-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: An Unannounced Visit
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I skimmed through the documents.
The proposal format, the handwriting, and the seal stamped at the end were all nearly identical.
“Fabius? Most of these are from them.”
“They are a construction guild that does business with the family.”
“Don’t other guilds bid?”
“We haven’t specifically requested bids.”
A family like the Ivrantes would have their preferred designs set, and with money to spare, there was no need to cut costs.
So it was unlikely they would have bothered with a bidding process.
‘It would just create more work.’
“What’s the procedure when Fabius sends a proposal?”
“The estate manager reviews it and requests approval, then I allocate the budget.”
“So the butler doesn’t check the fine details.”
“As long as it’s within the budget, I approve it. Is there a problem?”
The butler wasn’t the type to collude with a construction guild and embezzle funds. The estate manager must be the problem.
“Fire the estate manager.”
“…Has he been embezzling?”
I held out the two proposals I was looking at.
“This one is a proposal for a one-story stable, and the one next to it is for a four-story villa. The scale of the projects is completely different, but the labor costs are nearly the same.”
“You’re right…”
“Fabius probably has a separate price sheet just for the Ivrantes. The manager must have told them the budget, and they just fudged the numbers to match before submitting it.”
“…”
“From now on, switch to a bidding system. And have at least two managers review the submitted proposals at random.”
The butler, who had been examining the proposals with a furrowed brow, suddenly looked up at me.
“But did you just discover this embezzlement now? From this entire list?”
After toiling under a professor famous for architectural audits, I could tell just by looking at the paperwork whether a construction company was playing games.
If I dug deeper, I could probably find more instances of embezzlement, but I had no intention of doing so.
I was busy as hell. Who had time to cross-reference every single item?
The Ivrante family wasn’t going to collapse over this amount of money.
“…I got lucky.”
“Understood. I will dismiss the current estate manager and hire two more. Do you have any further instructions?”
[Step 3: (Nodding) How are the preparations for Piache Academy coming along?]
“How are the preparations for Piache Academy coming along?”
“The preparations are complete, but I have not submitted the paperwork.”
“Why?”
“You said you were putting the donation on hold, so I assumed you had changed your mind. Was I mistaken?”
Ah, right, the donation. I was so preoccupied with the plans that I’d completely forgotten.
[Step 3: (Annoyed) Who told you to make that decision on your own?]
“Who told you to make that decision on your own?”
“…My apologies.”
“Submit the Piache admission papers and proceed with the donation as planned.”
“In that case, I suppose I can send the two gentlemen away.”
“Two gentlemen?”
“Headmaster Oswald and Professor Luspell have been waiting in the drawing-room for about two hours. It seems they’ve come to request the donation.”
The fact that Luspell waited for two hours without blowing up this mansion… He really had changed.
A heavy weight of guilt settled in my chest.
I shot a glare at the innocent butler for no reason.
“Why are you only telling me this now?”
“Because you instructed me not to inform you of guests who arrive without an appointment, my lady.”
“Ah… Ah, right. I did say that…”
Wincing, I quickly glanced at the butler.
But he remained impassive, like a loyal retainer who never questions his master’s actions.
“Bring them here.”
“Yes, my lady.”
A moment later.
Oswald and Luspell arrived in the study, guided by the butler.
Despite having waited for two hours, Oswald showed no sign of irritation. He greeted me politely.
“Thank you for granting us your precious time, despite us dropping in without an appointment, Duchess… Professor Luspell? What are you doing? Greet the Duchess.”
“…”
Luspell just stood there blankly. Oswald forced his look of utter frustration into a strained smile.
“As I mentioned before, Professor Luspell is a man of few words and rather shy…”
“…”
“Ahem! I will apologize on his behalf.”
The spirits’ conversation flowed directly into my mind.
They really didn’t need to telepathically broadcast their gossip to me…
[Oh my, what happened to Lord Luspell? He looks like a shut-in who finally crawled out of his room after three years.]
[This is an improvement. Last time I saw him, I thought he was a corpse.]
[He’s so damn gloomy. I don’t even want to get close. Gnome, what do you think?]
[…]
The spirits could be quite harsh toward humans who weren’t their contractors.
‘He looks fine to me.’
Seeing Luspell after three days, he looked slightly better than before.
