MDRH 18

Chapter 18

The eastern annex of the Decart Grand Duke’s residence.

In that annex was the quarters of Serdian, the young scion of the Grand Duke’s family.

It was just past lunchtime.

Serdian’s aide, Jed, entered Serdian’s study.

“I heard that Your Highness invited that girl, Lusilea, for lunch again today.”

“…I see.”

Serdian quietly flipped through a book, showing little interest. Seeing this, Jed sighed inwardly.

“What kind of child is she, exactly? This Lusilea you keep mentioning.”

At that, Serdian’s hand paused briefly on the page he was turning.

“Hmm.”

“Hmm? What do you mean, ‘Hmm’?”

“She talks a lot.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Talks a lot.”

“….”

Talks a lot…?

“Is that all there is to it?”

Serdian asked Jed, who looked puzzled.

“Have you ever seen a child who talks a lot in front of Your Highness?”

“…Ah!”

At last, Jed let out a small sigh.

“She eats well, talks a lot… It’s not just that she talks, though…”

“Is that so?”

Only then did Serdian lift his eyes from the book. He stared into the air for a moment, pondering, before continuing.

“…She complimented me. Said I eat well.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Oh, and she also told me to give you authority.”

“…What?!”

“I’ve never seen a child like that. One who says whatever they want in front of Your Highness.”

Recalling that moment, Serdian couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.

Jed muttered to himself with a serious expression.

“So you mean she’s not someone to be underestimated.”

Serdian, however, simply returned his gaze to the book, as if it were no big deal.

“Talking a lot and eating well in front of Your Highness isn’t exactly extraordinary.”

“But… she’s the child personally chosen by Your Highness, isn’t she?”

“….”

When Serdian remained silent, Jed asked,

“Serdian, don’t you feel a little resentful?”

It was a question about whether he felt slighted that the Grand Duke, despite having a designated heir, kept looking for his own child.

It could have been upsetting, but Serdian was calm.

“As the heir, I shouldn’t feel resentful about what the Grand Duke has decided.”

Jed timidly pursed his lips.

“Yes, yes. If I, alone, feel displeasure at what the Grand Duke has decided, then I’m truly the bad one, aren’t I?”

Ha ha, Serdian laughed at Jed’s mildly petulant words.

Jed was Serdian’s aide, one of the few people loyal to him in the Decart household.

Having sworn loyalty to Serdian, he more than anyone wished to see Serdian’s position as heir remain secure.

Jed believed that Serdian was the one destined to lead the Decart Grand Duke family into the future.

‘Serdian is different from the other chosen children I’ve seen.’

His aura, which manifested at a young age, only grew stronger with time.

Even looking through history, there was no precedent for someone growing this strong so quickly.

It wasn’t just due to the Grand Duke’s generous support.

Serdian himself had spared no effort, even sacrificing sleep to grow stronger.

‘His manner with people might seem cold, and his expressions reveal little, which causes misunderstandings.’

But the future head of the Grand Duke family couldn’t simply go around smiling at everyone.

Recently, there had been suspicious movements from the cadet branches and vassal families, but it was only because Serdian was exceptionally capable that they were cautious.

‘Perhaps the cadet branches and vassals are still waiting for the Grand Duke’s bloodline that disappeared eight years ago.’

That was why Jed felt uneasy every time a new child was brought in following the elite corps.

He feared that the bloodline might appear and push Serdian aside, claiming the position of heir.

Sensing Jed’s worry, Serdian spoke.

“No one can stop a parent from searching for their child, Jed.”

Even if it were a god.

Jed asked with a sigh in his voice,

“And what if they actually bring the lost child here?”

Serdian calmly replied, as if it didn’t matter.

“That would be a good thing. It would solve a problem that has troubled Your Highness for life.”

Serdian already knew from Elbadin why the elite corps had been formed.

The Grand Duchess went missing, was later found dead, and the child she carried disappeared.

Who could possibly comprehend Elbadin’s grief, losing his family all at once?

