Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Chapter 17. Knowing the personality of the original male lead, before first meeting Lus, I had made a certain resolution.

No matter what Lus says, absolutely don't get hurt.

Since Lus is a child, even if someday he says something like ‘I hate older sister!’, I have to understand.

But differently from my expectation, Lus was a really kind child.

A child who listens well, studies hard, and follows me well.

And for the first time I was feeling the difficulty of childcare.

“Lus. Isn't it time to study now?”

I squatted and held Lus's both hands and asked.

At my question, Lus tightly closed his mouth.

As usual Lus was going to the study, I to the office.

But feeling something strange and looking back, Lus was standing without entering the study.

I asked Lus if something happened, and this is the current situation.

“Lus. Don't you want to study?”

Lus hesitated for a moment then nodded.

Um, I understand.

Everyone dislikes studying.

Still, Lus studies well, and I heard his own learning desire is high so I was relieved.

“Our Lus, why don't you want to study?”

Lus didn't answer.

I was flustered.

Help me, teacher!

The child says he doesn't want to study!

What should I do at times like this!

“Do you dislike it because studying is hard?”

Shake shake.

Lus shook his head.

“Um... Then do you not like the teacher? If I change to the teacher who taught Lus before instead of Treon, will you study?”

Lus hesitates for a moment then shakes his head again.

Uwa, what to do.

If Lus was an ordinary child, I could push another field saying ‘Right, rather than studying unfold your talent!’

Our Lus is a genius of the sword!

Even just doing knife well is enough to make a living in this world.

But Lus is the male lead, the man who will lead the Valfruga ducal house.

Only good at sword and knowing nothing...

Of course I have the confidence to embrace even such a Lus as my kid.

But what if someone swindles our Lus?

No, actually isn't it that Lus doesn't want to become the Duke Valfruga?

Then what to do really?

“Um... Lus, is studying too hard now?”

“...

No.”

“Then why don't you want to study? Can't you just tell older sister? Older sister will solve it.”

At my words, Lus lifted the head he had deeply lowered and looked at me.

Moisture gathered in the red pupils.

My heart aches with a sting.

Uuu, ‘Study or whatever, our Lus do as you want!’ rises to the throat.

Instead of answering, Lus hugged me.

“Older sister aa...”

“Yeah, Lus.”

I also hugged Lus back and patted.

It was then.

Lus suddenly looked back and stood blocking in front of me as if protecting.

When I lifted my head, Treon was watching us two.

“Butler, what are you doing there?”

At my question, Treon answered.

“It's nothing.”

It doesn't seem like nothing.

Treon looked at us two with a slightly shocked face.

Since Lus said he doesn't want to study after class with Treon, Treon must be the problem.

I hugged Lus and looked at Treon.

This axis of evil!

“...

Why are you looking like that.”

“What did I do?”

“...

Nothing.”

“Older sister. Don't mind and let's go.”

Lus held my hand and shook urging.

Treon looked at me and Lus with a complicated face then lowered his head.

“I was wrong, Duke.”

Looking at Lus, Lus tightly held my hand and looked down at Treon.

“I committed an impertinent act.”

“It's not a matter to apologize to me.”

The cold voice of Lus was different from what I usually hear, but I was busy grasping Treon's gaze toward me so I didn't notice.

What. What's the matter.

Why are you looking at me?

Lus stared at Treon as if urging.

Treon hesitated for a long time as if choosing words then barely said.

“I tried to drive a wedge between Madam and the Duke. I'm sorry. I will gladly accept any disposition.”

It wasn't particularly surprising.

Because Treon dislikes me seizing the real power of the ducal house.

Probably he said something like don't be swayed by me or such.

If Treon hadn't said such things, that would have been more surprising.

“If older sister wants to drive out, you can drive out. Or you can lock in the prison.”

“No, what for this level of matter...”

“No. What I did trying to split the two of you is an unforgivable serious crime.”

Wow. This man coming out in such a low posture is rather scary.

“It's really okay. Um, what. Given the butler's personality it doesn't seem like he spread strange rumors or something, he probably just suspected if there's another family behind me.”

Treon looked at me with surprised eyes, then hurriedly managed his expression.

Seems correct.

In a way, a man who doesn't deviate from expectations.

“If it really bothers, I'll do a 3-month pay cut. Since our family also lacks people a lot to drive out.”

“Thank you.”

Treon lowered his waist again.

“Older sister is too kind.”

Lus pouted his lips.

“Lus, is that why you said you won't study?”

At my words, Lus tightly closed his mouth.

This small kid stepping forward to protect me in his own way.

“Because I have to protect older sister.”‘From now on, it's okay even if you don't do this. I can do it alone.’ I was going to draw the line like that, but Lus's small hand wriggled in my hand then tightly grabbed my hand.

