Chapter 16:
“…Excuse me?”
“The Duke? That… kid? Are you kidding me?”
All they had heard were rumors — that she was a brat, dumb, and mean-spirited. Few had actually seen her in person.
“I’ll explain in more detail once I return. For now, gather a few people and send them ahead as the first group. Once the duchy starts recovering, we’ll arrange for others to return gradually. In the meantime, rest.”
Their expressions turned strange.
Understandably so — every letter they’d received until now had been about needing money or reporting how much more debt had piled up.
And now, they’re being told to come back?
Surely, they were either dreaming or being pranked.
“It seems the Duke’s deputy has fallen ill. They urgently need someone to handle finances and someone skilled in negotiation and trade.”
Even as he spoke, Lemanti looked confused.
And rightfully so — all of them had long since sworn never to return to the ducal estate.
“Hey, Lemanti. Is this for real?”
His lord, Cherban, who had only just woken up from fainting, looked up at him.
They were now used to how roughly he spoke after years at the front lines, no longer sounding like a noble.
“Yes.”
“…We can really go back?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What are the odds this is complete crap?”
“It has the Duke’s official seal. It’s an order, so even if it’s a lie, we still have to go.”
At Lemanti’s reply, Cherban fell silent.
After a long pause, he nodded.
An official order had arrived. That meant they had to go.
“I’ll go. You stay here.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll pick five. The former administrator, treasurer, legal advisor, and the former knight commander.”
The post went quiet at Cherban’s words — it had been so long since they’d even heard those titles.
“We’ll leave early tomorrow morning. Be ready.”
“Understood.”
The outpost became instantly busy. Those who had been chosen hurried to pack.
Lemanti handed Cherban a letter.
He read it for a long time.
Over and over and over again.
‘Don’t get your hopes up too much.’
Only after some time did Cherban fold the letter and tuck it carefully into his coat, making a silent vow.
A week later.
In front of the Altard Duchy’s estate.
They had ridden non-stop from the edge of the Winter Mountains — and upon seeing the estate, their jaws dropped.
“What… is this?”
“This… this is supposed to be the ducal estate?”
The place was overgrown with vines and weeds, a desolate, eerie sight.
The front gate had no guards and stood wide open.
Well, no one would want to come near a place this ruined anyway.
From the outside, it looked like a haunted house.
“It’s worse than the last time I saw it.”
“The Altard estate in the capital used to be so beautiful…”
“…Let’s go in.”
Cherban, who had hesitated before the gate, finally stepped forward.
He urged his tired horse slowly past the unguarded entrance.
These old horses should’ve been retired by now. It was pitiful.
“Count Weatherby?”
“Oh, could that be… Albus?”
“My word, it’s been a long time. You look… stronger now.”
Albus looked shocked as he took in the returnees — burly and muscular.
He had heard that a recall order had been sent, but he hadn’t expected such rugged men to come back.
Back when he’d last seen them, they had been slim and looked like they’d never been in a fight.
“Haha, don’t we look like anything but pampered nobles now?”
“Not at all. It’s good to see you healthy.”
“So, we received the order… but is this a scam or what?”
“…Excuse me?”
Cherban’s rough tone made Albus blink.
In his memory, Count Cherban Weatherby had been the very model of a refined noble.
“It’s true that the order came from the Duke.”
“So you’re telling me 80% of the debt’s been paid off?”
“Yes.”
“Bullshit.”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean, we’re not talking about just a few Rads — how could anyone do that?”
“The young master will explain in detail.”
“Young master? You can’t mean the late Duke — must be that snot-nosed kid from the funeral. How old is she now?”
Albus frowned at Cherban’s disrespectful tone.
“…Count Weatherby.”
“Oh, come on. You know I’m right. Last I heard, the debt was over 50 billion Rads…”
Albus shook his head, looking almost sympathetic.
“Rounded up, it was around 83.3 billion Rads.”
“Wh-what?! Are you insane…”
Cherban clutched the back of his neck.
Without a word, Albus led them on.
The others helped support Cherban as they followed, puzzled and tense.
They arrived at the office, where Albus knocked.
Knock knock.
“Your Grace, excuse me. A few retainers have returned, including Count Cherban Weatherby, formerly stationed at the Winter Mountains.”
“Really? Come in!”
The cheerful voice made them blink. It sounded far too young.
Cherban straightened himself.
Albus opened the door and the five men stepped inside.
The office was a complete mess.
Their eyes searched for the Duke.
Soon, a round face popped up from a mountain of paperwork on the floor.
“…Your Grace?”
“Yup! Hello!”
Startled for a second by her appearance, Eve gave a bright smile and waved.
“Let’s move to the parlor.”
“Ah, yes.”
Hopping along, Eve led the way to the adjoining parlor. Once Albus opened the door, she plopped into the main seat on an old, worn-out sofa.
“Come on, sit down, all of you.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Cherban reluctantly sat down, followed by the others.
With five large men in the room, the parlor felt cramped.
“Let’s skip the greetings for now…”
Albus placed one box in front of each of them.
Five boxes in total.
“Open them.”
Cherban, still skeptical, opened his box. His eyes widened.
A box full of gold bars.
The sparkling gold made the retainers’ jaws drop.
“I’ll bring tea.”
“Thanks.”
Albus brought out six teacups and placed them down.
The cups clearly bore signs of age but weren’t chipped.
‘…He must have taken good care of them.’
The contrast between the dainty teacups and the hulking men made them look like toys.
Their mouths still hung open in shock.
‘They’ll catch flies at this rate.’
Eve felt mildly concerned.
She studied the retainers carefully.
The man in the middle was one she remembered.
She wouldn’t have recognized him by appearance alone — but soft brown eyes and olive hair were rare.
Cherban Weatherby.
A member of the Weatherby family, a long-time retainer of the Altard Dukedom.
Had she not died in her past life, he would’ve been her chief aide.
‘Back then, he was elegant and refined — like something out of a noble textbook…’
He must’ve gone through a lot.
Now he was burly, unkempt, with patchy facial hair.
Scars marred his face, giving him a fierce appearance. His posture was also a bit rough.
Cherban stared at the box for a long time, then looked at her.
“What kind of new debt did you get into to give us this…? Or did you really think we’d be happy just to be bribed with this? Or worse, are you giving us this just to send us away—!”
Before he could finish, Eve clucked her tongue and held up one small finger, wagging it side to side.
“Nope. That’s your bonus.”
“Bo…nus…?”
