Chapter 22
At the crack of dawn, the Avarelvan Empire has already become boisterous. In particular, the Marquisate of Jean was clouded with an ominous atmosphere.
The sky, overcast with dark clouds, while the clamorous and anxious voices of people resounded everywhere. As though it was the calm before a storm.
“A war is coming! Buy the newspaper!”
“A war with which empire?”
“Buy the newspaper if you want to know! A war is coming!”
Everyone expected it to happen to some extent, but it hit differently when reality presented itself.
The terrified people rushed to pay for the newspaper.
Daisy was reading the newspaper, too.
[A war between the Parisian Empire and the Avarelvan Empire will break out! What will be the outcome?]
Inside the library, Daisy drank earl grey tea and carefully read the newspaper.
First of all, the story remained the same.
The war began during the seasonal changes from summer to autumn.
“This is the first war.”
It was one of the three wars she had to go through.
Now that I think about it, time has been going by faster than I thought. And I’m aware it’s because I’m enjoying my time here due to Luciana and River’s presence.
‘In about two or three weeks, Carlyx will be dispatched.’
I need to go through and organize the matters that must be taken care of at a faster pace in case I need Carlyx’s help with anything.
He isn’t called a ‘war demon’ for nothing, so I’m not worried about his safety.
‘However, I’m slightly worried about him because I wasn’t able to read the part when the third war broke out, but at least it’s still far in the future.’
In the first and second wars, he fought safely and returned with a great victory. That being the case, I should worry more about the household instead.
“I heard you called, madam.”
At Tyler’s greeting, Daisy raised her head and put down the teacup on the table.
“Sit down.”
Tyler agonized for a while before sitting carefully in front of her. Daisy leaned her back on the chair relaxedly and a calm voice rang out between them shortly after.
“I need you to deliver a notice to the servants for me.”
“I will deliver it as you say, madam.”
Daisy smiled pleasantly at Tyler’s polite attitude. He was always polite, but there was a subtle difference in his attitude. In the past, he had a businesslike and formal attitude, but now there was burning passion in his eyes.
I need to hire people who are as passionate as Tyler in the future.
“How is the situation?”
“Unlike before, they are doing their job properly in a consistent manner.”
“They must have changed because their toes were numbed. I’m glad they were able to understand on their own.”
(T/N: Their toes were numbed – They were suffering from guilty conscience after doing something wrong.)
The curtains were closed even though the sunlight wasn’t that bright today. The one behind it is the housekeeper as I saw her snooping around earlier to check if the curtains needed to be opened or closed.
“Some of them wanted to resign due to personal reasons before madam fired them.”
Tyler explained with a slightly displeased tone.
“Due to personal reasons, huh?”
The two were well aware of why some of them suddenly had to leave due to personal reasons.
Daisy waited for Tyler’s response patiently as he stammered for a while,
“The decision will be yours as always, but I think we better not give in to them so easily.”
Tyler was firm about holding the servants responsible for their incompetence and cowardice. It was natural for him to think so because he had been dealing with them for so long.
“If we don’t give in to them, what do you think must be our course of action?”
“It depends on what their personal reasons are. But the choice will be yours, madam.”
Although we knew they lied, there were certain ethics to hold depending on how they would fabricate their situation.
A relative’s death, sickness, family matters, or a better job offer. Those were all reasons that aren’t supposed to be taken lightly. For that reason, it’s difficult to reject their decision to resign.
Although I was their employer, I still had a dignity to protect as an aristocrat.
“But, madam…”
“First of all, tell me about your opinion. Of course, no matter what your opinion is, the final decision is still mine to make.”
He didn’t have to carry the weight of making the decision or being responsible for the outcome.
Feel free to tell me anything. I’m not someone who gets swayed easily, after all.
Tyler, who understood Daisy’s words, opened his mouth after thoroughly thinking about it.
“I don’t think we should give in no matter what their circumstances are. The Marquisate of Jean is not highly respected in society, so we shouldn’t let them go without causing enough damage to their resume.”
Many rumors were surrounding the family, so they could easily make up excuses.
I quit my job because I couldn’t survive that monstrous family. I’ve lost my mind because I’ve been tormented so much by that family.
Even so, not everyone will sympathize with them because Marquis Jean had never fired any servants.
“I want them to be responsible for what they’ve done so far.”
“I agree to a certain extent.”
That meant she had a different opinion, so Tyler lowered his shoulders and looked intently at Daisy. His eyes were filled with curiosity.
