Became the Owner of a Poor Estate
Chapter 19
Viscount Patrasche had read the message delivered by the carrier pigeon at daybreak several times, yet he still could not let it go.
The short letter, consisting of only a few lines, contained news of a nature he had never encountered before.
Tap, tap, tap.
His long index finger tapped rhythmically against the mahogany desk.
This was originally the desk used by his half-brother, the former Lord of Grace.
This desk, handed down through generations of the family, could only be used by a Lord who had earned the recognition of the vassals.
Naturally, therefore, this desk belonged to him. Even when he had traded a few dresses for it, foolish Chloe had clapped her hands in delight.
His gaze remained fixed on the stationery, which was smaller than his palm.
“Selling jewels to a jeweler and distributing grain to the fief people… Chloe is doing things she’s never done before.”
“Maybe Chloe has finally given up on everything. To go as far as selling her mother’s keepsakes that she cherished so much.”
At the Viscount’s monologue, Aileen, who was sipping tea on the office sofa, spoke in a heavily condescending voice.
Aileen was the same age as Chloe.
Compared to the stupid, lazy, and self-centered Chloe, Aileen was intelligent, diligent, and hardworking in everything she did—the pride of the Viscount and the jewel of the family.
Her brilliant blonde hair and light green eyes, said to resemble the new sprouts of spring, made Aileen’s beauty even more dazzling.
Her slender waist and full bosom set many a man’s heart aflutter, and her shining intellect earned the praise of every noblewoman whenever a salon was held.
Though his title was modest, the prevailing opinion was that only Viscount Patrasche, who had built a massive fortune on his own, was fit to succeed the Marquis Grace family. His influence, therefore, was equal to that of any high-ranking noble. As if to prove it, most of the Grace territory was already within his grasp.
The Viscount’s eyebrows, which had been furrowed while reading the message, relaxed into a comfortable expression the moment he looked at his daughter.
Whenever he saw those light green eyes, said to appear only in those blessed by the Goddess of Spring, he felt reassured, as if he were looking at the guaranteed future of his house.
The Viscount’s eyes as he looked at Aileen were full of pride and affection.
His daughter was incomparably more brilliant and beautiful than Chloe, and she held significant recognition in high society. The whispers that used to subtly ignore her for being illegitimate had gradually faded as Viscount Patrasche’s wealth grew. Now, everywhere they went, people were dying to get close to him.
“Indeed. If only Chloe were as clever as you, the Grace territory wouldn’t have fallen into such ruin.”
“I think it’s a relief, since our own territory has grown because of it. Perhaps it was meant to be this way from the start.”
At his daughter’s words, the Viscount’s lips curled into a wide, satisfied arc.
“True. So, do you think Chloe’s sudden change is because she has let go of everything?”
The Viscount was full of anticipation for what sharp answer would come next.
“Chloe never thinks about the consequences. She always makes impulsive decisions on the spot. She’s quick to trust and easily deceived. But there’s no growth. She always blames others. Even though her fief has shriveled up like that, seeing her still following some man around without coming to her senses says it all.”
Aileen took a sip of tea and continued. Her voice was filled with conviction.
“Chloe Grace is a lost cause. The entire Grace territory will fall into our hands before the year is out. And at a bargain price, too. Chloe doesn’t even think to check the market value of the land.”
The Viscount nodded with satisfaction as he listened to his daughter’s reply.
There wasn’t a single thing wrong in what Aileen said.
To anyone else, it was clear he was snatching up the choice land of the fief for a pittance, yet Chloe viewed the Viscount as a grateful man who bought her land for her whenever she ran out of money.
She was so easy to handle; after buying land at dirt-cheap prices, he would hand her a few dresses covered in the lace she loved as 'gifts,' and she would be beside herself with joy.
Clever Aileen would go with him every time to cater to Chloe’s mood, praising her and telling her how beautiful she looked in the tacky dresses.
“I’m planning to send out invitations for my birthday party. I’m so looking forward to seeing what state she’ll be in when she shows up.”
Aileen giggled, feeling delighted at the thought of Chloe appearing in a dress dripping with lace, completely unaware of how unfashionable she looked.
Oblivious Chloe would surely walk around smiling like an idiot, happy at the sarcastic compliments, never realizing that people were mocking her.
“I plan to visit Grace around next week. Will you come with me this time as well?”
