Chapter 133

Two days have been given.

Though the sub episode popped up to teach Flora, causing a slight delay, there was still a generous amount of time left, an entire day extra.

Why Claire quietly gave me this time without a word remains unclear, but now that no warnings popped up, there’s no reason not to use it.

After teaching Flora, I kept an eye out for any other windows popping up, but none did.

This made for a very natural free action time.

Two whole days!

“Still, who knows what variables might come up, so maybe I should only use one day.”

My instincts are tingling.

If you think you can just bask in the joy of Rusmaier becoming your territory and prepare only for the eastern nobles’ meeting, you’d be making a huge mistake.

It’s better to prepare for Rusmaier as well, just in case.

And the best way to do that…

is to send someone.

“You called, Young Master?”

Camila responded dutifully, bowing her head as always at my call.

“Take this.”

I handed her the temporary Lord’s Proxy certificate I had prepared in advance.

“Young Master? The Lord’s Proxy? What does this mean…?”

“Just what it sounds like. I’m going to the eastern nobles’ meeting, so I want you to take care of Rusmaier in my absence.”

Right, Camila.

She’s the perfect person to send to Rusmaier.

Having once been a noble, she surely has enough knowledge to manage a territory.

The residents of Rusmaier would welcome her, being my personal maid, so there’d be no issue with affinity.

Plus, she has experience directly managing the territory of Rusmaier, making her even more suitable.

However, instead of taking the proxy certificate, Camila stepped back and bowed her head again.

“I’m sorry… Young Master. I can’t. No, I shouldn’t.”

“Huh? Can’t? And shouldn’t?”

“Because, according to the rules, a dedicated maid must always serve their master and cannot be separated from them during the eastern nobles’ meeting.”

“What?”

I thought there would have been a mention of such a rule if it existed.

“…Wrong. In the game, Camila was released from the Duke’s Mansion at Chapter 1.”

I had forgotten.

Camila, standing here now, wasn’t part of the Duke’s Mansion when I played the game.

But Camila insisted she couldn’t leave me.

I needed to hear why.

“Why can’t you let me keep my own maid by my side?”

“Because it could affect fairness among the maids.”

“Fairness?”

“Yes. During the eastern nobles’ meeting, if families make agreements, points may drop slightly or the difficulty of gaining points increases. If servants discuss this secretly, it makes achieving conditions easier, disrupting rankings.”

It made sense.

It prevents families from secretly making deals behind the scenes.

“So, according to the rules, you can’t leave my side?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm. So, I need to choose a vassal from the Duke’s House as the proxy…”

Tch. Maybe it’s better to give up then.

I know how the vassals feel about Carsein.

While I pondered, Camila spoke softly.

“Excuse me, Young Master?”

“Yes?”

“If it’s someone else… it might be possible.”

“No. I don’t have any other maids to assign. Besides, it’s uncertain whether the people of Rusmaier would accept anyone else, given their dislike for nobles.”

Rusmaier had a bad experience with nobles before.

Even if they got a proxy, the residents might not accept it.

And even if another maid were assigned, it’s questionable if they could perform the duties properly, and the residents might get restless since the people haven’t fully opened their hearts to the Duke’s House.

That’s why Camila was the perfect candidate.

But Camila didn’t back down.

“There’s someone who knows Rusmaier better than anyone else.”

“Someone here in the Duke’s House?”

“Yes. Someone you already know, Young Master.”

The name Camila mentioned was none other than the Head Maid, Tasha.

“Tasha…? Why didn’t I think of her?”

Tasha and Rusmaier.

I thought hard.

It made sense. Tasha, having been a noble of the Deol House, wasn’t disliked in Rusmaier. Plus, her abilities were clear—proven even in the game.

She seemed to fit all the criteria.

But there was one problem with Tasha.

“Tasha is the Head Maid. She needs to stay and manage the mansion while the Duke’s House is away, doesn’t she?”

As the Head Maid, Tasha oversees the maids and manages the household.

So she’s essential to the Duke’s House.

But Camila looked relieved.

“Don’t worry. The Head Maid position isn’t managed solely by Tasha anymore.”

“What?”

“After discovering the previous Head Maid’s corruption, Lady Claire divided responsibilities to better monitor unusual behavior.”

