Walking out into the hallway, he looked out the window. Part of the village looked tiny like dots.
While all nobles to commoners, there are clearer class distinctions among the nobles themselves.
‘Just like now…’
Even among nobles, the Duke at the very top from birth resolves matters as he pleases without even showing himself.
Carol called the Duke a ‘kind person’.
‘How is he kind?’
The Duke could not be considered a kind person unless all the northerners went and froze to death on the icy mountain.
As Louis was leaving the Duke’s Mansion, he ran into Mrs. Wells.
“It seems your conversation has ended.”
“Yes.”
“Judging from your expression, it looks like it went well, thankfully.”
This elderly lady also seemed to be quite an important person. Her perfectly groomed hair without a single strand out of place seemed to represent her meticulous personality.
“Well, at least the castle won’t be noisy over this theft incident anymore.”
“Thank you for graciously agreeing to help.”
“This was simply because Carol was in trouble that I helped out. Not for the Duke’s sake.”
However, Mrs. Wells widened her eyes and corrected Louis’s words.
“Which is exactly why I must express my gratitude even more.”
“What do you mean?”
“Because Carol belongs to this castle and is an indispensable person here.”
It wasn’t wrong. Currently, Carol is working at the Duke’s Mansion.
However, it somehow didn’t seem like she was speaking with pure intentions. It sounded more like she was saying not to look down on Carol since Carol belonged to the Duke’s Mansion.
Louis gazed at the lady as if sizing her up, but he fell short of being able to read the experienced face before him.
“I’m practically family with Carol, so it’s really alright. The place one belongs to is bound to change eventually, but not family.”
“I see.”
The elderly lady responded without missing a beat, her face completely unfazed by Louis’ words.
He felt that getting more heated with her would only make him lose his temper.
“If there was a way for me to have helped on my own, I would have gladly done so, so I don’t think thanks are necessary.”
Instead of waiting for Mrs. Wells’ response, Louis gave a slight bow before swiftly walking away.
****
Mrs. Wells was waiting in the servant’s lounge to deliver the news to Carol.
“The matter has been resolved?”
Carol asked with a puzzled look.
She was confident since she had done nothing wrong, but she still felt the burden of having been suspected as the culprit.
Until coming to the castle today, she had been so anxious that her stomach hurt…
“They said the item was found.”
“You mean it was just lost and retrieved?”
“No, apparently the person who bought the jewels at the general store returned them.”
“…I’m relieved.”
“They decided not to make a big fuss and settled the case.”
“…..”
It seemed testimonies favorable to Carol had come out, though the identity of that person was unknown.
“Though you must have felt wronged, Teacher Carol…”
“No, I’m just glad the case has been resolved.”
Carol changed into her indoor slippers as usual, placing her slightly damp shoes in front of the fireplace. Meanwhile, Mrs. Wells got up and stood before Carol.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
“It’s not from the Duke’s Mansion, but a gift from me.”
Inside the envelope was a ribbon made of fine fabric. The deep teal color looked high-quality at first glance.
“Why this…?”
“About Noah, were you not put in an awkward position from keeping that secret?”
“I didn’t do it expecting a reward.”
“I know. But even apart from that, I bought this out of gratitude for various things. It’s not too expensive, so please accept it without burden.”
“Still…”
Mrs. Wells emphasized again. This wasn’t enough to settle the debt of gratitude in her heart, but she wanted to show some sincerity.
“These days I have no idea what young ladies like…”
The elderly lady trailed off, which was rare for her.
“If you don’t like it, I could get a different gift…”
Mrs. Wells looked down with a dejected face full of regret, like a pitiful old lady. Seeing her so deflated, Carol quickly changed her words.
“No, I really like the gift. It’s just that I haven’t done enough to deserve receiving this…”
“Then just think of it as a Founding Day present.”
There was no way to refuse further. Carol undid the ribbon at the end of her braided hair, replacing it with the one Mrs. Wells gave her.
“Is this okay?”
