WYDM 14

“We’re still far from being a proper merchant company, so I still need Fredil’s help… but you don’t have to worry about me so much. I might not be able to provide compensation befitting high-level talent.”

There was still another matter she’d commissioned him to handle besides Dirk-related work.

Specifically, fully transferring the authority and status from Count Content.

That had actually been Sehera’s reason for seeking out Fredil.

Her grand ambition was to reclaim the Count’s name first, then operate Dirk under that name—but even after a year, Sehera was still just Lady Planer.

“High-level talent, that’s right. Don’t you think that’s what it takes to be Lady Sehera’s right hand?”

Fredil smiled smoothly, seemingly thinking of himself like her vassal. She’d heard he was a successful lawyer with many people seeking him out and receiving tremendous compensation, yet he adjusted even those commitments to grant her requests and prioritize Dirk’s affairs.

“Right hand, nothing. I told you I can’t provide that kind of compensation.”

Of course, she wasn’t exploiting him without pay. Though very expensive, she paid fair compensation for the help she received.

“Ah! I’ve been meaning to make time to bring you something… You came by carriage today too, right? Please take this.”

Something seeming to occur to him, he jumped up from his seat and brought over a rather bulky leather trunk that had been carefully stored on the shelf behind his desk.

The way he carried it with both hands like an offering and carefully set it on the desk already hinted at the item’s value.

“It’s a tea set brought from across the water in the east. Made by a quite renowned craftsman, apparently—it has a very unique flavor, so I brought it. I thought it would suit you well, Count.”

What good was providing compensation? She felt troubled by all the rare items he gifted her like this.

“How much was it? Today I’m definitely paying the proper price.”

Fredil, who’d been opening the trunk and removing the paper and protective materials safeguarding the contents, looked at her with a hurt expression at her words.

He looked at her like a puppy happily wagging its tail who’d just had food or a toy taken away.

In the beginning, she’d mostly fallen for and accepted that expression, but there was a limit. Sehera waved her hand without changing her expression.

“That look doesn’t work on me anymore. In the beginning, saying it was a gift worked. Who’s supposed to be impressing whom here, constantly giving me things like this?”

She should be the one bringing things like this, asking him to help well with Dirk’s work and reclaiming the Count title. At first, she’d only known Fredil as a famous lawyer, but working together and getting to know him revealed what an impressive person he was.

Though he talked himself up, everyone they met while working reacted to the name Fredil.

Among them, if someone trembled or tensed at Fredil’s name, it was better not to deal with them or approach cautiously.

Because it meant they’d been thoroughly handled by him.

“Heh heh—what could have upset our Countess so much? Hmm?”

“When you talk like that, I feel like some high-ranking noble who loves accepting bribes.”

When Sehera came out more firmly than usual, the playful smile on Fredil’s face diminished slightly.

His beaming face was generally so bright it made her feel good, thinking this person really did like her. But having known him so long, Sehera had figured out that face was for business.

Rather, when that bright smile faded a bit like this—that was his real smile. However he smiled, the degree of his handsomeness didn’t change.

“You’re not usually easy about accepting things, but you’re especially firm today. Still, please take it. I brought it to give to Lady Sehera.”

Fredil smiled gently at her. Seeing his smile with blue eyes slightly visible, Sehera exhaled sharply.

Sana falling completely for him wasn’t strange at all. She thought he might have experienced a time when his abilities were undervalued because of his looks.

Oh right, Sana.

Thinking of her at home reminded Sehera of her visit’s purpose. Fredil, watching Sehera’s eyes widen slightly, noticed from that expression that she had something to say.

“So there was a purpose for your visit.”

She’d been wondering how to tell the perceptive Fredil, but looking at the trunk before her, Sehera sighed shallowly and spoke.

“Fine then. If you won’t accept payment for this, I’ll have to give you work as compensation. I need you to come to the estate in two weeks.”

Since he was thorough about working and receiving compensation, she had no choice but to give it this way.

“Ah, Nea can come along too.”

Since he sometimes appeared with Nea while working, though not always, she naturally mentioned the secretary outside.

“Oh? Don’t you dislike Nea? Even I think she acts blunt enough to deserve a sharp scolding.”

Fredil knew about her concern. Being the person closest to her, he couldn’t not notice such differences.

“Disliking someone and working with them are separate matters.”

“So you do dislike her.”

