"What?"
Ran looked up and asked. Ross looked at her and replied.
"The Knight Commander."
"Where?"
"Near the Door."
"Didn't you hear that?"
Saying so, Ran lifted the cup and blew it. It is not a sample of elegant aristocrat lady, but it is better than burning one's tongue in a hot cup.
Ross asked again as she swallowed the hot tea water little by little.
"Didn't you send him to the door to take care of the Knight?"
Near the door is the place where the most dangerous creatures come out.
"Why me?"
Only then did Ran take her mind off the tea and concentrate on Ross.
"To get rid of Eustaf's master power."
Ran laughed without realizing it when he spoke in a gloomy tone. Ross made an impression on her smile.
"Is it working?"
"Isn't it weird to ask that straightforward question? You asked yourself, 'You're trying to kill my brother!'"
Laughing cheerfully, Ran put her chin on. Her impermeable eyes were strangely transparent.
"That's not true. I'm just counting on it."
"I believe you."
"Because you believe? You can't do that!"
Ross's face became suspicious. He went on to say.
"And how could you do that?"
"What else?"
"You're not educated as a Patriarch. Of course, recently I felt like you were taking lessons from a tutor, but ·····."
Even so, a 19-year-old girl who's taking on a runaway position, and she's so skilled at her job.
"It's as if you've prepared it. You've been waiting for this to happen."
"Not like that."
Ran said so and looked at the red tea water. In fact, I wanted to avoid this situation the most.
I hoped to prevent the death of my family.
However, the family died, and Ran came up with a theory. No matter how much you make a fuss, doesn't the main part change?
The branch of fate, I think, will be maintained somehow.
"I'm just doing my best where I can. I feel like my stomach is going to explode."
Saying so, Ran added.
"Don't make me worry too much when I deliver it to Eustaf."
"If he's worried about you."
Ran laughed at Ross's words.
"That's the answer."
"Don't you get angry?"
When asked by Ross, Ran wrapped her fingertips around the teacup. The cup for black tea is wide, so the tea water cools quickly.
Ran asked, holding a moderately cold teacup.
"Why will I be angry?"
"Well...."
In rare cases, Ross couldn't continue his words. Ran said over tea.
"I want to be a family with Youth. I don't think it's fair to say that it's impossible to get along with siblings, but I want to be like that."
Ran saw Ross.
"But I don't mean to force it. I'm just trying hard as I am. Eustaf have been bullied by my mother."
She spoke awkwardly.
"I'm not saying I won't do anything that bothered him. It used to be, but now I want to go a little differently."
Clack.
After putting down the empty glass, Ran poured the second glass. The scent of sweet tea swirled up with water vapor.
"So, I'm not angry. It's all up to Eustaf."
Ross looked like a person who saw something really strange.
Ran dragged the documents from the pile of documents piled up behind her and put them on the desk.
I knew that the financial situation was the worst. So, what about the backlog?
In fact, Elizabeth, the administrator, would have wanted to catch up on her backsliding to do the work.
'I can't believe you didn't show it. It's a great administrator.'
In addition, most of the tension raised is in need of funds. The bell tower that has been requesting repair for several years already...
"Isn't it better to repair your legs than this? The road covered by the landslide 3 years ago has not been restored yet, right?'
First, the goal is to look at all the piles of that document.
'Let's cheer up.'
Ran took a deep breath and quickly began to run down the papers. Fast reading was one of the catches she had.
On the mountain of this document, I'm glad you can speed it up.
In addition.
'The format is terrible.'
It did not have the basic form to have. At this point, it was more like a letter to the lord than a document.
'We need to fix this first.'
We need to specify the basic form.
That alone will reduce the time to look at the documents.
Flap.
With the speed of handing over the papers, Ross wondered if she was really reading all the writing carefully.
By the time she was getting tired of her speed, there was a loud knock on the door.
Ross and Ran also looked up in surprise.
Ross raised his hand on the sword and the door opened quickly.
"Ran!"
It was her uncle, Baron Lindbergh, who came in screaming.
"Uncle"
Ran got up from her seat.
"What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't see you at all. I was worried about what happened to you."
Baron Lindbergh huffed his way inside. Ross blocked in front of it.
"Without permission, you cannot see the Lord."
"I'm her uncle! Besides, I'm more worried about a guy like you being here!"
"Uncle, he is a loyal servant."
Ross was surprised when Ran defended him. Lindbergh snorted.
"No loyalty."
Ran said to Ross.
"Give him a seat."
Ross stepped aside without saying a word, and Lindbergh jumped into his seat when he didn't even ask him to come in and sit down.
It was a rude act that could not be regarded as an act of God.
But Ran asked, sitting down, without saying much.
"What's the matter?"
"I'm going to give you another escort."
"Another escort?"
"Yes! He's not such a man without loyalty, he's the real one I recommend."
Lindbergh said something that he could see clearly inside.
"No, sir Ross is enough. I don't have to increase my escort."
Lindbergh frowned and spoke in a low voice.
"Ran."
"Yes."
