Chapter 41
“Ang, no.”
Theodore stepped past me and stood in front of the estate’s people.
“I, Theodore, will never give my friends to you. They will go with me and my house.”
Theodore plopped down on the ground. The estate folk stared at him with bewildered expressions.
From their point of view, if such troublemakers were taken away to the castle, it would be a joyful thing. But seeing the Grand Duchess shaking her head behind him, they figured they had no choice but to insist on keeping them.
One man skilled in flattery quickly fell prostrate and spoke.
“Please trust us, my lady.”
Ugh.
The crowd wasn’t pleased with that answer and shifted uneasily, but the Grand Duchess followed up.
“They say they will sincerely take care of them. Must we really bring them to the palace?”
“They’re not my friends’ friends,” Theodore pouted.
“Do these friends of yours feel the same way?”
I went to sit beside Theodore. He turned his eyes to me.
“Theo, remember the last wedding when you saw your grandfather, Marquis Michael Owen?”
“Yes.”
“If your grandfather says, ‘Our grandchild, the young lord, is so lovely. Come live in our house,’ would you go live there?”
“What? No! I, Theodore, will never allow that!”
Theodore shook his head furiously as if the idea was outrageous.
“Exactly. Nobody wants to leave their home to live elsewhere. These friends must feel the same.”
Theodore’s eyes wavered.
‘Good.’
Theodore looked at the puppies with regret. The dogs, clearly abused by the estate folk, were still growling.
“See? They don’t even want the estate people to care for them.”
I now looked down at the man prostrating.
“Were these dogs born here?”
The estate folk froze. They had never imagined the Grand Duchess would lower herself to speak to them directly. They all glanced at each other nervously, no one daring to answer.
“I asked if these dogs lived here.”
When I repeated myself, one finally tried to speak.
“Well, that is…”
As he hesitated, another quickly answered.
“It seems nobles from other regions secretly abandon them here.”
I frowned and turned to Ariel.
“Why here?”
“That is…”
“Because it was once demon territory?” I supplied.
“We beg forgiveness!”
‘So that’s it. The demon realm is a place of fear and contempt, but also scorn. Of course the proud citizens of the Empire would dump their unwanted burdens here.’
“So these strays wander the fields and hills of our land?”
“Yes, my lady. And not only dogs. There are many abandoned cats as well.”
“Then we cannot leave this problem as it is.”
I nodded meaningfully at the dogs. Theodore quickly hugged the golden retriever tight, as if afraid someone would take it away.
“No, son. We’ll build a new home for these sweet friends.”
“A new home?”
“Yes. They’ll live here, but since they have no proper shelter, they wander, digging up crops to survive. We’ll feed them, bathe them, treat their injuries. How does that sound?”
Theodore nodded eagerly.
“Eek!”
At the orphanage courtyard of Schlesien Castle, rainbow-colored soap bubbles floated into the sky. Children and Theodore helped wash the stray dogs, toweling them dry, running about excitedly, even jumping into the water.
Meanwhile, the estate folk, Ariel, and I were all getting soaked.
“You mean to use the demon farm from the war?”
The estate’s spokesman, who earlier begged for mercy, straightened in shock while scrubbing a big brown dog.
Of course he would be alarmed—the Grand Duchess had just spoken aloud of that forbidden place.
“Isn’t there one nearby? Have the abandoned dogs and cats cared for there.”
Ariel and Joseph’s eyes trembled with fear.
“Your Grace…”
I decided to appeal to their pride.
“Why? Because the demon farm symbolizes the demon realm?”
At my words, the knights and common folk alike went pale.
“But remember, this land was once the demon realm, where demons lived. Yet it must not be made a dumping ground for lives. This is a Hall of Honor, the Empire’s pride. Was it not seized in fierce battle during the Demon War?”
I stressed the last sentence as I looked over the townsfolk busily washing dogs.
Their expressions began to shift.
I sent a clean dog to the drying team and raised my voice confidently.
“Our people are not like those cruel imperials who abandoned these poor beasts. We defended the Empire with blood, and we preserved life. As true imperials, we must show that we treasure life with the pride of warriors.”
Faces grew solemn.
‘The pride of warriors.’
That phrase was once used by Emperor Julius the Brave, words that stirred the Empire’s heart. According to the books, the people living here had once volunteered to fight the demon realm, flocking as warriors of the Empire.
For them, words like ‘courage,’ ‘sacrifice,’ and ‘nobility’ were their very life and history, carried down through generations.
“Very well. With the pride of warriors, we shall remake the demon farm.”
At that, Theodore tugged on my skirt.
“What is a demon farm?” he asked.
I recalled what I had read: a training camp for newborn demons brought across from the demon realm, a boot camp for soldiers who would one day wage wars of blood.
