Episode 54
As I stared at the butler in bewilderment, surprised by his sudden off-topic remarks, he shut his eyes tightly as if his secrets had been exposed.
“It’s just that the mana stones are so expensive that the current budget of the duchy can’t afford to utilize any of them.”
The butler, who seemed desperate to preserve the dignity of House Rudion, proudly began listing achievements but eventually had to admit the grim reality in a resigned tone. I looked at him in disbelief.
If someone saw us, they might think I had tortured him.
“Do you think I’m unaware of the duchy’s situation? I know how extraordinary the first Duke was as a magician and how expensive mana stones are.”
“T-Then why…?”
The butler’s eyes widened in shock, as if asking if I had truly intended to make him admit the duchy’s dire situation with his own mouth.
Feeling like I was about to be branded a cruel mistress tormenting an old butler, I quickly interjected.
“Before the wedding, the Basilian Duchy must have sent plenty of mana stones along with the mana carriage, didn’t they?”
Honestly, I was almost certain while asking the butler that the lamp was a magical artifact powered by the same mana stones from the Basilian Duchy.
I knew about their financial struggles and just wanted to let him know that there was no need to scrimp anymore.
“Ah! That’s right. But under the Duke’s orders, all of them were placed in the Madam’s storage room.”
The troubled butler now looked relieved, his face filled with pride as he explained that he had faithfully carried out his master’s instructions.
And I became even more dumbfounded.
“What? All of the mana stones?”
“Yes! The Duke instructed that they be reserved for whenever Madam might use the carriage.”
“And what about the duchy?”
Short distances could easily be covered by ordinary carriages, and the mana carriage could be used for long journeys. How could they possibly use up all those mana stones? Of course, I had pushed Basilian Duke to send them to support the duchy!
“Excuse me? Surely, you don’t mean…”
Realizing the intent behind my words, the butler clamped his hands over his mouth.
His eyes grew misty with emotion, even more so than when I had earlier declared my intention to manage the household.
I wasn’t doing this out of kindness or charity—it was all for the well-being of the household. Yet his reaction made me feel inexplicably awkward.
“Ahem.”
“Madam! I’m truly grateful just for your consideration. However, as I mentioned earlier, the current budget doesn’t account for this, and even if we could allocate it, the accumulated debt makes it difficult to use such expensive mana stones for everyday purposes.”
The butler, now seemingly more open and honest, explained the situation in detail.
In short, I could use the mana stones if I insisted, but it would be wasteful.
Yet, unlike the butler’s well-organized explanation, my mind became filled with even more questions.
“Debt? Shouldn’t it be fully repaid by the end of this month at the latest?”
“Did the Duke say so?”
“It’s just my guess. He hasn’t mentioned anything about the debt to me.”
“As I thought.”
“So, is the debt being paid off or not?”
“Well, I’m not sure. But clearing it all at once might be difficult…”
“That’s ridiculous!”
In the original story, the Duke had cleared all of the duchy’s debts shortly after marrying Evgenia.
Could it be? Did the Basilian Duke, after all my apologies, shared meals, and efforts to gain his favor, treat me worse than he did the original Evgenia?
I had only checked my dowry list and felt uneasy because I hadn’t verified the list of gifts handed over to the Duke of Rudion.
“Bring me the ledger right now! The one showing the newly acquired wealth and remaining debts!”
“Right now, my lady?”
“Yes. I’ll be in my office, so bring it immediately.”
“But the room might not be entirely cleaned yet. Also, I think you’ll need the Duke’s permission to access the asset and accounting ledgers…”
“As long as the desk is clean, it’s fine. Go get his permission immediately. Oh, and…”
I paused, recalling something I hadn’t had the chance to tell Euclid earlier that morning when he left in such a rush.
I had initially intended to casually bring it up and earn some points, but the situation seemed too urgent for that now.
***
“…Duke?”
“Ah.”
Euclid snapped out of his daze at Delano’s voice.
“My apologies. What is it?”
“Nothing much, sir. You just looked very tired…”
Samuel trailed off, sneaking a glance at Euclid’s face.
The golden sunlight pouring through the window highlighted Euclid’s dazzling appearance, as always. However, Delano, who saw him daily, noticed something unusual.
There were faint shadows under Euclid’s eyes!
And from experience, Delano knew this was how he looked after pulling all-nighters due to excessive workloads.
“Did you… not sleep well last night, by any chance?”
Although Delano was well aware that last night had been the wedding night, his concern got the better of him, and he couldn’t help but ask.
Unlike the maids who were giddy with unrealistic fantasies about the duke and duchess consummating their union, Delano had no such illusions.
After all, during the journey to the duchy, he had begun to suspect that the new duchess might not be as bad as the rumors claimed. Still, he resolved not to jump to conclusions too soon.
Besides, who knew? She might reveal her true nature once they were alone late at night.
Since the couple had barely spent any time together apart from the wedding, Delano felt his suspicions were justified.
Although he hadn’t heard that Euclid had been kicked out of the bedroom in disgrace, there was still the possibility that he was forced to sleep on the floor—or worse, stand all night.
The mere thought of his esteemed duke enduring such humiliation filled Delano with indignation and sorrow, his eyes flashing with emotion.
Euclid, seemingly reading his concerns, lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.
“Delano, I understand your curiosity since you’re still unmarried, but you’re treading on rather personal territory.”
“Du-Duke! You know that’s not what I meant!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! I was only worried that her ladyship might have troubled you in some way.”
“There’s no need to worry about that. The Duchess hasn’t caused me any trouble at all…”
He paused.
Actually, trouble wasn’t the right word.
“Well, maybe a little.”
“Ah, as I thought!”
“Yes. To be honest, quite a bit.”
Delano, who was on the verge of outrage, froze when he noticed Euclid’s expression. Despite his words, his golden eyes sparkled more brightly than usual, peeking out beneath softly curved eyelids.
“Duke…?”
Hearing Delano’s puzzled voice, Euclid realized he had been smiling unconsciously. Hastily, he wiped the grin off his face and hardened his expression.
This was no time to be smiling like an idiot.
In fact, the situation was quite dire.
Euclid recalled the previous night, where he had struggled to pretend to be asleep.
He could endure physical exhaustion, but what had truly tested his patience was Evgenia’s baffling words and actions.
‘Perhaps…’
The thought crept into his mind that his carefully laid plans might have started falling apart from the moment he heard the wedding vows.
While lost in these thoughts, he remembered how Evgenia had looked at him, completely unfazed, in a thin nightgown that revealed every contour of her figure.
Meanwhile, Delano, seeing the exhaustion return to Euclid’s face, abruptly stood up from his chair.
“I’ll lodge a formal protest! No matter what, the Duke shouldn’t have to endure such treatment, even from the Duchess!”
Before Euclid could stop him, Delano spun around and headed toward the door.
Bang!
“Ugh!”
Delano staggered backward, clutching his nose after colliding with the suddenly flung-open door.
“Steward?!”
The pain was momentarily forgotten as Delano registered the identity of the unexpected intruder: the normally composed steward.
The steward, seemingly unfazed, raised his arms in excitement.
“My lord! A truly noble person has appeared upon us in this duchy!”
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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