The Maid Dreams Of The Sunset - Chapter 37

At the sound of rustling, Count Newett raised his head and looked at Max with a puzzled gaze.

Max couldn’t help but hurriedly open the crumpled document and lower his gaze inadvertently. It was the survival instinct unique to a poor student.

“Other than the items on the agenda to be discussed at the conference, there are quite a number of other things. Did you add them arbitrarily?”

Count Newett asked Isaac while putting the documents aside. Isaac nodded and added an explanation.

“As I’d usually attended to His Grace by his side, I’d gathered the words that His Grace had spoken, and added the important points in. I’ve also added the official duties that are repeated every year separately.”

“……How brilliant.”

As he exclaimed, the count looked around like he was seeking for synonymity. After they finished reviewing the documents, the vassals nodded in agreement.

“All we would need to do is discuss how to remedy it in this order. However, who should be nominated to become the proxy…”

Count Newett trailed off and turned his attention to Viscount Dittern.

‘How about Sergeant Eufgenschult? He may only possess half, but blood is blood, so he can become Eufgenschult’s proxy.’

Then the Viscount Dittern, who was seated with a worn out expression, raised an eyebrow and looked sideways at Max.

‘I’m in agreement if the Little Duke can be persuaded.’

Their silent conversation went back and forth in the air. The vassals, who were uniquely adept at reading the situation, realised what their eyes were saying, either nodded or agreed with an indifferent gaze.

The count, who led the flow, raised a question at Isaac with quite a sedate voice.

“Sergeant Eufgenschult. What do you think is the most concerning matter right now?”

As Isaac blinked, he looked at the count like he was wondering what he was asking such an obvious thing for, and opened his mouth after a short silence.

“That… would be the Privy Council’s response. While the central government is manageable by responding with the vassal’s compiled opinions, in the Privy Council, other than His Grace himself, no one else can carelessly represent his opinion.”

The right answer flowed out immediately. Count Newett glanced at Max and continued speaking to Isaac.

“The Privy Council isn’t a group that’s easily moved, so it wouldn’t amount to that big of a threat.”

“That’s not true. Isn’t everyone present here aware of the fact that the current chairperson is Marquis Tobias Geraktal, who’s at odds with Helman. If he heard the news of the head of the ducal family’s absence, he’ll definitely pose a threat to the duchy in the chairperson’s name.”

“The Privy Council is a group that only moves when the majority is in agreement, so even if Geraktal moves by himself, it wouldn’t amount to much.”

With a tilted head, Isaac, who was engrossed in his thoughts, shook his head slowly.

“Chairman Geraktal isn’t that simple of a person. Besides, Helman and Oakland… On the surface, it seems to be a matter between the two territories, but if you carefully observe the agenda, the Lords of Nedjavor, Viwelland, and Cherekopalz are also involved. If he conciliates them a little, they will immediately render assistance to Chairman Geraktal.”

“Hmm.”

“In addition, the recent slave reform has made all the Lords extremely sensitive. If a rash remark is made, we could become the target of their arrows.”

“Isn’t that interpretation overly exaggerated?”

“The struggle of interests isn’t an unambiguous and simple matter. Isn’t the Count well aware of that?”

The corner of his lip raised indistinctly, and Isaac finished his speech tactfully.

Just trying to follow their conversation made Max overwhelmed. Even that didn’t stop him from being curious about where Nedjavor was.

Unfortunately, Max was a noble that didn’t learn to conceal his emotions and feelings, and the quick-witted vassals that realised that Max did not understand the current situation at all fell silent.

The count’s gaze, which was darting about hectically, landed on the Little Duke, who was lost in thought, with a hint of bitterness, before letting out a quiet sigh such that others couldn’t hear him. It was obvious who should be nominated as the proxy.

“Little Duke.”

“…Speak.”

“For the time being, I hope that you’ll leave the aide by your side and focus on your successorship classes.”

Before Max could ask what he meant, the count rose from his seat and continued.

“As the head of the Newett County and a subordinate vassal that acts for the sake of Helman’s prosperity, this public official, Chester Newett, recognises Sergeant Eufgenschult as His Grace’s proxy, until he regains consciousness.”

Max, who had been listening silently, understood his words belatedly and spoke stutteringly.

“…What…What does that mean?”

“Could the vassals that are in agreement raise your hands. If the Little Duke has an opinion you’ll like to express, please raise your hand. I will take it into consideration.”

“Hah, do you think that’s proper when I’m seated right here? Count, don’t be ridiculous!”

Max sprang up from his seat and shouted ferociously. However, the count didn’t pay him any heed and just looked around at the vassals.

The vassals read the room and soon began to raise their hands one by one. Max watched the situation with a scornful laugh, thinking, ‘Let’s see you try.’

A few seconds later.

The moment all the vassals, even the final one, raised their hands, the smile hanging on the corners of Max’s lips disappeared like it had been washed away.

