Chapter 45
“Organize? …This?!”
“Yes. I’ve brought the essentials. You can check the details in the study. Please look through them, and if you notice anything unusual, feel free to let me know.”
Ashbel, frozen in front of the cart for a moment, quickly erupted in anger with his fierce expression.
“Are you joking? I just wanted to know how much is left in total!”
“Rosegold doesn’t manage the funds together with the maintenance fees. To know precisely, we manage them by item and category. That’s why you need to see all the documents. Each item shows the remaining discretionary funds, so you can check right away.”
“No, forget it! Just add it all up and tell me the total!”
“I’m sorry. It’s the traditional way of managing Rosegold passed down through generations. We cannot do it differently.”
“Now that I’m the owner, I said I want it done my way! I’m going to change it from now on!”
Ashbel raised his hand as if he wouldn’t stay calm if he wasn’t obeyed.
Even so, Edward’s reply was firm.
Seeing that Ashbel was clearly misunderstanding something, Serena stepped into the conversation.
“No, I’m the owner. Father only acts on the title until I become an adult.”
Serena approached the cart, picked up a document, and examined it. Just as Edward said, the amounts were written meticulously by category.
“Since I’ve inherited this estate and all the maintenance fees, I’m the owner, right?”
She looked at Edward. His deep gray eyes blinked softly in affirmation.
“Yes. The owner is the one who possesses the estate.”
“So, even if we change the rules, I need to approve it, right?”
“Yes.”
“If the same method has been followed for a long time, there’s no need to change it. If you’re curious about the maintenance fees, just follow Edward’s instructions.”
Ashbel muttered in frustration at the chaotic situation.
Rhianna, holding a sniffling Daisy and returning to the sofa, laughed at her husband.
“What are you doing? You were so curious about the documents—aren’t you going to check them quickly?”
“Ugh…!”
It was true, just as Serena said; there was no point in getting angry.
‘I should have come alone earlier!’
Ashbel regretted not thinking to come to Rosegold sooner, having gambled away every last penny at the racetrack.
But by now, Serena and the entire family were present.
For now, the best strategy was to silently observe the documents and think of a way to skim the maintenance fees.
“Fine, fine! Whether it takes a year or two, I’ll go through every miserable detail of tradition! Damn it…! How am I supposed to check all of this here?!”
Ashbel grumbled. Edward asked,
“Shall I guide you to the study so you can review them comfortably?”
“Yes, do that! How could I go through this all here?!”
“I will take you there immediately.”
“What kind of ‘simple documents’ are these?! Damn it!”
Ashbel, annoyed, left the sitting room first.
Edward, following with the cart, pulled out a book from the pile of documents.
“This is an ancient document passed down through generations to those who own the estate. I suppose this book belongs to the young lady.”
“What book is it?”
“I don’t know in detail since I cannot read it. I only know that it contains information about the estate.”
“What are you doing?! You said you’d guide me!”
Ashbel shouted from the hallway after only a few words. Edward, having politely finished his greetings, left the sitting room.
Serena returned to the sofa and examined the book. For some reason, it was locked.
The thick black cover was wrapped in a heavy leather strap. No wonder Edward couldn’t read it himself.
‘But now I can’t read it either. Should I tear the strap off? It looks really thick… can I even tear it?’
Unless she cut it with a sharp knife, it seemed impossible to force open.
‘Or maybe there’s a part I can pull open?’
Just as she considered asking Sophia, a maid appeared with a tray of refreshments. She looked to be in her mid-twenties and slim.
‘So, there are actually servants here.’
It was almost laughable to doubt it, but Serena was relieved Edward wasn’t working alone.
“Oh, thank you for waiting…!”
The tray she held trembled violently, and the clattering of dishes echoed through the sitting room.
Sophia, worried the maid would drop something, helped set the refreshments on the table.
The dishes were used but fairly high quality, and dried fruits were laid out.
Daisy, who had been glaring at Sophia, now alternated her gaze between the maid and the fruit.
“Hey! You brought me this to eat?! It’s all shriveled!”
“I-I-I’m sorry…! We didn’t have any fresh fruit ready…!”
The already nervous maid shook even more in fear. Daisy continued to vent her frustration over the bowed maid.
Serena frowned.
“If you don’t want to eat, don’t. Why get upset?”
“It’s because you brought something weird!”
“I’m really sorry…!”
“It’s okay. No need to apologize. It’s strange for someone to come suddenly and expect to be served.”
Serena gently patted the maid’s shoulder to calm her down.
“Rather, I want to rest. Is there anywhere else I can go instead of here?”
“Oh! Y-Yes…! A room is prepared…!”
“Really? Can you guide me? I want to read this book, but it’s too noisy here.”
Serena shook the book in her hands, and the maid straightened herself.
“I-I’ll guide you immediately…!”
As she followed, Rhianna’s sharp voice stopped her.
“Sophia! After doing this, where do you think you’re going?! Kneeling and begging might barely earn forgiveness—now come here!”
“That’s right! Hurry up! You’re really dead!”
Sophia, who had been cautious all along, turned pale. Serena grabbed her hand to prevent her from hesitating.
“My maid is just protecting me. There’s no need for forgiveness. Sophia, no matter what the family says, stick close to me and follow only my instructions. Let’s go.”
Urged by Serena, the maid moved forward again.
Naturally, Daisy could not hold back and suddenly jumped up.
“Ah!”
Then she fell to the floor, clutching her right ankle in pain.
“Ouch—!”
It seemed she had injured it when she fell earlier. Looking quickly, Serena saw Daisy’s ankle was swollen.
“No wonder she screamed so loud…! What are you doing? Call a doctor immediately!”
Rhianna, carefully wrapping Daisy’s ankle, scolded the maid.
“A d-doctor…?!”
Overwhelmed by everything happening at once, the maid panicked.
“Why did you rush in? Mother and sister, fix that violent temper of yours. Falling like this is enough for today. Now, guide me to my room first.”
“Y-Yes…?!”
“It’s fine. A little ankle injury isn’t fatal.”
The maid decided it was safer to just guide them than to deal with the ferocious women and stepped out of the sitting room.
“Are you just standing there?!”
Rhianna screamed from behind, but Serena didn’t care and left the sitting room without hesitation.
