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Chapter: 6
The wind blowing in gently stirred his blond hair, dyed red by the sunset.
No matter how much criticism he was receiving at the moment, he was still the heir of the Schultz Ducal House. His honor would soon be restored, and just as before, the embezzlement issue would quickly fade from people’s minds.
Even if he had received help from his father, ignoring someone like me wouldn’t lead to anyone saying anything.
Then why?
With a puzzled expression, I stared straight into his eyes. But no matter how much I looked into those mesmerizing eyes—so vivid they reminded me of the sea—I still couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
After hesitating for quite a while, I finally spoke what he had proposed.
“You’re entrusting me with the affairs of the Schultz Ducal House?”
“That’s correct.”
“Even if I might not be able to do the job well?”
The young duke nodded without hesitation. Growing even more confused, I slowly clenched my fist and asked again.
“Why are you helping me like this?”
Instead of answering, he took out a cigarette case from his coat. He placed one cigarette in his mouth, tossed the rest onto my father’s coffin, and lit the one he held—all in one smooth, natural motion.
Noticing my frown, he spoke.
“My apologies. I always used to smoke with him.”
It didn’t sound like an excuse, but it softened what could have come across as rudeness.
Still, my father didn’t smoke. He must have been under a lot of stress.
As I sank into that thought, his low voice followed.
“As I mentioned earlier.”
He inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled the smoke, pausing briefly.
“I cannot just stand by and watch the daughter of someone I knew suffer. I received a great deal of help from Sergeant Prim, and since I can no longer repay him, I’ll repay his daughter instead.”
It was a cynical answer.
In other words, since the person I owed is dead, I’ll repay you, his daughter. That way, I can preserve my dignity.
That was roughly what it meant.
It was a proposal born from a very self-centered, aristocratic way of thinking. He probably thought he was being considerate, but arrogance seeped through every word.
I stared at his indifferent profile and spoke, gripping the front of my black dress tightly.
“Is there any other reason you feel you must repay this debt? I’m not very familiar with military ranks, but I don’t think my father helped someone as high as a fleet commander to that extent. Or… is it out of pity for me?”
Johannes Schultz raised an eyebrow.
“No. I owe him a far greater debt than Miss Prim imagines.”
His sculpted face remained calm, as if speaking the truth. Moreover, someone of his status had no reason to approach me with lies.
But still…
‘This offer is far too burdensome.’
To become a servant of a noble household, one had to meet strict qualifications set by the family. On top of that, discretion was essential, making it extremely difficult to be hired.
In other words, you needed a certain level of wealth just to obtain the qualifications in the first place.
There was even a saying that three generations had to live properly to become a servant of a noble house.
Of course, the Russell Marquisate was an exception due to their severe shortage of staff.
I recalled a recruitment notice from the Schultz Ducal House that I had once seen in passing.
Preference given to those fluent in foreign languages and holders of professional certifications.
I was confident in keeping my mouth shut, but I wasn’t fluent in any foreign language they required. And although I had been studying for a pharmacist’s license, I didn’t yet have any professional certification.
No matter how great the debt he claimed, this was essentially preferential treatment.
And I didn’t want to do anything that weighed on my conscience.
With a polite smile, I spoke.
“In that case, I’m grateful, but I must decline. Of course… I do have the option to refuse, don’t I?”
His neatly shaped forehead creased slightly.
“I thought it would be an offer you couldn’t refuse. May I ask your reason?”
“I believe I’ve already received more than enough help from you, Colonel.”
“That can’t be.”
A faint scoff escaped him.
It was the kind of laugh someone would give if they had done absolutely nothing for me.
And it became clear from his next words that he meant it sincerely.
“Miss Edith Prim.”
He took a deep drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled.
“I haven’t put in even the slightest effort for you yet.”
“…What do you mean?”
“The position I offered you is the same. It’s merely compensation for the labor you would provide.”
I was left speechless.
His tone was impeccably polite, more courteous than anyone else’s—yet it felt unbearably arrogant.
“I…”
Perhaps, if this weren’t in front of my father’s coffin, I might have been tempted.
But my father had taught me to live with integrity. He had also taught me never to accept kindness without reason, and that a certain level of suspicion was necessary to survive.
I stared blankly at the burning tip of his cigarette, then looked at his strikingly handsome yet emotionless face.
His straight posture and restrained demeanor that revealed no emotion—
I bit my lower lip, suddenly aware that I was speaking with a noble.
After taking a deep breath, I answered.
“But if I weren’t Sergeant Prim’s daughter, this offer wouldn’t exist in the first place. I truly appreciate it, but I don’t want that. I’m trying to make it on my own… without anyone’s help.”
At his next words, I couldn’t help but look stunned.
“What if it were a request?”
It was as if he had expected my refusal.
“…A request?”
“I have more than enough wealth and power to repay my debt. And yet, I’m asking you this politely because…”
He paused briefly.
“I believe you know better than I do what my reputation is like in Muissen right now.”
He ran a hand through his wind-tousled hair, a faint crease forming between his brows.
It felt a bit irreverent to think this in front of my father’s coffin, but Johannes Schultz had a breathtaking appearance that could charm anyone. It was only his limited expressions that made him seem cold and distant.
“Judging by how freely people gossip about my whereabouts, you should understand how far the prestige of the Schultz Ducal House has fallen.”
He then dropped the shortened cigarette onto the dry grass. A faint scorch mark remained where he crushed it under his shoe.
Watching his slightly less composed behavior, I replied slowly.
“Yes, I’m aware.”
Even someone with such outstanding looks and a powerful family background would inevitably care about their reputation, especially as a noble constantly in the public eye.
I had known that—but it still felt newly real.
Tilting his head slightly, he examined me.
“That’s why I want a trustworthy servant. And it would be most convenient if that person were you, Miss Prim.”
“…And how can you trust me in the first place?”
“Sergeant Prim spoke highly of his daughter. He said you were a rare young lady—upright and principled.”
For someone saying that, his voice remained remarkably dry.
“…Pardon?”
“I trust Sergeant Prim’s words. So, Miss Prim, trust your father… and trust me, who trusts your father.”
After a brief pause, Johannes Schultz took a step forward, closing the distance between us in an instant. Now undeniably close, he extended his hand.
As my half-raised veil fell away completely, my vision became clearer than before. His deep blue eyes, impossible to fathom, looked straight at me.
“I trust that you won’t disappoint me.”
