Chapter 483
As soon as I learned that Servette Principality would be our school trip destination this year, I issued a new directive to the house steward who was rolling around in the Vendel Estate. I asked him to beautifully package 100 pieces of the finest fur.
I felt a little sorry for bothering the busy steward with my personal requests, but he was already a seasoned bureaucrat hardened by decades of serving his local government. It didn’t even take him 24 hours to secure those 100 pieces of fur with style.
Honestly, it was astonishing from the perspective of someone who had made the request. Was he a steward or a walking delegation officer?
“Had it been winter, this would have taken some time, but now that the weather is warming up, the demand for fur has decreased. Thanks to that, I’ve been able to prepare it in a quality that would satisfy your grace.”
“Good work. If there’s anything you fancy, feel free to take a few pieces for yourself.”
“Thank you, your grace. I shall treat it as a family heirloom.”
Well, I didn’t expect him to treat it like a family heirloom.
Seeing the steward bow respectfully, I couldn’t help but flash an awkward grin. The steward of a count’s house bowing this low made me feel embarrassed. It hasn’t even been a year since I received the title; is his loyalty really that high?
Of course, it’s a good thing when subordinates are loyal, so I didn’t want to correct him too much. After all, time would naturally ease his tension.
‘Just like the department heads.’
I couldn’t help but recall the department heads, who had started out rigidly disciplined but had turned into a pack of lunatics. Those guys relaxed way too quickly!
“I have many things to give you in the future, so why are you deciding on heirlooms already?”
“Your grace’s words are too much praise.”
I pushed my bittersweet feelings aside and made a jest, which only caused the steward to bow even lower.
He reminded me of Duke Kilanas standing before Trixie.
—
The furs that were transported to the mansion had to undergo Trixie’s meticulous inspection.
“So soft! It’s wonderfully shiny.”
But just as she was looking at it eagerly, it wasn’t like she was an expert in finding flaws or anything. After all, Trixie’s main expertise is magic, not furs.
She seemed to genuinely have good feelings toward the steward managing the principality in my stead because she kept fiddling with the furs, lingering around as if they were a gift for her to give. It was nice to see the bond between the lord and her retainer.
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to receive it as a gift.”
“That’s a relief.”
That was the answer I wanted to hear, so I let out a sigh of relief. I had prepared something relatively rare, but when it comes to gifts, the receiver’s preference is more critical than the giver’s intentions. If the steward didn’t like it, it would mean nothing.
But knowing Trixie thought he’d likely be pleased, I felt relieved.
“That child has always liked unique things over ordinary stuff since she was little. If it’s something from the North, even if it were just weeds, she would treasure it.”
Moreover, Trixie had been watching over the steward since he was born. She surely knew his preferences.
“If he seems unhappy at all, I’ll just say it was a gift recommended by Trixie.”
“Oh, please refrain from that. I don’t want to be resented by her either.”
Trixie chuckled lightly and shook her head at my light joke.
‘Child…’
And as Trixie referred to the steward as a child, I almost bit my tongue back into reality. At this rate, I might start referring to him as a child as well.
Of course, that shouldn’t be me. The steward Trixie speaks of is Count Theodore Jeddas of Sicily. He’s a competent retainer who’s receiving praise for excellently covering for Trixie, as well as the current head of the Jeddas family, which has supported the Kato family for generations.
Additionally, he is currently middle-aged, nearing fifty. He’s older than my father.
‘Calling a count older than my father a child…’
Just imagining it sent shivers down my spine. For now, I’m supposed to become Trixie’s husband, so I guess it’s tolerable to speak casually. It’s only natural for the master and his wife to be at ease with their retainer.
But calling him a child crossed the line by a long shot. That’s how a social star is born! News headlines could read, “The Pride of the Prosecutor’s Office: Is This Okay?” How awful.
‘That’s terrifying.’
Such a future must never happen. From the moment I became the youngest executive manager until now, I’ve put in so much effort into managing my image. Even if I haven’t actively mingled in society, I’ve done my utmost to handle every task carefully to give the impression that I’m an understandable and reasonable human being. I can’t throw away the image I’ve painstakingly built in an instant.
So suddenly, from deep within my chest, the tension and sense of duty surged.
I resolved to see the steward not just as Trixie’s retainer but as a potential future in-law.
—
While I was getting ready for this internal showdown, time swiftly passed, and we reached the day of the school trip.
“You can ride in this carriage! It’s a carriage for four!”
And soon, we got a carriage assigned by Olivia, who had evolved into the head of the student council.
Me, Trixie, Rizie, and Lynn. Just as Olivia said, the carriage was just enough for us family members.
“Thank you. Please tell the president that I won’t forget this consideration.”
