The Blond Male Lead is Too Much

***

The House Sharofe retainer meeting was being held for the first time in several years.

This was because Gwen, who had inherited the title after the previous count’s death, had ignored the retainers and managed the family arbitrarily and extravagantly.

With Gwen stepping down and a nineteen-year-old eldest daughter ascending as the new count, opinions among the retainers were divided.

“House Sharofe is truly cursed! The previous two counts were disasters, and now a girl not even twenty is taking over the family!”

“Still, wouldn’t she listen to us better than the previous two? She seemed to have quite a submissive and gentle personality.”

“Would such a person immediately cut out all of Gwen Sharofe’s people as soon as she arrived? We might not want to underestimate her.”

“Come now, looking at her portrait, she was a delicate and fragile young lady. Don’t be so frightening. Haha!”

The retainers gathered in the meeting room were chattering away when—

Creak.

“Count Sharofe has arrived.”

The door opened and Shailyn appeared. She was dressed up splendidly as if attending a party.

While it seemed quite childish in a way, the retainers were simply mesmerized by her fairy-like beautiful appearance.

Shailyn, who sat in the head seat, smiled gently with her eyes.

“Hello, everyone. I am Count Shailyn Sharofe.”

Carl, fully armed, stood behind her protectively.

Shailyn checked each of the seven retainers’ faces one by one and gently spoke again.

“The reason I called you all today is none other than that I want to start a new business in the territory and would like to hear your opinions on it.”

“Yes, please tell us by all means.”

Viscount Walter, the oldest among them, displayed his seasoned social skills.

“As you all know, our territory’s specialty is peaches, right?”

“That’s right.”

“We sprinkle gold powder on the peaches to make golden peaches and sell them for 10 gold each. How about it?”

Shailyn rattled off nonsensical words while smiling brightly.

All the retainers looked at her with bewildered faces. They were all meeting Shailyn for the first time.

No one knew what her real personality was like. This meant they couldn’t tell whether what they were seeing now was real or fake.

“We can increase the rarity of our territory’s specialty products while pursuing high profits. Isn’t it a good idea?”

“……But the profit margin won’t be as much as expected because of the gold price.”

Baron Dumore, the youngest among them, carefully objected.

Then Shailyn clapped her hands and provided the solution.

“Then we just sprinkle fake gold powder! Honestly, what good would eating real gold do for the human body? We sprinkle edible powder dyed gold to make golden peaches that look like real gold.”

“No, that’s a bit……”

Just as the retainers were about to put the brakes on her business with stunned faces—

Bang!

Suddenly Carl dramatically intruded and thr*st his sword into the middle of the round table.

“Now, it seems there are some who feel dissatisfied with our Count?”

The retainers froze at his murderous gaze and voice.

His black eyes flashing like a beast were anything but ordinary.

“Oh my, Carl. Calm down. It’s not time to draw swords yet.”

Shailyn calmly stopped him while waving her hand. Carl, who obediently withdrew, growled a warning.

“Anyone who rebels against the Count will learn how deep my loyalty runs.”

Seeing the retainers still unable to move, overwhelmed by his presence, Shailyn burst into laughter.

“Don’t be so frightened, everyone. My knight is originally a bit tough and belligerent. But his loyalty is excellent in return, so I cherish him greatly.”

“When I receive a salary approaching 1 million gold per month from Miss, isn’t it natural?”

Carl pulled up the corner of his mouth crookedly and added.

Then the retainers’ eyes widened.

“What, what did he say? Did I mishear just now?”

“No, I clearly heard 1 million gold too.”

“How could such a large sum be given to a mere knight……”

“Have you all forgotten? That Count Sharofe is the owner of a magic mine!”

Shailyn, who had let them murmur sufficiently, interjected at the right moment.

“I really like loyal people like Carl. I hope to have such a loyal relationship with all of you too.”

Her bright smile sparkled just like gold.

The retainers, who had quickly calculated in their heads, began competing to flatter Shailyn.

“Haha, we feel the same way. Since we already get along so well, we’re really looking forward to the future we’ll share with the new count.”

“How did you come up with such an original idea like golden peaches? I can only admire it!”

“The new Count has given our Sharofe a very noble characteristic.”

Shailyn listened to the pouring praise with a silent smiling face and then asked.

“Then you all agree with the golden peach business?”

Among the six retainers nodding their heads, the remaining one raised his hand.

“Please wait a moment. Making golden peaches is too reckless!”

He was Baron Philip Dumore, who had shown a negative reaction to the golden peaches from the beginning.

Philip stood up from his seat and tried to persuade Shailyn and the retainers.

“Even if we use fake gold powder to deceive people, what do you think will happen when it’s discovered later? It will cause great damage to Sharofe territory!”

“Oh my, I’ve naturally thought of a solution for that too.”

Shailyn crossed her legs arrogantly while blowing on her nails.

“We give money to people who notice it’s fake to shut their mouths. As you all know, I have a magic mine so I have plenty of wealth. If necessary, I can ask the Diart ducal family for help too.”

“Ha, are you seriously saying that right now—”

“Philip, you! Stop it!”

Another retainer stopped Philip, who couldn’t help but scoff. The other retainers also joined in criticizing him.

“When the Count has such deep thoughts, what are you so dissatisfied about? Why are you being so presumptuous!”

“Or are you looking down on the new Count because she’s young and a woman?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?!”

Philip bristled with an incredulous face. Before their argument could escalate, Shailyn stepped in.

“Everyone calm down. If you don’t know me well, you might misunderstand. That I’m this well-prepared and meticulous.”

She spoke shamelessly and deliberately glared at Philip while adding.

“But honestly, I’m a bit displeased, so be careful next time.”

“……I understand. However, I oppose the golden peaches.”

Philip apologized while still firmly expressing his opinion. The retainers clicked their tongues at him.

Shailyn pretended not to listen to his words and ignore him while glancing at Philip with a strange gaze.

Shailyn’s eccentric behavior continued after that. She would summon retainer meetings at the drop of a hat and push strange businesses.

“I’ve been thinking, what if we spread rumors that a spirit creature made of rainbow feathers lives in our territory? Then many people would come for tourism, right?”

“But there are no spirit creatures with rainbow feathers in our territory.”

To Philip’s rigid objection, Shailyn replied cheerfully.

“We just catch any animal and dye it with magical dye!”

“Oh my, how did you think of such a brilliant idea! Amazing, Count!”

Then the other retainers praised and flattered her as before.

Only Philip protested with a scrunched face.

“Wait a minute, are you saying we should dye innocent animals and use them to make money? Does this even make sense?”

“Philip, is it you again!”

“Please understand, Count. That young fellow has many complaints about life.”

“We completely support the Count’s opinion. Don’t let it get you down unnecessarily.”

Before Shailyn could say anything, the retainers stepped forward to scold Philip and comfort her.

“But this doesn’t seem right. I absolutely oppose it.”