Chapter 54
Chapter 54: The Grand Duchess’s Generosity
“How much is the debt?”
The Grand Duchess’s voice echoed through the dark street, making the man blink in confusion.
Unexpectedly, it had been difficult to collect from the young sisters who were repaying their father’s gambling debt.
Every time someone went to collect, rough-looking men in the neighborhood would block their path.
To avoid the hassle, they’d shown up earlier than usual, late at night when most men were at the tavern.
But then suddenly—knights and a Grand Duchess?!
His swollen eyelids made it hard to see after the beating he took, but the woman sitting behind the desk radiated undeniable authority.
“Zz-Zzmoney…”
He tried his best to pronounce it clearly through his bruised lips so as not to offend someone of her status.
“What’s he saying?”
The Grand Duchess frowned, annoyed. The tied-up man quickly pushed out his chest pocket.
“Th-the money…”
“Sir Norton.”
Looking unimpressed, the Grand Duchess called for her knight.
Sir Norton, the one who had beaten the man just enough to keep him alive last night, walked over to him.
“Eep!”
The man flinched reflexively as Norton reached into his coat.
Clicking his tongue in disapproval, Norton pulled out a bundle of papers and handed them to the Grand Duchess.
As she sifted through them, she asked, “What’s your father’s name?”
“Karon, Your Highness,” answered Leta nervously.
The debt paper with the name Karon soon appeared.
After confirming the amount, the Grand Duchess wrote something in her checkbook, tore out a check, and passed it back to Norton.
Norton shoved the check roughly into the man’s coat pocket. Then, the Grand Duchess tore up the debt note without hesitation.
“Karon’s debt is now paid in full.”
“Y-Your Highness…” Leta stammered in shock.
The Grand Duchess gave the man a cold look and said,
“You are never to appear before those girls again.”
“Th-thank you… Your H-highness…”
The man’s eyes lit up at the thought that the debt had actually been paid. But then—
“You’d better remember this.”
She leaned slightly forward and spoke in a low voice.
“If anyone dares lend money to Karon again, I promise—they’ll live to regret it.”
Her eyes shifted to Norton.
“What did you say the other day? Something about the number of people handling monster carcasses in the Grand Duke’s estate?”
“There are dozens, all highly skilled. They could strip a small beast down to nothing in an instant.”
Norton looked the man over from head to toe.
“Is that so? I’m curious. Maybe we won’t need to wait for a ‘next time’—”
“I-I got it!! I swear!!”
The terrified man cried out and squeezed his eyes shut.
“And you? Why so quiet?”
“Uhh…”
The Grand Duchess glanced at the second man tied up behind him. He looked worse off and could only groan in reply.
“Let them go.”
The Grand Duchess sighed and gave the order.
As the guards dragged them out, the man finally exhaled in relief.
Monster dismantling?!
Trembling as he was thrown out the back of the Grand Duke’s estate, his instincts—honed from years in the back alleys—screamed one thing:
Stay far, far away from these girls from now on.
No matter how bad he got in the future, he would never lend money to that Karon guy again.
“I hope they’re not complete idiots,”
The Grand Duchess murmured as the door closed behind them.
“Your Highness…”
Leta suddenly dropped to her knees, voice shaking.
“How could I ever repay this kindness…”
“Enough, get up. You kneel far too often.”
I shook my head, looking uneasy.
“It wouldn’t look good if people heard that the Grand Duchess’s maid was being hounded by loan sharks. I did it to protect my own reputation, so don’t thank me too much.”
“I’ll repay you no matter how long it takes, even if it takes my whole life!”
“No need. Just think of it as several years’ worth of pay in advance. Just make sure to stay focused and work hard from now on.”
I sighed with relief on the inside.
Thankfully, the Grand Duke had given me some private funds, which helped a lot.
The only thing that bothered me was not walking her home in the dark.
I sent Norton after her just in case, and surprisingly, he came back with two men tied up—loan sharks who had been threatening the young girl.
My heart sank when I heard they’d even grabbed her by the hair.
That’s when Leta finally told me the truth—her gambling father had racked up so much debt that even paying the monthly interest was overwhelming.
Norton said he “taught them a lesson” all night, but still, I couldn’t shake the heavy feeling in my chest.