“It suits you very well.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Truly.
It was extremely rare for efforts like this to be made for just a single servant.
With her errand done, Mrs. Wells headed for the door.
“Thanks to you, Teacher Carol, the Duke’s Mansion has become much more lively.”
Though her expression was hidden as she turned away, she couldn’t hide her reddened ears.
Carol gave a faint smile. But then she suddenly stood up.
“One moment please, Madam. If I may be so bold, there is one thing I’d like to ask.”
****
When Louis returned to the mansion, he found the butler waiting.
“You’re back.”
As if he had been waiting, the butler came rushing out, prompting Louis to wave his hand dismissively.
“If you’re going to nag, save it for later.”
Though he convinced himself it was fine since helping Carol was beneficial, he couldn’t shake the unpleasant feeling of having become the Duke’s puppet.
“A letter has arrived.”
However, instead of leaving, the butler presented an envelope he was holding.
“Is it a summons to return to the capital?”
Louis had come down to the north almost unilaterally, and Viscount Walden was likely displeased with his longer-than-expected stay.
“I’ve closed so many successful deals by now, yet he still wants to jerk me around with a single word.”
Louis frowned. The contents were bound to be not much different from the recent letter he received.
‘It’s probably saying there are still ongoing businesses and social connections to cement, so frequently being away won’t do any good.’
The Viscount had always disliked him coming to the north. Though Louis would return each time having successfully closed a new deal to placate his displeasure, his decision to come north this time seemed rather hasty, greatly vexing the Viscount.
No matter his abilities, the fact that he had to be jerked around by the Viscount’s whims until receiving his own peerage grated on his nerves.
“It’s not that.”
Louis, who had been loosening his tight collar, paused at the butler’s words. When the butler shifted his weight like this, the sender was always none other than Viscount Walden.
An ill premonition rose in his throat. And as if confirming that premonition, the butler said in a trembling voice.
“It’s a letter from His Grace the Duke of Winternox.”
Bang!
Louis, who had rushed straight to the study with the letter, hastily tore it open.
The elegant handwriting was enough to turn his stomach.
“Ha.”
Louis let out a laugh. He had thought the Duke had obediently sent it because his words got through.
[-…The Walden family shall take over the Winternox family’s business endeavors, and the Winternox family will cooperate as much as needed to provide necessary support.]
‘So he had already paid the price.’
But it wasn’t that–the Duke had simply obediently sent it after receiving suitable compensation.
In Louis’ hands was the authority over the northern tourism business he had been trying to collaborate on with Chesworth.
Louis was well aware of this business. If successful, it would greatly contribute to the revival of the northern economy.
As it promised great benefits for the north, the northern nobles had particularly high hopes for this endeavor.
There had even been talk that the Duke’s return to the north meant it would end up neglected.
He felt offended. But what offended his pride even more was the fact that he could not refuse to take on this business matter.
****
What Carol asked Mrs. Wells was about Noah.
[Would it be alright to tell more about Noah with the Duke?]
[For what reason?]
[Because Noah wishes to see the Duke.]
[…It may be better for you to ask the Duke directly about that.]
Just as she had kept quiet about the child, she thought Mrs. Wells would simply say no, so she decided to bring it up once.
However, the response she received was unexpectedly positive.
‘The issue is that I must speak about it myself.’
Like the saying “strike while the iron is hot”, she intended to speak now before the timing got away from her.
Knock knock.
“Teacher has arrived.”
“Good evening, Your Grace.”
“Yes, it’s a night with crisp air.”
Carol paused as she pulled the trolley into the room.
“You’ve already set up chairs by the fireplace?”
“I would have been disappointed if you didn’t catch on.”
“Fortunately I noticed quickly then.”
The chairs facing the fireplace side-by-side looked plush and cozy.
After finishing their meal, the two sat side-by-side in front of the crackling fireplace. As they absentmindedly watched the flickering flames, the previously quiet Duke offered Carol an apple.
“My apologies for yesterday.”
