Chapter 6
“Hmm, hmm-hmm. Hmm.”
Rachel hummed happily as she worked through a stack of documents.
Marcus watched her with a strange look before asking,
“…What are you so happy about?”
“Work!”
“You mean… you enjoy working?”
“Of course! Working is my favorite thing in the world!”
She had been like this for several days now.
Marcus simply could not understand her.
I really can’t figure out what Her Grace is thinking.
That day…
The Duke had spoken a name that he had buried deep in his memories.
He recalled the conversation from a few days earlier.
“…I don’t know.”
“I’m willing to bet my own hand that you do know. Are you really not going to tell me?”
It was the first time he had ever seen the Duke speak with such certainty and confidence.
She knew.
She knew about the former Duke’s illegitimate child.
Only three people had ever known of that child’s existence.
The late Duke.
The late Duchess.
And himself.
He had never imagined the former Duke and Duchess would have told her…
“Why do you wish to find your half-sibling now?”
“Why? Because I have to bring them home. I won’t allow my younger sibling to live outside.”
“Is that truly your only reason?”
“If not, then what else would it be?”
Most people would leave an illegitimate half-sibling to live quietly somewhere far away.
Some would even kill them.
It protected the family’s reputation and prevented succession disputes.
But Rachel was already the Duke.
A much younger half-sibling posed absolutely no threat to her position.
Could it really be… pure kindness?
That day, he had made her promise him something.
“Promise me one thing.”
“A promise? Marcus… who do you think your master is?”
“…Please think of it as respecting the late Duke’s final wishes.”
“…Fine. Very well.”
The duchy was still unstable.
If news of an illegitimate child appeared now, the territory would become even more chaotic.
So Marcus promised that he would reveal the child’s location only after things had settled down.
Still…
No matter how much he thought about it, he simply could not understand how she could spend the entire day humming cheerfully while working.
“By the way, what happened to the notices I ordered to be distributed?”
“We have posted notices throughout the villages and hired people to spread the news by word of mouth. It is only a matter of time before the entire territory hears about it.”
During the past six months, taxes in the duchy had doubled.
As a result, the people’s lives had completely fallen apart.
Rachel had issued an official notice exempting everyone from paying taxes next quarter.
She had also announced that tax rates would be restored to normal.
“Impressive. I didn’t expect you to hire people as well.”
“Most people cannot read. Posting notices alone would accomplish nothing.”
“Ah…”
Reading and writing belonged to the privileged.
Anyone below the middle class simply lacked the time and money to learn.
…I should think about establishing an academy someday.
She had no intention of managing this territory halfheartedly.
The land where her favorite person would live had to become richer, safer, and more comfortable than anywhere else.
I won’t allow even a single scratch.
Without hurting even a fingertip…
Without causing even the slightest pain in his heart…
She wanted her favorite person to finally be happy in this life.
To achieve that great goal…
The family supporting him—and she herself—needed to become stronger.
So strong that no one would ever dare look down on them.
“Hmm…”
What would be the best way to do that?
…Money! Of course! Everything starts with money!
While rubbing her chin thoughtfully, she turned toward Marcus.
“Oh, right. Have you finished appraising the confiscated goods?”
“Yes. We are looking for buyers who will pay the best price possible, but it is proving difficult. Matters like this must be handled discreetly…”
Rachel frowned.
If word spread about the scandal in House Agnes, the Duke’s reputation would suffer.
“The Duke who was fooled by nothing more than a head maid.”
That would become the perfect joke for everyone.
The confiscated goods had to be sold quietly.
“I don’t mind lowering the price. I never expected to receive full value anyway.”
No matter how high the quality, they were still second-hand goods.
Jewels and even young trees lost value depending on how well they had been maintained.
It couldn’t be helped.
“Even so, selling everything should secure enough funds to run the ducal estate.”
If she truly wanted to manage the territory, social activities would also become necessary.
People said that even if a rich family fell, their wealth lasted three generations.
But despite being one of the greatest noble houses in the Empire, the current ducal family was nowhere near worthy of its famous name.
“Whew. I think I’ve finished today’s work.”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll check.”
Marcus quickly reviewed every document she had completed before nodding.
“You pass.”
What was this?
Some kind of audition show?
Who says, ‘You pass’ like that?
Rachel snorted at Marcus’s arrogant remark before standing up.
“Alright. Time to head out.”
“Where are you going?”
She stretched her stiff body.
“Where else? The paperwork is mostly finished. It’s about time I looked around the territory myself.”
“I think it would be better if you didn’t go outside just yet…”
“Hm?”
“Well… it’s a little difficult to explain…”
For a brief moment, worry appeared on Marcus’s already exhausted face.
Then he shook his head.
