Chapter 71
“Oh my, oh my!!”
“These are gifts Cassius prepared. It’s nothing much—just his way of saying thank you… Haha, it’s my first time attending a gathering like this, so he was a little worried.”
I added just the right amount of charm to the message. Now, Cassius and I would appear to be a loving couple.
The noble ladies let out delighted gasps.
“How romantic!”
“The Duke has always had a gentle side.”
“Of course! It’s the North that made him so cold. He used to be sweet!”
Rumors started to spread that weren’t exactly true. Cassius… sweet? The head maid once said he’d been serious and sharp like a blade since childhood.
I gave an awkward smile.
“Of course! He’s a good man.”
What else could I say?
One of the noble ladies, who had been quietly staring at her earrings, suddenly shut the box with a snap. Huh. Did she not like it?
“…I’ve always wanted to get close to you, Duchess. I had a feeling about you.”
Oh, never mind.
Of course a gift like this would work. Cassius really came through.
There was one more thing I wanted to ask for at this meeting, and the cheerful atmosphere now felt like the perfect opportunity.
“Would it be alright if I asked one more favor?”
“Anything at all!”
The noble ladies responded with even more enthusiasm than before. Once again, Cassius was the best.
“I’m thinking of starting some work now. That’s also why I’m looking for a nanny.”
“Work, you say…”
“I can’t let Cassius carry all the burden alone forever.”
“Ah…”
“So that’s what this is about.”
“That’s why I need some help. I’m planning to hire someone—an assistant to help me with the work. Since I’m not originally from the North, there will be a lot I don’t know.”
“Hmm…”
The noble ladies fell into thought. They were probably trying to think of a suitable candidate. Of course, some politics were bound to be involved too. Just because they were sitting around laughing and chatting didn’t mean they weren’t calculating. They were likely weighing what would benefit them the most.
“Can I be honest with you?”
“Of course, madam.”
“There are plenty of capable people. That friend over there was a scholar, and the other one graduated from the Imperial Academy.”
“But the problem is, we’ve all left the front lines. What you need now isn’t one of us.”
“That’s true. I need someone who can help me right now, not someone who’ll just learn with me.”
“Would it be alright if I recommended someone who isn’t here?”
“Of course.”
I didn’t think these women would suggest anyone who could harm the North. And besides, Cassius would check them out first anyway.
“I’d like to recommend her younger sibling.”
“My younger sibling?”
The noblewoman who was pointed out looked surprised.
“Yes, and I swear this is a purely honest recommendation.”
“I believe you. Why are you recommending them?”
“They graduated top of their class from the Academy three years ago, and then worked as the Finance Minister’s assistant in the Imperial Capital for three years.”
“Ahem… Yes, my sibling did… Their personality can be a bit difficult, but they’re smart. Still, my father always said… that one will grow old alone like that. Honestly, we all thought of him as the troublemaker of the family.”
There was such a talented person here in the North?
“Then why did he quit and come back here?”
“Well…”
The noblewoman swallowed hard and frowned.
“Workplace harassment. He couldn’t stand watching a colleague be mistreated and reported it. The Finance Minister was furious, and because of that…”
“Oh, that bastard.”
“What?”
“Oh my.”
I laughed lightly as if I didn’t know anything. I accidentally let my true feelings slip out.
Seems like those kinds of problems exist everywhere.
“Now, he is just resting and reading books. He said he doesn’t want to do anything for now.”
“So, what happened to the person who committed the harassment?”
“Luckily, they were fired… but unfortunately, even my younger sibling got fired too…”
“That turned into an opportunity for me. I need someone like your sibling.”
Someone with the courage to push forward when it’s the right thing to do, a sense of justice who can’t stand injustice. Plus, they’re sharp and have impressive background. It felt like this person was prepared for me.
Cassius would definitely approve of them. After all, he said that all the noble ladies attending this gathering were trustworthy.
That’s why I didn’t hesitate to give out the expensive earrings.
“If it’s okay, could you mention my name to him?”
“Yes! Please! He’s been holed up in his room doing nothing and acting like a ghost… Hohoho! Yes, anyway, my parents will make sure to send him, don’t worry! Thank you, Duchess!”
That’s one problem solved. Now, is there anyone else?
The noble ladies seemed deep in thought. The first candidate was quite impressive, apparently.
“Hmm… then.”
One noble lady hesitated before raising her hand slightly.
“I’d like to recommend my older sister.”
“Your sister?”
“Yes. She’s already raised her children, and since she became a widow, she’s been managing the work of the Baron’s household on her own, and I hear she’s been doing quite well.”
“Ah, Lady Rubella, the Baroness!”
Was there another person like that?
“…But, isn’t she busy with the Baron’s household work right now?”
“No, it’s a small house, and my sister is very ambitious, so I think she would do well. And…”
The lady, who had been quiet until now, suddenly looked up with shining eyes.
“I think it would be good for her to go out and meet a man… Ahem!”
“Ah…”
“She’s been complaining to me like a spinster whenever she sees me… Ahem!!”
Well, every family has its own story.
“So, can I assume both of them will be coming to the Duke’s household?”
“I’ll send them by any means necessary.”
The noblewoman said with a determined look on her face. I immediately thought that once I go back, I should confirm with Cassius.
I had absolute trust in Cassius now—he probably knew the number of dishes at his subordinates’ homes too.
Slurp.
I drank the tea with a lighter heart. It seemed like today’s gathering was a success, right?
Just then, Theo, who had been playing energetically, came running towards me with a flushed face.
“Pant, pant!”
“Theo!”
I wiped the sweat from Theo’s red forehead, and he smiled brightly.
“Charlotte! Sister-in-law! I caught a frog!!”
“Kyaa, kyaa!”
The moment the frog jumped from Theo’s hands, our peace was shattered.
At the same time.
The darkness was always lurking, preparing to emerge.
“Growl.”
A low growl echoed as a werewolf appeared, its yellow eyes rolling around.
It had been lying low, focusing on recovering. The yetis had been stronger than expected, and so had the humans.
‘…I need to go back and report.’
In order to conquer the human world and devour it, it seemed necessary to strengthen the forces a bit more.
But the humans and the yetis were closely guarding the area around the gate, perhaps even working together.
There was, of course, a way to reopen the gate, but for that, I needed to find the remaining sorcerers in the human world.
The deep crystal cave was filled with the stench of monsters.
The wounds from the battle with the yetis had not yet healed. One had died, and another had lost a leg.
The remaining three were in bad shape as well.
The werewolf’s yellow eyes gleamed cruelly as it glared at the dark forest.
If I couldn’t go back, then it would be better to burn everything and die at their hands.
I would leave behind a clear fear in their hearts.
The two relatively unharmed ones would be sent to the gate. As long as their bodies touched the gate, it would activate, and if I could send even part of them through, it would be enough.
‘My lord will understand the signal.’
As for the other two, they would leave a lasting fear with the humans and die a noble warrior’s death.
That alone would make their deaths valuable.
A terrifying howl shook the forest.
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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Advance chapters of this novel are available of my kofi channel
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