Chapter 45
45. Lady of the House2022.02.03.
“……?”
A weekly salary of 30 gold? It felt so unrealistic that she wasn’t even surprised. Offering what amounted to a full year’s salary as a week’s pay. Was he just testing the waters…? Reina naturally took it as a joke and smiled. As if Sir Arthur had that kind of money lying around. But Arthur didn’t smile along with her.
“……?”
Arthur propped his chin on his hand, one eyebrow furrowed in a sullen expression as he stared at Reina. Then he spoke.
“……I am the heir to House Julius. For now, I only have authority over family matters, and the Julius private fortune isn’t mine yet.”
“……?”
Arthur continued.
“I hold inheritance rights to half of Marquis Julius’s estate through the marriage contract guaranteed by the imperial family. I’ve also been promised rewards from the crown.”
Reina stared at him in bewilderment. Heir to House Julius…? Of course. Reina knew that much. She’d known it all along, but…. She had devoured every gazette and newspaper article buzzing about it. Yet neither the world at large, nor the gazettes, nor even Reina knew the specific details of the marriage contract between “Arthur” and “House Julius.” Arthur gave a wry smile and went on.
“As compensation for my service in the war, I’m entitled to an annual pension of 10,000 gold from Marquis Julius for the next ten years. I’ve already received 100,000 gold as a lump sum.”
“…….”
Reina’s mouth fell open in a daze. Arthur’s lips curved in a faint, bitter smile.
“……It seems you don’t know much about me after all.”
* * * After stepping into the bathroom, Arthur leaned back against the closed door. He squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“…….”
……Pathetic. Reeling off my assets like some boastful show-off.
“…….”
What if she thought I was trying to buy her off? Arthur stood lost in silent thought for a moment before letting out a sigh and turning on the cold water. * * * Marquis mansion, Matilda Julius’s room. Once the day’s schedule was down to tasks the lady of the house didn’t need to attend, Matilda wrapped up on her own and retreated to her room. She went straight to the study and unrolled the mansion blueprint across her desk. Rustle! She placed a paperweight on the curling edge and began scanning the vacant rooms one by one. A fair number were marked in blue ink as “spaces yielded to Arthur”—off-limits—but that didn’t dampen the marchioness’s flushed cheeks. A rare spark of pleasant enthusiasm and vitality lit her face. It was because her daughter’s admirable declaration of helping with mansion affairs as the future lady of the house had sparked a brilliant idea. A new bridal chamber. She would prepare a new one for her daughter. Bigger and better than the room Reina was using. Filled with finer, more expensive furniture.
‘If only she’d thought of this sooner—why stew in anger all that time!’
The marchioness’s mood lifted. True, decorating that other room had cost a fortune and taken over a month of effort—a waste, really—but she brushed aside any regrets. She couldn’t have her daughter using hand-me-downs from a lowly maid. Not for a bridal chamber. And especially not the bed. Matilda was struck anew by her spirited daughter’s words. Christina would become this mansion’s lady of the house, after all. The room she claimed would be the main bedroom. There was no reason to seethe over some precious bridal chamber occupied by a servant girl. She could simply discard it. Matilda’s eyes sparkled as she swept over the spacious unused rooms on the blueprint. Let’s see…. On second thought, quite a few of the gifts pouring into the marquis mansion were usable. With so many fine items, she could craft a room far superior to the last one—no regrets at all. She’d vowed to spend at least double what the previous bridal chamber had cost, but as she chuckled to herself about wanting to splurge yet being limited, she called for the head butler.
“Jim. You have the ledger recording the incoming gifts, don’t you? Bring it here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Using them for Christina’s bridal chamber would be a tremendous honor for the senders. As head butler Jim exited, the head maid entered to take his place. The marchioness greeted her warmly.
“Ah, Olga! Come take a look at this with me. What’s this room being used for right now?”
Olga approached.
“Won’t you change out of your dress first?”
The marchioness, too impatient with excitement, pressed on.
“This first. I’m selecting a room to redecorate as Christina’s bedroom—the lady of the house.”
Olga joined her at the desk to examine the blueprint. Arthur had claimed a third of the mansion, shrinking the available space considerably, but the marquis mansion was vast. Over a hundred rooms still remained for the marchioness. There was ample room to work with. She picked out the largest, best-positioned, and most promising ones.
“Olga. What about this room? It’s unused, right?”
The head maid glanced at it.
“That’s where the old madam keeps her treasured items. Should we send a letter asking if we can clear it out? She rarely uses it even when she visits the mansion.”
Ah, Mother-in-law’s space. The marchioness gave up immediately.
“No, never mind. Then this one? It’s quite spacious, good location too. What was it used for?”
Her eye caught a broad room that had narrowly escaped Arthur’s allocation. The head maid checked.
“It’s for storing jewels and luxury goods. Lately, with all the paintings arriving, we’ve hung the expensive ones there too.”
