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Chapter : 05
The next day, I forced my weary body to get up.
“Madam, today is the day for the territorial inspection. Please prepare.”
“A territorial inspection?”
What exactly is a territorial inspection?
To satisfy my curiosity, I thought back to the original story.
In the original novel, Rebecca—who married Luciano—also went out once every fixed period to inspect the Grand Duke’s territory.
It was partly an act meant to win the hearts of the people, and partly to check whether there were any inconveniences or problems within the domain.
“Yes. As you always have, you’ll simply tour the territory once.”
“Alright. Let’s prepare.”
With my curiosity resolved, I felt it was something I absolutely had to do, so I roused my tired body and began getting ready.
The maids, as if it were routine, tried to dress me in a flamboyant gown and heavy jewelry.
“Wait a moment. You expect me to wear that? This is a territorial inspection.”
“You always wear the most splendid dresses. You said you must show the dignity of the nobility to the people, so we prepared a luxurious dress today as well. Shall we prepare something else?”
“Change it. Something neat, not flashy. Reduce the jewelry as much as possible.”
I’m going to see the people of the territory—how does it make sense to go dressed extravagantly…
The Empire had an extremely severe gap between rich and poor.
The wealthy nobles were immensely rich, while the poor commoners were always poor.
They lived such destitute lives that it was hard just to earn enough to eat for a single day.
That was also the reality of the Empire Rebecca tried to change in the novel.
The people of the Grand Duke’s territory might live better than those elsewhere, but even they struggled day to day to survive.
And yet, as the ruler of the territory, to show them nothing but extravagance and luxury…
“Madam, how about this dress?”
The dress Sera brought out looked far more neat and modest than the previous one.
The deep green dress had minimal embroidery and was comfortable to move in.
The maids tied my hair back, dressed me, and fastened a small jeweled necklace around my neck.
“All done.”
I glanced briefly at the mirror and stood up.
“Let’s go.”
After getting into the carriage and heading toward the central street of the territory, I saw people living out their busy daily lives.
“Madam, what are you looking at?”
“The people of the territory. They’re living their days like that.”
“Even so, the people of the Grand Duke’s lands are blessed. Thanks to His Grace’s benevolence, they only pay half the taxes of other territories.”
At the maids’ words, I was reminded anew of how much Luciano loved his domain.
“Madam, this is the inspection area.”
“Let’s get down.”
I stepped out of the carriage and looked around.
“Buy some flowers!!”
A girl with a bright voice tapped me on the back.
A maid beside me tried to stop her, but I blocked the maid and looked at the girl.
“Oh?”
“Please buy some flowers… They’re only 1 mark per flower.”
Smiling, I took hold of the flowers in the girl’s hand.
“They’re truly beautiful. What kind of flowers are they?”
“Peonies!”
The girl’s delicate hand was very warm, and the peonies she held were lovely.
I took out a 100-mark bill.
Her hands were so thin, and her body looked terribly frail.
The moment I saw her, I felt so sorry for her that I couldn’t help taking out the money.
“I’ll pay this much—could you give me all the flowers in your basket?”
“I can’t do that.”
Contrary to my expectations, the girl refused.
“Why not?”
“My mother told me! She said these flowers could become happiness for someone. That selling flowers means selling happiness. I need to give happiness to more people, so I can’t give all the flowers to just you, Madam.”
I smiled at her unexpected answer.
“I see… Then just give me one flower, and please take this money.”
“I can’t do that either! It’s too much money!!”
“The happiness you sold me is worth more than 100 marks. So please accept it.”
I took a flower and pressed the bill into her hand.
“Let’s go.”
As we passed her and went deeper into the street, we arrived at the slums.
“Madam, from here on is the slum district. If this makes you uncomfortable, shall we return?”
“No. Even if it’s a slum, they’re still people of the territory. We should see it.”
The life I saw in the slums was far worse than I had imagined.
Is this even an environment where people can live?
They couldn’t even dress properly, drank filthy water mixed with waste, and ate food with no nutrition, all while living in small houses on the verge of collapse.
To think people live like this…
Because I had possessed a noble’s body, I had known nothing of this.
This was a strictly class-based society, and the existence of slums was considered almost natural.
Seeing the children playing in the run-down slums made my heart ache, and I wondered if there was anything I could do for them with my money.
“How much of my personal allowance can I use?”
“Well… you’ve already spent all of this month’s allowance, Madam, so you’d need to ask His Grace the Grand Duke for more.”
“Really? Alright, I understand for now.”
Just then, a child from the slums bumped into me.
“Madam! Are you alright?”
Realizing I was someone of high status, the child dropped to their knees in the muddy ground and bowed their head.
“I’m sorry!”
“Get up. I’m fine.”
Of course, some dirt got on my dress, but I didn’t mind.
A dress could always be replaced.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yes…”
I pressed some money into the child’s hand as well.
“Go buy yourself some tasty bread.”
“Thank you! Noble Madam!!”
I watched the child run off, my heart heavy, when a maid spoke quietly behind me.
“Madam, the inspection time is over.”
