Her smooth voice was plausible. Even Charles, who had refused several times, had no choice but to accept Evangeline's stubbornness because he knew it. He didn't seem to like it, but he still disheveled his hair with a complicated face.
"Then what the hell is the young lady's share?"
"I decided to buy land."
"Not like that. Please... There is such a thing, right? That... What... I think this is exactly it."
She wasn't necessarily talking about expensive items. She didn't know how to express the things that would be in her heart, so she squeezed her head, but that was the only way to do so. But he was a man who lived alone with his grandmother.
"What? That... If you go to the shopping street..."
"Oh, the nanny must have arrived!"
She was listening in her own way, but she got up when the door rang. The nanny, who had been going for a walk with the help of a village volunteer, had a bright complexion for some reason.
"My young lady! How are you? Oh my God, how long is this!"
"Yes, nanny. It's been a long time."
Now, Evangeline was used to the hospitality of her nanny, who greeted her every day when she saw her. After holding hands and hugging them tightly as if they had seen them for the first time in 10 years, the nanny let go of Charles, who was leaning against the door frame unevenly.
"Carl! What is your expression? You weren't spoiled by our young lady, were you?"
"Nanny, he is not like that. You don't know how good he is. He treated me like a family member."
"...Really?"
"Then."
Right, Charles?
At Evangeline's gaze, Charles burst into laughter as if he couldn't help it. Still, it was quite reassuring to see her pick up and let her into the house. Holding back her laughter, she hesitated to lift the nanny's shawl in her wheelchair.
"Oh! Oh!"
"Oh..."
The dogs wriggling in the basket wagged their tails. When Evangeline couldn't put the shawl on again, the volunteer laughed and took out a dog.
"It's all because of these guys that my grandmother feels so good today."
"...Why are the dogs?"
"My dog gave birth to a puppy a while ago, and it happened to be the day it went to the market. Even so, many houses ask for babies."
"..."
"Give me a hug too!"
The volunteer put the puppy in her arms, and Evangeline's hand stiffened. Unable to help her pacing steps, Evangeline carefully bent her knees and sat down. She slowly reached out her hand and brushed her hair cleanly, but the corners of her mouth twitched at the smooth touch.
"If you like it that much, why don't you raise one now?"
"Yes?"
"The grandmother in this house will be less hostile, and the young lady looks like she likes dogs very much. I can't deceive my eyes."
The squinted volunteer looked down at her happily. No matter how you look at it, the posture of sitting and holding the dog was unusual to make it as comfortable as possible. Charles seemed to think so too, and before he knew it, he laid his grandmother down and came back to say a word.
"Yes, then. The two of them get along very well."
"Oh! Oh!"
"Look. Isn't this guy good, too? The young lady is also doing something for herself."
"No."
She smiled happily and quickly shook her head. Puzzled, Charles opened his eyes wide, but Evangeline, who had already returned the puppy to the basket, struggled to meet his eyes.
"...I don't deserve it."
***
The Emperor watched the Duke of Theses from a very young age. It's like an unwanted companion. Since they are similar in age, like other aristocratic children of their age, they say, "Please resemble only half of the little Duke of Theses." He also heard the tingling sound.
Whether it was because of the trauma of that time or because of a bit of rebellion, the Emperor was not greatly surprised or agitated by what the Duke of Theses did.
Whether it was to completely complete the impossible or to implement a diplomatic dispute that had dragged on for years in just one day, he just wanted to do it. "The Duke of Theses must have lived up to his name again," he just shrugged. However, when he saw the report of this trip to the western cities, he had to keep his mouth shut for a long time.
"...All the mayors in four cities have been cut off?"
"Yes."
Despite the Emperor's stunned face, there was no emotion in Deccarno's eyes. It may be more accurate to say that it seems soulless.
"No, that's still the case. What if we cut off all the markets?"
"I did it because they deserved it."
"Ha... You... Yes. Let's see why. The mayors of Izl and Tenar arbitrarily appointed their relatives, and the mayor of Pyrrhus derelict their duties... The mayor of Mare is..."
What is this?
The Emperor's eyes widened greatly as he read the report line by line. There must have been something wrong with the Duke of Theses blindly cutting people, but the number of pages was incomparable to others.
"Corruption and dereliction of duty are basic, and corruption in bribery, abuse of power, and waste of tax due to inaccurate work? No, what the hell can he do to get caught by you for a bad attitude? Did he even hit the ball?"
"What is written there is only very basic. Your Majesty will find out if you investigate further..."
"No. I won't"
"..."
"You must have done well on your own."
In the end, the Emperor came to the same conclusion as usual. If you look further here, it will only give you a headache, and there is no way it will change the set result. Above all, Duke Theses was never a man who would do wrong with personal feelings.
It has been like this for more than 20 years. There is no way that it will happen unless you get hit in the head properly.
"You planned everything in advance from the time you said you would go to the west instead of Sir Andy? You got a tip and tried to get rid of it all like this?"
"...Yes."
"Anyway... Good job. There are a lot of things that have been achieved in a very short period of time."
Whether he was praised or praised, his expression was bitter. The Emperor, who was hesitant for no reason, sat stiffly on the left side of the throne.
"By the way, what can these guys do about the vacant positions? You can't fill the place that was cut off by mistake, and you can't keep it empty. I don't know about anything else, but this place in Mare seems a bit serious. But this is a trading city where there are no nobles to talk about. Isn't it necessary for the people there to have a mayor to handle things?"
"That's right."
"I'll have to think of a way. How long will you not be able to take on such a trivial task?"
"..."
The Emperor, who glanced at the Duke, who had no answer, tasted it. He was drunk as if his head was hurting from something he hadn't thought of. He looked at the Duke's face, thinking that if it were to be a drink together, he would have a drink together.
"Well, that's why. I'm back in Roark after a long time, so if I have some time."
"No."
"Oh..."
"Then let's step back."
The Duke bowed his head and turned around, creating a small breeze under his dark blue coat. He tried to figure it out as if he had measured it with a ruler until the end, so hr couldn't bear to pick it up. The Emperor, who had stretched out a hand in a daze, belatedly widened his eyes as if he was indignant.
"No, who says that the Duke of Theses is the highest nobleman! You can't really be loyal."
"Well, that's right. Your Majesty"
The attendant, who looked like he was being beaten by the bell next to him for no reason, quickly adjusted his mood. In fact, he only spoke harshly, but he knew that the Emperor did not really hate the Duke. To be more honest, the Emperor is very clever, and he knows better than anyone else that the moment he throws down the Duke of Theses, he is the only one who loses.
"No way, it's none other than the Duke of Theses."
"Didn't you see what he just did to me? How dare the Emperor speak, but he doesn't say it all at once!"
"I think it's probably because it's difficult. I heard that he suddenly left for Inspection and went around four cities without a single break. On the last day of leaving the Mare, he stayed up all night at the port, so he was bound to be tired."
"...Hmph, who went there from the beginning?"
It was only after the attendant tried hard to explain that the Emperor seemed to feel a little relieved. There was nothing that could not be overlooked in such a situation, but there was still a question that was even more incomprehensible: if it was done that way
"But why didn't such a tired person say he didn't like it when he was asked to continue to take charge of Mare's work?"
***
Deccarno hated loud and loud things. For this reason, he simplified most of the procedures that occurred in the Duke's house. The cumbersome tradition of the heads of aristocratic families greeting each other with all the ceremonial lines lined up on both sides of the house was long gone.
He enjoyed walking quietly from the entrance, just quietly and slowly. Naturally surrounded by people, it was the only time he took a breath.
Everything he sees here belongs to him anyway.
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