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Stefan was unfamiliar with the concept of short-term rentals.
In this world, it was more common to buy houses than to rent them, and even if they did rent, it was on a monthly or yearly basis, like the townhouse Theodore lived in.
Besides, Stefan was extremely wealthy. If he needed a mansion, he could just buy it. He was probably also not used to renting mansions on a monthly basis.
Rachel explained.
“Let me give an example. Let’s say the mansion is in the Fram Estate. Since it takes about ten days to travel there by carriage, you could rent the mansion for eight days, which is shorter than that.”
“Eight days? Why eight days?”
“Because if a new guest arrives there the day you leave, the rental period would still end before you arrive. We would then have the extra two days to vacate and clean the mansion.”
“That makes sense. In that period, the knights we employed could remain as well.”
“Exactly.”
“But eight days is too short. For nearby mansions, they could only be rented for a day or two. Who would want to stay there?”
“People will want to stay.”
“Who?”
Stefan’s face was serious. Initially, he had an expression of ‘Let’s just hear what you have to say,’ but now he was leaning forward, concentrating on Rachel’s words.
“People who are either nobles or those who want to associate with nobles. People who would buy the house of a commoner who had an affair with a count for a high price, and those who spend thousands of gold just to see an Archduke’s mansion.”
Stefan’s eyes widened.
Cian nodded, seemingly satisfied with Rachel’s answer.
“You could give them names like ‘The mansion where Duke Iacobs was born’ or ‘The mansion Duke Iacobs lent to his first love.’ That would make people line up to stay.”
“Exactly. Since you are a duke, people would be interested. However…”
There was a condition for all of this.
“Opening the mansion to the public is like exposing the family’s private life, so caution is needed. You also need to be prepared to accept people of lower or no rank into your private spaces.”
Fortunately, Stefan seemed unconcerned about such matters. He covered his mouth with his hand and lowered his gaze. His eyes were trembling.
“No, I don’t care about that. The important thing is that if we use this method, we can hire more knights, and it would likely put their mind at ease.”
Their mind?
Rachel tilted her head, wondering who Stefan might refer to with ‘their mind.’ Someone of higher status than a duke who needed psychological security.
‘I heard his father has passed away, so it’s not him. His mother, Melita Iacobs, enjoys parties and shopping for dresses, so it’s not her. In that case…’
Watching Stefan’s serious face that was deep in thought, she realized.
‘It must be Empress Beatrix. She wants to escape from the tyrant Sigar.’
She felt sympathy.
‘I hope the solution I came up with will put her mind at ease a little.’
Stefan suddenly stood up from his seat.
” Cian. I need to visit the Iacobs mansion for a bit.”
“Now?”
“I might not come back today, or for a while. I’m leaving.”
“Wait. Stefan!”
Despite Cian’s call, Stefan didn’t look back. They saw him riding away on horseback through the window.
Cian sighed deeply.
“Ha. Whose horse did he borrow again? How old is he that I still have to clean up after him?”
“He seems to be in a hurry.”
“Indeed. Thank you, Countess Rachel. Since he left like that, I should thank you on his behalf.”
“No problem. I’m just worried about their comfort.”
Though she spoke as if she guessed who ‘they’ were, Cian didn’t ask, and Rachel didn’t answer.
It was a warm and peaceful afternoon.
* * *
At the same time, there was someone who was unable to enjoy a cozy and peaceful afternoon. It was Theodore.
Theodore was hiding behind a large tree, glaring at Jane’s cabin.
“So, this is it. Damn, it’s quite a nice cabin, isn’t it? I knew it.”
He’d found Jane’s cabin by asking the herbalists in the southern forest. The young woman living in the forest was well-known.
Jane’s cabin looked new, with a clean and spacious yard. Chickens and chicks wandered around, and a dog was napping near the entrance.
Theodore gritted his teeth.
“I’m stuck in a cramped, smelly townhouse, but the devil who stole my money is eating and living well. It’s ridiculous. That was my money. This should be my house…!”
Theodore saw Jane through a window with half-drawn curtains and approached the cabin, planning to meet Jane and demand his money back.
He was walking toward the yard entrance when he stepped on a thin layer of straw.
Squelch!
“Ugh!”
The ground suddenly gave way, and Theodore’s right foot sank into a hole.
“Damn it! Why is there a hole here, and it stinks!”
It was rotting fertilizer. He quickly got out, but his shoe was covered in foul-smelling fertilizer. Looking around, he saw several holes covered with straw along the path and the forest.
“Damn it. I was caught in the devil’s trap!”
Rubbing the fertilizer off his shoe on leaves and dirt, Theodore grumbled and approached the cabin again. This time, the dogs woke up from their nap.
“Oh?”
When they were lying down, he hadn’t noticed their size, but they were large and intimidating hunting dogs. There wasn’t just one or two, but three of them.
The dogs bared their teeth and growled at the appearance of a stranger.
