I Did a Good Job For the Villain's Early Education - Chapter 50.2
Chapter 50.2
“I thought so, too, but…”
“I’ve got it all figured out. Don’t you trust your daughter?”
“No.”
His time in the cold North seemed to have made his responses even more blunt.
“Sana agreed. Right?”
“Yes, Father. It’s manageable. There are a few budget items we’ll need to adjust, but it won’t be a problem.”
The siblings exchanged a knowing glance. Avel and Sananeth had cleverly reduced Noltie’s actual living expenses to cover the physician’s salary on paper. What a cost-effective solution!
“If Sana’s checked it, then it’s fine. Everything’s been alright? Noltie, you’ve been working hard.”
“We’re family. And I’m quite efficient, you know.”
“…Greta was efficient, too.”
“Ha, but she wasn’t very good with housework. I’m much more capable.”
“That’s one way you differ from Greta.”
No matter how Noltie tried to present herself, the conversation always circled back to Avel’s birth mother, Greta. Noltie’s face, which had been brazenly telling tales, darkened.
‘If someone I liked acted like that, I’d give up immediately.’
“Dad, enough with the old stories. Everything alright in the North?”
“What trouble could there be? It’s still snowing, but…”
“It’s exceptionally cold there. Avel worries a lot, Baron.”
“Is that so? Vel, I worry about you more.”
“Where will you find a daughter as reliable as me?”
“That’s why I worry.”
“Fair enough.”
“Sister is…” Cheza, then Cardel, then Sananeth chimed in. Noltie’s plump cheeks puffed out in annoyance at the chorus of agreement.
“Who in the capital would even dare to bother me?”
“Hmm…”
“Who would dare?”
“That’s true, but… Sana, everything really was alright?”
“…Yes.” Sananeth glanced sideways at the suspicious physician, then changed the subject. “I’m as worried about Father as Sister is. Truly, nothing happened?”
“Of course not. Even though it’s the Defense Force, we’re not actively preparing for war. It’s mostly just dealing with minor incidents in the villages.”
“What happened recently?”
“Let me see… there was a love triangle between a father and son.”
“Huh?”
“Some young woman borrowed money and disappeared, apparently. The whole village was in an uproar.”
“The North sounds exciting.” Cardel, who had been listening to Dane, chimed in casually. “It’s not just the North. There are even wilder stories in high society. People sharing lovers, for example.”
Cardel, who had been silently working her fork, added dryly, “A husband takes a beautiful mistress, but it turns out the mistress and the wife have a long-standing, intimate relationship.”
“Oh my, oh my.”
“A daughter is assigned a knight as a bodyguard, but it turns out the knight and the wife… Ah, this is where the younger generation should stop listening.” Cardel, belatedly noticing the Baron’s look, shrugged nonchalantly.
Click. Avel, who had been listening intently without realizing it, poked a cherry tomato with her broken fork. “Where do you hear these stories?”
‘She’s good at gossip.’
The high level of intrigue earned bonus points.
“From Father.”
“Indeed, the Rose of High Society.”
“…Vel.”
“Yes?”
“We have guests. Let’s leave it at that.”
“But our guest is telling such an interesting story… Fine.” Any more, and she’d be in for a day-long lecture.
As the atmosphere grew somewhat somber, Cardel tried to lighten the mood. “There’s some actual news, too.”
“The previous news was plenty interesting, ahem, what is it?”
“Did you hear about the redevelopment plans for several districts in the capital?”
“Where did you hear that?”
“The Royal Family, of course. It’s a national project, for now. House Merkion is supposed to be cooperating.”
“Cooperating?”
“Leading it, actually. They’re going to completely demolish certain areas and create a multi-purpose cultural district.” Cardel trailed off, implying he didn’t know the finer details.
The broken fork teetered back and forth like a seesaw. “Is Duke Merkion a brunette? Or a blond? Silver-haired?”
“…Red-haired. Why?”
“Ah, red hair is a bit ambiguous.”
Blond or silver would have been definitive. In worlds like this, the rise and fall of empires often hinged on hair color. Brunette would have been a sure thing, too. Avel glanced at the neat profile beside her, diligently chewing his food.
Just then…
“Master! Master!” A frantic voice cut through the dining room. “A guest… a guest!”
“Now? We’re in the middle of dinner. Unless it’s urgent—”
“From… from the Royal Palace!”
