Stella quietly called Rincasta into the study while she was writing. It was because she had something she wanted to confirm with him.
"Lady Stella? What is it?"
Rincasta approached Stella, holding Adrian's official darling, Lara, in his arms.
"Just in case. Then, did my mother send the message telling you to watch out for Kendrick, too?"
"What message are you talking about? Oh, that letter?"
Rincasta shook his head.
"That’s not what I gave you."
"Yes?"
'Then, as expected, it is Anton Geron.'
Stella looked at Lara in Rincasta's arms. Under normal circumstances, this child should have been sent back out onto the streets. After all, the Duke's family only gathered and treated the injured stray dogs; they did not take responsibility for them for their entire lives.
"I'm talking about Lara. I think she's so cute."
However, they had grown so attached to this child that they hadn't let her go yet. Kendrick, in particular, liked her even more than Stella. He would stop by to see her in between work and even made Rincasta Lara's official playmate.
"That's right."
"I may not know about other things, but I will protect Lara well. I am even training her to be obedient."
As if the feeling of guilt toward Stella had not subsided, Rincasta smiled even more brightly and spoke. She stared intently at Rincasta.
"Rincasta."
"Please feel free to call me Lino from now on. That is my real name."
Stella nodded.
"Yes, Lino."
Stella placed her hand on Lino's head.
"You have to protect Lina, and you have to protect Lara. It must be really hard for you at such a young age."
Swish, Stella stroked his head with a calm expression. Rincasta's expression changed strangely.
The next day, Skyle arrived. Originally, Kendrick had planned to greet him along with Stella. However, because Skyle showed up without notice, Kendrick could not spare the time. In the end, Stella and Skyle were the only two people in the drawing room.
"What brings you here? You called me all the way here?"
Skyle's expression changed as soon as he entered the drawing room. A playful glint appeared on his stoic face.
"You didn't even pretend to know me last time. Have you softened up a little?"
Stella made a silent hand gesture. Just then, the drawing room door opened, and Rincasta entered. Skyle's pupils trembled as he saw Rincasta.
\Did I get caught?'
He did think that Stella wouldn't have called him just to catch up. Still, he never expected to run into Rincasta here.
"I called you because I have something to say."
Skyle quickly hid his embarrassment. Then he smiled slyly.
"Can't you just drop the formalities? There isn't anyone around. You used to be so good at swearing and telling people to get lost."
"When did I...!"
Stella almost shouted in denial. Strangely, she felt a sudden surge of anger whenever she saw Skyle. She could feel Rincasta staring intently at her. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Stella took a sip of tea. Then, just as Skyle had wished, she dropped the formalities and spoke to him informally.
"Haa... I have something to tell you. I heard you committed tax evasion at Lanedict?"
"It’s nothing new. That’s been happening little by little since before we were born. It’s just that they got caught pulling the strings lately after acting so boldly."
It was something Stella had absolutely no idea about.
"What about the reporter?"
"I'm keeping them quiet. Dressing them in nice clothes and feeding them delicious food."
Skyle pointed at Rincasta.
"Didn't he tell you?"
That was not what Stella wanted to ask.
"How long are you going to leave it like that?"
"Then what should we do?"
As the saying goes, old habits die hard. Skyle started sulking again.
"There isn't even proper evidence that Lanedict committed tax evasion. There is the reporter's interview data, but it probably won't be of any use. To submit it to the Imperial Household, you need at least some accounting records."
Stella listened silently to his words without showing a hint of displeasure. It was because there wasn't a single thing he said that was wrong.
"It's a hopeless situation. You need something to cover it up or report it."
Still, judging by the nuances, it seemed Skyle wasn't on Sercia's side. No, on the contrary, he, too, harbored resentment toward the tax corruption. Upon confirming this, Stella felt her tension ease somewhat. Just then, a sudden grab. Skyle's hand snatched Stella's wrist. He shook her wrist back and forth, then shifted his gaze to her face.
"But why do you look so gaunt? When I came here, the Duke's mansion was glistening. Why do you look like this?"
