22 – 22. Whisper
After quietly seeing off the Duke, she returned to the mansion.
Servants and knights greeted her with bowed heads and curtsies.
But it all meant nothing. Only… this document here.
The signature her father gave her was the greatest thing she had obtained.
Kkaak. Do you believe me now?
She followed the voice’s instructions and decided what to say and what not to say.
Surprisingly, the Duke’s intention to break off their engagement instantly changed.
How can one not believe this sight?
She cherished it and quietly entered her study.
Numerous documents were piled up next to her desk.
As she skimmed through them, she saw incomprehensible words and excessively ornate, complex sentences.
When she started to get bored, whispers echoed in her ears from behind.
The duties of a Countess are truly numerous. From managing the territory to maintaining relationships with those connected to your family.
Since you never had the opportunity to learn, allow us to be your teachers.
Open the window. Look into our eyes.
Following those words, she opened the window wide, and three crows perched on her desk, flapping their wings.
We will help you. We will help you!
We’ve come to assist you with your duties.
Let’s work. Kkaak. Let’s work!
They pecked at the documents, flipping through them with their feet, and cocked their heads.
Tap. A petition stating that Patrick was unjustly arrested at a tavern.
But Patrick was clearly flirting with a woman and even got scolded by the people around him, right?
Crash. There were witnesses. Crash. Petition denied, further investigation needed!
The crows, who had been arguing among themselves, suddenly stopped and turned their heads towards me.
“What are you doing! Sign it!”
Staring blankly as they pecked at the pen placed in front of them, the other two crows flapped their wings vigorously –
Hurry! Hurry!
There’s still a lot to do!
As I urged myself, I sat down and started moving my hand.
“Petition denied… further investigation needed. Irene Melvus.”
As the pen’s tip spat out black ink, perfectly writing my name, another document was completed.
The crow gently held it with its beak and transferred it to an empty basket.
Crash. There’s a lot to do! We need to do it faster!
I need time to figure out how to get closer to him after this is done.
Soon, the next piece of paper was placed on the desk, and the crows resumed their chirping and started reading the paper.
This one is sent from the Gaibus family!
It was Lambert Melvus’ handwriting. Definitely.
The recipient is addressed to Lambert Melvus.
So, it’s not your decision, but – it seems like we have to send a letter to the kingdom. To other families too.
What? You still haven’t done that?
She gave priority to the Ga-il family, so what about that?
Kkaak! If that’s the case, things will get messed up! Wasn’t solving our hunger part of the contract?!
Alright, first things first, she should do what she needs to do! Kkaak! You guys!
Mooera, they bickered among themselves and made a fuss, and soon a few more crows flew into the office.
Sort the documents! The ones for Lamver Melverse go over there, and the ones for Melverse’s household go over here!
Check the contents and tell me what to do!
Then, Irene! You need to start writing a letter now!
“A, a letter?”
Kkaak, a letter that announces you as the owner of Melverse.
You need to officially declare it so that the other families and the king won’t be confused.
It’s annoying, but there’s no other way.
Kkaak! Hurry up and write. Here, just copy what I write…
But, I wanted to write the letter to him first.
Why do I have to do things like this?
I’ve already talked about it several times, Irene.
If you don’t have the power, you won’t be able to protect him, and then it’ll really be the end.
It’s unfortunate, but you’re still lacking. Whether you like it or not, other people will keep targeting you.
What if he becomes in danger after marrying him? Because of the things you didn’t do?
“T, that can’t happen!”
Then trust us.
Clearly, what you want is within your grasp.
So please listen to our story.
In the end, I had no choice but to hold the pen in my hand.
As I wrote down the names of the unknown families on paper.
*
For a while, I had to watch the crows fluttering in and out of the office, scattering feathers.
It was a bonus to see them grab the neatly stacked documents with their feet and flap away.
Thanks to them, the work was finished just as the sun set and night fell.
Well done, everyone. Thank you! Now let’s all go back!
We’ll see each other again. Malbus’s child.
Remember what happened today! Caw caw.
Eventually, the crows disappeared into the darkness, and I closed the window, feeling the cold wind.
“…It’s cold.”
Had I kept the window open for quite a long time? The fabric felt cold, and the chilling air made me shiver.
