CH 172

‘What if the locals protest that Lagrange, who has nothing to do with the Viscount Oily, buys the estate?’

To the point that it was ridiculous of me to worry about it, the people of the Viscounty welcomed me with open arms when they heard that I would be managing the estate. 

“It’s the Princess!” 

As if I was a royal princess that went out for a walk, the village children followed me around and sprinkled flowers.

‘It seems that there are not one or two people who are worried about Donovan becoming the lord.’

In addition, I didn’t know what kind of rumors the head maid and Lindsay spread but the rumors about me seemed to be highly distorted. 

“She’s more beautiful than what the rumor says. Did she really work as a maid?”

“That’s right. She often came by our store and I can tell you how kind she was even then.” 

The lady at the fruit shop whom I always went to when running errands for the head maid waved her hand at me familiarly. 

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I smiled shyly and darted my eyes around to avoid the people’s gaze. 

“I heard she also saved the sibling of a maid who had been sold.”

“That lout of a young master who had done nothing but torment the residents of the territory was also dealt with by the princess!”

Though they were whispering amongst themselves, I couldn’t help but blush at the constant compliments that were ringing inside my ears.

“I guess she’s already doing inspections in order to take care of the residents. As expected, the rumors that the Princess is highly reputed for being a model for the nobility must be true.”

‘Should I just go back…..’

I just wanted to take a walk, but it had created a misunderstanding that I came out in order to look after the estate.

“.......It’s really not like that.” 

Excessive expectations could lead to disappointment.

I was so embarrassed that I pressed the back of my hand on my burning cheek and murmured.

“What do you mean, Princess?”

“Huh?”

“We know everything.” 

The newly hired maids seemed to have been brainwashed by Lindsay as they refuted my words with sparkling eyes. 

“What do you know?”

“We heard you found Lindsay’s sibling who had been sold.”

“And?”

“How can a person who listened to a mere maid’s situation not care about the residents?” 

I searched for Lindsay’s sister because she was my friend.

‘If people expect this much then I’d have to do my best to manage the estate.’

Could it be that Lindsay and the head maid spread this kind of rumor as if I’m some saint from Vallandia in order to give me this responsibility? 

‘Since it’s like her hometown, Lindsay as an acting caretaker would have to figure out how to manage on her own.’ 

“Don’t be too shy, Princess.”

“It’s not because I’m shy but helping Lindsay was really nothing.”

“My, you’re also humble.” 

I sighed as I glanced at the maids who were looking at me with sparkling eyes like they respected me and yet did not lend their ears to listen to my words. 

‘Fine. Let’s just go along with it since it’s already like this.’

The people who have lived under the authority of the Viscount until now wanted me to be a considerate, magnanimous, and mature aristocrat.

I had no choice but to pretend to be a ‘genuine lord’ and walked toward the square.

“Oslo. I haven't set up a proper drawing-room in the manor yet, so tell the people that I'll listen to their story here.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Emphasize that I will not listen to the situation of those who are not in line to keep order.” 

“As you command.” 

Oslo bowed deeply at my command just like when he shows his loyalty to Dietrich.

“As expected of our Princess…you grew up well.” 

‘It seems like it wasn’t only the maids who misunderstood.’

I did my best to disregard his eyes which were filled with sentimental tears.

“Hey, get in line! In line!” 

When Oslo delivered the message to the local residents who were walking around me, those who heard the news immediately began to gather in the square.

“Princess, please sit here.”

The clever and quick-witted Lagrange knights brought me shade and a soft sofa to sit on.

I sat down on the golden sofa engraved with Lagrange's black wolf, which boasted dignity just by looking at it, and glanced at Oslo standing next to me, holding a large fan.

“........Where on each did you procure the shade and the sofa?”

“His Grace said that the Princess might have a sore leg from walking so these are always carried around.”

Did that mean he ordered the knights to carry this heavy sofa and covering, just for fear that my legs might hurt?

“Stop carrying them around next time. It’s useless trouble.”

I opened my mouth like a sigh at the knights who followed Oslo’s instruction and set up the shade.