She remembered. A grand room for showing off to occasional visitors. The jewel storage room.
“…….”
Perfect. It suited Christina.
“It probably gets good sunlight, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. We’ve got blackout curtains now to protect the paintings, but the windows are wide, south-facing—it’ll be bright once we draw them back.”
Good. This room looks promising. She checked a few others, but none measured up. It was adjacent to Arthur’s section too, positioned right between “Arthur” and “Julius”—a nice symbolic touch. She liked it all the more for that. The head maid agreed.
“Can we clear out the things in here?”
“Yes. Three days should do it.”
For once, the marchioness issued the order with genuine pleasure.
“Perfect. We’ll redecorate this one—help me out. The new lady of the house’s bedroom. At least 1,000 gold, no cutting corners.”
It would be a gift for Christina. * * *
After Arthur stepped out, saying he’d be back soon, Reina stood blankly before the fireplace. Then she squatted down.
“…….”
To think I don’t know Sir Arthur. The words struck her harder than expected. Of course…. She had wrongly assumed the heir to House Julius—the century’s triumphant general, promised imperial rewards—had no money and was clueless about the world. She truly hadn’t known him at all. But aside from that, I know so much about you. A strange sense of grievance welled up. The strategy Sir Arthur used in the Flambert Plains battle. How he rescued Crown Prince Kyle. How desperate that fight had been…. The cigar he smoked after the final battle. She’d memorized it all from the gazettes, even if that was her only source….
“…….”
Reina felt glum. Well…. No matter how diligently she collected and memorized those gazettes, she could never know everything about him….
That Sir Arthur hated mushrooms. That he looked impossibly dashing while smoking a cigar. That his heart was so generous. That his voice was incredibly appealing. None of it could be gleaned from newspaper articles.
“…….”
A quiet melancholy settled over Reina. Sir Arthur felt more distant than ever—a man glimpsed only through newsprint. She stared blankly at the burning logs in the fireplace, lost in thought.
‘A weekly salary of 30 gold….’
Its true weight went beyond the staggering sum. Without living expenses eating into it, she could save fast. Even with such a lavish wage, after covering costs for two people, she’d only net about 10 gold a year. She’d scraped together 60 gold over a lifetime of work—30 gold a week was unimaginable, flooding her with an emotion beyond words. Yet her mind raced with calculations, doubting if Sir Arthur’s offer could really hold up. If she accepted and it panned out as he said, 120 gold in a month…. She could ditch House Julius’s generous pay, gain independence right away, and buy a decent house. Far better than the modest one she’d aimed for. As long as she didn’t get greedy for luxury, she could even set aside enough living expenses to last without work for a while….
“…….”
No…. Reina scrubbed her dry face, burying it in her palms as she bowed her head. Living expenses…. Focus on living expenses. Don’t get dazzled by the instant windfall. A house alone doesn’t mean free living. Sir Arthur had promised 30 gold weekly, sure—but no guarantee of how many weeks. If the marquis wrapped things up smoothly with him, Christina could reclaim her place any day now, and Reina might be out tomorrow. This wasn’t a lifelong gig. Besides, 50 silver was plenty if someone just cared for Grandmother. She’d needed money before only for Grandmother and a place of her own—but with Julius assigning a doctor, that desperation for risky cash was gone. Even weekly 30 gold—what would she spend it on besides a house and Grandmother? She didn’t crave big gambles. And Taylor was already with Grandmother. Next week, she’d meet him and get an update. If she fell for Sir Arthur’s 30-gold pitch, got caught betraying Julius, only for him and the marquis to reconcile peacefully in under a month—losing her secure job and Taylor forever…. That would be utter folly. She couldn’t stay in this role much longer anyway…. Reina covered her eyes with both hands, cradling her face.
“…….”
I’d regret it. ……Right? If Grandmother passed…. ……So until she’s gone.
“…….”
The thought choked her, as always. Reina clamped her lips shut. While Grandmother lived…. She wouldn’t risk a thing. She hadn’t repaid a single ounce of Grandmother’s love and kindness. Grandmother wouldn’t stay by her side forever. She had to make good while she could.
“…….”
Money didn’t matter. Grandmother was everything to Reina. Proven care, already in place. Against a gamble she’d have to abandon. No contest. And Sir Arthur had to head to the capital soon for the triumphal procession. If she betrayed Julius rashly now…. In a Julius territory without him, who would watch over Grandmother for months?
“…….”
Reina gazed blankly into the mirror. Her makeup-free face looked stark and pale.
“…….”
……What if I just tell him the truth and ask for help? That Grandmother needs a doctor. If he could promise that too…. And the money he mentioned…. Even if I can’t stay by his side long…. Could he guarantee some amount…. Enough for me to spend Grandmother’s remaining years safely with her, even just a few. Then…. Then I would.
“…….”
Reina stared blankly at the burning logs in the fireplace. Next week……. Next week. The day to meet Taylor was drawing near.
