Joseph was waiting for Neris, who had just finished a fruitless game of tug-of-war with the royal investigators.
Initially, Nelucian used to wait for Neris and then enter together. However, it was a job that he couldn't personally supervise every day.
So, without a word, Neris tried to get into the carriage. At that moment, someone approached her.
"Lady Trude."
It was the lady's housekeeper.
It was unusual for the housekeeper, rather than a footman, to come out to meet the lady. Both the lady and the housekeeper had sent the person who could arrive the fastest upon hearing the news. The lady had few servants, and they were all busy with their own tasks.
She already knew that things had gone well, as reported by Dora. Neris greeted her with a smile. After all, the sun had changed a few days ago, so it was appropriate.
"Happy New Year. Do you have something to tell me?"
"The lady wishes to see you. It's about the investigation."
Joseph, who had a guarded expression, nodded in understanding. Nelucian was also curious as to why there was no conclusion yet, even though the lady had promised to help.
So, he politely said, "Lady Trude, I will follow you. I will wait nearby until you finish your conversation."
"Is that so? I'm sorry, but then I have a favor to ask, Karen."
Neris smiled innocently and followed the housekeeper.
The housekeeper had brought the best carriage from the lady's house. After helping Neris into the carriage, he naturally tried to sit next to the coachman. However, Neris politely insisted, "It's cold, let's ride together. Come inside."
"It's appropriate for me to sit here due to my status."
The polite housekeeper declined. But Neris insisted with a smile.
"I must sit next to the lady at all times. If I catch a cold because of me, it would be troublesome. I feel uncomfortable, so please come inside. And if it's okay, could you tell me what the lady usually likes? Since you're taking such good care of her, I want to show my gratitude, even if I can't do much."
Without quotation marks.
The housekeeper glanced briefly towards Joseph. Then, as if reluctantly, he entered the carriage.
"Here we go!"
The carriage started moving. Amidst the vibrations from the wheels, Neris gazed at the housekeeper.
Finally, the housekeeper sighed and said, "The lady will express her gratitude. And I must do the same."
"Have they caught the killer of Miss Monica?"
"We found a witness. It seems the culprit is from the Wells family."
"So, it means they haven't captured them yet."
"It's just a matter of time."
The housekeeper spoke discreetly. However, Neris understood his sentiments to some extent.
The news of the death of a dear person, sudden as a thunderbolt. Especially when the person was usually kind and amiable, garnering favor from those around.
Moreover, the victim was too young to die. Neris knew how devastating it must be for the family of someone murdered without a witness.
The housekeeper must have been shocked to find out that the culprit he thought they had caught was not the real one. Fortunately, they managed to uncover the true culprit in this lifetime.
"I also heard from Miss Monica, but she is a commoner and may not know what happened after the festival. Can you tell me what you know?"
The housekeeper looked at Neris with a puzzled expression. Thankfully, he didn't seem upset.
"Was it to discuss this matter that you asked me to join you in the carriage?"
"No, I really want to know what the lady likes. I was hesitant as it might feel like a bribe, but since the lady and I are now close due to my connection with Morie, I'm curious if it's okay to suggest increasing the variety of medicines, Morie's main products."
"The lady has assured that she will spare no effort in supporting Morie's upper branch in conducting business in Troop. Many lives were almost lost in vain, but the proactive intervention from Morie's upper branch helped prevent a major disaster."
"I will buy the gift for the lady with my own money, so it's unrelated to that matter. If the lady is okay with it, I would like to send a doctor specialized in handling herbs. I want the doctor to teach the lady's personal physician how to handle the new herbal remedies developed by Morie's upper branch."
High-ranking nobles did not introduce or receive doctors casually because of the risk of assassination. However, the lady knew best that there was currently no motive for Neris to harm her.
The housekeeper responded with caution and kindness.
"I will convey your message."
"Great. Thank you."
The doctor mentioned by Neris was the same person who, in her previous life, discovered that thyme and hellebore grow well together. In this life, instead of stealing his achievements, Neris ensured he could break free from his abusive father much earlier than planned. She also sponsored his apprenticeship under a renowned doctor recognized by all.
