* * *
“Wow… Norman wasn’t kidding when he said the person was exceptionally handsome…”
“I told you, didn’t I? They said it’s like having their eyes taken out and then put back in.”
The murmurs of admiration all around made me feel a bit embarrassed.
Well, it’s true.
Seeing the daily reports and attending inspections without missing a single day made me somewhat immune to the effect.
I used to be at a loss for words when I first saw how someone could be both so handsome and beautiful.
Even I, who had always seen only precious and wonderful things, thought that way, so I could only imagine how people living outside the castle felt.
It wouldn’t be surprising if they bragged their whole lives about having seen the Grand Duke up close with their own eyes.
“……”
Maybe because I stared at Hernan’s face as if I were overwhelmed with emotion, Hernan gave a slight nod towards me.
He didn’t really need to do that….
Only then did I truly realize my high status, as the workers murmured and stepped back.
It was clear I was the one to be approached, and they were not. It didn’t matter much.
I told the distracted workers to get back to their tasks.
“Please proceed with removing the curtains.”
As I clapped lightly to draw attention, Hernan returned to his office.
Good, go quickly. Don’t wander around and distract the workers.
There was a mountain of tasks waiting.
After directing the workers to remove the curtains, I immediately headed to the bedroom.
Despite being a large castle, the four maids in charge of the bedroom were not skilled seamstresses or embroiderers, but rather laundry workers handling the castle’s linens.
‘The original plan was to ask them to make new curtains…’
When I asked the butler when the last curtains were installed in the castle, he dug through old records for a long time but still couldn’t find the information.
When I asked Ryuudene, he remembered that the last remodeling was done two centuries ago.
‘…….’
Is it alright to have dust that’s accumulated over two centuries?
It must have been unhealthy by now.
I decided to bring in an external craftsman and replace the old, dreary dark red curtains that had covered the castle with a sophisticated dark navy with blue silver embroidery.
The overall atmosphere became brighter but still fitting for the castle’s owner.
I replaced the worn-out and matted carpets with new ones, which gave the place a fresh look.
Over the days, I washed the marble party hall and dining room thoroughly with water and bubbles, and applied new wax to the wooden floors.
The castle, which had boasted an old and worn-out appearance, now looked resplendent.
“Now, what’s left is…”
I looked around to see if there was anything else I could tackle while I was at it.
I had already replaced the lamps, cleared away the old armor scattered about, and cleaned the statues thoroughly.
Only then did I notice the grand chandelier hanging from the lobby ceiling.
“Just how long has it been since this was last cleaned…?”
The chandelier, which hadn’t been used for at least three centuries, was so covered in dust and cobwebs that it was barely recognizable.
If I didn’t take care of it now, I would probably never get around to it again.
When I called in an artisan to remove it from the ceiling, it was revealed to be a very intricate piece, modeled after the celestial sphere.
“How could this precious item be treated like this…!”
The artisan was so shocked by the state of the chandelier, which had been treated like an antique, that he nearly fainted.
After painstakingly cleaning each crystal and replacing the rusted parts, the chandelier was finally lit, and I could see the original impression the castle was designed to convey.
“Wow….”
As the chandelier’s light illuminated the room, a huge portrait that I hadn’t even known existed came into view.
The portrait, likely of a previous duke, was clearly painted by a skilled artist, but it exuded neither respect nor admiration.
Instead, it conveyed only disdain and fear.
Nonetheless, it was a well-painted picture, so I assumed the subject must have approved it.
I went to find Hernan to ask what should be done about it.
“Are we going to keep the portrait hanging in the hall?”
When I asked with a somewhat displeased expression, Hernan responded with a puzzled look.
“It’s just a portrait. Is there a problem?”
Is there a problem?
Even though he had recently passed away, the tyrant had a notorious reputation, so was it really necessary to keep his portrait hanging?
I thought it would be better to remove it a hundred times over, but who knows?
He might have been a good father to his son. I replied awkwardly.
“Don’t you know that the previous duke wasn’t exactly well-regarded?”
That’s when I remembered one of the many rumors that had spread uncontrollably about Hernan.
It was said that he was a parricide who had killed his father and brothers to ascend to the dukedom.
Until now, I had assumed it was just a rumor, but the truth was uncertain.
When I explained why it would be better to remove the portrait, Hernan, still with a genuinely curious expression, asked:
“And what does that have to do with Aberdin?”
He seemed genuinely puzzled, not confrontational. I frowned in exasperation and replied.
“Doesn’t the duke have any goals or aspirations as a ruler?”
The sudden turn to a debate about qualifications left Hernan even more confused.
“What does that have to do with the portrait?”
What does it have to do with the portrait?
If we want to avoid leaving the territory as a place ruled by a tyrant who clings to wealth from mines while ignoring the suffering of his subjects, we need to manage the image as well.
After all, it’s not just about cutting off unwanted suitors and spreading rumors but also about fixing things.
“It might be better for future reputation to systematically remove any elements that link the previous duke to you.”
Even though my reputation up until now has been ruined, I should do better now that we’re starting the development of Haptis.
I was so frustrated that I wanted to give the correct answer, but Hernan just smiled with a face so pretty it was almost irritating.
“Were you worried about my reputation?”
Given that we were nearly relatives, how could I not be concerned?
I wanted to question him about it, but seeing his brazen face left me at a loss for words.
“The rumors I’ve heard aren’t good.”
As I averted my gaze and tried to change the subject, Hernan smiled and took a step closer to me.
“Aren’t you curious? About the rumors you’ve heard about me. Which parts are true and which are just fabrications by those who love to gossip?”
To be honest, I was curious.
I wondered if I might glean some insight into what he was really up to.
But asking the person directly… was too sensitive, almost like accusing him outright of being a murderer.
I needed to stay calm and draw a line to get out of this situation.
“Should I be curious? As it stands, I believe my role is fulfilled by providing economic benefits to the Duke in exchange for deferring repayment, as per our contract.”
Hernan nodded as if finding this reasonable and took another step closer to me.
“Well, what I’m curious about is why you care about my reputation.”
With nowhere to run, pressed against the wall, I turned my head to avoid his gaze, feeling like a hunted animal.
From the corner of my eye, Hernan looked down at me with transparent eyes, as if he could see how deep my thoughts went.
A rat trapped in a corner has only one way to escape.
I answered with the defiance of a rat biting a cat.
“I don’t know what kind of person the Duke is.”
As I finally looked directly into Hernan’s eyes, he gave a satisfied smile, like a cat who had just enjoyed a good meal.
“Just think of me as you’ve experienced. I’m not deceiving you in any way.”
He’s lying.
I wanted to step on Hernan’s foot right then and there but managed to restrain myself.
“Then should I think of the Duke of Berlon as a blackmailer who pushes people into a contract and then demands they take responsibility for their chastity due to a mistake made in one night?”
I snapped at him, full of dissatisfaction, and Hernan burst into laughter, as if he hadn’t expected such a reaction.
“What? Oh, hahahaha… I was wondering what you were so deeply thinking about.”
He shook his shoulders with laughter that made me uncomfortable and finally managed to continue speaking.
“I didn’t expect to repeat this story twice, but a mistake is something like omitting a number in paperwork, not the dense and lewd… well, never mind.”
Hernan couldn’t finish his sentence.
The moment he veered off course, I covered his mouth with my hand.
* * *
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