Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 44

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Shelton had sent a hefty dowry to the Herins estate to compensate for the disparity in prestige between their families.

At the time, Count Herins hadn’t been able to hide his twitching lips as he accepted the envelope.

But now, with the sum being so vast, Shelton found it difficult to be happy.

His business instincts warned him that deals that seemed too good often brought trouble.

Hoping that wouldn’t be the case this time, Shelton carefully reviewed the contract.

The document declared that Ronenkeaz Linden, also known as Ronen Herins at the time of the engagement, and Elisa Shelton, the eldest daughter of Baron Shelton, were officially ending their engagement for the following reasons.

After thoroughly reviewing the contract, Shelton signed it, realizing with finality that his connection with Ronen was truly over.

The lengthy contract drew a small sigh from him.

Though he tried to ignore the lingering unease, he wished for the meeting to end soon.

Once both parties had their copies, Asnel spoke.

“I hope this brings Lady Elisa some comfort.”

“Your Grace, your generosity is more than enough.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Asnel swirled his crystal glass before taking another sip of the liquor.

Shelton watched him, suddenly realizing what had been botHerins him about the meeting.

The atmosphere hadn’t been bad, but something felt off. It hit him—there had been no toasts or real interaction while they drank.

It felt like Asnel was enjoying a private moment, even though they were sitting together.

After finishing his drink, Asnel stood and retrieved a small, neatly wrapped box from the rosewood desk.

Shelton’s gaze remained fixed on the box as Asnel approached.

“I heard Lady Elisa took great care of Ronen during their time together, so I prepared something. I hope she likes it.”

“…”

“I’ve heard that on her last day seeing Ronen, Lady Elisa brought cookies. I got the recipe and made them myself. Please, pass them along to her, Baron Shelton.”

It was exactly like the time Elisa prepared the poisoned cookies for Ronen.

Shelton, whose pupils were shaking violently, abruptly stood and knelt on the floor.

“Y-Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”

“What’s the matter, Baron Shelton?”

“I made a terrible mistake. I’m truly sorry.”

“That can’t be.”

“…”

“If the servant from the Count Herins’ estate hadn’t made a mistake two weeks ago, Ronen could’ve eaten that cookie. I think there’s been more than enough time to explain the situation and tell me the whole truth. Am I being too harsh?”

“…”

“Or perhaps you thought I wouldn’t realize that Ronen was the target? Baron Shelton? If so, you’ve gravely underestimated me. Or maybe you expected me to overlook it since it was the servant, not Ronen, who suffered instead?”

“Y-Your Grace, the Grand Duke…”

“If that was your thinking, then you’ve underestimated me again.”

Asnel poured himself another drink and looked directly at Shelton.

“It took over a week for the person who was poisoned to start recovering, didn’t it? So, Baron Shelton…”

With every word Asnel spoke, Shelton felt as though he was sinking deeper into an unfathomable swamp.

“For the next seven years, four times a year, you will send Lady Elisa a gift.

Today, it was cookies, but next time, it might be bread, or perhaps jerky.”

From now on, she’ll never be able to relax while eating even a sip of water or a bite of meat, and every step she takes outside the Baron’s estate will need to be cautious.

Asnel was telling him that Elisa would be his target, and that Shelton would do well to avoid it.

For someone as sociable and active as Elisa, being forced to stay indoors would be a heavy burden.

She wouldn’t be able to relax even while drinking a glass of water.

“Well then, Baron Shelton, I sincerely hope Lady Elisa grows up safely.”

With that, the Grand Duke emptied his glass.

At the end of his gaze was Baron Shelton, whose face had turned pale.

---

Ed patted his shoulders lightly.

After spending two days tending to the Count Herins’ garden, a slight fatigue lingered.

Though it had been tiring, it was a rewarding time.

Ronen had enjoyed himself, and seeing the well-organized garden lifted Ed’s spirits.

‘From now on, many flowers will bloom beautifully, with lush leaves.’

Even though he wouldn’t be there to see it, as he was about to leave the Herins estate.

