Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Plans and Perceptions
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The east annex of the Grand Duke Descartes estate.
This annex housed the residence of the Grand Duke’s Young Lord, Serdian.
It was a little past lunchtime.
Serdian’s aide, Jed, entered Serdian’s office.
“I heard His Highness summoned that girl, Lucillea, to have lunch with him again today.”
“…He did.”
Serdian quietly turned a page, feigning disinterest. Watching him, Jed sighed inwardly.
“What kind of child is she, anyway? This Lucillea.”
At that, Serdian’s fingers, which were turning the page, paused for a moment.
“Well.”
“‘Well’?”
“She was talkative.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said she was talkative.”
“…”
Talkative…
“Is that all?”
Serdian posed a question to the bewildered Jed.
“Have you ever seen a child who talks a lot in front of His Highness?”
“…Ah!”
Jed let out a small gasp of understanding.
“She ate well and talked a lot in front of His Highness. And it wasn't just that she was talkative…”
“What else?”
Hmm. At last, Serdian lifted his gaze from the book.
He stared into the air for a moment, pondering, then continued.
“…She praised me. For eating my carrots well.”
“…Pardon?”
“Oh, and she also told His Highness to grant me some authority.”
“…Pardon?!”
“I’ve never seen a kid like her. One who says whatever she wants in front of His Highness.”
Recalling the moment, Serdian let out an unconscious smirk.
Jed’s expression turned serious as he muttered to himself.
“So you’re saying she’s not someone to be taken lightly.”
But Serdian, as if it were nothing, lowered his eyes back to his book and replied.
“You can’t call someone special just for talking and eating a lot in front of His Highness.”
“But… she’s a child the Grand Duke chose himself, isn’t she?”
“…”
As Serdian fell silent, Jed asked.
“Lord Serdian, aren’t you the least bit upset?”
It was a question of whether he felt slighted by the Grand Duke, who continued to search for his biological child even after an heir had been chosen.
It was a question that might have stung, yet Serdian remained merely composed.
“As the heir, I shouldn’t feel upset about something His Highness the Grand Duke has decided.”
At that, Jed timidly pouted.
“Yes, yes, I’m the terrible one for having complaints about what His Highness the Grand Duke has decided.”
Haha. In the end, Jed’s petulant remark made Serdian burst into laughter.
Jed was Serdian’s aide and one of the few people in the Grand Duke’s estate who was truly on Serdian’s side.
Having sworn his loyalty to Serdian, he wished for nothing more than to see his position as heir remain unshaken.
Jed believed.
That this Serdian, the one he followed, was the man who would take responsibility for the future of the Descartes family.
‘Lord Serdian is different from the other chosen children I’ve seen.’
The aura that had manifested at a young age grew stronger with time.
Even searching through history, there was no case of someone growing strong at such a rapid pace.
It wasn't just because of the Grand Duke’s unstinting support.
It was possible because Serdian himself put in the effort, sacrificing his sleep at night.
‘He’s misunderstood because of his slightly stiff demeanor and his expressionless face that doesn’t show his emotions.’
But the future head of the Grand Ducal family couldn’t go around smiling benevolently all the time.
The recent movements of the collateral branches and vassal families were unsettling, but that was likely because they were wary of how outstanding Lord Serdian was.
‘Perhaps the collateral branches and vassals are still waiting for the Grand Duke’s blood relative who disappeared eight years ago.’
That was why Jed felt anxious every time a new child was brought in by the Elite Corps.
He was afraid that the Grand Duke’s true heir would appear, push Serdian aside, and take the position of heir.
Sensing Jed’s anxiety, Serdian spoke.
“No one can stop a parent from looking for their child, Jed.”
Not even a god.
Jed then asked, his voice laced with a sigh.
“What will you do if he really finds his lost child and brings them here?”
To Jed’s question, Serdian replied calmly, as if it didn't matter.
“It would be a welcome event. It would resolve the matter that has tormented His Highness his entire life.”
Serdian already knew the reason for the Elite Corps’ creation, having heard it from Elbadin.
The incident where the Grand Duchess went missing, was later found dead, and the child in her womb had vanished.
Who could dare to fathom the feelings of Elbadin, who had lost his family all at once?
“I know what you’re worried about. But because of that incident, the Elite Corps and Guardian Corps were formed. Thanks to them, many people have been saved. I, too, was chosen by the Elite Corps and have risen to this position.”
“…”
The corners of Jed’s eyes slowly drooped.
