The Husband I Worked So Hard to Save Is the Mastermind?

“Fortunately, we found no problems with Brandon’s cognitive abilities.”

The psychiatrist who had examined Brandon over the past week presented his findings.

Everyone had tried to identify him during that time, but ultimately failed.

Not only was his memory completely gone, but even the items he possessed weren’t his own, providing no clues.

“How’s your leg?”

When I asked with concern, Brandon slowly approached while leaning on his crutch.

“It’s much better thanks to you. Using the crutch has become easier, and I can manage daily life without much trouble. So there’s one thing I’d like to request…”

“Yes, please speak freely.”

“If there’s anything I can do here, may I find something and help?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to wait until you’ve completed rehabilitation? You’re not fully recovered yet.”

“No. If you’ll allow me, I’d like to be of help to others without becoming a burden.”

“A-1 residents, please move to the rehabilitation therapy room now.”

At the announcement accompanied by a bell, Brandon quickly turned his head.

I told him that if he was so determined, he could do as he wished. He gave a slight bow of gratitude and I watched him walk away with the others.

With his hair cut and after bathing, Brandon looked so neat that I could hardly remember how he had looked when collapsed.

However, small wounds still remained on his face, and it would take time for the bruises and scars to disappear.

“Hmm. That Brandon person.”

Odin, who had been staring at the backs of the people with me, spoke up.

“He doesn’t look like just a commoner, does he?”

“You think so?”

“His ingrained attitude, his behavior—they’re different from others.”

“Hmm… Now that you mention it, you’re right. I should tell them to consider that when identifying him.”

I adjusted my hold on Odin and headed to the office.

The office was bustling with temporary staff Carlo had sent.

Everyone had estimated it would take a month to correct all the errors, from double ledgers to incorrectly recorded documents. However, when I arrived at December on the day I was wondering about the heightened security throughout St. Berte, accounting specialists and people needed for reorganizing the center were already waiting for me.

They processed work so quickly that the original staff were amazed.

I hadn’t expected him to send people to help with the center’s work without telling me…

“…While being so busy himself.”

Since our face-to-face encounter in bed that night, I hadn’t had another chance to see him.

Though he had said to save on food costs and stop eating snacks, my meals were always lavish, and Odin’s snacks were never replaced with pork.

“I wonder if he’s doing well…?”

Wouldn’t his body suffer from working so much?

I’d thought about waiting up to at least greet him when he returned at dawn after leaving at dawn.

But fearing I might just make him more tired, I kept to my own routine and did my work.

Of course, after finishing my schedule at December and returning, fatigue would hit me all at once and I’d fall asleep immediately.

Nevertheless, during my waking hours, I thought of him several times a day.

“…I should just repay his kindness, what am I thinking about!”

I shook off my thoughts and sat in the chair.

“Here’s the report on the difference between the original ledger and the one reported by the Caleb father and son.”

Reading the report left by the accounting staff, I was greeted by an enormous number.

My head spun, but I steeled myself and picked up a pen.

‘To Father, no, Count Azanie.’

First, I needed to send a letter demanding that Count Azanie cough up the embezzled center budget he had swallowed.

Receiving this letter would likely increase his desire to kill me, but isn’t returning stolen money the right thing to do? Hmph.

“Please return THIIIIIS much money promptly.”

I carefully signed my name while writing the exact amount to be recovered.

After writing the letter, I coordinated the whereabouts of unqualified residents who had been staying at December.

In other words, I either dismissed the residents of S dormitory—problem children from wealthy families—or if they wished to stay, had them find housing nearby so they could spend all day here and return to their own accommodations.

Instead, I made them pay enormous education fees.

Many families seemed to dislike seeing their children cause trouble at home, as they willingly paid those high education fees to entrust them to us.

With the accumulated money, I posted job listings for teachers.

I planned to hire more teachers to provide quality education.

That would increase the number of students, and with more money, I could expand welfare for residents and facilities.

For now, the doctors and therapists Carlo had sent were treating the residents and renovating facilities, but in the future, I would have to operate on my own.

“Here’s the application form.”

“Thank you.”

After neatly folding the letter and placing it in an envelope, I opened the stack of documents the staff had left.

These were applications from people who had wanted to enter before but couldn’t because they lacked the means to lobby the Caleb father and son.

“…Huh?”

While reading each document and reviewing qualifications, I discovered an application that caught my eye.

It was an application for Celli’s father.

[Reason for Application: Gambling Addiction]

“Sigh…”

Knowing the reason, he was definitely someone who needed to be admitted.

Gambling is practically a mental illness, after all.

I had seen many around my dad in my past life who found it difficult to break free once addicted.

I had also clearly seen with my own eyes how having such a person in the family harms the entire family.

“Come in and rehabilitate yourself.”

I firmly pressed the approval stamp.

“Isn’t it difficult?”

Joseph asked as I was getting out of the carriage upon arriving at the castle.

“What is?”

“…That there are people who criticize you despite how hard you’re working.”

He looked at me with a concerned expression, like someone quite troubled.

During our trips to and from December, unlike Medlin, he had seemed unconcerned about people badmouthing me…

As time passed, more people at the center were thanking me for working hard.

And naturally, there were also some who suspected I had other motives.

In particular, those who had been harassed by the Caleb father and son believed I was the one who had brought them to the center, and wondered what scheme I might be plotting.

But whenever they felt grateful to me, Redemption Coins would accumulate—5, 7, 10 at a time—making alarms ring all day, so I didn’t find it difficult at all.

I only needed about 140 more to reach 500.

“It’s fine. It’s natural they dislike me. I just need to work harder.”

When I answered with a shrug, Joseph’s eyes grew noticeably wider.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

As Joseph quickly lowered his gaze, someone was running quickly from the distance.

“Why are they…”

Medlin frowned as she spotted Celli and Jeanne running without stopping, panting heavily, and stood beside me.

The two women ran up to me, suppressed their labored breathing, and bent their knees in greeting.

“Hello, my lady.”

“What’s wrong? Why are you all…”

“Thank you, my lady. We heard the news. Sob, we received an urgent letter from home. They said you’re taking my father to December…!”

Celli, who had been speaking, began sobbing loudly with shaking shoulders as emotions overwhelmed her.

Beside her, Jeanne burst into tears as well.

It seemed Celli had been greatly troubled by her father, and Jeanne had been distressed watching her close friend’s difficult life.

Considering how Jeanne had previously offered her own wages, I could tell how close the two were.

Though both women were older than me, I approached them and comforted them by patting their backs, telling them everything would be alright.

“I’m sorry for resenting you all this time, my lady. You’ve been so caring toward us, but I must have been blinded…”

Jeanne looked at me pitifully while tears streamed down her face.

“Stop crying now. What’s all this about when dinner is almost ready…”

Medlin sighed as she admonished the two and helped them stand.

Servants came out one by one, wondering what was happening. I waited until they stopped crying, made sure they ate dinner, and finally returned to my bedroom.

My head felt a bit stuffy after cleaning the December Center diligently and experiencing the aftereffects of riding in carriages for long periods.

“Phew.”

After showering, I finally leaned back on the bed when a familiar sensation made me pause.

I slowly turned my head to look at the bedside table.

Light was flowing from Carlo’s book on the table.

“…No way.”

A system message?

I moved to Carlo’s bed and quickly opened the book.

[Congratulations!]

[Lea Azanie has acquired 100 Redemption Coins!]

[You have received heartfelt gratitude from maid Jeanne.]

[Lea Azanie has acquired 100 Redemption Coins!]