Chapter 8

Lady of the Eshier Dukedom (Chapter 8, 8/141)

At that moment, Belia clenched her lips after hearing the entire situation from Sylvia, who had been summoned.

"Did she read something that no one has taught her?"

"Yes, my lady. No one at all."

Sylvia replied firmly.

But if that were true, it would be an even bigger problem.

A person with special abilities.

Not only do they appear in only a few of the nobility, but they possess a value greater than the magic power of wizards.

Even a commoner could see their status change dramatically if they manifested such abilities.

'Like Sharie.'

Sharie, an illegitimate child, was recognized as the head of the family precisely because of these special abilities.

Moreover, she manifested two sword energies at the age of six and became a Swordmaster at fifteen.

'At least she didn’t covet the family.'

If she had coveted the family, her husband Andrea might have already been demoted from his position as heir.

But if Letitia has these special abilities.

The status of her sons could be completely different.

'The family might even have to be handed over to her.'

To an illegitimate child’s daughter.

If both Sharie and her daughter were born with these abilities, they would have no place to stand.

Furthermore.

'Grandpa is too observant.'

Her niece, who was only six, was struggling to win people's favor, showing no intention of backing down.

'A fox.'

She had to be put in her place somehow.

To prevent her from even dreaming of challenging the family.

Belia, who had been gnawing on her lip, seemed to come to her senses at Sylvia's gaze and turned her head.

"I understand."

"Then I—"

"For now, since it is your father's wish, go and rest."

"But—"

Sylvia bit her tongue, swallowing the words she was about to shout: "Isn’t all of this your doing?"

She judged that it would be disadvantageous to quarrel with Belia here and now. After all, her family, a viscount's household, was dependent on Belia's family.

She had to endure for the sake of her sons.

So she forced a smile.

"Then, please contact me whenever, my lady."

Belia nodded, seemingly very satisfied with Sylvia's quick wit.

"Of course, Sylvia."

"..."

"This is a small token of my appreciation."

"Oh, my lady, there's no need for such things between us."

But despite her words, Sylvia quickly took the item and smiled sweetly.

Belia smiled thinly and leaned back into the sofa.

"Between us, of course."

After Sylvia left.

"Elin."

"Yes, my lady."

Belia gestured to her close attendant.

Elin, who approached at the gesture, bowed her head.

"Who is in the annex?"

"Lindsey and Arina. And there's a new child named Hail, I believe."

At the familiar names, Belia raised her head, and Elin nodded.

"They are both children who have moved from the main house."

In other words, they were both Belia's people.

Belia smiled, crossed her arms, and said, "Tell them to watch closely and serve her diligently."

"..."

"Ensure that while her father is away, she cannot entertain any other thoughts. And tell them not to take their eyes off her for a moment, especially to see if Sharie contacts her."

"Yes, I understand."

Elin bowed and straightened up, smiling at Belia's words.

No matter how special her abilities, a six-year-old child with no one to rely on could be easily controlled.

'If we treat her well and tame her, she won’t be able to let go of my hand in any situation.'

Bennet rubbed his forehead as he emerged from the head of the family's bedroom.

"Tell them she is in pain and has fallen seriously ill."

"And instruct the surveillance teams or the knights to be placed throughout the estate."

What was he thinking?

It was hard to gauge, but as a steward, it was his duty to follow his orders.

"Hmm, Phelan."

But as he turned to call his secretary, he saw not Phelan but a small head at the end of his line of sight.

A small child with wheat-colored hair swaying below her shoulders.

"Miss Letitia."

"Bennet."

Bennet gave a polite smile at Letitia, who called him cheerfully.

"Still here?"

"Yup! I was waiting for Bennet."

Letitia's beaming face reminded him of Sharie.

The faint smile that curved her eyes into half-moons overlapped with Letitia's bright expression, making the corners of Bennet's mouth twitch upward.

"Do you have a question?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Ask away."

"Grandpa?"

"…He is fine."

"Hmm."

The delayed reassurance caused three lines to form on Letitia's clear, smooth forehead, a frown that seemed out of place on a six-year-old but somehow endearing.

