CH 23

“Really? Since he’s the General Administrator and Butler Dolan cares so much about him, I thought he was a noble.”

“He’s not even an ordinary Administrator? Isn’t a high-ranking General Administrator usually a Baron? He’s successful, even though he’s a commoner. What a lucky guy.”

Those who were whispering must have thought that Erudit wouldn’t have heard, but contrary to their expectations, they were clearly audible.

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a sarcastic remark.’

As they had said, he thought that his fortune had improved. The sarcasm that he had become accustomed to hearing since his Academy days was a little hard to hear today.

‘Perhaps I’ve gotten too used to the Duchess’ treatment….’

However, he didn’t stop them. It was because it was obvious that they would ignore him anyway, saying that they were just talking about another commoner. 

“Or maybe he’s the Duchess’ lover? He has a pretty face, so that could be possible. Haha.”

The others giggled at the gardener’s over-the-top sarcasm. Erudit clenched his fists, anger bubbling up within him.

“Why are you putting up with this?”

Rosalie’s voice entered the ears of Erudit, who was boiling with anger. When Erudit turned his head in surprise, Rosalie stood there with an icy expression.

Rosalie approached the laughing group that were still oblivious to her presence. As Rosalie got closer, they gradually began to shut their mouths.

“Say it again.”

No one dared to speak at the sound of Rosalie’s murderous voice. Even Erudit, who was standing a step behind her, felt his back stiffen.

“Why did you suddenly become mutes? Do I need to break your fingers one by one to make you speak?”

Ruthless words flowed out of Rosalie’s mouth. Those who had kept their mouths shut immediately began to plead one by one.

“We’re sorry, Your Grace.”

“We made a mistake. Please forgive us.”

“I’m sure I’m not the only one you owe an apology to.”

Those who had been groveling before Rosalie began to apologize to Erudit, bowing their heads.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

“I’m really sorry. I won’t say such things again.”

Erudit looked down at them as they begged. It was the first time he had ever been apologized to by people who had judged him. It didn’t make him feel better, but it didn’t make him angry either; he just wanted to get out of this situation, where he didn’t know how to react.

Just then, Dolan came running up to them.

“Your Grace! What’s going on?”

“You came just in time. I want all of these gardeners and servants fired, with no severance pay.”

Those who were begging before burst into tears at Rosalie’s cold command, but Rosalie didn’t even bat an eye and turned away.

“And tell the servants that if anything like this happens again in the Duchy, I will not tolerate it.”

Rosalie grabbed Erudit’s wrist as he just stood there, dumbfounded. His silver pupils shook slightly at Rosalie’s touch.

“Let’s go.”

Rosalie quickly left with Erudit. They walked through the garden for a while until Erudit called out to her and they stopped.

“Your Grace, where are you going?”

“Oh, I thought you didn’t want to be there because you didn’t look happy.”

“You’re more perceptive than I thought.”

Rosalie let go of Erudit’s arm, which she had been holding onto and shrugged. Erudit adjusted his glasses before speaking with a slightly complicated expression.

“Why are you being so kind to me? I’m just a commoner, like them.”

“Is being a commoner so important?”

Normally, Erudit would have laughed at the idea of a noble saying such a thing, but the look on Rosalie’s face told him that she genuinely thought so.

“And I need Erudit. You’re my General Administrator, so of course I have to take care of you.”

“That’s something only Your Grace would think.”

“No, Erudit is a valuable talent that anyone would want.”

Erudit’s eyes widened at Rosalie’s confident tone. Rosalie approached Erudit and examined his face before speaking.

“Now, your expression looks better. I’m leaving now. If anyone else talks sh*t like that, tell me right away.”

Rosalie turned around and began to walk away. When a vulgar sound that would be difficult for a noble to utter naturally flowed out of Rosalie’s mouth, Erudit quietly laughed.

Watching her walk away with a confident stride, Erudit realized the nature of the frustrating emotion he was feeling.

‘I’m worried about her. I am.’

He didn’t want Rosalie to regret the choices she made, and he hoped she wouldn’t fail as a Duchess. From the moment she first saw him, she confidently said that he was a man of talent. She told him with those determined eyes that she needed him. 

It was the first time he’d ever been treated like that.

“I have to make it happen.”

So that the path she chose would be the right one.

⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰

Meanwhile, Rosalie, who was walking away from Erudit, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“Oh, right. I came to Erudit to ask him something….”