“I know what you’re worried about. But it was because of that incident that the elite corps and guard corps were formed. Thanks to them, many were saved. I, too, was chosen by the elite corps to reach this position.”

“….”

Jed’s eyes drooped slowly.

‘That’s why… that’s why I feel more anxious, Serdian…’

Serdian wasn’t of the Grand Duke’s direct line, and he was chosen by the elite corps.

If a child even more talented than Serdian appeared, his position could easily be replaced.

Serdian’s position was extremely precarious.

He surely understood that.

Serdian lifted his head and looked at Jed.

“As I have done until now, I will continue to train every day without rest.”

He added, confident that this would make him stronger than anyone else.

“And if someone stronger than me appears?”

Serdian gave Jed a mischievous smile.

“Then it can’t be helped. I’ll just hand over this position.”

Shocked, Jed jumped.

“Serdian!”

Serdian smiled faintly and closed the book he had been reading.

“Let’s leave this for now.”

“Where to?”

Serdian stood from his chair and shook the book in his hand.

“The library.”

The Decart Grand Duke family library.

Near the densely packed shelves, Lusilea sat in the shade, avoiding the sunlight.

The soft sound of pages turning filled the library.

As the sunlight outside the window began to slant, Lusilea closed the book she had been reading and looked out.

The book had been titled “Noble Succession and Currency Flow in the Seraphium Empire.”

Earlier, during her meal with Elbadin, Lusilea had realized that she was completely ignorant of this world’s cost of living.

‘I only remember using “coppers” when buying bread or vegetables with my grandmother at the village market.’

In fact, Lusilea had never seen “silver” in real life.

Her time with Briola had been modest, and even the goods Briola bought at the market were inexpensive.

So estimating the value of gold was almost impossible.

‘I need to learn this now if I want to be independent from the Grand Duke family.’

So she came to the library. Her teacher in giving Lusilea knowledge about currency, she decided, would be the books.

‘Master Noah also told me to learn theory from the library.’

However, it was impossible to read and memorize a book thicker than Lusilea’s arm in a short time.

Each page contained countless difficult terms.

Lusilea tapped the book lightly.

‘Let’s just learn what we can today. I don’t care about Seraphium nobles.’

Instead, she learned that 1 silver could buy 100 loaves of bread, and that a common family of three spent about 5 silver per month.

‘Then, even with just 1 silver a month, I wouldn’t starve.’

Of course, that would mean eating only bread all month.

Walking between the bookshelves, Lusilea mused over what she had read. The cookie atop her head spoke.

[1 silver is that shiny, round silver coin, right?]

‘Yeah, that’s right. But how do you know that?’

I’ve never seen one myself.

[I’ve seen Shred take them from people in the village a few times!]

‘….’

Ahem, Lusilea cleared her throat.

‘Anyway, Mei said the Grand Duke household maids get 6 silver per month.’

[Six round silver coins!]

Lusilea laughed softly, then pondered again.

‘According to this book, the average maid’s wage is 2 silver, so the Grand Duke family clearly pays more than other households.’

She quickly calculated in her mind.

‘Then how much is my monthly maintenance allowance?’

If maids earn 6 silver, perhaps her allowance is even more.

8 silver? 10 silver? Or… 1 gold?

Given the Grand Duke family’s level of support, it wasn’t an unreasonable hope…

‘Alright. Starting today, I begin my money-saving plan!’

[Wow! That makes you sound like you have a plan! What is it?!]

‘Nothing special. Just don’t spend it!’

[…Huh?]

Whatever the allowance may be, she would save as much as possible without spending.

This was something Lusilea had done even in her previous life, so she was confident.

‘First, I’ll ask Mei about my allowance.’

Lusilea pulled her chair back, stood up, and carried the heavy book with her.

‘It’s a little embarrassing to seem greedy, but oh well.’

She placed the book back on its shelf and slowly turned.

‘Hehe, I hope they give me a lot—’

That was when she noticed it.

‘Huh?’

Among the reddish-brown books, one book stood out, looking completely out of place.