“I’m not a saint.”

Even a saint would find it difficult to like her unless they were divine. Sehera shrugged.

“First, I’ll visit the Count’s estate in two weeks. Nea’s job is helping me, so if I go, naturally she’ll come along, Count.”

He called her Lady Sehera or Countess.

When she’d asked if calling her that might cause misunderstandings with others since she hadn’t yet reclaimed the Count title, he’d answered this way:

‘Count’ would be the result when he properly succeeded at the work given to him, so it was a way of reminding himself he had work to do.

She’d stopped by to extend this invitation and ended up acquiring an innocent leather trunk. He had such good judgment for items that he could run a merchant company—all the gifts looked rare and perfectly matched Sehera’s taste.

Sehera, examining the leather trunk closely, suddenly noticed the paper beneath it.

Whether truly fate’s trick or not, her gaze didn’t fall there because she saw something—it purely coincidentally entered her view.

One word right there on the paper beneath the trunk.

Ethan Croft.

Sehera’s eyes were instantly captured by those letters. And silence flowed from Fredil too, seemingly realizing what had fixed her gaze.

“The name’s been appearing a lot lately.”

Fredil’s voice, instantly turned curt, barely registered. It only buzzed like sounds from outside water heard underwater.

She forcibly suppressed the urge to push the trunk aside and examine what was written on that paper beneath.

Watching her bite her lip and step back, Fredil moved the trunk and pulled out the paper underneath.

Already knowing the contents, he skimmed through the text once and held the paper out to Sehera.

Knowing what that paper was, she rolled her eyes to look at Fredil’s face. He gazed at her intently with a face devoid of laughter.

“Read it. It’s not bad news.”

Information was very important to lawyers, he’d said. And… he naturally knew that the man Sehera divorced—her ex-husband—was Ethan Croft.

Not knowing his intent, Sehera ultimately couldn’t overcome her curiosity and accepted the paper.

[Ethan Croft.

Commander of the 3rd Knight Order distinguishing himself in the increasingly fierce fighting with the south over the past year. While struggling to lead the troublesome 3rd Knight Order, he’s been rapidly distinguishing himself since a year ago.

The 3rd Order consisted of troublemakers and was just a unit sent out as cannon fodder, but since a year ago they’ve been making remarkable progress and accumulating victories centered on their distinguished commander.

Rumor has it he changed as a person a year ago and frequently displays a madman’s frenzy.

The exact reason is unknown, but around the same time, his wife Lady Sehera Croft abandoned the ducal estate and went to the Count’s estate.

The claim of madness still lacks clear confirmation.]

Sehera doubted her eyes. Words like war and madness were far too unfamiliar.

During Sehera’s time there, Ethan had returned injured, but if he’d been participating in war, the ducal estate’s people couldn’t have been ignorant of his whereabouts.

Since he took pride in his father who’d served as 1st Knight Commander, participating in war would surely have been something to boast about.

That he’d said nothing about it to his family was worth finding strange.

Though she’d left after two years… she wasn’t ignorant of Ethan’s personality.

But then… had he been going to war even when Sehera was there? The phrase about distinguishing himself implied that meaning, but really, he… hadn’t said anything.

Then that meant during that time, he hadn’t been going to war. If he’d gone to war, that would explain returning so injured, but nothing else made sense.

“People think the war ended long ago… but taking advantage of night, or on uninhabited wastelands and plains, war continues unnoticed. I heard Duke Croft was deployed to war starting a year ago. There’s no record before that, though.”

Though Sehera stared intently at the paper, to Fredil she looked quite calm.

Very different from his thoughts, but fortunately the reaction he’d worried about didn’t emerge. Even thinking it fortunate… was problematic.

“War… I see. I hope people aren’t getting hurt.”

If they fought among themselves, there’d be no problem. Though of course the Empire winning was important.

Caught up in whether he’d gone to war before or not, she’d let the story about his recent condition pass by.

Being called mad in war meant he must be achieving great success. And having killed that many people, his rank and evaluation would be rising.

He’s doing well without me.

That wasn’t something she should say now. Even with this heavy chest, she was properly maintaining the Count’s estate and making quite decent earnings selling crops from the territory.

Having spent a lot, even that went to repaying accumulated debts and paying the clever lawyer before her… but she earned that much so she paid back that much, and afterward was steadily building up well.