Rosalie thought about heading back to Erudit, but decided against it. She couldn’t bring up work to someone who was not feeling well. She decided to save the business for another time and started walking again.

‘It reminded me of my military days.’

During Rosalie’s military service, she used to get extremely angry if the subordinates she managed got criticized elsewhere. She became furious when they cried elsewhere, even though she herself had also made them cry several times.

“I should kill this temper of mine.”

Rosalie decided not to bother with it anyways since it was already a habit and she went back to her office. 

⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰

One afternoon after training had ended, Rosalie was walking across the garden to return to her room, Aaron following close behind.

“Are you going to see the crossbow tomorrow?”

“I’m going after tomorrow’s morning training. Let’s keep the talk about the crossbow limited to only those involved at the mansion.” 

“Okay, I understand.”

Aaron nodded and left, and Rosalie immediately headed to her room. When she opened the door, Emma was cleaning and unpacking her luggage from the Capital.

“Oh, you’re here. Do you want to change your clothes?”

“I see you’ve been cleaning.”

Emma nodded and picked up something from the luggage she was organizing. It was the jacket that Derivis had put on Rosalie’s shoulders and the shoes he had hastily purchased in the Capital for her blistered feet.

“What should I do with these? Should I throw them away?”

“Don’t throw them away.”

At Rosalie’s command, Emma looked at the shoes hesitantly.

“The jacket, yes, but what about these shoes? They’re too shabby and won’t match any clothes.”

“Don’t throw away the shoes either.”

Emma nodded her head at Rosalie’s firm response. Although the shoes looked like they wouldn’t be worn in the future, she couldn’t say anything else when the owner spoke so sternly.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll hang the jacket in the dressing room.”

Rosalie headed to the terrace, leaving Emma behind. The refreshing wind cooled down the sweat from her training.

“Your Grace, it’s me, Dolan.”

“Come in.”

With her permission, Dolan cautiously opened the door and entered. However, unlike his cautious gestures, his face seemed a little anxious.

“What’s the matter?”

“Countess Seth urgently sent someone.”

As Dolan murmured softly, Rosalie instructed him to lead the way to the reception room. The person waiting in the reception room was a servant from Countess Seth’s residence.

“Hello, Duchess Judeheart.”

The Countess’ servant bowed respectfully as soon as he saw Rosalie. When Rosalie nodded, he immediately pulled out a letter from his chest pocket and held it out.

“Were there any special instructions?”

“No, I was only told to deliver the letter.”

Rosalie stared at the letter, which was still warm. There were no signs of it being tampered with, and judging by the servant’s expression, it seemed that Moiron had not told him anything to maintain secrecy. 

“You can go back now.”

Rosalie instructed before she opened the letter she had received and the servant of Countess Seth bowed politely and left. 

Rosalie quickly opened the letter with the letter opener that Dolan brought her. After reading it, a rough word escaped her lips.

“D*mn it.”

Rosalie threw the letter on the table before gesturing towards Dolan, who understood and quickly lit the letter on fire with a match. The letter quickly turned to ashes and disappeared without a trace.

“Is there a serious problem?”

“It’s not serious right now, but we need to take precautions to prevent a serious situation from happening.”

Her displeasure was evident in the armrest she rested her arm on. She had been absentmindedly tapping on it, lost in thought.

‘A sizable group of bandits at Noveta Pass, around Yelvi Sea. The timing is critical.’

The contents of the letter stated that there were signs of a fairly large number of bandits gathering at the Noveta Pass, the most important route through the Yelvi Sea.

Rosalie rubbed her forehead in frustration. Apparently, the reduction in customs tax in the Yelvi Sea area led to a sharp increase in goods, and as a result, there was a problem with security.

‘The Noveta Passageway is the only route through which essential supplies will be delivered to the Duchy in the future. We can’t let the bandits run rampant.’

The biggest problem was that the Noveta Pass was under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Palace. To mobilize the Duchy’s knights, permission had to be obtained from the palace. However, even with permission, they couldn’t move the knights recklessly since the territory war was not yet confirmed.

‘Our knights must hide their abilities until the territory war is confirmed. That way, the Marquis of Windell will make a move.’

As Rosalie sighed, Dolan, who had been watching her, mustered up the courage to call her once again.

“Your Grace? Are you alright?”

“I’ll be alright. Even if I’m not fine, we must move. I’m going to the capital for a while.”