'Is it another argument?'
Stella had now gotten used to Skyle's way of speaking. It had been a long time since she decided not to take offense at every single word and just let some of it slide.
"Are you eating well?"
Skyle provoked Rincasta this time.
"Is the chef at Duke Adrian's mansion really that bad?"
Flustered by this, Rincasta stammered.
"No! It was actually quite delicious to me."
Stella asked a different question instead of answering this.
"Then, were you asking if I was interested in working as the Imperial Household Accountant?"
Skyle let out a sigh at Stella's attitude, which seemed to doubt him. Even so, Stella did not finish speaking.
"Weren't you trying to falsify the books together?"
Skyle flared up in disbelief.
"Am I crazy? Why would I do such a thing?"
Stella looked at him with eyes demanding an explanation.
"It's just... I'm worried. You'll get even lonelier if you just stay at home. You should at least get some work."
Skyle suddenly spread his arms wide. Then he patted his chest.
"Look at me. I'm doing better than before now that I'm working."
Hmm. Stella stifled a groan. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but Skyle seemed a bit different. He looked excited even though they were having a serious conversation. As Stella silently observed him, Skyle let out a sarcastic laugh in disbelief.
"Why are you silent again? Are you telling me to leave because you've finished checking what you needed to?"
Stella shook her head. Now was not the time to pay attention to every little change in Skyle.
"Help me."
"What?"
"I can't just let this slide."
Stella clenched her fist tightly.
"I'm going to gather evidence and report it."
It was not simply due to a sense of justice. It was clear that Sercia and Duke Lanedict would create a second Rincasta to achieve their goals.
"You?"
"Yes."
Skyle gazed into the distance for no reason. If he had settled this matter on his own, Stella wouldn't have found out. He felt needlessly apologetic.
"Just stay put. Don't get sick. I'll take care of this."
Stella swallowed the laughter that was about to escape.
'It wasn't even resolved properly.'
Stella knows the future. The future up to exactly five years from now. During those five years, this matter has not been resolved.
'If Skyle had handled this properly, there would have been a newspaper article about it. The corruption of the Duke of Lanedict.'
No, rather than saying there was no progress, "ruined" might be a more fitting description. It was highly likely that Sercia and the Duke had pulled some strings within those five years. Noticing Stella's distrustful expression, Skyle asked.
"So what are you going to do about it? Do you have a plan?"
"All I have to do is steal the ledger, right?"
"Are you ignoring the security of the Duke of Lanedict's household?"
Stella's gaze turned toward Rincasta.
"It's not like there's absolutely no way."
She felt uneasy about using this child, but if she didn't finish this, another victim would emerge. Stella's gaze returned to Skyle.
'Huh?'
However, he was taking off his outer clothes.
"Why are you taking off your clothes?"
"Because it's hot. Oh, why? Do you want me to leave?"
"No, just..."
Taking off his clothes was practically the same as saying he would stay indoors for a long time.
'I thought you would leave soon since you were busy.'
She thought they weren't exactly on comfortable terms, so she expected the conversation with Skyle to wrap up quickly. However, Skyle felt differently. Since he had come to his sister's house for the first time in a while, he wanted to take a closer look.
"Can I have a meal before I go?"
When Skyle asked with a grin, Stella nodded blankly.
"Yes."
They moved to the dining room of the Duke's mansion. The chef, aware of Skyle's arrival, prepared the meal with care. Skyle sat down and looked around, and when the food arrived, he picked up a spoon instead of a knife. He then put the soup in his mouth and savored it.
"The food tastes good, so why don't you gain weight?"
It didn't taste bad. However, he couldn't understand why Stella was so thin.
"Should I give Duke Adrian a piece of my mind when I see him later?"
Stella was dumbfounded by Skyle's joke that wasn't even a joke.
"It's noisy."
She tore off a piece of bread and put it in her mouth, then picked up a knife to cut the meat.
"You always act like that only toward me."
