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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: A Lesson in Prudence
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“What, did the butler tell you?”
Evanjeline replied with a pout, then proudly held up three fingers.
“The teapot sets. I plan on having a total of three different kinds.”
“That’s up to you, but… is there a reason you need three different kinds?”
“I thought it would be nice to offer different teapot sets depending on the guest’s age or personality.”
Evanjeline shrugged.
“Older people visit our townhouse too, you know?”
She had a point.
Dietrich may have been an unusually young head of the family, but most of the vassals under the Duchy of Claudius were quite advanced in years.
Evanjeline pointed to the samples she had received in advance.
“So I looked at a few samples and decided to purchase two types, one from the Wells Company and one from the Reed Company.”
Her intention was clear the moment he saw the samples.
The first was a luxurious design for entertaining older nobles.
The second was a trendy, modern design that young nobles of Evanjeline’s age would likely prefer.
“There’s a vassal meeting soon, right? I asked for the fastest possible delivery so we can use them then.”
Evanjeline added, then peeked at Lalitt’s expression.
“Well, I do want to replace the ones we’re currently using, but…”
“There’s no need to replace something that’s perfectly fine, is there?”
The moment their eyes met, Lalitt’s own crinkled into a soft smile.
“There’s no need to be wasteful. Don’t you agree?”
A peculiar force emanated from Lalitt as she spoke.
Evanjeline felt a pang of guilt and shut her mouth.
“Er, well…”
She then turned to her brother and added nonchalantly.
“Anyway, including the ones we already have, we’ve decided to keep three types.”
A strange glint appeared in Dietrich’s eyes.
‘To think Eva would listen to someone so obediently.’
Evanjeline had lived her entire life as the highest-ranking lady in the empire.
Although she was generally good about listening to her brother, Dietrich.
Once she got stubborn or sulked, it was nearly impossible to dissuade her.
For such an Evanjeline to nod so readily at just a few words of admonishment…
“I’m proud of you, Eva.”
Dietrich, strangely moved, offered his praise.
“Hmph, this is nothing.”
Evanjeline puffed out her chest, looking pleased.
At the same time, Dietrich asked another question.
“But what you just said. About changing your service based on the guests’ age and personality.”
“What about it?”
“Was that your idea?”
The question hit its mark, and Evanjeline’s shoulders tensed.
“Well, of course it was…”
After a moment of hemming and hawing, Evanjeline pouted.
“...It was Lady Ansi’s idea.”
“I thought so.”
Dietrich chuckled.
Still, it was something to see his once-immature sister develop this much.
And so, Dietrich spoke without much thought.
“So, is there anything I can do to help? Should I increase the budget for you?”
The offer was made purely out of goodwill.
The larger the available budget, the more things she could do, after all.
However.
“Forgive me, but I must object.”
Unexpectedly, Lalitt shook her head.
“Lady Ansi?”
Dietrich looked at Lalitt, surprised.
Lalitt met Dietrich’s gaze with unwavering eyes.
“I am well aware you made the offer out of your affection for the Duchess. However, I believe the budget should not be increased or decreased based on one’s mood.”
Her gentle, rose-pink eyes, usually so warm, were now so resolute that not even the point of a needle could find entry.
Even Dietrich flinched for a moment.
“It is easy to adapt to an increased budget, but it is very difficult to practice austerity.”
“…That is.”
“I would agree if we were allocating an additional budget for a necessary expense with a valid reason. But.”
Lalitt continued calmly.
“Increasing the available budget in this manner will not be beneficial to the future financial stability of the Duchy of Claudius.”
“...”
At her words, Dietrich stared at Lalitt with an intrigued expression.
“Ah, of course, I am well aware of how wealthy the Duchy is…”
Lalitt hunched her shoulders and added awkwardly.
Her firm demeanor vanished in an instant, and she now looked a little intimidated.
“Still, there’s no need to head in a negative direction, is there?”
And yet, she did not back down from the opinion she believed was right.
Dietrich, who had been about to say something, found himself closing his mouth.
After all, there was not a single flaw in Lalitt’s reasoning.
Of course, the Duchy of Claudius was one of the wealthiest families in the empire.
It was widely rumored they were even richer than the imperial family, and as the head of the house, Dietrich knew there was some truth to those rumors.
However.
‘Well, she got me there.’
That was no reason to manage the budget whimsically based on his mood.
Especially since Dietrich was the head of the family.
He was the one with the duty to set the budget with even greater strictness and to check for any waste.
“Ahem, if I may be so bold.”
After a brief silence, Dietrich asked with a wry smile.
“I was under the impression that you, Lady Ansi, would be by Eva’s side to advise her and keep her from going astray. Am I wrong?”
“Of course, I intend to help the Duchess to the best of my ability.”
Lalitt also gave a faint smile, mirroring Dietrich’s.
“But strictly speaking, I am an outsider. Therefore, I believe I should not interfere too much in the Duchy’s budget execution.”
“Honestly, Lady Ansi, you’re too strict.”
Evanjeline grumbled, loud enough to be heard.
But even as she complained, her blue eyes, fixed on Lalitt, were filled with trust.
‘So that was it.’
In that moment.
Dietrich understood why the fastidious Evanjeline followed Lalitt so devotedly.
She had her own clear principles, a firm sense of right and wrong.
And she was not afraid to call out what was wrong.
That alone made Lalitt a person of value.
Just then, Lalitt checked the time and stood up.
“Oh, I think it’s time for me to go.”
“Aww, leaving already? Stay a little longer with me.”
Evanjeline puffed out her cheeks and clung to Lalitt.
“We’ve been looking at teapot samples all day. I want to play cards with you, Lady Ansi, and chess, too.”
Lalitt replied affectionately.
“I’ll come again soon.”
“You promise? You have to come back soon, there’s a vassal meeting coming up.”
“Of course. In return, Duchess, will you finish the homework I gave you by my next visit?”
But contrary to her gentle tone, the content of her words was not quite so sweet…
At the mention of homework, Evanjeline’s shoulders stiffened.
She then slowly loosened her grip on Lalitt.
“O-okay…”
Despite the look of utter distaste on her face, Evanjeline managed to nod.
‘How truly fascinating.’
Dietrich looked back and forth between his sister and Lalitt with a new sense of wonder.
His head understood why Evanjeline followed Lalitt so well.
But his heart… well.
‘It’s like watching someone tame a force of nature at will.’
It made sense, considering Evanjeline’s unique stubbornness was formidable enough to be compared to a force of nature…
After that.
Evanjeline stood up to follow Lalitt.
“I’ll see you to the main gate.”
“Oh, that’s alright.”
“What do you mean, it’s alright? Do I look like the kind of person who would let a friend leave alone?”
Evanjeline retorted with a pout and stuck close to Lalitt’s side.
But it was only for a moment.
“Oh, wait!”
Evanjeline’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit’s as she spun to face Lalitt.
