~Chapter 28~
“And about those mistakes—you’ve really improved. Now it’s mostly minor math errors, not serious ones, right?”
From teaching the princess over the past few days, I’d realized something:
She could be a little scatterbrained…
She didn’t mess up the important stuff, but she often got the small details—like item quantities—wrong.
“These kinds of small mistakes? The administrators will catch them easily. Don’t worry.”
“What I really wanted was to teach you the overall flow of budgeting. And I think you’ve learned that very well.”
Honestly, how often does a duchess personally draft a budget?
That’s not really her job.
Her job is to review and approve the documents submitted by her staff.
So this level of knowledge was already more than enough.
“It hasn’t even been that long since you started studying, and look at what you’ve accomplished. That’s honestly amazing.”
The princess still had her head buried on the desk…
But her ears? Her ears were way more honest.
Every time I praised her, they perked up—just a little.
‘Okay, almost there.’
I gently coaxed her some more.
“A little more, and you’ll be able to handle household management all by yourself.”
“You’re really talented, Your Highness. I mean it.”
Finally, after a few rounds of encouragement…
The princess slowly raised her head.
She still looked pouty, but she reached her hand out toward me.
“Well… give me the budget again.”
Whew. She’s feeling better.
Relieved, I quickly handed it back.
With renewed motivation, the princess started fixing her mistakes, muttering to herself.
As I listened to the scratch of her pen on the paper, I realized how peaceful this all felt.
‘Back when I was Seraphina’s lackey, I was always on edge.’
But when I’m with the princess… I actually feel calm.
“Here.”
Soon enough, she handed the corrected document back to me with a huffy turn of her head.
“Hey… when you said I was amazing… were you serious?”
She pouted.
“You’re not just saying that to cheer me up, right?”
Ah. She caught me.
But if I panicked now, I’d lose.
So I just smiled smoothly.
“Of course I meant it!”
Sure, I was trying to comfort her a little.
But I truly meant it, too.
She had no prior education in this area, and yet after just a week of studying…
She wasn’t the type with no brains at all—far from it.
Especially… her attitude toward learning.
People like Seraphina or Gregory always said numbers gave them headaches and dumped all the work on me.
The princess might grumble, but she wasn’t unmotivated.
A little while later, after reviewing everything, I clapped enthusiastically.
“Wow, everything’s correct this time!”
“It took me five years of training to get to this level! And here you are already—are you secretly a genius, Your Highness?”
She still didn’t say anything, lips pressed together…
But I could see it.
Her pout was slowly, slowly fading.
“But Lady Ansi.”
Even her voice sounded noticeably softer now.
“Why are we only doing mock budgets? I’m going to be doing the real thing eventually, right? Shouldn’t I start with actual practice?”
“Nope.”
I shook my head firmly.
“Before we started, what did I tell you?”
“…That household budgeting isn’t like a one-time event, and I should talk with the butler or administrators first.”
“And?”
“And that an outsider shouldn’t get involved in the full townhouse budget or staffing decisions.”
“Exactly. Well remembered.”
I gave her a satisfied nod.
“Lady Ansi, you’re so strict. But still…”
She pouted again, then mumbled softly while looking away:
“…That’s why I can trust you.”
Huh?
I was busy organizing papers and missed the last part.
I tilted my head.
“Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. Could you repeat it?”
“Nothing.”
She turned away with a “hmph.”
‘If it was important, she’d probably say it again.’
I just shrugged.
Still…
She’d worked so hard.
‘I think she deserves a little reward.’
“Your Highness.”
I began, voice lowered ever so slightly.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to get a new teapot set for tea time?”
“W-What did you just say?!”
She whipped her head around, eyes sparkling.
“Are we really doing it now? Is this the real thing?!”
Getting a teapot set wasn’t exactly a huge expense, so…
I figured it wouldn’t be a big deal if I handled it.
I gave her a gracious nod.
“I’ll ask them to bring the brand catalogs. But before that—what do you need to do?”
“Price comparison!”
She clenched both fists proudly.
“But don’t focus only on price. I need to consider quality too. Don’t just look at documents—ask for samples! And I have to check their condition when they arrive!”
“Exactly.”
As she rattled off her answers, I nodded with satisfaction.
Honestly, the way she soaked up knowledge like this made teaching her really rewarding.
Then, after a moment of watching me closely, she spoke up quietly:
“Um, Lady Ansi.”
“Yes?”
“I… kind of want to buy five different sets, one from each brand…”
Wait, what?
Five sets?! From every vendor in the capital?!
I couldn’t help but frown.
“No. Two sets max.”
“Hmph.”
She slumped her shoulders in disappointment.
A Few Days Later…
‘Hmm?’
Something felt unusually busy at the townhouse.
Duke Dietrich, who’d been working in his office since morning, stood up, puzzled.
He looked outside through the window.
Traders were bustling into the townhouse, holding boxes carefully wrapped in cloth.
‘What’s going on…?’
Dietrich frowned and pulled the bell cord.
The butler entered and bowed politely.
“You called, sir?”
“I saw merchants entering the townhouse. What’s happening?”
“Ah, Her Highness is choosing a new teapot set for tea time.”
The butler smiled.
“She requested sample products, and today is the day she’ll be reviewing them.”
“…Samples?”
For a moment, Dietrich looked completely stunned.
