CH 107

When I arrived at Duke Icard’s residence, Duke Icard was absent. Sitting in Duke Icard’s office, Evan was looking at the documents as his representative.

“Father went to the Fabiane mine. He decided to shut it down, but he suddenly got a gold vein.”

“Uh? Fabiane…?”

“Yes.”

Evan gazed at me with a calm face and replied.

“Why? Do you know this place?”

“Um… No.”

“My great aunt is also coming from Livien. Maybe both of them will arrive by the time of the banquet.”

The imperial banquet was two days later, so it meant that they were coming soon.

“I see. Okay. Then, work hard.”

I quickly left the office.

…Fabiane mine.

“How much can you pay for a book written by Rolyde Cardi Icard, the first head of Duchy Icard?”

“Cheeky fellow. Lord Rolyde is someone who gets bothered by everything. He could not have left behind a book or something.”

“What if I could get it?”

“I’ll give you all the wealth. It could be just one more gold mine.”

At this time, Seymour took the Fabiane Mine.

There was a description that Seymour liked very much, saying that gold veins were just discovered and there were abundant reserves. If so, it must have been now that Seymour came to say that he already knew the whereabouts of the old book of Rolyde that I had forgotten.

After all, no one in the Empire knew that Rolyde’s ancient book was discovered several years ago and was donated to the Academy. So, even if Seymour found a clue, he would discard it and not come back.

Actually, the problem was different.

‘Then… It’s a time of the bombing.’

From the beginning, Duke Icard did not suddenly listen to Seymour’s request to tear the floor of Lady Olivia’s room. However, when a bomb from an unknown parcel exploded, the mansion was in a mess, and they had dug the floor together for construction.

In other words…

‘I mean, there’s going to be a bomb attack soon.’

Fortunately, a bomb exploded in the office when Duke Icard was vacating the mansion, so no one was injured. Of course, even if the office was ruined by the bomb attack, Duke Icard said that he worked there until dawn and met Seymour again.

‘I guess that is now.’

It was coming soon, and I was wondering if that would have to do with me…

‘…Still, it’s a little uncomfortable.’

Apparently, Evan was in the office, so I was worried. If the story goes a little differently from the original, and he got hurt…

‘Though I can’t tell him to throw away all the parcels…’

I had never once intervened in the matters of the Grand Duke’s residence. Therefore, it was impossible to make him do unreasonable things without any reason.

‘Wait a minute, I’d rather just use it for myself.’

After I ran away, I wondered if they would search my room first. Obviously, while I didn’t leave any evidence, I already stole all the expensive stuff so wouldn’t that make them even more angry?

‘…They might look for Lisa and get evidence.’

Moreover, exploding and destroying my room had a symbolic meaning of erasing all traces of me.

“Morand.”

So, I immediately called Morand, the butler.

“If there is a parcel coming to the Duke’s residence, can you show it to me first?”

“Yes?”

“Someone I met in Borotna told me they would send me a parcel to the Duke’s residence. However, I can’t remember who it is… Let me take a look.”

“Understand.”

“Yes. Just take it to my room for now. I’ll look at it slowly.”

Even though I was going to send a simple order, Morand replied cautiously.

“Well, Miss Laria. Thank you.”

“Yes? What…?”

“It’s the first time Miss Laria has ordered me.”

“…Is that something to be thankful for?”

I asked, a little terrified, wondering if Morand had a servile spirit.

“Actually, Miss Laria does not get involved with any other employees except for Lisa.”

Actually, I was the one who would be the mistress of the Duke’s residence, but I have been consciously avoiding involvement with employees until now because I thought I was leaving anyway. Besides, I also have good morals, so I didn’t want to suddenly disappear after wielding the power of the Young Duke’s wife.

“Well… Miss Laria seems to be thinking of the Duke’s residence separately. It was the same with Miss Rosalind…so I was distraught.”

Morand added with a smile.

“If you need anything in the future, please let me know. The flowers you gave me on Founding Day a few years ago are still dried in my room.”

“Ahaha…”

“Now that I have spoken, I was concerned that you were not even using the budget I had set up after you became an adult.”

A year before I came of age, a separate budget for the Young Duke’s wife was allocated to me. Nonetheless, I haven’t touched a penny of it.

“I have a lot of money since I still have the cash I won from horse racing when I was young, and I don’t really need anything because father and Evan bought it all.”

It was because I did not want to touch any budget for Young Duke Icard’s wife. If I had just possessed this place, my eyes would have opened wide, and I would have embezzled it somehow, yet now that I had achieved a certain amount of wealth, I just wanted to not be uncomfortable until the end.

“Still, the budget is different…”

“I’ll use it if necessary, so don’t worry about it.”

I smiled broadly to indicate that I should go now, but Morand hesitated for a moment, unlike him.

“And, Miss Laria…”

“Yes?”

He touched his mustache and brought up a completely different topic.

“Pardon… Aren’t you curious about life in the Duke’s residence?”

I sighed inside.

‘…It has come.’

In fact, there was no obligation whatsoever in the Young Duke’s wife’s position. I had been sick, but in the end, this day came. I thought I was holding on well because I was going to run away soon…

“Actually, when Miss Laria came of age, I thought I had to hand over some work, but the Young Master loved Miss Laria so much…”

“Then, who is doing all that now?”

“The Young Master is doing it.”

“What does father or Evan think?”

“Miss Laria’s health comes first, but they said that I can give it to you whenever you want.”

Morande spoke politely, choosing his words very carefully.

“Actually, we all like Miss Laria, but there are also new employees…”

In the end, I had to show my ability as the Mistress in addition to their favor. To be honest, it was true.

“In my personal opinion, in the long run, it would be good to exert a little influence in the Duke’s residence.”

It was loyal and appropriate advice that truly was for my good in the long run. Of course, I didn’t need a long-term view because I would leave soon. After all, Morand was trusted by Duke Icard, and he oversaw the Duke’s residence.

I nodded happily because I thought of a good excuse in time.

“Really? Then give it to me.”

At my answer, Morand looked utterly relieved.

“Okay, then I’ll bring some of the things Lady Matilda used to see to your room.”

“Take it to the library. It’s my first time doing it, so I want to find reference materials.”

I didn’t know when the bomb would explode in my room anyway, so I was going to go somewhere else, but it was natural and nice. I could sleep and eat at the library with the excuse of looking at the papers until the bomb exploded.

“May I help you?”

Morane asked loyally.

In the Duke’s residence, I was a sickly, cute, lovable, but not very capable image.

‘He’s a really talented and far-sighted person. It would take time to take people who can’t, sit down and teach them.’

If I just stood still, Evan would take care of everything, but he would do something this bothersome. I was touched by Morand’s immense loyalty.

“I’ll try it by myself first, and I’ll call you if necessary.”

In the end, I settled in the library that evening along with the documents Morand had brought me.

I didn’t forget to call Lisa for a while and tell her to put some items away and then tell her not to let other people in and out of my room. Now the concern was… It was about how competently I handled these documents…

I had already learned and mastered these things from Marchioness Eldspe long ago.

To be honest, it wasn’t that difficult. Marchioness Eldspe used to praise me for my incredible mastery and intelligence every time.

‘Should I just take a quick look and pass it on because I couldn’t do it, or should I do it properly? Or in the middle?’

After all, this is like my last visit to the Duke’s residence, and while I was pondering what to do, I fell asleep.

It was early that morning when a bang sound was heard, and the Duke’s residence was turned over.