“Looking around, I think the territory’s landscaping is a bit lacking. How about cutting down all the trees with many branches and decorating it in the capital style?”

“Oh my, as expected of someone from above, your aesthetic sense is extraordinary!”

“Why didn’t we think of that before! Haha, this must be the difference between the Count and us!”

Today as well, the other retainers flattered Shailyn, but Philip did not.

“That won’t do. If we cut down trees carelessly, nature will be ruined, and even if we transplant the capital’s scenery to the county, it will only be excessive and ridiculous.”

“That fellow, if he’s going to be like this, why does he keep attending meetings?”

“Hey, if you’re going to interfere, just leave! If you have complaints, step down from your retainer position and go!”

When the meeting atmosphere that would have been harmonious without Philip alone turned cold, the retainers collectively pressured him.

But Philip never bent and strongly argued.

“This is complete budget waste. And in my eyes, the territory’s landscaping isn’t bad. We’ll definitely ruin it if we mess with it for no reason.”

“No, that guy keeps……”

“Stop.”

When the retainers seemed to be getting louder, Shailyn firmly mediated.

She had already erased her bright smile and spoke with a calm face.

“Actually, I have something to tell you all. I’ve become the new count, but I have no experience running a territory, and I can’t stay here continuously.”

As her words continued, the retainers’ ears perked up.

“So I want to choose one person to operate Sharofe territory as my representative.”

In other words, she was looking for someone to act as the territory’s master in her place.

Since there was no position where retainers could enjoy as much power, their eyes all gleamed greedily.

“I’ll tell you at tomorrow’s retainer meeting, so please all attend.”

Shailyn, who made the request, smiled slightly and left the meeting room with Carl.

While the remaining ones nurtured their desires, only Philip Dumore sighed.

The next day, the retainer meeting.

The retainers who had gathered one step ahead of the count were each chattering excitedly.

“Hehe, the count will naturally choose me, won’t she? I’ve worked for the count’s family the longest among us!”

“No, I think it’s me. How well the count’s and my intentions match, it’s like she entered my head.”

While six of them nurtured vain dreams, Philip thought with a dark face.

‘House Sharofe is truly cursed. What should I do……’

At just over thirty years old, his hair seemed about to turn white from stress.

When Philip let out a heavy sigh, Shailyn entered the meeting room.

“You’ve all attended.”

Unlike usual, she wore a high-neck dress and was dressed neatly and modestly.

She felt elegant yet weighty, so everyone looked at Shailyn unfamiliarly.

Shailyn, who went to the head seat, brought up the main point without beating around the bush.

“The person who will take responsibility for and operate Sharofe territory in my place is—”

Everyone swallowed dryly and focused on her next words.

Her blue eyes reached the person sitting across from her among the seven faces.

“Baron Philip Dumore.”

When she recited the name of the person she had already decided on in her heart yesterday, gasps close to shock flowed from all directions.

“What, what did you say?”

“You’re joking, right? No, why Baron Dumore……”

The retainers asked with disbelieving faces. They couldn’t understand choosing Philip, who had opposed Shailyn’s opinions at every turn, as her representative.

Even Philip himself looked bewildered as if wondering what on earth this was about.

However, Shailyn didn’t smile brightly as before and spoke coldly.

“Every time I brought ridiculous businesses and pushed them forward, Baron Dumore was the only one who rebelled and stopped me.”

A moment of ominous feeling enveloped the six retainers. Perhaps agreeing with her then had been a very wrong choice.

“While everyone else watched my mood and tried to please me, only Baron Dumore truly thought of the territory and confronted me. Could there be anyone more suitable as the count’s representative here?”

Shailyn sent cold gazes to the retainers. No one could refute her words and only felt bewildered.

Then Viscount Walter protested as if wronged.

“W-wait! Of course I also knew the count’s words were nonsense, but I just went along because it seemed like the territory’s owner and family head wanted it!”

“That’s right, we weren’t really going to do what the count said either!”

The other retainers also agreed emotionally as if they had been deceived.

Shailyn looked at them and smiled by only pulling up her lips.

“Isn’t it too cowardly to say such things now? I think you should be ashamed of yourselves.”

“……!”

With that single blow, everyone turned red-faced and shut their mouths tight.

Viscount Walter, who finally caught on to Shailyn’s true intentions, let out a hollow laugh.

“……The count tested us.”

Shailyn didn’t deny it.

To pick out trustworthy people in a short time, she had deliberately acted like a childish and materialistic count.

If someone truly thought of the territory, they wouldn’t spare harsh words for such a person.

‘Though I didn’t expect there to be only one, Baron Dumore.’

Still, she had saved one out of seven, so it wasn’t a bad result.

Shailyn, who no longer had business with the other retainers, raised her finger and pointed to the door.

“Everyone except Baron Dumore, please leave.”

The retainers had no choice but to give up their seats while grumbling.

Her face, not smiling brightly, was quite stern and had a dignity befitting a count.

Philip, left alone with Shailyn, finally came to his senses and asked.

“Then…… the golden peaches, rainbow spirit creatures, and landscaping business you mentioned so far were all lies?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Ha…… Thank goodness.”

Philip, for whom the most important thing was that she wasn’t seriously trying to ruin the territory, felt relieved.

Shailyn, looking at him, sparkled her eyes like Bartholomew when he discovered talent.

“Baron Dumore, I heard your family has worked for our family for three generations.”

“……Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then will you help me, Shailyn Sharofe, this time too?”

Shailyn, who readily got up from her seat and approached Philip first, extended her hand.

A cooperation proposal from Sharofe to Dumore—how could he refuse this?

Philip suppressed his trembling hand and first clearly stated his thoughts.

“If the count is truly someone who cherishes the territory, I will always follow the count’s words.”

“Then we’ll work together for life.”

When the answer she had hoped for flowed from Shailyn’s mouth, Philip finally clasped hands with her.

It was the best combination for the prosperity of Sharofe territory.