While much younger than me, at the action of trying to protect me in his own way, I couldn't say anything.

So I just honestly said what I feel.

“Thank you, Lus.”

Whether it was the correct answer, Lus smiled brightly.* * *Lus headed to the study to study with the original teacher, and Treon and I headed to the office.

Treon brewed warm tea and placed it in front of me.‘For now it's a ceasefire.’ I thought while drinking the tea Treon brewed.

Still suspicious of me taking charge of this castle's household, but it seemed he decided not to express dissatisfaction.‘Since I don't even hope for loyalty, as long as he doesn't think of secretly handling...’ There's nothing as painful as a knife stabbed by an ally.

I observed Treon, Treon worked pretending not to know, and Naul organized the letters that arrived today in between.

Work processing became much faster than when working with Naul two, but it was suffocating.

I envied Blackie who would be sleeping soundly on a fluffy cushion around now.

Naul who organized all the letters said.

“Madam. Today you only need to look at the letter that came from the Matek Count house.”

I clearly saw.

Treon's face that instantly turned pale at the words Matek Count house.

Treon hardened stiffly like a stone statue, then as if enduring something bit his lips and slowly regulated his breath.

After that, he returned to the usual face.

It was a short change that would have been missed if not watching him all along.

“Matek Count house? For what matter?”

At my question, Naul answered.

“It's a letter saying they want to meet directly to talk about this year's supply contract.”

“Was there still something worth selling in our territory?”

“There's one mine where hard iron comes out. The amount isn't much, but fortunately the Matek Count house values the price well so the income is quite okay.”

“Why does the Matek Count house value the price well?”

Asking because the face of Treon I just saw bothered me, Naul made a face of never having thought about it once.

“Well. Isn't it because the ore quality is good? The contract with the Matek Count has always been handled by the butler so I don't know well.”

Naul's gaze turned to Treon.

Treon answered without being flustered.

It was an unrestrained answer as if prepared in advance.

“That's right. The hard iron that comes from our territory has consistent and good quality so it's easy for the Count house to handle. Since there's also trust from trading since the previous generation, they tend to value the price well.”

“What does the Matek Count house do with the hard iron?”

“They make swords. In the Matek Count territory, skilled craftsmen gather and live, and through them they make high-quality swords and accumulate wealth by selling that.”

“Is it a family that professionally raises craftsmen?”

“Yes. The start of the Matek Count house is a craftsman who supplied swords to the imperial family obtaining a title in return for loyalty. There was also evaluation that they bought the title with money at one time.”

Unlike Naul whose main work is accounting, it was clear that Treon knows more about the continental situation or noble families.

“If a family like that buys, our hard iron must really be good quality. To talk about that contract, is the Matek Count coming?”

“No. Usually I go to the Matek Count house, finish the contract and return.”

“The butler?”

“Yes. If there's no particular problem, I'll go this time as well.”

I pondered for a moment.

This time if I go to the Matek territory, can't I meet an information merchant?

Information merchants were spread all over the continent, and I knew the method to find them through the original.

The Valfruga territory was so completely collapsed that even information merchants withdrew, but if it's the Matek Count territory, wouldn't there be an information merchant?

“Is the Matek Count territory far from here?”

“If riding a carriage, it takes about two days.”

“It must be quite prosperous?”

“Since it's a family with a lot of money.”

“Then I want to go too.”

“Yes?”

A flustered light flashed across Treon's face.

“It's okay. I can go sufficiently alone. It will be a quite rough road for the young Madam to accompany.”

There were many words unlike him.

I recalled again Treon's face that had turned pale at the words Matek Count house.

What is this reaction?

In the original, Treon was the loyal vassal of Lus.

I believed Treon seeing the original, but could Treon also be secretly betraying the ducal house?

I shook my head and said.

“No, it's okay. I won't interfere with the contract the butler does and will stay quietly beside. More than other things, I'm too curious about that Count territory.”

“But Madam, the Matek Count house is a dangerous place. If two people are missing, won't there be hindrance even in processing the castle's work?”

“Then I'll go. Butler stay.”

“That won't do!”

Treon shouted.

And as if realizing he made a mistake, he quickly closed his mouth.

At this point, Naul also looked at Treon with puzzled eyes.

The more Treon was troubled, the more I felt I must follow him.

“...

I'm sorry for shouting at Madam. But...”

Treon made various excuses for a long time, but I didn't bend my will.

In the end, Treon who surrendered to me said.

“...

Understood. Instead when going there, you must follow my instructions. Do you understand?”

“Yeah.”

Still, the secret Treon has must be revealed.

And if it's really betrayal...

I looked at Treon with cold eyes.

Even if he was a faithful vassal in the original, he must be handled.