102. Change
“That’s why Hardius had no choice but to leave for Eringer that very day. He was with the person in charge, Viscount Erdua.”
“Ha! How could that happen...”
Hannes sighed and shook his head.
“What on earth is the reason? Why do the workers there always cause trouble?”
“I think it’s because I wasn’t able to wrap things up neatly two years ago.”
“That thing?”
As soon as he was asked, Hannes nodded and said, “Ah, that thing.”
“I heard that the ringleader at the time was released from prison recently. Don’t you know? Those kinds of people are always followed around by lynxes who talk about freedom and equality.”
Kaitlyn clenched her fists, looking as if she was about to crush something.
“It seems that the recent movement to destroy machines that has been taking place all over the continent has also had an effect. It seems that all those stragglers have banded together to plan this.”
“Yes, there is always a force behind a riot.”
Haness, who had turned the cigarette ashes, clicked his tongue.
“I would like to completely eliminate all those who participated in the last strike, but it won’t be easy. It’s especially difficult because the Eringer steel mill went on strike not simply because of wages.”
“Yes, it’s not something that can be resolved that easily. If the parliamentarians hadn’t repealed the anti-union law, the mob wouldn’t have gone on a rampage like this... I’m a little worried about how Prince Meyer will respond.”
Kaitlyn, who had been pressing hard on her temples, relaxed her fingers and straightened her posture.
“...Don’t worry. It’s not like he has no experience in negotiations, and he’ll handle it well. In fact, I think I could send someone else to handle it, but I’ll have to trust him and wait since he's stepping up and taking care of it himself.”
Haness nodded, but couldn't completely erase his displeasure.
“If it doesn’t work out after watching, I plan to step in myself.”
“...You?”
“Yes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had handed over the position to Hardius too hastily.”
As she said that, Kaitlyn's face strangely seemed a little excited.
“Since it seems like he doesn’t have much trust among the executives anyway, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to step forward and clean things up this time.”
Aha, so you're going to try and tighten the reins on your son like that?
Haness hid his sneer in the smoke.
It was an open secret in the clubhouse that Kaitlyn Meyer was wary and jealous of her successor.
It was only natural that they would hear that she was not Hardius' biological mother, for her to have such feelings toward her son, let alone someone else.
Of course, Hardius is the legitimate heir born between Van Drake and Kaitlyn.
First of all, he resembled his father and mother exactly in appearance. If one had seen the Duke of Meyer and Hardius together in their youth, no one would have dared to think such a profane thought.
Above all, the former Duke of Meyer had guaranteed his grandson's bloodline. He was not a man who was easy on bloodlines, if nothing else, and if Haness himself had any doubts about Hardius's birth, he would never have let him marry Bianca.
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
Haness quickly hid his hidden feelings that might have been revealed with a light answer.
In his opinion, there was nothing wrong with the two hats fighting. When two dogs fight, the bone ends up going to the other dog next to them.
“By the way, it’s too bad. I can’t go to Elfort’s graduation ceremony. Bianca wanted us all to attend and show that the alliance is still going strong... It’s really too bad.”
Haness pressed his cane against the floor and then uncrossed his legs.
“Oh, before you go, let me meet Bianca. She says she absolutely does not, but she doesn’t smile much these days and seems worried about something. She said she has something to talk to you about.”
“Yes, that’s what I was thinking.”
“I feel a little better knowing that you take good care of my daughter and that Bianca follows along well. Thank you.”
“Thank you, don’t say things like that.”
The two looked at each other and smiled as if they were true friends.
The atmosphere in the house, which had been as silent as a grave for several days, even weighed down Emilia.
Whenever she had a chance, her stepmother would hover around like a mother hen, asking, “Emilia, are you okay?” Charlotte would completely shut her mouth. Mitch would stay in the barn and never come home.
However, when it came to housework or meals, they did their own work as usual and helped each other.
Emilia, who thought it was strange, asked, “What’s wrong with you all? What’s wrong?” and they all shook their heads and replied that nothing was wrong.
Looking at that family, Emilia realized the truth of the saying, "There's a mountain beyond a mountain."
She thought that once her stepmother quit her job at the factory and Mitch started going to school, peace would return to the house...
She was absentmindedly thinking, then blinked hard to gather the numbers and letters disappearing like smoke on the ledger.
If there's one thing a dishwasher has better than a bookkeeper, it's that she's less susceptible to worry and distraction.
Emilia held the pen tightly, which kept slipping, and tried to somehow focus on the ledger again.
The ledger Emilia organized received exactly a half-passing score from Mr. Angel, Ingrid's father.
Still, she wasn't that disappointed. Even though she wasn't a formal manager, she was put in charge of managing the books for a year.
