MPGF 27

Chapter 27: That’s Just Abusive Behavior

It was unmistakably Lili’s back.

‘What is she doing over there?’

A middle-aged woman was crouching in front of Lili. Her hand trembled as she touched her cheek, and beside her, a child about waist-high clung to her arm, crying with tears and snot. I ran straight over.

“What’s going on, Lili?”

Lili, who had been glaring at them, scowled at me, and soon turned that glare toward me.

“Can’t you even manage the castle properly, sister-in-law? Why would you let a filthy Kurshian roam freely around here!”

She corrected herself to call me “sister-in-law,” but her tone was unpleasant.

“Don’t just accuse people—tell me what happened from the beginning.”

My tone wasn’t gentle either. Lili glared at me and raised her voice.

“This woman is living with a Kurshian man, an enemy of the state. This kid came up to me and started begging for food like a lunatic! Do you know how scared I was? And the so-called mother is just standing there begging instead of stopping her child. What kind of lax security allows this to happen inside the castle?!”

The Kurshian Empire.

It had devoured the Opil Kingdom a few years ago. Naturally, for the people of Requies, Kurshia was the enemy that had destroyed the kingdom once called their brother.

‘I’ve only ever been in the capital, so I’ve never seen a Kurshian before…’

Since the Blandingche territory bordered Kurshia, some minority groups must have crossed over.

“We are not Kurshians…”

The middle-aged woman spoke in a tearful whisper. I turned to look at her.

“I was born and raised an imperial citizen.”

“Don’t lie!”

“We were accepted by Grand Duke Calix… we are imperial citizens…”

Lili couldn’t contain her anger and snapped.

“Even if you deny it, the kid’s father is Kurshian. It’s already disgusting enough they live in the Grand Duchy, but now you’re wandering around the castle begging? I’ll go straight to Hertian and have you exiled!”

The woman crawled across the snowy ground and grabbed the hem of Lili’s dress.

“Don’t touch me with your filthy hands!”

Lili’s beautiful face twisted in disgust.

“Please, miss. We won’t come to the castle again. Just don’t exile us. If we return to Kurshia, we won’t survive… please.”

Lili violently kicked the woman away. Slushy snow stuck to her swollen cheek, smeared from Lili’s boot. Dirty, tear-mixed snow dripped down her face.

“Sister-in-law, aren’t you going to tell Hertian?”

Lili’s cruelty had gone too far.

Even if she lost her parents young, she must have received an education. Where did this brat pick up such disgusting behavior?

Kicking someone much older and treating them like a bug?

It was infuriating just to witness it.

“If you won’t go, I will. Hmph.”

Lili stomped away, her footsteps loud and full of irritation. I could already see the answer.

That child won’t change with just words.

I crouched down, scooped up snow into a tight ball, and threw it with a loud thwack.

“Ah!”

The snowball hit her right on target. Lili spun around furiously, brushing the snow from her hair.

“What do you think you’re doing?! Did you throw that at me?!”

“Yeah, I did.”

I didn’t back down.

“My lady…”

A maid behind me tried to stop me. Everyone here knew better than to provoke Lili.

Which was exactly why I couldn’t leave her unchecked.

“What, are you trying to start a snowball fight?”

She looked stunned and annoyed, clearly not realizing she’d done anything wrong. I had no choice but to spell it out.

“Lili. Apologize. Now.”

“Why should I?”

“You hit a citizen.”

“I’m a noble, and they’re commoners! And I didn’t hit them for no reason! That Kurshian came into the castle and started begging!”

She only saw her own side. But no matter the situation, striking someone was unacceptable.

“They must’ve been desperate to come all the way here. Can’t you see that?”

“Why should I care about their situation? I’m pissed off enough already!”

“That’s just abusive behavior.”

She scoffed in disbelief.

“Abusive…? Who do you think you are calling me abusive?”

“I’m your guardian from now on. And I’m the master of this castle, not you.”

“Guardian, my foot. You’re barely older than me—what, are you trying to act like my parent?”

“If you need a guardian, then it’s going to be me.”

“Don’t make me laugh. Even if you’re the Grand Duchess, I’ve lived here longer than you. And don’t think I don’t know.”

Lili stepped closer.

“You and Hertian are in a fake marriage, aren’t you?”

“…What?”

I staggered in shock.

“You thought I wouldn’t find out? So don’t go around acting like you can order me around.”

She gave me a mocking look and walked away. I stood frozen.

‘Did Hertian tell her?’

