Chapter 28

****

“If I allow it—.”

“…….”

“Are you willing to fix this barony yourself? Not as my wife, but as the baroness.”

“Do you mean that your love is for Sharchen, but you will use me to rebuild this House?”

“I will pay appropriately.”

“Alright.”

Eliana did not hesitate when he told her that he would pay for it. In fact, it was better for her to show Jerik Hunter what she had changed than the document she wrote about the improvement proposal. She would be able to earn his trust by showing her capabilities. And using that power, she will make the Rose family stronger.

There was no helping if she would be kicked out anyway, and it was the Baroness position. She had to take everything she could take here.

“How much can you give me?”

“How much will it cost?”

“Appoint Joseph as my full-time bodyguard and give him double his current wage. The same goes for Benny. And give me the salary that butler Pepe is receiving.”

“I can’t fire Pepe. He has been in charge of this place for a long time.”

Karman had already lost but he said it as if he couldn’t give up everything like this. But Eliana listened without losing to him.

“Still, you can’t give him his full salary. A few months should be fine so he won’t be able to siphon money. What do you think, butler?”

“Madam. That doesn’t even make sense. I never touched the Baron’s property!”

“Really?”

Eliana took her gaze away from Pepe and looked at Karman then said.

“Then let me correct myself. I’ll get paid as much as Pepe’s slush fund that I’ll find, and I will provide the Baron evidence that you can understand. Then it would be Pepe, not the Baron, who pays my wages. Yes?”

“If he has done nothing wrong, you won’t get any money.”

Eliana smiled and looked at Karman.

“You know what?”

“What?”

“The fact that you are a more naive young man than I thought.”

“……!”

“The higher the position, the fewer people you can trust. That is why the wife, an ally by marriage, has executive power over the entire family.”

“…….”

“I am the fourth wife, and this family has been left unattended for too long without a hostess. While you and Sharchen were playing your love game like playing house, the butler was left with all the power. The penny or two that he used to take while giving you lip service may have snowballed by now.”

Pepe swallowed his saliva. She had just joined the barony, but he didn’t expect Eliana to have a clear grasp of it all.

‘I have to counter it. If I don’t refute it now, it’ll be just like admitting it!’

Pepe’s head rolled quickly but his tongue didn’t move. His throat felt like it had closed on its own.

Eliana said one last time. It was a kind of declaration.

“Perhaps when I leave this house, I will have amassed a fortune that will bring the Roses back to life.”

“…….”

“Don’t you think so, butler?”

Eliana glanced at Pepe, who had not said a word, then turned back with a smile. She had achieved everything she wanted. She promoted Joseph from guard to bodyguard, and raised Benny’s salary. She also found a way to make money for herself.

The money that the butler Pepe stole would not be a mere penny or two. If she could recover all that money, she would have enough to cover the Rose’s cost of living for a year.

Plus, she even got a chance to fix this rotten barony herself, hence it was a complete victory for Eliana.

Eliana opened the door triumphantly and stepped out. Then, she saw Benny and Sharchen arguing outside the door.

“Move. No maid can stop me in this mansion.”

“It’s the Baron’s orders. He told me not to let Lady Sharchen in until the Baroness comes out.”

“I can change the Baron’s orders. I said move.”

Sharchen said whilst suppressing her anger. It looked like she was going to push Benny straight away.

“What business do you have with my maid? Sharchen.”

“There is something I need to confirm with the Baron, but she is blocking my way.”

“You must have heard the Baron’s order.”

Sharchen said with a gentle smile.

“I am the only person in this House who can correct his orders. I said it doesn’t matter, but the Madam’s maid refused to listen to me.”

“Because I ordered her to do so.”

“Madam.”

“…….”

“You’re not the baroness.”

Sharchen was smiling. But the corners of her lips trembled like convulsions. She was agitated now.

“Are you here to check whether I received a white crystal necklace or not? Then let me tell you the truth, I did not receive it. It was not mine.”

“…If it’s not the Madam’s, then whose is it? I’ve already gotten the right accessories.”

“I know.”

Eliana said and snorted. The necklace meant nothing to Eliana. Eliana stepped back and asked Benny, who had been arguing, if she was okay.

“Madam.” [Sharchen]

“Speak.”

“Don’t try to drive a wedge between the Baron and me. This is a cowardly and meaningless act. We won’t break apart like that.”