According to Ingrid, Mr. Angel said, 'She is qualified to be in charge of Latang's books just for making a fool like you realize the need for double-entry bookkeeping.'
“That’s exactly what my father wanted. The ‘results’ he wanted to see in a month were not money, but the effort. Thanks to that, I gained a year. My father delayed the return on his investment. It’s all thanks to you, Elaine!”
Ingrid said so and set up a desk and accounting books for Emilia in one corner of her office.
“To be honest, I’m not very confident in my studies. Instead, I’d like to borrow your brain and insight. I don’t know how you managed to acquire such refined tastes by visiting noble residences and helping with the accounting, but... I’d like you to give me advice on not only the accounting, but also all aspects related to the operation of Latang. How should I put it? It’s like being the grand butler of a prestigious family?”
Ingrid giggled, and Emilia thought of Tobias from Basilion.
“If you need anything like books or newspapers, just let me know. I can get them for you through my father.”
From then on, Ingrid would visit Emilia whenever she had the chance. She always took Emilia with her when buying dishes, food ingredients, or decorations, and left most of the work related to accounting and banking to her.
“I don’t know about anything else, but you should take care of your safe and ledger yourself. If you leave it to someone else because you don’t know how to do it, you could get scammed.”
It was no use even if Emilia said that.
As time went on, Ingrid seemed to trust Emilia, or rather Elaine, completely.
When she asked if she could help her find a house to settle down in Rheinsbuch, Ingrid immediately offered to lend Emilia her father's house.
As they talked about their home issues, Emilia naturally started talking about her family, and thanks to that, the two of them quickly became close friends.
“What’s wrong? What’s bothering you?”
Ingrid handed a teacup to Emilia, who was resting her chin on her hand and thinking deeply.
“...because of my family.”
“Why? You don’t want to move?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Ingrid swallowed a sigh of relief. She wished Elaine lived closer to the restaurant.
“You know... I know it might sound a little selfish, but I want you to just focus on your work. So if you have any worries, just tell me. I’ll do my best to help you.”
Ingrid, who was rubbing the back of her neck, suddenly frowned.
“Is it because the rent is too expensive? Should I talk to my father?”
“No, don’t do that. I know you’ve already given me enough of a discount. I’m not doing this for money.”
“Then why?”
Emilia suddenly opened up about her family members who had become silent and the gloomy atmosphere at home. She complained that she wanted to reconcile them but didn't know how to do it.
Ingrid, who had been listening silently, suddenly let out a sigh.
“You know what? You’re too controlling.”
Emilia opened her eyes wide as if to ask what that meant.
“It’s great to have the attitude of trying to solve problems on your own, but you can’t live controlling everything in the world like that. Haven’t you heard that saying? ‘To be happy, you need trust, not order.’”
The moment Emilia heard that, strangely enough, she thought of Nathan. He had also said something similar to Emilia.
“Isn’t that what a family is like? Normally, they growl at each other every day as if they’re going to eat each other, but when faced with a crisis, they stick together and support each other as if nothing happened. So what if they fight and argue? Just leave them alone.”
“...”
“And if what you say is true, it seems like you’re going to have to fight. I mean, your family.”
“Why?”
“Think about it. A mother who is suddenly sick and needs to rest, a younger brother who is on leave from school, a younger sister who has been stuck at home all her life. How can all three of them not fight when they are all locked in the same house all day? Of course they will fight.”
Ingrid said it as a joke, and Emilia laughed along without realizing it.
“Stop worrying about useless things and just take this.”
Ingrid suddenly threw something down. It was a bunch of keys.
“Move quickly, Elaine. You and your family need a change.”
Since Bianca returned from the convent, canopies have been installed more frequently in Tobaro's garden.
This was because she enjoyed reading books or drinking tea outdoors.
Today, as usual, a table and chairs were placed under the tent, and a wood stove was lit. On one side, there was even a small bed and blanket.
There, Bianca would spend her days reading books or playing chess in front of the fireplace.
“What book do you read like that?”
Ruth, who was braiding her hair, glanced away and asked.
"This?"
Bianca showed her the cover of the book.
“Secret... Window? Is it a mystery novel?”
“No, it’s a terrible love story. The female protagonist goes to find her husband’s lover and slits her throat with a knife.”
A twitch occurred at the corner of Ruth's mouth, which had been smiling softly.
Bianca nonchalantly reached out and picked up the cookie, while Ruth shook her head as if trying to shake off the strange feeling and focused only on her head.
A moment later, a beautiful amethyst pin was placed in the master's hair, which was burning red like the setting sun. It was one of the jewels that Lord Meyer had given her as a gift.
“Yes, that’s enough.”
The moment she shouted, the maid appeared with someone. It was Kaitlyn Meyer.
