Chapter 93

My daily routine has been quite simple these days.

Coming to Pellet's Company three times a week to receive a report from Clerivan was all that was planned.

For the rest, I go to the Palace to see Perez or hang out with my cousins.

I was looking around the square leisurely today and stopped by Pellet's office.

Violet, who had been dispatched to help because something busy happened at Gallahan Clothing Store, was also waiting for me in the office after a long time.

"How did the wheat purchase end in the South?"

"Yes, we had good harvests in the West Sussew and the far south of the Empire, so we were able to buy them at a good price."

I nodded without saying much.

It was as I remembered that southern farming was an unprecedented good harvest this year.

Clerivan, who saw my reaction not surprising, asked me in a half-hearted tone.

"Did you know that?"

"What?"

"That the South will have a good harvest this year."

You're quick-witted.

But I shrugged and put on an expression on my face that I didn't know what he was talking about.

"I'm not some prophet, how did I know that?"

"But a little while ago, the reaction..."

"That's because I believed from the beginning that Clerivan, Violet, and the competent staff of Pellet Company would do well."

"Ah..."

The corners of Clerivan's mouth crept up by my sudden bombshell of praise.

He hastily covered his mouth, which has been twitching a few times, but I can see everything with my sharp eyes, so it's no use.3

After all, Clerivan is very weak at compliments.2

I let such a Clerivan calm down for a moment and asked Violet.

"Did you find out what I said about the top of the Reds, violet?"

"Yes, but nothing special came out... I'm sorry."

Violet offered a thin report and said with embarrassment.

But I shook my head.

"It's not Violet's fault. This is not the place where the Reds have done so much."

The order was made from the beginning with the thought that there would be little expectation.

"You've done a good job knowing this much, Violet."

Violet must be weak in praise, too.

If you see her neat white face turning red.

So I decided to do a little more while I'm at it.

"You're perfectly good at everything I ask you to do, so I'm a little bored because I don't have anything to do."

"Well, that's what I'm saying..."

"I'll try harder."

Violet turned redder, and Clerivan replied meaningfully as if determined something.

"And Clerivan."

"Yes, Lady Florentia."

"Louryl brought Clerivan's gift on her trip to the East. Send someone to the mansion from the merchant's office and take it."

Over the past few months, Louryl has been on a long trip to the East, her mother's house, Mrs. Dillard.

She bought gifts for me, my father, and Clerivan, but I couldn't give him directly because I had an eye for it.

They were half-siblings, but they had nothing to do with Clerivan and Dillard.

"Yes, Lady."

After pausing for a while, Clerivan nodded in time.

He says it doesn't matter at all, but I don't know.

Clerivan, whom I've been watching, was a much more caring person for his sister, Louryl, than he thought himself.

I greeted Clerivan and Violet before returning to the mansion.

* * *

I got off the carriage and went out into the garden and walked a little instead of going straight into the house.

After the storm of Vestian's betrayal and Shananet's divorce passed, the mansion became as peaceful as before.

No, it's actually so peaceful that I'm a little bored...

"Sob! Sob!"

I heard a child crying on the way into the pine garden.

This familiar voice is Craney.

Sure enough, Craney was hugging something and crying as he sat by the trees.

"Why are you crying again?"

He raises his head buried in his knee at my voice, and Craney's face was puffy.

It was covered in tears, a runny nose, and sweaty hair.

What's more, he was grinning, burning up his face to the point where he was so upset.

"Sigh! Tia, Tia..."

Craney, who found me, ran and hugged me.

And he started crying in earnest with more grip.

"Ahhhh!"

His crying sounds are so colorful.

I already know from experience that Craney, who cries with a variety of sounds like a crybaby, is not a child who is comforted by soothingly.

So I checked the stuff Craney was holding.

"It's a book? The book I lent you yesterday?"

But the condition of the book was a little strange.

"Why is it all torn apart?"

Looking closely, it wasn't just a modest tear.

The bookcase, which was shredded into pieces, even had a lot of black footprints, as if someone had stepped on it.

"I, I'm sorry... Tia..."

Craney's cry grew louder as I examined the condition of the book.

In fact, I bought it from the beginning with the intention of giving it to Craney.

I don't care that the book is ruined because I didn't really care about it.

But the same footprint on the bookshelf and Craney's shirt are very eye-catching.

I wonder who he's up against, but it's not a trace of someone his age.

It was obviously a huge footprint, like a grown adult's foot.

"Who made this?"

I asked, pointing to a large footprint.

"Th, this... Belsach is..."