The doctor was unaware of Neris's existence. He thought someone highly placed in Morie's upper branch had recommended him for a good position. So, recently trained, he began working for Morie's upper branch.
Even though he didn't know, Neris remembered that she had gained a lot thanks to his knowledge. With her diligent nature, if she impressed the lady once, she could achieve the highest wealth and reputation as a doctor for the rest of her life.
"I've paid off one more debt."
Staring blankly outside, Neris thought. There were times when the connections made in her previous life, the good deeds and the wrongdoings towards them, seemed distant.
The carriage slowly headed towards the lady's house.
❖ ❖ ❖
"It's a New Year's gift."
Pointing to the envelope placed on the table, the lady said bluntly.
The people from the lady's house that Neris encountered this time were very polite. Of course, they had always been courteous as one needed significant education to work in this household, but this time, they welcomed her as if receiving an emperor.
From the attitude of these servants, Neris could tell that the lady was quite pleased with the current situation. So, she unhesitatingly took out what was inside the envelope.
Her small lips read the title written on the top sheet of paper.
"Certificate of exemption from tolls and permission to purchase land in the Troop region...."
Normally, a certificate was only a few pages long. However, the documents were quite thick. After flipping through a few pages, Neris understood the reason.
Exemption from tolls in Embil, something in Hartshire, something in Atlanian Isles... It was a document guaranteeing the maximum rights that could be granted to someone other than the landowner for all the lady's territories known to Neris.
Moreover, it was signed in the lady's own name, making it almost impossible for anyone within the empire to challenge the holder of this certificate.
Furthermore, the recipient's name was not specified. It meant the right to buy and sell freely.
Such a document would prompt even a large upper branch to immediately offer the equivalent of the money for several large territories. Neris had not expected such a level of generosity.
"Evidence of malicious intent towards the Lendang people in Wells was revealed, so all matters related to the Lendang people were resolved. The Lord of Troop will also change. Neris smiled.
"That's how it should be."
"Does it not concern you?"
"How could it concern me?"
"Then it's settled."
The lady also smiled at Neris. It was faint, but the presence of that smile itself was precious.
'What a strange child.'
He unhesitatingly called Nelucian Elendria a viper and caused irreparable damage to the Elendria Viscountess's family.
The Viscount of Wells was a wealthy noble, but there was no way for the royal authorities to punish him with clear evidence.
The Viscount of Wells, the father-in-law of the Elendria Viscountess, would be reeling not only from the economic impact but also from the fact that his youngest son was being investigated for 'rebellion against the lord' and 'deception of the royal family.' Perhaps all business conducted by that family would be in disarray for a while.
Consequently, the business of the Elendria Viscount, who enjoyed economic support from the family, would stagger at just the right time.
The lady's question of 'Does it not concern you?' was for this reason. Fortunately for her, Neris clearly disliked the Elendria family she was currently entrusted to.
The lady could roughly grasp the picture drawn between her nephew Kamil, Adrian, and the Elendria family. Therefore, she understood Neris's sentiments. Wasn't it a false accusation of murder?
'But there shouldn't be a reason to attack the Elendria family to this extent.'
"Jewel in the Crown. Furthermore, she is beautiful, young, healthy, and outwardly appears to be outside the influence of other factions. She is intelligent and well-educated.
Even if the lady was a duchess, she would naturally have taken her in and tried to win her favor. And logically, anyone in Neris's position would enter the Elendria family as a daughter and leverage the aftermath. It was only natural that the greater the aftermath, the better for leveraging.
However, to be so resolute in antagonizing the Elendria family meant there was a different perspective.
The lady recalled the encounter rumored in the palace corridors. The incident where the three most eligible unmarried men in the empire argued over a woman was already a topic of discussion in social circles.
The well-known lord from the far north that the lady had seen once in the distance.
If the two young men joined hands, what kind of storm would come their way in the future? While she suspected that it would not be peaceful when the storm hit, the lady did not dislike this fact.
For some unknown reason, Neris Trude had been somewhat familiar to the lady from the beginning. She did not seem fearful.
And she did not dislike that fact either.