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After the vassals’ conference had ended, dusk had already faded into darkness.

The meeting, which began with a somewhat awkward atmosphere due to Max’s disappearance, soon transformed into a sedate and calm atmosphere in accordance with the situation’s urgency. After countless questions and answers, all the vassals left the conference room with expressions of relief.

“Good work, Isaac.”

The final one remaining, Count Newett, called Isaac by his name instead of his title, and patted him on the shoulder. Isaac saw him off with a faint smile, before instructing the attendants to tidy up.

A calm silence enveloped the meeting room as even the attendants left. Only after confirming that there was no one else, did Isaac lose his smile and exhale softly.

“I’m getting tired of this.”

Isaac approached the window to cool down his feverish head, and spotted the lights of the annex in the distance. A subtle gleam appeared in the black eyes that were looking at the light.

Did it feel like this?

The annex that he was watching from here was actually an insignificant place

Unlike the mansion, whose presence was flashily announced with a variety of lamps, chandeliers and torches, the annex seemed as precarious as a candlelight that could be extinguished at any moment. Now, he was able to relate a little with how ridiculous he, who had remained with that insignificant light, must have seemed to the members of the duchy.

…Well, even that was fine.

Whether they found it insignificant or not, he had led his life very well in the annex.

How was his life like before?

The kind of life in that gutter-like house, where he’d live off on a piece of thin bread, and fall asleep while stroking his swollen cheeks and bruised limbs.

However, one day, it was suddenly upgraded to a life where he’d have a proper blanket and partake in excellent meals whenever it’s mealtime.

He was able to open his eyes without being in pain, and close his eyes without having to starve.

At that time, that was enough. As he didn’t think he’d be able to lead a better life than this, so he didn’t look forward to anything in particular.

But what about now?

The one that set his disinterested mind on fire was his sundry maid, no, the flower that has now become his maidservant. Just like her name that was similar to a flower, she, who had a smile that’s brighter than flowers, became a guide that directed Isaac onto a new path.

“I hope that the Young Master will become a great person, so that he can be proudly recognized as a member of the ducal family.”

She helped up him, who was lethargic.

“I wouldn’t have any regrets if you grew up nicely and took me to a ball or something.”

After teaching him how to walk.

“If the other party was the Young Master, I can get engaged without wearing such a dress.”

She taught him which direction he should proceed in.

That was why he’s standing here. The traces of his path to where he stood here wasn’t for something like the position of the duke’s aide, or the vassals’ trust, but for the sake of her wealth and honour.

To present a luxurious dress that would go down in the Republic’s history, and to become the biggest shareholder in the flower shop she and her younger sister will set up.

To give his future fiancée, who’d influenced his life with the scent of flowers, the finest everyday life. And lastly.

“If you feel really tired, don’t hold back. Let me know, okay?”

To offer even greater salvation to his only saviour, who’d moved him with trivial words.

He unfolded his arms and placed his hand into his pocket. A small and round item wrapped in a soft silk bundle appeared with a small sound.

The ointment container that she’d given was tightly sealed and always occupied a spot within Isaac’s pocket. Like it was a sacred treasure, it was placed on a pedestal and probably wouldn’t leave his pocket for the rest of his life. Let alone for the rest of his life, he might even request for it to be placed into the coffin even after his death.

That ointment didn’t heal a wound. That ointment breathed life into a rotting seed that couldn’t sprout.

Her soft voice, her small gifts, her smile, as well as her care and affection.

With the things that she gave, life blossomed. It may be a meaningless memory for her, but for Isaac, it was a debt that he had to repay, even if he had to dedicate his entire lifetime.

“Even if it’s a debt, I also don’t know if it’s possible for me to repay her completely.”

As she was someone that hated being in debt, she wouldn’t accept it obediently even if he wanted to give her something. Of course, she wouldn’t be Dahlia if she didn’t act like that.

As Isaac stared at the annex with folded arms, he leant against the window frame with a bitter smile. Unlike the side that was illuminated by the lamplight and created a soft atmosphere, the shaded gaze was filled with unconcealed desire

From an official aide to becoming the proxy of the territory’s Lord once…

Isaac closed his eyes with a pleasant mood, and let out a deflating laugh.

“Father can occasionally be a useful human being.”

His soft mumbling echoed in the silent surroundings and dissipated in the air.

As he recalled Gehern, there wasn’t any pity or worry on his face. The only thing eating at him was the ambitious concern of how much he should take.

He had initially planned to leave with a baronial title after pleasing the vassals appropriately. However, after he saw Dahlia’s heavy dark circles from her strenuous daily work, he agonised over whether the treatment gained with a baronial title was sufficient, and when he saw blisters all over her white hands, he became even more avaricious.

Now he didn’t even know how greedy he should be. He never had avarice in the first place, so he didn’t know to what point he should be satisfied with.

He could only base all his criteria around Dahlia.

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