Perhaps because she was bothered by Skyle, who kept talking to her, she couldn't cut well.
"Do you still hate me?"
It was the same Skyle who snapped back just as sharply, but somehow the feeling was different. Just as Stella sensed something was off and was about to say something, a bowl was swiped out.
"Eat this. Do you think you can cut meat with those slender arms?"
Skyle sliced the meat and swapped it with Stella's plate. Stella quietly gazed at the plate placed in front of her.
"Skyle, by any chance..."
At this point, she couldn't help but be suspicious.
"Why?"
"Are you terminally ill?"
Skyle coughed as if he had choked. Of all the things he had heard this year, what Stella had just said was the most absurd and ridiculous.
"What?"
"I just wondered if you were being this affectionate because you had a date to die."
Stella casually took a bite of the meat he had sliced.
This is ridiculous.
Stella hadn't finished talking with Skyle yet. However, as soon as Skyle finished his meal, he got ready to leave as if he were done with his business. Stella was puzzled.
"Are you leaving already?"
Skyle stopped abruptly at Stella's words.
"Then, can I come again tomorrow?"
It was a bright smile uncharacteristic of him. Stella's expression remained still.
"Why did you come again?"
Skyle was silent for a moment, then answered.
"We still have something to talk about."
Stella shook her head.
"Then just finish everything today and leave. The plan I've come up with is..."
Skyle dug into his ear as if he didn't want to hear it.
"Ah, I'm tired. I'll come back tomorrow."
She was dumbfounded.
"Why bother doing that?"
"I'm the one who's bothered, not you?"
Skyle remained argumentative to the very end.
"I'm going. See you tomorrow."
Stella thought as she watched him get into the carriage.
'Should I say thank you?'
In any case, he had rushed over as soon as dawn broke at the mere mention of Stella's letter. And thanks to his help, resolving this matter would be much easier. Skyle turned his head one last time to wave goodbye to Stella. It was the perfect time to express his gratitude. However, Stella's body froze.
'Ugh, I'm speechless.'
Strangely, she didn't want to say anything embarrassing to Skyle.
"Lady Stella? What is it?"
Rincasta approached Stella, holding Adrian's official darling, Lara, in his arms.
"Just in case. Then, did my mother send the message telling you to watch out for Kendrick, too?"
"What message are you talking about? Oh, that letter?"
Rincasta shook his head.
"That’s not what I gave you."
"Yes?"
'Then, as expected, it is Anton Geron.'
Stella looked at Lara in Rincasta's arms. Under normal circumstances, this child should have been sent back out onto the streets. After all, the Duke's family only gathered and treated the injured stray dogs; they did not take responsibility for them for their entire lives.
"I'm talking about Lara. I think she's so cute."
However, they had grown so attached to this child that they hadn't let her go yet. Kendrick, in particular, liked her even more than Stella. He would stop by to see her in between work and even made Rincasta Lara's official playmate.
"That's right."
"I may not know about other things, but I will protect Lara well. I am even training her to be obedient."
As if the feeling of guilt toward Stella had not subsided, Rincasta smiled even more brightly and spoke. She stared intently at Rincasta.
"Rincasta."
"Please feel free to call me Lino from now on. That is my real name."
Stella nodded.
"Yes, Lino."
Stella placed her hand on Lino's head.
"You have to protect Lina, and you have to protect Lara. It must be really hard for you at such a young age."
Swish, Stella stroked his head with a calm expression. Rincasta's expression changed strangely.
***
The next day, Skyle arrived. Originally, Kendrick had planned to greet him along with Stella. However, because Skyle showed up without notice, Kendrick could not spare the time. In the end, Stella and Skyle were the only two people in the drawing room.
"What brings you here? You called me all the way here?"
Skyle's expression changed as soon as he entered the drawing room. A playful glint appeared on his stoic face.
"You didn't even pretend to know me last time. Have you softened up a little?"
Stella made a silent hand gesture. Just then, the drawing room door opened, and Rincasta entered. Skyle's pupils trembled as he saw Rincasta.