I stroked my skin a few times before suddenly feeling a dreadful emptiness, and I grabbed onto myself, kneeling on both knees.
“…Repeti…”
I must be hungry.
“Repeti, Repeti…”
I longed for his embrace. It felt like his scent was lingering at the tip of my nose.
However, despite remembering his warmth and scent, I began to get angry that I couldn’t reach him.
From Noble mtl dot com
“I, I need him. Right now…”
Wait. He will come soon. In less than a week, you will be able to meet him.
“No, it’s too long. Right now. I need him by my side…”
…Even we are starving – what are you trying to do right now?!
“I’m going.”
I couldn’t bear it anymore. I couldn’t bear it because his face kept flashing before my eyes.
“Oh, miss? Oh, no, milady. Where are you going – “
“Where, where are the horses?”
“Horses, horses? By now, everyone must have gone into the barn to rest…”
“Move.”
“What? Oh, milady?! Where are you trying to go?”
Oh, don’t do this! It will only make things more complicated!
“…Shut up.”
Walking along the dark night road, I soon found the torch and the maids hurriedly following me… How annoying…!
“Milady, milady! It’s really dangerous to go out at night. Even the knights have gone to rest, and at night – “
“Move, I said! Can’t you hear me? Bring the horses right now!”
“Milady – “
“If you keep blocking me like this…!”
“hehehehe!”
“Right now, bring me the horse. Right now!”
As I drew my sword, I felt my heart pounding as I watched a few people staggering and heading somewhere.
Th-That’s right. This feeling… I can meet them soon…!
Him –
Calm down, otherwise, really –
It’s noisy, noisy, noisy, noisy…!
How much longer do they expect me to endure? How much longer?
I’ve already written all those strange letters and memorized everything they told me to memorize.
I’ve done everything I can, so why can’t he come right by my side!
Saying he’ll help me? Saying he’ll be by my side! Why can’t he do that? Why!
He hasn’t fallen into our clutches yet –
Then I’ll go. I’ll go into his arms…
I can’t let it happen like that.
Fall asleep…!
*
When the next day dawned, Frederick finally returned.
His face wasn’t particularly bright or dark. It just seemed deeply lost in thought.
“What happened?”
“…There’s a lot to talk about. Let’s go inside for now.”
“Did Lord Lambert give permission?”
“She… cannot come into our family.”
Well, I suppose so. It must have been something I already expected. It didn’t come as a surprise.
“The reason is that she has become the head of her family.”
“…Who is it?”
“Irene Melvus, the person who will become your fiancée.”
Wait, what? Is that true?
She, becoming the head of the Melvus family.
Then, what about Count Lambert?
What happened to him?
“Well, what about Count Lambert?”
“He is dead. She probably killed him with her own hands.”
“Oh my goodness.”
Such a story didn’t exist. It couldn’t have been such a story from the beginning.
It seemed as if her return had already been predetermined.
Unless she did that, there would be no sudden reason for her to kill him.
But so soon? It hasn’t even been a few days since she returned? Then, she must surely…
“Do you want to continue the engagement?”
“The engagement? In a situation like this?”
“She seems quite calm. Polite, too. Considering that she hasn’t shown herself at official events, she has good manners.”
“Well…”
There’s no way. She probably only knows how to put on a show of manners at best.
Did she really manage to satisfy the eyes of the Duke Frederick Gail? Her?
“Tell me the story of her family. Come in and listen.”
In the end, I followed him into the study and listened to everything he had to say.
It wasn’t that shocking. But I started to worry about her state of mind, considering she had done something like that.
She is alone. If she, who needed me, is alone, she must be suffering from anxiety symptoms.
After finishing the story, he wiped his face and spoke to me.
“The reason for telling you this story is because she wants to be engaged to you.”
“She wants to be engaged to me.”
It wasn’t that surprising, but I was worried that she had revealed all of this to Frederick at the same time.
To the point where she desperately wanted to be engaged to me.
How is she doing? Is she really okay? Should I be worried about her?
However, all of these curiosities vanished with just one notification.
In front of my eyes, a window popped up.
I’ve never experienced anything like this before.
“Urgent Quest: Meet Irene Melverse.”
– Deadline: Before the end of today.
– Failure: Irene Melverse’s mental state may change dramatically.