Thinking back, I remembered how Leta had once carefully gathered some papers. I thought it was odd but didn’t bother to ask why.
If this incident hadn’t happened, I probably never would have found out how much trouble she was in.
Had I been too indifferent to those around me?
Pretending to be a respected figure, yet not even knowing the names of the people working under me for years—was I really any different from the bosses back in my old world?
As those heavy thoughts started creeping back in again—
“I’ll truly devote my whole life to serving you!”
When I looked up and met Leta’s teary eyes, the guilt that had weighed on me since yesterday melted away like magic.
‘I always blame myself whenever something goes wrong. That’s such a silly habit.’
Just adjusting to this new world is already a huge challenge. I’m doing my best.
As long as I don’t turn away when I can actually help someone, that’s enough.
After all, I helped lighten Leta’s burden in a big way. I did well.
“Good. That’s enough.”
At those words, her face lit up with a mixture of tears and a smile.
And at that moment, I knew one thing for sure.
Leta had become “my person.”
It was a cloudy, gray morning.
“What’s this?”
I tilted my head as I looked at the envelope Leta brought me.
It had the familiar crest of House Fasie on it.
“Could it be… a reply from Ferdinand?”
“It’s from… the Marquis of Fasie,” Leta said with a sour expression.
My own face twisted just like hers.
“A letter now? Seriously?”
I didn’t even bother using a letter opener and just tore the envelope open with my hands.
The first line of the letter was already ridiculous.
“To my beloved Annette?”
What?
Just reading the first line gave me goosebumps.
“Leta, can you bring me some water?”
I chugged the water Leta brought and took a few deep breaths before I could even think about looking at the letter again.
“To my beloved Anette,
You left without a proper goodbye, which has greatly upset your father. I had hoped you would at least write a letter for your worried family…”
‘Yeah right. The same man who didn’t even bother to attend his daughter’s wedding.’
Skipping past the guilt-tripping nonsense, I read the actual reason for the letter at the bottom:
“…You must be suffering in the harsh North after being raised in luxury in the capital. I’ll send your old maids and servants. As soon as you receive this letter, send an invitation from the Grand Duke.”
I sighed and tossed the letter onto the desk.
Really?
An invitation?
The Marquis had no shame.
The “invitation” he was talking about was essentially a permit.
Anyone visiting Blenheim needed a special permit to enter.
To pass through the second wall and reach the Grand Duke’s castle, you had to have an invitation stamped with the Grand Duke’s seal.
Even royals weren’t exempt from this rule.
‘Wasn’t it the Marquis who came up with this law?’
I remembered when I first arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle by carriage.
Since I rode in a Blenheim carriage, we passed the gates smoothly. But behind us, I saw a merchant group going through strict checks.
— “You need an invitation to enter?”
— “Yes. To go past the second wall, you absolutely do. Beyond that gate is directly connected to the Grand Duke’s castle.”
‘If I hadn’t come with the others, I probably would’ve never made it in.’
I had asked Perel at the time why the security was so tight.
Was the Grand Duke in danger or something?
— “Well… the invitation rule isn’t a local law. It’s a royal decree from the capital.”
— “From the capital? Why?”
Perel looked nervous, and his eyes darted around before I finally realized it.
— “Don’t tell me… the Marquis?”
‘Yes, Your Grace.’
We were both silent for a while.
I had been so embarrassed back then.
Nobles wouldn’t visit the Grand Duke without an invitation anyway, but making it a legal requirement just made the castle feel cold and closed off.
‘Just how far is the Marquis willing to go to push the Grand Duke?’
Using his power to make a ridiculous law like that was already petty—but asking for an invitation with such confidence? That was just laughable.
‘At least that stupid law gives me a shield.’
“Leta, bring me some stationery.”
“Should I bring your practice sheets too?”
“No need. I don’t have to practice for this one.”
I knew exactly what I wanted to say.
The Marquis may have filled his letter with fake concern, just in case it got checked by someone, but I had no reason to put on an act.
As soon as Leta brought the stationery, I scribbled down the letter quickly.
“Send this to the Marquis of Fasie.”
I sealed the envelope with my seal and handed it to a footman.
Just then—
“Your Grace! It’s here!”
Cecilia burst into the room, nearly running.