“It’s all right as long as it could of help to you, Princess!”

But only the roaring voices come back.

I blinked my eyes slowly, wondering if they hadn’t heard the news that I wasn’t a Princess of Lagrange. 

‘In the first place, I don’t think they’re a group who would be loyal to a princess who wasn’t even the head of the family.’

“Oslo.”

“Yes.”

“Do the knights not know that I am Hermann Euclid’s younger sister?” 

Oslo scratched the back of his head as if I was asking something useless. 

“Of course, they know.”

“........Is that so?”

“But you are someone who would soon become the madam. They know, so we’re serving you well.” 

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, uhm. It’s nothing.” 

My face distorted at Oslo’s immediate reply. 

‘Why is everyone thinking that I’m definitely going to marry Dietrich?’

I wanted to deny it but Oslo quickly pushed a resident into the tent, blocking my mouth.

“Princess, please hear us out on how big the capital establishments charge us. It’s really hard for us to make ends meet……..”

A man who looked like a merchant ranted about his difficult situation in front of me.

I answered him, cutting his words in brief. 

“Oh, don’t worry about that. From now on, the small business owners of the estate will be managed by the establishment of Lagrange.

“Is that true? As far as I know, the Lagrange establishment doesn't charge a fee of thirty percent.” 

The man’s face brightened up in no time. 

The establishment was intended to be attractive for the purpose of developing the mine owned by the Viscount but it seemed that it also helped the small merchants of the estate.

‘Is this how it feels like to blow one’s nose without using one’s hands?’

As he got out of the tent, people who rushed forward began to raise their voices one after another.

There was a variety of stories from claiming that there was not enough drinking water because the waterway was not properly organized even though there was a lake nearby, to requests asking to pay off Donovan's debt, but fortunately, no one brought a problem that I couldn't solve.

‘I guess today is a special day.’

I let out a low sigh as I looked at Oslo, who bragged about me with a proud face among the residents who were greatly moved. 

“Of course, of course. You can say that our princess is the one who created the present Lagrange.”

‘Please, just stop!’

I raised my chin high even as I told him off inwardly. 

“Can’t you feel the dignity in the Princess’ face?”

“That is why even the unrivaled Grand Duke can’t move.”

“As expected, the Princess will be the one to lead our territory.”

Since Veronica and Yuric had always treated me like a child, the respectful gaze from residents was burdensome, but it didn’t feel too bad.

“Ahem.”

I listened to their unfamiliar admiration and tried my best to imitate Dietrich's expression.

‘Dietrich looks cool when he hardens his face like this.’ 

I moved my eyebrows like that and gave strength to my forehead

“That’s right, our Princess…….”

Oslo’s words, which matched with the people, slowly became buried under the voices of the people that were growing little by little.

‘Did something happen?’

I got out of the tent and perked my ears to the hustle and bustle of people at the end of the square.

“It seemed Veronica lost her child.”

“Did Princess Veronica have a child?” 

At the same time, two men who looked like servants of the Viscount were conversing with each other. 

I didn’t quite understand their conversation so I tilted my head to the side.

‘What child?’

“What do you mean?” 

At my question, the servant who finally found me bowed his head deeply. 

“Greetings, Princess Anissa.” 

“Who is Sister Veronica looking for?”

“I don’t know who, but she had been asking around if we had seen a child since earlier…..” 

“A child?” 

At the absurd remarks of the servant, I was stunned that Veronica had given birth to a child without my knowledge.

“Oh, she’s here just in time.”

“Oh, my baby….!” 

As he said, Veronica, who looks like a fingernail, raised her voice from afar, looking for a 'baby'.

“You were here!”

I narrowed my brow as I saw that her face, who found me, was shining brightly.

‘Don’t tell me the baby that sister is looking for is…..’

It’s probably not me. Nope. 

There’s no way she would be calling me baby while I’m pretending in front of these people–

“Our baby, where did you go!”

She did. 

I closed my eyes tightly to the sight of people's faces turning into astonishment at the identity of the ‘baby’ that was finally revealed.

‘My dignity!’ 

My dignity as a lord who leads the Viscount!