“I keep telling you I’m not interested in him, but Sharchen isn’t even listening to me. Benny, let’s go. My mouth will only hurt if I stay here.”

“Yes, Madam.”

As Eliana blatantly ignored her, a “Kyaaak!” was suddenly heard from Sharchen. She started screaming. A sound reminiscent of someone being hit or robbed.

She rolled over on the floor, pulling her hair, until the door swung open and the butler Pepe and Karman came out. She looked like a seven-year-old noble child who didn’t get a toy.

Eliana gazed at her as if she was pathetic. Due to the noise outside, Karman and Pepe hurried out the door. At that moment, Sharchen stopped writhing and started crying.

“Help me, Baron. The Madam tried to hit me. She may be a smart and wise woman in front of the Baron, but to me she is a scary stepmother……! Please stop all this, please…….”

Sharchen begged, looking like she was about to shed tears right that moment. If she had been seen by anyone passing by, they would surely have been deceived by her tears.

“Wrong.”

Eliana shot coldly. Did she think that the shallow tears she had used last time would work this time as well?

Eliana could now see how Sharchen was able to maintain Karman’s love until now. “Tut”. She clicked her tongue and stroked Sharchen’s disheveled hair, leaning over.

“Daughter, I am the kindest to you.”

“…….”

Sharchen looked at Eliana with eyes full of fear. Eliana then stood straight and said to Karman.

“You’ve been accepting this sort of habit from this girl, no wonder you don’t even know your butler is filling his pockets. This childishness should have ended at seven. Everyone recognizes Sharchen as the baroness? Then all the servants of this barony are blind enough to be fired.”

Eliana said so to Karman. She didn’t say she didn’t do it, and she didn’t regret it. Karman must have known the truth of this behavior already.

Well, if he didn’t know then there was no helping it.

Eliana had nothing more she wanted from Karman. She was only thinking about how she could shake Pepe’s pockets in the future. As Eliana slowly walked away from them, Benny asked, whispering.

“Madam, will it be fine?”

“Of course. I have lots of good news. Let’s go back to my room.”

Eliana left with light footsteps. In front of the Baron’s room, Sharchen with her messy hair, Karman, Lujan and the butler Pepe, remained.

But no words were exchanged between the four of them. All of their gazes stayed on Eliana.

***

Eliana met Helen a few days before the party. It was because Helen gave her beautiful earrings in return for the dress. The two met at a teahouse inside the square. It was a high-class teahouse where nobles usually met and talked.

“Oh my goodness.”

Eliana looked at the colorful earrings and was shocked. They were the earrings that Madam Teneb wore in the past.

“I remembered what Eliana told me, so I looked for it.”

“Oh my God. It must have been difficult to find.”

“Older brother knows the importers and exporters well. So I got help.”

Ahem, hem. Gillian, who was sitting next to Helen, cleared his throat. He seemed to find compliments embarrassing. Eliana smiled brightly and stroked the earring.

“Gillian, you are very resourceful. I really liked the necklace you gifted too……. it’s late but. Thank you.”

“Well, please don’t misunderstand. I got the exact same thing for Helen. I gave it as a gift because the two of them matched your dresses similarly. It’s been a long time since Helen attended a party, so it’s a bribe to say, take care of her.”

Gillian rubbed his nose shyly. Helen clapped her hands slightly and continued.

“My necklace is yellow. Brother chose them himself.”

“I think I’ll get along very well with Helen. I am already looking forward to it.”

“But I have one thing I want to discuss.”

“Hmm?”

“Eliana’s entrance to the party.”

The entrance was a big problem. She was originally the person who was supposed to enter with Karman. However, Karman announced that she would enter with Sharchen, and the rumors had already spread everywhere.

Everyone was looking forward to it. Eliana’s figure as she enters and suffers in disgrace. Helen and Gillian seemed very concerned.

“I am going to enter with my bodyguard. I’ve already made clothes for him. Entering with the two of you could put a strain on the Hutts, and it wouldn’t be good for the Hunters either.”

“Isn’t that the same as going in alone? Oh, Eliana. That is very sad.”

Helen said as her eyebrows drooped. Then Eliana took her hand and said,

“Instead, I have a request. Helen, Gillian.”

“Request?”

“Allow me to enter on the next turn.”

Eliana had a mischievous look, as if she found something very amusing.

“Why the next turn?”

Curiosity did not disappear from the faces of the two.