“That’s why Hardius had no choice but to leave for Eringer that very day. He was with the person in charge, Viscount Erdua.”
“Ha! How could that happen...”
Hannes sighed and shook his head.
“What on earth is the reason? Why do the workers there always cause trouble?”
“I think it’s because I wasn’t able to wrap things up neatly two years ago.”
“That thing?”
As soon as he was asked, Hannes nodded and said, “Ah, that thing.”
“I heard that the ringleader at the time was released from prison recently. Don’t you know? Those kinds of people are always followed around by lynxes who talk about freedom and equality.”
Kaitlyn clenched her fists, looking as if she was about to crush something.
“It seems that the recent movement to destroy machines that has been taking place all over the continent has also had an effect. It seems that all those stragglers have banded together to plan this.”
“Yes, there is always a force behind a riot.”
Haness, who had turned the cigarette ashes, clicked his tongue.
“I would like to completely eliminate all those who participated in the last strike, but it won’t be easy. It’s especially difficult because the Eringer steel mill went on strike not simply because of wages.”
“Yes, it’s not something that can be resolved that easily. If the parliamentarians hadn’t repealed the anti-union law, the mob wouldn’t have gone on a rampage like this... I’m a little worried about how Prince Meyer will respond.”
Kaitlyn, who had been pressing hard on her temples, relaxed her fingers and straightened her posture.
“...Don’t worry. It’s not like he has no experience in negotiations, and he’ll handle it well. In fact, I think I could send someone else to handle it, but I’ll have to trust him and wait since he's stepping up and taking care of it himself.”
Haness nodded, but couldn't completely erase his displeasure.
“If it doesn’t work out after watching, I plan to step in myself.”
“...You?”
“Yes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had handed over the position to Hardius too hastily.”
As she said that, Kaitlyn's face strangely seemed a little excited.
“Since it seems like he doesn’t have much trust among the executives anyway, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to step forward and clean things up this time.”
Aha, so you're going to try and tighten the reins on your son like that?
Haness hid his sneer in the smoke.
It was an open secret in the clubhouse that Kaitlyn Meyer was wary and jealous of her successor.
It was only natural that they would hear that she was not Hardius' biological mother, for her to have such feelings toward her son, let alone someone else.
Of course, Hardius is the legitimate heir born between Van Drake and Kaitlyn.
First of all, he resembled his father and mother exactly in appearance. If one had seen the Duke of Meyer and Hardius together in their youth, no one would have dared to think such a profane thought.
Above all, the former Duke of Meyer had guaranteed his grandson's bloodline. He was not a man who was easy on bloodlines, if nothing else, and if Haness himself had any doubts about Hardius's birth, he would never have let him marry Bianca.
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
Haness quickly hid his hidden feelings that might have been revealed with a light answer.
In his opinion, there was nothing wrong with the two hats fighting. When two dogs fight, the bone ends up going to the other dog next to them.
“By the way, it’s too bad. I can’t go to Elfort’s graduation ceremony. Bianca wanted us all to attend and show that the alliance is still going strong... It’s really too bad.”
Haness pressed his cane against the floor and then uncrossed his legs.
“Oh, before you go, let me meet Bianca. She says she absolutely does not, but she doesn’t smile much these days and seems worried about something. She said she has something to talk to you about.”
“Yes, that’s what I was thinking.”
“I feel a little better knowing that you take good care of my daughter and that Bianca follows along well. Thank you.”
“Thank you, don’t say things like that.”
The two looked at each other and smiled as if they were true friends.
***
The atmosphere in the house, which had been as silent as a grave for several days, even weighed down Emilia.
Whenever she had a chance, her stepmother would hover around like a mother hen, asking, “Emilia, are you okay?” Charlotte would completely shut her mouth. Mitch would stay in the barn and never come home.
However, when it came to housework or meals, they did their own work as usual and helped each other.
Emilia, who thought it was strange, asked, “What’s wrong with you all? What’s wrong?” and they all shook their heads and replied that nothing was wrong.
Looking at that family, Emilia realized the truth of the saying, "There's a mountain beyond a mountain."
She thought that once her stepmother quit her job at the factory and Mitch started going to school, peace would return to the house...
She was absentmindedly thinking, then blinked hard to gather the numbers and letters disappearing like smoke on the ledger.
If there's one thing a dishwasher has better than a bookkeeper, it's that she's less susceptible to worry and distraction.
Emilia held the pen tightly, which kept slipping, and tried to somehow focus on the ledger again.
The ledger Emilia organized received exactly a half-passing score from Mr. Angel, Ingrid's father.
Still, she wasn't that disappointed. Even though she wasn't a formal manager, she was put in charge of managing the books for a year.
