“The third plan is to sell low-cost souvenirs along with high-priced amulets. It was His Highness’s own suggestion. It’s for the commoners who cannot afford to buy amulets.”

Joseph said this and put his hand on his chest to show respect. Amy and the other employees all smiled contentedly and bowed to him. Noah, seated at the head, only nodded with an expressionless face.

“And one more thing he mentioned, we decided to set aside part of the profits to prepare for any natural disasters or adversities that might occur.”

This was a system created by Joseph, James, and Noah under the tutor’s guidance to reduce the economic burden on the vassals. Now it will be implemented at the domain level under the lord’s initiative, but later it will be possible for individuals to join as well. In that case, the lord will guarantee the payment.

“We decided to make items to sell such as women’s hair ornaments and belts, and children’s toys. If the response is good, we’ll gradually increase the variety. Of course, the symbolic flower will be engraved on these as well.”

At that moment, Joseph’s face, which had been speaking so well, suddenly clouded over.

“Lastly, the masked martial arts tournament, which had fierce debates until the very end about whether to hold it or not, was rejected.”

Amy and Noah nodded at the same time. The tournament was still premature. If anyone were to lose their life, it could damage the image of the North that was just beginning to stretch its wings.

At that moment, there was a rough sound of a chair being pulled back, and Dwayne stood up abruptly, shaking his fist.

“Why is only my plan rejected!”

Amid the murmuring of people, Mary whispered to Cecil in the next seat.

“Oh my. Doesn’t he know… This is why people need to be smart.”

“If he’s handsome, isn’t it okay if he’s a bit dumb?”

As Cecil tilted her head, Mary shook her index finger left and right.

“Imagine if your child acted like that.”

“……”

Turning her head, she saw Dwayne panting, restrained by guards who were grinning. They seemed to have just prevented him from rushing onto the platform.

Behind them, Jack, Bradley, and the guards were snickering while collecting money from the employees. It seemed they had bet on how Dwayne would react, knowing in advance that it would be rejected.

‘Disgusting people.’

Cecil made a nauseated expression and shook her head, when the sight of James, the sickly handsome man overflowing with intellect, slightly furrowing his brow while looking at documents caught her eye. Cecil muttered with a completely relaxed face.

“Men are all about brains after all.”

“Of course.”

After they gagged the restrained Dwayne, it became quiet again. Joseph hurriedly finished his presentation.

“That’s all I have to report. Details will be instructed through the butler Melvin and the head maid Mrs. Weaver. Thank you for listening.”

Then he hurriedly hugged the documents and fled from the hall as if escaping. Amy and Noah also stood up.

“It was pretty good, wasn’t it?”

“He prepared a lot in a short time.”

“James is doing a great job as his aide. Joseph’s burden has been greatly reduced.”

“It seemed so.”

Amy glanced to the side as she headed towards the door. She caught sight of Dwayne, who had been causing a commotion, screaming with his ear being pulled by Vernon. Jack shaking his head beside them was a bonus.

Amy lowered her voice and asked Noah walking beside her.

“Didn’t the Grand Duke himself say that the martial arts tournament would be held after the Grand Duchy was fully established?”

“He did. Not only Vernon, but Dwayne was there too at that time.”

“Then why is he acting like that?”

“How should I know, maybe he really only cleans his ears once a year.”

Noah, who passed by them with an indifferent expression, added as he left the hall:

“They say there’s a saying across the eastern sea about warding off bad luck. Seeing Dwayne act like that, it seems the festival will be a success.”

On a day when festival preparations were in full swing, Spencer Coleman finally arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle. Amy, who came out to greet him along with Joseph, quickly approached the well-built man dismounting from his horse.

“Lord Burton?”

“……”

The man who turned his head sharply at the call furrowed his brow and looked Amy up and down. His gaze wasn’t very gentlemanly, but Amy hid her displeasure and said neatly.

“I am Amelia Besford, the Grand Duke’s head lady-in-waiting. Welcome to the Grand Duke’s castle.”

“I am Joseph, the Grand Duke’s assistant. Welcome, Lord Burton.”

“…As you know, it’s Spencer.”

Seeing him answer gruffly without even adding his family name, he seemed no different from before he ran away. Amy smiled outwardly but grumbled inwardly.

‘Don’t bring family matters outside!’

At that moment, a young man and an old man who appeared to be Spencer Coleman’s attendants walked forward. The young man had black hair, brown eyes, a slightly curved nose bridge, and a timid impression with thin pressed lips, while the middle-aged man was the owner of an appearance that seemed to shout ‘I am authoritative’ at first glance.

“Mind your manners.”

When the middle-aged man sternly rebuked Spencer, Spencer’s face crumpled. Seeing Spencer tensing his body as if about to fight, with veins bulging on his forehead and neck, Amy and Joseph exchanged glances.

