“Is renting carriages a method used by merchant guilds?”

“What? Oh…… I applied the concept of ‘temporary.’ If we convert things for temporary use according to immediate needs, there are surprisingly many problems we can solve.”

As she responded to his question and expressed her thoughts, her tense shoulders relaxed. After glancing at the wet desk and moving papers that shouldn’t get wet, she returned to her usual self. Her clumsy movements vanished, replaced by precise actions and a composed expression.

“It’s like Sir Brahms of the Royal Guard.”

Since this world had the concept of ownership but not rental, Elena carefully explained the concept step by step.

She passionately explained, genuinely enjoying and loving her work.

“Since the people of Count Emphraim’s territory will also be temporarily settling in the Grand Duchy, it would be good to prepare for them to live for the time being by introducing the concept of rental. If we lend them the minimum necessary items and ask for short-term labor in return, they will understand and accept it.”

Rudfelix nodded as he listened to her explanation about applying “temporary” status. While he had planned to give up part of the Grand Duchy for the people of Count Emphraim’s domain, he hadn’t made detailed plans beyond that.

“That’s a good idea. Can you work out the details?”

“If you give me time, it’s possible. However, I need information.”

While she knew much about the capital, she probably knew less about the Grand Duchy than a child living there.

Rudfelix opened a drawer and took out a card.

“Go see as much as you want and come back.”

“Are you really giving this to me?”

It was an access card to the palace library they had visited before. Moreover, it was a royal tier card that only members of the imperial family could use, so she hesitated to reach out for it.

Sometimes she acted brazenly, but at times like this, she became timid and hesitant. Was it because she had heard that those without proper qualifications would lose their heads immediately?

“What else? I can give you anything, just ask.”

“Nothing else.”

“Earlier, when I helped you avoid being hit by the coat rack……”

Rudfelix rested his chin on the back of his hand.

“You couldn’t take your eyes off my face. Do you want my face?”

“Don’t say such things. People will misunderstand if they hear.”

Elena shouted with a reddened face from embarrassment. Then she grabbed the card and left almost like she was fleeing.

Her behavior was so different from when she was working that he kept wanting to tease her.

“But it’s true.”

Rudfelix expressed his slightly wronged feelings, but there was no one to hear.

“If you take me, you can have my face too.”

Since she couldn’t just take his face, if she asked for him, he was willing to give himself.

Then, hearing the doorknob turn, a smile appeared on Rudfelix’s lips.

“Why did you come back?”

Elena was the only one who could enter his office without permission.

What his eyes caught was not Elena slipping in quietly, but a pair of black shoes.

From the moment he spotted the black shoes, Rudfelix’s gaze darkened. He had not given instructions for anyone besides Elena to enter.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Your Highness.”

It wasn’t Elena’s clear voice.

As he confirmed the face of the person entering, Rudfelix’s wariness diminished somewhat.

The owner of the husky yet pleasant voice was Hines, the mansion’s butler.

“What brings you all the way here?”

“I’ve come in place of Quiet.”

“What is there to come in place of.”

Though Rudfelix acted annoyed, Hines paid no mind and stepped inside.

“He asked me to take good care of Your Highness.”

“Just how many people is he asking to take care of me?”

He wore an irritated expression.

It was questionable whether Quiet had even departed, given how busy he seemed to be going around entrusting the Grand Duke to others.

“It’s all out of concern for Your Highness.”

Despite Rudfelix’s irritation, Hines laughed heartily, finding it amusing.

Quiet was the Grand Duke Rudfelix’s official aide and unofficially served as a nanny who cleaned up after him.

“I’ve been running hard to be Your Highness’s hands and feet.”

“Not needed, run back.”

“Your Highness.”

When Hines tried to brush it off with a slight smile, Rudfelix waved his hand.

“I was planning to leave the palace anyway.”

Rudfelix mentioned why he didn’t need a separate attendant.

“Are you going out today?”