According to Ingrid, Mr. Angel said, 'She is qualified to be in charge of Latang's books just for making a fool like you realize the need for double-entry bookkeeping.'
“That’s exactly what my father wanted. The ‘results’ he wanted to see in a month were not money, but the effort. Thanks to that, I gained a year. My father delayed the return on his investment. It’s all thanks to you, Elaine!”
Ingrid said so and set up a desk and accounting books for Emilia in one corner of her office.
“To be honest, I’m not very confident in my studies. Instead, I’d like to borrow your brain and insight. I don’t know how you managed to acquire such refined tastes by visiting noble residences and helping with the accounting, but... I’d like you to give me advice on not only the accounting, but also all aspects related to the operation of Latang. How should I put it? It’s like being the grand butler of a prestigious family?”
Ingrid giggled, and Emilia thought of Tobias from Basilion.
“If you need anything like books or newspapers, just let me know. I can get them for you through my father.”
From then on, Ingrid would visit Emilia whenever she had the chance. She always took Emilia with her when buying dishes, food ingredients, or decorations, and left most of the work related to accounting and banking to her.
“I don’t know about anything else, but you should take care of your safe and ledger yourself. If you leave it to someone else because you don’t know how to do it, you could get scammed.”
It was no use even if Emilia said that.
As time went on, Ingrid seemed to trust Emilia, or rather Elaine, completely.
When she asked if she could help her find a house to settle down in Rheinsbuch, Ingrid immediately offered to lend Emilia her father's house.
As they talked about their home issues, Emilia naturally started talking about her family, and thanks to that, the two of them quickly became close friends.
“What’s wrong? What’s bothering you?”
Ingrid handed a teacup to Emilia, who was resting her chin on her hand and thinking deeply.
“...because of my family.”
“Why? You don’t want to move?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Ingrid swallowed a sigh of relief. She wished Elaine lived closer to the restaurant.
“You know... I know it might sound a little selfish, but I want you to just focus on your work. So if you have any worries, just tell me. I’ll do my best to help you.”
Ingrid, who was rubbing the back of her neck, suddenly frowned.
“Is it because the rent is too expensive? Should I talk to my father?”
“No, don’t do that. I know you’ve already given me enough of a discount. I’m not doing this for money.”
“Then why?”
Emilia suddenly opened up about her family members who had become silent and the gloomy atmosphere at home. She complained that she wanted to reconcile them but didn't know how to do it.
Ingrid, who had been listening silently, suddenly let out a sigh.
“You know what? You’re too controlling.”
Emilia opened her eyes wide as if to ask what that meant.
“It’s great to have the attitude of trying to solve problems on your own, but you can’t live controlling everything in the world like that. Haven’t you heard that saying? ‘To be happy, you need trust, not order.’”
The moment Emilia heard that, strangely enough, she thought of Nathan. He had also said something similar to Emilia.
“Isn’t that what a family is like? Normally, they growl at each other every day as if they’re going to eat each other, but when faced with a crisis, they stick together and support each other as if nothing happened. So what if they fight and argue? Just leave them alone.”
“...”
“And if what you say is true, it seems like you’re going to have to fight. I mean, your family.”
“Why?”
“Think about it. A mother who is suddenly sick and needs to rest, a younger brother who is on leave from school, a younger sister who has been stuck at home all her life. How can all three of them not fight when they are all locked in the same house all day? Of course they will fight.”
Ingrid said it as a joke, and Emilia laughed along without realizing it.
“Stop worrying about useless things and just take this.”
Ingrid suddenly threw something down. It was a bunch of keys.
“Move quickly, Elaine. You and your family need a change.”
***
Since Bianca returned from the convent, canopies have been installed more frequently in Tobaro's garden.
This was because she enjoyed reading books or drinking tea outdoors.
Today, as usual, a table and chairs were placed under the tent, and a wood stove was lit. On one side, there was even a small bed and blanket.
There, Bianca would spend her days reading books or playing chess in front of the fireplace.
“What book do you read like that?”
Ruth, who was braiding her hair, glanced away and asked.
"This?"
Bianca showed her the cover of the book.
“Secret... Window? Is it a mystery novel?”
“No, it’s a terrible love story. The female protagonist goes to find her husband’s lover and slits her throat with a knife.”
A twitch occurred at the corner of Ruth's mouth, which had been smiling softly.
Bianca nonchalantly reached out and picked up the cookie, while Ruth shook her head as if trying to shake off the strange feeling and focused only on her head.
A moment later, a beautiful amethyst pin was placed in the master's hair, which was burning red like the setting sun. It was one of the jewels that Lord Meyer had given her as a gift.
“Yes, that’s enough.”
The moment she shouted, the maid appeared with someone. It was Kaitlyn Meyer.
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