Vernon and the knights also put their hands on their sword hilts, sensing the ominous atmosphere.

“You can just go and report everything I’ve done to the Count, can’t you?”

Fortunately, Spencer relaxed his body and mocked the middle-aged man. Then he bent his waist, brought his face close, and whispered spitefully.

“You won’t say a single good word anyway, so why should I listen to you?”

The middle-aged man was stubborn.

“I will only report things as they are.”

“Do as you wish. In any case, it would be better not to think about restraining my actions.”

Spencer coldly rebuked and then turned around sharply.

“Where can I rest?”

He asked, glaring at Amy. His discomfort towards her was clearly visible, and Amy was perplexed. She couldn’t understand why he disliked her when they had never met before.

But Amy skillfully hid her inner thoughts and smiled, pointing to Melvin.

“The castle’s butler will guide you personally. Please rest for a while, and we will come to escort you at dinner time.”

“……”

He turned around without even answering and approached Melvin. His young attendant followed behind Spencer, waddling with his hands full of luggage.

“He doesn’t seem to be an ordinary person, does he?”

Joseph, who was watching the direction Spencer had disappeared, frowned worriedly. Amy shrugged her shoulders.

“He may act like this to us, but if he wants to inherit the title, he’ll find a way to please the Grand Duke on his own.”

“In fact, it’s premature to call him Lord Burton…”

Joseph, who was thorough with principles, clicked his tongue. They had called him that in advance since he would become a viscount anyway, but even that seemed unsatisfactory.

Amy turned and walked towards the inner castle, casually glancing in the direction Spencer had gone. But wasn’t that Spencer, who she thought had already gone to the guest room, standing at the edge of the courtyard facing a young maid?

“What’s this?”

Worried that he might be harming the child, she grabbed her skirt with both hands and approached with quick steps. Spencer, unaware that Amy had come close, was sternly scolding the maid child.

“It’s easy to fall when running on such a steep place. Has no one warned you about this?”

“I’ve been told not to do it many times, but…”

The child who had been scolded tilted her head sideways and made a gloomy expression. Spencer’s voice became much softer.

“I’m not scolding you. If you get hurt, it’s entirely your loss, isn’t it? Promise me you’ll be careful from now on.”

“…Yes.”

“Good. Now run along.”

“Ye-es…”

The child moved away one step at a time, watching Spencer’s expression, and when she was at a certain distance, she turned around and ran away quickly. Spencer watched her with a pleased smile.

Amy couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

‘What? Wasn’t he supposed to be a foul-tempered heir?’

It was very unfamiliar to see him treating a child of different status like a gentle breeze. At that moment, he turned his head and was startled to see Amy.

“What is it?”

He demanded in a voice that immediately turned fierce.

“Pardon?”

Amy blinked in surprise and then lifted her chin.

“I was just passing by, but why aren’t you in your guest room, my lord?”

“…I merely, lost my way.”

Spencer, who momentarily looked embarrassed at Amy’s questioning, quickly acted brazen.

“Ah, then our maid was in the process of guiding you, I see?”

When Amy mentioned the child who had just run away, the man’s face hardened. Then the next moment, he glared at Amy fiercely and pointed at her.

“That child did nothing to me, so if you punish her, I won’t stand idly by.”

“…Why would we punish her for guiding a guest of the Grand Duke’s castle? You’re saying strange things.”

As Amy tried to respond calmly, Spencer snorted. Then he glared at her savagely and said, as if grinding his teeth:

“Do you think I don’t know that you’re the infamous ghost lady-in-waiting from the Imperial Palace?”

“!”

This time, Amy’s face hardened. She glared at him sharply.

‘He said he ran away, but did he go to the Empire to investigate the Grand Duke?’

Spencer raised one corner of his mouth and sneered.

“I heard you were lavishly favored by the Crown Prince, then lost everything in an instant and clung to the Grand Duke, the second prince, to come here? Your desire to survive is quite desperate, isn’t it?”

“…Pardon?”

At these nonsensical words, Amy felt the guard she had just put up crumbling. What on earth is this person saying… Then she suddenly realized.

‘Is that how the rumors are in the Empire?’

Amy furrowed her brow and fell into thought. At first glance, it sounded like she had attached herself to the Grand Duke to find a way to survive, but in reality, it had the nuance of accusing her of being a spy gathering information on the second prince. Probably spread by the Empress…

As she kept her mouth shut, Spencer’s face crumpled even more. He took a threatening step forward and growled roughly.

“The North is not as soft as the Empire. If you cause even the slightest harm to the Grand Duke, our vassals won’t stand still, do you understand?”

“……”

Amy suddenly lifted her head.

‘What? This person. He’s on Noah’s side?’