Ed still couldn’t fully grasp it.

Tomorrow, he would leave for the imperial palace.

Would he truly be able to leave the Herins estate without any trouble?

He had spent sleepless nights worrying, but now that the day had come, his feelings were strange.

‘It wasn’t as if nothing had happened.’

Still, if things ended like this, he would be leaving without much trouble.

As the carriage started to move, Ed looked back at the Herins estate through the window.

When he first realized he had been reincarnated into the novel, his only thought was how to avoid Ronen.

But now, he had planted flowers together with him and even shared bread. Ed chuckled faintly.

Today, Ed was scheduled to visit the Roa Orphanage.

It was a place that had helped him when he was young, especially when he needed to send letters to Grand Duke Asnel.

There was one last thing to do before leaving the Herins estate.

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Roa Orphanage was located far from the prosperous center of the southern region.

After leaving the bustling southern city and its smooth roads, one would eventually reach the outskirts, where the road conditions were different.

Crossing two wide streams, the path would lead to an uphill road that continued towards a mountain ridge.

At the entrance of this uphill road was the Roa Orphanage.

Unlike the tall, opulent buildings that filled the heart of the southern region, this area had small, single-story houses lining the road, with thick, dark red thorn bushes growing densely on both sides.

The thorn bushes, with their sharp points jutting toward the sky, grew taller than a person, concealing the impoverished outskirts from view.

The tangled branches would become a hindrance during natural disasters or monster invasions, further escalating the danger.

Even a slight brush against the thorns could leave deep wounds, and when monsters appeared, these thorn bushes blocked people’s escape.

The villagers on the uphill path had made several pleas.

“Please, let us cut down the thorn bushes.”

But the authorities denied their request.

“From the smallest blade of grass to the largest boulder, nothing in the Empire of Aind is yours to touch. Stand down.”

The villagers pleaded again.

“If our humble hands cannot touch the trees, then please, have someone of higher status show mercy by cutting the branches and uprooting the thorns.”

But again, the authorities refused.

“Since you can’t understand reason, you are bound to live out your days on the uphill road. Be silent and live as if you don’t exist, for that is your purpose.”

Old houses, meager livelihoods, unsophisticated language, and shabby attire.

The destitute things hidden in the shadows of the prosperous south were pushed to the uphill road, where a high wall and thorn bushes marked the boundary.

‘Don’t dare cross this line.’

Instead of addressing the underlying problem, they simply pushed it out of sight, deeming it an eyesore.

Ed, who had grown up on the uphill road, lost his father at the age of eight when monsters invaded.

After that, he walked into Roa Orphanage of his own accord.

Roa Orphanage stood at the entrance to the village, always open, as if to say, “Come in.”

It was a sign of how many children had lost their parents in the uphill village.

It was such a common occurrence that no one bothered to talk about it.

Ed, who had come to know the original Ed through some of the records he left behind, visited Roa Orphanage whenever he had time.

Not just to send letters to the Grand Duke, but because the original Ed had considered it his emotional home.

Even though the path to the orphanage was rough, Ed would still make the trip.

Clatter, clatter.

When the carriage began to shake more violently, Ed rose from his seat.

On steep inclines and poorly maintained roads, dirt often splattered into the carriage.

He was about to firmly shut the window to keep it out.

“What?”

Suddenly, Ed’s eyes widened.

Before the uphill road even began, the thick, dark red thorn bushes had been cut back.

Their roots, deeply intertwined beneath the ground, had been dug up and cleared more than halfway.

‘The last time I was here, it didn’t look like this.’

The entrance to the uphill village, which used to be so densely packed with thorn bushes that not even a single ray of light could pass through in summer, had been completely cleared.

Ed leaned out the window, astonished, and the driver, Tens, cautioned him.

“Ed, it’s dangerous. Close the window and hold on tight. We’ll be there soon.”

But as Ed stared at the newly cleared thorn bushes, which the villagers had longed to see gone, he couldn’t tear his gaze away.

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