Chapter 5 – The Northern Speraum (Part 2)

Emmern, staring at Reubellina’s unwavering gaze, eventually began to cry.

‘This might actually be better.’

It was time to show that country bumpkin from the capital who the Northern mistress was.

Emmern continued to cry loudly, expecting someone—in this case, Tartenon—would step in to comfort her.

But the situation didn’t unfold as she hoped.

In the Count of Phineus or Grand Duke Speraum’s household, crying ensured she got everything she wanted. But now, strangely, no one stepped in. Even as she cried louder, no one comforted her.

Peeking through her fingers, Emmern saw Reubellina and Tartenon whispering intimately, ignoring her tears.

‘What the hell!’

Judging it was better to stop crying since it only advantaged that woman, Emmern glared at Reubellina.

“Are you done crying?”

Reubellina asks, and Emmern bites her lip to keep her voice steady. She opened her mouth to say something, but her escort cut her off. 

“Augh!”

It was an impudent gesture, but the escort was someone appointed directly by her father, Count Phineus, with the task of controlling the reckless Emmern.

“My, the Lady seems to be quite inarticulate. Not all the noble ladies of the North are like that, are they?”

Reubellina whispered loudly enough for those around to hear, directing her comment at Tartenon. Emmern, infuriated by the mockery, started to lash out, but the escort acted quickly. She stepped back, bowing deeply.

“The lady’s health is not well. I will escort her away first.”

“In the future, Lady Phineus will not be allowed into this castle without my permission.”

Reubellina declared firmly. The escort flinched at her assertive words but nodded and withdrew, dragging Emmern away. It was a pitiful retreat for someone who had approached so boldly.

“Such a strange person.” 

Sandy muttered to Reubellina as the castle’s occupants, who had heard the whole thing, were busy discussing it amongst themselves. The supposedly formidable Lady Phineus had simply backed down. Tartenon’s proactive defense of Reubellina, in contrast to his neglect of his previous fiancée, Bellaruse, played a part in this.

In the North, Tartenon’s authority as Grand Duke was paramount. With him actively protecting Reubellina, she now wielded real power in the castle.

“So many people covet what’s not theirs.” 

Tartenon cleared his throat awkwardly at her lament.

“Ahem!” 

Reubellina responded to Tartenon’s hesitation.

“Did you say there was something requiring my approval?”

“I don’t recall giving any permission.”

“Even if you didn’t permit it, you didn’t stop it either.”

Tartenon averted his gaze from Reubellina’s piercing eyes. However, her golden eyes stayed fixed on his cheek, making Tartenon uncomfortably stammer towards Paddington.

“Did you say you had a business that required my approval?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

He tried to leave the uncomfortable situation immediately, but Reubellina wasn’t one to let him off easily.

“If you leave now, I won’t let you off lightly.”

“Leave? I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Tartenon quickly adjusted his attitude, causing Reubellina to smile as she turned swiftly towards Paddington.

“Let’s give the butler one more chance.”

“To me, my lady?”

“If there’s a room prepared for me, I’ll overlook this incident.”

It was quite a generous offer. Reubellina decided to be lenient this once, knowing that Emmern’s behavior likely extended to mistreating the butler, Paddington.

‘But that doesn’t mean I’ll let it slide entirely.’

Tartenon had clearly ordered a room prepared for the Grand Duchess. Paddington’s failure to comply was his fault.

“Please follow me.”

‘As expected.’

Reubellina was impressed. As the butler of House Speraum, Paddington managed his duties well, catering to the desires of the seemingly influential Lady Phineus while still preparing for the Northern mistress’s arrival.

It was the appropriate conduct for someone serving nobility. Had Emmern not been present today, Paddington would have smoothly shown her and Tartenon a splendid room without any issues.

The room Paddington led them to was located in the center of the main corridor of the castle.

“Excellent.”

The room was well-lit, with bright wallpaper and a subtle fragrance. The fireplace’s flames made the room cozy, and it was furnished with high-quality wooden furniture.