This meant Tasha could follow my orders.

“Good. Then give this to Tasha, and deliver this letter to the Marquis House of Aiferos. I’ll be going out for the day.”

“Understood. If the ladies or mistress come, I’ll say you went to meet your fiancée.”

“Alright.”

I hope I can get something useful from this time.

Surely.

***

“Uncle! Uncle Barak!”

“Huh? Dierna?”

How hurriedly she ran over.

Dierna was drenched in sweat.

Despite panting heavily, she swallowed hard and spoke.

“It’s happening again. It’s…!”

At Dierna’s words, Barak sighed deeply, understanding the situation.

Heavy sighs escaped Barak.

Rusmaier had become a major transportation hub and gateway to the empire, and it had been some time since then.

Incidents never ceased.

With many people coming and going, various incidents occurred, but with the lord’s instructions and help from the Yarikin staying at the Marquis House of Aiferos, most were resolved quickly.

There was one incident, however, that remained unresolved.

“…It happened in the same location?”

“Yes! This time, it only happened on a carriage passing through that territory!”

The village chief, with his eyes closed tightly, knew this wasn’t a first-time occurrence.

This wasn’t the first report either, and they knew who was involved.

‘Taking things from carriages heading to other territories—that’s something we knew all too well when we were poor…’

Before a protective lord appeared, they themselves had done similar things.

Thus, it was difficult to include this in the reports.

Dierna seemed to understand Barak’s feelings, asking cautiously.

“What will you do, Uncle? If the lord finds out…”

“He’ll take strict measures. Lord Carsein is very strict about these things.”

“If that happens…”

“They’ll receive severe punishment. They might not be able to set foot in that territory or do business there anymore.”

Hearing those words, Dierna felt even heavier.

“But… it’s just kids doing something. Honestly, wouldn’t they understand if we explain?”

“…I doubt it. For now, say nothing. I’ll take responsibility when the time comes.”

“Uncle!”

“Dierna, those people once helped us. It’s wrong to betray trust in such a place. I alone will bear the consequences if punished by the young master.”

At that moment.

“…I accidentally overheard, Barak. You’re going to be punished by the young master?”

“T-Tasha Mistress!”

“Answer me. What does that mean?”

Just then, Tasha, who had entered Rusmaier, appeared.

“That is…”

“Barak, if you’re thinking of denying it, it’s better to stop now. I’m here as a temporary Lord’s Proxy for Young Carsein.”

“This…”

When Tasha showed the proof of being the temporary Lord’s Proxy, Barak’s eyes widened.

Then, closing his eyes, he sighed.

‘I can’t hide it anymore.’

It was certainly wrong, but he should be the only one to blame.

“Without hiding anything, I’ll tell you the truth. I’m the one who orchestrated this. Could you please send Dierna away?”

“Uncle!”

“Mistress, please consider our past friendship.”

Barak bowed his head, pleading earnestly.

“Fine. Dierna, you may go back.”

“…”

“Go back. It’s the order of the Lord’s Proxy.”

Seeing Dierna leave with her lips pressed tight, Barak spoke without hesitation.

“May I ask where you heard us?”

“From the moment Dierna rushed in and started speaking.”

“Almost from the beginning.”

There was no point in hiding it.

Barak resigned himself and chose to confess everything openly.

“After the tunnel was built, Rusmaier saw active trade. With the merchants passing through, food supplies became easily available, and people came to commission statues like before. So, there were many carriages moving around. However…”

“However?”

“…Items were stolen from specific areas. In other words, the carriages were robbed.”

“Doesn’t that mean there were potential losses? Why didn’t you report this to the lord?”

“Yes.”

“Tsk…”

Seeing Barak nodding obediently, Tasha sighed, unable to understand.

“I know the young master won’t let it slide, but that place has helped us since long ago. The situation has changed now.”

“Surely, the place where it happened…”

“Yes. It’s Shatren. How could we punish them?”

“…”

Silence fell.

Given Tasha’s deep knowledge of Rusmaier, the silence stretched longer.

“I understand. But, Barak, you’re making a big mistake.”

“Really?”

“The young master isn’t as merciless as you think.”

With kindness shown to a servant,

Tasha, saved by that mercy, declares with certainty.

Her master would see this as an opportunity.