SOWD Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Laszlo was thinking the same thing.

“These days, it feels like I’m just waiting to go home while working.”

Previously, he had found peace in spending time at the palace, often staying longer to take on tasks Dimarcus hadn’t even assigned him.

But now, he found himself counting down the hours until he could leave the palace, wondering why he had felt differently before.

“Renovating the estate has been a good change, though.”

It had been like turning the entire mansion upside down.

Idel had spent far more money than Laszlo expected, yet he had no complaints about it. He was so pleased with the results that he felt he’d never spent money so well in his life.

Even with all the clutter gone, the house somehow felt more luxurious, and living there had become more comfortable than ever.

His once-empty office had been transformed into a dignified yet practical workspace, and the bedroom—decorated in dark red tones—was now the epitome of comfort.

Not only had his private rooms improved, but the entire estate had become astonishingly elegant, clean, and convenient.

“Thanks to that, even Rinia and the servants seem to have changed.”

The once-rambunctious Rinia had recently become quite well-behaved. It wasn’t that she was cowering under his gaze like before; instead, she seemed to have matured.

“Is she imitating Idel or something?”

Laszlo chuckled as he recalled Rinia standing in the same poised posture as Idel.

The servants, now outfitted with new uniforms, treated him with far more respect than before. Previously, they would scurry away in fear at his approach; now, they would stop whatever they were doing to bow and greet him, even from afar.

When he returned from the palace, Idel and the newly-appointed head maid were there to greet him.

“Welcome back.”
“Thank you for your hard work today.”

With a proper bow, Idel would follow him to his office and give him a concise update on the day’s important events. She was truly a capable steward.

Thanks to her, everything was finally running smoothly.

“If I had refused His Majesty’s offer to marry her, my life would still be in shambles.”

He probably wouldn’t have been able to take proper care of Rinia either—let alone arrange a decent marriage for her…

As these thoughts crossed his mind, his horse reached the grand gates of the Crises estate, stopping in front of the main entrance.

When he dismounted, a servant quickly came to take the reins. As Laszlo approached the entrance, the doors opened automatically, revealing Idel and the head maid.

“Welcome back.”

Idel, with her golden hair neatly tied up and dressed in a simple white and black gown devoid of any ornaments, looked stunning despite the lack of embellishments.

Momentarily awestruck, Laszlo took a deep breath before responding.
“Hmm. Nothing unusual happened, I trust?”

“No incidents to report. The two suits ordered from Alfred’s Tailor Shop arrived this afternoon. We also received bills from the florist, the fruit vendor, and the ham shop. Please review them by the day after tomorrow.”

“Any issues with the staff?”

“None, but I would like to suggest granting them special bonuses and some time off, given their hard work during the estate renovations.”

Laszlo nodded as he opened the door to his office.

Inside, the oil lamps were already lit, and tea had been set on the table.

His heart raced every time he noticed such meticulous attention to detail.

“Take a seat.”

As he gestured to the chair beside him while settling at the head of the conference table, Idel placed the documents he needed to review in front of him and poured him a cup of tea.

Although he didn’t know much about tea, he had grown to enjoy the time spent drinking the tea Idel prepared for him after returning home.

“So, how much are you thinking for the bonuses and time off?”

“I was considering bonuses ranging from 200 to 400 lingtons, depending on rank, and an additional day off for everyone. This would bring the total bonus payout to 6,400 lingtons.”

“You didn’t include your own bonus in the 400, did you?”

“…My apologies. I’ll exclude my bonus.”

Laszlo frowned at Idel’s response.

“I don’t understand why you’d answer like that.”

“Ah, well… I included a 400 lington bonus for myself, but I thought about it and realized I already receive a substantial salary…”

“You’re misunderstanding me again. What I meant is that it’s too little. Make your bonus 1,000 lingtons. That makes the total exactly 7,000 lingtons.”

“What?”

Momentarily taken aback, Idel waved her hands in protest.

“No, that’s not necessary! I don’t really need that much money, and what I already receive is more than enough!”

“As a steward, you might need money for various situations. You might want to tip the errand boys or help out someone in an emergency. What good is a steward who can’t keep up appearances when the need arises?”

Laszlo spoke while flipping through the documents in front of him. Convinced by his reasoning, Idel reluctantly accepted the adjustment.

Laszlo signed the invoices and special bonus documents, then took a sip of the tea, now slightly cooled. Despite having no sugar added, the tea tasted subtly sweet, its aroma refreshing his parched mouth.

“To be honest, I’d like to give you a little extra reward.”

“A reward?”

“For everything you’ve done. I know better than anyone how much hard work you’ve put in.”

Transforming the chaotic Crises estate into something functional and thriving in such a short time wasn’t an easy feat.

From having barely enough staff to handle the essentials, the household now boasted a team of 25 servants, including Idel.

Thanks to the new chef and higher-quality ingredients, the meals had drastically improved. A new gardener was restoring the once-barren gardens, and Margaret, the newly appointed head maid, was well-respected and loved by all the maids. Rinia’s personal maid, Colette, was not only skilled but also a delightful companion for her young charge.

With every servant diligently performing their duties and Idel acknowledging their efforts, morale and loyalty had reached unprecedented heights.

“This must be what noble life is supposed to feel like, and it’s all thanks to you.”

“I only did what needed to be done.”

“That doesn’t make it any less impressive.”

Laszlo reached into the inside pocket of his jacket.

“I figured you’d be uncomfortable with a blank check, so I just picked out something that seemed appropriate…”

He placed a small box on the table in front of Idel and gestured for her to open it. Startled but unable to refuse outright, she opened the box.

“This is…!”

“Do you like it? If not, you can just keep it as emergency funds or sell it later.”

Inside the box was a pair of teardrop-shaped diamond earrings.

The diamonds were sizable, flawless, and dazzling—clearly not an ordinary gift.

“My lord! This is far too much!”

“The woman who nearly ruined this household shamelessly took an entire estate, and you’re fussing over a pair of earrings?”

“These aren’t just any earrings…!”

“Oh, come on. You’re not suggesting I embarrass myself by taking them back, are you?”

Laszlo seemed resolute, leaving Idel no choice.

“Why are you being so generous to me?”

Idel’s curiosity was genuine. While she might have seemed like an exemplary servant in comparison to her predecessor, Marcia, it still didn’t explain why Laszlo was so extravagant, offering her money and jewelry.

Laszlo, struggling to articulate his reasons, propped his chin on his hand and stared at the earrings for a long moment before muttering:

“I guess I was moved.”

After rummaging through the remaining documents and realizing he had no more to sign, he neatly stacked them and handed them back to Idel.

When she hesitated to touch the box of earrings, he closed it himself and placed it firmly in her hand.

“If you keep refusing, I might start feeling hurt.”

Idel’s eyes widened at his words, but Laszlo only gave a faint smile and turned back to his desk.

In the end, Idel bowed deeply in gratitude.

“Thank you very much.”

“Don’t mention it.”

With the documents in her arms, she left the office. Once alone, Laszlo aimlessly fidgeted with the items on his desk before letting out a groan and burying his face in his hands.

“Idiot.”

If not for the risk of being overheard, he might have banged his head on the desk out of sheer embarrassment.

The earrings he’d given her had caught his eye during a recent visit to a jeweler’s with Rinia. The moment he saw them, he thought of Idel.

He imagined how those earrings would dangle from her ears, complementing her perfectly.

At the time, he had left without buying them, but the thought of those earrings lingered all the next day, distracting him so much that he’d taken a brief break during work to purchase them.

As Idel had guessed, they weren’t cheap, but not once had Laszlo regretted spending the money.