I’d suspected Osen, his closest aide, knew. But for Lili to find out…

“Lili!”

I helped the fallen woman up and rushed after Lili, but I didn’t make it to her room. The moment I entered the castle, my legs gave out and I collapsed.

When I opened my eyes, Hertian was there.

He sat at my bedside, holding my hand tightly, as if in prayer.

‘I fainted again…’

Breathing in the cold air outside must’ve taken a toll. My cursed body had failed me again.

“I’m okay.”

I muttered the words out of habit.

As soon as he heard me, he gasped and looked up. His pale face under disheveled hair was shadowed with worry. He looked like a child who got hurt disobeying his parents. Watching him, I spoke cautiously.

“I didn’t realize the north would be so cold. I got too excited about the snow…”

I made a flimsy excuse.

I figured it was better not to mention Lili. He’d only worry more if he found out the family was fighting.

“I’m frustrated.”

His voice was hoarse.

Of course he’d be frustrated—his wife fainted right after being brought here.

“I went through all the trouble to keep you warm, and you collapse immediately. I’m speechless.”

“I’m frustrated because I can’t do anything for you.”

That wasn’t what I expected. He continued in a low voice.

“I heard no medicine, magic, or divine power works on your body. Watching you collapse with no way to help you… it’s maddening.”

His voice was heavy with emotion. If I was frustrated, how much worse must it be for him to say this out loud?

“I’ll be careful.”

I took it as him warning me.

If rumors spread that the Grand Duchess was constantly collapsing, it would hurt his image too. So of course he’d be concerned.

After a moment of silence, Hertian wiped his face and changed the subject.

“I heard you met with Lili.”

I hadn’t planned to tell him until I’d handled it myself.

But he’d already found out.

“I want to get along with her, but it’s difficult.”

“I’ll speak to her myself.”

I nodded slightly and lowered my voice.

“Hertian… Does Lili know about our contract?”

“She doesn’t.”

“But she believes our marriage is fake.”

If he didn’t tell her, the most likely reason was—

‘She figured it out because Hertian has no sexual desire.’

Since they grew up together in the castle, she probably knew.

At his age, being completely indifferent to the opposite sex was enough to raise suspicion.

“I’ll speak to her. So please don’t push yourself. My arrhythmia is getting worse.”

“…Alright.”

“Come here. You’re still cold.”

Only then did Hertian’s serious face soften. I let my guard down and leaned into his arms.

Despite Hertian’s warning not to overdo it, I hurried out to find someone the moment the sun rose.

“Jackson!”

Jackson, the administrator of Blandingche.

He was supposed to be my partner today.

“My lady?”

But he wasn’t at his desk.

“Where’s Jackson?”

“Lord Jackson is on a business trip to the capital.”

In his place sat another man with a fuzzy beard.

“Then are you handling the budget for now?”

“Yes, my name is Gilta.”

Gilta glanced at me and hesitated before gesturing for me to sit.

“I’m going to fulfill my duties as Grand Duchess starting today. I look forward to working with you.”

“You mean you wish to manage the budget directly?”

“Yes. His Grace is already busy enough—I can’t burden him further.”

He scratched his head, looking troubled.

“But His Grace said to let you settle in first…”

“Let me take this on. No matter what.”

I had my reasons.

“We need to repair the entire castle.”

“Do you not like the castle, my lady?”

“It’s not that. It’s just that much of the interior is rusted or falling apart. His Grace was away at war, so it’s understandable. But now that the Grand Duchess is here, people will say the castle’s neglect is our fault.”

Of course, this was just the excuse.

‘It’s so cold in here I can’t even live properly!’

That was the real reason.

Plugging up the drafty holes would also save on heating. Win-win.

“Please give me the budget report.”

Without a word, Gilta handed it over.

The annual budget for the Blandingche territory was around 3 billion gold. Even after setting aside the funds for the duchy, there was plenty left to repair the entire castle.

“Gilta, by tomorrow, prepare a list of all areas needing repair and estimate the costs.”

“That won’t be possible.”

Just when I thought everything would proceed smoothly, Gilta stopped me.

“Why not?”

“There’s not enough in the castle budget.”

“Even with major events, there should be at least 500 million left over. And didn’t His Grace receive war reparations? Or is the castle in such bad shape we need to rebuild from scratch?”

“Repairs are sufficient. But doing so would make it difficult to operate the rest of the territory.”

That made no sense. Compared to other regions, this was a large budget.

“Then… is the money being spent somewhere else?”