VYDCR Chapter 36

“Ah, I am sorry.”

Because Alex’s gaze was so fierce, I quickly lowered my head.

Unlike Valdes, Alex was strict, so if I tried to confront him, only I would end up at a loss.

Alex, who withdrew his gaze from me, turned his body and disappeared.

I tilted my head while watching him as he moved farther away.

“Why was he here?”

It was strange that someone who hated dirty things to the extreme had been lying on the grass.

I went to the spot where Alex had been lying and looked up at the sky.

“I can’t see anything.”

The dense branches covered the sky, so not even passing clouds could be seen.

But those dense branches blocked the sunlight and created a cool shade.

“He must have been here because it’s cool.”

Standing here, the sunlight wasn’t harsh.

“It’s nice.”

It seemed like I stood there for quite a while like that.

***

Vincent listened to the report brought by Miguel.

Miguel was the head of the information organization operated by the Ducal House.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there was no information in the Empire that he didn’t know.

“I have found out the Young Lady’s concern.”

“What is it?”

“The Young Lady wishes to help a friend she recently became acquainted with.”

“A friend?”

“Yes, it seems she has become friends with Lady Erika Giller and Lady Sestia Leman.”

“So Ivelotte wants to help those two?”

“Not Lady Erika Giller. The one the Young Lady wishes to help is Lady Sestia Leman.”

“What’s the reason?”

“It seems she learned of Baron Leman’s unfortunate circumstances.”

“Baron Leman’s unfortunate circumstances?”

Miguel relayed to Vincent what he had investigated.

In order to save his wife who had an incurable illness, Baron Leman borrowed money from the vassals to obtain medicine, and with that medicine, his wife was barely sustaining her life.

However, because that medicine was extremely expensive, Baron Leman had no choice but to buy it even if it meant going into debt.

In the end, he borrowed money from the vassals, and the borrowed money swelled like a snowball.

The vassals pressured Baron Leman, who couldn’t meet the repayment deadlines, and he became someone who had to grant any request they made. That was the story.

“It’s not something a child can resolve.”

“Yes, so it seems she discussed it with Sir Jeff.”

“I cannot understand it.”

In truth, it was all something they brought upon themselves. There was no reason to show sympathy.

Regardless of the reason, he borrowed money and couldn’t repay it.

That meant his ability amounted to only that.

“Please look at this.”

“What is this?”

“It is corruption committed by Viscount Giller and several other vassals.”

“So they embezzled.”

“The one who assisted them is Baron Leman. He is someone who is good with calculations.”

“It must have been easy to manipulate the numbers.”

Now that corruption had been discovered, it was a grave crime.

“Find out all those who joined hands with Viscount Giller.”

“Understood.”

Since corruption had been uncovered, it would be difficult to avoid punishment.

No matter the motive.

Thanks to Miguel’s outstanding information-gathering ability, Vincent was able to obtain a list of nobles who had joined hands with Viscount Giller to commit corruption.

“They have eaten quite well.”

Very evenly, at that.

They not only claimed repair costs under the excuse of replacing perfectly fine windows, but also tampered with the training equipment supplied to the knights.

After purchasing low-grade equipment with the budget for high-grade equipment, they disguised it as high-grade and pocketed the difference.

Not only that, the way they fabricated various expense claims to embezzle money and fill their own pockets was unmistakably Baron Leman’s work.

They had used the Baron’s abilities to line their own pockets.

Vincent immediately summoned Ivelotte.

He intended to place the sword in her hand.

***

As I entered the office, the Grand Duke asked directly.

“I heard there is something you want to ask of me.”

“How did you know?”

“There is nothing in this House that I don’t know.”

“I see.”

Well, since I told Jeff, it wasn’t strange that it reached the Grand Duke’s ears.

But then why was he asking?

“What was your request?”

I shook my head.

“I know you will not grant it, so what is the point of saying it?”

The Grand Duke’s brow narrowed.

But I couldn’t understand why he was asking in the first place.

“Why are you so certain? Isn’t it possible that I might grant your request?”

Grant my request? The Grand Duke?

“I know. Your Grace would never grant my request without any benefit.”

“I didn’t know you understood me that well.”

With a faint laugh, the Grand Duke showed me a bundle of documents.

“Read it.”

Wondering what this bundle of documents was, I took it and read it.

My eyes widened on their own.

“This is…”

The documents were about the vassals, including Viscount Giller, who had committed corruption.

I wondered why he was showing this to me.

“What do you think I will do with this?”

“Your Grace is someone who clearly distinguishes reward and punishment, so I think you will impose a severe punishment.”

Even in my view, the corruption detailed in the documents the Grand Duke showed were serious.

There was no way he would overlook such a crime.

I believed he would impose strong punishment.

“But Baron Leman is a bit pitiful. He was used against his will.”

In the documents, it was written that Baron Leman manipulated all the records.

In other words, it was clear that Viscount Giller and the other vassals used his ability to commit corruption.

“Baron Leman is a useful talent. Would it not be better to show leniency rather than punishment?”

“Are you defending him in order to help him?”

“Honestly, I want to help him. But with my ability, it is difficult. Asking Your Grace for leniency is my limit.”

Seeing how perfectly the numbers in the documents were manipulated, Baron Leman wasn’t someone without ability.

He was simply struck by misfortune.

“Baron Leman can’t be forgiven. If Viscount Giller is to be punished, he must also be held accountable.”

“I am not asking you to forgive him. Since he committed a crime, he should receive the appropriate punishment. But please take into consideration the special circumstances he is in.”

“Why do you want to help them so much?”

“Because I think I understand that feeling.”

“Feeling?”

“The feeling of a family wanting to save a beloved wife and mother. Losing someone you love leaves a great wound.”

At my calm words, the Grand Duke said nothing.

***

Right after meeting the Grand Duke, I wrote a letter to Sestia.

It said that I wanted to meet her.

But I was rejected every time.

I thought it was probably because of Erika.

“This won’t do. I should go myself.”

I decided to visit Sestia’s home in person.

“Licia, prepare for an outing.”

“Where are you going?”

“To Baron Leman’s mansion.”

“Baron Leman’s mansion?”

“Yes, I need to meet Sestia.”

“Alright.”

With Licia’s help, I changed into outing clothes and put on a bonnet.

Leaving the East Wing, I got into a carriage and headed to Baron Leman’s residence.

Baron Leman’s mansion was located on the outskirts of the Capital.

When I arrived, the mansion was very old.

It seemed it hadn’t been properly maintained either.

With Licia’s help, I got down from the carriage and headed toward the entrance of the mansion.

Licia knocked on the door.

Then the door opened, and it was Sestia, not even a maid, who showed her face.

Behind her were only a couple of maids. It seemed they were so pressed that they couldn’t even afford a butler.

“M-My Lady, how did you…?”

She looked very surprised when she saw me.

“I kept getting rejected for my invitations, so I came to meet you myself. May I come in?”

“Ah, yes.”

Sestia hurriedly opened the door.

“P-Please come in.”

With an embarrassed face, Sestia guided us to the reception room.

“I am sorry. There is not much to offer.”

“It is alright. I did not come to be served.”

“But what brings you here….”

Sestia asked with a worried expression.

“I want to talk just the two of us, so Licia, step out for a moment.”

“Yes, understood.”

When Licia left the reception room, Sestia looked at me with a clearly tense face.

“It seems the Baron is not here?”

“Th-That is, he went to the Giller estate.”

Sestia’s face became very dark as she said that.