Surprised by their aggressive reaction, Theodore stumbled back in a panic.
“Hey, dogs. I’m not a bad person. Be good. Nice dogs. Chu chu chu…”
Woof! Woof woof!
The dogs barked loudly, disliking Theodore’s attempt to soothe them. There were no leashes in sight.
Terrified, Theodore froze on the spot. His legs trembled.
“I’m, uh, I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m…”
Panicking and unable to move, he begged for forgiveness, but the dogs suddenly stopped barking.
Soon, the cabin door opened with a squeak, and Jane appeared.
The dogs gathered in front of the cabin door, wagging their tails.
“Nex, Turi, Loe. What’s going on? Ah, a guest has arrived.”
Jane petted the affectionate dogs one by one. Her hands, covered in bandages, stroked their fluffy fur.
Jane, with her large hunting dogs, looked intimidating.
‘If Jane says ‘attack!’ I’ll be dog food. Should I just leave? Damn. They’re expensive breeds, and she has three of them…!’
Theodore’s throat went dry as he became nervous.
‘No, I can’t just leave after coming this far. It’s not like the dogs will disappear if I come back later.’
After making up his mind, he stammered.
“Oh, it’s been a while, Jane.”
Would she run to him and embrace him? Or would she still be angry about being chased away?
He waited nervously for Jane’s reaction. But she didn’t run up to him and embrace him, nor did she get angry. She just tilted her head.
“Who are you? Do I know you?”
“…Uh? It’s me, Theodore Elrosa.”
“Theodore? I don’t know anyone by that name.”
“You don’t? How can you forget me? Have you lost your memory or something?”
“Lost memory… Maybe?”
Jane crossed the yard and squinted at Theodore.
“Strange. I really don’t recognize you.”
Theodore, fearing the dogs might follow, hunched his shoulders, but fortunately, they stayed calmly by the door. He sighed, seeing Jane’s bandaged hands.
“Jane, what happened to your hands?”
“These? I got cut by glass shards.”
“You should be more careful next time.”
“I’ll be careful from now on. But really, I don’t know who you are. I’m not sure how you found out my name, but please leave.”
“W-wait!”
Theodore grabbed Jane’s wrist as she turned to leave.
Jane frowned in disgust, and the previously calm dogs got up.
“Could you please let go? They might bite even though they look nice.”
They don’t look nice at all!
Suppressing his urge to protest, Theodore spoke humbly.
“No, no, no. It’s just that I have something to tell you. Let’s talk. Please?”
“But I don’t have anything to say?”
“Just listen first, then. I don’t know what you went through, but you must’ve suffered a lot when you hurt your hand and lost your memory.”
“Oh, are you a door-to-door salesperson? I’m sorry, but I don’t want to buy anything.”
“Salesperson? That’s not it. You don’t seem to remember, but we used to be lovers.”
“Lovers? That’s a classic scammer line! Goodbye.”
“It’s true! I cared for you for a long, long time. I gave you lots of gifts and money. This house was bought with my money.”
“This house? Your money? I don’t think so. Do you have any proof?”
“Proof? Well, not exactly… I have my feelings and memories…?”
Jane finally burst out laughing.
“Hahaha, you’re a funny guy! Not a scammer but a comedian?”
“No! I’m serious!”
Theodore didn’t know what to do with this unexpected development. He regretted giving Jane money without leaving any evidence to avoid taxes.
‘I should’ve just paid the taxes!’
It was already too late to regret it.
“Jane. Think hard. We spent so much time together. How could you forget so easily?”
Theodore didn’t finish his sentence.
Whack!
Jane had slapped him on the head with her bandaged hand.
It hurt like he’d been hit with a wooden plank.
“Ouch! Jane! What are you doing?”
“Stop dreaming and go home.”
Jane glanced at Theodore’s filthy shoes and frowned.
“It seems that the expression ‘just wash your feet and go to sleep’ is used in situations like this.”
(T/N: The phrase ‘just wash your feet and go to sleep’ is an idiom that means ‘there’s nothing you can do about it, so just go to bed’ or ‘there’s no point in worrying about it anymore, might as well just go to bed’.)
Then she turned and went back into the cabin without looking back.
“Jane, Jane! Wait a minute, Jane!”
Theodore shouted while holding his throbbing head, but the only response was the vicious barking of her dogs.
* * *
Inside the house, Jane sank to the floor.
“Sniff.”
She’d known Theodore was a bad guy but had hoped otherwise. Maybe he would apologize and ask for forgiveness. But reality was cruel, and he turned out to be worse than she thought.
Tears welled up at Theodore’s attitude and how he couldn’t remember that her hand was injured because of his mother.
Jane wiped away the falling tears and moistened her lips.
“Thank you. Thank you so much. It was exactly as Countess Rachel said…”
“Look at that. That guy is truly trash.”
Katie, who’d been quietly standing in a dark corner of the house, clicked her tongue softly.
