Chapter 59

 

“I brought it because I thought I might need it.”

 

"But where is it needed?"

 

“Are you curious?”

 

“… …No, never mind."

 

Iona answered after some hesitation.

 

In the meantime, Marsha, who had sorted out the clothes Iona had taken off, said as she went back to the bathroom.

 

"You're going to take a shower right away, right? I'll prepare warm water in the bathtub. I'll also give you some new employee training as well."

 

Iona, who was watching Marsha's back, trembled at the sudden goosebumps she felt.

 

Today, the weather felt strangely cold.

 

***

 

“Okay, I guess this is enough.”

 

Robert, who looked around with his brow slightly wrinkled, finally clapped his hands briefly.

 

The servants who were waiting around him let out a sigh of relief one after another.

 

Their owner used to paranoidly clean the manor house whenever someone came down from the capital, and if he found even a speck of dust that they hadn't cleaned up, he called everyone in and terribly scolded them.

 

During this time, there were not one or two colleagues who lost their jobs and were kicked out because of it.

 

With the thought of successfully getting through this dinner, the servants tightened their bodies in unison.

 

Just then, a maid carefully opened the door and announced the arrival of the guest.

 

“Dame Iona is coming down.”

 

Upon hearing this, the servants as well as Robert returned to their places in perfect order.

 

Robert had a benevolent smile on his lips, and as soon as the door opened, he opened his arms in delight.

 

“You are here, Dame Iona.”

 

Robert liked this moment.

 

He welcomed the guest as the host and tried to be good to the true owner of this land, who had become an outsider.

 

At times like this, Robert felt as though he had become a real lord.

 

"Please come this way and have a seat. Coincidentally, I was feeling hungry as well."

 

When Iona came closer to the table, the servant politely pulled out a chair for her.

 

As she sat down, Iona asked casually,

 

“Does the baron usually live here?”

 

Robert answered with a friendly smile.

 

“It is true.”

 

Of course, there was a separate mansion owned by Franz in the Modrov estate.

 

However, Robert had left the place empty for a long time and had moved to the permanent residence.

 

Robert felt slight displeasure, wondering if she was pointing out that fact, but the other person stopped talking about the preceding topic.

 

The hors d'oeuvres that had just arrived were placed in front of them. It was grilled scallops topped with pea sauce.

 

Robert asked, slicing the clam meat with a spoon.

 

"How is the Count doing these days?"

 

"He is always in good health."

 

“Seeing that he sent Dame Iona instead, he seems to be very busy these days.”

 

“Because he is planning to pick Nils as his successor soon. He is preparing the announcement ceremony while leaving the estate's affairs to me.”

 

"I see."

 

Robert let out a small exclamation as if he understood.

 

There must have been some hidden reason why the count sent neither his eldest son nor his eldest daughter.

 

'Finally, the Count has taken off his heavy burden.'

 

Considering Nils' reputation, it was a time when further confirmation was necessary, even if the other party had not yet fully demonstrated the qualifications to inherit the family.

 

Robert chewed the food in his mouth, thinking that sooner or later he would have to approach Nils and make friends with him.

 

'Anyway, it's a good thing for me.'

 

Hayden's son, apparently stupid, seemed much easier to handle than his father.

 

Since he was young, he would easily be wary of alcohol and women.

 

Perhaps, in the near future, with the change of generations, he himself might become a much wealthier person than a real lord.

 

In fact, if there was someone difficult to deal with, it wasn't Nils, but the woman sitting in front of him right now. She belonged to a completely different category from her obvious, scheming brother.

 

“I heard that Dame Iona is also busy preparing for the wedding.”

 

"It's still in the early stages of discussion."

 

“Haha, if you have any good news, please send me an invitation. I guess it will probably be soon.”

 

'Look at her now.'

 

He was making an effort to liven up the atmosphere, but it seemed like the other party was not paying attention and was solely focused on the meal.

 

Robert tried to suppress his growing annoyance and brought up the main topic.

 

"What are your plans going forward?"

 

"Well, since we've come this far, I thought I might take some time to visit the estate. I'm tired and want to rest early today, so tomorrow would be appropriate."

