Chapter 29.2

Eugene finally changed the schedule to Monday and had Elia help with the merchant group’s work.

“Phew. So busy again today.”

Unlike powerful noble families who manage large sums by investing in major merchant groups, the Roang family had to invest small amounts in minor groups whenever funds allowed, making it inefficient and labor-intensive.

“My lady, you’re so good with numbers, the work finished much faster than usual.”

“If you think about how a single misplaced line on a paper can mean lost money, it keeps me up at night. I have to find and fix every mistake.”

The meeting with ten merchant contacts was very calm, except for the occasional joke from Elia.

‘It used to be much rowdier. Why is it so different today?’

Elia thought about the changes and remembered increasing the number of guards.

“Are the knights making you nervous?”

“Haha. Maybe we’re showing it. Honestly, I’ve never seen security this tight. I don’t visit noble houses often, but still.”

“I thought it was just a little extra caution. Is it too much?”

“Not at all. It’s much better than being careless. At the Pisaro Earldom I visited recently, they only had two soldiers at the main gate. It made me anxious.”

Elia knew the Pisaro Earldom well—a family that had always maintained neutrality, with firm independence, safe from noble faction fights and succession wars.

Like a flower blooming in the mud.

‘I’ve never felt jealous, but now I do. Other families’ situations, positions, those things make me envious.’

Soon, the Emperor would likely express his wish to abdicate to his younger brother, the 3rd Prince, and then there would be war.

Thanks to the Raspe Dukedom shaking up the 3rd Prince’s position, no specific schedule had been set, but war was inevitable.

‘I’m not Pisaro, I’m Roang, so I need to get used to it.’

She had to get used to the knights always following her, the servants tasting food for poison.

Sacrifice, loss, sadness. She had to stand firm on ground built from those things.

‘Edmund has lived like this since he was very young.’

She thought she shouldn’t feel too sorry, since she’d left someone with an even tougher life alone for so long.

‘Is there no way to end this? Maybe I’m being greedy about the coming war. What is Eddie planning to do to make Earl Vellenoa Emperor? Does Eugene know Eddie’s intentions? Then what about me…’

Was Elia supposed to just wait, knowing nothing?

Surrounded by big knights. Forgetting what it’s like not to feel danger.

Always carrying the thought that she could die someday, just waiting.

* * *

Tuesday morning. Elia woke up early, got dressed, and checked every corner of the house.

She even visited the stables, the knights’ training grounds, and the servants’ break room.

“My lady, you’ve been so busy since yesterday.”

“Did you lose something? Should we help look?”

“No, I just wanted to see how you’re all doing.”

Ten years ago, everyone had left to fend for themselves, leaving the mansion desolate. Now, every corner was bustling with people.

‘It didn’t hit me when I saw the numbers, but seeing it now, there really are a lot more people.’

Thanks to the loyal servants who stayed for small pay, the Roang family had managed to survive.

“Going somewhere nice today?”

“Yes, I’m going somewhere nice. Did everyone have the morning pastries? I helped bake them.”

“Morning pastries? You must have been up early.”

“You’ll be tired tonight. Guests stayed late yesterday.”

“It’s fine. I’ll rest again tomorrow.”

With so many staff, it took a long time to greet everyone.

‘It’s hard work, greeting everyone every day.’

She decided to cut back to every other day.

After making a round of the mansion, time had passed quickly. Daisy straightened her clothes and brushed her hair.

“My lady, if you find ‘Empirical and Illusory Studies of the Erom Era’s Philosophical Groups’ or a commentary in the ducal library, please borrow it.”

“Erom Era this time? There were philosophical groups even in such a comfortable, peaceful era?”

“People always think too much when they’re warm and well-fed.”

“Hmm… I’ll look. Or do you want to come?”

When Elia casually invited Daisy along, Daisy stopped brushing and looked at her.

“My lady, I am definitely the second most perceptive person in this mansion.”

“Who’s first? Me?”

