Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Lubon Workshop
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[Lubon Workshop]
A rundown place with a faded sign hanging over the door, where just about ten workers bustled about.
[Ho ho. The working conditions at a workshop pulling in a whopping four hundred million marks a month are quite the sight.]
Wishit snarked from beside me as I stood there in a daze.
Siena, who had heard the full story on the way here, looked utterly shocked.
“This isn’t something we can just let slide. I’ll report it to the Young Duke right away.”
“No need. I’ve already contacted him.”
“Oh, you mean the letter you sent via the maid earlier?”
“Exactly. I don’t want to blame Oppa, but how could he be so clueless about the territory’s situation? Lubon’s practically right next door to the capital.”
I added in disbelief.
“Don’t they send inspectors to the territories?”
“Yes, every territory gets an inspector every six months to report on affairs.”
Siena flipped through the notebook in her hand and said.
“Inspector Arthur Trickster is assigned to Lubon.”
“And yet Oppa had no idea what’s going on here? That means the inspector’s taking bribes from the Lubon Baron, right?”
“Yes, most likely.”
“It’s ridiculous. If I hadn’t come to Lubon, this would’ve gone on forever.”
It was sheer luck. The isolation order and escort had gone off without a hitch, but if word had spread far and wide that the Duchess Diorus was staying for a year...
‘That thug would’ve prepared some kind of defense. Good thing he got caught red-handed in this surprise inspection.’
With this sudden Joseon-era secret royal inspector quest thrust upon me, I stepped into the workshop with a strong sense of duty.
The inside was even worse than it looked from outside. Not only was the space cramped, but the dim room was lit only by a few flickering lamps.
The air didn’t circulate well, assaulting my nose with a musty stench, and dust swirled everywhere, choking my throat. Working in a place like this, it was only a matter of time before lung problems set in.
“D-Duchess?”
At that moment, a middle-aged man came rushing over from a corner of the workshop.
Behind him were the siblings I’d seen earlier. Jeremy and Luna.
“You’re Duchess Diorus, right? The kids told me. I’m Charlie Works, the workshop head.”
“Nice to meet you.”
I extended my hand to Charlie Works, a kind-looking man with unkempt brown stubble on his chin that he hadn’t had time to trim.
Charlie paused before shaking it, wiping his hands frantically on his work clothes. Still not satisfied, he gave an awkward smile.
“It’s an honor, but my hands are too dirty.”
“It’s fine with me.”
I grabbed his hand firmly, infusing my grip with sympathy, and shook it vigorously up and down.
Charlie laughed in surprise and said.
“Uh, well... I heard from the kids that my boy was rude to you.”
“No, no. The rude ones were the Lubon Baron and his servant Greg. Jeremy did nothing wrong, so don’t scold him.”
I smiled once at Jeremy, who was peeking out from behind his father, then beckoned casually into the air.
One of my escorts stepped forward and set a heavy leather pouch at my feet.
Gems glittering through the slightly open gap made Charlie’s eyes go wide.
“What’s this?”
“They said wages are three months overdue, right?”
“Oh...”
“And everyone in the workshop’s wages are backed up too? There don’t look like even ten people here, but this can’t be everyone...”
“No, this is it. Eleven including me.”
“Pardon?”
As I’d guessed from the monthly sales of four hundred million marks, the Lubon Workshop supplied an enormous volume of goods to the capital.
And yet... only twelve workers made all that?
Seeing my dumbfounded expression, Charlie gave a sheepish smile and added.
“I couldn’t pay wages on time, so everyone scattered.”
“You’re the one paying the workshop staff’s wages, Mr. Charlie?”
“Oh, the baron gives me the wages each month, and I distribute them. But the last three months, he said the workshop’s income was low...”
“You believe that? The order volume’s the same hundreds of sheets, so why would income drop? Does that make sense?”
Jeremy, who’d been listening, cut in through gritted teeth, and Charlie startled, shushing him.
He wasn’t a fool; he knew what even his young son did. He just couldn’t speak out against a noble’s abuse of power.
Hiding my trembling hands behind my back, I said.
“I didn’t have cash on hand, so I brought some gems I had. You can pawn them for plenty. I heard your wife needs medicine money urgently—hope you sort it out soon.”
“Y-Yes? Oh, no... You don’t need to go this far for us, Duchess. It’s happened before. We’ve worked with the baron a long time, so I understand. It’s just that with my wife sick, Jeremy’s been on edge lately...”
Watching Charlie’s burdened expression soured my mood.
