Chapter 36
“You’ve become reliable after learning under Yuli.”
Lysdel’s face turned red again.
“…Thank you…”
I handed her some gold coins to use as funds and gave her a warning.
“Try to gather information quietly. Also, visit the midwife near the estate. That place is dangerous, so make sure to take someone with you. All kinds of nasty rumors seem to flow there, so she might know something.”
I hadn’t forgotten the stories about the women who got involved with Count Donau ending up in terrible situations.
Thinking about where those women might go, the midwife seemed like the most logical option. That’s why I decided to focus on her.
After speaking, I watched Lysdel carefully. She seemed to be weighing different possibilities in her head, which made her seem reliable.
However, her flushed cheeks made me worry that she was too eager.
“Don’t take unnecessary risks for my sake. And never go anywhere dangerous alone. I’ll assign a strong servant or a knight in disguise to accompany you. Promise me you’ll take them with you.”
Lysdel smiled shyly at my words.
“Of course. If I’m not around, who would take care of you, my lady? I’ll be careful.”
The information from a household’s servants can be surprisingly sharp and accurate. Though it may seem old-fashioned, questioning employees can be quite effective.
“But I can’t rely on just this.”
After sending Lysdel off, I sat in deep thought.
This method would help me gather rumors from the lower ranks of society, but I also needed information from the upper class.
However, since this was my first time directly intervening in another noble family’s affairs, it felt unfamiliar.
“My butler would be better at this than me…”
Of course, the moment I involved my butler, my father would hear about it.
I needed someone of my own.
Strictly speaking, the only person in this estate who worked solely for me was my maid.
It was natural. I had never needed to do anything in secret from my parents before.
“So, who can I use within my influence…?”
A red-haired man with a constant, shy smile came to mind.
I wasn’t supposed to get involved with him anymore, but since we already had a connection, I could at least make a new deal.
Perhaps he was more useful than I initially thought.
“Our first meeting was the worst, though.”
Still, before meeting him, I needed to gather some leverage.
Walking in blind would only make me easy prey.
This wasn’t a friendly relationship where we could simply trust each other.
I thought carefully about where I could gather useful information.
Social gatherings, where men and women mingled freely, were out of the question.
Those places were filled with rumors, and anything I said would spread too easily.
More importantly, that was Diana’s field.
“If I investigate the same place as her, it would be a waste of time.”
Checking the same source twice might be thorough, but it wasn’t efficient.
“Somewhere she can’t reach, but I can.”
Where would that be?
I carefully considered my options.
Though this kind of thinking was new to me, listening to those around me helped, and I quickly came up with a few ideas.
First, I had easy access to the Minister of Finance, one of the highest-ranking nobles.
I couldn’t ignore that advantage. Even casual conversations might reveal useful hints.
“This is exactly the kind of place she can’t reach, but I can.”
Secondly, Diana and I had different tastes in fashion, so we didn’t go to the same dress shops.
Visiting my usual boutique could be another way to pick up information.
Lastly, I thought about Countess Lydia’s poetry meetings, which Diana disliked, but I occasionally attended.
The kind of information that circulated there was different from the usual noble gatherings.
I was confident I could find a new angle there.
Of course, I might find nothing at all.
If I wasn’t careful, Diana could hear about my inquiries, which would be rude.
So, I wrote her a letter in advance.
I didn’t include any details, just a few unrelated topics, along with a message saying I was keeping my promise to help her.
It felt strange to put so much effort into someone else’s business.
“But it doesn’t feel bad.”
Technically, this was purely for someone else’s sake.
And yet, helping her felt like I was helping myself, too.
It felt as if the ruins of my heart were slowly being rebuilt.
Unlike revenge, it didn’t eat away at me.
Instead, it gave me a small, warm sense of joy.
A growing sense of trust in myself.
A desire to praise myself.
Even though this started for Diana’s sake, it was helping me as well.
I suddenly thought of noblewomen who devoted themselves to charity work.
I used to believe they did it simply because they were kind.
But perhaps they, too, enjoyed this feeling.
Maybe that was why they did it.
Helping others was more fulfilling than I had imagined.
The clinking of dishes filled the dining room.
Unlike my mother and me, who preferred light meals, my father enjoyed rich, juicy dishes.
Since our whole family was gathered for dinner, the table was filled with his favorites—roast heron and swan, thick-cut veal with herbs, and more.
I had heard that our chef specialized in meat dishes, so it was amusing to see him take this rare opportunity to show off his skills.
As we ate, small conversations flowed.
“Is managing the household giving you any trouble?”
“Not really.”
“If any relatives cause problems or bother you, tell me. I’ll make sure they regret it. Just tell them to come to me directly if they have any issues.”
“It’s fine. Everyone’s been well-behaved lately.”
My father wasn’t exactly a warm man.
This current situation was an exception, not his usual demeanor.
But he firmly believed that a family head should keep things running smoothly, and he worked hard to ensure that.
As both a noble lord and a father, he was a responsible man.
“And Carmilla, how’s your health? I heard you’re sleeping better, but what about your appetite?”
After checking on my mother and confirming that the household was running smoothly, he turned his attention to me.
I met his eyes and smiled.
“I’m doing well. I’ve been sleeping and eating properly. My strength is coming back. I even attended the Rust family’s ball and didn’t get sick afterward.”
Father hummed in approval and relaxed, cutting into his meal with a more at-ease expression.
Seeing that, I casually shared some minor gossip that might be useful to him.
“Recently, many young ladies have been excited about the imperial swordsmanship tournament. Also, the young lady I’m mentoring is struggling to fit in. It seems the other noble girls dislike her.”
Father nodded, unsurprised, but frowned when I mentioned the tournament.
“It’s held alongside the festival, so it’s a grand event. You kids might enjoy it, but it’s a nightmare for me. The amount of work is unbearable. And with all the nobles coming to the capital, it’s pure chaos.”
He then grumbled about a particular noble.
“Especially Baron . He keeps pestering me for a good seat as if his daughter has any chance of becoming the Crown Prince’s fiancée. That position has already been decided.”
The name sounded familiar, so I tilted my head.
“Baron …?”
Father looked confused.
“He only recently came to the capital. You shouldn’t know him.”
I searched my memory, and then it clicked.
“Oh! Diana mentioned him at the Rust family’s ball!”
Although, she had talked about his wife.
“She said Baroness Boren is having an affair. If they came here for the harvest festival, she might just be caught up in the excitement.”
Father’s expression changed slightly.
“Oh? Is that so…?”
Then, as if coming up with a plan, he smirked mischievously.
“Well, that should keep him too busy to bother me anymore.”
Seeing his shoulders shake in amusement, I sighed.
My father could be quite petty.
Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it…
