Chapter 14
Edith moved to the study and set a serious tone.
“It’s about our household. This can’t go on like this, Father, you know it.”
“It’s all my fault. My greed for business in the past has led us to this point…”
“Let’s skip that part.”
She cut him off sharply. If left alone, he could spend hours recounting past events.
“More importantly, Father, we need to sort out the financial issues. I’ll be receiving a salary from now on, and if things continue like this, you might end up spending all the money from the gambling den.”
It was such a serious issue that she had to speak bluntly. She had been thinking of ways to solve this problem even before graduating from the academy and entering the palace.
“The estate… Well, I haven’t sold off any land. The ownership of this mansion remains intact.”
“That’s a relief. But I’ve heard that the creditors have the right to collect revenue from the estate.”
Currently, the house had no income. Due to the enormous gambling debts, all the profits from the vast greenhorn estate were being taken by creditors. Since it was taken as interest, if the principal wasn’t repaid, not a penny would come from the estate.
Edith was convinced that the reason the ownership of the estate was maintained was that her father hadn’t sold it off yet. Losing the land and going bankrupt was only a matter of time at this rate.
So, extraordinary measures were needed.
“Father, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to grant my request.”
“What…?”
She proposed something she couldn’t have done if she were truly Edith, led by the bloodline’s honor.
“Please transfer the title of the Duke and the authority of the head of the house to me.”
For a moment, the duke’s dazed expression improved to that of an ordinary person’s. Pushing up the puffy bags under his eyes due to irregular living, he looked confused as if he couldn’t grasp the situation.
“No, what’s the sudden idea?”
As a general rule, the position of leading a family is inherited upon the death of the predecessor. Even if it’s not formalized in the culture, it has been passed down through generations as a tradition. Exceptions are very rare, such as when a family faces such a significant problem.
Edith considered the current situation as such an exceptional case. If she spaced out and did nothing, things would go awry. Primarily, she couldn’t prevent the duke from squandering her salary on gambling. Furthermore, the household was on the verge of collapse.
Given the situation, if the duke allowed it, she thought it would be better for her to inherit the title and position.
“Right now, our family is facing a crisis. If you acknowledge that fact, you should pass everything on to me. That’s the only way to prevent the worst outcome.”
“Hmm, the title…”
“If things worsen from here, bankruptcy is inevitable. But if you entrust it to me, at least the debt won’t increase.”
While persuading the duke, Edith wished she could behave as confidently in front of Clyde as she did here. Standing in front of Clyde always led to awkward atmospheres and tangled conversations, making it difficult to respond rationally. If circumstances allowed, she could act boldly like this now.
She carefully laid out the current situation, the foreseeable future, and even hinted at the possibility of major gambling addiction being a severe mental illness.
In the novel’s setting, they are blood relatives. If the duke squanders everything, Edith can’t stop him. Even her future stipend, which would be the only source of income, could be used as collateral under his authority as head of the house. Moreover, even lifelong income could be at stake.
After a long conversation and logical explanations, the duke was almost halfway convinced. Despite clear pros and cons, his fragile temperament made it difficult for him to make a decision easily, and he wavered.
“Father, do you have the intention to quit gambling?”
“Of course. I won’t set foot in that place ever again. That’s why you’re home today, aren’t you?”
Of course, she didn’t believe him. She just asked because it was necessary for persuasion.
Such matters need to be decided immediately when the table is set. Otherwise, the duke will become more pensive. He might even go to the gambling den tonight and incur irreparable debts.
Edith, wearing the mask of a daughter overly concerned about her father, did not reveal that she considered her own future more than the family’s. “I trust you, Father. In that sense, we should overcome unexpected misfortunes together.”
The duke was deeply moved by Edith’s words.
“Edith…”
“Until now, I’ll do my best to repay the debts. It’s the duty of the head of the house to take responsibility and lead the family.”
Ultimately, her own daughter’s money is tied up in debts and interest. She simply turned it around and said it.
“You seem to burden yourself too much.”
It was almost over. Edith drove the nail into the persuasion with her words. She even hugged him passionately, forcing tears if necessary, and encouraged him with a comforting pat on the shoulder.
“We’ll manage somehow, won’t we?”
“Yes… Yes, Edith.”
The moment the duke made a significant decision with a clear mind, she took advantage of it and led him to the palace. They went to the ministry responsible for recording noble successions and completed the paperwork.
Due to the ominous rumors surrounding the Ketsmoris family, the official hesitated but eventually drafted the documents as Edith requested.
With their signatures on the succession documents, the situation was finally resolved.
She became the fourth generation of the Pedleton dukes, taking on the immense debt along with the responsibility of the Ketsmoris family.
Now that her father had become the predecessor duke, he disappeared down another path as soon as he left the palace. It was obvious where he was going.
