LMHM 15

 Chapter 15

Heinrich Jasper.

He was a fixture of this castle, having served three generations of the Duke of Thales. Before working as a butler, he had served the Duchy of Thales as a knight, or so she’d heard.

*’We didn’t get along very well in my past life.’*

Heinrich, who genuinely cared for the Duchy of Thales, disliked Bella. But that didn’t mean he liked Amber either.

He always stepped back and observed Bella and Amber from a distance. Given the chance, he would have driven both women away.

*’To win against Bella, I need to make the butler my ally.’*

Moreover, Heinrich was a loyal subject who had stayed with Thales until the very end, even when the Emperor falsely accused the East of treason. Having served as a knight, many of the knight order members followed him as well.

“You said you had something to discuss.”

Heinrich studied Amber with probing eyes.

“Thank you for coming on time.”

When Amber had spoken earlier about making Xenia her personal maid, she had also asked Heinrich to come to the separate room because she had something else to discuss with him.

“This will be a long conversation, so let’s go to the tea room.”

“There’s no need to go to the tea room.”

Heinrich’s eyes grew even sharper.

*’His refusal is understandable.’*

Amber didn’t think Heinrich was being overly sensitive.

The moment Heinrich and Amber entered the tea room, news that they had been having a private conversation would reach Bella’s ears.

From Heinrich’s perspective, needing to be wary of both women, it would be difficult to readily accept Amber’s proposal, no matter how new the lady of the house.

“It’s something important to you as well.”

But Amber had a way to move Heinrich.

“I wish to discuss the dowry I brought with me.”

For a moment, Heinrich failed to hide his agitation and stiffened his expression.

When Viscount Riat sent his daughter to the East, he had sent two carriage-loads of valuables in the name of a dowry.

The total value of those valuables was approximately 500,000 star.

500,000 star. Considering the Duchy of Thales’ annual budget was 700,000 star, it was an enormous sum of money.

So much so that Bella had been blinded by that money and even started a business she knew nothing about.

It was also money that, if used properly, could improve the finances of the Duchy of Thales.

Heinrich was also aware of the dowry commotion that had happened that morning.

Not only aware — he had listened very carefully to the news of that commotion.

If one were to name the person in the castle most curious about the whereabouts of Amber’s dowry, it would be Heinrich himself.

He had been struggling immensely since last year to fill the hole in the ducal finances caused by Bella’s extravagance.

If he could use Amber’s dowry for the benefit of the territory, he would give even his own life.

“I don’t understand your intentions, my Lady.”

Heinrich quickly regained his composure and spoke calmly, though his ears must have perked up at the mention of the dowry.

He must also know about Amber treating the maid and getting the better of Bella, but he didn’t let down his guard.

He was too cautious to judge who Amber was based on just one incident.

Once she properly seized power, the Duchess of Thales in the East could enjoy authority rivaling that of the Empress.

He was worried that if he rashly sided with Amber, she might become addicted to power and turn into a second Bella.

*’Truly not an easy man.’*

Amber once again admired his years of experience.

“The Duke told me he would return the dowry to me. You know that, right?”

“Yes, I’ve been informed.”

Heinrich’s eyes deepened. He fixed his gaze on her and remained silent, as if he could discern her intentions just by looking.

“Have all the jewels that came as the dowry brought back to me.”

Most of Amber’s dowry was in the form of jewels.

A bride’s dowry didn’t necessarily have to be jewels. Livestock, grain, or rare magical tools were often sent as well.

But in Amber’s case, since she had to travel by carriage for over two months, it was difficult to transport living creatures. The same went for magical tools that required careful maintenance.

So they had filled two carriages with jewels.

At her words to bring the jewels, a complex emotion rose on Heinrich’s face.

“I’ve already instructed that all the jewels be sent up to your room, my Lady.”

Heinrich bowed his head as he answered.

Amber looked at the expressionless Heinrich, then smiled and opened her mouth.

“Is that so? That saves us trouble. Then would you also summon a merchant who pays fair prices? I need to sell all the jewels.”

“Pardon?”

For once, even Heinrich couldn’t feign composure.

“Jewels and accessories are valuable, but you can’t use them as currency.”

“That is true, but…”

Heinrich was surprised that Amber said she would sell all the jewels without any hesitation.

*’Does she have no intention of buying luxuries?’*

If she wanted to buy luxuries, it was more effective to trade the jewels themselves for luxuries rather than selling them for star.

Having thought that far, Heinrich was surprised at himself.

He had to admit that even he, who prided himself on being objective, had been caught in prejudice against Amber.

He unconsciously glanced at Amber. She might have noticed that he had treated her with prejudice.

But Amber’s expression was remarkably calm.

