Valentin tried to argue, but Nellucian, instead of a bewildered face, was now wearing a calm expression. He sent a firm and stern gaze to his lovely sister.

After staring at his face for a while, Valentin pursed her lips.

“…Fine.”

“Delma.”

Nellucian called Delma’s name in a voice without much change in tone. Delma quickly raised her hand, making the servants stop.

“Stop! Take down all the boxes again! We need to rearrange everything!”

The servants felt like they were going to die, but they couldn’t show any displeasure to the small tyrant of this mansion, Miss Valentin, and Delma, who received all the affection from her.

Otherwise, they might be immediately kicked out without even a letter of recommendation.

Eventually, the clothes, jewelry, dolls, picture books, and other items that had been crammed into the baggage carts were unloaded in the front yard. Each of them was stored in sturdy and expensive boxes.

Nellucian had no doubt that it would be done according to his will. He turned to go back into the mansion, but suddenly, he glanced at a servant. Nellucian himself knew the name of the low-ranking maid.
“Isabel.”

Originally, maids were not involved in tasks like moving luggage. However, Isabel, who was sweating on this summer day due to a shortage of hands, quickly stopped her movements.

“Yes, young master.”

“Come with me this time. There’s a child I want to assign to you.”

A child? Isabel was confused about whether this meant she was being fired and sent to another house.

Reading her thoughts from her face, Nellucian smiled gently. It was a beautiful smile that could make anyone flutter.

“You will continue to receive your salary from our family. It’s a child from our family, and it seems like people outside might need assistance. Take care of the child and let me know if there’s anything. I worry about a child being alone. Can you handle it?”

Who could dare to say no? The servants liked and respected Nellucian.

Unlike Valentin, who considered servants less than bugs, he was kind to everyone. Moreover, sending a maid to even distant relatives was something unheard of.

Knowing her own status that she couldn’t dare to override even Nellucian, Isabel blushed involuntarily and nodded her head.

“Yes, young master. I’ll do my best.”

“That’s good.”

Nellucian turned back to the mansion, satisfied. Joseph, who was following him, asked casually.

“Are you referring to Miss Trude?”

“That’s right. From now on, it would be good for others to see that she is receiving some care from the family.”

The young lady, precious to the common sense of Duke Youngsik Nellucian, naturally had to go around with the attendants. Perhaps if Neris didn’t seem as useful as she does now, he might have kept more distance.

Joseph hesitated and spoke.

“Regarding what happened last time…”

“I understand, Joseph. I think Neris needs a maid, including that matter. Someone needs to watch if the child does anything that shouldn’t be done. Although it’s hard to believe that a child would, but she might be easily manipulated due to her young age.”

Nellucian’s eyes lit up for a moment. Joseph felt relieved.

Since missing the golden opportunity to kill Claudwin last time, Joseph had revisited the events of that night several times in his mind.

Where did it go wrong? Where did it leak out? Was it alone? Or with someone’s help?

No matter how much he thought, it was Neris’s actions on that night that caught Joseph’s attention. She knew his name without ever greeting him, and she appeared exactly in the right place.

Moreover, at that time, she said as if her comrades would gather there right away, but later, it turned out that there was a class in the adjacent building.

But Neris’s explanation had no gaps.

She had misunderstood the building and later got the correct information from someone else. Besides, Nellucian and Joseph often stuck together even at the academy, so it wouldn’t be strange if Neris saw them.
Nevertheless, there was still something suspicious. So Joseph was worried that his lord, Nellucian, who was usually flawless, seemed too lenient in evaluating Neris Trude.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be the case now.

In the courtyard where Nellucian had disappeared, Valentin, in a much more upset state than before, watched as her belongings were being packed for her journey to the academy.

She had dreamed for several nights about the academy life she would start this autumn. On some days, she had even planned every detail of what clothes to wear. It was a regrettable situation.

In an attempt to lift Valentin’s spirits, Delma flashed a comforting smile.

“Miss, you can still take everything you like. I’m sure Young Master Nellucian doesn’t hope for you to go without a single toy.”

“That’s not the issue.”

Valentin’s expression turned stern. A look of displeasure, unfitting for her lovely appearance, emerged on her face.

“You heard what Megara said.”

Megara Licendros was a year older than Valentin and very beautiful.

Valentin liked the fact that Megara was older, and she often associated with people from the Licendros family when they were around. When playing with Megara, she never received scolding from adults.

However, Valentin only called Megara by her name when she wasn’t around because she was of lower status.

Delma recalled various things that Megara, who visited the mansion a few days ago, had said.

Among them, there weren’t many words that could disturb Valentin’s feelings. Most of Megara’s stories were about her school life.

Before Delma could speak, Valentin grumbled.

“How dare she call our brother affectionately, act so arrogantly as if she’s from our family! I felt bad from the first time I saw it. A woman who can’t learn, a rustic wench. I’m the heiress of the main family, so where does she dare to flaunt the family name?”

There was definitely something like that. Delma earnestly advised Valentin.

“That’s right, it’s outrageous. Is what she’s saying reasonable? Even though our ranks are different.”

“Right.”

Valentin’s eyes burned with intensity. When they ignited like that, Delma, who knew Valentin’s temper that wouldn’t easily extinguish once lit, could only look at her affectionately.

Delma also remembered Neris. A year ago, or a little more, the woman from the main family who came to borrow tuition and her daughter.

Although she was called the daughter of a lower-ranking knight, she was truly shabby compared to Valentin.

Her mother had received some education, judging by her accurate pronunciation, but her manners were awkward. And the daughter was so unsophisticated that it was unbearable to watch. It would be frightening to have her face Valentin, who was truly noble.
After Megara’s visit, Valentin asked Nellucian about Neris. At that time, what Nellucian said was this:

“As long as there’s something to gain, maintain a reasonably good relationship with that girl.”

Something to gain? Valentin inwardly scoffed, thinking it’s just a joke.

The bad sprouts needed to be pulled out in advance, so as not to let them take away from the good ones. Human relationships also worked on the same principle.

To prevent the lowly ones from raising their heads, steps needed to be taken in advance, like trampling on them.

Valentin declared arrogantly, “I won’t leave it alone. Just hearing my name should make them tremble.”