IWS Chapter 32

Episode 32

“Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Yuriel gestured for Aubrey to sit. She then sat down herself on the soft sofa in her office. 

The room was large and cozy, not just for work, but perfect for welcoming guests.

Yuriel truly liked this space. Even when she didn’t have important tasks, she made a point to stop by once a day just to spend some time there.

“Here you go,” said Aubrey, handing her some papers related to the garden.

The documents listed the labor and material costs already spent.

“You’ve organized this well,” Yuriel said as she flipped through the pages, carefully checking each item.

The basics were covered, but strangely, the document didn’t mention any costs for flowers or seeds, which would normally be the most expensive part.

Still, this wasn’t an oversight. It was just as she had instructed. 

She had asked to delay those purchases until Thomas brought the proper seeds. She made a note on the papers with her quill.

“My lady,” Aubrey spoke hesitantly, watching her write.

Yuriel looked up. “Yes?”

“I was just wondering… do you not like flowers?”

It was an awkward question, and Aubrey cleared his throat nervously.

Yuriel blinked, confused by the question. Then, after a pause, she gave a small “Ah,” as she understood.

“I do like flowers. You’re asking because they aren’t on the list, right?”

Since the garden had been prepared, but no flowers were listed, it made sense that Aubrey was puzzled.

Yuriel explained that she was planning to plant flower seeds instead of buying fully grown flowers, since their internal budget wasn’t enough to afford expensive blooms from the western regions.

“I looked over the budget, and we can’t afford to buy flowers right now. Flowers from the west are costly. But I didn’t want to leave the garden empty, so I’ll plant seeds and grow them myself.”

“What?” Aubrey was stunned, but Yuriel didn’t seem to hear him properly as she kept writing.

“You’ve been doing a great job managing the budget,” she added with a genuine smile. “Very impressive.”

Yuriel meant it. She had experience managing finances for a noble household before. 

The previous Count used to manipulate funds, evade taxes, and hide wealth through all sorts of shady deals. She knew how to spot misused money.

But since coming here, she hadn’t found even a hint of corruption in the finances of the Baikharts’ estate.

‘Not a single coin is missing…’ she thought.

Normally, when a noblewoman wasn’t present, the staff would sneak money wherever they could. But Aubrey had closed off any such avenues and even dismissed anyone who might cause trouble.

The budget was always in surplus, never in deficit. A complete contrast to the household she’d once served.

Now, she could understand why Aubrey had been cautious when she first arrived. He had managed everything so neatly—of course, he didn’t want a stranger from the capital messing things up.

“Th-thank you…?” Aubrey’s voice cracked, unsure how to respond to the unexpected praise.

Before their talk, he had vaguely wondered if the lady simply enjoyed gardening. But he had tiptoed around the question, not wanting to be rude. Her answer, however, had caught him off guard.

“I guess… once the garden’s ready, you could host a tea party?”

He blurted out the idea, clearly flustered. It was far off, since flowers from seeds would take at least half a year to bloom.

“Tea party? Hmm… yes, I suppose,” Yuriel said, thinking aloud.

“Yes. Everyone is waiting to meet you, my lady.”

Yuriel’s eyes widened. She hadn’t given much thought to the western nobles. But of course—there was a social scene here too.

A tea party would be a perfect opportunity to make connections. Inviting prominent ladies from the West could help her settle in.

‘That’s part of a duchess’s duty, too.’

And in politics, nothing spreads faster—or truer—than rumors. These women could become her eyes and ears.

Yuriel had never hosted a social circle before, but at least she still had time to prepare.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, Aubrey.”

When she smiled warmly, Aubrey pressed his lips together. He hadn’t said what he truly meant—and now he had missed the chance.

When he stepped out of her office, the hallway suddenly felt cold and heavy.

‘No way…’

A dark thought clouded his heart.

The budget given to the estate until now was the bare minimum. Normally, after a new mistress arrives, the lord should issue a new budget and inform the steward.

But that hadn’t happened. And that silence meant only one thing: the lady wasn’t being recognized as the rightful mistress. 

She was being ignored—intentionally.

It had been weeks. That budget should’ve been processed already.

‘I didn’t think my master would treat her like this…’

Aubrey trembled. It felt like betrayal.

Determined, he marched down the hall toward where Cheron would be.

He knew exactly where to find him.

“One! Two!”

The training yard rang with shouts. Knights were sweating under the blazing sun, pushing through their drills.

After passing them, Aubrey reached the dueling grounds. There, he saw Cheron.

“Waaaah!”

The knights cheered as the match ended. A silver sword gleamed under the sun.

Cheron’s opponent lay on the ground, defeated.

“Hah… Master, I’m dying here,” groaned Kalton, a huge man wiping sweat from his face.

His squire rushed to hand him a towel and a water bottle.

“Time to give us a turn, Commander!” one knight joked.

“Shut it! Are you on the same level as our master?!” Kalton shouted back, tossing his sweat-soaked towel at them.

“Ew, gross!”

“Revenge!” They laughed.

While the knights joked around, a squire rushed to bring Cheron his towel and water.

But Aubrey stepped in front of him, taking both items without a word. 

The squire froze.

Holding the towel and water, Aubrey approached Cheron.

“…What’s going on?” Cheron asked, seeing Aubrey holding the items instead of the squire.

Without speaking, Aubrey handed them over. Cheron, not having sweated much, took only the water.

“Master. We need to talk.”

That caught Cheron’s attention. It was rare for the steward to approach him during training, and with such a serious face, no less.

‘Did something happen to my wife?’

“That’s right. Something very serious,” Aubrey answered gravely.

Cheron’s expression hardened.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Master, have you not given the lady a new budget?”

“…Budget?” Cheron frowned. Of all things, this was not what he expected.

Aubrey sighed in frustration and began to explain everything that had happened earlier.

“…Damn.” Cheron rubbed his forehead.

The capital and the West had very different customs. In the capital, the mistress naturally managed household finances. But in the West, it was different.

Giving someone the keys to the family’s accounts was like giving them full authority, not just over the household budget, but over the entire estate’s finances.

“I forgot the customs were different here…”

He had given Yuriel the keys when she arrived, thinking that was enough. But she was from the capital. She probably didn’t realize what that meant.

‘Even if she did…’

Cheron paused. Yuriel wasn’t someone who would spend money recklessly, even if given permission.

“Aubrey.”

“Yes, Master?”

Despite his annoyance, Aubrey answered faithfully.

Cheron swept his hair back and gave a firm order.

“Buy the flower farm. Right now.”