There was food on the table that was too much for lunch but was close to dinner. The employees, who knew that the head of the family and his family were upset because of the events of the previous day, prepared it with even more care than usual, but Lucio was upset. Someone must have been sick all night and could barely get through the soup, but it was such a gorgeous table.
“…”
Then, the words that had been lingering in my throat the whole time, “Is the child awake?” almost came out without me realizing it. Of course, with amazing self-control, I didn’t spit it out in the end. Given the circumstances, it was almost certain that the entire family came out after seeing the child wake up. Still, I wanted to see it with my own eyes, so I planned to go up again after eating.
“Lucio, please follow me to the office for a moment.”
“…yes?”
But as soon as the meal was over, the duke spoke. The Duchess also nodded her head.
“Okay. There is a patient in my room, so it would be better to move the tea time location.”
“…”
Lucio, who had no reason to refuse, entered the Duke’s office by force. The Duke’s somewhat gentle mood in front of the children changed in an instant as soon as the office door closed.
“Have you finished cleaning up everything?”
“Yes. According to the report posted in the morning, not only the maids who caused the problem, but also everyone involved, including those who sympathized even a little, packed their bags and left the Duke’s house in the morning.”
“What about the backlash?”
“We have taken all measures to prevent such words from being said.”
The Duke, who had been swallowing heavily, narrowed his eyes.
“Then the only thing left is Lia’s mana runaway…”
“All the wizards who were usually in hiding, not coming out of the lab, came out, and there were so many people who saw it right in front of their eyes. Of course, you can only do it if you watch your mouth, but… I didn’t feel the need to do that, so I left it alone.”
Then, Lucio briefly added that lawmakers and wizards were spreading rumors.
“It’s better. Maybe that might be more helpful to him in his future life as a duke.”
The Duke lowered his head, glanced at the duchess who was sipping tea in silence, and opened his mouth again.
“How long was the chief maid’s probation supposed to last?”
“She didn’t set a specific time period.”
“Are you sure you don’t plan on reinstating me?”
The Duchess, who had been listening to her conversation, asked in surprise. Her eyes contained a question as to whether the maid was actually trying to get her to give up her position. Lucio answered in a slightly sharp voice.
“Her greatest duty is managing the maids and servants. However, I allowed my subordinates to break the rules and go on a rampage. Failure to properly control this is clear negligence of duty. In particular, judging from what was revealed during the interrogation, it is clear that there was blatant harassment, but it is also difficult to understand that the person in charge of affairs within the mansion did not notice such a situation.”
“Then Lucio, are you saying that the head maid went along with Lia’s bullying?”
“There is no hard evidence. She claims she didn’t even know. But under the circumstances…”
“No matter what the circumstances are, she is still a person. Although she is competent and thorough, how does she know everything that happens in this spacious mansion? And she is, anyway, she is a person who devoted her life to the Duchy…”
The Duchess trailed off her words. She remembered that when she entered the Dukedom of Elad, her vassals were very repulsive and the atmosphere in her mansion was unwelcoming. She even said that she did not want to have a fallen nobleman as her duchess, and in most cases, those who worked as her maids quit their jobs. It was because of that incident that the maids were rarely seen by the Duke now. Unlike maids, maids are originally from lower-class nobles, and are like limbs that stand by and assist high-ranking noble women. It was a shame that she was a duchess and did not have any maids to attend to her. And at that time, Helen of Viscount Baryon, an unnamed vassal of the dukedom, volunteered to be her maid. She was now a Duchess and had given birth to a worthy heir, and her position had changed based on the Duke of Elad’s unwavering affection. There are many who want her to accept her as a maid, but the duchess is the only one who volunteered at the time. I remembered my gratitude. Moreover, even when she went down to her estate due to her misfit in the capital, she was able to leave her duchess in peace because she had Helen. She tried to host a wedding several times as a token of gratitude, especially for her hard work in taking care of young Lucio, but Helen flatly refused, saying that she wanted to devote her life to the Duke of Elad. In this way, the duchess had something of a debt in her heart that she could not repay to her maid, Jean, who had been loyal to her duchy for her entire life.
“Has no need of a servant whose heart is against her master’s will.”
Lucio spoke casually with a cool and cold face. Then she stopped and asked again.
“If you think your mother is having a hard time…”
“Huh?”
