At the End of Ruin, There You Are (56 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 38

The hostility that the words “the Emperor’s investigator” stirred within Lusenford was beyond description.

It was plainly evident that reopening a matter already settled would inevitably stir up fresh bloodshed. The Emperor had always been harsh toward Lusenford.

“Why are you coming back again?”

“Your Highness, that’s just a convenient excuse! How much longer will you keep stirring things up here?”

“Oh dear, there’s going to be bloodshed again….”

The Grand Duke had always loved Lusenford, and the Grand Duchess, though the victim, had shown grace in her heart—so the punishment had ended severely yet precisely as it should have. Now, for an investigator to come and meddle in it again—most people received this news poorly, though a few secretly rejoiced inwardly.

Naturally, one who ought to have rejoiced—the butler—unfortunately could not fully savor his joy.

He was already overwhelmed: the Grand Duke had lately taken to smashing furniture, giving him stomach pains, and the Grand Duchess, who had not yet fully recovered her footing, had not appointed a new housekeeper, leaving him short-handed.

And now, on top of everything, he had to prepare for the arrival of the Emperor’s investigator—so even though he still had some time, it felt as if his feet were already on fire.

“Could Your Highness possibly take charge of this side?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it myself.”

Still, as Princess Ostein, her eye for furnishings proved unexpectedly far superior to that of the previous housekeeper, and her razor-sharp frugality allowed the butler, at least for now, to hurriedly get past the minor tasks.

After all, Pheon had already instructed that ordinary matters be passed directly to the Grand Duchess, so this level of involvement should be acceptable. Of course, he had no intention whatsoever—absolutely none—of ever handing over the most crucial individuals or the precious account books. Those were vital assets he would cling tightly to until his death.

As the butler rightfully in charge of the entire Lusenford estate, he had managed everything alone for twenty years without delegating to anyone—and that would not change.

“Thank you, Your Highness. As you know, furniture purchases must strictly stay within the allocated budget. If you look at this page, you’ll see this number here?”

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