“You need to know your place. How dare a woman step forward! This is why we’re in this mess. If you squeeze the people, they’ll naturally work harder. You need to make them fear their lord to keep them in line. Do you think they’re grateful when you treat them well? They’ll just try to walk all over you.”

The territory’s people barely had enough strength to eat, let alone walk over anyone. If squeezing them would produce anything, she would have done so. If they squeezed any more, everyone would starve to death.

“I brought the guardian papers, sign them.”

At this sudden harsh command, Yvonne jumped.

“No.”

She absolutely wouldn’t do it. She would definitely protect Emil and this family.

“What?”

Wesley slammed his fist on the desk with a thunderous bang and shot up from his seat. When he became violent and angry like this, Yvonne’s body reacted. She started feeling afraid. But she clenched her hands and gathered courage to shake off the fear.

“I will choose someone older as the guardian.”

Fortunately, Yvonne’s voice flowed out evenly as usual, not revealing her trembling inside.

“What? Who?”

“I will let you know when it’s decided.”

Despite her uncle’s thundering voice, Yvonne held out until the end.

“You’re saying you’ll find someone the family elders would approve of more than me?”

“Yes.”

Yvonne clenched her fists and struggled not to back down.

Wesley narrowed his eyes. This wasn’t the Yvonne he knew. She kept speaking her mind clearly. Why had she changed so much? But it was pointless.

“Who could be more qualified than me? Bring such a person if they exist. Such impudence.”

Her uncle wasn’t backing down either. With the title in sight, her uncle charging forward recklessly had become an even more fierce person. Both Leon and him become so ugly in front of titles.

“I’ll leave this here, so sign it. Seeing things come to this state gives me a headache. I need to rest.”

She hated her uncle who slammed the study door shut as he left. He would likely force her hand to sign next. Where should she hide? She knew he wasn’t someone who could be reasoned with. Yet she had misjudged that she could stand up to him. What should she do now?

The guardian application needed both her and Emil’s signatures. So hiding somewhere else with Emil would be the best option. But where? It wasn’t just for a day or two, where could they go? And if her uncle found them after they left, that would be the end of it.

Her head wasn’t just throbbing, it felt like it was splitting open.

Mother. Please tell me how to hold out without signing. What should I do now?

There was no one to help her. She had to fight her uncle alone. Did she have any chance of winning? She wasn’t sure. The wall she had to overcome was too high. How dare she spoke so boldly to Leon. She felt pathetic.

Yvonne squeezed her eyes shut.

***

Wesley sprawled out on the bed in his room. His mouth was about to split from grinning. Things were going more smoothly than expected.

Originally, Yvonne was a gentle and timid child. It was very satisfying to see her immediately lower her tail with just a little intimidation. She might try to act strong in her own way, but it’s futile. Not to mention, Yvonne claimed she would find another relative as guardian. This means…

It means she can’t marry that guy. He might be thinking of breaking off the engagement. No, such words must have already been exchanged for Yvonne to say that. If they were still getting married, she would have insisted that he would become the guardian. He had guessed from that guy’s indifferent attitude, but now he knew for certain. That those two wouldn’t marry. The long engagement period made it obvious.

Still grinning, Wesley got up and approached the window. How should he renovate this place to spread good rumors? He would collect much more taxes and decorate this place lavishly. Then he would invite his family who had been living in poverty. After being looked down upon all this time, his wife too could live receiving proper respect. Once he dealt with that Emil, he would inherit the title of count and his son, who was bigger than Emil, would inherit it after him.

Looking down from the second-floor window, Wesley spotted that guy turning around the corner. It was that Leon or Lemon guy, walking unsteadily with a crutch.

Yesterday after dinner when that guy left first, he had caught Emil and asked several questions. Among them were questions about that guy. When he subtly asked if there was anything suspicious, Emil had answered.

“Sir Leon has changed a bit. I guess war changes people.”

Ha. What’s changed? From what he could see, nothing had changed at all. It was exactly as the information he’d gathered. Wesley snorted at Emil’s words. Still, Emil’s answers were consistently good words, perhaps taking his sister’s side. But it didn’t matter since he held all the cards.

Wesley watched that man walking down there, exactly as his investigation had shown. Yvonne had just proved that there was absolutely no reason to worry about that man. Then suddenly he narrowed his eyes. Wait.

That place is… near the study. Surely not.

No. He must just be passing by. That must be a coincidence. Well, even if he heard, what could he do? He felt foolish for still being wary of that man who showed no interest in things like guardianship. A second son completely different from the Duke’s heir. It was fortunate that Yvonne’s fiancé wasn’t the heir. If he had been the heir… He wouldn’t have been able to deal with him.

Let’s quickly drive that guy out of here cleanly.

Yes. That too will happen soon.

He was so pleased that he found himself humming unconsciously.

“Sir Leon. What brings you here?”

It was a place with a large furnace near the kitchen. It was useful for cooking large quantities of food by burning firewood.

“Why are you here?”

Emil’s cheeks, looking up at him while crouching down by the furnace with a servant, had some soot on them. He became curious about what they were doing.

“I’m sorting through charcoal.”

Leon nodded slightly. He immediately understood that Emil was selecting usable charcoal from well-burned firewood, which would be needed for drawing. It seemed he had already found several pieces that were thin and long enough to hold in hand among the blackened, cooled wood pieces.

Emil’s expression looked endlessly happy as he carefully wrapped the charcoal in paper and put them in the small bag he always carried.

So he was getting materials this way to save money on buying charcoal. Yet Emil’s face looked so happy. When he saw him drawing the rabbit last time, the charcoal in his hand had worn down to barely visible size. No wonder he was happy to get several new pieces.

“Taking away my drawing is like telling me to die.”

Emil said something without being asked. It seemed to have been weighing on his mind all this time.

“Is there a way to prevent it from being taken?”

He exchanged words leisurely while walking with Emil. Emil was quite amusing and interesting.

“So I thought about it and I’m thinking of hiding the paper and charcoal in uncle’s room.”

Leon’s head tilted slightly to the side. He didn’t understand what that meant.

“They say the darkest place is under the lamp. He won’t think I’d hide these in his own room.”

Emil had a confident expression, saying it was obvious he would only search other places if he wanted to get rid of everything.

Leon almost laughed out loud. Emil was both peculiar and clever. It was never boring being with him.

“Oh, Sir Leon.”

“I think I saw you drawing something on the ground while catching the breeze in the garden. Was it perhaps a squirrel? The squirrels haven’t been showing up lately.”

He was wondering if maybe a squirrel had shown up. But more than just that, Emil had been keeping an eye on it. He had been somewhat careless. Fortunately, it seemed he had watched from afar and hadn’t seen clearly. With Emil’s powers of observation, he would have recognized immediately what he was drawing.

“They’ll appear soon.”

Since they had created an empty field, neither squirrels nor rabbits would approach the inner garden.

“The squirrels must miss seeing me too, I wonder how they’re holding back.”

Emil had a unique way of expressing himself. But his true feelings were easy to understand. Leon smiled inwardly as he entered the mansion with Emil.

It looked like rain would pour at any moment.