Chapter 6
I curled my lips up, confident of victory.
“There’s going to be a lot of work for Rodgo to handle from now on. Animals have a keen sense of smell, you know. We’ll need to pick out plants that are toxic to the children… and also plant ones they like.”
From what I’d heard from Emma, Rodgo was said to be second only to the imperial gardener in skill. Apparently, he was incredibly knowledgeable about plants as well.
Since the Stadion family was considered one of the most prestigious after the imperial household, they had the “honor” of being able to hire Rodgo.
Letting such talent slip away would be a waste. You just have to fill the pockets of talented people.
“So I’d like to keep entrusting the mansion garden to you going forward.”
I even brought out a new employment contract. Did they think I could win him over with just a one-time compensation?
“It’s exactly 1.5 times your current salary.”
Rodgo’s eyes wavered.
Right now, in his mind, the gardens he cherished and the money were probably fighting fiercely.
“I promise the animals will never enter the rose greenhouse in the back garden.”
“Gasp!”
That last remark clearly struck a chord with him.
The symbol of Stadion was the rose. The glass greenhouse, filled only with the most precious varieties, contained all of Rodgo’s devotion.
So of course I brought it up on purpose. It was basically like saying, “You wouldn’t leave those babies behind, would you?”
Rodgo took a deep breath and nodded.
“I look forward to working with you from now on, Your Grace.”
“Mm, me too.”
Smiling softly, I took the newly signed contract from Rodgo.
Stadion would change a lot from here on. Some would surely be dissatisfied and quit.
People without ability could be let go, but skilled workers were different.
Money is meant to be earned like a dog and spent like a noble. There’s no point in being stingy with top talent.
And this was the first step.
“Phew, phew.”
I blew on the ink to dry it, then handed the contract to Emma.
“Put it safely in the vault.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
It was a very refreshing day.
Gardener Rodgo had won his dispute with the laborers. He secured a grace period that allowed him, along with the mansion staff, to move the roses the workers had been pulling out into the glass greenhouse.
It seemed Rodgo had found the role he could play.
Good, good. You’re doing well.
Next to raise a complaint was the head maid. With the sudden increase in workload, the budget for this quarter had been exceeded.
The head maid let out a deep sigh.
“Your Grace, I don’t think this is right.”
“Mrs. Verita.”
I had already expected her to come. After Rodgo’s visit, Emma had been gathering information about everything happening in the mansion like a meerkat and reporting it to me.
Expenses for food had increased, and with more people, complaints from the kitchen maids and laundry maids were growing as well.
But I couldn’t address every complaint personally. I was the master of this estate. It was unthinkable for maids to come directly to me with grievances.
It was the same in a company. It’s the team leader who listens to employees’ complaints, not the CEO.
Emma said Mrs. Verita must have gained at least ten more wrinkles recently.
Mrs. Verita had faithfully managed Stadion for thirty years. She probably believed she could resolve this on her own again.
But everyone has limits.
“I have always believed it was my duty to trust and follow your decisions, Your Grace. And I have done so.”
“I know you’ve worked hard.”
“But now…”
“I’m aware of the atmosphere in the estate. Still, I thought I shouldn’t interfere, as this is your responsibility, Mrs. Verita.”
“You are absolutely right. However, it has gone beyond what I can handle alone.”
“I know. That’s why I have something for you.”
This time, there were several envelopes. Mrs. Verita’s eyes widened.
“This is for the kitchen maids. And this is for the laundry maids… Use these if you need extra support to resolve the situation.”
“Your Grace, that’s not what I meant—!”
“I know. The budget will increase next quarter. Until then, could you manage with this? You’re indispensable to Stadion, Mrs. Verita.”
According to Emma, Mrs. Verita was more vulnerable to words like this than to money. She genuinely loved and cared for Stadion.
So with just a few heartfelt words like these…
“Could you continue working for me—no, for Stadion? For the sake of my parents, if nothing else.”
“Your Grace… I didn’t know you thought of me that way. You always called me old and ignored me.”
What a terrible personality. Agatha, don’t you know how to respect your elders?
“That… that was when I was too young. I must have been lost back then.”
Calling it adolescence would be an understatement.
I’ve been reborn, Mrs. Verita. Will you accept me like this?
I gazed at her earnestly, sincerity filling my eyes. Perhaps it reached her—thankfully, the kind-hearted Mrs. Verita accepted my apology.
“That can happen… Your Grace… Now that I know your true feelings, I’m at peace.”
I could guess what she held back. Agatha’s parents had shown little interest in her.
Mrs. Verita’s eyes grew moist. After offering a few more words of comfort, she stood up.
“I will continue to do my best, Your Grace!”
“Y-yes, I’ll be counting on you.”
I awkwardly raised my hand and waved.
“You did great.”
Emma whispered, giving me two thumbs up.
Heh. This is how you overcome one hurdle at a time, right?
Mrs. Verita used the money appropriately, and as a result, the maids’ complaints subsided.
Now that’s what you call a win-win.
After many twists and turns, my dream finally came true. A plaque was hung beside the renovated mansion gate:
<Stadion Animal Protection Center>
The reason there were so many abandoned animals in this novel was because of the “lost god.”
The god Maelis—the supreme deity of this world and guardian of divine beasts.
When Maelis first created the world, all animals possessed mystical abilities and could speak human language. They weren’t mere animals—they were “divine beasts.”
Humans who bore the mark of Maelis somewhere on their bodies could control these divine beasts. And once the mark appeared, it would never disappear, passing down through generations.
That’s why those who could handle divine beasts became nobles in each country, and people fervently prayed to be born with the mark.
“Please, God Maelis, grant our family the mark.”
Even those without the mark treated divine beasts as family treasures and lived alongside them.
But the world changed overnight.
After Maelis disappeared, the divine beasts lost their speech and their powers. About a hundred years later, people lost patience and began abandoning them on the streets.
Even in the novel, this problem is never resolved. Even after the female lead awakens as a saint, the god never returns. There are descriptions of abandoned animals dying—and even attacking humans.
Having lost their wild instincts while living with humans, perhaps it was inevitable.
That’s why I created a sanctuary for abandoned divine beasts. I decided to use my overflowing wealth to do the good deeds I couldn’t in my past life.
I planned to live like this forever.
Quietly.
Alone.
With the little ones.
Without the protagonists.
The final asterisk.
It seemed like my dream was finally coming true—living modestly, far away from the main characters.
“Hehehe. Emma, what do you think?”
“It’s wonderful, Your Grace! Mary and Tori seem to love it too!”
I cleared out a third of the large garden and planted grass. It was a gift for the animals who loved to run around—more precisely, a gift for Mary, who had always stayed by my side.
Thankfully, Mary and Tori were happily running across it.
“Bark, bark!”
You could tell how excited they were just from the sound.
“Well then, all that’s left is to bring the babies.”
Does this mean a complete farewell to the protagonists? They’ll be busy saving the empire and its people anyway.
The basic plot of “Don’t Become Obsessed with Saint Lucia” was a war against monsters. A typical romance fantasy where the crown prince and the saint fall in love and save the empire.
So while they save the empire, I’ll save the abandoned divine beasts.
Everyone does their part. Isn’t that perfect?
I thought my plan was going fairly well.
As long as I didn’t involve myself, there would be no reason for the male lead to get entangled with me.
And that absolutely had to be the case.
