Chapter 4

“But Dyffrin never said anything like that…”

This person… Well, he was certainly unkind.

Evelyn stared firmly at Dyffrin’s closed door and asked, 

“What about my husband? Is he in his room right now?”

“Lord Dyffrin has already departed for the imperial palace.”

Phew, there was no need to be disappointed anymore.

‘But…’

Evelyn looked at Rykal standing in front of her.

“Rykal, you are Dyffrin’s aide, so why didn’t he come to work with him?”

“Yes, but I was granted permission to remain at the manor for a while to assist in your adaptation.”

Assist her to adapt, what a joke, just like in the original, he’s going to see her as unpleasant and torment her.  

Although Evelyn grumbled inwardly, she knew it was inevitable, so she put on a nonchalant expression.

“Okay, I’ll change and come out.”

Rykal nodded.

“I’ll send the maids to help you get ready.”

***

After being dressed up with the help of the maids, Evelyn faced Rykal again. His shirt collar was always neatly standing upright.

He must be trying to make her as neat as that shirt collar. It looked like a tiring day was ahead.

At that moment, Rykal spoke first.

“First, let me guide you through this manor. Now that you are the mistress of this mansion, you should know it well.”

“Yes… of course.”

“Then, let me guide you starting from the current floor.”

Rykal elegantly turned and walked away.

The direction Rykal headed was the end room of the second-floor corridor. When he opened the door, dust flew out.

“This is the guest room.”

“… Here?”

There was a bed, but she naturally thought it was a storage room because the room was completely neglected.

From the slightly creaking wooden floor to the window where the outside was barely visible, the shabby curtains, and the old furniture, everything looked abandoned. 

It would be fortunate if no ghosts came out. 

“Surely… Guests haven’t stayed in this room, have they?”

“No, Lord Dyffrin does not like to invite guests to the manor.”

That was a relief at least.

She didn’t know what kind of scolding she would get if she let guests stay in a place like this.

But Evelyn soon realized.

This was just the beginning.

Most of the unused rooms in the manor were neglected to an absurd degree. 

Even the corridor she was walking on right now… Every time she walked, it made a subtle creaking sound. 

‘Was my room and Dyffrin’s room the only decent ones?’

No, the entrance and the central hall connecting to it were fine too.

But everything else was not maintained, just like an abandoned mansion.

In other words, all the spaces that were not frequently used were neglected.

In the original work, there was mention of an “unmaintained manor”, but she could never have imagined it to be this bad.

The grand name of Snow Ville Manor seemed to apply only to the exterior.

In the end, Evelyn couldn’t hold back and blurted out.

“Why is the manor in such a state?”

Rykal, who was heading towards the kitchen, stopped and turned his head.

“What do you mean?” 

“It’s a mess. There are many places that haven’t been cleaned, and the furniture and lighting are too old.”

As the only ducal family in the empire, they shouldn’t be lacking money for this.

“Lord Dyffrin has been too busy, and has not been able to take care of the household.”

“But the Dowager Duchess… Doesn’t she visit the manor occasionally?”

“The Dowager Duchess does not tend to interfere with the running of the manor.”

Evelyn scoffed. 

Come to think of it, Amelia didn’t have much affection for Dyffrin.

Outwardly, she may have pretended to care, but since Dyffrin was not her own son, she probably didn’t care how the manor was run.

‘Ah, this complicated family.’

Evelyn thought about the male protagonist Dyffrin, who had a complicated background, and rubbed her forehead.

“If it’s okay, may I continue with the mansion tour?”

Evelyn snapped back to attention at Rykal’s voice.

‘Alright, let’s get the education part done first.’

Rykal showed her the remaining corners of the house and then introduced the maids.

His gaze lingered on a maid standing at the end.

“This maid is Patricia, the head maid. If you have any questions, ask Patricia. She knows most things.”

Patricia was a thin middle-aged woman with chestnut curly hair and prominent cheekbones.

As one of the supporting characters who ignored Evelyn in the original work, she already knew who Patricia was.

Rykal gestured for Patricia and the maids to step back.

Alone now, Rykal spoke to Evelyn.

“I should mention that Patricia also keeps the household accounts of this mansion.”

“You don’t have a butler?”

“It seems Lord Dyffrin doesn’t particularly feel the need for a butler. Appointing an important position like a butler is also a hassle.” 

Evelyn understood what Rykal was saying. Dyffrin was someone who didn’t easily trust others.

He should share important matters with his close aides, and since a butler would be more involved in the household than a head maid, Dyffrin seemed to think it was better to leave things as they were unless Patricia became completely useless.