“Your opinion is not bad. Our family reputation can’t go any lower than this, so their losses will be greater than ours.”
Calculating the loss you take or the advantage you gain is only good in the beginning and will be meaningless once you reach a certain point.
The Marquisate already hit rock bottom, but they haven’t. In that sense, the damage would be greater on their side.
Wise people would know that much.
“But there’s something I want to gain from them.”
Is there anything we can gain from them? Tyler was confused, but he didn’t speak out his thoughts.
The wise lady seemed to have already made a plan.
“What do you want me to do, Madam?”
“Notify the servants that we will extend their contracts until we find new recruits, and that we will write recommendation letters for those who work hard from now on.”
Tyler’s eyes opened wide when her answer broke his expectations, but he quickly composed himself and nodded. It was an attitude that showed strong faith in her.
Ah-!
Daisy, who let out a short sigh, added calmly.
“And find a powerful, talented, and avaricious journalist.”
The Marquisate wasn’t poor.
Rather, the family was filthy rich thanks to the household’s low expenses. What’s more, Carlyx received huge rewards because he often went to war.
Carlyx was a war maniac—though he went less often ever since the children were born. It was after River’s accident that he started going to war less often.
Until last year, the household was still filthy rich. In addition, they didn’t spend any money to maintain the mansion, keep up with aristocratic standards, or prepare for social gatherings.
‘It’s ironic as I’m unsure of whether I should be happy knowing this or not looking at how hopeless the household was.’
Let’s think positively first. The more dramatic it was, the more she could gain.
“I can give them as much money as they want, but I need you to find me an influential and capable person who can popularize a certain gossip about Marquis Jean, even if that certain gossip isn’t the usual bad rumors that people like to hear.”
“Are you thinking of hiring a newspaper journalist or tabloid journalist?”
“Tabloid journalists are fine, too. I just need a competent reporter. A reporter who can stir public opinion.”
It was my turn to spend a lot of money.
Daisy looked at Tyler, who did not change his facial expression no matter what she said.
“Aren’t you worried about what I’m planning to do?”
“I’m not worried.”
“Aren’t you offended that I still asked for your opinion even though I already made a plan?”
“I’m not offended. That means I’m not good enough yet.”
Daisy was satisfied and smiled at his sincere answer. The wall that he built until a few months ago had completely disappeared.
“Because it’s your first time, after all.”
Daisy said briefly.
Tyler became a butler under the authority of Carlyx. It was practically impossible to become an all-rounder butler.
It wasn’t that the meticulous and strict Tyler had no experience at all, but he still lacked in so many areas.
“If we keep sharing our opinions with each other, won’t a day come when your opinions will be of great help?”
“With all due respect, do you think such a day will come?” Tyler asked.
So far, he hasn’t made a great contribution to the family. He knew it was beyond his ability, but he couldn’t help but feel incompetent.
He didn’t even have discerning eyes. He thought Daisy wasn’t qualified to be his master at first. Various emotions swept over him, but soon, a clear voice rang out.
“You have to make sure that day will come. You’re the butler of Marquis Jean. Keep your chin up.” Daisy said, her eyes locked on his.
She needed him, and she wanted him to keep improving himself.
“Yes, madam.”
Tyler replied after a long silence. It was a short but sincere reply.
For the first time, he was motivated to keep learning and change for the better.
For the family and Daisy.
The situation in the mansion definitely changed after that incident.
They were careful not to spread the news outside, but the servants were shocked to hear it had already become hot news.
The hot topic even reached the ears of Zistanter knights. Of course, the rumors didn’t spread any further thanks to Carlyx’s efforts.
“Is it okay for a noble to do that?”
Frederick, who was known for his fair skin among the knights, asked. Although he was a commoner, he always competed for the third or fourth place in the ranking of the knights with the best skills in the Zistanter Knightly Order.
The one at the top was obviously Carlyx, and the one behind him was Logan.
Jeffrey, who was next to him, let out a sarcastic laugh.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
The knight who was equal to Frederick in terms of skill was the previous Count and the current Viscount. He was also the only lower-class aristocrat in the Zistanter Knightly Order.
The curly-haired Jeffrey swept the bangs around his eyes and grumbled.
“A true noble shouldn’t do that. It’s ridiculous.”
“I guess since you’re a nobleman, you know better than I do.”
“How can a noblewoman dress up as a maid when she is supposed to protect her dignity? It’s against the basics of what aristocrats must follow.”
“I see. If that’s a basic rule in the aristocracy, then so be it.”
Frederick nodded and lied down next to Jeffrey.