[Being too nice has its limits. Isn’t this guy an idiot? He’s a total pushover...]
Wishit tsked.
He knew the baron was siphoning all the workshop’s income, yet he defended him. Something was off.
“It’s not about the delayed wages. The baron managing the workshop’s income at all violates the contract.”
“Pardon? Uh, no. It’s not. We redid the contract five years ago. He said with the workshop growing, the territory needed to manage the income. That the Young Duke Diorus ordered it himself...”
“What?”
I turned to Siena in shock, and she immediately shook her head firmly. No such order existed.
[Whoa... That sleazy mustached baron’s rap sheet keeps growing. He’s not getting off easy.]
Just as Wishit said.
Wage theft, illegal labor exploitation, bribing inspectors, forging contracts...
I felt my breath catch and took slow, deep breaths.
“Siena.”
“Yes, miss.”
The sharp Siena immediately pulled out her notebook, opened it, and gripped her pen.
“The working conditions are awful. We need to rebuild this workshop. Hire capital carpenters right away and look into interior decorators.”
“Understood.”
“The staff need the most comfortable space to work, so run the entire construction process by Mr. Charlie for approval. You oversee it in between, Siena.”
“Of course.”
Charlie, watching Siena scribble notes and me alternate, stammered.
“D-Duchess. You really don’t need to go this far...”
“It’s what has to be done. We just haven’t until now. And if possible, could you reach out to the scattered staff and ask if they’d come back?”
“Pardon?”
“No need to worry about wages. Even if the workshop’s income dips, staff pay won’t be delayed again.”
As I prepared to leave, I added.
“Let’s redo the contract right away. I’ll have a proper employment contract drawn up soon, so just wait a bit.”
“R-Redo the contract? Um... what about the Lubon Baron?”
“Do we need to worry about the baron? Lubon’s Diorus territory anyway, and I’m a daughter of House Diorus.”
Despite my casual reply, Charlie’s face filled with worry.
I could understand his concern to some extent.
It seemed like a righteous young noble lady offering temporary aid, but I was only staying here for exactly one year.
The workshop folk would eventually have to work under proxy lord Lubon Baron again.
But...
‘I’ve already uncovered all the thug’s dirt—why would I let him live?’
Guessing Charlie’s needless worry, I smiled brightly.
“From today, you, the staff, Jeremy, Luna—no one has to deal with that thug mustached creep again. Don’t worry.”
“Y-Yes? Th-Thug?”
“I’ll be back soon.”
Leaving the workshop, I finally eased my heavy heart.
In previous Rubette’s life, she’d never been exiled to Lubon. The baron’s thuggery had never surfaced.
In other words, the thugs skimming the massive Lubon territory income lived lavishly, while the workers entitled to labor’s fruits starved their whole lives.
‘It’s infuriating.’
I couldn’t help but feel responsible.
Though her life was unhappy, as a rich family’s daughter, she’d never worried about what she wore or ate.
To think those were dresses made from unhappy workers’ blood and sweat—unacceptable.
“Miss, are you planning to dismiss the Lubon Baron immediately?”
Siena, following behind, asked, and I nodded.
“Yeah. Cutting off just the head won’t do. We’ll audit all the ledgers, make him cough up every stolen coin, strip his title, and ship him to the military police. Right now.”
“Oh, of course you should, but... you’re under isolation. Getting personally involved could put you in a tough spot.”
Siena seemed worried about my position under investigation.
“We’ve made contact, so leave it to the Young Duke... He’ll come with a family investigation team soon to probe the baron. Once guilt’s confirmed, hand it to military police, follow formal procedures—”
“Siena.”
“Yes, miss.”
I cut off her lengthening words and added.
“If we wait for Viego Oppa, hand it to the family team, investigate, then military police... that’ll take forever. That just gives the baron time to clean up his bribe ledgers and bolt—what else?”
“...”
“I get what you’re worried about, but don’t.”
Abusing power isn’t good, but there are exceptions everywhere.
Company president’s my dad, CEO’s my brother, and even under isolation, the investigation head Crown Prince—who told me to do whatever—backs me.
“Me, unable to fire a public fund embezzler employee on the spot?”
I patted Siena’s shoulder and grinned.
“I’m the boss’s daughter.”
“Oh...”
Siena still looked concerned but nodded, somewhat relieved by my confidence.
I reassured her once more not to worry, then turned with gritted teeth.
‘You thug bastard. Your good days are over.’
Time to show you the taste of real power.