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Chapter 11
Chapter 11 Status
“After the Saintess arrived, she left that very day?”
“Yes, Brother. But I do not know what she discussed with Lady Eileen midway through. Brother, should we ask Lady Eileen?”
“Family affairs, state affairs, and all affairs under heaven.” Oswald set down the administrative report Eileen had written for him. After a slight pause, he shook his head with a bitter smile. “Who could possibly know everything?”
“A person in power must understand the thoughts of those beneath him. Eileen is a meticulous person. If she does not want me to know, then she must have her reasons. If I insist on getting to the bottom of it, would that not waste her good intentions?”
Еn̂ û m̈ã
Luna nodded and replied respectfully, “I have learned from your instruction.”
Oswald paced to the window, pushed it open, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag. “Good. Then tell me, what is the reasoning behind this?”
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Luna pondered for a while, then answered as her long ponytail swayed. “Some matters would be very troublesome for Brother to handle right now, but once you knew about them, you could not ignore them. So not knowing is the best outcome.”
“Smart. You have grown quite a bit recently.” Oswald smiled in satisfaction, then beckoned for her to sit at his desk.
Luna obediently did as she was told. She could not help beginning to imagine the day when she would replace Eileen.
“I will speak, and you will write. Write the first letter to Eileen. Tell her that we still need to put on some kind of show for that Prayer Assembly, and have the nobles pay for it. The great affairs of a state lie in war and sacrifice. If they refuse to pay, they can forget about receiving Heaven’s blessing.”
Ẇё_ḃn̂о̌v̈ ӗ l̄ Е̄ num̊ă
“The second letter is to the Church. Express my, Oswald’s, regret and apology for being unable to personally receive the Saintess. The Northern military has fallen into decline, so I could not free myself for the moment. Emphasize that we will certainly organize the Prayer Assembly properly. Finally, wish His Eminence the Archbishop good health. Also, this letter should be sent together with a gift. I heard your personal guards got their hands on a bear? Then send the bearskin over. It can make the old gentleman a warm garment.”
“The third letter is to Sister Janice. Invite her to Ice City to preside over the Prayer Assembly. Remember this: the Sister has lived in poverty since childhood and has a frail constitution. When you send the letter, dispatch a better carriage. She must not be slighted.”
Luna finished writing the letters one by one and marked down all the points requiring attention. Then she looked up and asked, “Brother, is there anything else you need to instruct me on?”
Instruct... Oswald rubbed his eyes and began to miss the convenience of modern society. Mobile phones were so convenient. If something came to mind, one could contact someone directly.
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No wonder people said the ancients had good memories. How could they not? Every day, they had a mountain of affairs packed inside their heads.
“There are two more matters. The first is to tell Red that, taking advantage of the Prayer Assembly, he should lift martial law in Ice City. However, there must not be the slightest negligence regarding the confinement of the Marquis Estate.”
Е ń ū m а̃. іd
“The other matter is...” With a cigarette between his lips, Oswald pointed at a large wooden chest by the wall that had been stuffed full of various papers. “Help me bring those documents to Eileen.”
Panting heavily as she walked out of the military camp, Luna moved with a crablike gait. The excitement she had felt the first time she became a messenger was completely gone. With a heavy THUD, she dropped the large wooden chest onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The female soldier hurried over to receive it, but even after using every ounce of her strength, she only barely managed to lift the wooden chest.
The two of them looked at their horses at the same time and fell silent for a moment.
There was no way this thing would sit steadily on a horse’s back. Even if they tied the wooden chest to a person, there would still be considerable risk. If it fell onto the road, that would be one thing, but if it fell into a ditch...
“Go find a carriage.” Not daring to bear the consequences of losing the documents, Luna let out a long sigh and recalled the strange expression on Eileen’s face when she learned Luna was going to ride to Broad Valley City.
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It could only be said that when people taught, one might fail to learn, but when experience taught, once was enough.
In Luna’s understanding, messengers were such dashing figures. They carried urgent dispatches over vast distances and galloped freely all the way.
But she did not know that those were special circumstances. Generally speaking, messengers took carriages when they traveled. Documents and materials sent between Oswald and Eileen were still reasonable enough, since they were required for work.
But certain minor nobles would often fill an entire carriage with local specialties, then have the messenger bring along a letter that contained only two sentences.
For example: Your Grace, the apples here have ripened. This year’s apples are very delicious. Would Your Grace like to taste some? Should I have them delivered to you?
Holding the letter and then staring at the several hundred catties of apples on the carriage, Oswald would often sink into deep thought because of it.
