Chapter 40

“You’re practically forcing me.”

Despite the scolding, he seemed ready to stamp the document. But just before doing so, he suddenly stopped.

“Shaterian.”

She stared at the stamp hovering mid-air, looking regretful.

“What?”

“If I stamp this document, what will you give me in return? Didn’t you say it yourself: if you give, you must receive?”

“You nnoying creature…”

This Divine Beast was far too quick to learn.

When she couldn’t come up with a response, Eched asked again what she would offer in return.

“How about you stamp it first, and then I think about it?”

“Do you think I’d fall for such a cheap trick?”

…He was also quick-witted.

As she hesitated, Eched made his own demand.

“Promise me you’ll grant me one wish later.”

“A wish? Fine. But on the condition that I won’t sign any documents.”

For example, no financial contracts, joint guarantees, waivers of physical rights, real estate agreements, etc.

“Including marriage contracts, of course.”

“Unnecessarily thorough, aren’t you?”

“Should we write up a contract for this too?”

“No need.”

His usual expressionless face showed a hint of disappointment.

‘Did you think I wouldn’t see through your plans?’

She felt victorious as she collected the stamped documents.

Everything was ready. She quickly set out to find Sevji, the Baroness of Luce.

***

Even among nobles, there was a clear hierarchy.

The difference between a lady of royal blood and a baroness with no wealth was stark.

Sevji, the Baroness of Luce, glanced around nervously in the awkward atmosphere.

She couldn’t fathom why Lady Shaterian, whom she had first met at the Astrea Ducal residence, had come to see her.

This was only their second meeting. The first time she had seen the lady was on the night of the Founding Festival’s ball, under an unusually beautiful full moon…

Fwoosh. That was foolish.

Recalling the picturesque scene and the gentle gaze of the Duke as he looked at Lady Shaterian made her cheeks flush with heat.

“Does the tea suit your taste?”

“Yes. It’s not bad.”

Relieved, the Baroness let out a small sigh.

Above all, she felt somewhat reassured that Lady Shaterian wasn’t displaying the arrogant, haughty demeanor rumored about her.

Even at the Ducal residence, Lady Shaterian had seemed quite composed.

‘Were the rumors false?’

Currently, the empire was abuzz with all sorts of gossip about Lady Shaterian’s personality.

“Um… what brings you here…?”

Come to think of it, Lady Shaterian had recently been involved in an unfortunate incident. I had heard rumors that Lady Shaterian was recovering from the shock… so why had she been at the Astrea Ducal residence that day…?

Sevji tilted her head, unable to make sense of the truth.

“You’re currently looking after the children at the orphanage, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“I heard times are tough, but you’re doing good work. I’d like to help.”

“You, my lady…?”

Ah… so the rumors circulating in the capital were all lies! 

Just as she was about to feel moved—

“How many children are there?”

“About thirty.”

“I’d like you to write evaluations for each of them. Basic details, their personalities, strengths, weaknesses. Particularly, describe any unique traits or abilities in detail.”

It was an unusual request. The Baroness tilted her head in confusion.

“What do you plan to use that for?”

“They say you can recognize a promising tree from its sapling. I’m thinking of hiring the talented ones at the Ducal residence. After all, wouldn’t it be better for commoners, who are already at rock bottom, to sell their skills to nobles and live better lives?”

“….”

Her tone was off. Her attitude toward people was even worse.

The Baroness’s face turned ashen. Her neatly folded hands on her lap clenched tightly.

“I get cheap labor, and the children get paid, a stable home, and education. Isn’t it a win-win?”

“Even though commoners… they are people with equal rights, my lady.”

“Commoners don’t have rights. They’re just expendables for the nobles.”

Bang!

The Baroness slammed her fist on the table.

“I cannot entrust the children to you, my lady.”

“Why? I’m merely offering to sponsor them.”

“Calling it sponsorship… My lady, you’re no different from the rumors. How foolish of me to have briefly mistaken you for a good person. You’re just as the rumors say—a wretched human being who doesn’t regard anyone but herself as a person.”

Her critique was scathing. Shaterian sniffled and slightly furrowed her brows.

“Are you aware that your words insult not only me but the Imperial Family as well? In trying to protect commoners, you might end up executed.”

“I don’t care. Do you think I’d abandon my beliefs out of fear of execution?”