“Of course. Who else would help you if not me? Trust me again this time. It’ll be nice to give her the invitation in person while we’re there.”
The Viscount smiled broadly and patted Aileen’s shoulder affectionately.
“I should send word that we’re coming next week. Why don’t you write this letter?”
“Gladly. I’ll write it so that Chloe will be over the moon when she receives it. Oh! I should also send a brooch I don’t wear anymore. If I lie and say it’s something I cherish, Chloe will probably be so touched she won't know what to do with herself.”
“Good idea. Then, which land do you think would be best to acquire this time?”
At the Viscount’s question, Aileen’s light green eyes sparkled with intelligence.
“Hmm…, I think it would be good to buy Morta Village.”
“And why is that?”
The Viscount’s face was full of amusement as he asked.
The conclusion was already settled in his mind, but confirming his daughter’s brilliance was one of his greatest pleasures.
“In Morta Village, the area suitable for farming is probably less than a tenth of the total land.”
“And yet, it’s worth buying before other places?”
“Of course. Morta Village has the Black Forest, doesn’t it?”
“But the Black Forest must be crawling with monsters?”
“But that also means there are many things worth money. Hunting monsters to sell their byproducts and cutting down trees to process them into lumber will bring in an enormous fortune.”
“What about the fief people?”
“Just give them a bit of money and drive them to hunt monsters. People who are starving will run into the forest like madmen even for a pittance. They’ll serve as excellent bait.”
Viscount Patrasche’s face was filled with a wide smile as he looked at Aileen.
Taking after him, Aileen was clever and persistent, doing her best in everything until she saw results.
She studied many subjects out of interest and was quite skilled in swordsmanship, rivaling any average knight.
If he put Aileen at the forefront when the monster hunting was nearing completion, she might even become a national hero.
The day when the name ‘Grace’ would be permitted only to his own family was not far off.
*
The long line in front of the temporary distribution center gradually shortened until only about half remained.
Scrooge and the knights could not hide their amazement as they watched the Lord, who stood guard at the center despite the cold air from the overcast sky, never once complaining or retreating into her carriage.
Could a person really change that much in just a few days?
They rubbed their eyes several times, unsure if they were seeing things.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
The butler asked, seeing the Lord looking not at the people receiving food, but toward the area around the broken fountain.
“The children.”
“Pardon? The children?”
Scrooge hadn’t even realized the children were there until he belatedly spotted them playing near the fountain.
“Did those children perhaps commit some discourtesy toward you, My Lord…?”
As Scrooge trailed off, a hint of worry returned to his eyes.
He feared the thoughtless children might have offended the sensitive Lord’s temperament.
Meanwhile, Donghee understood why he didn't trust her, but she really disliked the way he looked at her with eyes that automatically made her feel guilty every time she spoke.
Donghee let out a deep sigh, her eyes still fixed on the children as she murmured.
“Those kids must be so cold. Their clothes are too thin.”
They were people who might disappear as suddenly as she had dropped into this place one day. Even so, Donghee wasn't cold-hearted enough to ignore the children running around half-naked before her eyes.
Even if these people were simply game characters, Donghee would have worked hard to accumulate points to provide clothes for them, even if she didn't go as far as spending real money.
“Pardon?”
Once again, words he never expected came from the Lord.
“Is there a tailor nearby?”
Having heard the term somewhere, Donghee looked for a tailor rather than a clothes merchant.
“Nobles have their clothes made by tailors. Most commoners make their own clothes or inherit them from siblings.”
“I see.”
“The tailors who were within Grace Castle also left for other places as the drought dragged on.”
She recalled hearing on the news that when an economic recession hits, the first shops to struggle are flower shops and clothing stores.
Well, new clothes or flowers weren't exactly items related to survival.
Donghee nodded in understanding and continued.
“Then find the nearest tailor. Also, send someone to the city to say we want to buy fabric, and request that tailors visit our fief. Be sure to tell them we’ll pay a generous travel fee.”
“A travel fee?”
It was a very good thing that the Lord had suddenly become a sane person, but as time passed, Scrooge couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
It was because every hour, the Lord was doing things the Chloe Grace he knew would never do.
And a travel fee, of all things.
“They’re coming a long way, so we should pay a travel fee. How long will it take to get a tailor?”
“I will do my best, but it will take at least a month. May I ask why you are calling for a tailor?”
