Chapter 64
I took the key the Grand Duke had given me and went to see him.
Perhaps he’d thought I’d come to tell him I wouldn’t go to the sanatorium, because the moment he saw my face the Grand Duke spoke firmly.
“I have no intention of withdrawing my gift, Danae.”
“I know. That’s why I’ll accept it gratefully.”
Watching his eyes widen a little, I added the condition I’d thought out beforehand.
“In return, please let me take charge of managing the Devon estate where Coral Manor is.”
Devon is still a place where people live, and there’s work to be done there too. So it doesn’t necessarily have to be the Winter Manor where I prove my abilities — that was Lucas’s advice.
“You want the management of Devon… entrusted to you?”
“Yes. I know there is precedent for the heir apparent being given one of the Duke’s titles in advance — like making them Count Riesher or Baron of Devon and putting them in charge of the fief.”
“‘Heir apparent’ is just a term for the Duke’s successor,” I said. “It’s not an official imperial title. Of course, being the Duke’s successor gives you influence already, but sometimes the Duke hands one of his titles to his heir ahead of time for prestige.”
The Grand Duke stared at me for a moment as if wondering how I’d known that, then frowned as if he’d found his answer.
“…So it was Lucas.”
“Nope.”
“Lucas, huh.”
My quick reply only made him more certain; he sighed.
“Danae, you know why I want to send you to Coral Manor, don’t you?”
“I know. But you also know grandfather that I’m not completely convinced. Let’s each give a little.”
The Grand Duke pursed his lips as if troubled. I pressed on without letting up.
“Devon is a small fief compared to Ashinov. It shouldn’t be too hard, right? If I act untrustworthily, you can call me back at once.”
He seemed to be considering it.
This was the moment to play the “the Grand Duke likes you very much” card.
“Grandfather—”
I deliberately made a pout and drooped my shoulders.
“You know how I feel. I don’t want to just abandon everything, okay?”
When I said it plaintively his gaze wavered.
(Seems like it’s working, right?)
The Grand Duke dotes on his granddaughter. So if my request didn’t cross a line, I could probably get it by whining like this.
“Grandfather?”
I brightened my eyes like a pleading cat and called him again. Finally a deep sigh escaped his mouth.
“Very well. I’ll entrust the barony of Devon to you.”
“Really?”
“But as I said before, if there’s the slightest rumor that something’s wrong with your health, I’ll cancel the whole thing.”
(It worked after all!)
“Yes! Don’t worry! Thank you, grandfather!”
I nodded with a big smile. The Grand Duke opened his mouth with a stern expression.
“But since you asked conditions, I will too, Danae.”
“Conditions?”
“Take a personal physician. And you’ll be assigned three guards.”
He probably would have granted that many even if it had been a simple convalescence. It wasn’t a hard condition.
“All right, I’ll do that.”
I nodded vigorously. The Grand Duke sighed in worry, but he didn’t add anything more.
Thus the deal — each with their own conditions — was struck.
As promised, the Grand Duke handed me the baronial title of Devon and entrusted the management of the fief to me. Imperial approval hadn’t formally come through yet, but that procedure was merely a formality; in all but name I was already a baroness.
All that remained was to head to Coral Manor in Devon.
The most important task was choosing who would accompany me to Devon.
By the Grand Duke’s conditions, just bringing my physician Lien and three guards was already four people. Add my personal maid Marina, plus Miri who by the “Rule of Friendship” Clause 2 could not be separated from me, and Jeddin who I asked to come so I could continue taking lessons — that made seven.
(Blanche said she’d quietly follow behind.)
And then an unexpected extra.
“Of course I’m coming too.”
Lucas slipped himself into the party list.
“I’m your aide. A great lord needs an aide.”
“Did grandfather allow that?”
“Of course he did. He was rather pleased, actually.”
Having Lucas come meant he’d handle most of the practical work, which the Grand Duke probably welcomed — he didn’t want me doing too much.