\Did I get caught?'
He did think that Stella wouldn't have called him just to catch up. Still, he never expected to run into Rincasta here.
"I called you because I have something to say."
Skyle quickly hid his embarrassment. Then he smiled slyly.
"Can't you just drop the formalities? There isn't anyone around. You used to be so good at swearing and telling people to get lost."
"When did I...!"
Stella almost shouted in denial. Strangely, she felt a sudden surge of anger whenever she saw Skyle. She could feel Rincasta staring intently at her. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Stella took a sip of tea. Then, just as Skyle had wished, she dropped the formalities and spoke to him informally.
"Haa... I have something to tell you. I heard you committed tax evasion at Lanedict?"
"It’s nothing new. That’s been happening little by little since before we were born. It’s just that they got caught pulling the strings lately after acting so boldly."
It was something Stella had absolutely no idea about.
"What about the reporter?"
"I'm keeping them quiet. Dressing them in nice clothes and feeding them delicious food."
Skyle pointed at Rincasta.
"Didn't he tell you?"
That was not what Stella wanted to ask.
"How long are you going to leave it like that?"
"Then what should we do?"
As the saying goes, old habits die hard. Skyle started sulking again.
"There isn't even proper evidence that Lanedict committed tax evasion. There is the reporter's interview data, but it probably won't be of any use. To submit it to the Imperial Household, you need at least some accounting records."
Stella listened silently to his words without showing a hint of displeasure. It was because there wasn't a single thing he said that was wrong.
"It's a hopeless situation. You need something to cover it up or report it."
Still, judging by the nuances, it seemed Skyle wasn't on Sercia's side. No, on the contrary, he, too, harbored resentment toward the tax corruption. Upon confirming this, Stella felt her tension ease somewhat. Just then, a sudden grab. Skyle's hand snatched Stella's wrist. He shook her wrist back and forth, then shifted his gaze to her face.
"But why do you look so gaunt? When I came here, the Duke's mansion was glistening. Why do you look like this?"
'Is it another argument?'
Stella had now gotten used to Skyle's way of speaking. It had been a long time since she decided not to take offense at every single word and just let some of it slide.
"Are you eating well?"
Skyle provoked Rincasta this time.
"Is the chef at Duke Adrian's mansion really that bad?"
Flustered by this, Rincasta stammered.
"No! It was actually quite delicious to me."
Stella asked a different question instead of answering this.
"Then, were you asking if I was interested in working as the Imperial Household Accountant?"
Skyle let out a sigh at Stella's attitude, which seemed to doubt him. Even so, Stella did not finish speaking.
"Weren't you trying to falsify the books together?"
Skyle flared up in disbelief.
"Am I crazy? Why would I do such a thing?"
Stella looked at him with eyes demanding an explanation.
"It's just... I'm worried. You'll get even lonelier if you just stay at home. You should at least get some work."
Skyle suddenly spread his arms wide. Then he patted his chest.
"Look at me. I'm doing better than before now that I'm working."
Hmm. Stella stifled a groan. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but Skyle seemed a bit different. He looked excited even though they were having a serious conversation. As Stella silently observed him, Skyle let out a sarcastic laugh in disbelief.
"Why are you silent again? Are you telling me to leave because you've finished checking what you needed to?"
Stella shook her head. Now was not the time to pay attention to every little change in Skyle.
"Help me."
"What?"
"I can't just let this slide."
Stella clenched her fist tightly.
"I'm going to gather evidence and report it."
It was not simply due to a sense of justice. It was clear that Sercia and Duke Lanedict would create a second Rincasta to achieve their goals.
"You?"
"Yes."
Skyle gazed into the distance for no reason. If he had settled this matter on his own, Stella wouldn't have found out. He felt needlessly apologetic.
"Just stay put. Don't get sick. I'll take care of this."
Stella swallowed the laughter that was about to escape.
'It wasn't even resolved properly.'
Stella knows the future. The future up to exactly five years from now. During those five years, this matter has not been resolved.
