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Chapter 63
“The ornamental trees in the garden weren’t profitable.”
“Did Kiera cut off the money?”
“Officially, yes. So, thanks to the Duchess, we had to become self-sufficient.”
Tyburn clicked his tongue.
“I knew they’d get into trouble. Still, I occasionally asked my retainers to take a look.”
This old man is so clueless. Would Kiera really have left them alone?
“The Duchess also troubled them a lot. Count Zeck reportedly developed patchy hair loss. So, we’re growing medicinal herbs for it now.”
“Patchy hair loss?”
“So, what happened?”
As we strolled through the herb garden, I chattered about the recent events. I had been waiting for the day I could spill everything.
And now that I had regained my self-healing skills, I felt an energy surging through my body.
Of course, I added a little exaggeration.
“Oh, when I couldn’t eat a single piece of meat, I seriously thought I was going to die! And then, young Master Hider was still in his growing phase! I was so worried about him not growing taller.”
“You really went through a lot, huh? So, is the Dell Trading Company now under Hider’s control?”
“Yeah. It was the only choice. But I couldn’t just let the Cartheon Trading Company fall into someone else’s hands.”
“You all handled it well. Thanks to you, the company survived, and you benefited too. A win-win.”
I proudly straightened my nose.
Of course, we worked hard. Now, Dell Trading Company was making a name for itself in the herb business.
Now, even people coming for healing would visit Dell Trading. Eventually, we had to hire more employees and doctors.
And the diet-related products?
They were flying off the shelves. Especially during the wedding season or social events, they were sold out. I even heard that during the first spring ball held by the royal family, employees at the company were working themselves to death to deliver drinks.
Was that all? A little weight-loss tea or diet supplements were being swept up by the noble ladies, and I heard the stock at the company was nearly wiped out.
I kept talking about all of this to Tyburn.
“So, Dell Trading Company is raking in the money now. Plus, thanks to the medicines we sold cheaply during the plague, our image is great too.”
Tyburn chuckled. Seeing his cheerful face, I couldn’t help but feel happy as well.
“And Hider? Has he achieved success?”
I had so much to boast about.
“Of course! He’s the youngest! I feel a little embarrassed saying this, but our supporter really came through, huh? Anyway, it was Hider’s talent, after all. To be a sword master at fourteen!”
I chatted away with Tyburn for a long time. I wanted to spill three years’ worth of gossip all at once.
And just as we were wrapping up our conversation, the Duke’s door opened.
Creek!
“Ugh. We need to oil that.”
Tyburn gave the gate a strange look. The gate, which had never opened before, was now opening repeatedly. It was the carriage from Aites.
“…Tsk. They just couldn’t hold themselves back. The Aites people have always been shallow and vulgar.”
His tone was icy. Tyburn seemed to have no hope left for Kiera.
“Rani, stay out of sight and go inside. They’ll leave soon enough.”
“Yes!”
I answered briskly and waved my hand.
Kiera, holding her nose, got out of the carriage.
“What’s that smell? My goodness, what is this mess?”
The garden, which once boasted grandeur, had turned into a vegetable garden. And now, it reeked of fertilizer and herbs.
“How disgraceful.”
Kiera, irritated, barked an order.
“Quickly unload the luggage. Wait, why isn’t Sornia and Carthé getting off?”
“Mom, can’t we just go to Aites?”
Carthé showed his discomfort. He also knew Tyburn had returned.
Tyburn was still a figure that scared Carthé.
“I wish I could do that. You stay here alone, Mom.”
Sornia also spoke sulkily.
“Stop acting childish and get off quickly. You’re not kids anymore.”
Kiera spoke firmly. In the end, Sornia and Carthé reluctantly got off the carriage.
Carthé was now 15, and Sornia was 13.
Just as Kiera was about to lead the children inside,
“No need to unload the luggage.”
It was Tyburn. Kiera quickly turned her head and stared in the direction of the voice.
Kiera’s lips trembled. She tried to manage her expression, but it was impossible to hide her discomfort.
‘Still alive and back, that weed of an old man.’
Kiera clenched her teeth.
“I’m glad to see you back safely, Father. But why do you say not to unload the luggage? I couldn’t even return home because I had to abide by your closure order.”
“Typical talk. I’ve heard all about what you’ve been doing. You’ve been sending Cartheon’s gold threads to Aites? After cutting all support for the main house, you still talk back?”
Tyburn’s fierce demeanor made Kiera’s legs tremble. Sornia and Carthé stepped back, hiding behind Kiera.
“W-what are you talking about? There’s a huge misunderstanding. Is Herden inside? I need to speak with him. You should hear about the disgraceful actions of Aros the Viscount. And how incompetent Count Zeck was, and how foolish Viscount Nathan was.”
Tyburn crossed his arms, emphasizing his thick muscles.
“Eek!”
Carthé gasped and tugged at Kiera’s skirt.
“Let’s just go! Grandpa said we should!”
“This is our home, child. And your father is here. Where else would we go?”
Despite being ignored every time she sent a letter, her husband had finally returned. Kiera couldn’t give up on anything related to Cartheon.
Tyburn’s gaze shifted to Sornia and Carthé. They had been raised to be sickly and dependent. They could do nothing on their own, right?
There was no way they could match up to Cartheon’s heir.
“You can leave the children behind, Kiera.”
“What? Father, what are you saying! I must meet with Herden.”
“Don’t be a nuisance.”
With a wave of Tyburn’s hand, the servants gathered and blocked Kiera’s way. The servants, strengthened by their farming work, were now well-built.
Kiera took a step back, her face flushed.
“If you leave Sornia and Carthé behind, I’ll accept it, but you will not cross this threshold.”
“Father! How could you do this?”
“Then, will you return the money you took from your father’s pocket? The uncollateralized loan with a long repayment period, that money.”
Kiera bit her lips. When did he hear about that? He was such a sly fox!
“That was a legitimate loan, Father.”
“Without interest? Ha, I really don’t understand your logic. And didn’t you steal the emerald mine?”
“That’s…! It was a choice to protect Cartheon! The Emperor demanded it!”
Kiera raised her voice.
Her face turned pale, trembling with fear. The things she thought she’d never have to face again were now coming back as sharp daggers.
Kiera was frustrated.
‘Damn, damn it! I’ll die from this!’
She cursed inwardly, words she couldn’t speak aloud.
“I was just following orders, Father! And I can pay back the money soon! You should see how popular Eastern tourism is right now!”
