Chapter 157 – #35 Marquis Charlotte Lars and Earl Meln, Night of Mystery (1)
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Mansion of the Marquis of Las.
In the mansion’s office, the Marquis Charlotte Lars was still struggling with overwork.
His face looks tired, but somehow it feels different than usual.
Her mother, Thearesia Lars, stayed in the imperial castle for about two weeks.
She, who is returning from her work at the imperial castle, will arrive at the Marquisate today.
While she was in Hwangseong, she was always nervous because she didn’t know what was going to happen.
‘… If her mother comes, shall we finish work a little earlier today?’
‘… When was the last time I had a good night’s sleep…’
There is still plenty of work left to do.
Her father hasn’t even taken over her job properly, and although she’s smart, she still lacks her tact, so her current workload can be said to be murderous.
If she goes on like this, she might really die.
Then, before she died, let’s spend the last time together with her mother―― It was Charlotte who even had an extreme thought.
‘Apart from trivial things.’
‘There are some really big things. This is really not something I can do about.’
For example, the giant mutant monster that has recently been roaming around the borders of the Marquis of Rath.
It is said that sometimes mutations of some demon beasts appear under the influence of the special magical power of demons.
All of a sudden, it appeared near the border of this marquis territory.
I have already dispatched the elite knights of the Marquis family, but only injured and defeated.
Although they requested help from the imperial castle, it is doubtful how many troops they will send to the marquis territory, which was out of sight of the emperor in the first place.
‘If it had been my father, I would have mobilized my personal connections and looked for even temporary reinforcements.’
‘Four wizards… No, if there were three more, I would have managed to solve it somehow… The budget is…’
The more she progresses in her affairs, the more her despair grows as she compares herself with her capable father who has already passed away.
Charlotte was already at her limit.
That she unexpectedly inherited her family, and that she manages the Marquisate, which is too much for her.
Everyone seems to follow her well, but behind her back, she is whispering and complaining and criticizing her Charlotte.
The Marquis of Von Lars was a capable man.
Charlotte was also a talented person in her own right, but unfortunately she can only be compared to her father, who is even more outstanding.
‘Throw it all away. I want to run away while crying.’
Limit.
Limit.
Limit.
It was the limit
Charlotte is pushed to the brink by all sorts of stress, pressure, overwork and exhaustion.
She couldn’t help but look forward to it and be very happy when she heard that her family and her beloved mother, the only one who would understand such Charlotte, would return.
However, the moment she sees Thearesia, there is a possibility that the feelings she has barely contained until now will overflow like a trough…
‘Mom, I want to see you soon.’
‘Tonight’s dinner is delicious… Don’t mind anything else… Just for today… Just for today…’
Charlotte looked quite alarmed, and she called the butler and told her about the evening.
Even as the butler listened to her Charlotte’s story, she looked at her face in danger… But she couldn’t say anything and she had no choice but to leave her office.
Even her butler can’t help her.
Now her Charlotte’s hardships are something she has to overcome on her own.
At present, everyone in this mansion was thinking so…
* * *
It was just past afternoon when Charlotte’s mother Thearesia arrived at the mansion.
Charlotte was glad that she arrived earlier than expected, but regretted the fact that she still had a lot of work left to do so she couldn’t relax.
But that thought too.
Guided by her butler, she disappeared at the sight of Thearesia, who entered Charlotte’s office.
“Shallot. Are you okay? Aren’t you overdoing it?”
“Ah, yes… Mother.”
Charlotte looked up at Thearesia, who had entered her office with dazed eyes.
Thearesia was originally a very beautiful woman.
She was so young and pretty that it was hard to believe that she had a grown-up daughter like her.
However, Thearesia she saw today became even more beautiful, to the point where she wondered if she was a completely different person.
Her face seemed to shine brightly, and her smile was even more bewitching and beautiful.
I’m not sure, but her breasts are visible through her street dress, and her hips also appears to be larger than before.
Of course, it’s because of my mood.
