Chapter 128
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Scene 128 Carelessness
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The next day, Sunday.
I returned to the Ruelverta estate.
Ex, excuse me.
You dont need to kneel.
But.
I said its not necessary.
Y-yes.
The woman who hesitantly tried to kneel and then stood back up was Ellie, Wendys mother.
She had been suddenly summoned before me, so she looked extremely tense. And with her husband, Henry, nowhere in sight despite coming together, it was only natural.
If Wendys hair color was inherited from her father, then her eye color must have come from her mother.
The pumpkin-colored eyes looking up at me trembled with anxiety.
Um My lord Count, why have you summoned lowly folk like us?
The reason I brought Wendys family from Riheart was to protect them.
When the player invasion began in the future, war would erupt across the entire empire.
In that case, the imperial capital, which resisted to the very end, would be the safest place.
Ellie, unaware of my intentions, pleaded desperately.
I-if its about taxes, Ill pay them no matter what it takes. So please, just let my family go home
How much are the back taxes on your house?
W-well Roughly 2 million kael
2 million kael
It was an unimaginable sum considering their circumstances.
It was an amount they could have paid if all the money Wendy sent had reached their hands intact.
But for taxes imposed on a single serf household, the figure was absurdly high.
How long ago did you stop paying?
A-about five months ago. Thats when the taxes started rising
Taxes rose?
Id never heard of such a thing.
The taxes collected from the Riheart region should have remained unchanged.
Some filthy parasite must be pocketing the difference.
It was an infuriating situation.
The vast Ruelverta territory was being governed on my behalf by Tristans relatives.
Naturally, the one imposing such exorbitant taxes was the relative in charge of Riheart.
I sat in my chair and stroked my chin.
Come to think of it, it was probably inevitable.
Tristan was one of the worst villains in this world.
It was only natural that villains existed among those under the Ruelverta family he led.
Tristan never cared what they did as long as they didnt rebel against him.
In fact, taxes and local specialties from Riheart were steadily flowing in.
If I left things as they were, they wouldnt bother interfering with me.
I looked at Ellie.
She was a gaunt, pitiful-looking woman. Working not just for herself but for her sick husband as well had left dark circles etched deeply under her eyes.
Behind her stood a boy who looked about ten years old, holding Luri and watching me warily.
That must be Tom, Wendys little brother.
After Peter left home, he was stepping up as the eldest sona spirited kid.
A poor but honest family that relied on each other.
But I knew their miserable future.
In the empire, those who couldnt pay their taxes became slaves.
Wendys family would be no different.
Soon, they would be sold off to distant foreign lands, scattered to the winds, never to reunite with Peter or Wendy.
At that thought, I murmured with a sigh.
All of you, slaves
N-no, please!
Hearing my words, Ellie prostrated herself flat.
P-please, not our children! Ill be the slave instead! Anything but the children!
Ellie trembled violently as she begged for mercy.
Before her sat Tristan, a noble infamous even in the empire.
It was only natural for her to be this desperate.
Ill do anything the Count commands, so please just send the children back to our hometown!
But I shook my head.
No. You cant go back to your hometown anymore.
!
Tears welled up in Ellies eyes.
The sight was the spitting image of her daughter Wendy.
Anything Ill do anything.
What exactly can you do with that emaciated body?
Please I beg you like this. You can make me a slave for life. Hell, Ill even become the Counts plaything. Just spare the children, and Ill do anything
My face naturally twisted in disgust.
What kind of rumors had she heard about Tristan?
I spoke to Ellie in a calm voice.
The reason I wont send you back to Riheart is that youre no longer useful as serfs.
Th-thats not true! If I work harder in the fields
Its pointless. Its not something you can handle alone.
I rose from my chair and approached Ellie.
The boy behind her then stepped forward to block me.
D-dont bully my mom!
T-Tom?!
It was brave of him to step up, but once in front of me, Tom began to tremble.
Startled, Ellie quickly turned her back to me and wrapped Tom and Luri in her arms.
N-no! I wont let these children live as slaves Sob!
M-Mom
It was a tear-jerking display of family love, but only little Luri stared at me with wide, innocent eyes.
When our gazes met, she even gave a bright smile. Was this kid pure-hearted or just clueless?
I sighed and asked Ellie.
Do you know your daughter is working under me?
Yes?
At my words, Ellies face drained of color.
H-has our Wendy done something wrong?
No. Shes my exclusive maid.
Exclusive maid?
Yes. An important position assisting me. And if the family of my exclusive maid falls into slavery, it would lower the prestige of the counts household.
I informed her.
From now on, your family will live not as serfs, but as my retainers.
Y-yes? Wait R-retainers? You mean?
Ellies mouth opened as if to say something, but I ignored her and lightly shook the bell on the table.
Ding-a-ling.
The clear sound echoed through the drawing room. As if waiting, the door burst open, and a girl in a maid uniform entered.
Ellies eyes widened in recognition.
W-Wendy?!
Mommy
I-is that really my daughter Wendy? Really??
Y-yes, its me!
In the original story, this mother and daughter would never meet again.
Having eavesdropped on our conversation, Wendy was a mess of tears and snot.
I j-just came from checking Dad into the hospital. The healer said hell recover soon!
The h-hospital?! But we dont have that kind of money
Its okay! Im earning a lot now! Its a-all thanks to the Count!
Wendy looked at me, shedding tears of emotion as if greeting a god.
Beside her, Ellie and Tom stared at me and Wendy in stunned silence, mouths agape.
The atmosphere suddenly made me deeply uncomfortable.
Whether it was due to my personal trait or because I was immersing myself in the character of Tristan, I wasnt sure.
But these heartwarming scenes made my body instinctively recoil.
Wendy.
Y-yes!
Theres an unused annex on the estate grounds, isnt there?
The annex? Oh, y-yes! There is one!
Its been a hassle to maintain, but this works out perfectly.
I looked down at Ellie and said.
You said earlier youd do anything, right?
As my face drew close, Ellie flinched.
To her fear-filled, bewildered expression, I said.
Then from now on, your job is cleaning. Spend your life cleaning that annex.
Y-yes? Cleaning?
Ill pay you 3 million kael a month.
Th-three million kael?!?!
Hearing the salary, Ellies mouth gaped wide as if she might faint.
N-no way Even so
Cant do it? If you prefer being slaves over my retainers, Ill make it so.
Gasp!? N-no! Ill do it! Ill become the Counts retainer!
With those words, Ellies legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
It must have felt like going from hell to heaven.
She bowed her head to me and said.
Th-thank you How can I ever repay such an immense favor What can I do for you, my lord Count?
Ugh Receiving such intense gratitude made my stomach churn.
I needed to get out of here fast.
Im a very busy man. I dont have time to accept every single one. Wendy.
Y-yes!
Im giving you a weeks vacation starting today. Ill make sure you can skip school too, so teach your family yourself.
Before leaving the drawing room, I commanded her in my usual arrogant Tristan face.
What it means to live as retainers serving me.
Yes!
And the moment I closed the door, Wendy deeply bowed toward me.
It was a gesture of thanks.
A profound expression of gratitude toward me.
Click.
As the door shut, I hurriedly touched my face.
I let my guard down.
The corners of my mouth were turned up.