If we turned that place into a shelter of love and salvation instead, perhaps we could prevent the world’s destruction.
It would not be easy for demons to bring death into a place tied to memories of life.
“The demon farm was where Emperor Julius reformed captured demons. Those who became mercenaries fought bravely against the demon realm.”
“Then if my friends go there, they’ll become my knights?” Theodore asked.
“Of course. If they train hard.”
A smile spread across Theodore’s face.
“Good. Then I, Theodore, command: bring them all to the demon farm.”
“But the place is in ruins, Your Grace,” the estate folk said uneasily.
“Yet the basic facilities should remain.”
“Yes, but weeds choke the grounds, fences need repair—there’s much work.”
“It won’t be perfect at first, but we can restore it little by little.”
I turned to Ariel.
“I’ve heard the orphans consider it an honor to work at Schlesien Castle.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Then select some who wish to help there. Their wages will be paid under the castle’s name.”
Ariel’s face brightened. I looked to the estate folk.
“Surely some who once managed the demon farm still live in the domain, correct?”
“Yes!”
“Find them. Among them choose a suitable overseer to run things properly again.”
“As you command.”
“And you—what’s your name?”
The spokesman jumped in surprise. Nobles rarely asked peasants’ names.
“Jo.”
“Good. For now, Jo, you will take charge.”
“Yes!” Jo’s booming voice made everyone laugh.
“Jo, seek out the former demon physicians. Have these dogs vaccinated against rabies first.”
“Right away!”
Just then Theodore tugged at my skirt again. I bent down.
“I, Theodore, will work there too!”
Thunder crashed, lightning flashed in the minds of all present—how could the noble heir work in such a place?
I was at a loss how to manage this.
But then the estate folk shouted together in praise.
“Long live the young lord!”
Wait… wasn’t this turning into a hurricane-level disaster?
‘Think, Kang Joo-hee. Think!’
Inside the Elliso Trading Company.
“Why is an additional loan not possible?”
Sitting arrogantly across from Gerald was Lady Shiny Euphon, Countess, Michael Owen’s former wife and mother of Sinclair.
After divorcing Michael, Shiny had used the alimony to run the “Lorea” trading company, one of the Empire’s large jewelry businesses.
Recently, under the Empress’s protection, “Lorea” had expanded into beauty treatments, enjoying booming success.
The “Lorea Boutique” used magic stones to smooth noblewomen’s wrinkles, plump under-eye lines and cheeks, and became all the rage. But recently severe side effects had occurred—skin necrosis.
Shiny had used the Empress’s power and huge payouts to silence victims, soothing them by claiming new magic stones for treatment were in development. But there were too many victims, and the costs of continuous support drove her business into financial trouble.
Today was the day to secure another loan, and the disguised Gerald planned to exploit it.
“It’s because of rumors, madam.”
“Rumors?” Shiny frowned. Gerald leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
“About your second daughter.”
“What?”
Shiny pressed her lips together.
“The Grand Duchess is your daughter, isn’t she?” Gerald baited.
Information suggested Michael visited the Empress’s palace in the mornings, while Shiny entered in the afternoons. Both discarded appearances for profit’s sake.
But why were they so indifferent toward their second daughter, Sinclair? Especially while running a magic-stone business?
The demon realm and magic stones were closely tied to Gerald’s domain as well.
Moreover, the Imperial Academy had research programs on magic stones.
Yet this cunning woman never used it. Strange, no?
Sinclair had remained cloistered before marriage. Even after her debutante ball, she never appeared in society, unlike Kenneth, the Empress, who actively engaged the Owen family.
Though separated, Shiny had worked hard for her elder daughter’s marriage, building the jewelry business and reigning in high society, even helping crown Kenneth as Empress.
But Sinclair? Different. During marriage talks, Shiny did not step in. She didn’t even attend the wedding.
Strange, isn’t it?
A mere Count’s house ignoring a chance to tie with a ducal family? Neither the Euphon patriarch nor the mother paid respects?
Gerald fixed his gaze on Shiny, who avoided his eyes.
She twisted her hair around her finger and asked,
“And what has the Grand Duchess to do with our loan business?”
“It’s about the Grand Duchess’s true identity, madam.”
At that, Shiny’s face froze.
But she gave no answer—of course not. The Empress’s throne itself was at stake.
Should he push further?
“Madam, you know our company deals only on trust.”
“Why else would I have dealt with you all this time?”
“Exactly. Even if cast into hell, our mouths remain shut.”
Shiny’s pupils trembled. Gerald smiled triumphantly and dropped the line.
“The Elliso Company is not shaken by rumors. We only wish to confirm trust.”
Shiny bit her lower lip hard, staring at the silver-haired woman in the butterfly mask.