“The gardener. The point is, I’m very perceptive. So I’ll decline any offers to tag along on a romantic outing.”

“It’s not like that. I just want to read and borrow a book.”

“Yeees, yes.”

Daisy finished Elia’s hair, who blushed.

When everything was ready, Daisy packed two books for the carriage, and they were about to leave the bedroom.

“My lady, you should take this.”

She turned at the call of a servant with curly light brown hair, who was holding an envelope.

“Oh right, the cookies I baked… What’s this?”

“I had some colored paper left, so I wrapped it. Is it weird?”

Rua’s envelope was wrapped with stiff colored paper. She’d left it on the nightstand, and it looked like Rua wanted to show off her handiwork.

“Hold it from the bottom. It seems fragile.”

“Okay, like this?”

Elia carefully held the shiny paper envelope as if it were a glass bowl.

“I’m off. The carriage will be here soon.”

“Goodbye, my lady.”

All the fourth-floor servants paused their work and came out to see Elia off.

“Goodbye.”

It was probably a wish for her to return safely, without any painful memories.

* * *

At the Roang mansion, Edmund was waiting in the Raspe ducal carriage.

“Eddie! Thank you for coming to pick me up.”

He must have come straight from the Dukedom, dressed more casually than usual.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you without your vest. I dressed more casually too, since we’re just going to look at books.”

“It suits you.”

“Thanks. Oh, Eugene is busy with work today.”

“I heard. Um…”

“Ah, can you help me into the carriage?”

As soon as Edmund stepped down to greet Elia, she reached out first for help.

Edmund smiled and supported Elia with his gloved hand. She was so fascinated by his big hand that even after getting into the carriage, she gently held it like a handshake before sitting down.

After Edmund sat down and the servants loaded their things, the carriage departed.

“Eddie, how have you been? Is work busy?”

“About the same as usual.”

“So it’s not busier? That’s good. Oh, you know, last time… no, never mind.”

“What?”

“No, I… weren’t you about to say something?”

Elia had planned to bring up a topic as soon as she sat down, but just as she started, Edmund’s mouth opened and then closed.

Thinking it might be important, Elia waited for Edmund to speak.

“That thing we talked about at the lake. The tailor shop on Second Avenue. Remember?”

“Yes, I remember. Oh, did they catch the culprit?”

“Today. It’ll probably be announced tomorrow.”

“What happened? Did the tailor shop employee really take everything and run away?”

Edmund explained, almost reading the report from the Dukedom’s staff. His tone was stiff, but Elia found it fascinating.

Five noble insiders colluded, the trigger was gambling debts. A fictional tailor shop employee. Perfectly forged fake documents. An unexpected incident revealed the whole crime. Only 20% of the stolen money was recovered…

Elia listened intently, hands clasped, and only relaxed once she heard the whole story.

“So one conspirator hid their share in the house’s storage, and their spouse reported it as suspicious money? So the police checked the gold’s source and realized it was from the tailor shop crime?”

“Apparently, someone thought the money hidden in their warehouse was involved in a nearby crime and reported it.”

“So that’s how they were caught? That’s crazy. If the criminal’s spouse hadn’t made a mistake, they might never have been caught. Did the couple not get along? Why didn’t they talk about hiding things or finding something strange?”

“The perpetrator was the viscount’s butler. He kept it secret to pay off gambling debts without his family knowing. His spouse didn’t know about the debt, so didn’t suspect anything.”

Elia clicked her tongue at the absurd way the criminal was caught, feeling a bit bitter.

‘Of course, it’s good the crime was discovered. But that butler must regret it so much. There’s so much to regret.’

He must have thought, ‘I shouldn’t have kept it secret. I shouldn’t have gambled behind my spouse’s back. At least I should have said something, even if just a lie, I shouldn’t have kept lying.’ He must have blamed himself, regretting too late.

‘If he’d talked, his family might have stopped him from committing a crime.’

A lie breeds more lies, and in the end, brings tragedy to the whole family. He must regret it deeply, wishing he’d spoken up sooner.