'If Skyle had handled this properly, there would have been a newspaper article about it. The corruption of the Duke of Lanedict.'
No, rather than saying there was no progress, "ruined" might be a more fitting description. It was highly likely that Sercia and the Duke had pulled some strings within those five years. Noticing Stella's distrustful expression, Skyle asked.
"So what are you going to do about it? Do you have a plan?"
"All I have to do is steal the ledger, right?"
"Are you ignoring the security of the Duke of Lanedict's household?"
Stella's gaze turned toward Rincasta.
"It's not like there's absolutely no way."
She felt uneasy about using this child, but if she didn't finish this, another victim would emerge. Stella's gaze returned to Skyle.
'Huh?'
However, he was taking off his outer clothes.
"Why are you taking off your clothes?"
"Because it's hot. Oh, why? Do you want me to leave?"
"No, just..."
Taking off his clothes was practically the same as saying he would stay indoors for a long time.
'I thought you would leave soon since you were busy.'
She thought they weren't exactly on comfortable terms, so she expected the conversation with Skyle to wrap up quickly. However, Skyle felt differently. Since he had come to his sister's house for the first time in a while, he wanted to take a closer look.
"Can I have a meal before I go?"
When Skyle asked with a grin, Stella nodded blankly.
"Yes."
They moved to the dining room of the Duke's mansion. The chef, aware of Skyle's arrival, prepared the meal with care. Skyle sat down and looked around, and when the food arrived, he picked up a spoon instead of a knife. He then put the soup in his mouth and savored it.
"The food tastes good, so why don't you gain weight?"
It didn't taste bad. However, he couldn't understand why Stella was so thin.
"Should I give Duke Adrian a piece of my mind when I see him later?"
Stella was dumbfounded by Skyle's joke that wasn't even a joke.
"It's noisy."
She tore off a piece of bread and put it in her mouth, then picked up a knife to cut the meat.
"You always act like that only toward me."
Perhaps because she was bothered by Skyle, who kept talking to her, she couldn't cut well.
"Do you still hate me?"
It was the same Skyle who snapped back just as sharply, but somehow the feeling was different. Just as Stella sensed something was off and was about to say something, a bowl was swiped out.
"Eat this. Do you think you can cut meat with those slender arms?"
Skyle sliced the meat and swapped it with Stella's plate. Stella quietly gazed at the plate placed in front of her.
"Skyle, by any chance..."
At this point, she couldn't help but be suspicious.
"Why?"
"Are you terminally ill?"
Skyle coughed as if he had choked. Of all the things he had heard this year, what Stella had just said was the most absurd and ridiculous.
"What?"
"I just wondered if you were being this affectionate because you had a date to die."
Stella casually took a bite of the meat he had sliced.
This is ridiculous.
***
Stella hadn't finished talking with Skyle yet. However, as soon as Skyle finished his meal, he got ready to leave as if he were done with his business. Stella was puzzled.
"Are you leaving already?"
Skyle stopped abruptly at Stella's words.
"Then, can I come again tomorrow?"
It was a bright smile uncharacteristic of him. Stella's expression remained still.
"Why did you come again?"
Skyle was silent for a moment, then answered.
"We still have something to talk about."
Stella shook her head.
"Then just finish everything today and leave. The plan I've come up with is..."
Skyle dug into his ear as if he didn't want to hear it.
"Ah, I'm tired. I'll come back tomorrow."
She was dumbfounded.
"Why bother doing that?"
"I'm the one who's bothered, not you?"
Skyle remained argumentative to the very end.
"I'm going. See you tomorrow."
Stella thought as she watched him get into the carriage.
'Should I say thank you?'
In any case, he had rushed over as soon as dawn broke at the mere mention of Stella's letter. And thanks to his help, resolving this matter would be much easier. Skyle turned his head one last time to wave goodbye to Stella. It was the perfect time to express his gratitude. However, Stella's body froze.
'Ugh, I'm speechless.'
Strangely, she didn't want to say anything embarrassing to Skyle.
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