“Yes! I’ll be sure to convey that! Oh, the president also wanted to guide you himself, but he said he couldn’t because he’s too busy with other tasks!”
“I totally understand. I’m not unaware of how busy the president is.”
At my words, Olivia chuckled and quickly bowed her head before departing.
Strangely, just looking at her made my eyes well up. The first time I met her, she was a poor and miserable child, sharing a radish with her sister, and now she had confidently risen to become a key member of the academy’s student council. Once she graduates, I plan to snatch her up like her sister, so her future is secured.
I felt proud. The child I sponsored for three years had grown up bright and strong, becoming the vigorous labor force of society—not a slave, of course! This must be one of the best things I’ve done at the academy.
“Such a vibrant child. The commoner students tend to be reserved, but she has none of that.”
“Considering that there are many nobles in the student council, it seems she simply has a good social nature.”
Right? She’s just an incredibly delightful kid. Thinking back to when we first met, unlike her sister Amelia, she didn’t seem too nervous at all.
Was it because she simply likes people, a lack of awareness, or perhaps an instinctive realization that I wouldn’t threaten her? Either way, Olivia’s softness and sociability had shaped her into who she was now.
“Some kids are even talking about what it would be like if Olivia were a noble.”
“That’s an interesting conversation.”
I nodded and responded to Lynn’s comment. Olivia had succeeded despite starting as a commoner, so what would have happened if she’d begun as a noble?
Of course, that’s mere speculation. It’s impossible for someone born as a commoner to suddenly become a noble. Sadly, the blood you inherit is determined by the heavens.
But the Empire isn’t a place where you have to die because of the blood you were born with. If you have the ability, you can become a noble even if you start at the commoner level.
‘As long as I can obtain a title.’
I couldn’t help but think of Amelia, who was likely still busy in Vendel. If Amelia makes significant contributions in Vendel, she could become a baron, which would automatically elevate Olivia’s status to nobility as well.
Or maybe Olivia could achieve nobility through martial prowess. Neither option is easy, but they’re not impossible.
“Ah, let’s get on now. It’s better to sit and chat than to stand around.”
As I watched Olivia’s figure recede, I climbed into the carriage.
But is it correct for us, living in the capital, to take a carriage to Servette? The route seems quite weird.
Yet it was unfortunate that, as part of the academy, we couldn’t act separately.
—
Finally, that day had come.
It was a day that just a few years ago, I could never have imagined; the day that the retainers of the Kato family had dreamt of for a hundred years.
‘To have such an event happen while I’m the steward…’
I couldn’t hold back my overflowing emotions and dried my eyes with a handkerchief. It was an honor to be managing the principality on behalf of the duke, but I simply couldn’t contain myself.
Moreover, I wasn’t the only one in this state. The chamberlain, maidens, treasurer, captain of the guard, and secretary—all of them were showing their feelings just like me. So I thought, just this once, it was okay to let this slide.
“Finally, we will have someone to call my husband.”
“Sniff!”
Amidst this, I heard the chamberlain’s awe-filled mutter, and the captain of the guard burst into tears. Seeing the rough warrior crying like a child was tough, but as I had thought before, it’s fine just this once.
‘Father…’
As I watched their spectacle, I dried my eyes again. I was reminded of my deceased father.
“The Duke is the loneliest person in the Empire. There’s not a soul he can share his burden with or support him from behind. To him, your grandfather, me, and even you are nothing more than fleeting connections.”
My father, who had passed away about ten years ago, had said that. The duke, who appears to be the most noble and resplendent, is actually the most lonely and desolate person. No matter how hard we try, we can’t fill his emptiness.
“However, we serve the honorable Kato family. Although we might be fleeting to him, to us, he is the lord of our lives. Always remember that.”
That was a reminder to not forget our loyalty to the duke.
“…But still, isn’t it a pity? I wanted to see him live happily with someone, a normal woman.”
My father had departed this world while still expressing that regret. He wished to see his lord smile at least once in his lifetime—and yet, he left with the belief that one day, his lord’s happiness would come.
Fortunately, that belief has seen the light. I’m sure my father is also smiling beside Enen now.
‘The son-in-law of the Kato family.’
What a beautiful phrase. Finally, someone is stepping into the position that had been empty in the duke’s life for a hundred years.
And that someone is none other than a current imperial minister and a distinguished figure who lacks nothing.
‘Even a commoner would be overjoyed.’
Tears just kept coming. Although I’d known about the relationship between the duke and the minister before, hearing they were heading to Servette for marriage gave it a new feeling.
From today on, I will be a supporter of the minister of the prosecutor’s office… No, I mean, my husband!
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