‘That’s why, that’s why I’m more anxious, Lord Serdian…’
The fact that Serdian was not the legitimate heir of the Grand Ducal family, but someone chosen by the Elite Corps.
Because even if not a legitimate heir, if a child more outstanding than Serdian appeared, that position could easily change.
That was how precarious Serdian’s position was right now.
Serdian, too, must have been well aware of that fact.
Serdian raised his head and looked at Jed.
“Just as I always have, I will continue to train every day without rest.”
He added that he was confident he would become stronger than anyone else if he did.
“But what if someone stronger than me appears?”
Serdian looked at Jed and grinned playfully.
“Then there’s nothing for it. I’ll just have to hand over this position.”
Startled, Jed jumped to his feet.
“Lord Serdian!”
Serdian smiled faintly and closed the book he was reading.
“Alright, that’s enough of that. Let’s go.”
“Yes? Where to?”
At Jed’s question, Serdian rose from his chair and shook the book in his hand.
“The library.”
***
The library of the Grand Duke Descartes family.
Near a bookshelf packed tightly with books, Lucillea sat in a shady spot, avoiding the sunlight.
Flip, flip. For quite a long time, only the quiet sound of turning pages echoed through the library.
By the time the sunlight beyond the library window began to slant.
Thump! Lucillea closed the book she was reading and turned her head to look out the window.
The cover of the book she had just been reading was titled 「The Noble Inheritance Structure and Flow of Currency in the Seraphium Empire」.
Today, during her meal with Elbadin, Lucillea had a sudden realization.
She was ignorant about the prices and economy of this world.
‘I have no memory other than using ‘copper’ to buy bread and vegetables when I went down to the village market with Grandma.’
In fact, Lucillea had never even seen ‘silver’ in person.
Her time with Briola hadn't been prosperous, and the items Briola bought at the village market were never expensive.
So, the value of gold was something she could hardly even guess.
‘I need to start learning now if I want to become independent from the Grand Duke’s family.’
That was why she had come to the library. She figured that, for now, a book was the best teacher to tell her the value of currency.
‘Master Noa also said to learn things like theory in the library.’
However, it was impossible to read and memorize this book, which was thicker than Lucillea’s forearm, in a short time.
There were so many difficult words on every page.
Lucillea tapped the book.
‘Let’s just learn this much for today. I don’t care about the nobles of the Seraphium Empire.’
Instead, she learned that 1 silver could buy 100 loaves of bread, and that the monthly living expense for a commoner family of three was about 5 silver.
‘Then, with just 1 silver a month, I won’t starve to death, right?’
Of course, she would have to live on nothing but bread for the entire month.
Lucillea walked between the bookshelves, mulling over the book’s contents. Just then, Cookie, perched on her head, asked.
[Is 1 silver that shiny, round, silver-colored thing?]
‘Yeah, that’s right. But how do you know that?’
Even I’ve never seen one.
[I saw Shured shake it out of the neighborhood folks a few times!]
‘…’
Ahem. Lucillea cleared her throat.
‘Anyway, Mei said the maids’ monthly salary at the Grand Duke’s estate is 6 silver, right?’
[Six of those round, shiny silver things!]
Hehe, that’s right. Lucillea chuckled softly before falling back into thought.
‘The book says the average salary for a maid is about 2 silver, so it’s clear the Grand Duke’s estate pays much better than other families.’
Lucillea quickly did the math in her head.
‘In that case, how much is my monthly stipend?’
If a maid’s salary is 6 silver, maybe my stipend is even more?
8 silver? 10 silver? Or maybe… 1 gold?
Considering the level of support from the Grand Duke’s family, it didn't seem like an entirely baseless hope…
‘Alright. The money-saving plan starts today!’
[Ooh! When you say it like that, it sounds so cool! What’s the plan?!]
‘It’s nothing special. I’m just not going to spend it!’
[…Huh?]
Whatever the monthly stipend was, she would save as much as she could without spending it.
It was something Lucillea had been doing since her previous life, so she was more confident in it than anything else.
‘First, I need to ask Mei about my stipend.’
Lucillea pushed back her chair and stood up. Then she picked up the heavy book and started walking.
‘It’s a little embarrassing to look like a money-grubbing kid, but who cares.’
It can happen when you grow up with nothing.
Lucillea placed the book back in its original spot on the shelf and slowly turned around.
‘Hehe, I hope they give me a big stipend—’
It was then.
‘Huh?’
Among the reddish-brown books, one incongruous volume entered her field of vision.