I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living-Chapter 189

Rianel stepped in at that moment.

“I have plenty to discuss with Baroness Penelope. Aren’t we in the middle of constructing the railroad connecting Pellar and Halo? There’s much to be decided, such as deploying soldiers to protect the train from monster attacks. Additionally, summer is ending, and it’s time to prepare for winter. The underfloor heating boiler installations also need to be reviewed.”

“...You’re right,” Penelope responded, her demeanor shifting entirely. Discussions about the development of the Halo territory were always welcome. Even if Carla were present, Penelope wouldn’t mind such topics.

“It will take some time to prepare for a meeting. Until then, would you like to stay in the manor’s guest room?”

“Thank you for your consideration. My aide is with me, so we can have in-depth discussions about various agendas.”

“Oh, my secretary is Ivetta, but...”

Penelope trailed off. She wasn’t sure if involving Ivetta in discussions with Rianel was appropriate.

Ivetta and Rianel had been tied together by a proposed marriage until recently. Having the two of them in the same space felt unsettling, as it could lead to discomfort for both parties.

“Maybe I should send Ivetta on leave for a while?”

Before Penelope could decide, Rianel spoke again.

“Separating personal feelings from professional responsibilities is an essential quality for a secretary.”

“True,” Penelope agreed, her face lighting up.

Rianel was technically correct. While there had been a marriage proposal, he was not Ivetta’s fiancé.

“I can’t afford to lose such a capable secretary over something so trivial.”

Penelope shook off Ahwin’s hand, which had been holding hers.

Ahwin’s expression cooled noticeably. He had missed his chance to chase Rianel away, and with Penelope clearly pleased, he didn’t want to act overly childish.

“That sly fox. I’ll make sure to cut off his tail the moment I get the chance,” Ahwin thought, grinding his teeth internally.

Pablo, observing everything in silence, let out an inaudible sigh.

***

The Next Day: Halo Manor’s Guest Room.

Emily and Violet sat across from each other, sipping tea and discussing the events of the day before.

“You saw it too, didn’t you?” Emily asked.

“Yeah,” Violet replied.

“Unbelievable. How can someone be so oblivious?”

“Well, maybe that’s part of his charm,” Violet offered.

Emily looked like she wanted to pull her hair out.

“Even so, how could the Baroness be so happy about the Grand Duke staying in the manor when the Tower Master was right there glaring at him?”

“She probably sees the Grand Duke as just a business partner. ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ She is the ruler of Halo, after all.”

Emily groaned in frustration.

“But is Ivetta going to be okay?”

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“Ivetta’s the Baroness’s secretary. She’ll have to pull herself together somehow,” Violet replied, though her voice wavered slightly.

It had been an overwhelming day for Ivetta. Not only had the marriage proposal fallen apart, but she had also effectively severed ties with her mother.

“Although, she seemed to like it that way...”

What bothered Violet more was the suspicion that Rianel was intentionally lingering at Halo Manor.

“What does the Grand Duke want?”

Emily suddenly flopped onto the sofa, startling Violet.

“Emily! What are you doing? That’s hardly ladylike behavior!”

“It’s just so entertaining... exhilarating!” Emily exclaimed.

“Emily!”

Emily kicked at her dress skirt, her cheeks flushed and lips trembling as if she were about to burst out laughing.

“I never imagined Halo would be more fun than the social circles! This is so exciting! Don’t you think so too, Violet?”

“Well... I suppose,” Violet admitted reluctantly.

After all, she had thought the same thing when the Countess Corindel and Duchess Rahinsel had stormed the parlor.

“If I’d known it would be like this, I would have come here sooner. Ivetta’s been enjoying all the fun alone. That traitor.”

“Please keep thoughts like that to yourself,” Violet said with a shake of her head.

“I don’t care! This is amazing!” Emily said, rolling around on the sofa. Violet could only sigh.

***

Meanwhile: The Manor’s Conference Room.

The atmosphere in the room was tense, almost warlike. Representatives from Halo and Pellar sat on opposite sides of the table, their expressions hardened. A single misplaced cough could have set off a confrontation.

Ivetta’s voice broke the silence, her tone cold and precise.

“Every winter, Halo is tasked with defending the northern forest from monster incursions. This includes maintaining the magic stone barrier and carrying out monster subjugation, which already consumes a substantial portion of our annual budget. Now you’re asking us to subdue monsters in the Maquin Forest as well? Such a demand is excessive.”

Kael, Rianel’s aide, responded firmly.

“With the railroad running between Pellar and Halo, it’s only natural to ensure the monsters near the tracks are dealt with. Pellar will provide mages and knights for the effort, so I don’t believe this request is unreasonable.”

Ivetta didn’t back down.

“Halo serves as the final bastion against threats from the vast northern forest. Has the Grand Duke of Rahinsel ever offered any assistance in this effort? As the ruler of such a vast domain, he has focused solely on extracting resources from the northern estates without providing adequate protection. Is that not correct? Moreover, the Maquin Forest falls primarily within Pellar’s territory. Asking Halo to shoulder the responsibility is nothing short of outrageous.”

Kael’s expression tightened, but he maintained his composure.

“Your words could be seen as inflammatory.”

“I’m simply stating the facts,” Ivetta replied sharply.

Kael glared at her, but Ivetta didn’t flinch. Despite her family’s precarious position, she had been raised as a noblewoman of the distinguished Corindel line, and she wasn’t about to cower before the Grand Duke’s aide.

From her seat, Penelope watched with a mix of awe and admiration.

“She’s incredible...”

“Amazing.”

“To stand her ground against the Grand Duke’s aide like that...”

Penelope and her advisors silently cheered for Ivetta.

The heated debate continued, with neither side willing to yield. It was a battle of wits and determination, and the tension was palpable.

Finally, fearing the argument might escalate into an actual conflict, Penelope intervened.

“Perhaps we should adjourn for today. A break might help us resume discussions more productively later. What do you think, Rianel?”

“I agree. It seems we won’t reach a conclusion as things stand,” Rianel said.

Both sides relaxed slightly, their rigid postures easing.

Ivetta cast a frosty glance at Kael before bowing to Penelope.

“Next time, I’ll bring irrefutable evidence to silence him completely.”

Her bold statement left Kael visibly agitated, his lips twitching as he struggled to respond.

Kael finally turned to Rianel and said,

“I apologize for being unprepared today. I’ll ensure we’re thoroughly equipped for the next meeting.”

“Good work, Ivetta. I’ll count on you again,” Penelope said, maintaining her composure with some effort.

Ivetta glared at Kael one last time before exiting the room. Kael sneered before leaving through the opposite door.

Penelope let out a quiet sigh, relieved the day’s battles were over—for now.