“Still, it would be better to leave the probation period for at least a month. She had too much power while she was in charge of managing the mansion. In the meantime, it would be helpful if you told the butler to find someone to take care of the maids.”
“Okay. Thank you for your consideration.”
The Duchess finally relaxed her stiff expression and smiled softly. She was very happy to see the consideration and kindness despite the bluntness that she felt when she met face to face with her eldest son, whom she had always felt distant from. But Lucio, as if unaware of these feelings, calmed her voice.
“Then can I just get up?”
“No, wait. We still have something important to talk about, so sit down.”
The Duke caught Lucio as he tried to stand up. Then the Duchess looked at her Duke and shook her head.
“Honey, let’s think about it some more and then talk about it.”
“What else is there to think about? I thought deeply all night and made a decision.”
“That’s right. It’s only one day. It’s important, but we shouldn’t rush it.”
“Hmm. If you don’t feel like it…”
“No, not at all. I think the same as you.”
Then the Duke raised his eyebrows as if asking what was the problem. The Duchess patted the back of her hand as if to appease the Duke and spoke to Lucio.
“Go out and see.”
Lucio, who had been listening to the conversation between the two with a puzzled look, nodded his head and went out. Normally, I would have tried to find out what was important, but for some reason I didn’t feel like it right now.
‘Anyway, if it’s really important, you’ll find out soon.’
With that, Lucio left, leaving only the two men in the office, and the Duke frowned.
“Why did you stop me? You really changed your mind.”
“Even if it doesn’t.”
The Duchess said, as if to appease her clumsy-faced husband, who immediately denied it.
“It’s not a matter of deciding what’s good for us alone.”
“That’s why you want to ask Lucio’s opinion.”
“That’s right. It’s our family’s business, so why are you telling it to Lucio first? Even if you’re young, you should ask when both Allen and Diana are around.”
“Diana would definitely agree.”
“Hmm, that…”
She chuckled as if the Duchess also approved.
“But even if we were all good… I don’t know.”
“I understand what you mean.”
The Duke, who had lost his temper, nodded his head.
“More than that, Lucio is surprising, isn’t he?”
“What?”
“That is… I thought you and Helen were very friendly.”
“I guess you weren’t just being ridiculously jealous?”
The Duchess rolled her eyes as the duke laughed mischievously at her. The Duke laughed and shook her head.
“It seems like I’m trying my best on you these days.”
The Duchess’ expression immediately cleared up at those words and she smiled.
“That’s right. She suddenly asked me to have tea time and she surprised me by coming to visit. Did you see it before? Worrying that I might have a hard time…”
“Hmm.”
“I thought he was just as indifferent as you, but he has a kinder side than I thought.”
“Am I indifferent? No way.”
Seeing the Duke denying her with a frown, the Duchess burst into laughter as if she were dumbfounded.
* * *
I think I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened them, but it looks like it’s already afternoon. I blinked and looked at each person in the room. Allen and Diana came after finishing their meal. And Jack and Taze in their training uniforms. hen I found the maids standing in front of the open door. When they made eye contact with me, they lowered their heads. It was time to roll my eyes in shame.
“Lia, are you feeling okay? Last night, I happened to be patrolling with the capital guards… If Jack hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have even known you were sick.”
Taiz drooped his eyebrows and said gloomily.
“I had no idea it was about you even though the wizards and lawmakers were making noise outside.”
“…Wizard and council members, why?”
Could it be that they are gossiping about me and saying that they were bothering me last night? I had finally escaped the harassment from the employees, but I was scared, wondering if a new evil eye had struck me.
“Haha. That’s why they were fighting to make you their disciple.”
Taise said with her bright smile.
“The wizards say you will become a great wizard who will surprise the world in the future, and the lawmakers say you will definitely become a legislator who will save countless lives. After all, you are my benefactor. amazing.”
My cheeks turned red before I could help them at the unexpected words. Out of embarrassment, I noticed Diana’s cheeks twitching as she lifted her chin and smiled next to me as if she had just heard a compliment.
“Haa. This is something that not everyone knows. Lia needs to learn how to use a sword.”
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Translator Note:
Due to some health issues ans as other stories, this novel schedule will be reduced to just 1 chapter per week. Sorry for that, we will return to normality as soon as posible ^^
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
Next post will be released on November, 11.
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