"Do you know that your mother owes me money?"
Baron Lindbergh spoke off guard and took the documents out of his arms.
"She used to buy necklaces. It was a sudden loan, so it was very hard for me,"
He held out the document to Ran, and Ran opened it with a blank face.
It was a loan card.
It was about my mother borrowing 10,000 verat from him. Interest is 10% per month.
In other words, it swells by 1,000 verat every month. It was a huge loan.
With 3,000 verat, it is possible to replace all of the Knights' equipment with new ones.
'Should I say it's a good thing I only borrowed few verats?'
Indeed, it would be difficult for Baron Lindbergh to pay more than 10,000 verats in cash.
The baron's money is about 15,000 verat a year.
For now, Verat rarely uses the unit of money unless it is a noble.
'A 10,000-Verat necklace.'
Ran recalled her mother's colorful accessories.
'I remember Marie Antoinette's diamond necklace.'
She gets caught up in a huge scandal with the necklace she's never even hung around her neck.
"According to this letter of borrowing, the date of payment is due later this year."
"Yes, but didn't your mother have a big accident?"
The baron had a grim face.
"It's a lot of money for me, too. That's why I'm telling you in particular just in case you don't know."
He coughed lightly and made more blatant fun of the floor.
"But you're my niece. So, I'm thinking if I can write you off this debt."
"It's a waste of time?"
Ran looked at him curiously. Baron Lindbergh fiddled with his moustache.
"I want to be a real family with you."
"We're already blood relatives."
Not wanting to say family, Ran chose a different word. But the baron, who didn't notice the distance, said with a smile.
"I want to you to marry my son."
Oh, my God.
Ran swallowed a false laugh.
"Son? you mean my cousin Robbie?"
I knew him because I saw his face several times.
Putting forward his "manly" boast, he enjoyed the sport.
In other words, by Ran's standard, he was a human close to garbage.
'Gambling's starting to work, maybe.'
"Yes, you know, the age difference is only four or five. It's the perfect time."
Oh, my God,
But Ran didn't show that.
Yet.
It is not yet time to make an enemy outright. After the Duke's finances and affairs became stronger.
Then,
Although she pushed ahead with Blue ring, there will still be forces dissatisfied with the fact that she became a temporary householder.
Baron Lindbergh has splashed a lot of money all over the place, so there's got to be a line inside.
'Well, it's not just the baron.'
What's fortunate is that she can definitely know and hire the loyal family because she is the original author.
'That's a relief.'
Ran smiled embarrassingly and said,
"Uncle, thank you very much for your words. However, marriage....is so sudden. Besides, um-"
Ran scratched her cheek.
"It's kind of like getting married because of...debt"
It's a girly word, but it sounded like a clueless sound to Baron Lindbergh.
"But it's 10,000 verat. Do you know how much money this is? Besides, the duke has other debts. It's not something you can handle alone."
Lindbergh leaned forward.
"You'll need the advice of a wiser man."
"The advice of an uncle."
"All right"
Lindbergh nodded his head, wondering if he could finally communicate.
Ran looked at the pile of documents. I still have a lot of work to do.
She looked up with a smile.
"I really want to hear that."
*******
"Are you not sleeping?"
When asked by Ross, Ran replied vaguely, "Yes, ·····."
Realizing that she was not listening to him at all, he came close and put his hand on the document. Only then did Ran look at him.
"Sir Ross?"
"It's late at night."
"Just a little bit more."
"Why don't you see it tomorrow morning?"
"Sure"
Ran rubbed her tight eyes.
The candle was brightened, but the tired eyes were still tired.
Ross looked at such Ran.
When Baron Lindbergh came and talked, I thought I really wanted to cut myself. When did she and he had a private relationship, I thought we had something to come.
'But.'
She told Ross all the stories she shared with Baron Lindbergh.
Of course, I don't believe it at all. It's all about building trust and hitting on the betrayal.
'Until I tell you the secret hole.'
*******
"Next time, when my uncle and I talk alone, you can come over here and listen."
She led him to another room connected to the inner room and pointed to the stovepipe.
"I can hear it well when I open it."
"And then you write or exchange notes?"
At Ross's words, Ran blinked and stretched her shoulders.
"Yes, there's a way but I don't mean that."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Hmm, is it rather counterproductive? It's because I want to build trust."
"Trust."
"Yes, that's enough to be worth doing this."
Ran continued, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well, when Eustaf comes back from graduation, will it be easier then?"
This year is the last semester.
He will graduate after winter, and come back to the mansion in spring.
Then, wouldn't we still have some trust if we look at each other closely?
Ross didn't reply to Ran's words.
The Lord's thoughts belong to the Lord's.
You don't dare to join the army.
*******
Ran got up from her seat, leaving a scratch on the document.
"Then let's take the advice and go to bed."
Ross only lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Back in her room, Ran was watched by a maid and changed her clothes.
Originally, I would have to move to Duchess room, but she kept saying she would use her room. It's called a temporary leave anyway.
As soon as I lay down on a familiar bed, I fell asleep.