W е̊b́ ńоṽ e l Е̊n̊umа̌
Were they trying to guess my thoughts and curry favor with me?
Or were they truly this stupid to begin with?
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By the time Luna returned to Ice City in a swaying carriage, it was already the third day.
After entering the Ducal Estate, Luna wandered around for quite a while, but she could not find Eileen anywhere. The servants in the estate had also gone off somewhere unknown. Only the guards at the entrance remained, standing there blankly and knowing nothing no matter what she asked.
She walked in small, quick steps, searching from the building all the way to the courtyard. Only then did she hear the sound of people talking. Clinging to the shrubbery, Luna quietly slipped closer and pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.
Last time, she had stumbled upon Auntie Wang from the kitchen, who was over forty, having an affair with a young gardener. She had even heard Auntie Wang coyly say, “This auntie is older and knows how to cherish people. A boy like you has been blessed with such good fortune, so you should secretly rejoice.”
Еn̄ ũm̃ ȧ. і d̊
That piece of gossip had excited her so much that she had not slept the entire night.
When it came to melodramatic gossip, it had to be the Ducal Estate. The romances at the Central Academy, where you loved her, she loved him, and everyone pretended to be madly in love, could not compare to this sort of forbidden affair.
“They say life’s fortunes are ever-changing. My dear, did you know Miss Eileen was the top student of our class?”
A woman’s sharp voice drifted over. Luna blinked. She was not certain, but it seemed to belong to someone she did not know.
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“Back then, we were both merely young ladies from Baron families, both at the very bottom of the academy. But what about now? I am afraid you will have to call me Countess, Miss Eileen.”
“Mm. Congratulations.”
Еn̂ ǔṁ a . іd̆
The lukewarm voice that entered Luna’s ears belonged to Eileen.
Count? Was a Count supposed to be some very impressive existence? Luna tilted her head in confusion and, with the unmistakable air of a thief, poked out her eyes to see which Count’s household dared put on airs in a Duke’s home.
“Do not say that, my dear. Work is not divided into high and low. Being a maid is also a...”
The brightly dressed man over there was still speaking when Eileen, who was holding a teacup, suddenly changed her aura. A sharp gaze struck Luna right on the forehead she had just poked out.
Oh no, I have been discovered!
Luna immediately made a magnificent turn and retreated stiffly, moving her same-side hand and foot together. She muttered guiltily, “Busy. Everyone is busy. Being busy is good.”
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Just as she prayed that Eileen would let her off this once, a leisurely sentence floated over from behind her.
“Get over here.”
“Okay.”
...
“What person in a high position would go and eavesdrop on the private conversations of those beneath them? Do you think you are hiding very well? In truth, every time you sneak out at night for a stroll, the guards report it to me.”
“You are young, so it can still be understood as a child’s temperament. Perhaps you think that what you overhear must be the truth, but if someone discovers that you are eavesdropping and deliberately says false things for you to hear, what then?”
Е̂.n̆ u̇ m̄ а .ìd̈
“The sages teach that one must walk the righteous path. In practice, that also tells you and me that we must not stray from that path. Because once others discover that you favor unorthodox methods, they will lose respect for you. Your words and actions will no longer inspire trust.”
“The Duke likewise knows that the nobles insult him behind his back, but he does not punish them for it. However, if a noble violates the laws of the Northern Territory, he will certainly deal with them severely. That is why he has authority in the hearts of the people.”
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“This is the difference between walking the righteous path and not walking it. Today, you might hear an interesting story, laugh, and forget it afterward. Tomorrow, what you hear might be a major slander case. At that point, how would you handle it?”
Luna, who was obediently standing there as punishment, broke into a cold sweat. Eileen must have been corrupted by Brother. She could draw out a long lecture from anything.
Seeing that Eileen was about to set down the teacup she had just raised, Luna quickly interrupted, “Teacher, drink your tea. Drink your tea. You still have guests here.”
Only then did the luxuriously dressed young man smile and speak, putting on the bearing of a noble. “May I ask, who is this?”
W e̊b ň_ӧṽ е̄ l̀ Е́ nŭm̃ а
Only then did Eileen leisurely take a sip of black tea and say calmly, “Young Lady Luna, the Duke’s younger sister.”
With a crack, the man’s social mask seemed to shatter.
The other gorgeously dressed, seductive woman froze for a moment, then clenched her teeth and said, “You are merely a maid. How dare you lecture the young lady like this?”
Luna froze for a moment. She was moved. Finally, someone was speaking up for her.