Leaving my regret behind, I returned to the carriage. Even on the way back, I kept seeing children in shabby clothes like the one before, which made me uneasy.
After returning to the carriage, I asked the maids,
“What do the parents of the slum children do, that they can’t properly care for them?”
“Most children in the slums have no parents. Many mothers die in childbirth or starve to death. It’s tragic, but since the Empire doesn’t have properly established orphanages, there’s nowhere to take the children.”
I sighed and said nothing.
“Let’s go back.”
As soon as I returned to the Grand Duke’s residence, I looked for Luciano.
The fact that there wasn’t even an orphanage to care for the children I’d met weighed heavily on my mind, so I wanted to ask Luciano about the slum children.
“Where is Luciano?”
“His Grace is currently receiving distinguished guests.”
“Tell Luciano that I’m waiting. I have something to say.”
“Is it perhaps about your allowance?”
What, is he a mind reader?
When I looked at him suspiciously, the butler smiled slightly.
“Around this time, you always say your allowance is insufficient. I’ll inform His Grace.”
“No. This time I’ll speak to him directly. Just pass on the message.”
“Understood, Madam.”
I waited for Luciano to have time, drinking tea on the terrace of my room.
Sensing that I was in a bad mood, the maids tried to comfort me.
They talked about newly released dresses and various jewels, but I cut them off and spoke of my future plan.
“I’m going to build an orphanage.”
“An orphanage?”
The maids looked doubtful, as if questioning whether they had heard me correctly.
“Yes. The children are pitiful. At an age when they should be loved and raised in a good environment, they’re living like that in the slums.”
“But that’s the fate of slum children, isn’t it?”
They spoke as if it were obvious, but I couldn’t understand.
“Among those children, there could be a genius who will brighten the Empire’s future. At the very least, they deserve an opportunity for education.”
The maids looked flustered at my words, but perhaps considering my mood, they didn’t argue further.
Around the time I finished my second cup of tea, one of Luciano’s attendants came.
“His Grace the Grand Duke says he will see Her Grace the Duchess now.”
“I’ll go.”
“Yes, Madam.”
I knocked on the door to Luciano’s reception room and entered.
“Did you sleep well, Luciano?”
“Yes. Please get to the point, wife.”
He spoke without even looking at me.
“Can you give me more allowance?”
At my words, he looked at me with an exasperated expression.
“Don’t tell me you indulged in extravagance again.”
“That’s not the reason this time.”
“It’s fine. This isn’t the first time you’ve said that.”
Frustrated, I raised my voice slightly.
“No. There’s something I want you to do. If you do it, you don’t have to give me any allowance.”
I spoke carefully, not wanting to anger him.
Thanks to my effort, his demeanor was noticeably calmer than the last time we spoke.
“What is it?”
“I want you to build an orphanage for the slum children.”
At my words, Luciano looked at me as if surprised.
“I didn’t know you had an interest in slum children.”
“I didn’t know it myself, either.”
“Why an orphanage?”
“I went on a territorial inspection today. I saw the slum children.”
“And that made you want to build an orphanage for them.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s impossible.”
I was left speechless by his refusal.
Because Luciano loved his territory, I had assumed he would agree. The slum children were also his people.
“Why…?”
“Establishing an orphanage is easy. But maintaining it regularly is difficult, and accommodating all the children in the territory would require a large annual budget.”
I understood his reasoning, but I thought he was being irresponsible.
“So you’re saying you’ll just leave those children there?”
“There’s no choice. No matter how well one tries to govern a territory, there will always be dark corners.”
“They’re children! At the very least, they should be given a chance at education!”
When I raised my voice further, Luciano closed the documents he had been reading and looked at me.
“Since when have you cared about the people of the territory?”
“What did you say?”
“In the past four years, countless servants have left this estate because of you. You’ve always called commoners vulgar, and now suddenly you want an orphanage. Are you trying to get my attention again?”
I wanted to slap him, but I held back and spoke.
“That’s not it. I just felt sorry for the children I saw today. I’ll be the one to check on it regularly. If the budget is too much, you can reduce my allowance.”
His eyes widened.
“You’d give up your allowance?”
“Yes. I’ll cut back on extravagance too. So please—just this once. Help those children live at least a decent human life.”
I spoke calmly.
“If you establish the orphanage, I’ll do everything I can on my end. I’ll give up my allowance and personally oversee it regularly.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Really?”
“That’s not an agreement. I’m only saying I’ll consider it.”
“Thank you anyway!”
I smiled brightly.
“You may leave now. I’m busy.”
“I still have more to say—”
“We’ll talk later.”
I had been about to bring up divorce, but at his firm tone, I closed the door to his reception room and left.
That’s enough for now!!
I felt quietly proud.
At the very least, those children would be able to live in a cleaner environment.
I didn’t expect this to change the entire Empire, but I hoped that at least the Grand Duke’s territory would change.
“Is it normal to feel good after doing something like this?”
Humming softly, I went back to my room.
That evening, I received a letter from Luciano through his attendant, saying that he would review the matter positively and asking me to send a proposal for the orphanage’s establishment.
