New Brelin (3)

Translated by Boucha
Edited by Boucha

‘Is it really necessary to even act as a hostess?’

Ms Ballon, who was more fortunate than she had guessed, that the new lady seemed to be the one who would not ruin the name of the duke, came to her mind. Getting startled by that  thought.

‘You have to keep your mind straight. How badly did that pink-haired girl hurt the duke?and even took the place of a hostess’

‘It is inevitable that such a woman is in now, but I have to come to my senses.’

She shook my head and looked at the servants who were cleaning the dishes. She tried to turn her gaze away from the traces of a neat and tidy meal, but without realizing it, she couldn’t help but admiring it herself.

Since the master told her to monitor and report on Brelin every move, she thought it would be okay to say bad things about her stupid behaviour.

Confused, she decided to withhold judgment on the hostess for a bit.

***

I decided that it was necessary to first understand the financial situation of the duchy before resolving all the disasters that would occur in the future.

Because once you have money, you can do whatever you want.

I found the office where Teberan, the direct secretary of Redross, was working.

Knock Knock knock

“Who are you… No, madam.”

“It’s the first time I’ve ever heard the word madam in this house.”

Teberan opened his eyes wide in surprise. But the woman with her pink hair fluttering and smiling softly was undoubtedly Brelin, he was right.

‘There are only a few people who will come to my office, where there is ony document pilled up, but if I had to pick someone who most likely wouldn’t even come here, wouldn’t Brelin be the first person that comes to mind?’

Not knowing how to react, he puts down the quill he was holding and gets up

I looked around his office with green eyes full of interest.

“The ink smells really good.”

‘What did you like?’

Theberan made a strange face when he heard a word he hadn’t expected to hear from a noblewoman in his lifetime, or even from a duchess who had never read a book.

I looked at the backs of the books on the bookshelf with my hands, not caring too much about getting an answer, and then I came back in front of him.

“How is the duke’s finances?”

‘Isn’t that a very straightforward question?’

Teberan did not know what to say to this lady without first asking Redross, so he rolled his eyes.

Brelin nodded, interpreting his reaction.

“Well, I was bad at explaining it in one word. If you give me the financial statements, I’ll take a look. Is there? A folder of financial records.”

‘there is’

‘I do have it.. .’

‘If it is confidential material, it is confidential material, but how many people can actually read it?’

Teberan became much more calm than when he was asked the previous question, and searched the bookshelf behind his back. Find a file folder that he touched every day until it got old.

That was quick.

“ Here you go.”

“Can I take a look at this and bring it to you tomorrow?”

“It doesn’t matter what you see, but… .”

‘How are you going to read it?’

In the first place, all letters other than numbers were written in ancient language for documents, so it was not possible to read them at any level of education.

I nodded, not caring whether he mumbled or not.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll borrow it.”

In addition, I insisted on taking out not only this year’s, but also last year’s and the year before’s files, and Teberan gave them all at once.

‘ You won’t even understand it anyway.’

Moreover, it was not the amount that could be transcribed with foolish knowledge.

In the case of really important information, it was not a big problem because they were encrypted so that only he could recognize them, and the fact that the duke’s financial condition was bad has now become a well known thing, so there is nothing to hide.

“I’ll be back tomorrow, Teberan.”

“… yes madam, Please take a look.”

Teberan looked out restlessly as I went out without calling anyone, carrying the heavy file by hand.

Even after the door was closed, he was stunned.

‘But, when did I tell her my name?’

***

I lay down on the bed and read the papers for a long time.

From the files, I was able to easily understand  the financial condition, but it was a terrible feeling to witness in front of my eyes the gaps between the lines that I didn’t fill in when I wrote the novel.

Apparently, “to overcome his poor financial situation, he had to marry from Count Aprin” It was nothing more than a setting, but in reality there was a huge hole.

It was trivial that the cold sea came due to abnormal temperatures every summer, and crops were not allowed to be used for years, so taxes were not properly collected.

The most serious cause of all this was that the father of the current Duke Redros Draid Vermont, that is, the former Duke of Vermont, who had the status of a duke until three years ago, had lost a lot of money.

It wasn’t because of someone’s fault, but because he was too blinded by one thing at that time.

It was a well-known fact that merchant ships pioneering new routes make a good profit, but it was a risky task. While having quite a bit of fun every time, he made a big investment by taking out debt when he said that a large-scale ship was going to depart.

However, the ship did not reach its destination and sank to the bottom of the sea carrying all kinds of valuables.

When this happened, the merchants who trusted the duke and lent money demanded quick repayment of their debts, and the financial difficulties became even more serious

It was such a huge sum that even a family that could be called a duke was shaken up. The former Duke of Vermont seemed to have started a wandering life, throwing away all the responsibilities under the pretext of handing over the duchy to his heir.

If I had said that I would leave the duke’s family as it is, I would have been living with only regret, so maybe it was a wise choice.

With the money sent by brelin’s family, it seems that he was able to secure enough financial position to write off the debt. But that’s it.

As it stands now, there was no way to improve the situation. With this, even if you knew in advance what would happen in the future, what kind of relief for the poor would you make and what natural disasters would you prevent?

It’s a no-brainer

I kept getting drowsy while I was reading the dreadful papers with my hair tied up.

I tried to hold back my yawn, fiddling around my eyes, but it didn’t work. It looked like I am going to fall sleep at this rate.

However, this could not be delayed any further. As I was trying to come back to my senses and read it, I suddenly saw the sun setting outside the window.

Feeling resigned, I jumped up and took out my one-piece pyjamas and changed into it. I didn’t know why there were so many ribbons. Usually, it would be natural to receive help from the servants, but I also had no energy to fight with the maids.

As I looked out the window blankly as I put my clothes on, I suddenly seemed to lose my energy.

The day went like this.

It would end with repeating this type of day 364 more times in the future. When I looked at the night sky after the sun had set, I realized that fact again. How close death is. After that, unlike the last death, is it really the end?

.It’s really sad that death is set on such an exact date. I don’t want to prepare my mind.

I was fine all day, but even knowing that I was ‘Brelin’, I was dazed the whole time, but I couldn’t shake the sudden feeling of crying. I covered my face and crouched on the bed. Uncontrollable tears drenched my palms.

it’s ok, it’s ok Still, my original life ended in an accident like that in an instant, but my second life was given even one more year.

I’m fine.

While I was repeating that in my mind, I barely stopped crying.

I fell asleep while wiping my  tears with my sleeves.

***