For one, some color had returned to his face.
His lips were still chapped, but they weren’t bleeding like last time.
His skin was a little smoother, and the shadows under his eyes had faded slightly.
Though his hair still obscured his eyes…
‘If only he’d tidy up his hair a bit.’
Still, I was so glad to see him out of that coffin-like laboratory.
It meant he’d found the will to come this far.
‘Has he lost interest in me?’
The interest that had sparked when I called him ‘Pel’ seemed to have vanished.
His attitude toward me now was not the least bit special.
If anything, it was like he was dealing with someone annoying and unpleasant.
‘Well…’
The fact that he’d been quiet all this time was proof he’d lost interest in me.
If Luspell had been interested in me, he would have already sought me out to question, observe, and torment me, setting countless traps.
‘Phew, what a relief.’
I sat on the sofa, hiding my sense of relief.
“Sit.”
“Thank you, Duchess.”
As we took our seats, the butler served iced tea.
Oswald gulped down his iced tea.
It seemed the butler hadn’t even served them tea while they waited.
“Phew, I was so thirsty. That really hit the spot.”
“Your business?”
“We’ve come today to explain the truth behind the unfortunate incident at the academy and to offer our formal apology.”
“The truth? Are you saying someone forced Professor Luspell to hang himself?”
Luspell had simply been tormented by guilt until he finally gave up on himself.
What kind of ‘truth’ could possibly be hidden here?
“N-no, that’s not it. However, the academy’s internal investigation has confirmed that Professor Luspell was in the middle of an experiment.”
“Ah, an experiment on magic casting success rates and activation delays while in a life-threatening situation?”
Surely you don’t expect me to believe that?
Despite my sarcasm, Oswald’s expression remained firm.
“It may be hard to believe, but it was indeed an experiment. Therefore, Professor Luspell will not be dismissed from the academy.”
“Even if I withdraw my donation?”
“We fully understand that you must be disappointed in the academy after this incident. Nevertheless, our decision will not change.”
“Did you come all this way just to tell me that?”
“It is a fact that you were alarmed, Duchess. We must properly apologize for what needs to be apologized for and put the matter to rest. That is why we came.”
This meant that not only Oswald but the entire academy was prepared to protect Luspell.
Even if it meant making an enemy of me, a duchess.
‘Oh, I like this.’
Why would I be upset that my friend’s workplace valued him so highly?
If anything, I felt proud that my friend was so well-regarded.
I was planning to make the donation anyway, so I should probably let this go.
“What happened that day… Let’s not speak of it again.”
“Thank you. This may sound like an excuse, but Professor Luspell says he never imagined someone would enter during his experiment.”
“I’ve heard that’s what happens when mages focus on something.”
“So you know! Yes, that’s the problem with mages. When they concentrate, they completely forget where they are. Honestly.”
“That must cause a lot of trouble.”
“Indeed! Professor Luspell also said he learned a great deal from this incident. That he can’t go on living like this, and that he’s full of regret. Isn’t that right, Professor Luspell?”
Luspell didn’t answer.
He just sat listlessly on the sofa, blinking his eyes.
Flustered, Oswald shot a glance in my direction.
“P-Professor Luspell, the other day, when I said I was going to see the Duchess, didn’t you insist on coming along? You were planning to apologize to Her Grace. Right?”
“…”
“Right?”
“…Ugh!”
Oswald’s furious elbow jabbed hard into Luspell’s arm.
‘No, old man, use your words! He transferred the pain to that arm that day!’
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Oswald bared his teeth and whispered to Luspell.
“My dear pupil, how did your master’s teeth end up like this again?”
Luspell’s eyes slid sideways. He looked slightly troubled.
Weren’t Oswald’s front teeth broken in a failed experiment?
I pretended I hadn’t heard anything and sipped my tea.
“Professor Luspell, since the Duchess has been so kind as to grant us her time, if you have anything prepared to say, please speak your mind… Sit up straight, and sit properly!”
Luspell grimaced, rubbing his arm, then abruptly held out his hand.
“Sorry.”
Seriously, who apologizes to a duchess with a handshake? It’s not like we’re friends.
Just as I was about to laugh at his ignorance of aristocratic etiquette,
Undine’s voice echoed in my mind.
[Rian, Luspell’s magic is stirring.]
