Leveling Up My Husband to the Max - CH 42

Heinreich Jasper.

The most senior and experienced person of the castle, someone who had served three generations of the Duke of Thales’ household. It was said that he served as a knight under the dukedom before becoming a butler.

‘And he wasn’t particularly fond of me.’

Heinreich, who served the Duke of Thales with utmost sincerity, hated Bella. But he also disliked Amber. He observed Bella and Amber from a distance. If a chance had shown itself, he would have kicked the both of them out immediately.

‘I need him on my side if I want to win against Bella.’

Furthermore, Heinreich was a loyal servant who didn’t leave the Thales household, even until the very end when the emperor falsely accused them of treason. And as he was once a high ranking knight, many knights followed his will.

“I heard that there was something you needed to tell me, Madam?” Heinreich asked as he closely studied Amber.

wish to make Jenia her exclusive maid, she had asked him to come as there was something else she needed from him. “This may take a while, let us move to the tea room.”

“I do not believe that we need to go to the tea room for this conversation.” Heinreich’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.

‘I knew he’d refuse.’ Amber didn’t think Heinreich was being too overly sensitive here.

The moment the two moved, rumors of a private talk would spread. For Heinreich, who was keeping an eye on both Bella and Amber, it would be hard to follow such orders, even as the newly appointed lady of the castle.

“I do believe you will find our conversation important.” But Amber had a card up her sleeve. “It’s about my dowry, after all.”

At that moment, Heinreich could not hide his agitation and his expression stiffened.

Viscount Liary sent his daughter to the Eastern Lands with two entire carriages filled with precious and expensive valuables as a dowry. The value ran around 5,000,000 stals.

5,000,000 stals.

The yearly budget for the duchy amounted to 7,000,000 stals, it was a vast sum of money. It was easy to see how Bella would be blinded by greed, enough to start a business despite having no idea how to do so.

It was an amount that could improve the standard of the duchy if properly invested.

Heinreich was aware of the incident relating to the dowry that occurred in the morning. Not only was he aware of it, he had meticulously learned everything he could about the incident. It wasn’t wrong to say that the one with the most interest in Amber’s dowry was Heinreich.

Heinreich had already experienced severe hardship, trying to recover the damage done to the Duke’s finances from Bella’s inconsiderate spending the previous year. He would gladly give his life to be able to use the dowry to recover the finances.

“I do not understand what your intentions are, Madam.” Though he was clearly interested, Heinreich quickly returned to a state of calm and spoke indifferently. Though he knew Amber had dealt a blow to Bella and helped an injured maid recover, he was still cautious of her.

Heinreich was much too careful and meticulous a man for his opinion to change from a single incident.

For Amber to properly grasp the political power within the household, she would need enough power to rival the empress despite her position as the wife of Duke Thales. If Heinreich were to ally himself with Amber too hastily, there was a possibility that Amber would become a second Bella who abused her power and ruled with absolute authority.

‘He really is a tough nut to crack.’ Amber was once again amazed by his years of experience and knowledge.

“The Duke has told me that my dowry would be returned to me. I’m sure you must have heard that already, is that not so?”

“Yes, I have heard of that news.” Heinreich’s eyes narrowed and deepened. He silently stared at Amber, as if doing so would allow him to comprehend her innermost thoughts.

“Please bring back the jewelry that arrived under the title of dowry.” A majority of Amber’s dowry value lied within the precious jewels.

Dowries weren’t only sent as jewels. There were many cases where livestock, provisions, or magic items were used instead.