Chapter 77
Lucas returned from the annex library with a completely haggard look.
The good news was that Devon’s situation wasn’t as bad as expected, and the bad news was that purifying the tainted area had resolved one of the less favorable situations.
“Something like that happened while I wasn’t here?”
Lucas regretted missing the story of how I rescued the mermaid princess and was rewarded by the King of the East Sea.
“I should have been there… I should have imprinted that scene in my mind…”
While Lucas lamented, Baratheon exaggerated the story, making his shoulders slump even further. Seeing this, Sishe stepped in.
“Do you want to see the recording?”
“…Wait! A recording? You recorded it?”
“From the middle, though.”
“What! No! Delete it! Throw it away immediately!”
Of course, my wishes were completely ignored.
Lucas managed to get the recording in his hands, and it was passed on to the Grand Duke.
‘I don’t even want to know how far it spread after that.’
Still, seeing the joyful looks of those who weren’t present when they met me made me realize it had clearly spread widely.
“Ugh, why do they have to watch all of that?”
It was so embarrassing that I sometimes woke up in the middle of the night and kicked the covers off.
However, even that embarrassment was a light worry compared to the results of the priests sent by the King of the East Sea.
“Danae, we’ve already purified one-tenth of the territory. In the areas where purification is complete, we’ll start experimental farming.”
Lucas handed me a report with a bright smile.
As his words suggested, the purification work was progressing smoothly.
With already one-tenth completed, it seemed likely that all the land would be purified within a few months.
‘No… this can’t be…’
Unlike Lucas, who was smiling cheerfully, I felt like crying out in despair.
‘I shouldn’t have saved that stupid fish.’
I cruelly thought, “I should’ve just eaten it raw!” but quickly reflected when I pictured the kind face of Princess Paruru.
‘No matter how reckless I get, that would be too far.’
The exams for recruiting new officials also went smoothly.
Lucas had prepared the test questions in just one day, making the preparation ridiculously simple.
The exams he created tested essential knowledge for officials while carefully calculating difficulty, making it perfect for selecting excellent talent.
As a result, only one-third of the existing officials passed, while the rest of the names on the list were filled with new talent from Devon.
The successful officials were to be trained for a month before being dispatched to their posts.
Who would cover the one-month gap?
Of course, that would be none other than the genius Lucas himself.
“Lucas, don’t push yourself if it’s too hard. There’s no need to rush.”
Every time Lucas worked hard, my anxiety flared up.
“The development of the territory is less important than your health.”
Even as I tried to feign concern for his well-being, Lucas only became more motivated. Just like now.
“You’re worried about my health even though the territory’s affairs must be stressful. That’s my little sister for you. But I’m really fine.”
You’re fine, but I’m not…
I secretly wished the territory’s affairs would always be complicated, tangled like a mess of thread, impossible to unravel.
Of course, that was just my wish.
Lucas, who looked so much like the Grand Duke despite not sharing a drop of blood, never rested.
He seemed like a machine made solely for processing documents.
“I’m happy seeing the territory change quickly. When there are results, I feel energized. And your support too.”
Watching Lucas, I couldn’t help but think, ‘With this overpowered character by my side, hasn’t my “project for my own downfall” already failed?’
‘No, don’t give up! You can do it!’
Just as I resolved that, there was a knock on the office door.
I already knew who it would be: the three newly appointed officers.
“Come in.”
“My lord.”
As expected, the people who entered were Giltere, Meren, and Rusbel.
“Lucas is here too.”
Giltere greeted Lucas warmly as he sat next to me to handle documents—though in reality, Lucas had already resolved them and I only stamped them. Apparently, the two of them were already acquainted in social circles.
“You’re working hard, Giltere.”
“You too.”
After exchanging friendly greetings, they immediately reverted to professional expressions and turned to me.
“My lord, we’ve revised the plan we presented last time.”
“Already?”
Had a week passed since I first saw the plan?
Surprised, I took the plan they offered. Lucas naturally took it from my hands and quickly flipped through the pages, causing the three to nervously swallow.
“We focused on the parts you specifically pointed out.”
“…Parts I pointed out?”
I hadn’t said anything like that.
The plan they brought was surprisingly excellent, and I was internally panicking.
What criticisms? I hadn’t said anything!
Rusbel nodded respectfully, saying,
“At first, we didn’t know what was wrong. But after discussing together, we found the solution.”
“After three days of reviewing and debating the documents, you identified the problem immediately…”
Meren added something I couldn’t even understand.
‘So, what exactly did I do…?’
Looking at Lucas in despair, he pointed seriously at a section of the plan.
“Was this the part Danae pointed out?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“You proposed a plan different from the general direction, so I thought if it were revised, it would be this part.”
“Exactly.”
Giltere nodded.
The friendly, casual tone vanished, replaced by formal politeness.
“You spent a lot of time reviewing the financial operations of the territory. The first plan suggested an indirect method.”
“After discussion, the direct method seemed better. Excellent. It could have been debatable…”
The conversation continued, with Meren and Rusbel joining in. I remained in silent confusion.
Why are they talking about something I supposedly suggested?
“So, Danae, what do you think?”
As I was half-listening, Lucas suddenly asked.
“…Pardon?”
“The part Meren just mentioned. I think it’s a good idea.”
Meren’s eyes sparkled with expectation. Lucas, Giltere, and Rusbel shared the same look.
“Um, well…”
I nervously waved my quill, unsure what to say.
‘I didn’t hear a thing. Should I just say, “Sure, sounds good!”?’
As I made up my mind, the quill slipped from my fingers.
Clack.
The sound echoed in the quiet room.
Embarrassed, I awkwardly smiled and picked it up, feeling sweat trickle down from the intense silence.
“Falling…”
Lucas, who had been quietly observing, murmured the word “falling.”
“Falling?”
Repeating it, Giltere suddenly snapped his fingers, eyes wide.
“Falling! That’s it!”
He had a look of realization.
“The Falling Theory! You mean we should apply it, right? Falling Theory… I never would have thought of that…”
Giltere covered his mouth in disbelief.
“It’s a breakthrough idea! How could you think of that?”
“But it can be applied. I thought Falling Theory was only for agriculture!”
Meren and Rusbel chimed in excitedly.
What did I do this time?
As I looked around in confusion, Lucas delivered the final blow.
“It fits perfectly, Danae. Your insight is unmatched.”
What are you talking about? I just dropped a pen.
‘And Falling was your idea too.’
Ignoring my thoughts, Lucas eagerly started scribbling on the documents.
The three officers followed his equations with sparkling eyes, developing the plan further.
‘Something… has gone terribly wrong again…’
A bad premonition sent a chill down my spine.