Bennet, who wanted to reach out and stroke her shiny hair, suppressed the urge and met Letitia's eyes.

"The head of the family is fine."

"Mm."

But even with Bennet's reassurance, Letitia, who had been tilting her head with her finger on her chin, looked up at him.

Her face, unable to hide the fact that she had a lot to say, made Bennet kneel down to her level.

"Do you have something to say?"

"Yup, sir. Can I borrow your ear for a moment?"

Amused by Letitia's cute and polite tone, Bennet leaned his face toward her ear.

Letitia giggled, covered the space between her mouth and Bennet's ear with both hands, and whispered softly.

"Bank law is going to change soon."

"…What?"

"Bank, law."

Surprised, Bennet asked her to repeat it, and Letitia enunciated clearly, her blue eyes sparkling.

The color of her eyes, which were light and sky-blue, deepened, making Bennet swallow involuntarily.

Seeing his Adam's apple move, Letitia stared at him intently.

"Did you understand?"

Under her urging gaze, Bennet nodded involuntarily.

"But how did you—"

"Children are small, so they can see and hear things that adults don't notice."

But this wasn't something a child could overhear, he thought.

'Did the investigation team make a mistake?'

The royal investigation team was inside the mansion.

They might have let something slip without realizing a child was around.

'I need to look into this.'

Under normal circumstances, he would have dismissed it with a laugh or a casual nod, but this was just before confirming her special abilities.

'Appoint Olga as her teacher.'

Olga was one of the top special ability users in the empire.

Though a bit eccentric, she had a highly developed intuition for confirming magic power and the direction of special abilities.

But more than that, the confidence in Letitia's eyes made it hard to dismiss her words easily.

Her eyes, which made him feel as if he were facing the head of the family, made Bennet swallow again.

"Alright, I understand."

Relieved by Bennet's response, Letitia glanced around, covered his ear with her small hand, and whispered.

"Also, the land you're looking at for the Kendall family can be bought for about 20 more gold coins. Make sure to buy it."

'It will make a lot of money.'

Bennet, who had been staring blankly at Letitia's retreating back, turned his head at Phelan's call.

"Steward."

"Uh, uh."

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, what was I doing here?"

Shaking his head as if coming to his senses, Bennet felt as if he had been bewitched by a young raccoon.

It was like a raccoon that had appeared as a human after centuries and then disappeared.

'What exactly was I looking at?'

But if Miss Letitia has special abilities, this would be a great fortune for the family.

After Lady Sharie, Miss Letitia.

'Sigh.'

Shaking his head, imagining the family's glory lasting for thousands of years, Bennet turned to Phelan.

"The surveillance team?"

"They have already taken their positions at the main gate."

Approaching the window, Bennet pulled back the curtain slightly and looked down.

As Phelan said, they were already settled in like they owned the place, patrolling the mansion like an occupying force.

"What should we do?"

"The order is to leave them be."

"Of course."

Phelan rubbed the back of his stiff neck, anticipating the sleepless nights ahead as they would have to monitor the surveillance team.

"Order the family knights to monitor the surveillance team and bring in the administrative officers."

"Where to?"

"Ah."

The main house already had too many eyes.

And he couldn't leave his post while the Margot family was staying in the mansion.

'What to do?'

Rubbing his forehead, Belia turned her gaze to the window, where she suddenly saw Letitia's cheerful back.

Walking gracefully between the surveillance team members, carrying a book as big as her body without a maid, Letitia's figure made Bennet smile thinly as he turned to Phelan.

"To the eastern annex."

"Excuse me?"

"Use the back gate quietly and bring them to the annex."

Tapping Phelan's shoulder, who didn't fully understand the situation, Bennet stopped and turned back to him.

"And once that's done, go quietly and meet Sir Maiman."

"Sir Maiman?"

"Check if there is any attempt by the royal family to exclude Eshier and revise the bank law."

If what Letitia said was true, it needed to be confirmed quickly.

To stop it before it started.

"Even if he doesn't give a clear answer, you need to gauge the atmosphere."

"Understood."

"Hurry."