“No… it’s nothing. Perhaps it will be a valuable experience if you see it with your own eyes.”
“…”
What?
Why is he saying it like that?
Feeling strangely uneasy, Rachel tilted her head.
♡ Exciting territory inspection—Start! ☆
Filled with excitement, Rachel set off.
That excitement disappeared almost immediately.
Clunk. Clunk.
The carriage shook violently over the rough road.
It felt as though her tailbone would break.
Her backside was definitely going to be bruised.
Once again, she realized just how wonderful properly paved roads were back in the modern world.
Damn it! As soon as I make money, fixing the roads comes first!
She wiped away the tears welling in her eyes before asking,
“Anne… doesn’t your butt hurt?”
“Me? I’m used to it. Compared to other carriages, this one is incredibly comfortable.”
“What?! This is comfortable?”
“Of course. If you ride in a laborer’s wagon for ten minutes, it feels like your neck will snap. Compared to that, Your Grace’s carriage is heaven.”
She couldn’t believe it.
Her tailbone already hurt so badly that she kept shifting in her seat.
And this was considered comfortable?
She suddenly felt that life in this world was going to be one endless struggle.
“Y-Young… Lady. We’ve arrived.”
Once the carriage stopped, Rupert, who had insisted on acting as her escort, opened the door.
Since this inspection was meant to remain secret, Rachel was dressed as a middle-class young lady.
Among the middle class, copying noble fashion was popular, so traveling with one or two guards wasn’t unusual.
People only glanced at her briefly.
Without attracting much attention, she naturally blended into the crowd.
The first place she headed was the marketplace.
“…Flowers! Please buy some flowers!”
A woman with brown hair and brown eyes smiled brightly as she offered flowers to passing pedestrians.
When everyone ignored her and walked away, the little child standing behind her pouted.
“Everyone’s so mean. Why won’t anyone buy even one flower?”
“…Because everyone’s having a hard time making a living.”
“I wish an angel would come and buy all your flowers.”
The woman chuckled softly.
“Hehe. I wish that would happen too.”
For some reason…
Rachel couldn’t simply walk past them.
She quietly watched the woman comforting the child before speaking.
“I’ll buy all of them.”
“Huh…?”
“How much altogether?”
“W-Wait a moment! Let me count…”
The woman hurriedly counted the flowers in her basket.
“Just three silver coins! It should be five, but since you’re buying so many, I’ll give you a special discount.”
Rachel took out ten silver coins.
“T-That’s far too much…”
Ten silver coins were more money than the woman could usually earn in an entire week.
Rachel smiled gently.
“The flowers are beautiful.”
Actually…
You and your little brother are beautiful.
Watching you two together makes my heart ache.
I want to live happily with my favorite person someday, just like you two.
“Thank you so much!”
“Wow! Big sis sold everything! You really are an angel!”
“Nicky, hurry and thank her!”
“Thank you! Please come buy my sister’s flowers again!”
Rachel waved goodbye before walking away.
“Anne. Sir Rupert. These are for you.”
She handed each of them a bundle of flowers.
“This is the first time anyone has ever given me flowers. Thank you.”
“Sir Rupert, don’t you have a girlfriend?”
“Unfortunately, I’m too busy training. A girlfriend? Not even close.”
Poor Sir Rupert.
That sounded lonely.
“What about you, Anne?”
“Me? I don’t have time for romance either. I’m too busy trying to survive. But these flowers smell wonderful!”
The three of them chatted pleasantly while walking through the market.
However…
The situation was still terrible.
Just as Marcus reported.
The prices of nearly every major commodity used to calculate living costs had risen by twenty percent compared to last year.
The common people’s economy has completely collapsed.
Even worse, the goods displayed on the stalls weren’t even high quality.
One reason was that many large merchant companies had withdrawn because of the high taxes, making supplies difficult to obtain.
“Hey, did you hear? Five families from the lower village packed up and fled during the night.”
“I did. Honestly, every time I think about paying taxes this quarter, I want to abandon everything and run away too.”
“Damn it. What is the Duke even doing? Things were never like this when the former Duke was alive.”
Rachel suddenly stopped walking.
“Wait. The Duke exempted everyone from paying taxes this quarter. Didn’t you see the official notice?”
The merchants frowned as though she had said something ridiculous.
“Huh? What are you talking about? Those new tax collectors have been going from house to house collecting taxes!”
What?
Rachel immediately looked at Rupert.
His face had become equally grim.
“There they are right now!”
One merchant angrily pointed into the distance.
“Aah! P-Please stop!”
“If you’ve earned money, then pay your taxes!”
“Let go of my sister! I said let her go!”
Two men were dragging away the very same woman who had sold Rachel the flowers only moments ago.