*’Thankfully, she didn’t notice.’*

Feeling a twinge of guilt at her upright gaze, Heinrich was nonetheless slightly relieved.

“I saw quite a few starving fiefdom residents on my way to the castle.”

Just then, Amber made another meaningful remark. Heinrich showed agitation once more.

No matter how small in scale, the impact of a monster wave could not be ignored.

In winter, when people needed to hunt and gather for food, most fiefdom residents couldn’t leave their homes because of the monsters.

Unable to obtain food, the number of starving residents naturally increased.

“I’d like to discuss together where to use the money from selling the jewels. Will you come to the tea room?”

After mentioning the starving residents, she immediately brought up the dowry. This meant she intended to use the dowry for relief efforts.

“…Instruct a maid to prepare tea.”

Finally, Heinrich surrendered.

Amber sat down at the tea table with a satisfied expression. After receiving only the tea set and refreshments and sending the maid away, Heinrich set the tea table himself.

The maid who had handed over the tea set glanced inside with curious eyes, then ran off somewhere as soon as Heinrich closed the door.

*’She’s going to report to Bella.’*

Amber considered stopping her but let her go. After all, the matter of the dowry was too significant to hide.

Instead of blocking Bella, Amber decided to quickly make Heinrich her ally.

“I’ll speak plainly. After selling the jewels, I want you to use all the money except for 50,000 star for the territory.”

Heinrich’s eyes widened.

Amber didn’t miss the flicker of relief that crossed his expression.

For a man who had been grappling with the ruined finances thanks to Bella, who had no interest in the lives of the fiefdom residents, Amber’s words must have been nothing short of salvation.

“As you know, I need your full support to do that. I haven’t been in the East long, and there are those who covet my dowry.”

“What do you mean by… full support?”

“Become my man.”

At Amber’s explicit offer of alliance, Heinrich closed his mouth and narrowed his eyes.

Heinrich could not refuse Amber’s offer. He should not refuse it either. But he could not yet fully trust Amber.

Someone in the middle can change direction at any time, but once they lean one way, they can never return to the middle.

Meaning that if he took Amber’s hand, it would be difficult to reverse that decision.

What if he fully supported Amber, and then the situation changed?

Even Bella had acted like an angel thinking only of the territory at first. But as soon as she signed the marriage papers and took control of the castle, she revealed her true colors.

“Heinrich.”

As Heinrich hesitated, unable to move one way or the other, Amber spoke.

“I know you don’t trust me. You’re worried that if you side with me, you’ll ruin the territory further.”

Amber accurately pointed out Heinrich’s fear.

“I wish I could show you something amazing to make you trust me, but unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of talent.”

The only one who knew that Amber had returned was Amber herself. There were no witnesses or evidence other than her memories.

At first, she had considered amazing Heinrich by prophesying future events.

But that would not only take too much time, but it would also be a temporary fix. She had already acted proactively, changing so much that the future could not possibly remain the same.

“To be honest, I don’t like the East.”

Heinrich was flustered by Amber’s overly honest words.

“I do want to help the starving people, but that’s because they deserve help, not because this is the East. And because I know that saving even one more life is more valuable than maintaining my own standard of living.”

It might have been easier to stir Heinrich’s emotions with sweet words about feeling responsibility and affection for the East.

But Amber didn’t want to lie. She wanted no false loyalty, no exaggerated emotions, no deception.

Amber simply wanted fair treatment.

In her past life, she had suffered from prejudices such as, ‘She’s from the West, so she must be like this,’ or ‘She was raised in luxury, so she must be like that.’

“I won’t ask you to do the unreasonable and see me as I am. But would you at least make an attempt to look at me straight?”

For a moment, Heinrich’s face was tinged with embarrassment.

“You… knew? That I…”

“That you thought I might become a second Bella? Or that I might buy luxuries with the dowry?”

Heinrich was speechless, overcome with embarrassment and guilt.

He had thought Amber didn’t know, but in fact, Amber had noticed everything.

*’Even though she knows I have prejudices, she faced me so calmly.’*

Amber’s calm orange eyes looked completely different than before.

He had thought what he saw was all there was, but in fact, Amber’s eyes held far more.

“I am very aware of my situation.”

Amber continued calmly.

“I am the daughter of a nouveau riche noble who threatens the legitimacy of the old nobility, and I have become the lady of the East, which His Majesty despises. Moreover, my relationship with my husband is not good, but an immediate divorce is impossible because of the pressure from His Majesty and the surrounding nobles.”

Speaking of Calix, Amber frowned slightly.

*’Not good? But the Duke…’*

As he listened to Amber, Heinrich felt a question arise. But before he could find an answer to his question, Amber continued.

“So I know very well that if I don’t want to die along with the East, I have to save the East, one way or another.”

Amber raised her teacup and took a sip of the nearly cold tea.