 

“Ah, then I will guide you myself. Would you like to take a tour of the office before that? Since you are here for the first time, let me introduce you to my counselors.”

 

Robert did not hide the faces of those who work with him.

 

No, when the count visited, he used to introduce his accomplices one by one with utmost sincerity.

 

The subordinates, who were afraid of exposing their faces to the count, naturally became more cautious in their behavior.

 

If he had a chance to face Iona on this occasion, he would be able to present a new sense of tension.

 

"Well, is there really a need for that? Just gather the documents and send them to my room. I'll review them when I have time."

 

Iona replied calmly.

 

It was an insincere attitude, but Iona's refusal satisfied Robert in its own way. It was because his attitude as if he had no particular interest in estate affairs work was clearly revealed.

 

Feeling slightly better, Robert continued with his meaningless jokes.

 

Iona responded just enough to keep the conversation going, without letting the silence linger.

 

Instead, she continued to drink alcohol. It was astonishing how someone who claimed to be visiting the estate tomorrow could drink so much.

 

Robert tried his best to keep up with Iona in emptying their glasses, but it wasn't an easy task.

 

After a while, unable to bear it any longer, Robert intervened and spoke to Iona first.

 

"Um, Iona, it seems like you've had too much to drink..." 

 

"Hmm?" 

 

"Today, my dear, it's time to rest. You can drink again tomorrow, can't you?" 

 

Iona, who was practically resting her head on the glass, slowly raised her head. 

 

Beside her, the empty bottles were already piled up.

 

Iona nodded as if she agreed with Robert's words, but her eyelids felt heavy and she soon laid her head back on the table.

 

“Dame Iona… …?”

 

Robert, too, was drunk, though not as much as she.

 

If the opponent had an injection, it seemed that there would be no way to deal with it.

 

Robert managed to get up from his seat.

 

Suppressing the hiccups that came rushing in, he waved his hand at the servants.

 

"Take Iona to her room... slowly... And while you're at it, move the prepared documents as well."

 

Iona was already half asleep, so she didn't move.

 

The attendants carefully picked her up and left.

 

Robert shook his head and took hold of his glass. As he swallowed a gulp of cold water, he felt his senses returning a little.

 

Only then did Robert look back at Sophia, who had left the restaurant without following Iona.

 

"Whew... What do you think? Is there any problem?"

 

To Robert's meaningful question, Sophia answered as if she had been waiting.

 

“Yes, I think you can put your mind at ease.”

 

"When I was dealing with the people earlier, um, hic... What did I do?"

 

"Perhaps she was very tired, so you fell asleep right away. She didn't seem interested in the dinner either. You just told the maid who accompanied us that you wanted to return to the capital as soon as possible."

 

“Yeah, that’s how it should be… …”

 

Robert nodded in satisfaction.

 

Indeed, the heavens were on his side.

 

Perhaps due to the increased intoxication, a pleasant anticipation surged within him that he would be able to successfully get through this annual event once again.

 

***

 

The next morning, moaning from a hangover leaked from Robert's room early in the morning.

 

The problem was that he had consumed more than his usual amount in an effort to entertain his opponent in a pleasant way.

 

Due to excessive drinking, Robert had been shuttling back and forth to the bathroom, repeating the cycle of vomiting until he could welcome the rising sun.

 

Robert, who had emptied his stomach, fell asleep, only to wake up later than usual.

 

It was just a short time before the appointment with Iona.

 

Robert hurriedly left the room after finishing his urgent preparations contrary to his plan.

 

I washed and dressed, but I couldn't help but see the fatigue of the previous day in my eyes.

 

Looking at himself in the mirror hanging in the hallway, Robert sighed inwardly.

 

'Now that I'm in this condition, that woman must be ridiculous.'

 

It was time to think that maybe it would be better to cancel the outing altogether.

 

Robert stopped when he saw Iona waiting for him on the porch.

 

Iona, who was looking out the window with her hands behind her back, turned around when she felt someone's presence.

 

“You came on time.”

 

--- End Of The Chapter ----

 

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