Chapter 111 - How To Spend Money
After making so friends, life becos less tedious.
I've exchanged letters with Shannon Lynn a couple of tis before the tea party. I also hear from Anne Mary Wilhelm through her husband.
Jeffrey Wilhelm visits my Duke rather often. I don't like it. Why does he need to stick around my husband? Doesn't he have a fief to manage or official duties to carry on?
However, I can't complain to Alexander because he's always careful that I don't lack anything. When we can't see each other during the day, he's especially dedicated at night. When we cross paths in the afternoon, he stops whatever he's doing and walks to for a greeting.
I've gotten used to suddenly becoming the centre of his attention, so I don't blush in embarrassnt when strangers stare at us and wonder what has happened to Lord Kyre.
The servants in Stoneyard are really careful while attending , and the other residents bow when they see . Every ti I catch soone's deference, I reply with a gesture or a movent of my head, just like when I was in Polis. All of this makes feel like back then, when I was worth sothing.
After a couple of weeks of lazy working, I've finished checking and adjusting the old budgets, and I've caught up with the new one. I've started making sense of Kyre's currency, so I stopped throwing money around like a spoiled brat.
The little kid with a liking for eggs has started working in the castle. He's around five or six years old, and once cleaned up, he turned out pretty cute. I found out his na is Olly. I'm not sure if it's the shorter version of Oliver or sothing, but the child didn't know any other way people called him where he ca from.
Once, the maids sent him in my study with a platter with mid-morning snacks. Needless to say, there were so boiled eggs on it.
He leaned the plates on the table and obediently stood at the side. He avoided looking at the food until I gave him one of the eggs.
?Is my Lady asking to peel it?? he inquired, a bit confused.
?No, I'm offering you one of my eggs. You don't need to steal them, here.?
?I wouldn't dare!? he exclaid. Then, he cald down and sat on the sofa next to . ?The maids said I could have those my Lady wouldn't eat,? he whispered.
I also found out that n aren't allowed in the Lady's office. Not even the Lord.
I realised that the rule is valid also for Alexander after the third ti I found him waiting outside. He was sitting in the waiting room and drinking tea, but he had the beaten expression of an abandoned pet. I felt a bit guilty for making him wait, even though I didn't know he was there.
It's weird, but I've grown so used to him that I miss him when we don't see each other for the whole day. Luckily, it doesn't happen too often because we have lunch all together.
Sotis, Alexander has to go out for work, and I don't see him till late in the evening. I find myself waiting on the sofa, next to the fire, those tis.
When the ti for my first tea party in the north cos, I collect so books from my private library and move them in the resting room. Lady Shannon is already here. She has co earlier, in fear she wouldn't make it in ti.
?Here are a couple of publications that I find enlightening. They shouldn't be too difficult to understand, but they introduce a lot of words gradually. You'll be able to talk back to Sir Johnard once you've finished reading this.?
She accepts the books with shining eyes, and I sit down on my armchair.
?How has your work been, lately??
?I've reviewed the accounts for the second ti already, but I already know the Lord is going to reject them again,? she cries.
?How do you know??
?Active and passive voices don't match,? she whispers.
?You sent a bugged budget in??
?The deadline was approaching. Regardless, I'm already working on the issue. The accounting books are a ss. My husband often forgot to write down the financial writing of costs and revenues. It's gotten better now that I'm the one doing the accounting, but the years he was left alone... Ah, we're still paying old debts that aren't supposed to exist.?
?Your husband is lucky that you're the one doing the work,? I chuckle. ?I've also just finished reviewing the old records.?
?I guess they were immaculate,? she sighs. ?I bet the Lord is as precise with his accounting books as he is with the reports we underlings send once a year. It must be tough for you as well, my Lady. Is the Lord checking your work every day? I an, you're closer, and he wants to have everything under control...?
?Not really. My husband indeed likes to have a grasp of the overall situation, but he hasn't checked any of my tasks yet.?
Also, I'm proficient in the job, and he knows it. I'm just administering the castle, so the damage a mistake can do isn't as disastrous.
?However, I'm looking for a way to spend my allowance.?
?I can suggest a few tailors and jewel shops. They're quite exclusive, but they'd die to serve the Lady!?
?I don't need clothes, I already have enough of them. I was thinking about investing. Or making so good where the Lord can't reach...?
?Oh, charity? Well, I'm not the right person to ask about that, my Lady.?
?You seem the right person to talk business with, though.?
?I have thought about opening a business, actually, but I've never had the courage to go in that direction. My husband isn't suited for that, so it would all be on my shoulders.?
?I would bet on you, lady Shannon. What were you interested in??
?Honey,? she whispers, in such a low voice as if she was afraid of my reaction.
?Oh, seems nice. If you ever start producing honey, I'd like to be a client,? I exclaim with a smile. ?You can beco the official honey provider for Stoneyard.?
?That would be a hell of an advertisent,? she says absent-mindedly.
?Also, you can count on if you need advice. I'm not a businesswoman, but I know a thing or two about accounting and economy.?
Shannon Lynn smiles brightly. Our conversation is interrupted by my lady in waiting and the other guest walking in.
?Sorry for being late,? Anne Mary Wilhelm mumbles when she notices Shannon Lynn and already talking closely.
She's early as well, but just by a few minutes.
?You're perfectly in ti, lady Anne Mary.?
?You can call Anne Mary,? she mutters absent-mindedly. ?It's shorter, and my Lady doesn't need to be polite with .?
? too!? the other adds. ?My Lady can call Shannon. It would be such an honour.?
Am I making friends, right now? Should I ask them to call by na as well? Although, I don't feel that close to these won yet. We've just t, and it's better not to rush things now.
?All right,? I nod. ?I asked you two to co a bit earlier so that we could talk a bit. The other guests will arrive in an hour or so.?
?It won't take them so long,? Anne Mary whispers. ?They'll co sooner.?
?I didn't know people were so punctual in Kyre,? I giggle.
?Rather, they can't wait to et with you, my Lady,? she mutters. ?It's a rare occasion to get closer to you, I don't think anyone could resist the wait.?
?I'm not such an interesting company,? I reply.
?I don't agree on this. However, were you ladies talking about numbers??
?More or less... Do you have any suggestions for , Anne Mary? I'm looking for a way to spend money.?
?Sapphires. With your skin and your eyes, sapphires are perfect! I would have already covered you in blue gems if I were Duke Kyre,? she exclaims.
?Not that he didn't try to,? I defend Alexander's na before this woman has ti to slander him so more. ?And not just sapphires.?
?Oh, then I guess my Lady doesn't like jewels that much,? she pouts. ?If you're looking for a way to spend the money of your allowance, you should use it for so smart charity. Make the commoners hear your na, let them talk about how much you helped when there was no one else. I don't know, hospitals and wood for the temples should be fine. Temples are used to give a roof to holess people, especially in the cities. If you fund them, you'll beco famous without too much work from your side.?
?I don't hate working.?
?Well, then... You can build sothing. Stoneyard already has everything, but the big cities in Kyre sotis lack places where to sleep or get cured. Not to ntion the small villages. People there don't even have a place for aggregations, sotis. It's a responsibility of the lower-tier lords to check the situation and report to the Lord of Kyre, but they often overlook these details... You can visit random places until you find one that needs your help.?
?Oh, I now have an idea. Thank you very much, Anne Mary...?
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