Also, if Patricia had been incapable from the start, Dyffrin wouldn’t have brought her to the manor in the capital. Probably Dyffrin just didn’t pay attention and gradually became negligent. 

Suppressing a sigh, Evelyn asked her next question.

“Does Dyffrin regularly check the account books kept by Patricia?”

“He does check them, but he doesn’t really look at them properly. Lord Dyffrin is too busy with imperial matters, you see.”

‘That makes sense… but the household is in such a mess…’

“Speaking of which, there’s something I’d like to ask of you, Evelyn.”

“What is it?”

For a moment, it seemed like Rykal’s eyes flickered with a hidden meaning.

“It’s about managing the household accounts.”

‘…Oh no.’

As soon as Rykal finished speaking, the content of the original work that she had almost forgotten came back to her mind.

‘Right, Rykal dumped this kind of bombshell task on Evelyn.’

The existing account books were a mess, but Dyffrin hardly cared.

Rykal was the same.

Knowing that the person who brought up the issue should take responsibility, he had been waiting to pass this bomb-like task to the new lady of the manor.

“When I briefly looked at the account books, it seemed that the expenses were high compared to the amount of household supplies being purchased. So I think it’s necessary to scrutinize them one by one.” 

“…How much is the monthly household expenditure?”

“1 million dallians.”

 Evelyn’s mind raced.

‘What does 1 million dallians mean?’

Since the common people in the Colclough Empire said their annual living expenses were 100,000 dallians…  

1 million per month is an enormous amount!

Of course, the number of servants attached to this manor exceeds ten, but still, 1 million dallians is by no means a small amount. 

And yet, parts of the manor are neglected as if monsters could pop out at any moment.

“It seems that there are definitely some unnecessary expenditures… If you could manage that, Lady Evelyn, it would be a great help to the household.”

Evelyn sighed and looked around. 

She wanted to refuse, but this was like a test from Rykal to Evelyn 

‘Alright… Let’s do it.’

If she fails this mission, just like in the original, Rykal will look at Evelyn with a pitiful gaze and report to Dyffrin that she doesn’t know anything.

Most importantly… She didn’t want to live in such a messy house.

But for 2 years, she had to stay in this manor no matter what. 

With determination, Evelyn said with a resolute look.

“Okay. I’ll check the household accounts.”

For the first time, Rykal smiled subtly with the corners of his mouth raised.

“Then, I’ll trust you, Lady Evelyn, and wait for the household accounts.”

* * *

Rykal said he would continue the next education session tomorrow and disappeared.

Alone again, Evelyn called Patricia.

It seemed better to check the household accounts right away without wasting time.

Patricia entered the room, fidgeting.

“You called for me, my lady?”

“Would you mind sitting down for a moment?”

Patricia wiped her hands on her apron and sat across from Evelyn.

“Patricia, I heard from Lord Liwonok that you keep the household accounts. Is that correct?”

“Yes… that’s correct.”

“I’d like to take a look at the accounts you’ve been keeping.”

Patricia’s eyes widened.

“W-What’s this suddenly about?”

“I think it’s necessary to check.”

At Evelyn’s words, Patricia seemed flustered but soon answered firmly. 

“Are you saying you don’t trust me, my lady…! As you may have heard from Lord Liwonok, I have managed this manor for over a decade!” 

Evelyn was already feeling tired. Nevertheless, she replied calmly.

“How does asking to see the accounts imply that I don’t trust you?”

“Well…”

“My husband is busy, so I handle his work for him.”

“Still…”

In the original work, Evelyn actually had trouble because Patricia refused to show the account books.

Eventually, Evelyn informs Dyffrin tearfully, and he sighs and tells Patricia to show the account books.

“If you don’t show me the account books, I might just start to suspect you.”

 “….”

“Do you have anything you’re hiding from me?”

“Of course not!” 

Evelyn ran her hand through her hair.

“Then bring it to me right away.”

At Evelyn’s firm command, Patricia reluctantly got up from the chair. She soon brought a tattered ledger.

“Now you can go.”

“Huh…?” 

“I’ll examine the ledger carefully and I’ll call you back later.”

Patricia seemed reluctant to leave the ledger behind and hesitantly left the room.

Left alone, Evelyn slowly flipped through the ledger. The monthly food expenses, labor costs, and maintenance fees were all neatly written.  

At first glance, nothing seemed amiss, but as Evelyn continued to flip through the pages, she soon noticed something strange. 

There was something off about the ledger.