ITTRAETML 41

~Chapter 41~

Larvihan returned quickly. He followed the rest of the day’s schedule without complaint. It seemed his business had been handled well.

That outing remained a very happy memory.

‘What really happened back then?’

Lovelace’s curiosity was answered after she returned to the Harmelda estate.

“It’s raining.”

“Yes, it is.”

Judith checked the weather outside and brought out a dark-colored dress. Normally, she preferred Lovelace to wear bright clothes.

Lovelace tilted her head at the deep-colored dress she usually never touched.

“We can’t make an innocent person suffer. It’s not my preference, but since you have fair, beautiful skin, a dark navy dress will suit you too.”

“Innocent person?”

Judith slipped off Lovelace’s nightgown and pulled an underdress over her head.

“You don’t know? About that incident?”

“What incident?”

“The day Duke Larvihan gave you the trinket shop as a gift.”

“What about that day? What happened?”

Lovelace remembered the muddy splash but had gone on to enjoy sweets at a dessert shop, forgetting all about it.
It hadn’t seemed like a bad day at all.

“You don’t know what happened to the ones who ruined your dress?” Judith muttered, almost to herself.

Clearly, she wanted Lovelace to ask again.

“What happened? Tell me properly.”

As Judith dressed her, she explained:

“The men who splashed the mud? Duke Larvihan crushed them. He destroyed their carriage, left them stranded in the heavy rain, and they had to walk home for half a day. One had his ankle completely shattered, limping on crutches. The coachman’s wrist was broken too… Ah! I shouldn’t have said that.”

Judith glanced nervously, asking her to keep it secret. Lovelace nodded.

How many women would go around telling the world their suitor was a madman?

“Larvihan must be very strict and tidy. All that, just because of a little mud?”

“Eh? Not at all. The Duke doesn’t care about things like that. He can sit through a meal even drenched in blood.”

“Then why?”

“Of course—it was because of you, Countess. They dirtied your dress. That’s why today you must wear dark navy. Best not to go outside at all, really.”

Lovelace’s pupils trembled like an earthquake. Larvihan truly was insane.

But more than that—Judith, you know him too well, don’t you?

Lovelace turned to ask if Judith had known Larvihan for a long time. But she was already gone to fetch hair ornaments.

Still, the purpose was fulfilled: many had seen Garri and Larvihan dining together.

‘Good deeds will bring good returns. But I’ve built more than just good deeds…’

With a heavy heart, Lovelace began her work.

Four women sat together, their faces serious.

“No replies at all?”

Judith nodded to Lovelace’s question. Lovelace let out a deep sigh.

At the imperial banquet, she had dropped hints about her revised law to the nobles she met.

“I said it clearly—‘If you’re interested, contact me.’”

Yet days passed, and no letters of support arrived. Only endless invitations to social gatherings.

“Was the law at least submitted to the council?”

“Since it’s your proposal, Countess, it was submitted. But it must be way down the priority list,” Becky said.

“Honestly, that’s better. If it were raised without allies, it could be shot down in ten seconds—and you wouldn’t get a second chance.”

Judith gave both despair and hope in the same breath.

Maybe it had been a mistake to dismiss all the greedy vassals. She had wanted to prove she could run things well with only capable people, but now it looked like she might have to call the old ones back.

But she didn’t want to.

Lovelace rubbed her temples.

“Let’s take action. Give me a list of the powerful houses in the council—and what they like.”

“You should also start attending social gatherings,” Nora said.

Lovelace looked at her curiously. Nora tucked her brown hair behind her ear.

“If the noblewomen speak well of you to their husbands, it helps. But lately, they’re upset—you keep avoiding society.”

“Why should that matter? I’ve been prioritizing important work.”

“They think you’re being arrogant. Or ignoring them because you’re a woman.”

Lovelace understood. And it embarrassed her. She had preached that gender didn’t matter in work, yet she had been dismissing society gatherings as unimportant.

“Alright. Find me a suitable gathering. Or maybe I should just host one here.”

“That’s an excellent idea. Everyone’s very interested in your estate,” Judith agreed.

“Then Judith, take charge of the preparations.”

Lovelace was about to end the meeting when Becky cautiously raised her hand.

Becky, with her silver hair and freckled cheeks, was quick, precise, but shy about speaking up.

When she did, Lovelace always made sure to encourage her.

“Oh, Becky!”

She deliberately made a show of being delighted, so Becky would gain courage. Encouraged, Becky spoke timidly:

“Um… I’m sorry to say this, but the estate’s finances…”

She handed over a report. Unlike usual, it included prediction graphs.

“You forecasted what will happen if we keep running things as now?”

The graph was excellent—but the results grim.

“Yes…”

Lovelace carefully reviewed it.

The Harmelda estate depended almost entirely on wheat. With cheap foreign wheat flooding in and prices dropping, things looked dire. Costs were rising too.

The estate would survive, yes. Wheat was still the empire’s staple food. But if expenses overtook income… one bad year could collapse everything.

“If the price drops during a bumper harvest… it’s over.”

“We need to do something.”

Becky’s eyes widened. It was enough that Lovelace listened—but she even wanted to act on it.

“Th-thank you, Countess.”

“No, thank you. You worked hard on this, even though it wasn’t your duty.”

Becky had dug through past records to create her analysis. It was truly commendable.

“Looks like we’ve got more to plan. Judith, Nora, Becky—what should we do for the estate’s future?”

Just as the meeting seemed about to stretch longer, Judith stood to fetch refreshments. But when she opened the door, she froze.

“What is it, Judith?”

“You should take a break, Countess. Duke Larvihan is here.”

Larvihan brushed past her shoulder and entered, carrying the strong smell of coffee.

“Coffee!”

Lovelace’s face lit up.

“Am I what excites you, or the coffee?”

“You, holding the coffee.”

She took it with a smile. He warned her it was hot. Judith, Nora, and Becky quietly slipped out.

“What’s keeping you so busy? Paulo said you’re always working.”

Since his lessons with Larvihan, Paulo had warmed up to him. He still feared and respected him, but they often exchanged news about Lovelace.

“I am the lord, you know. I can’t just sit idle. And there’s the matter of my law.”

The warm drink loosened her tired mind. She savored it with both hands around the cup.

“Why bother yourself? I’ll handle it.”

“It’s our bet. There’s still plenty of time.”

“The whole point was to prove you don’t need political factions. So don’t be stubborn—leave it to me.”

“Why do you think I don’t need political allies?”

“Because you have me. I just need to say a word, and it’ll pass.”

“Just words?”

Lovelace narrowed her eyes. Larvihan smiled faintly.

“And maybe a little force.”

Of course. She shook her head.

Yes, it would be easier with him. But for how long? Would he always support her? What if the elemental power inside her vanished? What if he turned against her?

Feelings are as light as feathers—they can blow any direction with the wind.

Even if Larvihan cherished her now, who could guarantee tomorrow?

She set down her cup.

“Larvihan.”

Her voice was serious, as if making a great decision.

“I’ll handle my own work. Thank you for restoring my title and for teaching Paulo. But from now on, I’ll try on my own. So you should focus on your own affairs.”

She finally spoke the words she had been holding inside.

The smile on Larvihan’s handsome face faded—like a painting losing its color in the sunlight.