She couldn’t help but be surprised at how beautiful she had become to the point where she somehow felt like her own mother was someone else.
‘Are the cosmetics used in the imperial castle good?’
She inadvertently thought so, but it didn’t seem like that either.
It was only for a moment that I was surprised by her transformation into Thearesia.
Charlotte’s attention quickly shifted to her side.
“Hey, who is that?”
Along with Thearesia, a man was ushered into this office.
Apparently Charlotte had never even seen her at an aristocratic banquet one day.
Perhaps that name is…
“This is Count Meln. She seems to be having a hard time with Charlotte, so she said that His Highness gave her advice.”
So, it means that the emperor himself came to help with a recommendation.
“Greetings, Marquis Charlotte Lars. My name is Count Devro Meln.
My father’s work is very important to me as well–“
“Go back.”
To Earl Meln, who greeted her, Charlotte Lars threw a firm refusal.
Earl Meln froze in the greeting posture,
Charlotte advised the count again.
“I don’t know what advice Your Highness gave, but this marquisate belongs to me. It is my jurisdiction.
… There is no reason to enlist the help of a noble from another estate, nor to have her touch you. Please back off.”
Charlotte Lars, who speaks clearly.
Her attitude might seem rude, but it wasn’t wrong.
Once another aristocrat interferes with the finances, it gives the target aristocrat a chance to step in.
On top of that, nobles are people whose charisma and bravado make up 80% of it anyway.
Thinking that her status as a noble would end the moment she was ignored by others, Charlotte had no choice but to adopt a firm attitude of refusal.
With his help this time, everyone who interacts with her Charlotte Lars will harbor her insecurities about her.
She said she couldn’t do a decent job.
That someone else needs help.
Once it was thought so, and if such rumors began to be heard among the nobles.
Then, the family of the Marquis of Lars would walk the path of downfall.
Other aristocrats who are looking for an opportunity to steal the territory are devoured metallurgically,
By the time she finally gets her powers, everything about her is irreversible.
What my father left behind.
Lost through her own incompetence.
After thinking that far in an instant,
Charlotte Lars tried to exorcise the Earl of Meln with her cool demeanor.
“For a moment. Stop it, Shar.”
And that Charlotte.
Her mother, Thearesia, stood in the way.
“Shar. That’s really disrespectful. I know you’re tired, but is that the right attitude right now?”
“… Mother.”
“This is the Count who came a long way at the invitation.
Besides, is it really right to so coldly reject the invitation of His Highness the Emperor himself?”
“… Ah…”
Confused by Thearesia’s words, Charlotte shut her mouth.
Now, fatigue and stress piled up on her, and she was filled with obsessive thoughts that she had to protect this land and family.
Certainly, she admits that her own demeanor was disrespectful, so full of her own thoughts.
Even if her opponent is of a lower status than herself, if she had been her father, she would have spoken smarter…
At this rate, she will only make enemies…
“And Count Meln had a close relationship with him. He is a very trustworthy person.”
“Ah… Mother…”
“And in the first place, Your Highness recommended me secretly, and Count Meln also promised me to secretly help without disclosing it to anyone else.”
What are you doing to a benefactor who says he will do that?
Theresia blamed her Charlotte for doing so.
‘Uh… If so…’
I think with a head that doesn’t work well.
Count Meln might be willing to help out of pure goodwill.
Her friend’s daughter is having a hard time, so she offers to help.
As Thearesia said, if this matter is not known to anyone, then the other nobles will not be able to complain as she fears.
Furthermore, this was Thearesia’s proposal.
Even if it wasn’t really right, she cared about herself, and if it was an offer from her experience, she couldn’t just refuse.
“… Excuse me, Count Meln.”
After her moment of reflection, Charlotte meekly apologized for her own rudeness.
She immediately accepted his offer and agreed to help with her work.
Even so, I would have thought about it more carefully in a different situation.
She couldn’t think properly due to the lack of sleep and the overlapping fatigue.
So, Charlotte clearly accepts Earl Meln without any doubts.
As she was, she finished her work with his help.
