Mikael looked down at the wooden floor in the study and saw a glint of sunlight sneaking through the gaps in the floorboards.
Out of view, there was a chest tucked away in a hidden compartment. It had been one of the hiding spots for generations to keep their valuable stuff safe.
He gave the desk a nudge and got down on his knees to open the trapdoor on the floor. But to his disappointment, his heart dropped because the treasure chest he knew so well was nowhere to be seen.
A sense of bitter resignation settled upon him as he grappled with his father's reckless choices. He couldn't help but harbor resentment towards his father, taking most of their family's money.
As if that wasn't enough, the jewels and precious ornaments sent by Marquess Wolfram were now gone as well.
It was a significant sum of 25,000 gold coins offered as a dowry for Mikayla's marriage.
Mikael's jaw clenched, staring right at the vacant space.
From the early hours of the day, he had exhaustively inspected every cranny and corner of the estate, trying to locate the whereabouts of their family's other treasure.
Observing the room with a furrowed brow, he scratched his head absentmindedly. After a comprehensive search, he came across a couple of chests filled with silver coins, though the other locations were empty.
A voice behind him shattered Mikael's reverie, prompting him to pivot and find Mister Remus standing there. "What are you planning to do now, my lord?" the butler inquired.
It appeared that his father had exhausted every private compartment. At least, that was what Mister Remus revealed.
After a defeated sigh, Mikael went ahead and got up from his knee, then shut the trap door.
With a new goal, he started digging into Steele's business finance records on the shelves. He slid his fingers over the rows of book records until he picked one out.
As he went through the neatly organized papers, he found traces of their recent sales and financial transactions in the records.
The iron ore mining wasn't progressing well. The supply faced issues due to significant disruption caused by a recent landslide in the mining region.
On a similar note, the jewelry business had also hit a rough patch.
His brow furrowed with a touch of frustration as he reviewed the figures. The sales were dropping, and the revenue was a fraction of what it once was.
Mikael's mind whirred as he assimilated the details. He suddenly understood how bad things were financially, which made his father arrange Mikayla's marriage to Marquess Wolfram.
The money the Marquess had offered for the marriage was substantial enough to settle their debts and maybe even boost their struggling jewelry enterprise.
Mikael grabbed another stack of records, his actions driven by a growing urgency. His eyes skimmed through the papers, searching for any additional details that could shed light on the situation.
Then, he turned to Mister Remus and let out a baffled sigh. "Has it been this bad for the past two years?" he asked in genuine surprise.
Mikael's realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He had dabbled in business management, learning the basics over time. But he was never allowed to touch their family records as they were locked away in his father's possession.
There was so much to do.
The weight of the situation pressed heavily on him. A mountain of work was ahead, but Mikael knew he had to start somewhere. He took a deep breath and called for all their residential estate staff members to gather.
Turning to Mister Remus, he issued a determined directive, revealing the dire financial state of the estate.
...
And just like that, it was done. The word spread like wildfire among the staff.
Mikael let go of all of them from their duties and provided a written endorsement to use if they would seek new opportunities in other estates. It was a difficult decision, driven by insufficient funds to sustain their wages.
He didn't need to concern himself if the information about his twin sister reached the Marquess; it would be silenced soon enough anyway.
And within a day, before the week's end brought a new month, the residence was swept clean of employees.
All that remained were a few loyal faces: the head butler, the head maid, a maid, the gardener, and the cook.
Mikael stood by the window in his father's study, his back to the employees who were left.
"You are all free to leave too, if you wish," Mikael's voice broke the silence that hung in the air like a heavy fog.
The five remaining servants exchanged glances, and uncertainty etched on their faces.
Mister Remus, the head butler, stepped forward. His voice was steady, unwavering as he addressed Mikael. "My lord, I cannot speak for the others, but as for me, I owe my life to the Steele family."
Mikael pivoted on his heels to face the head butler, his gaze locked onto him.
The butler's stare held unwavering conviction. "I was but a young lad when your grandfather, the former Count Steele, saved me from the slums."
His expression turned gentle as he nostalgically remembered those moments.
"From then on, I've been here for two generations of this family. This estate has been my home, and I owe my life to this household," Mister Remus went on.
Mikael's eyes grew tender as he listened to Mister Remus's words. " Thank you. You have my gratitude."
"Haha," he chuckled. "This stubborn old man still wants to serve the future lord," Mister Remus replied, touching his mustache.
There had been a brief silence. Mikael exchanged smiles with the head butler before another person voiced their decision.
"Well, unlike Remus, I wish to retire. I want to be there for my grandchildren as they grow up and be with them until I grow my hair gray," the head maid, Miss Lea, expressed warmly.
The maid before her, her own eyes misting over, absorbed Miss Lea's words. A lump formed in her throat. "M, Miss Lea," she managed to call, her voice a gentle echo.
"I will leave you this girl, Remus," Miss Lea said, her gaze settling on the head butler, who nodded in understanding.
Mikael's gaze shifted to them, his eyes misty as he bid farewell to the head maid who had been there for him and his twin since childhood.
Miss Lea wasn't just a maid; she played the part of their nanny too. She wasn't only responsible for looking after them, but she also stepped in as a motherly figure after their real mom passed away during childbirth. She had been by their side since they were infants.
"I, I will miss you, Miss Lea," Mikael's voice cracked as he tried to hold back tears.
She had not just served but nurtured, cared for, and loved them as a parent would. It was a bond that transcended the formalities of servant and master.
Mikael's voice wavered as he finally let his emotions pour out. "You... you were like a mother to us. My sister and I wouldn't be who we are without you." He choked back a sob, his gratitude and sorrow intertwined in his words.
As the head maid's eyes glistened, she reached out and gently wiped a tear from Mikael's cheek. "My lord, you and Lady Mikayla have always been like my children. I will miss you both."
With a heavy heart, Mikael watched as the head maid turned to leave. As she departed, he requested some time alone in the study.
He returned to the window that offered a clear view of the estate's main gates from the ground floor. This was where his father often stood, waiting for guests to come and go.
And at that moment, his heart sank as his gaze fell upon a scene that stirred his unease.
A carriage drew near, its insignia impossible to misidentify.
He saw the emblem that was permanently etched in his memory, the one from the Wolfram house. Mikael's heart jumped a bit, and his mind started racing to make sense of why it suddenly showed up out of nowhere.
"W, What great timing," he mumbled just before a knock echoed on the door.
The door swung open, revealing Mr. Remus, handing him the exact news he had seen.
Mikael readied himself for the worse.