

As this situation continued, Marie playfully teased them with a joyful smile.

“I think I like this one.”

While everyone was busy admiring the dazzling gems, Arlen, who had shown little interest, made a choice.

“Really?”

When Marie said that, Cash cautiously but quickly replaced the gem with another.

“It seems to suit you best, doesn’t it?”

“It’s beaut…iful.”

The two noble ladies, except Arlen, responded hesitantly. They knew this was no ordinary occasion and were trying to gain an advantage in Marie’s eyes.

However, as Arlen, who had been indifferent throughout, selected a gemstone, Marie couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Even though Arlen’s chosen gemstone might not have captivated her, her eyes clearly revealed desire.

Seeing that expression, Marie smiled with satisfaction.