“Izazel. If you keep looking at the accounting books like that, your body will break down, so take it easy.”

Victor worried about his daughter, who would not leave her wooden desk after a light breakfast.

But the more he said it, the more eagerly Izazel examined the books.

“My body won’t break down just by doing this much, so don’t worry, Father. I want to show the guest that I’m working hard soon.”

Soon, a maid cleaning her room brought welcome news.

“Miss Izazel. Lady Edith has arrived.”

“Tell her to come in, and prepare tea for three, as I said earlier.”

Izazel looked in the mirror once to make sure her hair was in order.

Victor thought his daughter looked just like when she invited her best friend to a birthday party and was nervous about it.

‘I’ll soon find out why the fourth wife of the baron wanted to see me.’

Just as Victor was overlaying the sharp gaze of a merchant with the gentle appearance of a father, the door opened.

“Thank you for inviting me, Izazel. Nice to meet you for the first time, Merchant of Carkus.”

Victor couldn’t find the words for a moment as he looked at Edith, who greeted him with a smile.

‘Didn’t she say she became the baroness just last month?’

Despite rumors of humble origins, she appeared no less accomplished than his daughter, who had received various educations since childhood.

Her lack of exaggerated bowing revealed a life of selfassurance, and the graceful solitude of those who know how to respect others was felt when she spoke politely first.

Her first impression was surprising to Victor, who had seen too many people showing off sudden success with flashy jewelry.

‘Rumors are indeed unreliable.’

Victor, who prided himself on being the best at reading people in Portrion, liked Edith at a glance.

“Nice to meet you, Madam. My name is Victor, and I manage Carkus Merchant.”

“Edith, do you know our father? I was surprised when you said to see him together.”

Izazel led her to a splendid tea table near the window, smiling.

A place she would never have yielded had she not liked the visitor. But Izazel had a considerable liking for Edith, who had supported her like a backbone when looking at an empty stage.

“The tea will be ready soon.”

“Thank you, Izazel.”

Edith was about to sit in the chair she offered but looked at the accounting books on the wooden desk.

“Were you reviewing the books?”

Izazel answered, struggling to hide the pride that her playful direction had worked.

“Yes. It was a mistake to leave all the book management to Sophia in the first place. It’s my duty, so I should have checked sometimes.”

“Can I see it with you?”

“Of course. Now, you also have the same duty as a baroness.”

When the signs of embezzlement were found in the first year’s books that they checked, Izazel began to review all the past books.

Thanks to that, Edith was able to comfortably peruse the books away from Sophia’s eyes.

Surprisingly, embezzlement had been going on steadily since Nicholas Portrion took over the estate.

“At first, it seems like the baron spent the money that should be used for territorial management on gambling.”

As Izazel spoke with a bitter face, Edith checked the detailed budget for that year.

Sure enough.

‘He even took the money that needed to be used to repair the lower dam.’

Money that was deposited every year and used once every 15 years; he probably thought that he could quietly take it and fill it back later without any problem.

But after that, Sophia and Housekeeper Whitman, who took over the accounting on behalf of Nicholas, went further.

While the baron had only taken the available money, Sophia inflated the expenditure after taking charge of accounting, even making money that didn’t exist.

‘If she noticed that the repair fund the baron took was empty, she should have filled it with other emergency funds…….’

Seeing them adding more to the theft, it seemed that Sophia and the housekeeper were a perfect match.

Even Izazel, who had no doubt that Housekeeper Whitman was the main culprit of embezzlement, sighed.
“Rather than trusting and leaving it to Sophia, I should have taken care of it sooner. I always thought she was competent in accounting because she spoke so sharply, but I didn’t notice the embezzlement at all.”

Guilt was contained in her voice.

“It’s the countess’s duty to manage the count’s property and assist in the management of the territory, but I couldn’t do anything. I’m so sorry to the count who helped our company……”

It was then that Edith seemed to understand why Isagel, who claimed not to love the count, appeared crying, her eyes swollen from the news of his accident.

‘She’s a merchant’s daughter, so she’s a person who’s sure about giving and receiving.’

She doesn’t love the count, but it’s true that she received great help from him, so she is faithful to the duty of a wife he wanted from her.

She’s taken the money, so no matter what the other party’s situation is, she will give what she promised. It was an extremely neat way of thinking.