Her father had completely lost touch with reality regarding the financial issues. He only talked about treating Edith well, without any thought about what to do with the debts he had already incurred.
Despite Edith bearing the burden of all those debts, her father-turned-duke showed no remorse. Just seeing him rush back to the gambling den made it clear.
But there was a difference. From this moment on, any debt incurred by the predecessor duke would only be considered personal debt. Edith, even as a daughter, no longer had the obligation to repay it on his behalf. Because the head of the house is not obligated to pay off the debts of family members.
As she returned home alone, Edith couldn’t suppress her troubled mind.
“But this was the best option. I explored every possible avenue and came to a conclusion.”
Even though she had amassed a huge amount of debt, she had no choice but to accept it. After all, according to current law, parents’ debts are supposed to be repaid by their children. Breaking free from that constraint was up to the head of the house.
The predecessor Pedleton duke could no longer sell the estate or meddle with the house’s belongings.
All debts and property were now Edith’s.
* * *
“Listen, Pedleton Duke.”
Clyde lifted the decorative glasses from the bridge of his nose and peered at her with a quizzical expression.
“Would you mind such treatment, Your Grace Helieard?”
Edith responded in the same manner, citing one of the many titles the prince held, her tone tinged with a hint of irritation as if grinding her teeth.
He chuckled softly, pleased to note that the stiffness from their initial encounter had considerably dissipated, finding the current atmosphere between them quite satisfactory.
“You’re quite remarkable, Edith. Despite your family’s troubles weighing heavily on my mind, you manage to resolve them in this manner.”
“Resolve… you call it? If you knew the extent of my debts, you’d be horrified.”
“There’s no need to worry about the future just yet, is there?”
“Thank you, I suppose,” she said, exhaling a sigh of resignation at the end.
Today, he had business in the study. With the emperor bedridden for years, Clyde had been busy managing affairs in his absence.
Edith followed his path like a thread through a needle, taking on the responsibilities of state affairs as closely as she could.
During the dull hours of the day, he sought brief diversions. He pulled out a few pairs of elaborately decorated glasses from a drawer and tried them on, examining himself in the mirror as if preparing for a costume play.
At times, he would change paper knives or pen holders if everyday life felt too stifling. Compared to the typical antics of a prince, Clyde’s actions were surprisingly upright and diligent.
“Would you like to try one, Edith?”
He gestured to her, standing by.
“No, I think I might look odd in them.”
“Come on, give it a try.”
Choosing a round pair with intricate patterns etched into the golden frame, he placed them on Edith despite her reluctant protests.
“It won’t be dizzying since there’s no prescription. It’s fun to see how different your face looks.”
In the spacious study, there were many others besides them. Other courtiers and attendants were gradually getting used to Clyde’s familiar treatment of her, seemingly treating her as a close friend. So, even though they witnessed the prince’s unusual fondness for her and the unreserved familiarity of their interactions, they pretended not to notice.
Edith wasn’t particularly curious about Clyde’s belongings, as accessory glasses were common in the world she came from.
“I think I look better without them…”
But his persistence led her to acquiesce.
“I still want to try.”
Facing Clyde, he tidied up her stray hair, smoothing it neatly behind her ears with his fingertips. He gently stroked the area under her ears, ensuring both sides were tidy.
Once again, she felt like a doll. It wasn’t because she wanted to get married, but rather, it felt like playing with a comfortable toy.
Noticing the unevenness of her cheeks, Clyde lightly pressed the round mounds of her cheeks with his fingertips.
“Do you know how adorable you look like this?”
“I’m old enough.”
“You’re cute like when you were young.”
Her mouth fell open in surprise, and the air inside escaped. Did he remember a young Edith that she didn’t? She didn’t have any memories of their past interactions. While factual information remained in her mind, the emotional memories seemed to vanish entirely when she possessed this body. So, she wasn’t sure why she couldn’t remember.
“When… I was young?”
Even as she questioned with a mixture of fear, his hand continued to caress her ears.
Clyde stretched his thick lips long from side to side, feigning innocence as if asking what was wrong. He didn’t respond and remained focused on putting on the glasses.
He bent slightly at the waist to meet her eye level.
Suddenly, a strange warmth enveloped Edith. Was it because the room was a bit warm, or was his heat particularly noticeable?
His sparkling golden irises captivated her. Like a bright sun shining down on a sandy beach, looking directly at him made her feel like squinting against the glare.
“Everyone has a childhood, right? It was just a passing remark.”
With an eerie atmosphere, he placed the glasses on Edith’s face. His large hand obscured her view, leaving only his hand and face visible.
A distinctly masculine aura emanated from him. It was so intense and impressive that it made her stomach flutter.
Feeling the sensuality of the man so close to her, her eyelids trembled as she looked down below him.