That had been the original plan, but he’d given Elena the library card, which threw off his schedule. He hadn’t told her when to return after viewing it, so he was contemplating what to do.

As he repeatedly tapped his fingers on the desk, Hines used a towel that appeared from nowhere to wipe up the spilled water and clean up.

When Rudfelix stared blankly, Hines gave him a gentle smile.

“I’ll clean up here, Your Highness doesn’t need to worry about it.”

“I’m watching because I have nothing to do.”

The area Hines had already touched was neatly organized. The coat rack that had been knocked over when Elena fell was standing straight, and the clothes that had been hanging on it had disappeared without a trace.

“Your Highness.”

As Hines busily moved around, Rudfelix’s gaze followed him like a baby chick.

Hines brought a white towel and a potted plant and sat down in front of Rudfelix. As he carefully wiped the leaves, Rudfelix gave him a displeased look.

“Why bring it here to clean?”

“I wanted to talk with Your Highness, so I brought it.”

“You said not to worry.”

After saying that, why come in front and do this? He knew it was all for his sake, but his words came out gruffly.

Since the butler showed him nothing but endless warmth, when with his butler, he reverted from being a skilled politician to a child who answered everything contrary.

“I can’t remember when we last sat face to face like this.”

“I suppose you’re too old to remember.”

“There’s also the fact that Your Highness has been too busy to see this old man.”

Hines gently deflected Rudfelix’s attack.

“Still, I’m glad to see Your Highness’s face looking better when I see you occasionally.”

Rudfelix stretched his body long on the chair like a cat lounging in sunlight.

His long legs stretched out carelessly under the chair, yet he became a subject worthy of being captured in a painting.

Knowing that he rarely showed such a free appearance, the butler smiled kindly and placed a cushion under his arm.

“Have you put down the burden of needing to reclaim the Grand Duchy?”

Rudfelix working day and night after receiving the title of Grand Duke early was all for the sake of the Grand Duchy. The cause that had kept him from resting was that he had to return to the imperial family the territory his ancestors had spent their lives ruling.

“No.”

He had agreed to receive the original from Count Emphraim, but that wasn’t enough.

“I will follow whatever choice Your Highness makes.”

Hines seemed to perceive Rudfelix’s complex feelings without further words and comforted him.

“It’s not just the Grand Duchy. Your Highness has given much to the imperial family. Knowing it’s not right, you’ve endured until now. His Majesty the Emperor takes what’s yours as a matter of course. If Your Highness wishes to become Emperor, I will gladly stand by your side.”

“I haven’t decided anything yet, so don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Rudfelix responded gruffly to Hines’s loyal words that he would follow him even if the end was death. Though he only said nothing was decided yet, he knew he would have to decide soon.

“Have I tactlessly exposed Your Highness’s concerns?”

“Yes. You were very tactless. You acted even more tactlessly than Aide Elena.”

Before realizing why she had become the point of comparison, Hines’s deep laughter came first.

“I’ll stay quiet.”

“As you wish.”

“Still, I have time to listen to Your Highness’s words.”

Hines’s voice, saying he would listen to whatever story Rudfelix wanted to tell, warmed the air.

Rudfelix looked at Hines and then turned his head to the opposite side.

Perhaps because of the sunlight falling on his face, he blinked his eyelids slowly. His clear eyes became cloudy, and their focus disappeared.

“She keeps confusing me.”

Though he didn’t say who, Hines smiled and nodded slowly. Aide Elena, whom he had seen just once when she came to the mansion. She was a young lady with impressively clear eyes.

“Everything about her was strange. When I gave her work, she sat on the floor to do it, and she kept coming up with solutions! I wanted to open that head of hers. Whether others were lacking or this woman was exceptional. And yet she acted as if it was all natural and wanted nothing in return. Does such a creature exist?”

There were people as skilled as Elena. However, there was no one like Elena who didn’t have lingering attachments to the Grand Duke, her superior. Everyone else harbored desires toward him.

“So was she just strange?”