Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Oath of Loyalty
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Our eyes met, and none of us looked away.
"So, Mariella wanna help Village Head Grandpa."
"……."
"Village Head Grandpa helps me too. That's what Grandpa says. Family gotta help each other and get along nice."
"You little……."
"Me wike Emmy and Yoachim and Village Head Grandpa too. Would be great if Village Head Grandpa keeps being chief and wepresentative. Our grandpa wikes Village Head Grandpa too."
Running a business and holding the chairman position could go hand in hand just fine.
He'd only stepped back from the chairman role because of the debt in the first place. With that sorted, there was no reason for a man respected by all the families to bow out.
Plus, it'll boost Uncle's standing a bit on the side.
Who'd feel the worst if Uncle's allies chased after the chairman spot and ended up with nothing but a mouthful of feathers?
Uncle, obviously.
I covered my mouth with my hand to hide my smile.
"It's not a debt handout, right?"
I wasn't offering to blindly pay off the Berben Count family's debts like Grandpa might.
This was an employment contract—fair compensation for heading the business venture the dukedom was launching.
Sure, the amount was hefty, but...
The bigger the business grew, the bigger the pay, and the faster the debts would clear.
Chairman Grandpa furrowed his brow long and hard before finally speaking.
"……Still, I can't run something that massive alone. You've earned this, so we need to put Leopoldt in as co-CEO."
What a good man.
Pretending I couldn't resist his concern, I nodded.
How could I not soften toward an adult fighting to protect my rights?
Chairman Grandpa stared at my face for a moment, then rose from his seat.
I looked up, thinking he was leaving, when suddenly he dropped to one knee before me.
"Grandpa!"
"Klaus Berben of the branch family pledges his loyalty to Mariella Kalenberg of the main line."
"W-Wait, you can't just...!"
"I will never forget the grace you have shown me and the Berben Count family."
Seeing me fluster in shock, Chairman Grandpa gave a slight smile.
Even with that smile, his face burned with resolve.
I gazed at his determined expression and ended up smiling right along with him.
The council is mine now.
Even if Uncle safely succeeded Grandpa as family head, I'd have a way to trip him up at the ankles.
It was a thrilling feeling.
La la la~
Nice weather, even better mood. Everything's going my way lately.
After Mommy, Chairman Grandpa, and Daddy talked it over, they decided to start with sweet fruit preserves for the civilian market.
Beets grow well even in cold climates, so sugar supply's no issue.
Next up, the staple lines: bread and veggie pickles. Testing's in full swing now.
Of course, that's grown-up stuff. For a kid like me, happy strolls with Nurse are plenty!
A yellow butterfly fluttered over the butterfly doll Pippy in my arms and landed gently.
"Nurse, butterfwy!"
"Oh my, a real butterfly on the butterfly doll."
We were having such a happy time when a loud voice started echoing from somewhere.
"P-Please, secretary! I'm begging—just let me see His Grace once!"
"It won't help talking to me."
"I'll beg His Grace myself! To take all that food back—our marquisate will be ruined!"
"I'm sorry, but there's nothing more I can do."
The voice belonged to Marquess Schleman.
Where was the haughty air from when he first arrived?
Sweaty and disheveled, the marquess trailed after the secretary.
"Seventy percent! Seventy percent of the original price—adjust the terms! That still work?"
"I'll pass it along to His Grace, but……."
"F-Fifty percent! Exactly half! That's barely above transport costs. So please, just one audience!"
"No choice, then. Fine. Go wait—he'll send word."
"Thank you, truly!"
Hard times humble even the proudest souls.
Marquess Schleman bowed repeatedly to the secretary before shuffling off.
Hard to believe this was the same arrogant man.
I poked Nurse's side as I watched Oliver dismiss the marquess with vague assurances.
"Owiver mean too?"
Always such a kind face, yet he cooked that marquess like a raccoon. True inner circle material for Grandpa...
"H-He's not a bad person."
"Defending Owiver?"
I grinned, and Nurse's ears turned pink.
Right then, Oliver spotted us on our walk and approached with a beaming smile.
He nodded to me first, then turned to Nurse.
"Ah, hello, Anna."
"Hello, Oliver."
"Out for a walk because of the nice weather? Ah, no—I mean, because you're so warm! No, the sunshine!"
Both their faces turned red!
Oliver fumbled through his flubs, waving his hands.
Watching his face burn crimson, I burst out laughing.
I'd worried after all the hurt from head family staff, but Oliver really seemed to like our Nurse.
If it was an act, he'd be an actor for the ages.
No way a dukedom secretary was wasting talent.
Good thing.
I'd handle it myself if he ever made her cry.
Oliver knelt slightly before me, forehead flushed, eyes sneaking peeks at Nurse.
"I was just coming to relay a message, and here you are in the garden, miss."
"What message? Our Nurse that pwetty?"
"Th-That's true, but... d-don't tease!"
His flailing made it too fun—I laughed again.
Oliver was practically in tears now.
Glancing nervously at Nurse, whose neck was scarlet, he rushed on.
"His Grace suggests the whole family dine together tonight."
"Everyone? Daddy too? Uncle too?"
"Yes."
It hadn't been long since Uncle got reamed by Grandpa.
"Why suddenwy?"
"The Grand Assembly's soon—all the provincial lords will head to the capital. He wants family rifts mended first."
"What's Gwand Assembwy?"
"Ah, in the North, nobles gather yearly to report achievements, vote on next year's budget. Simply put……."
I got it all, but I was just a four-year-old on the surface.
I shouldn't understand big words like that.
I stared blankly, waiting for the simple version.
"They explain next year's projects and beg His Grace for more funding. That's the gist."
Money, as always.
I'd heard central governments fund local bodies in my past life too.
Dukedom subsidies probably worked the same.
And those lords? All our family's vassals.
So that's why Grandpa's forgiving Uncle.
Uncle was the heir, after all.
Couldn't have Grandpa snubbing him or Daddy clashing in front of the vassals.
One or two dinners wouldn't fix deep grudges, but as family head, Grandpa was trying—I had to play along.
After landing big like the preserves biz, this is nothing.
It'd taste bitter, but I nodded.
"Dining with Little Duke might feel awkward, but……."
Oliver switched topics to console me.
"Still, in a few days, you'll see big brother Erich, miss."
"Erich coming?"
"Of course. Marquess Pallenberg attends too, so the young master from there will come along."
My heart skipped at the words.
What did Erich look like? More like Daddy or Mommy?
……Did Erich wonder about me or Dietrich?
Questions flooded in, and my energy surged back.
Dinner? Bring it on!