Chapter 61

In the meantime, those who had finished their preparations were pacing around as if they were about to depart immediately.

Robert hurriedly approached Iona and struck up a conversation as if trying to gauge her mood.

“Dame, are you planning to walk directly? You must be tired.”

He didn't know if it was a well-organized shopping street, but Count Modlov had never tried to walk on his own feet on a dirt road like this. It was because his clothes would quickly become dirty with dust, not to mention the foul smell of manure.

When Robert pointed to the ground with his fingertips from inside the comfortable carriage and explained, 'This is the amount of money from here to there,' the Count would nod his head in satisfaction.

Why does his daughter choose to go through unnecessary hardships?

"If you're tired, the baron can go in and take a rest."

"No, I'm just afraid Dame Iona will be having a hard time… … .”

"The Baron seems to worry a lot."

“…”

"Or perhaps, there are many things to be anxious about?"

Iona smiled softly after asking.

While Robert froze in response to her thought-provoking question, Iona began to walk ahead, leaving him behind.

Servants carrying documents and luggage lined up and followed behind her. Fin was among them.

For some reason, feeling nervous, Robert moved one step away from them.

Instead of Robert, Fin stood next to Iona and explained the land area and income.

'Something is strange, something...'

It was when Robert rubbed his aching head and contemplated what went wrong.

The serfs who had gathered nearby to have a meal caught his eye.

'Come to think of it, it's right around lunchtime.'

It seemed that the other side was also aware of the existence of the passing guest.

Upon discovering Iona and her group, the serfs stood up in surprise, only to quickly bow their heads to the ground again.

Everyone appeared bewildered by the sudden appearance of a noble person.

They meekly lowered their bodies, waiting for Iona to pass by. However, Iona confidently crossed the field ditch and stood in front of them.

“Who is cultivating the land around here?”

Everyone's faces were stained with astonishment at Iona's question.

A landlord's daughter trying to mingle with a lowly serf.

It was an absolutely unbelievable situation. Even Robert was so shocked that he couldn't stop her.

“I-I am.”

The man in the shabby clothes stood up from his seat trembling.

Iona looked at him lightly and asked.

"Judging by your appearance, you don't seem to be a tenant farmer. Is that correct?"

"Yes... yes."

Compared to the size of the land he was in charge of, the man's outfit was too tattered. Even the food he was holding was so poor that Iona wondered how he could muster any strength after eating that.

However, Iona's eyes did not show any sympathy.

Iona turned to Fin and asked in a cold voice.

“Looking at the documents, it seems that this person is in charge of about 6 lands, is that true?”

"Yes, that's right."

Fin replied with a bewildered look.

In an incomprehensible situation, his heart was beating strangely.

"This is odd. If that's the case, they should have yielded around twenty bundles of grain, but they only paid half of it as tax. The calculation doesn't add up."

Tenant farmers usually paid half of their harvest as rent.

Serfs usually demanded more grain, so on this account the tax was underpaid.

“I’m sure last year’s harvest wasn’t so bad… …Did you secretly steal the grain?”

Iona questioned the serf in a terrifying voice.

The man, taken aback by this, hurriedly shook his head and explained.

"W-What are you talking about? I definitely handed over fifteen bundles last autumn. That's the truth!"

"You're blatantly lying. Isn't there a clear record of it here?"

Saying that, Iona snapped her hand at Fin.

As Fin hesitantly approached, Iona swiftly snatched the documents from him and pointed to a specific spot with her finger.

The serf was just looking down at the rest of the floor, afraid of Iona's sudden condemnation.

Tears streaming down his face as he pleaded

"It's unfair, I definitely handed over fifteen bundles...!"

Finn unknowingly clenched his fists. Because he knew better than anyone that this man's words were true.

In the ledgers that Robert showed to Iona, those whom Robert had arbitrarily downgraded were still paying rent based on their peasant days.

Naturally, the difference went straight into Robert's clutches.

The surrounding serfs exchanged knowing glances in the unsettling situation. While they couldn't precisely understand what was happening, one thing was certain: the high-ranking noble figures were once again squeezing their blood.

"This is too much."

"Sigh, why bother living like this? It's better to die than suffer."

The serfs only whispered in low voices that only they could hear, and did not dare to go directly in front of Iona. No matter how vicious the opponent was, it was obvious that if they openly cursed at her, their throat would cut off.

But did it reach Iona's ears? She turned her cold gaze toward them.

“What did you just say?”

It was too late to close their mouths now; there was no going back.

The serfs trembled and shook their necks. In an instant, the surroundings became quiet.

An unusual anger erupted from Iona.

"Not only did you arbitrarily lower the rent by tampering with the land size unnoticed by the landlord, but you also had the audacity to insult your superiors without any remorse. Have you witnessed such audacity?!"

At this point, Robert couldn't help but step out to stop Iona.

If this situation escalated, it would be troublesome for him.

He couldn't let Iona realize that this was not the serfs' fault but deliberate embezzlement.

Sensing a crisis, Robert approached with a drawn face and grabbed Iona's arm.

“Dame Iona! Calm down. here might have been an issue with the ledger. Since it's a task done by people, mistakes are inevitable. I will have someone investigate it thoroughly."

“Baron, do you know what I just heard from them and take their side?”

Iona glared at Robert with bitter eyes.

It was an anger that Robert, who was far away, could not relate to.

Robert glanced at Fin, hoping for some sign, but Fin hesitated, unsure of what to say. He hadn't heard the peasants' voices either.

While Robert struggled to find the right words, Iona coldly brushed his hand away.

With an angry and determined look, she turned to her attendants and gave an order. 

"Listen up, go back to the estate immediately, and bring the soldiers! We must put all these scoundrels in prison."

Robert sensed that something was going terribly wrong.

***

More than a dozen serfs were imprisoned in the underground interrogation room of the manor house.

Iona also ordered a full-scale investigation as soon as she returned to the mansion, saying that she did not know who might have cheated and paid the rent.

She claimed to have heard words she couldn't tolerate from the heavens, but no one knew exactly what she had heard. Even Robert couldn't stop her.

Meanwhile, the captured serfs were clamoring for innocence, driving Robert crazy.

In the midst of it all, Iona decided to summon Fin to her office to reexamine the ledger from the beginning.

Robert, who heard about this, went to Fin first and pleaded.

“There is nothing wrong with the ledger.”

When Fin's reply was delayed, Robert revealed it and threatened again.

“Answer me, there is nothing wrong with the ledger.”

“…There is nothing wrong with the ledger.”

"Good, that's all you have to say. I'll take care of the rest."

Reconciliation was still not entirely impossible.

Iona ordered a detailed investigation, but the personnel were also those under Robert.

If everyone agreed and kept their mouths shut, the situation could be ended with the cheeky protest of a few lowly serfs.

Robert murmured as if to reassure himself.

“These lowly serfs just cheated and paid the rent at will. It's something that can often happen when you don't have a watchful eye. No matter how unfair they are, there is no evidence.”

Fin, who had been watching Robert for a while, asked cautiously.

"Can't we... Can't we handle it as my mistake?"

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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