(But Lucas—)
If my goal were to become an admirable lord, his accompaniment would be welcome. But my goal was somewhat—no, completely—different.
(This time I fully planned not to work hard!)
Until now my plan had been to gain the Grand Duke’s recognition of my abilities, get the power to control the family, and then topple the household in one go.
(But that failed.)
It wasn’t easy to be handed authority enough to ruin such a big family all at once by the Grand Duke. I’d only gone from candle-supplier to payroll manager; at this rate it would take ten years to get the authority I needed, maybe longer.
So I decided to change tactics.
I’d attack piece by piece — the “let’s wreck it one at a time!” strategy.
Yes. I intended to utterly ruin the barony of Devon!
Of course this plan only works under the assumption that the Grand Duke doted on me.
(But now I’m certain.)
Even if I ruined a single fief, the Grand Duke wouldn’t throw me out — he’d give me another chance. He dotes on me so much!
(Don’t think of that as an obstacle; use it to your advantage.)
Just like Lucas advised.
(Every time I get a chance, I’ll fail a little bit — like getting one’s clothes damp in a drizzle — until the whole family slowly collapses.)
After Devon would come Riesher, and after Riesher the main branch, Ashinov.
If I ruined them one by one, eventually the entire family would collapse.
(Yes. Big plans should be advanced carefully like this.)
With that sly intent in my heart, I packed my things for Devon. This time, it would be an advance with no retreat — no, an unstoppable march!
The day to depart for Coral Manor approached.
I’d outlined the main plans and left the details largely to Lucas, so there wasn’t much left for me to worry about.
(In that way, it’s good Lucas is coming.)
But even if an aide is competent, you shouldn’t blindly trust and leave everything to them. I only recalled that obvious truth on the day of departure.
“Why…?”
I gaped at the lineup of people who had come outside to leave.
Lucas, Marina, Miri, Lien, Hedin, Jeddin.
Up to there, they were the people I’d expected. The problem were the two standing behind them.
“…Why are Teon and Sishe here?”
Sishe shrugged as if my asking what was obvious was a strange question.
“Why? They’re your guards.”
“Guards? Teon and Sishe?”
“Yeah. Didn’t you know?”
“No, I didn’t!”
“You should’ve checked better.”
Sishe gave an annoying smile and patted my shoulder.
I stared at Barateon, stunned.
Really, he was the more problematic of the two.
(Sishe, I could accept — he doesn’t have any important duties at Winter Manor.)
But Barateon is the captain of the Mist Knights, isn’t he? If he leaves Winter Manor, it’s troublesome.
“Teon, what about the Mist Knights? You’re their captain!”
“Oh, that?”
In response to my obvious question, Barateon waved his hand as if it were nothing.
“I was bored and quit.”
“You quit? As captain? That easily?”
“It was a position the old man forced me to sit in. I shoved it off onto Hedin and walked away.”
But Hedin is here too, isn’t he?
At that contradiction I looked at Hedin and he gave an awkward laugh.
“I quit too. I’m not fit to be captain.”
“No, a knights’ commander is not the same as some village headman…”
Even a village headman wouldn’t quit so casually.
“What if something happens — if a monster appears again? Are you two sure it’s okay to be absent?”
“That’s why I brought this.”
Barateon proudly held up a magic scroll.
“It has a recall spell on it. If anything happens, we’ll fly back quickly.”
(Then why go to such trouble to follow me in the first place!)
Lucas grabbed my stunned hand and guided me toward the carriage.
As his hand led me along, I scanned the faces of those preparing to depart.
A suspicious doctor, a mysterious girl of the Miao people, a brilliant young man, two sword masters, and even a sage of the Magic Tower.
(And an ex-Demon Lord too.)
This was a party composition entirely different from what I’d pictured.
(Can I really ruin anything with these people…?)
From the start I felt uneasy.