Sandy inspected the room thoroughly, a stark contrast to her earlier indifference towards the previous room.

Reubellina turned to Paddington and asked.

“Why were there two rooms prepared?”

“If Lady Emmern had prevailed, you would have stayed in the other room.”

It implied they were testing her as the future mistress of the North. Tartenon stepped forward, but Reubellina stopped him, unbothered by the revelation.

Even merchant guilds assess if a person is fit for their role. Welcoming the mistress of House Speraum, a dominant force in the North, was no different. She could understand Paddington’s caution.

“What do you think now that you’ve seen it yourself?” 

Reubellina asked in a gentle voice. Despite her change in tone, Paddington remained stoic, bowing deeply.

“I greet the mistress of the North.”

Reubellina smiled brightly at Paddington, who expressed his acknowledgment with a deep bow. As he bowed, the other servants followed suit.

Reubellina, having successfully dealt with Emmern, presented a stark contrast to her predecessor, Bellaruse, raising the expectations of the Speraum castle staff. They looked forward to the changes that Reubellina, as the new fiancée and soon-to-be Grand Duchess, would bring to the North.

“All of you may rise.”

At Reubellina’s command, the servants straightened and returned to their duties. As Paddington withdrew, Reubellina called after him.

“Bring me all documents related to the castle’s administration.”

“Understood.”

Sandy grumbled about how the young lady never rests, but Reubellina merely smiled in response. Since they had shown her respect, she intended to reciprocate.

“Ren, could I speak with you for a moment?”

Reciprocating would come later; for now, she had something to discuss with Tartenon.

Reubellina and Tartenon entered the Grand Duchess’s chambers.

“I didn’t expect another woman to call you by your nickname.”

“I never allowed it.”

“But you didn’t stop her either.”

“I needed to get rid of the bothersome Bellaruse at that time.”

Tartenon didn’t make excuses. He found it better to admit his faults honestly. As expected, Reubellina nodded in agreement.

“That makes sense.”

Reubellina agreed that to get rid of the clingy Bellaruse, it was necessary to have someone with an even more difficult personality. Unfortunately, that someone was Emmern.

“Is the Lady Phineus always so overbearing?”

“There’s no helping it.”

Tartenon slowly explained the situation in the North, including the significant financial contributions from the Count of Phineus.

“So they were essentially trying to buy Speraum with money.”

“If it weren’t for you, that might have been the outcome.”

“Were you planning on making money… Oh, I suppose you tried.”

Seeing Tartenon’s face darken, Reubellina quickly changed the subject.

“It’s not that I didn’t try, but I kept encountering swindlers.”

“Swindlers?”

“Yes.”

Speraum, located in the barren North, had no connections with the nobles of the West, East, or South. Thus, Tartenon lacked information on the special products or market prices of these regions. The other nobles were united in their efforts to exploit the North’s wealth.

‘They were taking advantage of him.’

It was a heartbreaking story. After being swindled multiple times, Tartenon decided to delegate all authority to one family: the Count of Phineus.

‘This smells fishy.’

As a merchant, Reubellina had a keen instinct. She couldn’t let this matter go. Whoever swindled the ruler of the North must have been bold, and there were likely many families involved.

Perhaps problems with the investments didn’t arise from the beginning. Tartenon was not such an easy person.

But unlike managing the territories, investing was not an easy task. It required tremendous information, money, and people. Speraum, which had grown through the powerful military force of its knights, lacked capable administrative personnel.

‘Here, there were only knights, knights everywhere. With no one possessing administrative skills, it’s no wonder they got stabbed in the back over and over again and couldn’t come to their senses.’

Reubellina was convinced that there must be a huge force behind this.

‘How dare they stick a straw into my land?’

Though it was a contractual marriage, now that she was here as the Grand Duchess, once Reubellina arrived here, she intended to properly develop the North. The places that should benefit from the North should naturally be the trading guilds operated by the Duchy of Asillious and the Musen. She couldn’t have anyone else stealing the North’s specialties and money.

With Reubellina already considering Speraum as her own, there was no one who could stop her.