“What a grand display of loyalty… You’re making even me fall for you.”

She found her utterly charming.

Smiling pleasantly, Shaterian curled her lips upward.

When she suddenly smiled so brightly, the Baroness hesitated.

“Open this.”

A document was placed in front of her. As the Baroness blinked in confusion, Lady Shaterian urged her to check it.

“It’s a very good offer for you.”

“Why all of a sudden…? A welfare department…? What is this?”

“Exactly as it says. I plan to establish an Imperial Welfare Department for commoners. And I intend to place you at its head. Both the Melis Ducal Family and the Astrea Ducal Family have recommended and vouched for you.”

“What’s this childcare certification?”

“Like becoming a doctor, those who wish to care for children will take a national exam. Those who pass will be certified and entrusted with running established childcare facilities.”

“That means only qualified individuals will look after the children, preventing future incidents like this…”

“I can’t say it’ll completely disappear, but it’ll be rare.”

“But will the Imperial Family really fund commoners like this?”

“That’s why we’re starting it. Commoners, as citizens of the empire, deserve rights. Even though society has changed so that commoners can work for the Imperial Family and social boundaries have blurred, the empire still lacks proper laws for commoners. I want to use this opportunity to create laws that allow commoners to live better lives.”

“…But you’re a noble, my lady. And the lineage of a royal family, no less. Why would you think this way?”

“I don’t know when I might become a commoner myself.”

Her casual remark left the Baroness visibly puzzled.

“So all those things you said to me earlier were just to test me.”

“My apologies for that. But I needed to ensure the right person was in that position, and for that, I needed certainty.”

“But why…?”

Sevji’s eyes wavered, filled with confusion.

Shaterian laughed softly.

She had simply dreamed of a future where she lived as a commoner in the countryside. There was no grand reason behind it.

“Places that lean too far in one direction are bound to collapse. I like this empire very much. That’s why I want it to become a balanced one.”

She wanted to remember this life for a long time because it was turning out to be quite good.

***

After a major incident, the empire had grown quiet, but gradually, new rumors began to spread.

One of these rumors was that Duke Eched Astrea had been visiting every dessert shop in the Central District.

“Did the Duke like desserts?”

“Who would have thought! With such a stoic face, he actually enjoys sweet things!”

That wasn’t all. There were also rumors that the Duke was searching for the author of <That Lady is Too Cool>, or perhaps the author’s next work.

The gossip was rampant, with many speculating it was all because he had started a romance with Lady Shaterian. Amidst this chatter, Jeff, the owner of a failing dessert shop, experienced what could only be described as heaven for the first time in his life.

It was all thanks to the Duke of Astrea, the subject of those very rumors.

Eched had stumbled upon Jeff’s shop purely by chance. It started with a passerby’s comment that the desserts there were less sweet than at other places.

The reason Jeff’s desserts were less sweet wasn’t anything special. It was simply to cut costs.

When the Duke first visited his shop, Jeff had been overjoyed and eagerly welcomed him.

He even hung a sign proclaiming it an honor for his family! He went so far as to hold a discount event despite his limited resources!

“What’s the least sweet dessert you have here?”

Jeff, ever attuned to rumors, already knew about the Duke’s supposed connection with Lady Shaterian.

On top of that, Lady Shaterian was known to utterly despise sweet things.

Hadn’t she once caused an unprecedented scandal at Sugar by making the Earl’s second son kneel?

Sweating profusely, Jeff recommended a cake that happened to have less sugar than usual that day.

The next day, the Duke returned to the shop, asking for something even less sweet.

Fortunately, Jeff had just baked cookies with even less sugar than the cake. When he packed them up and handed them over, the Duke left behind two gold coins as payment.

Jeff thought he’d struck gold, but then customers began flocking to the shop in droves!

The Duke visited again the following day, requesting an even less sweet dessert. Once more, he exchanged gold coins for sugarless treats.

More customers followed, and Jeff, having prepared more desserts than the previous day, made a fortune.

And so, the business thrived.

Until one day, the Duke’s visits abruptly stopped.

The flow of customers also ceased.

The shop, once thriving, reverted to being a failing business with excess stock.

There was no dessert in the world capable of satisfying Lady Shaterian.

Even knowing this… Jeff couldn’t accept it.

In the end, he threw off his baker’s hat and stormed out of the shop.