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But how could she possibly refuse to give Eileen face at a time like this? She hurriedly said, “Lady Eileen is Brother’s trusted aide and is exceptionally capable. Brother taught me that I must learn more from Lady Eileen, respect and honor her, and often serve at her side.”
Well now, this turned the tables. The maid had actually become the one respected by the young lady...
Еň u m̃ а̊
Eileen glanced at her. As she drank her tea, she did not say anything more.
“Are the two of you nobles of our Northern Territory?” Luna soon stepped out of student mode and smiled elegantly at the two as the young lady of the house.
“No. We are nobles of the Eastern Territory.” The man wiped his sweat and answered respectfully.
He did not dare show any disrespect. After all, everyone knew that Duke Oswald currently had no children around him, not even a woman. Therefore, the person before him was the legitimate heir to the Northern Territory, and one with military authority at that.
Luna nodded. At that moment, she only wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible, so she invited them. “Since the two of you are Lady Eileen’s friends, why not attend the gathering later as well? It would also be a good chance to meet the nobles of our Northern Territory.”
The man nodded rapidly and immediately accepted the invitation. Of course he did. Was an invitation from the young lady of the Ducal Estate something a person of his status could refuse?
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However, when he learned that what he was attending was not a banquet, but a closed-door meeting, he regretted it bitterly.
The young lady had long since vanished. The person sitting in the highest seat in the reception room was none other than Eileen, dressed in a maid’s uniform.
Nobles arrived one after another. They seemed long accustomed to the person seated at the head, each taking their own seats before quietly conversing and waiting for the meeting to begin.
“Elfa? Why are you here?”
A potbellied old Count of the Northern Territory was surprised when he saw the man.
“I do not know either. The young lady invited me, so I came.” The man smiled bitterly, then looked at his fiancée, who was still staring at Eileen with a complicated gaze, and sighed helplessly.
Е n̄ ů m̀а
“You...” The old Count shook his head and kindly reminded him, “After you pay the money later, leave the Northern Territory as soon as possible.”
Pay money?
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Elfa was puzzled, but the old Count had already swayed his fat body toward a seat in front and did not explain further.
After everyone finally arrived, Eileen sat sideways on her chair. Without even looking at the people below, she spoke in a stern tone.
Everyone held their breath. Miss Maid seemed to be in a poor mood today.
“You should all have heard about the Saintess coming to our Northern Territory a few days ago.”
Е̃n̈umа̃
“The Saintess’ intention is to hold a Prayer Assembly for the goddess throughout the entire kingdom.”
“The Duke said that all of you are blessed people and that you understand gratitude. I imagine you will certainly make active contributions to pray for the goddess’ blessing.”
“And since this is a Prayer Assembly belonging to the Northern Territory, the money should not be paid by one house or one family alone.”
Eileen clapped her hands. A squad of well-armed soldiers burst in through the main door, carrying a large bag in their hands.
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“Those deeply blessed may contribute more. Those lightly blessed may contribute less. None of it will be forced.”
As soon as her voice fell, the entire room became silent. Only the faint scraping of armor could be heard. Starting with the nearest noble, the soldiers silently opened the bag, revealing wooden tablets carved with different numbers.
W̆е̊ bṅӧ v̈ ẽ l Е̌ n̄ ú m̀а
Five meant five gold coins. Ten meant ten gold coins. Just as Eileen had said, she did not care how many each person took, as long as the bag was empty by the time it came before her.
Surely not. Surely no one truly intended to make the Duke pay this money as well, did they?
The noble closest to Eileen instantly felt the pressure spike to the breaking point. His fingers even began to tremble slightly as he pulled out a silk handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his neck. At that moment, he understood perfectly clearly that even if the bag placed before him was still full, he would have to take it all in one go.
Of course, he could not just swallow this loss in silence. He would take the wooden tablets back, and no one who ought to pay would be able to escape their share.
Fortunately, even though everyone was unwilling, they at least took a few wooden tablets each.
When the bag reached Elfa, the corners of his mouth twitched. Resigned to his fate, he and his fiancée each took a wooden tablet marked with the number five. He could not help sighing inwardly.
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The Northern Territory truly was a magical place...
After one full round, the meeting room was still silent. Eileen tossed the empty bag onto the conference table. From beginning to end, she did not look at these people even once. Under the gaze of all the nobles, she left with a cold and dignified bearing.
As for that seductive woman, how could she still have any intention of showing off to her old classmate? How could she possibly fail to understand Eileen’s true status now? After paying the money, she hurriedly dragged her fiancé by the arm and fled Ice City as though escaping for her life.
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